1931: Charles Simpson, “make it snappy”
July 17th, 2019 Robert Elder
(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.)
Make it snappy.
— Charles H. Simpson, convicted of murder, hanging, California. Executed July 17, 1931
Known as “the Torch Slayer,” Simpson was already a convicted car thief and burglar when he entered Albina Voorhies’s grocery store. Simpson had known Voorhies because she rented the building from his father. Recognizing him, Voorhies turned her back to get him some cookies. That’s when Simpson struck her in the back of the head with a police club. Simpson eventually tied her to a chair, hit her again, and poured coal oil on her clothes, which he then set on fire. Simpson’s nerve faltered — he tried to take Voorhies to the bathroom to put the fire out — but by then the fire had spread. Panicking, Simpson left her in the store to bury the club and burn the clothes he wore.
Simpson could give no reason for his actions other than robbery. He had taken three dollars from the cash register.
On this day..
- 1821: Fulgencio Yegros, former Paraguay head of state - 2020
- 1857: John Dorsey - 2018
- 1946: Draza Mihailovic, Chetnik commander - 2017
- 1920: Gerald Smyth, Royal Irish Constabulary officer - 2016
- 1787: Jacob "Hannikel" Reinhard - 2015
- 1651: Wilhelm Biener, faithful counsellor - 2014
- 1903: Dora Wright, in Indian Territory - 2013
- 1537: Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis - 2012
- 1798: Henry Joy McCracken - 2011
- 1749: Samuel Henzi, excluded - 2010
- 1793: Charlotte Corday, Marat's murderess - 2009
- 1918: Tsar Nicholas II and his family - 2008
Entry Filed under: 20th Century,California,Capital Punishment,Common Criminals,Crime,Death Penalty,Execution,Gallows Humor,Guest Writers,Hanged,Murder,Other Voices,USA
Tags: 1930s, 1931, charles simpson, july 17
