The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-12
TUCKER PAYS PENALTY.
Man Convicted on F1innsy Evidence
Killed in Electric Chair.

Boston. June 12.-Charles L. Tucker
was electrocuted at 1912 this morning
for the murder of Mabel Page.
Tucker was officially pronounced
dead by the prison doctor at 1919.
Three applications of the current were
made
When Tucker arri.ed in front of
the death chair he drew from his
trousers pocket brief statement
which he read. The statement was:
Il hope that God will forgive me
for all the wrongs I have ever done in
my past life. I forgive everybody who
has Wronged me. am at peace with
my maker. May God have mercy on
my soul
Tucker then sat down in the chair,
and after the guards had readJusted
the straps the warden raised his hand
as signal to the electrician.
After the first application of the
electricity DR.. Joseph Mclaughlin, the
prison surgeon, made an examination
and announced the pulse was still
beating. After the current had been
applied a second time the surgeon de-
tected a movement of the heart, but
when the current was applied a third
time Tucker was pronounced dead.
This announcement was made at
1919.
The surgeon stated that Tucker was
unconscious from the moment the first
shock was applied.
The electrocution of Charles L.
Tucker marked the final chapter in
the history of the murder of Mabel
Page at her home In Weston, March
81, 1904. and also marked the close of
one of the most desperate legal battles
ever waged in Massachusetts for the
life of a convicted murderer
fuckers case was taken through the
legal Windings until it received a hearing
in the supreme court of the United States.
A decision by the highest court in the
land, sustaining the rulings of the lower
courts did not discourage fuckers law
yers- A petition to Governor Guild was
prepared and circulated through the state
In a short time there were over 1900
names attached to it.
The attorneys for the prisoner went be-
fore Governor Guild, not only with new
evidence, but with a general plea for ex-
ecutlVe clemency and with affidavits, but
they were not successful
Mabel Page was murdered at her faith
er's home in Weston on March 81 1904
Her body was found several hours later
by her aged father. On a nearby table
was foun note supposed to have been
written by Miss Page. stating that she
had been called to Boston because of the
illness of her brother It later developed
that her brother. Harold. was not iat and
the handwriting the note and a postal
card which was also found in the house
figured in the trial. the government con
tending that the handwriting as shown on
the postal card was identical with speci-
mems of fuckers handwriting.
The police learned that Charles l. Tuck
er. an Auburndale young man of rowing
habits, had been seen near the PAGE
house on the day of the murder They
found Tucker and on taking him to a DO
lice station questioned him. but released
him. About three weeks afterwards the
officers searched fuckers home. There
in an old coat. they found broken knife
blade stained and SCARED. the scars in
dicating that an effort had been made
to destroy it by means of a file. A stick
pin of peculiar design was also found It
was soon learned that Mabel Page had
owned a pin similar to that found in
fuckers coat This. together with the
fact that stains on the knife blade were
suspected to be those OF blood as well as
the cause Of fuckers act in breaking the
blade in three pieces. caused his arrest
Indictment for murder in the first de-
gree followed The evidence at the trial
was largely of the circumstantial nature
and counsel for the defense produced wit
nesses and maps to prove an alibi nut the
pin and knife played more important
parts than did any Witnesses produced
by either the prosecution or the defense
Since fuckers trial and conviction Ed
VIII Pare. the father Of the murdered girl
has died as has Prof. f. s. Wood Of Hsr-
ward university who was the expert an
alyst for the prosecution.