The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-10-03
HYDEPAYSDEATHPENALTY
ANDERSON WIFE SLAYER DIES
ELECTRIC CHAIR.
Declared Himself Prepared to Face
His Maker and Tells 9th
ers to Take Warning.

0rS 10 lake w
Columbia, S. c., October L.
The final chapter of one Of the
most sensational and interesting
cases in the history Of South Carolina
criminal law was enacted at the
State penitentiary this morning when
Samuel Hyde, Of Anderson county,
convicted of the double murder Of his
wife and father-in-law, paid the pen
atty for his crime in the death chair.
Public interest in the crime has been
accentuated by the utter Indifference
to his fate that Hyde has manifested
since the commission of the deed and
which caused doubts as to his sanity,
leading to the appointment of lu-
macy board that declared him sane
now and at the time of the murder.
This air of unconcern characterized
his final moments in the death cham
Der and he met death with smile
on his lips. The current was turn
ed on at four minutes after IL o'clock
and passed continuously through his
body for 62 seconds. He was then
examined by several physicians who
declared that death had been instan-
taneous.
Entered Death Chamber.
Accompanied by two guards and
two ministers he entered the death
room at 1858 and was Immediately
placed in the chair. His arms were
folded and he walked with a firm
tread and smiled pleasantly to the 81
witnesses who had assembled to wit
ness the electrocution. After the
straps had been adjusted he was ask
ed by Capt. Griffith, superintendent
of the penitentiary, if he had any
statement and he Immediately began
talking. There was no tremor in
his voice and he was apparently COM
posed, talking for three minutes. His
statement follows:
I'm going home to die no more.
I've made my peace with God and am
going to my heavenly home. God
needs me and is not ashamed of me-
Here he stopped talking and con-
tinued when his minister, Rev. Vine,
of Anderson, said to him: ''Sam, say
you want to, my boy"
Again he began in a voice so low
that only the spectators sitting near
could hear his words:
''In the picture of me, you see
what sin has brought me to. Take
warning" He then began quoting
the 14th chapter of John and re-
peated several verses, emphasizing
the thought that there was in his
Fathers house many mansions" and
He has gone to prepare a place for
me- Finally after talking for two
minutes, he said: Il am ready; God
is calling" and closed his eyes, evil
dently as signal that he was
through with his talk. Rev. Vine
then made a prayer imploring divine
mercy on the condemned man. When
the prayer had been concluded, sew
eral guards and the ministers who
have been associated with him dur
ing his confinement moved forward
and pressed his hand.
The Death Current.
The helmet and black cap were
then adjusted and at 1904 the cur
rent of 1900 volts was sent through
his body. Every muscle contracted
while the high voltage was main
tanned for nine seconds. 1t was then
reduced to 200 volts and constantly
varied between these two extremes
for 62 seconds The examination by
physicians showed that death had re-
suited. The body was then removed
from the chair and prepared for
shipment to Atlanta where it will be
received by the Anderson county stu
dents at a medical college, Hyde hav-
ing directed that this be done.