List of people executed by the District of Columbia

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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 the United States 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The D.C. capital punishment law was nullified by the Supreme Court decision in Furman v. Georgia in 1972 and formally repealed by the D.C. Council in 1981.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 Crime Date of Execution Summary Presidential Administration
Benjamin Snell White 42 Male Murder June 29, 1900 Executed for the August, 1899 razor murder of a 13 year old girl.[3] William McKinley
Nelson Vale Black 59 Male Murder July 6, 1900 Executed for the January, 1900 shooting murder of a man in Tenleytown.[4]
Frank Funk White 25 Male Murder November 9, 1900 Executed for June, 1898 murder of elderly man in his home during robbery.[5]
Elijah Chapman Black 33 Male Murder 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 Murder January 30, 1903 Executed for the April, 1902 shooting murder of a woman during an argument.[7]
Benjamin Hill White 52 Male Murder July 24, 1903 Executed for the November, 1902 shooting murder of his wife.[8]
John Burley Black 43 Male Rape August 26, 1904 Executed for the rape of a four-year-old girl in April, 1903.[9]
Augustus Shaffer White 39 Male Murder February 10, 1905 Executed for cutting the throat of his divorced wife in August, 1903.[10]
William Hamilton Black 27 Male Murder February 2, 1906 Executed for June, 1904 murder of a woman.[11]
Charles Edward Grant Black 21 Male Murder 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 Murder April 23, 1907 Executed for the January, 1905 murder of his wife.[13]
Joseph Paolucci White 31 Male Murder March 23, 1908 Executed for the September, 1906 shooting of woman who had rejected him for a relationship.[14]
Albert Brown Black 23 Male Murder June 29, 1908 Executed for the murder of his brother Harvey in November, 1907.[15]
Richard Gregory Black 37 Male Murder February 15, 1909 Executed for August, 1907 murder of man with a club.[16]
Samuel Rauen White 25 Male Murder 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 Rape June 9, 1913 Executed for the Christmas Day, 1912 rape of a woman.[18] Woodrow Wilson
James Allen Black 36 Male Murder September 12, 1917 Executed for the November, 1915 murder of his wife in their home in Georgetown.[19]
James Jackson Black 27 Male Murder March 2, 1920 Executed for murder of young war worker in January, 1919.[20]
Frank Bowman Black 39 Male Murder October 22, 1920 Executed for 1916 murder of a paralyzed man.[21]
William Campbell Black 22 Male Murder March 11, 1921 Executed for murder of woman in her home during burglary in March, 1920.[22] Warren Harding
John McHenry White 19 Male Murder March 17, 1922 Executed for the murders of a Washington policeman and an auto accessory dealer.[23]
Earnest Shands Black 29 Male Murder March 9, 1923 Executed for August, 1922 murder of his wife with an axe.[24]
George Banton Black 20 Male Murder April 20, 1923 Executed for August, 1922 murder of a grocer during a robbery.[25]
Charles Price Black 32 Male Murder May 3, 1923 Executed for murdering man in May, 1918 in dispute over bottle of liquor.[26]
George Epps Black 31 Male Murder May 24, 1923 Executed for December, 1921 murders of his wife and her female friend at their home.[27]
Gordon Rufus Black 37 Male Murder June 23, 1923 Executed for September, 1919 murder of grocer during a robbery.[28]
Ralph Thomas Black 40 Male Murder January 15, 1925 Executed for the murder of his wife, Sadie Thomas, on August 1, 1923.[29] Calvin Coolidge
Herbert Copeland Black 50 Male Murder 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 Rape May 29, 1928 Executed for attack on woman on grounds of U.S. Capitol. First condemned inmate to be electrocuted in the District of Columbia.[31]
Nicholas Eagles White 34 Male Murder June 22, 1928 All three were executed for the murder of Washington policeman Leo W. Karl Busch in September, 1926.[32][33]
Samuel Mareno White 21 Male
John Proctor White 20 Male
Andrew Hawkins Black 31 Male Murder June 5, 1930 Executed for the December, 1928 murder of his sweetheart.[34] Herbert Hoover
Cardoza Bell Black 24 Male Murder March 6, 1931 Executed for August, 1929 shotgun murder of 25 year old female companion.[35]
Alfred Aldridge Black 21 Male Murder May 6, 1932 Executed for murder of Washington policeman Harry J. McDonald.[36][37] Franklin D. Roosevelt
John Borum Black 26 Male Murder 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 Murder March 12, 1932 Executed for the murder of a woman in July, 1930 on C&O Canal Bridge.[39]
William Robinson Black 20 Male Murder 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 Murder November 24, 1933
Benjamin Montague Black 29 Male Murder December 1, 1933 Executed for the murder of his common-law-wife in June, 1932.[42]
Ralph Holmes Black 25 Male Murder 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 Murder April 27, 1934 Executed for the July, 1932 murder of his estranged wife.[45]
Joe Goodman Black 39 Male Murder 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 Murder March 20, 1936 Executed for February, 1935 fatal shooting of man in dispute over $1.50 gambling debt.[47]
John Cummings Black 27 Male Murder 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 Murder March 18, 1938 Executed for the September, 1936 murder of lodging house proprietress.[49]
Will Kinard Black 38 Male Murder February 2, 1939 Executed for the November, 1936 murder of his wife during domestic argument.[50]
William Robinson Black 36 Male Rape October 9, 1942 Executed for attack on 15 year old girl near Rock Creek Park in August, 1941.[51]
William Mumforde Black 22 Male Murder December 18, 1942 Executed for the murder of dress shop owner in February, 1941.[52]
Jarvis Catoe Black 36 Male Rape/Murder January 15, 1943 Executed for the rape and murder of woman, suspected in numerous other similar crimes.[53]
Monroe Neely Black 37 Male Murder 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 Rape/Murder July 19, 1946 Executed for the rape and murder of 18 year old woman in October, 1944.[56]
William Copeland Black 38 Male Murder December 20, 1946 Executed for the February, 1944 fatal shooting of his 43 year old sister-in-law.[57]
Julius Fisher Black 34 Male Murder 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 Robbery/Murder December 20, 1946 Executed for murder of 50 year old female acquaintance.[57]
Alfred Hawkins Black 24 Male Murder October 31, 1947 Executed for murder of 33 year old grocery store clerk during holdup robbery.[59]
Jesse Patton Black 23 Male Murder 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 Murder January 14, 1949 Executed for March, 1947 murder of 54 year old man during a holdup.[61]
John Hall Black 35 Male Rape February 25, 1949 Executed for October, 1946 rape of 8 year old girl.[62]
Theodore Holmes Black 22 Male Rape March 15, 1949 Executed for March, 1948 rape of 9 year old girl.[63]
George Garner Black 26 Male Murder 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 Murder February 15, 1952 Executed for July, 1949 murder of locomotive engineer on railroad property in Washington, DC.[65]
William Tyler Jr. Black 20 Male Murder 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 Robbery 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 Murder 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[]

  1. ^ "District of Columbia - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum". October 6, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06.
  2. ^ "Executions in the U.S. 1608-2002: The ESPY File : Executions by State (PDF)" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Pays the Penalty - Benjamin Snell Hanged for Murder of Lizzie Weisenberger." Washington Evening-Star, 1900, June 29, p. 3.
  4. ^ "Vale Hanged Today - Went to the Scaffold Singing a Hymn."" Washington Evening-Star, 1900, July 6, Washington Evening-Star, p 2.
  5. ^ "Funk and Snell Unlike - The Condemned Men Differ in Every Personal Characteristic." Washington Evening-Star, 1900, March 3, p.8
  6. ^ "Expiates His Crime - Elijah Chapman Hanged At District Jail Today." Washington Evening-Star, 1900, May 23, p.8
  7. ^ "John St. Clair Held - Accused of the Murder of Daisy Maddox." Washington Evening-Star, 1902, April 17, p.13"
  8. ^ "Hill Hanged at Jail - Wife Murderer Pays the Penalty of Death." Washington Evening-Star, 1903, July 24, p.6."
  9. ^ "The Penalty of Crime - John W. Burley Executed at District Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1904, August 26, p.2.
  10. ^ "Expiates His Crime - Augustus L. Shaffer Executed at District Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1905, February 10, p.6
  11. ^ "Death Penalty Paid - William Walter Hamilton Hanged at Local Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1906, February 2, p.11
  12. ^ "Sentence of the Law - Charles Edward Grant Hanged at the Local Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1906, November 16, p 10.
  13. ^ "Met Death Quietly - William Burge Executed at the Local Jail." Washington Evening-Star, 1907, April 23, p.10 .
  14. ^ "Penalty Was Death - Joseph Paolucci Hanged for Murder of Miss Dodge." Washington Evening-Star, 1908, March 23, p.9.
  15. ^ "Trial on Murder Charge - Albert Brown Convicted of Slaying his Brother." Washington Evening-Star, 1908, March 10, p.13.
  16. ^ "Goes Singing to Scaffold - Gregory Protests Innocence Knowing He Must Die." Washington Evening-Star, 1909, February 15, p. 18.
  17. ^ "Double Slayer Hanged in Jail - Samuel W. Rauen, Who Shot Brother and Wife, Pays Death Penalty", Washington Herald, 1913, February 15, p. 16.
  18. ^ "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 .
  19. ^ "James Allen is Legally Hanged From Scaffold That Killed Guiteau 35 Years Ago." Washington Times, 1917, September 12, p. 3.
  20. ^ "James H. Jackson Is Hanged at Jail" Washington Evening-Star, 1920, March 2, p.2.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "Slayer Dies on Gallows - Trap Is Spring for Campbell, Confessed Killer of Mrs. Gertrude Mann." 1921, March 11, Washington Times, p. 2 .
  23. ^ "Condemned Boy Has Only Twenty Four Hours More." Bridgeport (Connecticut) Times and Evening Farmer, 1923, March 16, p. 1 .
  24. ^ "Hacks Wife to Death." Phoenix (Arizona) Tribune, 1923, January 13, p. 1.
  25. ^ "Slayer Warns Headlong Youth Just Before Dying on Gallows." Washington Evening-Star, 1923, April 20, p.1.
  26. ^ "Slayer Goes Singing to the Gallows - Charles Price Meets Death With Hymn for Killing in 1918." Washington Evening-Star, 1923, May 3, p.18.
  27. ^ "Hanged With Hymn on Lips." Washington Evening-Star, 1923, May 24, p.A-19.
  28. ^ "Admits Murder as Noose Beckons." Washington Evening-Star, 1923, June 23, p.A-1.
  29. ^ "Murderer Goes to Death Singing - Ralph Tomas Pays Penalty for Slaying His Wife." Washington Evening-Star, 1925, January 15, p.A-4.
  30. ^ "Copeland, Hanged, Admits Slaying 12 in Last Statement." Washington Evening-Star, 1925, January 22, p.A-1.
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ "Trio of Murderers Pay Death Penalty in Electric Chair for Busch Slaying." Washington Evening-Star, 1928, June 22, p.A-1.
  33. ^ 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/
  34. ^ Dies in Chair with Smile on Lips - Andrew Jackson Hawkins, Condemned Slayer, Shows Unusual Bravery." Washington Evening-Star, 1930, June 5, p.A-1.
  35. ^ "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.
  36. ^ Memorial to Harry J. McDonald. Washington, DC MPD Police Memorial & Museum, https://www.dcpolicememorial.org/fallen-1929-mcdonald-h/
  37. ^ "Aldridge Executed for Murder in 1929 - Slayer of Policeman Twice Appealed His Case to Supreme Court." 1932, May 7, Washington Post, p. 20.
  38. ^ 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.
  39. ^ "Slayer of Woman Pays With Life." Washington Evening-Star, 1932, December 2, p.B-1.
  40. ^ "Roosevelt Phones, Saving Man Just Before Execution Time." Washington Evening-Star, 1933, October 27, p.A-1
  41. ^ "Second Executed in Solomon Killing". Washington Evening-Star, 1933, November 24, p. A-2.
  42. ^ "Sings Spiritual as Chair Takes Life". Washington Evening-Star, 1933, December 1, p. A-2
  43. ^ "Three Die in Chair for Part in Park Slaying in 1932." Washington Evening-Star, 1934, January 12, p.B-1
  44. ^ 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/
  45. ^ "New Executioner Throws Switch." Washington Evening-Star, 1934, April 27, p.A-4.
  46. ^ "Two Slayers Die in Electric Chair." Washington Evening-Star, 1934, June 1, p.B-1.
  47. ^ "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.
  48. ^ "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.
  49. ^ "Man Dies in Chair for Killing Woman." Washington Evening-Star, 1938, March 18, p. B-1
  50. ^ "Kinard Goes to Chair in District Jail for Murder of Wife." Washington Evening-Star, 1939, February 3, p. A-2.
  51. ^ "Washington Rapist Forfeits His Life." Bristol (Tennessee) Herald Courier, 1942, October 11, p 3.
  52. ^ "William Mumforde" Dies in Chair for Slaying Shop Owner." Washington Evening-Star, 1942, December 18, p. B-1.
  53. ^ "Catoe Electrocuted for Assault-Murder of D.C. Woman", Washington Evening-Star, 1943, January 15, p. 1
  54. ^ "Neely, Killer; Electrocuted in D.C. Jail." Washington Post, 1945, December 15, p. 9
  55. ^ "Memorial to Charles R. Johnston." Washington, DC MPD Police Memorial & Museum. Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://www.dcpolicememorial.org/fallen-1943-johnston-c/
  56. ^ "Earl McFarland is Executed for Berrum Slaying." Bristol (Tennessee) News-Bulletin, 1946, July 19, p. 1
  57. ^ a b "Medley Executed After Last Appeal Is Denied." Bristol (Tennessee) News-Bulletin, 1948, December 20, p. 1.
  58. ^ "Medley Executed After Last Appeal Is Denied." Bristol (Tennessee) News-Bulletin, 1946, December 20, p. 1.
  59. ^ "Slayer Dies in Chair." The Richmond (Virginia) News-Leader, 1947, October 31, p. 3.
  60. ^ "Two are Finally Executed." Frederick (Maryland) The News, 1948, December 10, p. 1.
  61. ^ "Three Granted 8th Reprieve: Convicted of Murder, Trio Given Another Stay of Execution." Hagerstown Maryland) Daily Mail, 1948, November 20). p. 14.
  62. ^ "Hall Sings Spiritual He Wrote, Then Dies for Attacking Girl, 8." Washington Evening-Star, 1949, February 25, p.1.
  63. ^ "Ex-Convict Executed for Assault-Beating Of Girl, 9, Year Ago." Washington Evening-Star, 1949, March 15, Washington Evening Star, p. 1.
  64. ^ "Garner v. United States, 174 F.2d 499 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com.
  65. ^ "Two Motions to Stay Pritchett Execution Are Denied By Judge." Washington Evening-Star, 1952, February 14, p. A-20.
  66. ^ "Tyler to Die Nov 3 for 2 Lansburgh Murders." Washington Evening-Star, 1952, June 30, p.30.
  67. ^ "Uline Slaying Execution Ordered for January 16." Washington Evening-Star, 1952, November 24, p. 3.
  68. ^ "Policeman's Killer in Robbery Chase Dies in D.C. Chair." Washington Evening-Star, 1957, April 26, p.1.
  69. ^ "Memorial to George W. Cassels." Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/memorial-george-w-cassels.
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