Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-06
CASSELS DEAD.
EIectrocuted at CharIestown at
12.40 This Morning.
Declared His Innocence in Prayer Be-
srE fore the Electric Chair.
Paid Penalty for Alleged Murder Of
Mrs. Mary }. Lane.

Boston, May 6-ohn ID. Cassels, at
| ! enalty for the murder of Mrs. Mary
| J. Lane. At 1910 o'clock he was cleo
| Il ocuted at the death house Of the
state prison in CharlestOwn.
There was a most dramatic scene
when Cassels was brought out by four
Keepers who followed the condemned
man and Rev. John w. 5. Barnes, the
rison chaplain, who held Cassels by
| Lis right arm. Cassels showed no par
ticuar signs of fear. but when he ar
rived in front Of the chair he knelt
duwn and began to pray.
Cassels was CHASTITY pale. He was
dressed in trousers and vest of grey
and a grey shirt which was turned
Gown at the neck. The left leg of his
trousers had been cut up to the knee
nd the trouSer rolled up, showing his
bare leg.
The chaplain Of the prison stepped
back to the west wall of the death
house and Warden Bridges went back
t. the seats occupied by the legal wit
Lesses of the execution.
Cassels knelt on his bare left knee
directly in front Of the chair. clasping
his hands above his head and began to
pray. raising his eyes. Then in a voice
which was thrilling. and with eyes up
lifted and hands upifted far above his
head he began:
Gracious God. my Father, | have
come to the foot of the cross, and |
beseech Thee that Thou wilt be mer-
Ciful. Receive my soul and. O. God,
forgive those who swore this poor mis-
or h IL. 70 n oh
cid father in Scotland and comfort my
poor old father and keep him that he
may forgive me. o, God. cheer and be
rrerciful to Mary-to Mary the wo-
man | love and the woman that Thou
made me love. Forgive those men who
made me die and forgive those who
see me die. because they are not to
blame for it. God keep my children
and again forgive me who am about to
die. God bless my children and keep
them from HARM
At the conclusion of his prayer Cassels
stood up and was quickly strapped in the
chair and at exactly 12.4o o'clock the cur
rent was turned on. Cassels sureed
against the straps which held him in the
chair and after one-half minute the cur
rent was turned OF and the body sank
back inert and apparently lifeess.
DR.. NJ. y. Morris, who represented the
surgeon general. applied the stethoscope
to Cassels breast and discovered a spas
modic movement of the heart whereupon
the signal was given to the electrician Ia
charge. who once more turned on the
current and again the body surgeI
against the straps.
This time there arose from the barred
left leg of Cassels, to which the electrode
had been applied. a mass of steam There
was no aroma and the film which seemed
to arise was merely steam.
DIR. Hacket Derby of Boston and DR.
Joseph |. Mclaughlin. the prison physi-
clan. examined the body after the second
application, and while they and DR. Har-
ris. the medical examiner, decided thai
-Cassels was dead, il was rather as mat
ter OF precaution that the current was
once more applied.
Again the body surged up against the
straps which bound it to the chair and
once mere the steam from the electroda
on the left leg arcse The current was
kept on for the third time for about %
seconds, then ii was released and the
medical men present examined the body
and decided that Cassels was dead
Then the warden had the mask remov-
ed from the face Of the dead man. His
eyes were wide open but indicated neither
fear nor suffering