Chap. 27.—-An ACT to amend and re-enact section 4942 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to the transfer of certain persons to the penitentiary, how death
sentence shall be executed and who shall be present and the duties of the
superintendent of the penitentiary relating thereto. [H B 24]

Approved February 17, 1936

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That section
forty-nine hundred and forty-two of the Code of Virginia, be amended
and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 4942. Transfer of convict to penitentiary; how death
sentence executed; who to be present.—The clerk of the court in
which is pronounced the sentence of death against any felon shall, as
soon as may be, after such sentence, deliver, a certified copy thereof
to the superintendent of the penitentiary at Richmond. As soon as
practicable thereafter and not less than fifteen days before the time
fixed, in the judgment of the court, for the execution of said sentence,
the superintendent of the penitentiary shall cause to be conveyed to
the said penitentiary such condemned felon in the manner now pre-
scribed by law for the conveyance of felons sentenced to confinement
in the penitentiary, and the superintendent, in his discretion, may
appoint more than one guard to convey the condemned felon, and the
expenses of such guard or guards shall be paid in the manner and
under the requirements now prescribed by law for the conveyance of
convicts to the penitentiary. The said superintendent, or the as-
sistants appointed by him, shall, at the time named in said sentence,
cause the said felon under sentence of death to be electrocuted until
he is dead, unless a suspension of execution be ordered. At the execu-
tion there shall be present the superintendent, or an assistant, the
surgeon of the penitentiary or his assistant, and a number of respect-
able citizens numbering not less than six nor more than twelve. The
counsel for the convict and a minister of the Gospel may be present.