Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-21

MUR,IURs A PRAYER AT THE LAST.
Execution is the Most Successful
Prison.

NEW YORK, March 20-Mrs. Martha
Place was executed at Sing Sing prison
to-day. She was the first woman to die
in the electric chair in the State of New
York, and she went to her death quietly.
Her death was instantaneous. But two
shocks were given State Electrician
Davis threw down the lever at H. y. NJ.
The voltage was 1860, and this was con-
tinued for four seconds. It was then
gradually diminished to 200 volts for four
seconds DIR. Irvine examined the woman
and then ordered a second shock. That
was the same as the first I'm power, and
continued the same length of time. The
second shock has always been admins
tered at Sing Sing.
Mrs. Place murdered her stepdaughter,
Ida NJ. Place. mere girl on February
Z. 1898. She first threw acid in the girls
eyes and then smothered her. This was
early in the morning at their home. In
Brooklyn. She waited the entire day for
her husband to return. and then attacked
him with an axe. fracturing his skull and
otherwise seriously injuring him. Place,
however recovered.
SHE BORE Up WELL.
Mrs. Place was convicted and sentenced
to death. but she never for moment be-
ueved she would be electrocuted. She at
first claimed she could remember nothing
Of the murder. and later the plea Of in
81 IN
was not until Thursday last that Warden
Sage announced to her that Governor
Roosevelt had absolutely refused 10 in
terfere with the course Of justice. and
that she must die on Monday IL was Il
great shock TO the woman. but during
the last four days she bore up wonder
fully well. She suffered in two days af-
ter she learned that she must die-from
sieepiessness and from loss OF appetite.
Again yesterday the Warden visited her,
50 that there might be no misunder-
standing. and told her she must be
ready al IL o'clock this morning.
She was ready at that hour, and no one
who watched her could understand what
change had taken place in the w0maa's
nature TO so duh her senses that she
could go TO her death so calmly and i'm
passively as she did. Ii had not been eX-
pected that she would do so. The last
woman condemned TO die I'm this State
went TO the gallows shrieking and fight
ing. but Mrs Place hardly uttered
sound. She merely murmured a prayer,
with closed eyes. her face turned partly
upward. and seemingly unconscious Of
things about her.
No SCENE; NO DELAY.
This was the twenty-sixth electrocI-
tion at Sing Sing prison. but none before
was so successful as that Of to-day. Not
only was there no scene, but there was
no delay.
Within three minutes after coming
through the iron doors the order Of the
law had been carried out There were
twelve witnesses present and only those
who watched every movement witnessed
Mrs. Places death. Few were able to see
the rising Of the body as the electrical
shock passed through H. IT was only
when the current was partly shut off that
they could see the body relax. II was an
easy way TO die.
HER LAST SUNDAY.
on Sunday Mrs. Place had her regular
attendants. and during the night she was
visited by her spiritual adviser Rev Or
David Cole. Of Yonkers. and Mrs. Meury
a mission worker from Brooklyn, who has
taken Il great interest in the woman's
case.
Mrs Sage ;he warden's wife, also spent
an hour or so with her. but ar $3.50 Mrs
Place was left alone with the night ma
tron. Mrs. C0ultry. and two keepers. The
condemned woman was very restless.
Outside. a terrific gale was blowing across
the Hudson. which ratified the windows
i'm the gloomy old hospital building, where
Mrs. Places quarters were located. There
was driving snow, too, and several
times the woman went TO her window 10
watch the storm. She did not retire until
2:30. and after that she was up several
times TO pray. Never for a moment aid
the matron relax her vigilance.
THE WARDEN ANXIOUS.
7. cannot be denied that Warden Sage
was - Uous in the extreme regarding
the ex NItion, and ii was with this in
mind he ordered every precautiOn taken
IN ensure the best result. He sent DR..
cole 10 her at 9l5 this morning, first in
ouiring whether the aged clergyman could
stand the strain. Or. Cole assured him
that he could, and was so full OF sympa-
thy for the woman. that he had known
since she was child that he was anxious
To be with nef. III. IRVINE dlSD Ni9il'N
her I'm the morning. and with him vas a
woman physician who had been sent TO
attend the execution. at the suggestion
Of Governor Roosevelt. Mrs. Sage was the
last of her friends 20 say goOd-by. Du-
rino, ,he last few moments OF her life
Mrs. Place was again and again urged to
go braveiy 10 her death. and she pro-
misad that she would. She had told her
nostor that she believed that her sins
would be forgiven, and asserted her taith
in the hereafter She was buOyed up
with this feeling when the Warden came
to lead her 20 the chair.
JOURNEY TO DEATH-CIIAlR.
She was dressed in black, a gown that
she had made herself simple and plain.
she had expected TO wear II al her new
trial. or when she received her liberty.
4 white band was around her throat, and
her ht-brown hair, now turniEg gray.
u,as brushed back smoothly over ner fore
bead II was clipped away only where
,ba electrode was TO be placed. Mrs.
place said simply that she was ready,
"a tho Warden took her arm In his.
srbsv went slowly through the deserted.
IA hospital building, along several hall
ure,s and finally through the last corri-
dor of all. on either side the murderers'
Ill we're draped with heavy curtains.
ord the party moved more quickly
,broueh the dismal place. In the mean
while the witnesses had been called into
,he death-chamber. The electric appara-
,us nod been given its ilnal test. ana