Capital punishment in the District of Columbia has been abolished since 1981. However, a number of executions were carried out under the District's jurisdiction before then.

Before 1973, the District of Columbia was exclusively governed by Congress, which included establishing all local laws. Until 1962, the District of Columbia was the last jurisdiction in the United States with mandatory death sentences for first-degree murder (the last U.S. state with mandatory death sentences for first degree murder was Vermont). Mandatory death sentences were abolished by the HR5143 (PL87-423), signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on March 22, 1962.[1] Rape was also a capital offense.[2]

The D.C. capital punishment law was nullified by the Supreme Court decision in Furman v. Georgia in 1972 and formally repealed by the D.C. Council in 1981.

The first recorded execution in District of Columbia, was the hanging of James McGirk in 1802. Hanging was the method of execution used in the District until 1928, when it was replaced by the electric chair. The last execution under the authority of the District took place in 1957, when Robert Carter was executed. All executions were conducted at the D.C. Jail.

The president of the United States has sole pardoning power in the District.

Listing of non-federal executions in the District of Columbia - 1900-1957

Executed Person Ethnicity Age Sex Date of Execution Crime Presidential Administration
Benjamin Snell White 42 Male June 29, 1900 Executed for the August 6, 1899, razor murder of a 13-year-old girl.[3] William McKinley
Nelson Vale Black 59 Male July 6, 1900 Executed for the January 1900 shooting murder of a man in Tenleytown.[4]
Frank Funk White 25 Male November 9, 1900 Executed for June 1898 murder of elderly man in his home during robbery.[5]
Elijah Chapman Black 33 Male May 23, 1902 Executed for January 1, 1902, fatal stabbing of his alleged common-law wife during an argument.[6] Theodore Roosevelt
John St. Clair Black 26 Male January 30, 1903 Executed for the April 1902 shooting murder of a woman during an argument.[7]
Benjamin Hill White 52 Male July 24, 1903 Executed for the November 1902 shooting murder of his wife.[8]
John Burley Black 43 Male August 26, 1904 Executed for the rape of a four-year-old girl in April 1903.[9]
Augustus Shaffer White 39 Male February 10, 1905 Executed for cutting the throat of his divorced wife in August 1903.[10]
William Hamilton Black 27 Male February 2, 1906 Executed for June 1904 murder of a woman.[11]
Charles Edward Grant Black 21 Male November 16, 1906 Executed for the murder his common-law-wife whom he stabbed with a knife during a quarrel.[12]
William Burge Black 23 Male April 23, 1907 Executed for the January 1905 murder of his wife.[13]
Joseph Paolucci White 31 Male March 23, 1908 Executed for the September 1906 shooting of woman who had rejected him for a relationship.[14]
Albert Brown Black 23 Male June 29, 1908 Executed for the murder of his brother Harvey in November 1907.[15]
Richard Gregory Black 37 Male February 15, 1909 Executed for August 1907 murder of man with a club.[16]
Samuel Rauen White 25 Male February 14, 1913 Executed for fatally shooting his wife and his brother in front of his wife's home in March 1912.[17] William Howard Taft
Nathaniel Green Black 23 Male June 9, 1913 Executed for the Christmas Day, 1912, rape of a woman.[18] Woodrow Wilson
James Allen Black 36 Male September 12, 1917 Executed for the November 1915 murder of his wife in their home in Georgetown.[19]
James Jackson Black 27 Male March 2, 1920 Executed for murder of young war worker in January 1919.[20]
Frank Bowman Black 39 Male October 22, 1920 Executed for 1916 murder of a paralyzed man.[21]
William Campbell Black 22 Male March 11, 1921 Executed for murder of woman in her home during burglary in March 1920.[22] Warren Harding
John McHenry White 19 Male March 17, 1922 Executed for the murders of a Washington policeman and an auto accessory dealer.[23]
Earnest Shands Black 29 Male March 9, 1923 Executed for August 1922 murder of his wife with an axe.[24]
George Banton Black 20 Male April 20, 1923 Executed for August 1922 murder of a grocer during a robbery.[25]
Charles Price Black 32 Male May 3, 1923 Executed for murdering man in May 1918 in dispute over bottle of liquor.[26]
George Epps Black 31 Male May 24, 1923 Executed for December 1921 murders of his wife and her female friend at their home.[27]
Rufus Gordon Black 37 Male June 23, 1923 Executed for September 1919 murder of grocer during a robbery.[28]
Ralph Thomas Black 40 Male January 15, 1925 Executed for the murder of his wife, Sadie Thomas, on August 1, 1923.[29] Calvin Coolidge
Herbert Copeland Black 50 Male January 22, 1925 Executed for murdering two policemen and a deputy sheriff in 1918. Last condemned inmate to be hanged in the District of Columbia.[30]
Philip Jackson Black 30 Male May 29, 1928 Executed for rape of woman on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. First condemned inmate to be electrocuted in the District of Columbia.[31]
Nicholas Eagles White 34 Male June 22, 1928 All three were executed for the murder of DC policeman Leo W. Karl Busch on September 28, 1926.[32][33]
Samuel Mareno White 21 Male
John Proctor White 20 Male
Andrew Hawkins Black 31 Male June 5, 1930 Executed for the December 1928 murder of his sweetheart.[34] Herbert Hoover
Cardoza Bell Black 24 Male March 6, 1931 Executed for August 1929 shotgun murder of his 25 year old female companion.[35]
Alfred Aldridge Black 21 Male May 6, 1932 Executed for murder of DC policeman Harry J. McDonald.[36][37] Franklin D. Roosevelt
John Borum Black 26 Male June 29, 1932 Executed for the murder of Prohibition (ATF) federal agent Lamar Watson York in 1930.[38][39]
John Logan Black 24 Male
Charles Morris Black 33 Male March 12, 1932 Executed for the murder of a woman in July 1930 on C&O Canal Bridge.[40]
William Robinson Black 20 Male October 27, 1933 Both men were executed separately for the July 1931 murder of a taxi driver during a hold-up.[41][42]
Charles Washington Black 23 Male November 24, 1933
Benjamin Montague Black 29 Male December 1, 1933 Executed for the murder of his common-law-wife in June 1932.[43]
Ralph Holmes Black 25 Male January 12, 1934 All three men were executed for the August 1932 beating death of U.S. Park Police Officer Milo J. Kennedy.[44][45]
Joseph Jackson Black 20 Male
Irvin Murray Black 26 Male
Ernest Bolden Black 25 Male April 27, 1934 Executed for the July 1932 murder of his estranged wife.[46]
Joe Goodman Black 39 Male June 1, 1934 Both men were executed for January 1933 murder of store owner during robbery of feed store in the Benning area of the District.[47]
George Pitmond Black 35 Male
Albert Preston Black 38 Male March 20, 1936 Executed for February 1935 fatal shooting of man in dispute over $1.50 gambling debt.[48]
John Cummings Black 27 Male April 23, 1937 Both men were executed for the March 1935 fatal shooting of truck driver during robbery.[49]
Willett Marcus Black 21 Male
Norman Robinson Black 29 Male March 18, 1938 Executed for the September 1936 murder of lodging house proprietress.[50]
Will Kinard Black 38 Male February 2, 1939 Executed for the November 1936 murder of his wife during domestic argument.[51]
William Robinson Black 36 Male October 9, 1942 Executed for rape of 15-year-old girl near Rock Creek Park in August 1941.[52]
William Mumforde Black 22 Male December 18, 1942 Executed for the murder of dress shop owner in February 1941.[53]
Jarvis Catoe Black 36 Male January 15, 1943 Executed for the rape and murder of woman, suspected in numerous other similar crimes.[54]
Monroe Neely Black 37 Male December 14, 1945 Executed for the murder of DC police officer Charles Johnston in May 1943.[55][56] Harry S. Truman
Earl McFarland White 25 Male July 19, 1946 Executed for the rape and murder of 18-year-old woman in October 1944.[57]
William Copeland Black 38 Male December 20, 1946 Executed for the February 1944 fatal shooting of his 43-year-old sister-in-law.[58]
Julius Fisher Black 34 Male December 20, 1946 Executed for the March 1944 murder of 37-year-old librarian at the Washington National Cathedral.[59]
Joseph Medley White 45 Male December 20, 1946 Executed for murder of 50-year-old female acquaintance.[60]
Alfred Hawkins Black 24 Male October 31, 1947 Executed for murder of 33-year-old grocery store clerk during holdup robbery.[61]
Jesse Patton Black 23 Male December 10, 1948 Both men were executed for the murder of a pharmacist during a June 1946 robbery of drugstore.[62]
Reginald Wheeler Black 28 Male
Shirley Harris Black 25 Male January 14, 1949 Executed for March 1947 murder of 54-year-old man during a holdup.[63]
John Hall Black 35 Male February 25, 1949 Executed for October 1946 rape of 8-year-old girl.[64]
Theodore Holmes Black 22 Male March 15, 1949 Executed for March 1948 rape of 9-year-old girl.[65]
George Garner Black 26 Male July 29, 1949 Both men were executed for robbery-murder of taxi cab driver in February 1948.[66]
Lawrence Garner Black 24 Male
Fred Pritchett White 41 Male February 15, 1952 Executed for July 1949 murder of locomotive engineer on railroad property.[67]
William Tyler Jr. Black 20 Male July 26, 1952 Executed for murder of two night watchmen at Lansburgh's department store during a burglary in April 1949.[68]
Albert Allen Black 25 Male March 20, 1953 Convicted of robbery and murder of co-worker in January 1950.[69] Dwight D. Eisenhower
Robert Carter Black 28 Male April 26, 1957 Convicted of July 1953 robbery and murder of an off-duty D.C. police officer, George Cassels. Last man to be executed in District of Columbia. [70][71]

References

  1. ^ "District of Columbia - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum". October 6, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06.
  2. ^ "Executions in the U.S. 1608-2002: The ESPY File : Executions by State (PDF)" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Pays the Penalty - Benjamin Snell Hanged for Murder of Lizzie Weisenberger". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 29 June 1900. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Vale Hanged Today - Went to Scaffold Singing a Hymn". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening Star. 6 July 1900. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Funk and Snell Unlike - The Condemned Men Differ in Every Personal Characteristic". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 3 March 1900. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Expiates His Crime - Elijah Chapman Hanged at District Jail Today". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 23 May 1900. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  7. ^ "John St. Clair Held - Accused of Murder of Daisy Maddox". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 17 April 1902. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Hoped for Reprieve Fails Murderer Hill". Washington (District of Columbia) Times. 24 July 1903. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  9. ^ "John W. Burley Executed at District Jail". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 26 August 1904. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Expiates His Crime - Augustus L. Shaffer Executed at District Jail". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 10 February 1905. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Death Penalty Paid - William Walter Hamilton Hanged At Local Jail". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 2 February 1906. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Sentence of the Law - Charles Edward Grant Hanged at the Local Jail". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 16 November 1906. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Met Death Quietly - William Burge Hanged at the Local Jail". Washington Evening-Star. 23 April 1907. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Penalty Was Death - Joseph Paolucci Hanged For Murder of Miss Dodge". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 23 March 1908. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Dies Singing A Hymn - Albert Brown Hanged for Murder of His Brother". Washington (District of Columbia) Post. 30 June 1908. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Goes Singing to the Scaffold - Gregory Protests Innocence Knowing He Must Die". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 15 February 1909. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Rauen Dies Bravely - Murderer of Wife and Brother Shows No Emotion". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 14 February 1913. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Nathaniel Green Is Hanged Today: Second Man to Pay Penalty at District Jail for Assaulting A Woman Since 1904". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 9 June 1913. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  19. ^ "James Allen is Legally Hanged from Scaffold That Killed Guiteau 35 Years Ago". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 12 September 1917. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Jackson Hanged at Jail". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 2 March 1920. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  21. ^ "Negro Murderer Dies on Gallows - Frank Bowman, Who Killed Paralytic, Walks Firmly to Meet Death". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 22 October 1920. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Slayer Dies on Gallows - Trap is Sprung for Campbell, Confessed Killer of Mrs. Gertrude Mann". Washington (District of Columbia) Times. 11 March 1921. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Smiles As He Pays Gallows Penalty - Youthful John McHenry Calm in Meeting Death for Murder of Two". Washington (District of Columbia) Post. 18 March 1922. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Slayer of Wife Dies on Gallows - Earnest A. Shands Calm As He Goes to Execution With Hymn on His Lips". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 9 March 1923. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Slayer Warns Headlong Youth Just Before Dying on Gallows". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 20 April 1923. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  26. ^ "Slayer Goes Singing to the Gallows". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 3 May 1923. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  27. ^ "Murderer Hanged with Hymn on His Lips". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 24 May 1923. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  28. ^ "Admits Murder as Noose Beckons". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 23 June 1923. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  29. ^ "Murderer Goes to Death Singing". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 15 January 1925. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Copeland, Hanged, Admits Slaying 12 in Last Statement". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 22 January 1925. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  31. ^ "Jackson Executed on Assault Count - Meets Death in Chair at D.C. Jail, Denying Crime to Last". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 29 May 1928. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  32. ^ "Trio of Murders Pay Death Penalty in Electric Chair for Busch Slaying". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 22 June 1928. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  33. ^ Memorial to Leo W. Busch. Washington, DC MPD Police Memorial & Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://www.dcpolicememorial.org/fallen-1926-busch-l/
  34. ^ "Dies in Chair with Smile on His Lips - Andrew Jackson Hawkins, Condemned Slayer, Shows Unusual Bravery". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 5 June 1930. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  35. ^ "D.C. Will Execute Slayer on Friday - Cardoza Bell, Twice given 30 Day Stay, Must Die in Electric Chair". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 4 March 1931. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  36. ^ Memorial to Harry J. McDonald. Washington, DC MPD Police Memorial & Museum, https://www.dcpolicememorial.org/fallen-1929-mcdonald-h/
  37. ^ "Policeman's Slayer Dies in Electric Chair". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 6 May 1932. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  38. ^ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives -- Lamar W. York. Retrieved 2021, November 26, from https://www.atf.gov/our-history/fallen-agents/lamar-w-york.
  39. ^ "Agent Slayers Die in Electric Chair". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 29 June 1932. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  40. ^ "Slayer of Woman Pays With Life". Washington Evening-Star. 2 December 1932. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  41. ^ "Roosevelt Phones, Saving Man Just Before Execution Time". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 27 October 1933. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  42. ^ "Roosevelt Reprieve Expires for Slayer". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 23 November 1933. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  43. ^ "Sings Spiritual as Chair Takes Life". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 1 December 1933. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  44. ^ "Three Die in Chair for Part in Park Slaying in 1932". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 12 January 1934. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  45. ^ National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. 2019, OFC. Milo J. Kennedy. Officer Milo J. Kennedy, U.S. Park Police, https://usppfop.org/officer-milo-john-kennedy/
  46. ^ "New Executioner Throws Switch". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 27 April 1934. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  47. ^ "Two Slayers Die in Electric Chair". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 1 June 1934. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  48. ^ "Slayer Executed in Electric Chair - Preston Dies for Murder After Quarrel over $1.50 Gambling Debt". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 20 March 1936. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  49. ^ "Law Takes Lives of Two Killers - D.C. Executes Pair Who Murdered Truck Driver in Hold-Up". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 23 April 1937. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  50. ^ "Man Dies in Chair For Killing Woman". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 18 March 1938. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  51. ^ "Kinard Goes to Chair in District Jail for Murder of Wife". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 3 February 1939. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  52. ^ "Robinson Executed for Assault As Stone Denies Last Appeal". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 9 October 1942. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  53. ^ "William Mumforde Dies in Chair for Slaying Shop Owner". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 18 December 1942. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  54. ^ "Catoe Electrocuted for Assault-Murder of D.C. Woman". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 15 January 1943. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  55. ^ "Neely Walks Unaided to Chair To Die for Policeman's Murder". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 14 December 1945. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  56. ^ "Memorial to Charles R. Johnston." Washington, DC MPD Police Memorial & Museum. Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://www.dcpolicememorial.org/fallen-1943-johnston-c/
  57. ^ "Earl McFarland Dies in Chair For Slaying Government Girl". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 19 July 1946. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  58. ^ "Medley's Death Delayed by 2 Hours By Final Pleas - Executed After Two Other Slayers; Bid to High Court Fails". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 20 December 1946. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  59. ^ "Medley's Death Delayed by 2 Hours By Final Pleas - Executed After Two Other Slayers; Bid to High Court Fails". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 20 December 1946. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  60. ^ "Medley's Death Delayed by 2 Hours By Final Pleas - Executed After Two Other Slayers; Bid to High Court Fails". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 20 December 1946. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  61. ^ "Hawkins Dies in Chair for Holdup Murder, Remains Calm to the Last". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 31 October 1947. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  62. ^ "Two Bernstein Killers Are Finally Executed After All Appeals Fail". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 10 December 1948. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  63. ^ "Trigger Man of Kelly Executed in Electric Chair". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 14 January 1949. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  64. ^ "Hall sings Spiritual That He Wrote, Then Dies for Attacking Girl, 8". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 25 February 1949. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  65. ^ "Ex-Convict Executed for Assault-Beating of Girl, 9, Year Ago". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 15 March 1949. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  66. ^ "Garner Brothers Die in Electric Chair for Murder of Cab Driver". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 29 July 1949. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  67. ^ "Two Motions to Stay Pritchett Execution Are Denied By Judge". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 14 February 1952. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  68. ^ "Tyler Dies in Chair for Fatal Stabbing of 2 Store Guards". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 25 July 1952. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  69. ^ "Man, 25, Executed in Garage Murder Despite Priest's Plea". Washington (District of Columbia) Evening-Star. 20 March 1953. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  70. ^ "Man Electrocuted for Slaying Policeman". Salisbury (Maryland) Daily Times. 27 April 1957. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  71. ^ "Memorial to George W. Cassels." Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/memorial-george-w-cassels.
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