(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.)

Susan, receive me; I will soon be with you.

-Jeremiah V. Craine, convicted of murder, hanging, California.
Executed October 26, 1855

Though married with four children in Kentucky, Craine had an affair with eighteen-year-old Susan Newnham. Craine, who believed in spiritualism, said his relationship with Susan was “sanctioned by heaven.” This did not stop Craine from shooting Susan several times, claiming that she pleaded that they make a suicide pact to escape gossip and her family’s anger about their relationship. Craine was stopped from committing suicide the next day. At his execution, Craine read an address to the assembled crowd, calling Susan his “wife.” He was allowed to sing a song he wrote to the tune of “The Indian Hunter’s Lament,” in which he described his wish to die.

On this day..

• 1578: Nicolas Gosson, counterrevolved
• 1959: Frank Wojculewicz, paraplegic electrocution
• 1781: Twelve Aymara rebels
• 2010: Jeffrey Landrigan, thiopentaled
• 1761: Richard Parrott
• 1781: Twelve Aymara rebels
• 1964: Eric Edgar Cooke, the Night Caller
• 2000: Yopougon Massacre
• 1440: Gilles de Rais, unholy
• 1978: Seventeen officers in Somalia
• 1941: Masha Bruskina, Kiril Trus, and Volodia Shcherbatsevich, partisans
• 1864: Klatsassin and four fellow Tsilhqot'ins