New Britain herald., 1928-01-13
Execution R,lns Smoothly

Execution Rurs Smoothly
 Sing siux, Jan. 1s UF)-The exc euticn that so stirred the world was carried out with a precision and lack of sensation that seemed cal culated 70 make the process of capi- tai punishment the least narrowing possible,
 The drama moved to steady climax through 3. long day and eve ming. Relatives said their last fare well The lawyers came to say goodbye, Warden Lswes paid his last visit to the condemned They were made ready for execution and left with their spiritual considers,
 The photograph that had played through the evening in the recrea- tion room of the prison was silent and tie lights were out in the cell blocks.
 The prison had the air of any nor nal night. and if. the occupants of 'the cells stretched TOW on row in vast corridors lay awake and think ing there was no sign.
 Even in the crowded prison office. where the witnesses gathered. the air. was quiet and conversation went on in low tones that conveyed no buzz of talk,
 Shortly after ten o'clock. Warden Lawes called the reporters into his office and gave them their final in structions. He was grave and dis tressed. although his quiet and courteous manner hid it. and he smiled occasionally.
 Don't Like Executions
 T don't like capital punishment" he said. T don't enjoy it and I don't look on the procession any more than I have to"
 But understand me, those are rt personal views. distinguish sharr ly between my personal views and my official duties. in fact, l lean backward to perform my duty strict .ly and keep my own views apart. T attend those executions because tothervise. I would have to delegate another person to perform my duty. and prefer to do it myself"
 He spoke of his last visit to the l condemned =
 Mrs Snyder was prepared for death" he sad She bore it well. She sad she was better prepared to go than when. she was living the Inf. she did before, .
 Would Aid Others Gray expressed the hope that his example would show other people the danger of steering wrong. SO that they could change the rudder and keep. off the rocks. He was calm-much calmer than I can be. and he was willing to go
 He told me 10 give his Bible ami the few letters he had, to his his mother, l Mrs, Snyder expressed no wish to see her daughter Lorraine v
 Lawes patiently answered 5 hun dred questions fired st him, descrlh- ed the mechan,clsm Of the execu- ton to aid the reporters in. the.r work
 Mrs. Snyder and Gray were given no narcotics and no sedatives Of any kind he sad
 Didn't See Each Other
 Everything had been done to make their last hours easier and it was arranged 90 that thew would not have to see each other in passing "a the death chamber: Mrs, Snyder would have to walk only 9s or 5" feet from 3 nearby cell and Gray . little further, about 1a, feet,
 An hour after the executions the great prison vas silent and desert ed The curious rro"d that had gathered at the gates to he as near as possible to the final chapter in the sordd tragedy of Ruth and Judd had disappeared.
 Soon after midnight, the whole drama of Ruth and Judd had closed i The gay Tommy who was SO live lv and. popular in the social life Q. Queens Village. lay in death beside Judd Cray. the pleasure e1ovlng cor set salesman with whom she joined 70 taste, life differently from the routine of thelr married llres Tight To the End
 New York, Jan 13 tp-Eleventh hour efforts to stay the eIecufrcn c! Mrs Ruth Snyder and Henry Judd Gray. kept counsel for the tr-c con demned prisoners and for the stat' moving at top speed 'irtuallv, tc th' hour that the death switch wa! thrown.
 The legal conslct started ahcu 3d in the morning when Narder Lewis [. Iares of Sing Sing rrlsol was formally served with copy q the stay of execution granted vester day for Mrs Snyder hv Surrem Court Justice Aaron ! Lew. F Warden Lawes got into cnmmun' ration with Governor Smith. rh' referred him 10 Attorney Gnnera Ottingor The latter issued an opLn ion holding that Judge Levy had m authority 10 grant.a 9 stay. The ma chinerv' of the attorney generals CT flee was .set m motion, and Iusf,c Lew persua ded te sI vance the tim for. hearing arguments on the Sta from this morning at, 1n o'clock t yesterday afternoon at 2 Q clock.
 rro paratlans were made by Affof nev General tttinger to carry ,'h matter before the appellate dir1slo' ' If Justice Lew did not yacate tn . stay.
 Al o'clock Y hecsme known tha r-l,,r T. IJa-Ic,or ,l,af of Mre