Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-04-16
-FOUR DIE IN 40 MINUTES
One in State of Collapse, One
Protests Innocence, One
Prays, One Is Silent
to the End.

died in the electric chair at Sing Sing
prison at the break of dawn this Bas-
ter Monday morning.
Frank Seidenshner CWhitey Lewis)
made a statement. but did not fatty
assert his innocence.
Gentlemen" he mumbled, as they
strapped him in the chair, Il did not
shoot at Rosenthal Them who said /
did was perjurers For the sake of
justice, gentlemen | say ] didn't. The
witness Stannish------."
Whitley" did not finish the sentence.
The strange harness had been adjusted
and the current shot his body forward, in
the chair He had meant to say that
Stannish, walter and witness at the MUIR
der trial had lied but death interviewed.
Seidenshner was the second man to die.
'Dago Frank" Drank CrofcD came first.
"Gyp the Blood Diary Horowtz) was
third and Lefty Louie" Q,ouis Rosen-
berg) last. In 40 minutes fiat all four
were despatched This time would have
been shortened had it not been for the
overcrowding of newspaper reporters
Their numbers necessitated a shifting of
witnesses for each execution. There was
no untoward incident throughout the pro-
ccdure. All walked quietly to their doom
and only their quaking knees and the
sickly green pallor of their faces attest
ed that the realization of death was upon
them.
FACES ARE AVERTED.
William f. Cashin, Roman Catholic
chaplain of the prison, accompanied
''Dago Frank To the chair With
whitley Lewis and "Gyp the Blood"
was Rabbi Joseph Goldstein of New York
adviser of the Rosenberg family stood
by Lefty Louie" Priest and rabbi
alike averted their drawn faces from the
chair of death, meantime struggling to
control their choking utterances as they
intoned a prayer for the dying
Gentlemen" said Rabbi Goldstein, as
he left the death chamber, IF you ask
me whether the Jewish boys were guilty,
] will say I do not know They did not
confess to me. AS for the Italian l do
not believe he was at the scene OF the
crime. do not think any of them should
have been convicted on the testimony
offered
An anaemic moon still hung in the
sky when those who were to witness
the executions gathered in front of the
prison. The air was chill and a raw
wind swept across the Hudson which
binds the prison ut the west. Faint
lights glimmered at corridor ends of
the buildings but no sound came from
within. The hideous noises which con-
victs have been said to emit when one
or more of their number is to die
We're spared those who waited.
Dawn was just creeping over the
hills when the witnesses were admit
ted to the bare court yard of the death
house. Many were ashen- faced and
trembling. From a printed list a
clerk read off the names of those who
We're to see the first man die. A mo-
ment more and the door of the death
chamber had closed behind them
Warden Clancy had announced that
"Gyp the Blood would die first, fol-
lowed by Lefty Louie" "Dago
Frank" and Whitley Lewis" but AS
it transpired the man who first came
through the little iron door at the
right was "Dago Frank" He had
shown signs of collapsing and it was
deemed expedient to shield him from
the ordeal OF waiting.
TESTS THE CURRENT.
State Electrician Davis carefully test
ed the electric current by sending it
through series of incandescent ligh1ss
that glowed brilliantly on a board, which
lay across the stout arms of the cleo
trio chair.
1.-TWO Of these men have told me that
they will make a statement announced
Warden Clancy, land under no circum-
stances must any one 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 Cirofici
in prayer with Father Cashn. The
condemned man clutched crucinx in
each hand as he was led into the pres
once 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
applications for mercy. The wardens
and attendants stepped back from the
rubber mat.
'Oh God, l meet my Cod gasped the
Italian. The State electrician turned the
switch.
The hrst contact was gradually reduced
ana then a second shock was given. The
PHYSICIANS, DR.. Farr and Dr. Moreemo
with several other Witnessing doctors, ap-
Piled the stethoscope and made other tests
or life.
II pronounce this man dead" said DR.
Tarr in low voice. II was 5:43 o,cIocls
The group Of witnesses left the death
hamber and the body of "Dago Franb,'
WAS lifted by white-coated guards and
AIKEN to the autopsy room.
The doctors said Cirofci had made little
assistance to the electric current which
eglstered 1920 volts and between nine and
en- amperes, or the four he died the
asiest He had intended making state
bent, but his mental processes had failed
I'm.
A new lot Of witnesses filed in. Through
he little door presently came whitley
.ewis." He was CARRIED In black as
Dago Frank" had been. The statement
hat he never finished was on his lips as
e entered.
A current of 1870 volts with slightly
igher amperage, than had been used on
irofcl. tok his life after two Contacts
he switch was first closed al SAL 3G and
was pronounced dead at 5:52
Again the chamber was emptied and
gain filed with Witnesses At 80 "Gyp
40 Blood brought in. lie had Jewish