Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-09
PAYS PENALTY.
SChid|Ofski Meets Death
in Electric Chair
Pronounced Dead at 1928 ~
O'clock This Morning.
Executed for The Brutal Murder Of His wife
in Belmont July u, 1905.

/
his wife. Marciana, at Belmont, July
/, 1905.
| Schidlnfski was taken to the chair at
12.lS and was pronounced dead at
| lbs L.
The execution was successful in ev-
| cry way and was unattended by sensa-
| tional features. SchidlofSki was in Il
| weak condition before he left the death
| house and had to be assisted from the
| death house to the electric chair by
| Rev. Robert Walker. chaplain Of the
| MiddleseX house of corrections. ana a
| guard. Schidlofslli made no statement
| after he was placed in the chair, but
he moaned softly until the application
of the current
IN the opinion of medical attendants
| and Prison officials the execution was
the most successful that has ever taken
| place at Charlestown Whereas. in
| previous executions two and three diff
fcrcnt applications of tho current have
been necessary, only one application
was made in Schidlofski's case.
| Schidlofski entered the death cham
| Der at 1916 u. The man was in a
weakened condition and could not walk
|
| unasSistcd. He was supported on one
| side by prison guard and on the other
| by his spiritual adviser, Rev. Robert
| Walker. chaplain of the East Cam
bridge Jail. who softly murmured words
of consolation into the ear of the con-
| demncd man.
| Schidlofski was in a state bordering
upon complete collapse. During the pre-
| ceding evening he had promised Mr..
Walker that he would try and be brave
| when the final summons came and he
kept his word.
AS the condemned man entered the
| death chamber he moved in an uncer-
| tain manner. His knees shook beneath
| him but he uttered no sound other than
a protracted moan which was hardly
| audible, even in the stiffness of the cX-
| ecution room.
| CEamplau Walker and the guard
| who were supporting the prisoner gen.
| tly guided him to the electric chair and
| Scnidlof5ki seated himself. He seemed
| unconS 'iOus of what was going on
about him. and although his eyes roam
cd all OYER the chamber, ne did not ap-
| pear to see anyt hing.
The prison officials quickly adjusted
his ankles IN the lower part of the
chair and buoklcd the straps. At the
| same time other attendants placed his
| head against the back Of the chair,
| put the electrodes i'll their places ana
buckled the arm straps.
| Skidlofski kept both hands claSpcl
and in one he clenched tightly a small
crucifx attached to Il blue ribbon that
had been sent him by some woman
| who took an interest in his case.
| While he was being placed in thu
| chair and during the adjustment of the
| straps and the electrodes, Sch;dlofski
Imoaned continually in an almost maud
ible manner.
At exactly 121S o'clock, Warden
Bridges raised his hand as a signal to
1.-THE electrician. The current was apple
and instantly the body of the muir
derer sprang forward against til"
| straps. The current had Il voltage Of
1900. and was applied for co seconds
| During this time. however, the inten-
sity of the current was gradually in
creased and at the end Of the minute
it was turned on to its fullest intensity,
kept at 1900 volts for five seconds and
then shut off.
The attending physicians, Surgeon
| General William III. DcVnc, Prison
Physician Joseph ]. Mclaughlin ana
DR.. George Stcdman, assistant medical
lcxamncr Of Suffolk county, then APP
proacho the chair and cndcaNorcd 20
ldrtcct signs If life. Their examination
IconSunled four minutes. Each doctor
lcxamincd The body 4 number Of times.
feeling the pulse ana applying the
lstcthoScnpc to the heart and throat but
no sign Of life could be detected. Even
| the faint uulSationS which are Ecncr-
lally noticed FIVE or six minutes afteH
the electric current has been apnlicd,l
could not be detected on Schidl"fski. HI
AT 1928 o'clock the three physicians
Dhcld Il whispered conference With
| Warden benjamin f. Bridges Of the
state prison, who WAS in charge Of the
lcxecution. The conversation lasted but
a few seconds and then the doctors
stood to one side.
Then speaking aloud Warden
Bridges said, addressing the three ply
sicianS:
Gentlemen, do You decide that this
person is dcad?"
I'VE do" answered the physicians in
unison.
Warden Bridges then turned to the
Witnesses Of the execution ana an
nouncGd:
"Gentlemen. declare that John
| Schidlofski has been legally executed.
| a moment later the body Of thr muir
derer was placed upon table in the
rear Of the death chamber and the
witnesses left the execution room and
returned to the wardcn's Office in the
prison.
| Among those who witnessed the OK
ecution We're Superintendent ". ;.
Lowell of the Vermont state prison ana
Deputy Sheriff S. n Taylor Of Wind
scr county, Vermont who VIII report
on executions by electricity 20 the au-
thorities of Vermont, where TINS meth
Cd Of capital punishment is receiving
consideration.