Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-12

The condemned murderer, whose case
had aroused the public interest and
public discussion unparalleled for many
years in the history Of Massachusetts
crime and to save whom the most eX-
traordinary measures had been under
taken both by his counsel and as n re-
suit Of the aggregation Of opinion Of q
great body Of people who believed him
guil;less. walked from the death cell
to the death chair unassisted ana even
without the guiding arm. clasp Of a
prison guard. His manner was solemn.
yet careless. He walked with preci-
sion. Vet Indifference. The prison
guards had opened his cell door and
said
Tucker. we are ready
The condemned man stepped quickly
| from his cell and almost before the le-
gal witnesses to the execution. who
| numbered but six persons. had realized
| that the moment Of the death punish
ment was at hand, he had appeared be-
] fore them i'll advance of the prison Off
Gals.
just before reaching the electric chair
| he drew from the right hand pocket of
| his trousers Il piece Of paper. From this
paper he read mechanically and iii a
| tone 50 low that the witnesses could
hear but a few Of the words. the fol-
| lowing:
Il hope that God will forgive me
| for all the wrongs ! have ever done
in my past life. | forgive everybody
| who has ever wronged me. | am at
peace with my maker. May God have
mercy on my soul
| The exact phraseology was only
learned when tho paper which fucker
had replaced il his pocket with Won
dcrful deliberation and calmnesS when
he had concluded its reading when
| tn" document was removed from his
| clothing subsequent TO his death.
| Whom Tucker had placed this doc,l-
| ment in his pocket he turned quickly.
gave one swift glance toward his death
| chair and then feeling for its foot rest
| 50 that he might easily find the seat OF
| the instrument Of death. he closed his
| eyes and did not open them again.
| Carefully and surely he sat himself in
| the chair. He rested back his head
| stretched out his arms upon the sides
/ of the chair. there to be strapped iii
| preparation for the execution.
| a half dozen men We're quickly bend
ing over him adjusting the straps, bar
inc his left leg for the application OF
! the electrode. securing him tightly,
legs. arms and body. while the electri-
clan placed upon his head the mesh
ret filed inside with water-soaked
spnnges and surmounted by the head
electrode. A wide strap opened in the
center to permit Q view Of the nose
and eyes Of the victim was then fas-
tened about the front Of the head from
the back Of the chair.
The body lunged forward against tho
| enclosing straps rs Warden Ben1a-
min T.. Bridges raised his right hand
and the electrician threw down the
electric switch. No sounds came from
fuckers lips after his final words
| which he read from the paper.
The current was applied at la.12is anf
maintained Mt various voltage for 10 sec
onds At the end of this time Or. JOSEPH
T. Mclaughlin, the prison surgeon. ex,
amincd Tucker and reported that hi
rulsr was still beating The current was
turned on a second time and then after
the physician had declared his hear
still beats, again for the third time
Tucker was pronounced dead at 1o1f ant
at 10 after all three legal medical wit
lnesses had examined the convicted man
he was pronounced officially dead
The repeated application of the electric
lcurrent was made, the physicians explain
led. not because Tucker was not dead aftel
the first shock but because of the invol
untary muscular action Of the heart ant
of the pulse which emanated from thu
heart action. The medical witnesse:
agreed that the electrocution was sue
cessful and they agreed that he was nm
iconscious. il not quite dead, at the very