Before dawn at Sing Sing Prison, seven men were led one by one into the death chamber.
It was August 1912, and the executions at Ossining, New York, broke all previous records for the prison.
Within little more than an hour, John Collins, Joseph Ferrone, Angelo Guista, Lorenzo Cali, Filipo Demarco, Salvatore Demarco, and Vincenzo Cona were put to death in the electric chair.
Five of the condemned men reportedly went to their deaths still protesting their innocence.
Officials described the executions as orderly and efficient.
Seven Pay With Death For Lives They Took
OSSINING, New York. — All death records were broken here today when seven men, five of whom died protesting their innocence, were electrocuted at Sing Sing. The names of the murderers were John Collins, Joseph Ferrone, Angelo Guista, Lorenzo Cali, Filipo Demarco, Salvatore Demarco, and Vincenzo Cona.
The first victim of the law entered the death chamber at 4:59 and was pronounced dead at 5:05, while the seventh entered the chamber at 6:-4 and was dead at 6:14.
The authorities pronounced the executions “the most skillful and featureless ever held.”
Source: The Daily Star Mirror. Moscow, Idaho. August 12, 1912.
