Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-24

the body responded to the fearful shock
the witnesses. gasped. There was no
warning.
Powerful Current Used.
For full minute the current raced
through the condemned man. For five
seconds IL was kept at its maximum
power and then was diminished slowly
during about twelve seconds. When
the needle on the indicator pointed to
200 volts IL remained stationary there
three minutes and then slowly through
another twelve seconds moved around
again to maximum. where 1t remained
vibratory for three seconds; back to
the maximum twice again it took Its
course until at the expiration or a 1uli
minute the current was shut on
Beattie's death was instantaneous.
according TO the prison surgeon Tne
utmost care had been taken In the
preparation OF the electrodes ana IN
seeing that the straps and clamps were
in proper place and prepared to with
stand any strain Not at any time
was there a slip. The murderer's exit
was said to have been as painless as
modern science could provide.
Inst before Supt wood and his men
appeared Rev Dr. Fix knelt in prayer
with the condemned man. He prayed
for divine forgiveness for him.
Arrival of Witnesses.
In torrential downpour or rain the
twelve witnesses to the execution tolleo
through the murky dawn up the hill from
which the penitentfary looks down upon
the citv. They were quickly marshaied
and conducted single file, through gates
Of steel bars to the chamber where Beat
70 off AtOnement.
was no conversation.
Within the chamber all was in readi-
ness The chair solid structure OF OAR
would ordinarily have appeared IKE tie
chairs seen in scores of libraries through
out the land. In the somberly pare chain-
Der however, 1t was sinister. straps
dangled from its arms ana PACK, anu
shining steel clamps appeared In the hSh.
~ the electrics like tentacles outstretched
10 clasp a victim.
The witnesses were seated, SIX aoreast,
in an angle of the room They snul1leo
their feet uneasily, and when one leaned
forward to speak to another his action
was received with frowns. MAJ. Woou'
with two deputy wardens, addressed tiie
witnesses going through some Siaaii
oalities demanded by the law. linen,
with his two men trooping behind, ne
passed out into the building Wnere bea.-
tie awaited the summons in his cell ao-
Joining.
Reading of Death Warrant.
In the death chamber the voice OF the
warden could be heard plainly reaolns 10
the doomed man the final summons. The
warden's voice droned on 1t seemed 10
the witnesses. unfortunately. In reality
the compliance with the law occupied
only a brief moment. Then, with Beattie
between them, the deputy wardens began
their progress toward the chair only
few feet away.
When the procession followed by Supt-
Wood, started, signal was gwen when
plunsed the death chamber into black
ness save for a single light Immediately
over the chair. This was so hooded tnat
1t outlined the chair in circle OF blazing
radiance, so intense that the remainder
of the room seemed in utter darkness
The witnesses scarce could see each other.
The prisoner saw nothing but the chair.
There was no delay in preparing Tor
The end Beattie took his place, the
prison surgeon and the electricians ao-
i,1sted the straps, half dozen clamps
were quickly thrown into place ana
snapped The cap. resembling leatneI
foot ball head harness, was adjusted ana
the men stepped back.
The warden raised his hand. Instantly
Beatties body stiffened with such v1o-
lence that the straps creaked with the
strain, the clamps ratified as though they
were castanets in the hands or oeatn,
and then that which once had Deen Henry
u d.
1t was just 7:23 am. when the shock
was applied One minute later Beatue
was dead.
Beattie Pronounced Dead.
The surgeon had gone forward and with
a stethoscope had listened for another
faint beating of the heart that less than
sixty seconds before had lived. He STEP
ped back.
'.He is dead"
The witnesses filed out. One or two
were CHASTITY pale as they stepped into
the early morning light.
Carriages were waiting for the wit
nesses and they were driven rapidly
away. The identity of but few was
known.
After the legal formalities had been
complied with and the witnesses had
gone the body of Beattie was removed
from the chair and taken to the mortuary
room adjoining. Here it was laid to
await the coming of the coroner. who ar
rived shortly afterward. The Rev. Dr.
Fix remained as the sole watcher.
All preparations had been made for the
removal of the body. The elder Beattie
last night sent 10 the undertaken the
brown suit which his son had worn in
court when the jury declared his guilt.
In this the body was clad for burial.
Brother Not Present.
No member OF the Bedttle 1am1ly was
present at the execution nor at the peni-
Tertiary when the death march was be-
gun. Preparations for the reception OF
Douglas Beattie brother of the doomed
man, had been made in the superintend-
ents Office, but the young man did not
appear. The failure of any member OF
the family TO be present was welcomed
by the prison authorities, for they feared
their charge might break down at the
last moment.
Beattie passed fairly peaceful night,
although his sleep was broken When
he arose this morning he dressed with
his usual care and ate sparingly. He
did not appear either nervous or appre-
hensive. although he was necessarily un-
der the eyes of his guards, who had re-
doubled their vigilance in the final mo-
ments. so that the law might not be
cheated.
During the reading of tie death war
rant the doomed man maintained his
ComposIre. He stood without a tremor.
i tEc superintendent finished he
~. but SO !mpercepubly that he
m aarc been shifting his weight
fin one foot to the other. When the
deputy wardens fell in on either side
OF him he bowed his head u moment.
Il ann ready. gentlemen he said, SIM
ply and the death march was begun
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