The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-11
Joseph McElroyDies
 In Electric Chair
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rom Page D
 electric chair several days before, when we had visited the prison to learn from the warden the day and hour of the execution, but yet every eye was riveted on it. Look as one might at the green1sh-gray walls of the lofty chamber, or at the open door through which soon 8 man would walk to his death, his eyes were drawn back to the wooden chair with its straps and coils.
 Last Man to be Hanged
 In this same room not many months ago some of us had seen the last man to be hanged legally in this state. Now we were to see another proof of the march of prog ress, the first death by means of electrocution.
 Standing behind the chair was the executioner, who was to receive $50 for his nights work. Much like a housewife rinsing some clothes, Elliott was dipping the cop- per coils into two buckets filled with brine. That's 50 the cur- rent1l carry better" said one of the reporters.
 Witnesses Nervous.
 Through several minutes that seemed like hours, we sat there, able to hear the sound of our own I,~oo &loi,an cn,,1any, cora nod hic shoe on the floor and something like a shiver went through the little room. Wed entered the death chamber at 9:50 and it was at 9:53 that the guards received the signal to bring in the prisoner. It was 9:53:50 when McElroy came through the door. the priest at his side and guards in front and in back.
 Quickly they seated him in the chair and began fastening the straps about his arms and body. It was then that he muttered, "Okay," to the guard. He looked back at us, recognized the two sheriffs and nodded; then his eyes looked blank ly into space, just as mask was placed over his eyes and mouth. He seemed like a little child as he sat in the chair, his semi-bald head glistening a bit in the light before the headpiece was placed on him. He could have been any age; he said he was A; his war records Che served with the Canadian army in the World war and was gassed) showed that he was 48.
 End Came Quickly
 Elliott made one last adjustment of the straps, fixed the headpiece firmly into place, and stepped over to the big switchboard a few feet away. He looked for an instant at the prisoner, then he snapped one long switch. snapped another, and gave a quick spin to big black wheel on the board.
 McElroys body lurched forward. straintng at the straps, then 1t slowly settled back, as a wisp of smoke curled from his head, and another from his bare right leg, where another coil had been placed. There was a hum as the power went on, but the sound faded as we watched the man in the chair.
 The executioner spun the wheel again, to the left and to right. as the voltage needle crept up and down. At last four times, perhaps more, the body strained forward and then slumped back.
 Mask Slips One Side
 McElroy's mask had slipped to the side 8 bit as his body surged with electricity, and we could see the ashen gray of his face. Smoke kept seeping up, rising slowly into the yellow light. The executioner nodded to the two doctors at the side of the room, and they came over stethoscopes in hand. An instant of listening and they nodded, too, and quickly guards be- gan to loosen the straps and remove the helmet and mask. We looked at our watches. McElr0y had en- tered the chamber at 0:53:50, the current went on at 9:55:30. and he was pronounced dead at 9:58:20. It was but g moment later that guards had carried the body from the room, through e eide door, to the hearse waiting outside.
 Witnesses Quit Scene
 We got up slowly and started the march back through the prison. No one said very much, and when back in the office. the warden asked us if we thought that electrocutio1 was c more humane method of capital punishment than hanging, there were only one or two half-hearted replies.
 We picked up our coats and hats and put them on, then stood un- certainly for a minute. Someone shook hands with the warden: then we all did, and started for the door.
 Just as we got outside, into the cold, clear air, and started for our cars, the fearse carrying the body came slowly along the driveway. No ono moved until it was out oS q. |.