List of people executed in Oklahoma (pre-1972)

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The following is a list of people executed by the U.S. state of Oklahoma before 1972, when capital punishment was briefly abolished by the Supreme Court's ruling in Furman v. Georgia . For people executed by Oklahoma after the restoration of capital punishment by the Supreme Court's ruling in Gregg v. Georgia (1976), see List of people executed in Oklahoma. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

In 1915, Oklahoma adopted electrocution as its main form of capital punishment, with a designated execution chamber being added to the state penitentiary in McAlester. [3] From that year to 1972, 83 prisoners (all male) were executed in the state penitentiary. 82 were electrocuted; one of the prisoners, sentenced to death by the federal government under the "Lindbergh law", was hanged instead at his request. [4] (Hanging was retained as an alternative method. [5] )

List of executions

NameRaceAgeDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)Governor
Henry BookmanBlack2810 December 1915 McIntosh MurderRichard Hardin, white [6] Williams
Cecil ToweryBlack226 November 1916 McIntosh Murder-RobberyCharles Vaughn, white [7]
Chester TaylorBlack4413 April 1917 Creek Murder
Charley YoungBlack26 Tillman Murder
Willie WilliamsBlack35 Muskogee Murder
John PratherBlack263 May 1918 Pittsburg MurderCharles Chapman, black (cellmate) [8]
James BrownBlack348 November 1918 Muskogee Murder
T. R. BraughtWhite2923 May 1919 Creek MurderOtis Robbin, white [9] Walton
Monroe Betterton White489 July 1920 Craig MurderElzadah Betterton, white (wife) [10]
John LedbetterNative American3125 February 1921 Muskogee MurderRobert Moreland, race unknown [11]
Robert BlakelyWhite39Effie May Allford, white [12]
Eli ThomasBlack2215 July 1921 Le Flore Murder
Steve SaboWhite5017 March 1922 Coal Murder-RapeSophia Sabo, 19, white (niece) [13]
Sam WatkinsWhite395 May 1922 Atoka Murder-RapeCora Jones, white [14]
Aaron HarveyWhite2113 January 1924 McCurtain MurderFive persons, white [15] [a] Trapp
Jack PopeWhite45
Richard BirkesWhite295 September 1924 Craig Murder-RobberyFrank Pitts, white [16]
Leroy ScottBlack2229 May 1925 Pittsburg MurderFrank Daniels, white [17]
Johnnie WashingtonBlack294 December 1925 Jackson Murder
Theodore BrusterBlack2129 June 1928 Muskogee Murder-RobberyWilliam Heeman, white [18] Johnston
Walter WiggerWhite31 Ottawa MurderRuth Harris, white (lover) [18]
Willie O'NeilBlack27 Oklahoma Murder-RobberyMark Hipscher, white [18]
James ForrestBlack2317 July 1930 Stephens RapeFemale, white [19] Holloway
Tom GuestWhite48 Pottawatomie Murder-RobberyBailey Browder, white [19]
E. S. HembreeNative American3217 April 1931 Stephens RapeLeota Bosley, 23, white [20] Murray
Paul ColeWhite3310 July 1931 Seminole MurderErnest ..rby, white [21]
Bennie NicholsBlack3121 August 1931 Pontotoc Murder-RobberyJack Hornton, white [22]
Henry LovettWhite3925 September 1931 Canadian Murder-RobberyDee Foliart, 28, white [23]
Martin KeeneyWhite4911 March 1932 Oklahoma MurderW. H. Folwell, 73, white
A. M. HarrisWhite4917 June 1932 Oklahoma MurderEd Martin, 62, white
Ira J. Adler [24] White5019 August 1932 Blaine MurderTom and Nora McDonald, white (brother- and sister-in-law) [24]
Charles DavisBlack42Guy M. Jarvis, 38, white (undersheriff) [24]
Ivory CovingtonBlack2527 January 1933 Choctaw Murder-RobberyLuther Williams, white
Nathan RightsellWhite2724 February 1933 Choctaw MurderJason Victor Buchanan, white (officer)
Charles LattimerWhite2924 March 1933 Comanche MurderFemale, white (wife) [25]
Proctor McDonaldWhite245 May 1933 Creek Murder-RobberyRaymond Butler, 8, white [26]
Joe MartinWhite54 Noble MurderPete Von Uearop, white [26]
Albert EllisWhite25 Carter RobberyJohn Weber and his family, white [26]
Luke NicholsWhite4419 May 1933 Alfalfa MurderHarriet Crawford, 26, white (lover) [27]
Claude OliverWhite2823 August 1933 Murray MurderDella Oliver, 15, white (George's wife) [28]
George OliverWhite18
Ted PattonWhite2520 October 1933 Sequoyah MurderRobert Wall, 19, white [29]
Charley DumasBlack29 Coal Rape
William JohnsonBlack2810 November 1933 Muskogee MurderMary Wolfenberger, white [30]
Tom MorrisBlack4024 November 1933 Pittsburg MurderMr. and Mrs. Joe House, white [31]
Earl QuinnWhite29 Garfield Murder-RapeJessie Griffith, 24, white [32]
Frank ClarkBlack6019 January 1934 McCurtain MurderDan and Anna Stiles, white [33] [34]
Ernest OglesbyWhite274 January 1935 Oklahoma MurderDouglas Gates, white (Oklahoma City policeman) [35]
Robert CargoWhite2124 May 1935 Oklahoma Murder-RobberyA. L. Luke, white [36] Marland
Alfred RowanBlack3020 September 1935 Jackson MurderRoy Gentry, white [37]
Bun RileyWhite29 Pittsburg MurderThree persons, white [37]
Chester BarrettWhite37 Creek MurderThree of his children, white [37]
Roy GuytonBlack2520 March 1936 Oklahoma Murder
James HargusWhite2624 April 1936 Tulsa MurderL. D. Mitchell, white (Tulsa police officer) [38]
Arthur Gooch [b] White2719 June 1936N/A (Federal)KidnappingR. N. Baker and H. R. Marks, white [39]
Leon SilerWhite2211 June 1937 Comanche MurderJ. E. Wilson, white (Grady County deputy sheriff) [40]
Charlie SandsNative American21
Roy MannonWhite381 March 1940 Wagoner Murder-RobberyJake Skelly, 67, white [41] Phillips
Roger CunninghamWhite3015 November 1940 Oklahoma MurderEudora Cunningham, white (wife) [42]
Warren AbbyWhite5929 August 1941 Custer MurderJulia Abby, 78, white (wife) [43]
J. D. TuggleWhite239 February 1942 Garvin Murder-RobberyMr. and Mrs. D. Wilburn Jones, white (uncle and aunt) [44]
Finley PorterBlack4016 April 1943 Pittsburg MurderL. Z. Beacham, black (cellmate) [45] [c] Kerr
Hiram PratherWhite3514 July 1943 Pittsburg MurderJess Dunn, white (warden) [46] [d]
Amos JohnsonBlack3023 March 1945 Lincoln MurderVictoria and Martha Gorski, 38 and 3, white
Cliff NormanBlack309 November 1945 Murray RapeFemale, white [47]
Alfred BinghamWhite4031 May 1946 Tulsa MurderMary Bingham, 30, white (wife) [48]
Mose JohnsonBlack331 November 1946 Pittsburg MurderL. C. Smalley, race unknown [49]
Harlan BroylesWhite3230 January 1947 Seminole MurderEric Nicholson, 35, white (deputy sheriff) [50] Turner
Lewis GraysonBlack3125 May 1948 Muskogee RapeFemale, white
Ben GouldBlack4027 September 1948 Atoka Murder-Rape-RobberyMary Lynn, 57, white [51]
Max KletkeWhite256 January 1951 Oklahoma MurderCarl E. Beach, 45, white
Jearell HathcoxWhite3827 July 1951 Oklahoma MurderMartin Lyle Shaffer, 67, white [52] Murray
Melburn MottWhite3521 September 1951 Tulsa MurderMary Frances Mott, 6, white (daughter) [53]
Carl DeWolfWhite3717 November 1953 Tulsa MurderJerry St. Clair, 25, white (Tulsa policeman) [54]
Hurbie FairrisWhite2218 January 1956 Oklahoma MurderBennie F. Cravatt, white (detective) [55] Gary
Otto LoelWhite4411 January 1957 Oklahoma MurderElizabeth Jeanne Henderson, 31, white [56]
Robert HendricksWhite665 February 1957 Craig Murder-RobberyRheam Payton, 54, white [57]
Edward WilliamsWhite3028 July 1960 Tulsa Kidnapping [58] [e] Tommy Cooke, 24, white [58] Edmondson
James SpenceWhite3231 August 1960 Cotton MurderFemale, 19, white [59]
Ray YoungWhite3415 December 1960 Jackson MurderJohn Barter, white (highway patrolman) [60]
Shelby DoggettWhite291 January 1962 Comanche Murder-RobberyJimmy Lee Lanman, 24, white [61]
Richard DareWhite301 June 1963 Oklahoma MurderTed Albert, 60, white [62] [f] Bellmon
James French White3010 August 1966 Pittsburg MurderEddie Shelton, white (cellmate) [63]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Jack Pope's wife, her two children, and her parents.
  2. ↑ Sole non-electrocution, requested hanging.
  3. ↑ Murder committed in 1941 during life sentence for the murder of his wife in 1925.
  4. ↑ Committed two other murders prior to this one.
  5. ↑ Given life sentence for Cooke's murder, tried on kidnapping charge separately.
  6. ↑ Also admitting to murdering his 24-year-old wife Patricia Ann, her 17-year-old nephew William McCormick, and Ted Albert's wife.

References

  1. ↑ "Executions in Oklahoma - 1841-1966 - DeathPenaltyUSA, the database of executions in the United States". deathpenaltyusa.org. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  2. ↑ Wilson, R. Michael (January 10, 2014). Legal Executions in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma Including the Indian Territory: A Comprehensive Registry. McFarland. ISBN   978-0-7864-8909-1.
  3. ↑ "Death Chair Ready In Sixty Days". The Perkins Journal . July 2, 1915. p. 3. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  4. ↑ "States adopt death-by-drug laws". The Day . December 6, 1979. p. 16. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Death Penalty Still Upheld". The Perkins Journal . March 12, 1915. p. 2. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Negro First Person Electrocuted in Okla". The Bakersfield Californian . December 10, 1915. p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Attempted Lynching Fails". St. Joseph News-Press . August 9, 1916. p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ Appeals, Oklahoma Criminal Court of (1918). Oklahoma Criminal Reports: Cases Determined in the Criminal Court of Appeals of the State of Oklahoma. Leader Print. Company.
  9. ↑ "Electrocution In Oklahoma". St. Joseph News-Press . May 23, 1919. p. 26. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  10. ↑ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1920.
  11. ↑ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1921.
  12. ↑ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1921.
  13. ↑ "Slayer Dies In Chair". St. Joseph News-Press . March 17, 1922. p. 20. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Man Went To Electric Chair". The Victoria Advocate . May 5, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Two Die In Death Chair". St. Joseph News-Press . January 14, 1924. p. 11. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Murderer Goes To Death Calmly". The Telegraph-Herald . September 5, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Negro Murderer Is Put To Death". The Telegraph-Herald . May 29, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 "Three Executed In Oklahoma Prison". The Border Cities Star . June 29, 1928. p. 24. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  19. 1 2 "Two Executed In Oklahoma For Slayings". The Southeast Missourian . July 17, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Indian Is Executed For Attacking Girl". Eugene Register-Guard . April 17, 1931. p. 4. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Penalty For Murder". The Telegraph . July 10, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Oklahoma Negro Dies In Chair For Murder". Warsaw Union . August 21, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Young Farmer Dies In Electric Chair". The Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal . September 25, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 "Denies Clemency To Pair - 30 See Deaths". The News-Sentinel . August 18, 1932. p. 12. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Man Executed In Wife's Slaying". The Southeast Missourian . March 24, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  26. 1 2 3 "Triple Execution Held In Oklahoma State Penitentiary". The Victoria Advocate . May 7, 1933. p. 3. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Sorry At End". The Southeast Missourian . May 19, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Boy, 18, Pays". The Southeast Missourian . August 25, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Two Men Die In Oklahoma Chair". Reading Eagle . October 20, 1933. p. 34. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  30. ↑ "To Prison for Safekeeping After Confessing Murder". St. Joseph Gazette . April 18, 1933. p. 9. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  31. ↑ "To Die At Midnight". Lawrence Journal-World . November 23, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Bootlegger Slayer Of Girls Executed". The Pittsburgh Press . November 24, 1933. p. 14. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Dies In Chair". The Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal . October 19, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Negro Electrocuted". The Evening Independent . October 19, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Convicted Oklahoma Slayer Is Executed". The Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal . January 4, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Slayer Electrocuted". The Evening Independent . May 24, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  37. 1 2 3 "Three Die In Chair For Seven Murders". The Pittsburgh Press . September 20, 1935. p. 3. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Slayer Is Executed". Spokane Daily Chronicle . April 24, 1936. p. 9. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Hang Kidnapper Under New Law". The Daily Times . June 18, 1936. p. 18. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Grin At Death". The Southeast Missourian . June 11, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Desperado Dies Denying Murder". The Telegraph-Herald . March 1, 1940. p. 13. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  42. ↑ "Slayer Of Wife Is Electrocuted". The Victoria Advocate . November 15, 1940. p. 2. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  43. ↑ "Louisiana Farmer Executed In Chair". The Victoria Advocate . August 29, 1941. p. 2. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Slayer Pays With Life For Murders". The Telegraph-Herald . February 9, 1942. p. 11. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Negro Is Electrocuted". Lawrence Journal-World . April 16, 1943. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  46. ↑ "Oklahoma Takes Life Of Warden's Slayer". The Southeast Missourian . July 15, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  47. ↑ "Oklahoma's First Execution in Two Years Set Tonight". The Altus Times-Democrat . November 8, 1945. p. 4. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  48. ↑ "Wife Slayer Blames Drink". Sarasota Herald-Tribune . May 30, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  49. ↑ "Oklahoma Slayer Pays Penalty". The Windsor Daily Star . November 2, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  50. ↑ "Man Dies in Electric Chair for Okla. Murder". Lewiston Evening Journal . January 30, 1947. p. 7. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  51. ↑ "Execution Is Set Tonight At State Prison". The Altus Times-Democrat . September 27, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  52. ↑ "Victim's Brother Sees Slayer Die in Chair". The Telegraph-Herald . July 27, 1951. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  53. ↑ "Child Killer". Lawrence Journal-World . August 18, 1951. p. 2. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  54. ↑ "Gunman, 37, Dies In Electric Chair". The Spokesman-Review . November 18, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  55. ↑ "Killer In Desperado Family Executed; Eyes And Aorta Go To Banks On His Bid". Toledo Blade . January 18, 1956. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  56. ↑ "Woman's Slayer Dies In Electric Chair". Reading Eagle . January 11, 1957. p. 9. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  57. ↑ "Slayer Says Last Letters 'Doom' Others". The Altus Times-Democrat . February 5, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  58. 1 2 "In The News". The Telegraph . July 29, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  59. ↑ "Killer Goes Calmly To His Execution". Youngstown Vindicator . September 1, 1960. p. 9. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  60. ↑ "Young Stays Calm in His Death March". The Altus Times-Democrat . December 16, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  61. ↑ "Dies for Slaying Young Golf Pro". The Fort Scott Tribune . October 4, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  62. ↑ "Man Executed In Oklahoma". St. Petersburg Times . June 3, 1963. p. 13. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  63. ↑ "Two-Time Killer James French To Get His Wish - Death In The Chair". The Washington Observer . August 4, 1966. p. 9. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
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