The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-29
STORY WRITER
 AT EXECUTIONS
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 the eldest 27, the youngst 22--- Charles Kropowitz, George Roserl- berg, Frank Russo, and Vincent De Martino. These four Brooklyn youths two years ago, believed that crime could be made to pay. It paid them $7O, but they killed Thomas Gaugh- an and last night they paid oil the debit balance.
 Four Lives for One
 Four lives for one. They came into the death house in that order Kropowitz, Rosenber, Russo, De Martino. Fifty-seven men saw them -wardens, doctors, official witness es and reporters. There should have been more. It was not pleasant to watch. Two men asked to be let out before 1t was over. Another, his face almost green, wanted to slip out, but he was too far from the door and the warden whispered to him not to watch. Even one of the doctors didn't watch. He stood with his head bowed, staring at his feet, until 1t was time to make his exar1- nation, in the corner close to me, another man stood with his face to the wall, making queer hiccoughing noises.
 KropOwltS Dies First
 Kropowit7 was first--a thin dark haired weedy youth. A guard walked on each side of him, holding his arms. He sloucted liStlessly, as if he was almost too weary to walk those few yards. His salmon face was al- most white. The stub of @ cigar hung in the corner of his mouth, and got in the way when they slipped on the chin strap that held the elec- trode on his head. A priest held Q cruciflx for him to kiss, and then Q black mask was placed over his face. This was the dreadful moment. I had driven here cheerfully enough, hoping at the back of my mind that I would have the stomach to see 1t through.
 His Time Had Come
 Now the time was here. This was the man, only a little while ago he was walking, thinking, moving perhaps even hoping, as a man must. Now he was going to die. The exec cutioner stepped back through the door and the other attendants stepped away and for an instant there was indescribable silence, a terrible stiffness. Then the switch thudded, the current surged with a fearful whining buzz through the man in the chair. His body leaped horribly under the contraction of his muscles, the straps around his arms and legs, the broad strap across his chest, held him from plunging out towards Us. The wind pumped out of his lungs in Q long fading whistle.
 Final Moments
 His muscles were locked rigidly, so that I saw the crease of the flesh where the straps were cutting. Saliva drooled down his chin. His hands turned upwards and back, very slowly, from the wrists. There was Q crisp, sizzling noise from the electrode below his knee, and Q wreath of smoke curled upward in front of him. An acrid smell stung my nostrils. So this was what they meant when they talked so lightly and casually about being ."burned" when they said, Ines going to fry" The switch thudded again, and the body slumped down. The doctors walked out with their stethoscopeS. They were very quick. One spoke quietly as they turned away. This mans dead" They took him out of the chair and laid him on a metal table and wheeled him out. His face was waxen, his mouth open and his jaw dropped. His eyes were glazed, the lids half closed.
 Two Others Followed
 But it was just beginning. They brought in Rosenberg. He walked briskly and firmly. While he was being fastened in, he looked square, ly at us and spoke: T just want to say, gentlemen, that I hope my sacrifice will help others to profit by my experience" They stepped away from him as he prayed aloud. The switch was thrown and the cur- rent choked of the prayer. And so they went-Kropowitz, Rosenberg, minutes for each---12 minutes to pay for the life of Thomas Gaughan and $70.
 I am sorry there is only Q com- paratively small number of men who have seen what I saw. If there is to be capital punishment, if 1t is to be claimed that the death pen- atty is a deterrent to crime, every one should know exactly what 1t