The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-06-12
SLAYER OF MABEL PACE
 GOES CALMLY TO DEATH
CHARLES [. TUCKER INITIATES HIS CRIMEIN ELECTRIC
 CHAIR.

Time-Reads statement at Death Chair-Forgives and Hopes to be Forgiven--At Peace With His Maker lin Letter to His Counsel He Pro- tests His Innocence.
 Boston, June 12.-Charles Louis Tucker, of Auburndale, was electrocut- ed at the Massachusetts state prison at a2:121-2 o'clock this morning for the murder of Mabel Page, who was stap- bed to death at the home of her father in Weston on March 1, 1904.
 The condemned man, whose case had aroused public interest and public dis cussion unparalleled for many years in the history of Massachusetts crime and ito save whom the most extraordinary effort had been undertaken both by his counsel and as a result of the aggre- gation of opinion of great body of people who believed him guiltless, walked from his cell to the death chair unassisted and even without the guid- ing arm clasp of a prison guard. His manner was solemn yet careless. He walked with precision, yet with tndit- ference. The prison guards had open ed his cell door and said: Tucker, we are ready" The condemned man step- ped quickly from his cell, and scarcely before the legal witnesses to the execu- tion, who numbered but six persons, had realized that the final moment was at hand he had appeared before them in advance of the jail officials. Just before reaching the electric chair Tuck CT drew from the right hand pocket Of his trousers piece of paper. From this paper he read mechanically and in a tone so low that the witnesses could hear but a few of the words. The exact $ phraseology was only learned when the naper, which Tucker had replaced in his pocket with wonderful deliberation and calmness after he had finished reading, was removed from his clothing subsequent to his death.
 This was Fuckers final utterance: T hope that God will forgive me for all 4he wrongs I have ever done in my past life. I forgive everybody who has ever wronged me. I am at peace with my Maker. May God have mercy on my soul."
 After Tucker had placed this docu- nnent in his pocket he turned quickly gave one swift glance toward his death chair. and then feeling for it's foot rest SD that he might easily find the seat oi the instrument of death, he closed his eyes and did not open them again Carefully and surely he sat himself 1T the chair. He rested his head on the support at the back, stretched out his arms on the side of the chair, there tt be strapped in preparation for the ex' ecution. A half dozen men were quick Nv bending over him adjusting the straps, barring his left leg for the ap plication of the electrode, securing hin lightly, legs, arms and body, while th' electrician placed on his head the mesl met filled inside with Water-soaket sponges and surnounted Iby the heat electrode A wide strap, opened in tn center to permit a view of the nose an' eyes of the victim, was then fastenet ab11t the front of the head from tn back of the chair.
 The body lunged forward against tn enclosing straps as Warden Benjami F. Bridges raised his right hand, an Ahe electrician threw down the electri switch. No sounds came from Tucke after his final words which he req from the paper.
 The current was applied at 12:12 l.
 ,+r fifty seconds. At the end of this tim Dr. Joseph I. Mclaughlin, the priso surgeon, examined Tucker and reporte that his pulse was still beating Tn current was turned on the second tim and then after the physician had dt clared, This heart still beats, agai for the third time. Tucker was prC nounced dead at 12:14, and at 12;1 after all three legal medical witnesst had examined the convicted man, was declared to be officially dead IT repeated application of the electric GU rent was made, the physicians explain ed. not because Tucker was not dea after the first shock, but because +he involuntary muscular action of u heart and of the pulse which emal aLeu IrOIn Ill6 llCe1t hSAtSAA' A0 -3 raI witnesses agreed that the eleetroc' lion was successful, and that Tuck was unconscious, if not quite dead, the very moment that the 1,S2O volts electricity shocked his body.
 IA letter from Tucker to his eoun' nrotesting his innocence was given c last night. Governor Guild last eve ing refused again to reprieve the cused. The following was received him yesterday:
 The White House.
 washington, June 10 1906 f%overnor Curtis Guild, Boston, Moss
 Have been requested on behalf certain parties in Boston to interft with the execution of Tucker, 1t bel alleged that it is my duty to do so asnuch as I have the power under federal laws.
 No showing has been made to
 That I have such power, but WithC regard to this I desire to state to that in my judgment your decision to interfere with the carrying out the sentence 5f Tucker seems to
 entirely sound and commands
 hearty sympathy. It seems particul 1va case in which there should be interference with the carrying out +1,a eaptanre