“O my God, I am sorry for having offended thee.”

— Willie Green, convicted of murder, electric chair, Illinois.
Executed December 11, 1931

The Chicago Daily Tribune recorded little about Green, age thirtyone, who faced the electric chair for killing grocer Max Newman. He was executed the same day as three other convicted murderers at the Southern Illinois Penitentiary in Menard. He delivered his last words while shaking hands with a priest.

“My last wish is that Sam Cardinella hang, too. He’s responsible for me being here. He headed the gang. It is sweet to die for a mother, sister and a brother. I forgive all who have done anything against me. I want to thank the sheriff and the jailer and all who have been good . . .”

— Nicholas Viana, convicted of murder, hanging, Illinois.
Executed December 10, 1920

The nineteen-year-old Viana said that he had walked into a pool hall one day and a week later became a criminal. Viana murdered a saloon owner during a holdup. He spent his last hours with his mother singing “Mother o’ Mine” at her request. On the way to the death cell he sang “Miserere.”

A letter delivered to the press:
“The poor young fellow I killed and the girl I loved and also killed, were victims of a moment’s passion. I only wish that I could bring them back to life. The scaffold has no terrors for me. I rather welcome it. A man can only die once. My time has come and I am content with it.”

— Harvey Allender, convicted of murder, hanging, California.
Executed December 10, 1897

When Allender found that his longtime sweetheart Wilburga Feilner was to marry an ice-cream cart driver, Venanze Crosetti, he stalked both of them. After a few whiskeys one night, he drew a pistol and shot them. With one bullet left, Allender attempted to shoot himself in the head but only punctured his hat.