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Overview
Death waits for us all, but only those sentenced to death know the day and the hour—and only they can be sure that their last words will be recorded for posterity. Last Words of the Executed presents an oral history of American capital punishment, as heard from the gallows, the chair, and the gurney.
The product of seven years of extensive research by journalist Robert K. Elder, the book explores the cultural value of these final statements and asks what we can learn from them. We hear from both the famous—such as Nathan Hale, Joe Hill, Ted Bundy, and John Brown—and the forgotten, and their words give us unprecedented glimpses into their lives, their crimes, and the world they inhabited. Organized by era and method of execution, these final statements range from heartfelt to horrific. Some are calls for peace or cries against injustice; others are accepting, confessional, or consoling; still others are venomous, rage-fueled diatribes. Even the chills evoked by some of these last words are brought on in part by the shared humanity we can’t ignore, their reminder that we all come to the same end, regardless of how we arrive there.
Last Words of the Executed is not a political book. Rather, Elder simply asks readers to listen closely to these voices that echo history. The result is a riveting, moving testament from the darkest corners of society.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780226202686 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | University of Chicago Press |
| Publication date: | 05/30/2010 |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.90(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.20(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
LAST WORDS OF THE EXECUTED
By ROBERT K. ELDER
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS
Copyright © 2010 Robert K. ElderAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-226-20268-6
Chapter One
THE NOOSE
In the two days before Augustus Johnson's 1878 execution, thousands flocked to Rome, Georgia, to witness the event: the New York Times recorded that they came by "steam- boat, railroad, wagons until finally there were at least 10,000 persons present." Johnson, who was white, faced the gallows for the murder of a "colored" man, Alfred M. Carver; details of the crime do not survive in newspaper accounts. Two weeks prior Johnson had converted to Catholicism; he was "clean shaved and drank whisky freely." Escorted to the gallows by one hundred guards, Johnson ascended the scaffold and said:
Ladies and gentlemen: This is Gus Johnson, who you have heard of as a bad man. Some think I am a monster. My father was a colonel in the rebel army and bore a good name. I am to die for killing a negro 14 miles down the Coosa River. I am sorry I killed him. Deputy Sheriff Sharp has been with me a good deal. I think a heap of him. He has his duty to perform, and I do not think less of him for it. Jim Jinkins, Sheriff of the county, is a good man. His wife is a good woman and has been a friend of mine.
I have always been a bad boy. I have killed four men in my life. I can swear to two. I have friends in the crowd who would rescue me, but I want them to let me hang. Cicero Echols, John Beard and Bob Milliean killed Squire Foster, a colored man. They would have been hanged, but they bribed the solicitor with $25, and the case was not pressed.
Johnson then said good- bye to his friends, and at 1:50 p.m. he dropped seven feet through the trap door. The fall did not break his neck. Johnson strangled to death for eighteen minutes and was cut down after twenty.
Hanging is America's oldest method of execution, imported from Britain, and also the simplest. It required only a sturdy rope and a high perch—usually a tree or scaffold bar—strong enough to support a human body. In the best circumstances, the fall broke the condemned person's neck. Some, however, like Johnson, dangled and kicked until they suffocated. In more than a few instances, others were decapitated by the force of the drop.
Prisoners knew these horror stories all too well, and their final statements reflect this. In 1852, in California, convicted thief James Robinson yelled at the sheriff: "You don't know anything about hanging men!" He then instructed the sheriff to move the knot under his left ear, a more effective placement. Then, as the wagon moved from under his feet: "Oh God! Have I got to die?"
History does not record how quickly he died.
But the presence of a crowd was more influential on last words than almost any single factor. As in Johnson's case, there's a sense of oration, of ritual and even public theater. Further, final statements in front of assembled masses facilitated dialogue, as the condemned often spoke directly to audiences and elicited responses. This changed, of course, as scaffolds came to be built behind prison walls and capital punishment was taken out of the public eye.
Rainey Bethea, age twenty- two, was the last person in the United States to face an official public execution. In 1936 the young African American was hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky, for the murder of a seventy- year- old white woman. The county had the choice of carrying out the hanging in public or in private and chose the former without explanation. No last words survive.
By the 1930s the noose had been largely replaced as a method of capital punishment by the gas chamber and the electric chair. But as late as 1996 it was in use in Delaware. Billy Bailey was convicted of the 1979 murder of Gilbert and Clara Lambertson, though he claimed until his death that he did not remember shooting the elderly couple because he had been drinking heavily that day. Delaware constructed a fifteen-foot-high gallows specifically for Bailey's execution. Bailey had chosen hanging over lethal execution because, he said, "the law is the law."
Be it known to all this day, that we suffer not as evil doers, but for conscience['] sake; this day we shall be at rest with the Lord.
MARMADUKE STEVENSON, convicted of disobeying banishment, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Executed October 27, 1659
Stevenson (sometimes spelled Stephenson) was a plowman in England until he took to a religious calling. He left his family and traveled to Barbados. Eventually, in Rhode Island he met William Robinson, with whom he traveled to the Massachusetts Bay Colony to protest a law banishing a new religious order called Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers. Stevenson was banished himself and, when he later returned to the colony, sentenced to die. He was hanged in the Boston Common, the first of three known as the "Boston martyrs."
This is the day of your visitation, wherein the Lord hath visited you. This is the day the Lord is risen in his mighty power, to be avenged on all his adversaries. I suffer not as an evil doer. Mind the light that is within you; to wit the Light of Christ, of which He testified and I am now going to seal with my blood. Now ye are made manifest; I suffer for Christ in whom I live and in whom I die.
WILLIAM ROBINSON, convicted of disobeying banishment, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Executed October 27, 1659
Robinson was a Quaker living in Rhode Island. Upon hearing of the nearby Massachusetts colony's law exiling members of his religion, he went with several others to protest the law and was arrested and exiled. After he violated the terms of his exile, he was executed.
Upon being asked to resume her exile:
Nay, I cannot; for in obedience to the will of the Lord God I came, and in his will I abide faithful to the death.
When told she was responsible for her own execution:
Nay, I came to keep blood- guiltiness from you, desiring you to repeal the unrighteous and unjust law of banishment upon pain of death, made against the innocent servants of the Lord, therefore my blood will be required at your hands who willfully do it; but for those that do it in the simplicity of their hearts, I do desire the Lord to forgive them. I came to do the will of my Father, and in obedience to his will I stand even to the death.
Being asked by a pastor to repent:
Nay, man, I am not now to repent.
Upon being asked if she wished for an elder to pray for her:
I know never an Elder here.... I desire the prayers of all the people of God.... I know but few here.... Nay, first a child, then a young man, then a strong man, before an Elder of Christ Jesus.
Finally, when someone from the crowd asked if she'd been in Paradise:
Yea, I have been in Paradise several days and now I am about to enter eternal happiness.
MARY DYER (AKA MARY DIER OR MARIE DIER), convicted of disobeying banishment, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Executed June 1, 1660
Dyer was already an unpopular figure in the colony for her support of Anne Hutchinson, who was banished for heresy—notably her belief that God spoke not through clergy but to individuals directly.
A Puritan, Dyer later converted to Quakerism, feeling God had called her to return to Boston. She was given a last-minute reprieve twice, the second with a sentence of banishment. Instead, she chose to be executed for violating the terms of her exile. Today, her statue sits outside the Massachusetts State House over the inscription "Witness for religious freedom."
For bearing my testimony for the Lord against deceivers and the deceived, I am brought here to suffer. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
WILLIAM LEDDRA, convicted of disobeying banishment, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Executed March 14 (sometimes recorded as March 24), 1661
Despite the executions of three fellow Quakers in the colony, Leddra had refused to stop preaching. He was the last Quaker to hang in Boston and is sometimes recognized as a fourth "Boston martyr."
I have been among drawn Swords, flying bullets, roaring cannons, amidst all which, I knew not what Fear meant: but now I have appreciations of the dreadful wrath of God, in the other World, which I am going into, my Soul within me, is amazed at it ...
I pray God that I may be a warning to you all, and that I may be the last that ever shall suffer after this manner: In the fear of God I warn you to have a care of taking the Lord's name in vain. And have a care of that sin of Drunkenness, for that sin lead[s] to all manner of sins and wickedness ... as I am a dying man, and to appear before that Lord within a few minutes that you may take notice of what I say to you ...
UNNAMED RINGLEADER, convicted of treason and mutiny, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Executed 1673
Neither his name nor the details of his crime survive this "ringleader," only his last words.
I had rather go to an Ale-house than to any Church. Pray Young People take warning by my shameful end: keep the Sabbath truly.... I have had great Oppression upon my Spirit since I was in this prison and I thought I should never repent or confess, until Almighty God softened my hard heart and gave me grace to repent. I beg all good people to joyn in prayers with me, I have great need of your prayers.
THOMAS LUTHERLAND, convicted of murder, colonial New Jersey. Executed February 23, 1692
Lutherland, a carpenter, was hanged for strangling merchant John Clark, then stealing his goods. The undecided jury invoked the "law of the bier": Lutherland was forced to touch Clark's rotting corpse. It was believed that a corpse would bleed when touched by its murderer, and Clark's did not, but Lutherland broke down on the spot and confessed to his crime anyway. "When I touched the murdered Corpse of John Clark, I was afraid the Blood would have flown in my face," he said.
It should be noted that another source claims that Lutherland was executed in Pennsylvania; yet another insists he was put to death in 1691.
I am no more a witch than you are a wizard, and if you take away my life, God will give you blood to drink.
SARAH GOOD, convicted of witchcraft, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Executed July 19, 1692
After Good's first marriage failed, she moved to Salem and remarried. Some townspeople disliked her and accused her of casting evil spells and attacking a woman at knifepoint.
Good and fellow accused witches Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, and Sarah Wildes were executed together on Salem's Gallows Hill. When urged by Rev. Nicholas Noyes to confess, Good called him a liar, then delivered her final, now famous last words.
Paraphrased account from Robert Calef, later a critic of the witch trials:
[Burroughs] made a clear Speech for the clearing of his Innocency, with such Solemn and Serious Expressions, as were to the Admiration of all Present. [Burroughs then perfectly recited the Lord's Prayer, which] drew Tears from many.
GEORGE BURROUGHS, convicted of witchcraft, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Executed August 19, 1692
It was believed that witches could not say the Lord's Prayer, thus the tearful crowd reaction. Burroughs's recitation caused concerns that "the Spectators would hinder the Execution." But as soon as Burroughs hanged, Rev. Cotton Mather told the crowd that the prisoner was "no ordained Minister" and "the Devil has often been transformed into an Angel of Light."
... And now I have forsaken God, he has forsaken me, and I acknowledge he has been just in leaving me, for that I have gone from bad to worse, till for my sins I am now to die.... whereas I have been charged with and tried for burning my master's barn, I now declare as a dying man that I did not do it.... I acknowledge I deserve to die, and would confess especially my drunkenness and Sabbath- breaking, which have led me to this great Sin for which I now die.
JULIAN, convicted of murder, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Executed March 22, 1733
Julian, slave of John Rogers of Pembroke, confessed to killing his master but denied accusations of burning his master's barn. When Julian fled authorities, a reward was posted, and a bounty hunter captured him. On the way to returning Julian, his captor stopped to eat, leaving the runaway slave standing outside the diner. He again fled, and when the chase led into a neighboring cornfield, Julian stabbed the bounty hunter. Shortly thereafter he was captured and hanged.
Julian may have been John Julian, pilot of the pirate ship Whydah.
How are we condemned by the Covenant of Works, and relieved by the Covenant of Grace.
PATIENCE BOSTON, convicted of murder, colonial Maine. Executed July 24, 1735
Boston did not intentionally kill her baby. She was released for lack of proof and because her confession had been alcohol fueled. However, Boston decided to murder another child to validate her claims; she did so by holding a boy under water until he drowned. Her written confession was printed and sold by S. Kneeland and T. Green near the prison in Falmouth, Maine. Other sources list her day of execution as July 31.
In the presence of God, the possessor of heaven and earth, I lift up my hands and solemnly protest I am innocent of what is laid to my charge. I appeal to the great God for my non-knowledge of Hughson, his wife, or the creature that was hanged with them [Peggy Carey, a prostitute]. I never saw them, living, dying, or dead; nor ever had I any knowledge or confederacy with white or black, as to any plot; ... and I protest that the witnesses were perjured; I never knew them but at my trial.
REV. JOHN URIE, convicted of conspiracy, colonial New York. Executed August 29, 1741
Urie was a clergyman and a schoolteacher who was accused of having incited a group of slaves into arson and robbery. The Hughson he references was a tavern owner who was also convicted of inciting arson. Hughson and Urie were both hanged when New York was gripped by a wave of paranoia that its slaves were seconds away from overthrowing their masters. The colony ended up hanging eighteen slaves and burning eleven who were implicated in the conspiracy, as well as hanging four white people: Urie, Hughson and his wife, and a prostitute who frequented Urie's bar. The order to execute the slaves read in part, "You have grown wanton with excess of liberty and your idleness has proved your ruin."
I heartily thank the good Ministers who have frequently visited me, and prayed for me. I heartily forgive my enemies. And I sincerely fly to the Blood of Jesus Christ which is able to atone for my innumerable iniquities and cleanse me from the Pollution of Sin.
WILLIAM WELCH, convicted of murder, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Executed April 11, 1754
Welch's relatives in Ireland attempted to curb his reputation for trouble by sending him to America, where they hoped he would reform. But little changed. Welch was soon wanted for theft and for stabbing a man who had pursued him. Later in life, Welch was caught by Darby O'Brian, who wanted to collect reward money. Welch offered him more money than the reward, then murdered O'Brian after the two achieved an agreement. Welch's account was recorded in A Chronicle of Welch's Confession and Last Words, published in Boston in 1754.
I die in the 30th year of my age, and desire all young Men and Children to take warnings by my untimely End. I die a Protestant according to the Principles of the Lutheran Church, desiring the Prayers of all my Spectators and Hearers.
In a letter to his victim's father:
Dear Mr. Jacob Woolman: I am now confined in the Dungeon in Irons for the barbarous and willfull [sic] Murder I have committed on your Son, without the least provocation, and every hour since I am praying to Almighty God to pardon my Weakness ... Now I most humbly pray you and your Wife will forgive me as it lies so heavy on my Conscience, and send one Word as soon as possible! I am certain I shall die ... but while Life remains, I include you and Family in my Prayer for your prosperity in this World and eternal Felicity in the World to come.
HENRY HALBERT, convicted of murder, colonial Pennsylvania. Executed October 19, 1765
Halbert followed in his father's footsteps as a wigmaker. After marrying and plying his trade, he was accused of stealing money. According to Halbert, the accusation was false and drove him to murderous desperation, during which he killed a young boy.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from LAST WORDS OF THE EXECUTED by ROBERT K. ELDER Copyright © 2010 by Robert K. Elder. Excerpted by permission of THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Studs TerkelIntroduction
1 The Noose
2 The Firing Squad
3 The Electric Chair
4 The Gas Chamber
5 Lethal Injection
A Note on Accuracy and Sources
Timeline of Capital Punishment in the United States
Acknowledgments
Bibliography