James Autry
Born
James David Autry

(1954-09-27)September 27, 1954
Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
DiedMarch 14, 1984(1984-03-14) (aged 29)
Huntsville Unit, Huntsville, Texas, U.S.
Cause of deathExecution by lethal injection
OccupationLaborer
Criminal statusExecuted
Conviction(s)Capital murder
Criminal penaltyDeath

James David Autry (September 27, 1954 – March 14, 1984[1]) was a convicted murderer in the U.S. state of Texas, executed by lethal injection.[2]

Autry, a native of Amarillo, had been convicted of shooting 43-year-old Port Arthur convenience store clerk, Shirley Drouet, between the eyes with a .38 caliber pistol on April 20, 1980.[1] He then shot two witnesses in the head, one of whom, Joe Broussard, a Roman Catholic priest, died instantly, while the other, Anthanasios Svarnas, a Greek seaman, survived but was left with permanent brain damage.[1] The crime had been committed with John Alton Sandifer, Autry's roommate. Although no money was missing from the cash register, a carton of beer valued at $2.70 was missing.[3]

On October 4, 1983, he had been strapped in the gurney in the execution chamber, with the needles in his arms, when a stay of execution came through.[4][5] He would later be executed on March 14, 1984, in the second execution in Texas since the reintroduction of the death penalty in the state after Gregg v. Georgia.[5]

He declined to make a final statement but did request a last meal of a hamburger, French fries, and a Dr Pepper.[6]

Autry was known as "Cowboy" on death row. As to lethal injection he said "it ain't manly" and said he would prefer to be hanged or beheaded. He also said he preferred execution to life in prison. He petitioned the Texas Board of Corrections to have his execution televised, arguing that the execution is not "real" to the people unless they see it. The request was refused.[7]

He is buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "James Autry Offender information." Archived 2005-11-01 at the Wayback Machine Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
  2. ^ Nichols, Bruce (March 14, 1984). "Killer dies smiling". United Press International. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "Texas Executes Convicted Killer Who Won Late Reprieve In 1983". The New York Times. March 14, 1984. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "When someone is executed by lethal injection, do they swab off the arm first?"Archived 2008-05-26 at the Wayback Machine The Straight Dope.
  5. ^ a b Taylor, Paul (March 14, 1984). "Texas Murderer Is Executed by Injection". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Final Meal Requests at the Wayback Machine (archived December 2, 2003). Texas Department of Criminal Justice (September 12, 2003). Archived from the original on December 2, 2003. Retrieved on November 17, 2007.
  7. ^ Drimmer, Frederrick (1990). Until You are Dead...: The book of executions in America. New York: Carol Publishing Group. pp. 81–82. ISBN 0-8065-1184-2.
Preceded byCharles Brooks Jr. – 1982 Executions carried out in Texas Succeeded byRonald Clark O'Bryan – 1984 Preceded by  Johnny Taylor Jr. – Louisiana – February 29, 1984   Executions carried out in the United States Succeeded byJames W. Hutchins – North Carolina – March 16, 1984
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