The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-10
FIVE DIE IN CHAIR,
ONE WITH SMILE
Four Bronx Men Who Killed
Ticket Agent Lose Long
Fight for Life.
RECONCILED NEAR END
Bull Cassidy, Who Was De-
clared Imbecile, Faces His,
Doom StOically.

James Cassidy died in the electric
chair last night with a smile on his
lips, which may have been because
defective. but the other men-Joseph
Usefof, Joseph Milano. Charles Nc
Laughlin and Howard Baker-who
preceded him into the death chamber
at Sing Sing in one of the largest kill
ings the prison has ever seen, did not
smile. Usefof Mclaughlin and Miano
said they were going to smile. and they
called upon the witnesses to see the
smile but it could not be seen--only a
contortion Of muscles. Baker did not
speak word from the time he en-
tered the chamber until the current
went through his body.
Cassidy, Usefof, Milano and Me
Laughlin were put to death for the
murder OF Otto Fiala ticket agent on
the Bronx subway, and Baker died be-
cause he killed VIM. De Gret at Walcott.
N. Y. 1t was the third time in the
history of Sing Sing that such a large
number of men were put 10 death one
after the other. and the proceedings
required some time-exactly fifty-one
minutes. Usefof was the first OF the
five to die. TIe entered in company
with the Jewish chaplain, DR.. Jacob
ISatz. and as he stepped into the room
he said:
You will now see an innocent man
die. shall die with smile ON my
face. Can you see it?'
Ono sings as He waits.
No one answered him. because no
one is allowed 70 speak in the death
chamber.
II was Hos o'clock when Gsefof en-
tered. IL was ten minutes later when
the prison physician said he was dead.
Baker was next. He was the young
est OF the lot-onIy 20. He walked
steadily enough. with Father William
E. Cashin. the Catholic chaplain. ahead
OF him. But the boy was pale and
trembling when he reached the chair
and he had to be helped into II. He
shook all the time the straps and cleo
trodes were being adjusted.
It was II II when Baker entered. 1t
was nine minutes later when the phy'si-
elan said he was dead.
The next was Mclaughlin. twice ad-
judged an imbecile BY alienists. He too
told the witnesses that nc would die with
"the old smile on my face But no one
could see il. He said nothing else. but
seated himself firmly In the chair.
1t was IL 30 when Mclaughlin en-
tered II was seven minutes later when
he was pronounced dead.
The fourth TO die was Milano. who
came briskly into the death chamber
ara looked with interest at the chair.
with it's leather cap and it's death deal
ing switches and electrodes.
Hello. people" said Milano as he en-
tered and ''Good-by, everybody he sain
as the last electrode was adjusted.
Il was IL 81 when Milano entered. 1t
was nine minutes later when the physi-
clan pronounced him dead.
Cassidy was the last to die. During
the time Mclaughlin and Milano were be-
ing killed Cassidy was singing In his
cell only a few yards away. The song
ne sang as the current shot through MI
lano's body was "Oh, What Girl Was
Mary" He came into the death cham
Der with a strong and confident step and
smiled as he stepped across the
threshold.
IT know I've done wrong" said CAS-
sidy. "and deserve 10 die
He saw Warden Lewis Z. Lawos sit
ting against the wall.
Hello, Warden, old timer he
shouted. "Ho~s things?"
And as the last ,lcctrode was tight
ened and the attendants stepped bacb
waiting for the electrician to throw he
switch Cassidy laughed and eaid
Let 'er go!'
was eight minutes later when the prison
physician said he was dead.
Last night was not the first time that
the four men from The Bronx wore the
uniform, with the trousers slit up the
leg which the convicts wear when they
leave their cells TO be put TO death. All
OF them were originally sentenced TO die
last April 20 and were within three
hours OF the time set for the execution
OF the sentence when Joseph Milano
made a confession IN which he declared
that Csefof was entirely innocent ana
that Cassidy and Mclaughlin were 80
mentally unsound that he could make
them do whatever he wanted.
This confession was hurried TO Gov.
Smith. who reprievcd the convicted muir
derere until he could investigate u.
But later Milano repudinted his state
ment and date again was set for the
rlectrocutlon -Four times after that.
however. tho men gained reprieves,
usually because there was pending in
the courts some legal step by which
their relatives hoped TO obtain a new
trial or BY which they hoped 10 prove
that two or more members OF the quar-
tet should not be punished because they
were mentally unsound
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