The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-21

Mrs. Place said simply that she was
ready. and the warden took her arm in
his. They went slowly through the de-
serted old hospital building along several
hall ways and finally through the last
corridor of all. On either side the muir
derers cells were draped with heavy
curtains and the procession moved more
quickly through this dismal place.
Meanwhile the witnesses had been
called into the death chamber. The
electric apparatus had been given its
final test. and all were waiting with sus-
pense for the coming of the woman.
Suddenly the side door through which
the party would enter. was thrown
open, IA keeper stepped in and called for
another keeper and turned rapidly away.
The keeper returned and was followed
almost ut once by Mrs. Place, leaning
heavily on the warden's arm. Her face
was very white. her head uplfted, h,r
eyes closed. The white hand around
her throat seemed scarcely whittier than
her face. The warden held her arm
closely with his, and with his other arm
he supported her. Behind came the
women attendants. one a physician, the
other the day matron Rev. DR.. Cole
came next, and after him were the two
keepers. AS they came over the thresh
hold. Mrs. Place gave no sign of fear.
She picked her way almost like Il blind
woman crossing Il short space that sep
arated her from death. She was gently
pressed down into the frame. and DR..
Irvine. who was in waiting. stepped in
front of her lie motioned to the wo-
men, and they came up on either side
1t took but Il moment TO strap her in.
The edge of her skirts was lifted quick
ly. 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 pad dropped over the
forehead. The women stood with out
stretched skirts, with DIR. Irvine and
male attendant ON either side. almost
shutting out the view of the witnesses,
and the signal was given. Quicker al
most than IA flash the electrician threw
down the lever. The body Strengthened,
the fingers gripped tightly into the palms,
and the little prayer book she held in
her left hand was drawn across the
wrist.
Only the woman's mouth was visible,
and it changed merely i'll the drawing
down of the lips, ami a little darkening
of the skin. Mrs. Place had mllrmured
as she was seated in the chair: God
help me; God have mercy"
There was not n sound after that
not even a moan. The visible effect of
the shock was less than had ever been
observed in the death house before.
There was not the slightest distortion
of features: the eyes were covered, and
WHOM the straps were removed they
We're still closed
On the second shock the body straight
ened out again, and little foam oozed
from the lips. When the current was
shut off the body reposed naturally in
the chair.
DIR. Irvine gave it as his opinion that
d ath had been instantaneous.
The body was allowed to remain in
the chair until all the witnesses had re-
tired. when it wars taken to the autopsy
room and Il post norton examination
held. No one was present but the oper
ating surg ons, and their report was
sealed. and Will be- filed in Kings county
together with the other documents relat-
ing to the woman's death. The autop-
sy was a rapid one. and although no
was made public, the midi
cations are that the organs were found
in healthy condition.
The body was placed in a red box and
was taken to the Sing Sing station.
where it was shipped to East Milestone,
y. J.