(Thanks to Robert Elder of Last Words of the Executed — the blog, and the book — for the guest post. This post originally appeared on the Last Words blog. Fans of this here site are highly likely to enjoy following Elder’s own pithy, almanac-style collection of last words on the scaffold. -ed.)
I have something of interest to tell —
-Paul Rowland, convicted of murder, California. Executed September 27, 1929
Serving time for a robbery, Rowland approached Alger Morrison, a man whom he claimed as a good friend, and stabbed him with a five-inch homemade knife. Rumors circulated among the inmates that Rowland and Morrison had had a “degenerate” sexual relationship, rumors that Rowland found unendurable. His last words were cut short as the trap sprang from beneath his feet.
On this day..
- 2000: Ricky McGinn
- 1733: Rebekah Chamblit
- 1943: Mao Zemin, brother of Mao Zedong
- 1517: Konrad Breuning, Tübingen Vogt
- Feast Day of Saints Cosmas and Damian
- 1944: A Dutch Kapo named Raphaelson
- 1583: Elisabeth Plainacher, Vienna's only witchcraft execution
- 1975: The last executions under Franquismo
- 1906: Adolph Weber, nervy
- 1471: Thomas Neville, the Bastard Faulconbridge
- 1996: Dr. Mohammad Najibullah
- 1976: Three terrorists in Syria
- Themed Set: Semiramis