Only a few hours before she was due to go to the electric chair, her lawyers made a final vain attempt to save the life of Mrs. Anna Hahn, 31 year-old German subject, convicted of murder in the first degree.
In spite of their efforts, Mrs. Hahn was electrocuted yesterday As a last legal step, counsel sought a writ mandamus in the Federal Court, contending that she had not been given a proper opportunity to defend herself.
The writ was, however, refused at the last moment.
Mrs. Hahn was in a pitiable state throughout the day. Her condition was so critical that a doctor, had to be summoned to administer spirits of ammonia, and black coffee.
She was found guilty 13 months ago of the murder of Jacob Wagner, a retired. gardener.
Mrs. Hahn went to the chair wearing blue pyjamas.
She mumbled appeals as she stumbled towards the door of the execution chamber, and then collapsed.
She was picked up by guards, who carried her to the chair.
As the guards fixed the straps, she shouted to the warden:—"Don't do it!
Think' of my boy!"
She then pleadingly stretched out her arms towards the witnesses, cry. ing "Will nobody help me?'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.