Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-31
IN SHADOW
OF DEATH HE
CONFESSES
GILLETTE SIGNS STATEMENT
TO YOUNG MEN
PAYS PENALTY FOR DEED IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR
Walks Firmly and Briskly to His
Doom and Accepts His Fate
Without Murmur or
Question
Continued from Page One,

Two minutes later the warden Salu "
the witnesses and attendants:
Gentlemen, the physicians announce
the man is dead
Tba eIectrocution lacked much of the
solemnity of former executions ana
during most of the time except for
the brief space when the electric cur
rent was coursing through the man 5
body there was a hum of voices IN
conversation. This grew so marked
during the time that the physicians
were making the examination of his
bodv for life that the warden found
If necessary to pound on the tile-coV-
cred floor of the chamber for silence.
The current was of 1900 volts at ~
ampheres and it was held on one MN
ute and three seconds. When this had
been done a careful examination OF
the mans heart was made but there
was no sign of life.
The Rev. Henry McIlravY of Little
Falls. who had been with Gillette, was
so overcome at the electrocution that
he was taken from the death chamber
before the contact was turned on.
Fearful that he would collapse, he
started for the door leading to the
prison yard. Keepers walked BESIDE
him. -
witnesses assembled at the warden's
office at 6 o'clock and at 6:10 the march
from the office down through the south
wing of the prison to the death cham
~ber was started and at ell, When
State Electrician Davis made his test
of the machinery with the bank OF
lights. witnesses had taken this seats
assigned to them.
Prisoner Walks rrlskIy
The test being finished the word was
given and the door leading from the
death cells was opened. Gillette, walk
ing firmly and looking neither to the
right nor to the left, came briskly
along the row and into the chamber.
on either side of him was a minister
of the gospel. Chaplain Herrick on his
right and Rev. McIlravy on his left
1t was 6:12.35 when the little party
entered the chamber, and the work OF
strapping the man in the chair was
quickly over. The electric current was
turned on at 6:1403 and was switched
off at 6:15.06. Immediately after Or.
Spitzka made an examination of the
heart. other heart examinations fol-
lowed and at 6:1S Warden Benham
made the announcement that Gillette
was dead. The communication handed
to Warden Benham last night by Gil
lette was as follows: j..
"In the shadow of the valley or
death. it is my desire to do everything
that would remove any doubt as to my
having 1Ou1lu jesus AHlioN' AhN -
sonal Saviour and unfailing friend. Mr.
one regret, at this time, Is that ! have
not given him the )re-eminence in my
life while I had the opportunity 10
work for him. If ! could only say
Some one thing that would draw young
men to him. l would deem it the great
est privilege ever granted me. But all
I can say now is, | know In whom l
have believed and am persuaded that
he is able to keep that which l nave
committed unto him against that day.
"If the young men of this country
could only know the joy and. pleasure
of a Christian life. I know they would
do all I'm their power to become earn,
est. active Christians, and would
strive to live as Christ would have
them live.
'There is not one thing I have left
undone which will bar me from facing
my God. knowing that my sins are
forgiven, for I have been free ana
frank in my talks with my spiritual
advisers and God knows where l
stand.
INV task is done, the victory won.
"CHESTER E. GILLETTE"