“Dope started me on my way. I’ve seen the time I’d give my life for the stuff. Now I’m giving it away any way.”

— George Donnelly, convicted of murder, hanging, California.
Executed February 23, 1923

A “cell tender” at Folsom Prison, Donnelly was serving fourteen years for a drugstore robbery. As the prisoners were lined up for supper, Donnelly overheard Earl Morse and another inmate fighting. He made his way toward the men and stabbed Morse in the back of the neck with a makeshift knife. Morse lived long enough to identify his attacker.

“No, I have nothing to say except that I am sorry and that I hope all my friends will profit by my experience. Good-bye friends, good-bye all. God bless you all.”

— James Martin, convicted of murder, hanging, Montana.
Executed February 23, 1904

Martin refused to tell the press his real name to keep his family from finding out that he was a murderer. Before his execution, Martin had his lawyer write a letter to his father that said that he was serving a brief sentence in jail but he was sick and not expected to survive. After the execution, it was revealed that Martin’s family had known for some time of his situation and that prison authorities had decided not to tell him so as to spare his feelings.

“I had rather go to an Ale-house than to any Church. Pray Young People take warning by my shameful end: keep the Sabbath truly. . . . I have had great Oppression upon my Spirit since I was in this prison and I thought I should never repent or confess, until Almighty God softened my hard heart and gave me grace to repent. I beg all good people to joyn in prayers with me, I have great need of your prayers.”

— Thomas Lutherland, convicted of murder, hanging, colonial New Jersey.
Executed February 23, 1692

Lutherland, a carpenter, was hanged for strangling merchant John Clark, then stealing his goods. The undecided jury invoked the “law of the bier”: Lutherland was forced to touch Clark’s rotting corpse. It was believed that a corpse would bleed when touched by  its murderer, and Clark’s did not, but Lutherland broke down on the spot and confessed to his crime anyway. “When I touched the murdered Corpse of John Clark, I was afraid the Blood would have flown  n my face,” he said. It should be noted that another source claims that Lutherland was executed in Pennsylvania; yet another insists he was put to death in 1691.