Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-21
all were waiting with suspense iof '"'
coming Of the woman.
HER LAST MOMENTS.

Suddenly the side door through wnicn
the party would enter was thrown open
a keeper stepped in and called ior a'-
other keeper, and turned rapidly me
keeper returned and was followed alfhose
al once by Mrs. Place, leaning hea'ii! on
the Warden's arm Her face was 'c'S
white. her head uplifted. her eyes closSu,
The white band around her throat seemed
scarcely whittier than her face. Inc war
den held her arm closely with ms
and with mis- other arm he supporter he''
Behind came the women attendah's-ViI'
a physician, the other the day ha'io"'
Rev. Dr. Cole came next, and after MN
were the two keepers.
NO SIGN OF FEAR.
As they came over the threshoid Mrs.
Place gave no sign Of fear. she piche"
her way almost like a blind woman across
the short space that separated hef 1Fon'
death. She was gently pressed down IN
the frame, and DR.. Irvine, VINO was !"
waiting, stepped in front OF her. ne
motiOned TO the women. and they came
up on either side. 1t took but moment
10 strap her In. The edge OF her shlr''
was lifted quickly. the stocking drawn
down over her shoe, and the electrode
fastened by one OF the women TO the
right leg. Then the skirt was dropped
The head cap was clamped on. the straps
buckled across the face. and a pad drop
ned over the forehead The woman stood
with outstretched skirts. and with DR..
Irvine and a male attendant on either
side, almost shut out the view of the VII
nesses, and the signal was given.
THE ELECTRIC STROKE.
Quicker almost than a fash the electri-
clan drew down the lever. The loGy
Strengthened, the fingers grpped tShty
into the palms. and the little prayer-oook
she held in her left hand was drawn
across the wrist. Only the woman 5
mouth was visible and it changed mere
" in the drawing down of the lips, and
Il little darkening of the skin. Mrs. Place
had murmured as she was seated In the
chair, God help me; God have ne, cy."
There was not a sound after :hat-not
even a moan.
The visible effect Of the shock was less
than had ever been observed in the death
chair before. There was not the slight
est distortion of features; the eyes were
covered and when the straps were re-
moved they were still closed.
on the second shock the body straight
ened out again, and a little foam oozed
from the lips. When the current was
shut off the body reposed naturally In the
chair
DEATH INSTANTANEOUS.
DR.. Irvine gave IT as his opinion that
death had been instantaneous. The body
was allowed to remain in the chair until
! all the WITNESSES had retired. and was
| then taken To the autopsy-rOom and a
| pOst-mortem examination held. No enc
was present but the operating surgeons,
and their report was sealed. and will be
filed in Kings county. together with the
other documents relating TO the woman ;
| death
The autopsy was a rapid one. and al
| though no information was made public,
the indications are that the organs were
found i'm a healthy condition. The in
sanity plea entered in behalf of Mrs.
Place never impressed those who knew
the woman best very favorably.
! The body was placed i'm a red box and
! was taken to the Sing Sing station, where
| ii was shipped to East Milestone. y. }.