“I am ready, God have mercy on my soul.”

— William Wright Wheatley, convicted of murder, hanging, Montana
Executed August 13, 1875

The jury recommended clemency in Wheatley’s case after he turned in his co-conspirators in the murder of Franz Warl. Neither the judge nor the territory’s governor had the power to commute the sentence, however, and Wheatley was hanged against the jury’s wishes. Wheatley’s was recorded as the first legal hanging in the Montana territory.

“I see it now, it is all bright.”

— Hiram Reynolds, convicted of murder, hanging, Tennessee.
Executed August 12, 1863

Hiram Reynolds had already proven himself a capable soldier as a veteran of the Mexican-American War. A widower with two children, he was court-martialed during his service in the Civil War, after he shot and killed Private Washington Mosier in a duel. Rev. John R. Adams, an army chaplain, rode with Reynolds as he was transported to the gallows in Nashville. Having been silent during most of the trip, Reynolds spoke his last words to Rev. Adams.

“Gentleman, I have come to meet my fate. Had justice been done at my first trial, I would not be here today for this purpose. I have no ill-will toward any man living, and am prepared and ready to meet my God.”

— Frederick Hopt, convicted of murder, firing squad, Utah.
Executed August 11, 1887

Hopt was convicted of murdering the Provo city marshal. He claimed that he murdered him because the marshal had abused him while he was incarcerated in the Provo jail. Before Hopt was executed, he gave his few possessions to fellow inmates and requested that his body be buried outside the prison instead of being donated to science.