Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-29
Murderer RiVet
Is EleCtrOCuted.

Boston. July 23.-Showing every evil
dence Of being deeply impressed relig-
iouslv, Napoleon ]. Rivet of Lowell
walked to the death chair in the
Charlestown state prison shortly al
ter midnight this morning, paying the
penalty with his life for the murder
of Joseph j. Geilloux at Lowell Feb
20. 1908.
Rivet passed the door of his cell
room at 1912 A. NJ and l minute and
40 seconds later. at 12.13.40 his life went
out as the electrician threw over the
lever which allowed the coursing of
1920 volts of electricity through tn"
mans system.
Rivet was preceded into the death
chamber by Rev. Augustine D. Mallv
the prison chaplain, who carrying his
crucifix high in the air, prayed audibly
in the French language while the man
was being strapped in the chair. Rivet
carried small crucifix. upon which he
constantly kept his eyes. never once
raising them. No one of the witnesses
to the execution at any time saw the
mans eyes. Just before the officers
stepped away from the chair and be
fore the face mask was adjusted. the
priest placed his crucifix upon the lips
of the doomed man. who kissed tn,
cross The current was applied in the
usual manner. the full duration being
of about one minute and five seconds ::
eight seconds at 1920 volts at an am
pherage of 81: to Q, the full force, then
diminishing to 250 volts for % seconds
five seconds full again: 25 seconds dim
inisfing and five seconds full a third
time.
The three legal witnesses. the physi-
clans at l2.21 declared the man legally
dead
The crime for which Rivet was ex-
ecuted was the murder of his room
inatc, Joseph J. Gailloux, in a plumb
cr's shop on Hall street. Lowell. on the
night of Feb. 90, 1905
A Lowell police officer. patrcling his;
beat on the morning of March ]. found
the body If Gailloux, who had been
employed in the place as plumbers as
s:istaEce. The mans head and face
were covered with bruises while mis-
mouth, throat and hands wer" found
to be marked as by a powerful acid.
Post norton examination disclosed the
fact that Gailloux had been beaten
over the head with an iron pipe. and
that Sulphuric acid had been poured
into the mans mouth and throat. TIC
skull had been fractured and death
was ascribed to a hemorrhage of an
artery over the lett ear. After the as
sallt on the man his murderer had
turned open gas jet to complete the
work.
In the trial of Rivet the government
showed that Rivet had been made the
beneficiary in life insurance policy for
$1,000 on the life of Gaillous. that the two
had been together the night in which the
crime was committed and that a cigar
cite stub of the brand used by Rvet had
been found on the floor beside the body.
The defence was an albi, Rivet claim
ing to have been at the home of a rela-
tive the night of the crime.
Both men were natives of Quebec. Gail
loux being 81 years old and Rivet 2S at
the time of the murder
Rivet throughout the trial and his in
generation in the death cell showed no
signs of breaking down. only occasionally
giving expression to the thought that lit
is wicked to put so young man to
DEATH
The execution marks the 10th at the
Charlie state prison. The body of
Rivet was claimed by his relatives and
will be turned over to Lowell under
taker