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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.[1] 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.

Background

[edit]

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.[2] 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.[3] (Hanging was retained as an alternative method.[4])

List of executions

[edit]
Name Race Age Date County Crime Victim(s) Governor
Henry Bookman Black 28 10 December 1915 McIntosh Murder Richard Hardin, white[5] Williams
Cecil Towery Black 22 6 November 1916 McIntosh Murder-Robbery Charles Vaughn, white[6]
Chester Taylor Black 44 13 April 1917 Creek Murder
Charley Young Black 26 Tillman Murder
Willie Williams Black 35 Muskogee Murder
John Prather Black 26 3 May 1918 Pittsburg Murder Charles Chapman, black (cellmate)[7]
James Brown Black 34 8 November 1918 Muskogee Murder
T. R. Braught White 29 23 May 1919 Creek Murder Otis Robbin, white[8] Walton
Monroe Betterton White 48 9 July 1920 Craig Murder Elzadah Betterton, white (wife)[9]
John Ledbetter Native American 31 25 February 1921 Muskogee Murder Robert Moreland, race unknown[10]
Robert Blakely White 39 Effie May Allford, white[11]
Eli Thomas Black 22 15 July 1921 Le Flore Murder
Steve Sabo White 50 17 March 1922 Coal Murder-Rape Sophia Sabo, 19, white (niece)[12]
Sam Watkins White 39 5 May 1922 Atoka Murder-Rape Cora Jones, white[13]
Aaron Harvey White 21 13 January 1924 McCurtain Murder Five persons, all white[14] Trapp
Jack Pope White 45
Richard Birkes White 29 5 September 1924 Craig Murder-Robbery Frank Pitts, white[15]
Leroy Scott Black 22 29 May 1925 Pittsburg Murder Frank Daniels, white[16]
Johnnie Washington Black 29 4 December 1925 Jackson Murder
Theodore Bruster Black 21 29 June 1928 Muskogee Murder-Robbery William Heeman, white[17] Johnston
Walter Wigger White 31 Ottawa Murder Ruth Harris, white (lover)[17]
Willie O'Neil Black 27 Oklahoma Murder-Robbery Mark Hipscher, white[17]
James Forrest Black 23 17 July 1930 Stephens Rape Female, white[18] Holloway
Tom Guest White 48 Pottawatomie Murder-Robbery Bailey Browder, white[18]
E. S. Hembree Native American 32 17 April 1931 Stephens Rape Leota Bosley, 23, white[19] Murray
Paul Cole White 33 10 July 1931 Seminole Murder Ernest ..rby, white[20]
Bennie Nichols Black 31 21 August 1931 Pontotoc Murder-Robbery Jack Hornton, white[21]
Henry Lovett White 39 25 September 1931 Canadian Murder-Robbery Dee Foliart, white[22]
Martin Keeney White 49 11 March 1932 Oklahoma Murder
A. M. Harris White 49 17 June 1932 Oklahoma Murder
Ira J. Adler[23] White 50 19 August 1932 Blaine Murder Two relatives, both white[23]
Charles Davis Black 42 Male, white (deputy sheriff)[23]
Ivory Covington Black 25 27 January 1933 Choctaw Murder-Robbery
Nathan Rightsell White 27 24 February 1933 Choctaw Murder
Charles Lattimer White 29 24 March 1933 Comanche Murder Female, white (wife)[24]
Proctor McDonald White 24 5 May 1933 Creek Murder-Robbery Raymond Butler, 8, white[25]
Joe Martin White 54 Noble Murder Pete Von Uearop, white[25]
Albert Ellis White 25 Carter Robbery John Weber and his family, all white[25]
Luke Nichols White 44 19 May 1933 Alfalfa Murder Harriet Crawford, 26, white (lover)[26]
Claude Oliver White 28 23 August 1933 Murray Murder Della Oliver, 15, white (George's wife)[27]
George Oliver White 18
Ted Patton White 25 20 October 1933 Sequoyah Murder Robert Wall, 19, white[28]
Charley Dumas Black 29 Coal Rape
William Johnson Black 28 10 November 1933 Muskogee Murder Mary Wolfenberger, white[29]
Tom Morris Black 40 24 November 1933 Pittsburg Murder Mr. and Mrs. Joe House, both white[30]
Earl Quinn White 29 Garfield Murder-Rape Jessie Griffith, 24, white[31]
Frank Clark Black 60 19 January 1934 McCurtain Murder Dan and Anna Stiles, both white[32][33]
Ernest Oglesby White 27 4 January 1935 Oklahoma Murder Douglas Gates, white (Oklahoma City policeman)[34]
Robert Cargo White 21 24 May 1935 Oklahoma Murder-Robbery A. L. Luke, white[35] Marland
Alfred Rowan Black 30 20 September 1935 Jackson Murder Roy Gentry, white[36]
Bun Riley White 29 Pittsburg Murder Three persons, all white[36]
Chester Barrett White 37 Creek Murder Three of his children, all white[36]
Roy Guyton Black 25 20 March 1936 Oklahoma Murder
James Hargus White 26 24 April 1936 Tulsa Murder L. D. Mitchell, white (Tulsa police officer)[37]
Arthur Gooch[a] White 27 19 June 1936 Federal Kidnapping R. N. Baker and H. R. Marks, both white[38]
Leon Siler White 22 11 June 1937 Comanche Murder J. E. Wilson, white (Grady County deputy sheriff)[39]
Charlie Sands Native American 21
Roy Mannon White 38 1 March 1940 Wagoner Murder-Robbery Jake Skelly, 67, white[40] Phillips
Roger Cunningham White 30 15 November 1940 Oklahoma Murder Eudora Cunningham, white (wife)[41]
Warren Abby White 59 29 August 1941 Custer Murder Julia Abby, 78, white (wife)[42]
J. D. Tuggle White 23 9 February 1942 Garvin Murder-Robbery Mr. and Mrs. D. Wilburn Jones, both white (uncle and aunt)[43]
Finley Porter Black 40 16 April 1943 Pittsburg Murder L. Z. Beacham, black (cellmate)[44][b] Kerr
Hiram Prather White 35 14 July 1943 Pittsburg Murder Jess Dunn, white (warden)[45][c]
Amos Johnson Black 30 23 March 1945 Lincoln Murder Victoria and Martha Gorski, 38 and 3, both white[46]
Cliff Norman Black 30 9 November 1945 Murray Rape Female, white[47]
Alfred Bingham White 40 31 May 1946 Tulsa Murder Female, white (wife)[48]
Mose Johnson Black[46] 33 1 November 1946 Pittsburg Murder L. C. Smalley, race unknown[49]
Harlan Broyles White 32 30 January 1947 Seminole Murder Eric Nicholson, white (deputy sheriff)[50] Turner
Lewis Grayson Black 31 25 May 1948 Muskogee Rape Female, white[46]
Ben Gould Black 40 27 September 1948 Atoka Murder-Rape-Robbery Mary Lynn, 57, white[51]
Max Kletke White 25 6 January 1951 Oklahoma Murder Carl E. Beach, 45, white[46]
Jearell Hathcox White 38 27 July 1951 Oklahoma Murder M. L. Bert Shaffer, 67, white[52] Murray
Melburn Mott White 35 21 September 1951 Tulsa Murder Female, 6, white (daughter)[53]
Carl DeWolf White 37 17 November 1953 Tulsa Murder Jerry St. Clair, white (Tulsa policeman)[54]
Hurbie Fairris White 22 18 January 1956 Oklahoma Murder Bennie F. Cravatt, white (detective)[55] Gary
Otto Loel White 44 11 January 1957 Oklahoma Murder Elizabeth Jeanne Henderson, white[56]
Robert Hendricks White 66 5 February 1957 Craig Murder-Robbery Rheam Payton, white[57]
Edward Williams White 30 28 July 1960 Tulsa Kidnapping[58][d] Tommy Cooke, white[58] Edmondson
James Spence White 32 31 August 1960 Cotton Murder Female, 19, white[59]
Ray Young White 34 15 December 1960 Jackson Murder John Barter, white (highway patrolman)[60]
Shelby Doggett White 29 1 January 1962 Comanche Murder-Robbery Jimmy Lee Lanman, 24, white[61]
Richard Dare White 30 1 June 1963 Oklahoma Murder Ted Albert, 60, white[62][e] Bellmon
James French White 30 10 August 1966 Pittsburg Murder Eddie Shelton, white (cellmate)[63]

Notes

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

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Executions in Oklahoma - 1841-1966 - DeathPenaltyUSA, the database of executions in the United States". deathpenaltyusa.org. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  2. ^ "Death Chair Ready In Sixty Days". The Perkins Journal. July 2, 1915. p. 3. Retrieved November 25, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "States adopt death-by-drug laws". The Day. December 6, 1979. p. 16. Retrieved November 25, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Death Penalty Still Upheld". The Perkins Journal. March 12, 1915. p. 2. Retrieved November 25, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Negro First Person Electrocuted in Okla". The Bakersfield Californian. 10 December 1915. p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Attempted Lynching Fails". St. Joseph News-Press. 9 August 1916. p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Electrocution In Oklahoma". St. Joseph News-Press. 23 May 1919. p. 26. Retrieved October 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1920.
  10. ^ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1921.
  11. ^ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1921.
  12. ^ "Slayer Dies In Chair". St. Joseph News-Press. 17 March 1922. p. 20. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Man Went To Electric Chair". The Victoria Advocate. 5 May 1922. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Two Die In Death Chair". St. Joseph News-Press. 14 January 1924. p. 11. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Murderer Goes To Death Calmly". The Telegraph-Herald. 5 September 1924. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Negro Murderer Is Put To Death". The Telegraph-Herald. 29 May 1925. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ a b c "Three Executed In Oklahoma Prison". The Border Cities Star. 29 June 1928. p. 24. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ a b "Two Executed In Oklahoma For Slayings". The Southeast Missourian. 17 July 1930. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Indian Is Executed For Attacking Girl". Eugene Register-Guard. 17 April 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Penalty For Murder". The Telegraph. 10 July 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Oklahoma Negro Dies In Chair For Murder". Warsaw Union. 21 August 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "Young Farmer Dies In Electric Chair". The Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal. 25 September 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ a b c "Denies Clemency To Pair - 30 See Deaths". The News-Sentinel. 18 August 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "Man Executed In Wife's Slaying". The Southeast Missourian. 24 March 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ a b c "Triple Execution Held In Oklahoma State Penitentiary". The Victoria Advocate. 7 May 1933. p. 3. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "Sorry At End". The Southeast Missourian. 19 May 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "Boy, 18, Pays". The Southeast Missourian. 25 August 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Two Men Die In Oklahoma Chair". Reading Eagle. 20 October 1933. p. 34. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ "To Prison for Safekeeping After Confessing Murder". St. Joseph Gazette. 18 April 1933. p. 9. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "To Die At Midnight". Lawrence Journal-World. 23 November 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ "Bootlegger Slayer Of Girls Executed". The Pittsburgh Press. 24 November 1933. p. 14. Retrieved 23 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ^ "Dies In Chair". The Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal. 19 October 1934. p. 4. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. ^ "Negro Electrocuted". The Evening Independent. 19 October 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ^ "Convicted Oklahoma Slayer Is Executed". The Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal. 4 January 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ^ "Slayer Electrocuted". The Evening Independent. 24 May 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ a b c "Three Die In Chair For Seven Murders". The Pittsburgh Press. 20 September 1935. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. ^ "Slayer Is Executed". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 24 April 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  38. ^ "Hang Kidnapper Under New Law". The Daily Times. 18 June 1936. p. 18. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ "Grin At Death". The Southeast Missourian. 11 June 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  40. ^ "Desperado Dies Denying Murder". The Telegraph-Herald. 1 March 1940. p. 13. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  41. ^ "Slayer Of Wife Is Electrocuted". The Victoria Advocate. 15 November 1940. p. 2. Retrieved 24 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  42. ^ "Louisiana Farmer Executed In Chair". The Victoria Advocate. August 29, 1941. p. 2. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  43. ^ "Slayer Pays With Life For Murders". The Telegraph-Herald. 9 February 1942. p. 11. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. ^ "Negro Is Electrocuted". Lawrence Journal-World. April 16, 1943. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ^ "Oklahoma Takes Life Of Warden's Slayer". The Southeast Missourian. July 15, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  46. ^ a b c d Wilson, R. Michael (2014-01-10). Legal Executions in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma Including the Indian Territory: A Comprehensive Registry. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8909-1.
  47. ^ "Oklahoma's First Execution in Two Years Set Tonight". The Altus Times-Democrat. November 8, 1945. p. 4. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  48. ^ "Wife Slayer Blames Drink". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 30, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  49. ^ "Oklahoma Slayer Pays Penalty". The Windsor Daily Star. November 2, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  50. ^ "Man Dies in Electric Chair for Okla. Murder". Lewiston Evening Journal. January 30, 1947. p. 7. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. ^ "Execution Is Set Tonight At State Prison". The Altus Times-Democrat. September 27, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  52. ^ "Victim's Brother Sees Slayer Die in Chair". The Telegraph-Herald. July 27, 1951. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  53. ^ "Child Killer". Lawrence Journal-World. August 18, 1951. p. 2. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  54. ^ "Gunman, 37, Dies In Electric Chair". The Spokesman-Review. November 18, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  56. ^ "Woman's Slayer Dies In Electric Chair". Reading Eagle. January 11, 1957. p. 9. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  57. ^ "Slayer Says Last Letters 'Doom' Others". The Altus Times-Democrat. February 5, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  58. ^ a b "In The News". The Telegraph. July 29, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  59. ^ "Killer Goes Calmly To His Execution". Youngstown Vindicator. September 1, 1960. p. 9. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  60. ^ "Young Stays Calm in His Death March". The Altus Times-Democrat. December 16, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  61. ^ "Dies for Slaying Young Golf Pro". The Fort Scott Tribune. October 4, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  62. ^ "Man Executed In Oklahoma". St. Petersburg Times. June 3, 1963. p. 13. Retrieved November 23, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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