The Death Penalty can be traced back to 1792 BC during the reign of Hammurabi, the Babylonian king. Methods of execution during this time included drowning, burning, crucifixion, impalement and being beaten to death. During the reign of Henry VIII, it’s estimated that 72,000 people were executed via horrific ways such as being boiled to death and being hanged, drawn, and quartered. These are just a minority of those who have been executed over the centuries and the words they uttered before death.
Sarah Good: Executed in 1692, Salem. Hanging.
Sarah Good was convicted of witchcraft during the horrific Salem Witch Trials. There is a legend that the Reverend Nicholas Noyes, who repeatedly insisted she should confess to her ‘crime’, later died by choking on his own blood.
Last Words: ‘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’.
Madame du Barry: Executed in 1793, Paris. Guillotine.
Madame du Barry was convicted of financially helping those who fled the French Revolution and was executed for treason.
Last Words: ‘You are going to hurt me, please don’t hurt me, just one more moment, I beg you’.
Grover Cleveland Redding: Executed in 1921, Illinois. Hanging.
Grover Cleveland Redding was accused of being a mentally ill man, believing that he was the prince of Abyssinia and was trying to bring his people back to the homeland. Despite this he had a following, people who agreed with his anti-government rhetoric. During an anti-government riot two of his followers were killed.
Last Words: ‘I have something to say, but not at this time.’
George Appel: Executed in 1928, New York. Electric Chair.
George Appel had been convicted of first-degree murder of a police officer and was sentenced to death.
Last Words: ‘Well, gentlemen, you are about to see a baked Appel’.
Barbara Graham: Executed in 1955, San Quentin. Gas Chamber.
Barbara Graham, or ‘Bloody Babs’ as the media nicknamed her, was convicted of taking part in the robbery of an elderly lady. While the victim was shouting out, Barbara allegedly pistol whipped her and suffocated her with a pillow.
Last Words: ’Good people are always so sure they're right.’ Advised that taking a deep breath after the cyanide pellets were dropped would make her death easier, she replied ‘How the hell would you know, you silly rascal?’.
Robert Otis Pierce: Executed in 1956, California. Gas Chamber.
Robert Otis Pierce took part in a robbery; the victim died after being hit numerous times by Robert’s gun. On the day of his execution Robert tried to cut his own throat with a shard of glass; it was wrapped with a prison shirt, and it took four guards to strap him in. Witnesses to the execution were horrified as he screamed, bled, and cried. Some actually vomited and fainted at the horrific sight.
Last Words: ‘I’m innocent! I’m innocent! I’m innocent! Don’t let me go like this, God! I did wrong but I didn’t kill anybody! You’re the ones that put me here, God, you’re a dirty son of a bitch because I’m innocent!’.
James French: Executed in 1966, Oklahoma. Electric Chair.
James French murdered a man who picked him up whilst he was hitchhiking. He was given a life sentence, but he decided he would rather die. Being too afraid to commit suicide, he found another way; he killed another inmate and was sentenced to death.
Last Words: ‘How about this for a headline for tomorrow’s paper? French fries’.
Jimmy Glass: Executed in 1987, Louisiana. Electric Chair.
Jimmy Glass, along with fellow inmate Kimmy Wingo, escaped from jail and burgled an elderly couple’s home, shooting them dead in the process.
Last Words: ‘I’d rather be fishing’.
Robert Alton Harris: Executed in 1992, California. Gas Chamber.
Robert Alton Harris and his brother, Daniel, abducted 2 teenage boys and forced them to drive to an isolated area. They complied and, arriving at the destination, Robert shot them dead, telling them to ‘stop crying and die like men’.
Last Words: ‘You can be a king or a street sweeper, but everyone dances with the Grim Reaper.’
Karla Faye Tucker: Executed in 1998, Texas. Lethal Injection.
Karla Faye Tucker admitted to killing two people with a pickaxe during a robbery gone wrong; she even bragged about reaching orgasm with each blow of the weapon.
Last Words: ‘Everybody has been so good to me. I love all of you very much. I am going to be face to face with Jesus now. Warden Baggett, thank all of you so much. You have been so good to me. I love all of you very much. I will see you all when you get there. I will wait for you’.
Bennie Demps: Executed in 2000, Florida. Lethal Injection.
Bennie Demps had been convicted of 2 murders and was on Death Row when the death penalty was abolished for being unconstitutional. In 1976 it was resumed, and 2 months later Bennie was accused, and convicted, of killing an inmate.
Last Words: ‘They butchered me back there; I was in a lot of pain. They cut me in the groin; they cut me in the leg. I was bleeding profusely. This is not an execution, it is murder’.
Aileen Wuornos: Executed in 2002, Florida. Lethal Injection.
Aileen Wuornos suffered a terrible childhood and went on to be a sex worker. She shot dead 7 men and, despite claiming self-defence, she was sentenced to death.
Last Words: ‘Yes, I would just like to say I’m sailing with the Rock, and I’ll be back, like Independence Day with Jesus. June 6, like the movie, big mother ship and all, I’ll be back, I’ll be back’.
Torrey Twane McNabb: Executed in 2017, Alabama. Lethal Injection.
Torrey Twane McNabb was convicted of shooting a Montgomery police officer 5 times after he attended a traffic accident Torrey had caused. He and his attorneys attempted to get a stay of execution on the grounds that lethal injection is cruel and unusual.
Last Words: ‘Mom, sis, look at my eyes. I got no tears. I am unafraid. To the state of Alabama, I hate you…I hate you. I hate you’.
Although the method of execution has changed over the years, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that the system is not infallible. There are corrupt justice systems, serious miscarriages of justice, mental health issues and much more which should be investigated in depth. Was everyone on this list guilty of a serious crime? As always, thanks for reading, let me know what you think in the comments and please take care of yourselves.
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