List of people executed by the District of Columbia
Capital punishment in the District of Columbia has been abolished since 1981. However, a number of executions were carried out under the District's jurisdiction before then.
Before 1973, the District of Columbia was exclusively governed by Congress, which included establishing all local laws. Until 1962, the District of Columbia was the last jurisdiction in the United States with mandatory death sentences for first-degree murder (the last U.S. state with mandatory death sentences for first degree murder was Vermont). Mandatory death sentences were abolished by the HR5143 (PL87-423), signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on March 22, 1962.[1] Rape was also a capital offense.[2]
The D.C. capital punishment law was nullified by the Supreme Court decision in Furman v. Georgia in 1972 and formally repealed by the D.C. Council in 1981.
The first recorded execution in District of Columbia, was the hanging of James McGirk in 1802. Hanging was the method of execution used in the District until 1928, when it was replaced by the electric chair. The last execution under the authority of the District took place in 1957, when Robert Carter was executed. All executions were conducted at the D.C. Jail.
The president of the United States has sole pardoning power in the District.
Listing of non-federal executions in the District of Columbia - 1900-1957
Executed Person | Ethnicity | Age | Sex | Date of Execution | Crime | Presidential Administration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Benjamin Snell | White | 42 | Male | June 29, 1900 | Executed for the August 6, 1899, razor murder of a 13 year old girl.[3] | William McKinley |
Nelson Vale | Black | 59 | Male | July 6, 1900 | Executed for the January, 1900 shooting murder of a man in Tenleytown.[4] | |
Frank Funk | White | 25 | Male | November 9, 1900 | Executed for June, 1898 murder of elderly man in his home during robbery.[5] | |
Elijah Chapman | Black | 33 | Male | May 23, 1902 | Executed for January 1, 1902 fatal stabbing of his alleged common-law wife during an argument.[6] | Theodore Roosevelt |
John St. Clair | Black | 26 | Male | January 30, 1903 | Executed for the April, 1902 shooting murder of a woman during an argument.[7] | |
Benjamin Hill | White | 52 | Male | July 24, 1903 | Executed for the November, 1902 shooting murder of his wife.[8] | |
John Burley | Black | 43 | Male | August 26, 1904 | Executed for the rape of a four-year-old girl in April, 1903.[9] | |
Augustus Shaffer | White | 39 | Male | February 10, 1905 | Executed for cutting the throat of his divorced wife in August, 1903.[10] | |
William Hamilton | Black | 27 | Male | February 2, 1906 | Executed for June, 1904 murder of a woman.[11] | |
Charles Edward Grant | Black | 21 | Male | November 16, 1906 | Executed for the murder his common-law-wife, whom he stabbed with a knife during a quarrel.[12] | |
William Burge | Black | 23 | Male | April 23, 1907 | Executed for the January, 1905 murder of his wife.[13] | |
Joseph Paolucci | White | 31 | Male | March 23, 1908 | Executed for the September, 1906 shooting of woman who had rejected him for a relationship.[14] | |
Albert Brown | Black | 23 | Male | June 29, 1908 | Executed for the murder of his brother Harvey in November, 1907.[15] | |
Richard Gregory | Black | 37 | Male | February 15, 1909 | Executed for August, 1907 murder of man with a club.[16] | |
Samuel Rauen | White | 25 | Male | February 14, 1913 | Executed for fatally shooting his wife and his brother in front of his wife's home in March, 1912.[17] | William Howard Taft |
Nathaniel Green | Black | 23 | Male | June 9, 1913 | Executed for the Christmas Day, 1912 rape of a woman.[18] | Woodrow Wilson |
James Allen | Black | 36 | Male | September 12, 1917 | Executed for the November, 1915 murder of his wife in their home in Georgetown.[19] | |
James Jackson | Black | 27 | Male | March 2, 1920 | Executed for murder of young war worker in January, 1919.[20] | |
Frank Bowman | Black | 39 | Male | October 22, 1920 | Executed for 1916 murder of a paralyzed man.[21] | |
William Campbell | Black | 22 | Male | March 11, 1921 | Executed for murder of woman in her home during burglary in March, 1920.[22] | Warren Harding |
John McHenry | White | 19 | Male | March 17, 1922 | Executed for the murders of a Washington policeman and an auto accessory dealer.[23] | |
Earnest Shands | Black | 29 | Male | March 9, 1923 | Executed for August, 1922 murder of his wife with an axe.[24] | |
George Banton | Black | 20 | Male | April 20, 1923 | Executed for August, 1922 murder of a grocer during a robbery.[25] | |
Charles Price | Black | 32 | Male | May 3, 1923 | Executed for murdering man in May, 1918 in dispute over bottle of liquor.[26] | |
George Epps | Black | 31 | Male | May 24, 1923 | Executed for December, 1921 murders of his wife and her female friend at their home.[27] | |
Gordon Rufus | Black | 37 | Male | June 23, 1923 | Executed for September, 1919 murder of grocer during a robbery.[28] | |
Ralph Thomas | Black | 40 | Male | January 15, 1925 | Executed for the murder of his wife, Sadie Thomas, on August 1, 1923.[29] | Calvin Coolidge |
Herbert Copeland | Black | 50 | Male | January 22, 1925 | Executed for murdering two policemen and a deputy sheriff in 1918. Last condemned inmate to be hanged in the District of Columbia.[30] | |
Philip Jackson | Black | 30 | Male | May 29, 1928 | Executed for attack on woman on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. First condemned inmate to be electrocuted in the District of Columbia.[31] | |
Nicholas Eagles | White | 34 | Male | June 22, 1928 | All three were executed for the murder of Washington policeman Leo W. Karl Busch on September 28, 1926.[32][33] | |
Samuel Mareno | White | 21 | Male | |||
John Proctor | White | 20 | Male | |||
Andrew Hawkins | Black | 31 | Male | June 5, 1930 | Executed for the December, 1928 murder of his sweetheart.[34] | Herbert Hoover |
Cardoza Bell | Black | 24 | Male | March 6, 1931 | Executed for August, 1929 shotgun murder of his 25 year old female companion.[35] | |
Alfred Aldridge | Black | 21 | Male | May 6, 1932 | Executed for murder of Washington policeman Harry J. McDonald.[36][37] | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
John Borum | Black | 26 | Male | June 29, 1932 | Executed for the murder of Prohibition (ATF) federal agent Lamar Watson York in 1930.[38] | |
John Logan | Black | 24 | Male | |||
Charles Morris | Black | 33 | Male | March 12, 1932 | Executed for the murder of a woman in July, 1930 on C&O Canal Bridge.[39] | |
William Robinson | Black | 20 | Male | October 27, 1933 | Both men were executed separately for the July 1931 murder of a taxi driver during a hold-up.[40][41] | |
Charles Washington | Black | 23 | Male | November 24, 1933 | ||
Benjamin Montague | Black | 29 | Male | December 1, 1933 | Executed for the murder of his common-law-wife in June, 1932.[42] | |
Ralph Holmes | Black | 25 | Male | January 12, 1934 | All three men were executed for the August, 1932 beating death of U.S. Park Police Officer Milo J. Kennedy.[43][44] | |
Joseph Jackson | Black | 20 | Male | |||
Irvin Murray | Black | 26 | Male | |||
Ernest Bolden | Black | 25 | Male | April 27, 1934 | Executed for the July, 1932 murder of his estranged wife.[45] | |
Joe Goodman | Black | 39 | Male | June 1, 1934 | Both men were executed for January, 1933 murder of store owner during robbery of feed store in the Benning area of the District.[46] | |
George Pitmond | Black | 35 | Male | |||
Albert Preston | Black | 38 | Male | March 20, 1936 | Executed for February, 1935 fatal shooting of man in dispute over $1.50 gambling debt.[47] | |
John Cummings | Black | 27 | Male | April 23, 1937 | Both men were executed for the March, 1935 fatal shooting of truck driver during robbery.[48] | |
Willett Marcus | Black | 21 | Male | |||
Norman Robinson | Black | 29 | Male | March 18, 1938 | Executed for the September, 1936 murder of lodging house proprietress.[49] | |
Will Kinard | Black | 38 | Male | February 2, 1939 | Executed for the November, 1936 murder of his wife during domestic argument.[50] | |
William Robinson | Black | 36 | Male | October 9, 1942 | Executed for attack on 15 year old girl near Rock Creek Park in August, 1941.[51] | |
William Mumforde | Black | 22 | Male | December 18, 1942 | Executed for the murder of dress shop owner in February, 1941.[52] | |
Jarvis Catoe | Black | 36 | Male | January 15, 1943 | Executed for the rape and murder of woman, suspected in numerous other similar crimes.[53] | |
Monroe Neely | Black | 37 | Male | December 14, 1945 | Executed for the murder of Washington DC police officer Charles Johnston in May, 1943.[54][55] | Harry S. Truman |
Earl McFarland | White | 25 | Male | July 19, 1946 | Executed for the rape and murder of 18 year old woman in October, 1944.[56] | |
William Copeland | Black | 38 | Male | December 20, 1946 | Executed for the February, 1944 fatal shooting of his 43 year old sister-in-law.[57] | |
Julius Fisher | Black | 34 | Male | December 20, 1946 | Executed for the March, 1944 murder of 37 year old librarian at the Washington National Cathedral.[58] | |
Joseph Medley | White | 45 | Male | December 20, 1946 | Executed for murder of 50 year old female acquaintance.[57] | |
Alfred Hawkins | Black | 24 | Male | October 31, 1947 | Executed for murder of 33 year old grocery store clerk during holdup robbery.[59] | |
Jesse Patton | Black | 23 | Male | December 10, 1948 | Both men were executed for the murder of a pharmacist during a June, 1946 robbery of drugstore.[60] | |
Reginald Wheeler | Black | 28 | Male | |||
Shirley Harris | Black | 25 | Male | January 14, 1949 | Executed for March, 1947 murder of 54 year old man during a holdup.[61] | |
John Hall | Black | 35 | Male | February 25, 1949 | Executed for October, 1946 rape of 8 year old girl.[62] | |
Theodore Holmes | Black | 22 | Male | March 15, 1949 | Executed for March, 1948 rape of 9 year old girl.[63] | |
George Garner | Black | 26 | Male | July 29, 1949 | Both men were executed for robbery-murder of taxi cab driver in February, 1948.[64] | |
Lawrence Garner | Black | 24 | Male | |||
Fred Pritchett | White | 41 | Male | February 15, 1952 | Executed for July, 1949 murder of locomotive engineer on railroad property in Washington, DC.[65] | |
William Tyler Jr. | Black | 20 | Male | July 26, 1952 | Executed for murder of two night watchmen at Lansburgh's department store in Washington, DC during a burglary in April, 1949.[66] | |
Albert Allen | Black | 25 | Male | March 20, 1953 | Convicted of robbery and murder of co-worker in January, 1950 in Washington, DC.[67] | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
Robert Carter | Black | 28 | Male | April 26, 1957 | Convicted of July, 1953 robbery and murder of an off-duty Washington D.C. police officer, George Cassels. Last man to be executed in District of Columbia.[68][69] |
References
- ^ "District of Columbia - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum". October 6, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06.
- ^ "Executions in the U.S. 1608-2002: The ESPY File : Executions by State (PDF)" (PDF).
- ^ "Pays the Penalty - Benjamin Snell Hanged for Murder of Lizzie Weisenberger." Washington Evening-Star, 1900, June 29, p. 3.
- ^ "Vale Hanged Today - Went to the Scaffold Singing a Hymn."" Washington Evening-Star, 1900, July 6, Washington Evening-Star, p 2.
- ^ "Funk and Snell Unlike - The Condemned Men Differ in Every Personal Characteristic." Washington Evening-Star, 1900, March 3, p.8
- ^ "Expiates His Crime - Elijah Chapman Hanged At District Jail Today." Washington Evening-Star, 1900, May 23, p.8
- ^ "John St. Clair Held - Accused of the Murder of Daisy Maddox." Washington Evening-Star, 1902, April 17, p.13"
- ^ "Hill Hanged at Jail - Wife Murderer Pays the Penalty of Death." Washington Evening-Star, 1903, July 24, p.6."
- ^ "The Penalty of Crime - John W. Burley Executed at District Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1904, August 26, p.2.
- ^ "Expiates His Crime - Augustus L. Shaffer Executed at District Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1905, February 10, p.6
- ^ "Death Penalty Paid - William Walter Hamilton Hanged at Local Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1906, February 2, p.11
- ^ "Sentence of the Law - Charles Edward Grant Hanged at the Local Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1906, November 16, p 10.
- ^ "Met Death Quietly - William Burge Executed at the Local Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1907, April 23, p.10 .
- ^ "Penalty Was Death - Joseph Paolucci Hanged for Murder of Miss Dodge." Washington Evening-Star, 1908, March 23, p.9.
- ^ "Trial on Murder Charge - Albert Brown Convicted of Slaying his Brother." Washington Evening-Star, 1908, March 10, p.13.
- ^ "Goes Singing to Scaffold - Gregory Protests Innocence Knowing He Must Die." Washington Evening-Star, 1909, February 15, p. 18.
- ^ "Double Slayer Hanged in Jail - Samuel W. Rauen, Who Shot Brother and Wife, Pays Death Penalty", Washington Herald, 1913, February 15, p. 16.
- ^ "Nathaniel Green Is Hanged Today: Second Man to Pay Penalty at District Jail for Assaulting A Woman Since 1904." Washington Evening-Star, 1913, June 9, p.1 .
- ^ "James Allen is Legally Hanged From Scaffold That Killed Guiteau 35 Years Ago." Washington Times, 1917, September 12, p. 3.
- ^ "James H. Jackson Is Hanged at Jail" Washington Evening-Star, 1920, March 2, p.2.
- ^ "Negro Murderer Dies on Gallows - Frank Bowman, Who Killed Paralytic, Walks Firmly to Meet Death", Washington Evening-Star, 1920, October 22, Washington Evening-Star, p. 22.
- ^ "Slayer Dies on Gallows - Trap Is Spring for Campbell, Confessed Killer of Mrs. Gertrude Mann." 1921, March 11, Washington Times, p. 2 .
- ^ "Condemned Boy Has Only Twenty Four Hours More." Bridgeport (Connecticut) Times and Evening Farmer, 1923, March 16, p. 1 .
- ^ "Hacks Wife to Death." Phoenix (Arizona) Tribune, 1923, January 13, p. 1.
- ^ "Slayer Warns Headlong Youth Just Before Dying on Gallows." Washington Evening-Star, 1923, April 20, p.1.
- ^ "Slayer Goes Singing to the Gallows - Charles Price Meets Death With Hymn for Killing in 1918." Washington Evening-Star, 1923, May 3, p.18.
- ^ "Hanged With Hymn on Lips." Washington Evening-Star, 1923, May 24, p.A-19.
- ^ "Admits Murder as Noose Beckons." Washington Evening-Star, 1923, June 23, p.A-1.
- ^ "Murderer Goes to Death Singing - Ralph Tomas Pays Penalty for Slaying His Wife." Washington Evening-Star, 1925, January 15, p.A-4.
- ^ "Copeland, Hanged, Admits Slaying 12 in Last Statement." Washington Evening-Star, 1925, January 22, p.A-1.
- ^ "Jackson Executed on Assault Count - Meets Death in Chair at D.C. Jail, Denying Crime to Last." Washington Evening-Star, 1928, May 29, p.A-1.
- ^ "Trio of Murderers Pay Death Penalty in Electric Chair for Busch Slaying." Washington Evening-Star, 1928, June 22, p.A-1.
- ^ Memorial to Leo W. Busch. Washington, DC MPD Police Memorial & Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://www.dcpolicememorial.org/fallen-1926-busch-l/
- ^ Dies in Chair with Smile on Lips - Andrew Jackson Hawkins, Condemned Slayer, Shows Unusual Bravery." Washington Evening-Star, 1930, June 5, p.A-1.
- ^ "D.C. Will Execute Slayer on Friday - Cardoza Bell, Twice Given 30 Day Stay, Must Die in Electric Chair." Washington Evening-Star, 1931, March 4, p. B-1.
- ^ Memorial to Harry J. McDonald. Washington, DC MPD Police Memorial & Museum, https://www.dcpolicememorial.org/fallen-1929-mcdonald-h/
- ^ "Aldridge Executed for Murder in 1929 - Slayer of Policeman Twice Appealed His Case to Supreme Court." 1932, May 7, Washington Post, p. 20.
- ^ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives -- Lamar W. York. Retrieved 2021, November 26, from https://www.atf.gov/our-history/fallen-agents/lamar-w-york.
- ^ "Slayer of Woman Pays With Life." Washington Evening-Star, 1932, December 2, p.B-1.
- ^ "Roosevelt Phones, Saving Man Just Before Execution Time." Washington Evening-Star, 1933, October 27, p.A-1
- ^ "Second Executed in Solomon Killing". Washington Evening-Star, 1933, November 24, p. A-2.
- ^ "Sings Spiritual as Chair Takes Life". Washington Evening-Star, 1933, December 1, p. A-2
- ^ "Three Die in Chair for Part in Park Slaying in 1932." Washington Evening-Star, 1934, January 12, p.B-1
- ^ National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. 2019, OFC. Milo J. Kennedy. Officer Milo J. Kennedy, U.S. Park Police, https://usppfop.org/officer-milo-john-kennedy/
- ^ "New Executioner Throws Switch." Washington Evening-Star, 1934, April 27, p.A-4.
- ^ "Two Slayers Die in Electric Chair." Washington Evening-Star, 1934, June 1, p.B-1.
- ^ "Slayer Executed in Electric Chair - Preston Dies for Murder After Quarrel Over $1.50 Gambling Debt." Washington Evening-Star, 1936, March 20, p. B-1.
- ^ "Law Takes Lives of Two Killers - D.C. Executes Pair Who Murdered Truck Driver in Hold-Up." Washington Evening-Star, 1937, April 23, p.B-35.
- ^ "Man Dies in Chair for Killing Woman." Washington Evening-Star, 1938, March 18, p. B-1
- ^ "Kinard Goes to Chair in District Jail for Murder of Wife." Washington Evening-Star, 1939, February 3, p. A-2.
- ^ "Washington Rapist Forfeits His Life." Bristol (Tennessee) Herald Courier, 1942, October 11, p 3.
- ^ "William Mumforde" Dies in Chair for Slaying Shop Owner." Washington Evening-Star, 1942, December 18, p. B-1.
- ^ "Catoe Electrocuted for Assault-Murder of D.C. Woman", Washington Evening-Star, 1943, January 15, p. 1
- ^ "Neely, Killer; Electrocuted in D.C. Jail." Washington Post, 1945, December 15, p. 9
- ^ "Memorial to Charles R. Johnston." Washington, DC MPD Police Memorial & Museum. Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://www.dcpolicememorial.org/fallen-1943-johnston-c/
- ^ "Earl McFarland is Executed for Berrum Slaying." Bristol (Tennessee) News-Bulletin, 1946, July 19, p. 1
- ^ a b "Medley Executed After Last Appeal Is Denied." Bristol (Tennessee) News-Bulletin, 1948, December 20, p. 1.
- ^ "Medley Executed After Last Appeal Is Denied." Bristol (Tennessee) News-Bulletin, 1946, December 20, p. 1.
- ^ "Slayer Dies in Chair." The Richmond (Virginia) News-Leader, 1947, October 31, p. 3.
- ^ "Two are Finally Executed." Frederick (Maryland) The News, 1948, December 10, p. 1.
- ^ "Three Granted 8th Reprieve: Convicted of Murder, Trio Given Another Stay of Execution." Hagerstown Maryland) Daily Mail, 1948, November 20). p. 14.
- ^ "Hall Sings Spiritual He Wrote, Then Dies for Attacking Girl, 8." Washington Evening-Star, 1949, February 25, p.1.
- ^ "Ex-Convict Executed for Assault-Beating Of Girl, 9, Year Ago." Washington Evening-Star, 1949, March 15, Washington Evening Star, p. 1.
- ^ "Garner v. United States, 174 F.2d 499 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com.
- ^ "Two Motions to Stay Pritchett Execution Are Denied By Judge." Washington Evening-Star, 1952, February 14, p. A-20.
- ^ "Tyler to Die Nov 3 for 2 Lansburgh Murders." Washington Evening-Star, 1952, June 30, p.30.
- ^ "Uline Slaying Execution Ordered for January 16." Washington Evening-Star, 1952, November 24, p. 3.
- ^ "Policeman's Killer in Robbery Chase Dies in D.C. Chair." Washington Evening-Star, 1957, April 26, p.1.
- ^ "Memorial to George W. Cassels." Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/memorial-george-w-cassels.
This article needs additional or more specific categories. (November 2021) |