“You never killed a gamer man in all your life than you will today.”

— Patrick Coughlin, convicted of murder, firing squad, Utah.
Executed December 15, 1896

Coughlin moved from Massachusetts to Utah with the construction of the Union Pacific railroad. Described as an angry child, hem had accumulated numerous charges by age twenty-one. Coughlin and an accomplice were convicted of killing two law officers. He was offered the choice between hanging and firing squad. Coughlin chose the latter.

“Well, first, my people, you guys have heard everything I needed to say today. I hope I said the right things. I hope you heard me. And I hope you go beyond here and do what you need to do. Do the right thing. Strength in numbers. Look out for each other….Remember this, if all you know is hatred, if all you know is blood love, you’ll never be satisfied. For everybody out there that is like that and knows nothing but negative, kiss my proud white Irish ass. I’m ready warden, send me home.”

— Robert Atworth, convicted of robbery and murder, lethal injection,Texas.
Executed December 14, 1999

Atworth shot, stabbed, and robbed Thomas Carlson, then severed the victim’s right-hand little finger, where he’d worn a ring. Upon being apprehended, Atworth blamed the crime on an alternate personality of his by the name of Nino. Later he asked that no appeals be made on his behalf.

“Is it necessary to have the hood?”

— Robert W. Williams, convicted of murder, electric chair, Louisiana.
Executed December 14, 1983

Williams maintained that when he walked into the A&P supermarket to rob it, he never intended to shoot the on- duty security guard; he said that his sawed-off shotgun went off accidentally. Williams was the tenth prisoner executed since the federal government had reinstated the death penalty seven years earlier.