Rainey Bethea: Difference between revisions
imported>SW10048 Created page with "{{Mature}} {{Villain Infobox |Image = Rainey Bethea.png |fullname = Rainey Bethea |alias = James Smith |origin = Roanoke, Virginia, U.S. |occupation = Labourer |goals = Rape and kill Lischia Edwards (succeeded) |crimes = Murder<br>Rape<br>Burglary<br>Breach of the peace<br>Public drunkenness |type of villain = Homicidal Rapist}} '''Rainey Bethea''' (c. 1909 - 14 August 1936) was the last person publicly executed in the United States of America. He had raped and m..." |
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Bethea's death warrant was signed by Governor Albert Chandler on 6 August. His site of execution was later moved, necessitating a second death warrant, which was signed by Lieutenant Governor Keen Johnson. On 14 August Bethea mounted the scaffold outside the Daviess County Jail. However, the executioner, Arthur L. Hash, was drunk and failed to pull the lever that would drop Bethea through the trapdoor. After a few minutes, one of the guards was forced to pull the lever instead. Bethea dropped 8 feet through the trapdoor and instantly broke his neck. His body was interred in a pauper's grave in Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery, Owensboro. The media circus surrounding the execution lead to Kentucky abolishing public executions two years later, ending public executions in the United States. | Bethea's death warrant was signed by Governor Albert Chandler on 6 August. His site of execution was later moved, necessitating a second death warrant, which was signed by Lieutenant Governor Keen Johnson. On 14 August Bethea mounted the scaffold outside the Daviess County Jail. However, the executioner, Arthur L. Hash, was drunk and failed to pull the lever that would drop Bethea through the trapdoor. After a few minutes, one of the guards was forced to pull the lever instead. Bethea dropped 8 feet through the trapdoor and instantly broke his neck. His body was interred in a pauper's grave in Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery, Owensboro. The media circus surrounding the execution lead to Kentucky abolishing public executions two years later, ending public executions in the United States. | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Execution]] | ||
[[Category:Modern Villains]] | [[Category:Modern Villains]] | ||
[[Category:Deceased]] | [[Category:Deceased]] | ||
[[Category:United States of America]] | [[Category:United States of America]] | ||
[[Category:Rapists]] | [[Category:Rapists]] | ||
[[Category:Homicidal]] | [[Category:Homicidal]] | ||
[[Category:Criminals]] | [[Category:Criminals]] | ||
[[Category:Fugitives]] | [[Category:Fugitives]] | ||
[[Category:Male]] | |||
[[Category:Brutes]] | |||
[[Category:Thugs]] | |||
[[Category:Murderer]] | |||
[[Category:Thief]] | |||
[[Category:Perverts]] | |||