“And now, into the hands of Almighty God I commit my soul, relying on his mercy, through the merits and mediation of my Redeemer, and die an unworthy member of the Presbyterian Church, in the 29th year of my age.”

— Rachel Wall, convicted of highway robbery, hanging, Massachusetts.
Executed October 8, 1789

Pennsylvania native Wall left home to marry a man her parents didn’t approve of. Reportedly, the man was a thief who schooled his new bride in his trade. Wall faced the gallows for robbing a Miss Bendar.

“Old gal, old pal,
You left me all alone—
Old gal, old pal,
I’m just a rolling stone—
Old pal, why don’t you
Answer me . . .”

— Carl Wanderer, convicted of murder, hanging, Illinois.
Executed September 30, 1921

Wanderer remained calm the day before his hanging, refusing playing cards and shunning gifts from fellow prisoners. Prison officials tried to get Wanderer to confess to the murder of his wife and unborn child, but he would not. On the way to the death cell, Wanderer explained that he was not afraid to die. He said that he had fought in France and has always been ready to go.

“I’m ready to go. No one will miss me. My life has been worthless.”

— Ray Gardner, convicted of rape and murder, firing squad, Utah.
Executed September 29, 1951

Gardner raped and killed seventeen-year-old Shirley Jean Gretzinger, who answered his call for a babysitter. He applied repeatedly for clemency but was denied. The location of his execution was improvised in an unfinished corridor of Utah’s new state penitentiary.