This week in 1874
“Gentlemen, I am here to die, but I am an innocent man compared to that woman. She deserves death ten times more than I do.”
— Marshall Martin, convicted of murder, hanging, California.
Executed January 23, 1874
Martin’s work supervisor was Valentine Eischler, whose marriage with wife Elizabeth was in the course of unraveling. According to Martin’s testimony, Elizabeth seduced him and urged him to murder her husband. Eventually, Eischler died in an attack with an ax, with both parties claiming responsibility at different times. Elizabeth pleaded insanity and was sent to an asylum. Martin was convicted of first-degree murder.
It’s worth noting that the Chicago Daily Tribune recorded slightly different last words: “Gentlemen: I want you all to understand that I am here to die; but I am an innocent man; I don’t deserve this. The woman that caused me to do this deserves death a thousand more times than I do. That’s all I have to say.”
Martin’s hanging was particularly gruesome, as recorded by the newspaper Alta California: “Although there was a drop of only six feet, the body dropped headless to the ground. His head rebounded a distance of six feet.”
This week in 2001
“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
She smiled at her spiritual advisers and attorneys and stuck out her tongue.
— Wanda Jean Allen, convicted of murder, lethal injection, Oklahoma.
Executed January 11, 2001
Allen was convicted in the shooting death of Gloria J. Leathers, her lover. Her case gained national attention when Amnesty International and the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty pleaded for clemency. Rev. Jessie Jackson led protesters in Oklahoma City, where he and others were arrested after crossing a police barricade at Allen’s prison. Allen had previously served time for the shooting death of a roommate.
Documentarian Liz Garbus covered Allen’s life story and death in 2002’s “The Execution of Wanda Jean.”
This week in 2001
“You people over there. You know what these people are doing. By them executing me ain’t doing nothing right. I don’t weigh 180 pounds and 5’7”. Take care, love y’all… ”
— Vincent Cooks, convicted of murder, lethal injection,Texas.
Executed December 12, 2001
Cooks stood 6’3″ and weighed three hundred pounds. Witnesses of a robbery in which a police officer was killed identified a significantly shorter, slimmer man as the perpetrator. However, Cooks stood trial and was convicted of murder.
