Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-14

tested the electric current by sending
it through a series of incandescent
lights that glowed brilliantly on a
board, which lay across the stout
arms of the electric chair.
Two of these men have told me
that they will make a statement" an
nounced Warden Clancy, and under
no circumstances must anyone ask
them any questions" The head and
leg sponges were then wet and Head
Keeper McInerney, acting on a signal
from the warden, went to the death
cell. There he found Girofici in pray
er with Father Cashin. The condemned
man clutched a crucifix in each hand
as he was led into the presence of
death. He had to be supported by two
keepers.
In the death cells could be heard
the murmur of the other slayers in
their supplications. The warden and
attendants stepped back from the rub
Der mat
"Oh, God, I meet my God God"
gasped the Italian. The state electric
ian turned the switch.
The first contact was gradually re-
duced and then a second shock was
given. The prison physicians. DR.. Farr
and DIR. Mersemo. with several other
witnessing doctors. applied the steth-
escope and made other tests for life.
Il pronounce this man dead" said
DR.. Farr in low voice. 1t was SAB
o'clock The group Of witnesses left
the death chamber and the body of
"Dago Frank was taken to the au-
topsy room.
The doctors said Cirof1ci had made
little resistance to the electric current,
which registered 1920 volts and be-
tween and 10 amperes. OF the four
he died the easiest. He had intended
making a statement, but his mental
processes had failed him.
A new lot of witnesses filed in.
Through the little door presently came
Whitley Lewis" He was CARRIED in
black as .Dago Frank had been. The
statement that he never finished was
on his lips as he entered.
A current of 1920 volts with slight
ly higher amperage than had been used
on Cirofici took his life after two con-
5.47.36 and he was pronounced dead at
5.52.
Again the chamber was emptied and
again filled with witnesses. At 5.56
"Gyp the Blood" was brought in. He
| had a Jewish prayer book in his left
hand and Rabbi Goldstein walked by
his side. Listen, Israel There is
only one God" mumbled Gyp in He
brew. His staring gaze swept the
faces but aside from the prayer he
made no statement.
The preliminaries was quickly ar
ranged the current was applied. Two
shocks were given and at 500 o'clock
physicians pronounced the man dead.
Lefty Louie" the last of the four
to die entered the chamber at 6.07.
The first contact was given at sos but
it was not until GIT that he was pro-
nounced dead. Three contacts were
necessary.
The only relatives of the young men
who were in the prison at the time
of the execution were ''Dago Franks
mother, sister and brothers, John and
Paul, and Whitley Lewis" brothers,
Morris and Louis.
Mrs. Cirofici was borne to her car
riage in an almost total collapse, an
hour after the electrocution.
The convicts as they filed by the
green barred windows, shouted words
of cheer to the Seidenshner brothers
as they left.
To a stranger who offered to pay
the cost of 'Whitey's' burial the
brothers replied that they had enough
money.
All the bodies of the gunner will be
claimed by relatives.
Mrs. Cirofici remained with her son
until 4 o'clock, hoping to the last that
| the governor would grant a reprieve
She believes in her boys innocence.
Mrs. Cirof1ci pleaded with Frank ir
Italian to confess, but he said he had
told all he knew and he was not pres
ent when Herman Rosenthai was
| killed.
One of the last things Frank said be-
| fore he left his cell was to Father
Cashin, Take care of my mother" he
! admonished.
&C