The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-21
NO REVOLVING FEATURES
FIRST EXECUTION OF A WOMAN ny
ELECTRICITY SUCCESSFUL.
No Delay and No BunelinG-ohiciaI
Report OF the Sing Sing warden
Crime for which Mrs. Place Died.

NEW YORK, March 20-Mrs. Martha
Place was executed at Sing Sing prison to-
day She was the first woman 10 die IN the
electric chair I'm the State of New York
and she went 10 her death quietly. Her
death was instantaneous, but, two shocks
were given. State Electrician Davis threw
down the lever at exactly 1l:01 a. m The
voltage of the current was 1.760 and it was
continued for four seconds. 1T was then
gradually diminished to 800 voltage which
was continued for hfty-six seconds. Dr.
Irvine. the physician Of the prison. exam
ined the woman and then ordered a second
shock. That was the same as the first ia
power and continued for the same length
of time. The second shock has always been
administered at Sing Sing.
Mrs. Place murdered her stepdaughter.
Ida NJ. Place. a mere girl. on Feb. :. lSeS.
She was convicted and sentenced to death,
but she never fer moment believed she
would be electrocuted. She at first claimed
she could remember nothing of the murder
and later the plea of insanity was sub
mitted in her behalf. IL was not until
Thursday last that Warden Sage announced
to her that Governor Roosevelt had abso-
lutely refused to interfere with the course
of justice and that she must die on Monday.
1t was a great shock to the woman. but
during the last four days she bore up won-
derfully well. She suffered In two ways aft
er she learncd that she must die-from
sleeplessness and from loss of appetite
Again, yesterday, the warden visited her
so that there might be no misunderstand-
ing and told her she must be ready at IL
o'clock Monday morning
She was ready at that hour and no one
who watched her could understand what
change must have taken place in the wom-
ans nature to so dull her senses that she
could go to her death so calmly and impas-
sively 1t had not been expected that she
would do so. The last woman condemned 10
die in this State went to the gallows Shrek
ing and fighting. but Mrs Place hardly Ut
tered a sound. She mere murmured pray
er, with closed eyes, her face turned partly
upward and seemingly unconscious of things
about her.
NO SCENE AND NO DELAY.
This was the twenty-sixth electrocution 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 wit
nesses present and only those who watched
every movement witnessed Mrs. Places
death Few were able TO the raising OF
the body as the electrical shock passed
through it. 1t was only when the current
was partly shut off that they could see the
body relax. 1t was an easy way TO die.
On Sunday Mrs. Fiace had her regular at
tendants and during the night she was Wis
tied by her spiritual adviser, Rev. Dr. David
Cole, of Yonkers, and Mrs. Meury, mission
worker OF Brooklyn. who has taken a great
interest in the woman's welfare. Mrs. Sage,
the warden's wife, also spent an hour 50
with her, but at $3.50 Mrs. Place was left
alone with the night matron. Mrs. CouItry.
with two keepers in the outer room. The
condemned woman was very restless Out
side 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
driving snow, too. and several times the
woman went 10 her window 10 watch the
storm She did not retire until 2:30 a. M.
and after that she was up several times TO
pray Never for moment did the matron
relax her vigilance.
Mrs Place was followed with watchfui
eyes for the twenty-four hours that pre-
ceded her taking of. IL cannot be denied
that Warden Sage was anxious I'm the ex-
treme regarding the execution, and IL was
with this I'm mind that he ordered every pre-
caution taken to insure the best results.
He sent Rev. DR. Cole TO her at 9:15 this
morning first inquiring wether the aged
clergyman could stand the strain Or. Cole
assured him that he could and was so full
OF sympathy for the woman he had known
since she was a child that he was anxious
10 be with her and comfort her TO the end.
DR. Irvine also visited her I'm the morning
and with him was 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 10 say
goodbye.
HOW SHE WAS DRESSED.
During the last few remaining minutes OF
her life Mrs. Place was again and again
urged 10 go bravely 10 her death. and she
promised that she would. She had told her
pastor that she believed that her sins had
been forgiven and asserted her faith i'm the
hereafter. She was buoyed UP with this
feeling when the warden came 10 lead her
TO the chair. She was dressed I'm blaci-a
gown that she had made herself-simpie and
plain. She had expected to wear n az her
new trial or when she received her liberty
A white band was around her throat. and
her light brown hair now turning gray.
was brushed back smoothly over her fore
head. II was clipped away only where the
electrode was TO be placed.
Mrs. Place said simply that she was ready
and the warden took her arm I'm his. They
went slowly through the deserted cid hos
pital building along several Railways and
hnaliy through the last corridor OF ALL on