EXECUTION PHOTOGRAPHED

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3763, 6 March 1928, Page 1

EXECUTION PHOTOGRAPHED

NEWSPAPERS AUDACITY.

MANY PROTESTS MADE.

The American “yellow” press surpassed all its previous exploits at the recent execution of Mrs. Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray in Sing Sing prison, for the murder of Mrs. Snyder’s husband. A few hours after the execution of the couple, a New York evening newspaper published on its front page a photograph of the actual electrocution of Mrs. Snyder.

The photograph plainly shows the electric chair, with the woman’s head encased in the black mask. She is sitting stiffly erect with her arms tightly strapped and with the electrode fastened to her bare right leg. . ICopies of the newspaper with this photograph were greedily snapped up, and very soon the whole special edition was sold out, with the newsboys clamouring for additional copies. The photograph was apparently taken by a reporter in the death chamber by means of a concealed camera. The taking of photographs in such circumstances is strictly prohibited. Widespread protests have been made. 'Some 20 newspaper representatives were present at the executions, which took place not long before midnight in a brightly-lit room with light-coloured walls, the newspaper men were seated on benches resembling church pews, ft is surmised that the picture was. taken with a camera little larger than a watch, but fitted with an extremely fast lens.