“I die in the 30th year of my age, and desire all young Men and Children to take warnings by my untimely End. I die a Protestant according to the Principles of the Lutheran Church, desiring the Prayers of all my Spectators and Hearers.”

— Henry Halbert, convicted of murder, hanging, colonial Pennsylvania.
Executed October 19, 1765

Halbert followed in his father’s footsteps as a wigmaker. After marrying and plying his trade, he was accused of stealing money. According to Halbert, the accusation was false and drove him to murderous desperation, during which he killed a young boy.

While waiting in his cell, on efforts for clemency:
“I won’t get a break.”

— Ross King, convicted of murder, electric chair, Illinois.
Executed October 16, 1933

In a jailhouse interview, convicted cop killer King said, “Swift death in the ‘hot seat’ is better than life in prison. I know: I’ve been to prison. To go there for life would be a lifetime in hell.”

“…A few minutes before this happened if anyone had told me that I would be here, I would have said they were crazy. But remember, anything can happen to anybody. You can walk out on the street and die of heart trouble. Or you can go out on the street and get run over. I think that will be all.”

—George Criner, convicted of murder, hanging, Montana.
Executed October 16, 1935

Criner came home very drunk one night and tried to take his girlfriend’s diamond ring. She refused to let him, and he beat her with an iron poker and cut her with a pocketknife, then shot the police officer who tried to intervene. At the preliminary hearing, Criner said that he very much wished he hadn’t been there.