List of people executed in West Virginia

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The following is a list of people executed by the U.S. state of West Virginia. Capital punishment in West Virginia was abolished in 1965.[1]

1788–1863

The following executions, all by hanging, took place in the counties that now constitute West Virginia prior to their separation from the state of Virginia.

  Slave executions

More information Name, Race ...
Name Race Age Sex Date of execution County Crime Victim(s) Governor
Charles Donaldson White M June 19, 1797 Monongalia Murder William Donaldson, white (son)[2] James Wood
Millay Black F September 1, 1798 Monongalia Arson David Robs, white (owner)[3][a]
Aaron Black M April 5, 1799 Hampshire Horse stealing [4]
Jerry Hamilton White M July 12, 1799 Hardy Rape Tacey Brady, white[5][b]
Jack Neal Black M January 7, 1803 Kanawha Murder Bennett Rogers (owner) and Ralph Elliotts, white[6] John Page
James Black M July 30, 1803 Jefferson Rape Elizabeth and Elizabeth Perception Jr., white[7]
Abram Black M December 17, 1803 Kanawha Murder James Howard, white (owner)[8][c]
Isaac Black M
Jerry Black M July 5, 1805 Berkeley Highway robbery David Horn, white[9]
John Black M
Abel Clemmons White M June 30, 1806 Monongalia Murder Nine people, white[10][d] William H. Cabell
Moses Black M March 29, 1811 Monroe Murder Will, black[11] James Monroe
Thomas Queen White M June 11, 1813 Harrison Murder Female, white (cousin)[12] James Barbour
Jane Tygart White 70+ F November 18, 1814 Monroe Murder Male, white (husband)[13]
Jim Black M February 12, 1818 Hampshire Highway robbery James Little, white[14] James Patton Preston
Ellis Black M November 17, 1820 Tyler Murder Patrick Wilson, white (owner)[15][16] Thomas Mann Randolph Jr.
Nathan Black M May 1, 1821
Jack Black M December 26, 1822 Wood Rape[e] Barbara Carpenter, 6, white[17] James Pleasants
Tom Black 17 M March 13, 1824 Greenbrier Murder James Newton, white (owner)[18]
Rebecca Black 12 F July 2, 1825 Monroe Murder Adeline Coalter, 4, white[19]
Joshua Black M August 17, 1827 Monongalia Rape Tilpha Collins, white[20] William Branch Giles
Ebenezer Cox White M August 27, 1830 Jefferson Murder Col. T. B. Dunn, white[21] John Floyd
Lucy Black F September 28, 1832 Tyler Murder Mary Ann Fletcher, white[22]
Thomas Wintringer White M July 22, 1836 Ohio Murder Jesse Chrismann, white[23] Wyndham Robertson
Ned Black M September 9, 1836 Preston Murder James Marston, white (owner)[24]
Boon Long White M September 23, 1836 Ohio Murder Jesse Chrismann, white[25]
Harry Black M January 12, 1838 Hampshire Rape [26] David Campbell
John Black M February 26, 1841 Berkeley Murder [27] Thomas Walker Gilmer
William Hudson White M December 18, 1846 Pendleton Murder Six people, white[28][f] William Smith
Bill Black M February 18, 1848 Logan Murder Anne Lawson, white[29]
Michael Whalen White M September 1, 1848 Ohio Murder Female, white (wife)[30]
Charles Green White 21 M July 12, 1850 Jackson Murder-Robbery Timothy Fox, white[31] John B. Floyd
Lewis Uel Black 21 M August 30, 1850 Kanawha Rape Becky Skyles, white[32]
George Black M May 20, 1853 Jefferson Attempted murder Samuel Howell Brown, white[33] Joseph Johnson
Thomas Board White 30 M October 28, 1853 Barbour Murder Strickler I. H. Crhislip, white (nephew)[34]
Charles Black M January 6, 1854 Jefferson Attempted rape Catherine Kelly, white[35]
John Burns White M September 4, 1858 Ohio Murder Mary Ann Montony, white[36] Henry A. Wise
Preston Turley White 36 M September 17, 1858 Kanawha Murder Mary S. Turley, white (wife)[37]
William Black 22 M October 1, 1858 Gilmer Murder William Johnston, white (owner)[38]
John Brown White 59 M December 2, 1859 Jefferson Treason N/A
Edwin Copple White 24 M December 16, 1859 Jefferson Treason N/A[39]
John Copeland Black 25 M
Shields Green Black 23 M
John Cook White 29 M
Albert Hazlett White M March 16, 1860 Jefferson Treason N/A[40] John Letcher
Aaron Stephens White M
Nathaniel Hardin White M June 30, 1860 Marshall Murder Melissa Morris, white[41]
Reuben Black M June 1861 Greenbrier Slave revolt N/A[42]
Ezra Mason White M June 21, 1861 Morgan Murder Female, white (wife)[43]
Richard Gatewood White 21 M December 20, 1861[g] Kanahwa (Military) Desertion N/A[44]
Henry Kuhl White M May 9, 1862 Braxton Murder Male, white[45]
Richard Poole White M March 13, 1863 Ohio Murder
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1863–1898

The following executions, all by hanging, took place under local authorities.

More information Name, Race ...
Name Race Age Sex Date of execution County Crime Victim(s) Governor
Philip Raber White 20 M November 27, 1863[g] Fayette (Military) Desertion N/A[46] Arthur I. Boreman
John Marcum White 27 M January 19, 1864 Fayette (Military) Murder Andrew J. Farley, white[47]
Unknown White M November 11, 1864 Kanawha Marauding
William Loge White M December 2, 1864 Jefferson (Military) Desertion N/A[48][h]
Frederick Murphy White M March 3, 1865 Jefferson (Military) Desertion N/A
Daniel Grogan White M February 9, 1866 Wood Murder-Robbery William Abraham Deem, 45, white[49][50]
Thomas Boice White M
Mortimer Gibboney White M June 15, 1866
Joseph Eisele White 33 M March 6, 1868 Wood Murder Joseph Lillenthal and Rudolph Tsutor, white[i]
William Johnson Black 22 M May 19, 1871 Monroe Murder-Robbery George H. Hunter, 28, white[51] John J. Jacob
Labon Walker White 17 M November 28, 1879 Wayne Murder Patrick Nolan, white[52] Henry M. Mathews
Henry Jenkins Black 22 M November 11, 1881 Fayette Murder-Robbery Winfield Saunders, black[53] Jacob B. Jackson
Felix Kampf White 65 M March 7, 1890 Kanawha Murder William Kampf and Mary Kampf, 19 and 20, white (son and daughter)[54][j] Aretas B. Fleming
William I. Martin White 32 M October 3, 1890 Raleigh Murder Ann Martin, white (wife)[55]
Sim Johnson Black 18 M June 19, 1891 Kanawha Rape Alice Bailey, 16, white[56][57]
Henry Christian Black M July 17, 1891 McDowell Murder William Crowe, white (police officer)
William Maier White 23 M November 17, 1892 Ohio Murder Marie Yoho Maier, 20, white (wife)[58][59]
Allen Harrison White 25 M November 22, 1892 Cabell Murder Bettie Adams, 15, white (love interest)[60]
John Hardy Black M January 19, 1894 McDowell Murder Thomas Drews, black[61] William A. MacCorkle
Washington Adkins White 50 M July 20, 1894 Fayette Murder-Burglary Isaac A. Radford, 42, white[62][63][k]
John W. McFarland Black 19 M July 20, 1894 McDowell Murder George Andrews, black[64]
Andrew J. Scott Black 27 M October 4, 1895 Kanawha Murder Elizabeth M. Scott, 20, black (wife)[65]
Jim Nichols Black 28 M December 13, 1895 Fayette Murder Henry Carr, black[66]
Clark Lewis Black 21 M June 25, 1897 Fayette Murder Charles Gibson, white[67] George W. Atkinson
Jerry Brown Black 35 M July 25, 1897 Fayette Rape Araminta Bays Radford, 42, white[68][69][l]
Albert Viars White 21 M November 12, 1897 Fayette Murder Charles Gibson, white[70]
John Morgan White 22 M December 16, 1897 Jackson Murder-Robbery Three people, white[71][72][73][m]
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1899–1959

In 1899, West Virginia moved all executions by hanging to a private location within the state penitentiary. Hanging was later replaced with electrocution in 1949 when the state legislature approved its use on February 10th and subsequently signed into law by governor Okey Patteson that March; West Virginia was the last U.S. state to adopt electrocution as a primary execution method.[74][75]

More information Name, Race ...
Name Race Age Sex Date of execution County Crime Victim(s) Governor
Shep Caldwell Black 25 M October 10, 1899 McDowell Murder Rose Crenshaw, black (wife)[76] George W. Atkinson
Frank E. Broadnax Black 25 M November 9, 1899 McDowell Murder Sherman McFadden, 16, black[76]
Frank Walker Black 24 M December 15, 1899 Fayette Murder Thomas Saunders, 23, black[77]
George Carter Black M March 21, 1902 Kanawha Murder Virgil Whistler, black[78] Albert B. White
Lewis Young Black 22 M May 1, 1902 McDowell Murder Anthony Kell, black[79]
John Mooney White 39 M May 9, 1902 Ohio Murder-Burglary James Hervey, 70, white[80][n]
Frank Friday White 39 M
Perry Christian White 26 M June 13, 1902 Fayette Murder George William Dent, 46, white[81]
State Henry Black 21 M June 24, 1902 Wetzel Murder-Robbery John Richardson, black[82]
Wilfred Davis White 21 M June 5, 1903 Randolph Murder Page Campbell Marstiller, 47, white (Elkins police chief)[83]
George Williams Black 24 M September 9, 1904 Jefferson Rape Laura Kanode, 20, white[84]
Edward Walton Black 35 M July 17, 1908 Harrison Murder Beulah Martin, 34, black (girlfriend)[o] William M. O. Dawson
Arthur Brown Black 22 M August 27, 1909 McDowell Murder-Robbery Robert Shannon, 18, white[85] William E. Glasscock
Thomas Wayne Black 45 M December 23, 1910 Fayette Murder-Rape-Robbery Lottie Ailiff, 17, white[86]
Frank Stevenson Black 26 M February 17, 1911 Mercer Murder Boles Blagman, 22, white[87]
Jesse Cook White 22 M March 10, 1911 McDowell Murder Frank F. Bennett, white[88]
William Furbish Black 28 M March 17, 1911 Harrison[p] Rape Flora Anglin, 42, white[89]
John Marshall Black 19 M April 4, 1913 McDowell Murder Minnie Marshall, black (wife)[90] Henry D. Hatfield
James Williams Black 22 M Murder Luther Scott and Rose Williams (wife), 19 (wife), black[90]
Henry Sterling Black 22 M June 6, 1913 McDowell Murder William Patterson, black
John Hix White 26 M Murder Mollie Thompson, white (love interest)[91][92]
Henry Green Black 28 M March 6, 1914 Mingo Murder Mary Belle Justice, black (girlfriend)[93]
Silas Jones Black 32 M July 10, 1914 Cabell Murder Prudential Jones, black (wife)[94]
Will Thomas Black 30 M July 2, 1915 Ohio Murder Freida Thomas, 22, black (wife)[95]
Will Stuart Black 37 M Greenbrier Murder George T. Shires, 58, white (police chief)[96]
Nat Jarrell White 28 M July 9, 1915 Kanawha Murder Silas Frank Nantz, 46, white (sheriff)[97][q]
Charles Forrest Black M September 10, 1915 McDowell Murder William Hyden, black[98]
Claude Sutton White 24 M August 4, 1916 Randolph Murder-Robbery John J. Kennedy, 59, white[99]
James Lay Black 25 M September 1, 1916 McDowell Murder-Robbery William Bowman, 42, white[100]
Hugh Ferguson Black 26 M August 6, 1919 Morgan Rape Lola Zimmerman, 26, white[101][102] John J. Cornwell
Hugh Bragg White 21 M April 30, 1920 Webster Murder John Dennis Morton, 33, white (sheriff)[103]
Jacob Lutz White 46 M July 22, 1921 Taylor Murder James E. B. Phillips, 64, white (Grafton police chief)[104][105] Ephraim F. Morgan
Hobart Grimm White 20 M August 5, 1921 Brooke Murder Stephen W. Gelchek, white[106][107]
Henry Harbor Black 29 M January 7, 1922 McDowell Murder Mildred Robinson, 30, black (wife)[108]
Leroy Williams Black 25 M March 3, 1922 Kanawha Rape Maud R. Stephens, 42, white[109]
Monroe S. Payton Black 49 M May 4, 1922 Berkeley Rape Hazel Johnson, 10, white[110]
George Banhage White 39 M November 2, 1923 Brooke Murder Katherine Visnic, 35, white (common-law wife)[r]
Philip Connizzaro White 26 M January 4, 1924 Harrison Murder Frank Napolitano, 29, white[111][s]
Richard Ferri White 26 M
Nick Salamante White 33 M
Samuel Muratore White 41 M February 15, 1924 Harrison Murder James Papara, 34, white[112][t]
Tiny McCoy White 23 M September 12, 1924 Pocahontas Murder Hallie Lee McCoy, 22, white (wife)[113][114][u]
Robert Ford Black 24 M January 29, 1926 Harrison Murder Edward Woody, 52, black[115] Howard Mason Gore
Harry Sawyer Black 24 M April 19, 1926 Mingo Rape Olive McCoy Amburgy, 25, white[116]
Philip Euman Black 19 M August 20, 1926 Harrison Murder-Robbery Charles Shaw, 19, white[117]
Henry Jackson Black 44 M September 10, 1926 Marshall Murder Earl Langfitt, 25, white (guard)[118][v]
Pierce Jefferies Black 21 M February 18, 1927 Greenbrier Rape Mrs. William Vance, white[119]
Wesley Homer Swain White 42 M February 3, 1928 Wood Rape Aurelia Thornton, 5, white[120]
Andrew Brady Black 28 M March 30, 1928 Hardy Rape Odessa Oates, 17, white[121]
Lawrence Charles Fike White 31 M August 10, 1928 Preston Murder-Robbery Elroy Leonard, 50, white[122]
Henry Grogan Black 20 M February 8, 1929 Raleigh Rape Mary Delle Akers, 27, white[123][w]
Theodore Carr White 55 M June 14, 1929 Pocahontas Murder Maggie Carr and Lock Cunningham Sharp, 46 and 27, white (wife and brother-in-law)[124] William G. Conley
Willard F. Morrison White 24 M September 13, 1929 Kanawha Murder Frank E. Bowen, 38, white[125]
Walter E. Wilmot White 20 M
Walter E. Crabtree White 35 M May 9, 1930 Hampshire Murder Henry Carter Inskeep, 59, white (Justice of the Peace)[126][x]
Roosevelt Darnell White 25 M November 14, 1930 Greenbrier Murder William Clarence Holbrooke, 23, white[127]
William C. Adams White 40 M February 20, 1931 Mingo Murder Cynthia McGuire, 45, white (aunt-in-law)[128][y]
Emory Stephens White 24 M Murder-Robbery Leonard Curtis Ooten Sr., 24, white[128]
Hiram Francis Hyer White 54 M June 19, 1931 Pocahontas Murder Evie McGann Hyer, 52, white (wife)[129]
Harry Powers White 39 M March 18, 1932 Harrison Murder-Robbery Dorothy Ann Pressler Lemke, 50, white[z]
James Blount Black 32 M May 12, 1932 Greenbrier Murder Jesse Mupps, 27, black
Omer G. Brill White 21 M August 10, 1933 Hardy Murder-Robbery Lydia M. and Esther Beatrice Burch, 53 and 17, white[130] Herman G. Kump
Leo Fraser White 30 M November 24, 1933 Jackson Murder Roy L. Shamblin, 49, white (deputy sheriff)[131][aa]
Joseph M. Corey Middle Eastern 43 M December 8, 1933 Kanawha Murder Katherine Ghiz, Middle Eastern (cousin-in-law)[132][ab]
Greely Blankenship White 29 M January 7, 1935 Mingo Murder John Christofane, 48, white[133]
Robert Branch Black 39 M July 19, 1935 Ohio Murder Brady Hill, 28, white[134]
Frank Pramera White 23 M April 13, 1937 Brooke Murder Louis Thames, 45, white[135] Homer A. Holt
William V. Beckner White 30 M June 25, 1937 Kanawha Murder-Robbery Joseph S. Page, 64, white[136]
Mervin Brown Black 33 M September 10, 1937 Mercer Murder-Robbery James Garland, 85, black[137]
William B. Read White 25 M November 5, 1937 Braxton Murder-Robbery William Earle Dollman, 34, white[138][ac]
John Travis White 25 M March 21, 1938 Cabell Kidnapping[ad] Dr. James I. Seder, 79, white[139]
Arnett A. Booth White 47 M
Arvil P. Adkins White 25 M
Raymond Styers White 29 M May 13, 1938 Ohio Murder-Burglary Anna Bris, 40, white[140]
Byzantine Hartman White 29 M June 28, 1940 Upshur Murder Wilbur Hoy Grubb, 46, white (constable)[141]
Paul Tross Black 41 M December 6, 1940 Mineral Rape Mary Lynn Stebbins, 23, white[142]
James Chambers Black 33 M March 30, 1945 Randolph Murder-Rape Lucy Ward, 73, white[143][ae] Clarence W. Meadows
William Turner White 27 M December 28, 1945 Preston Murder Darla Dean Pratt, 15, white[144]
Richard L. Collins White 22 M January 11, 1946 Kanawha Murder Denver Delmas Hill, 39, white[145]
William Gordon White 20 M January 3, 1947 Mercer Murder-Robbery Josephine Evelyn Hamblin Carr, 38, white[146]
Paul Burton White 33 M January 2, 1948 Logan Murder Willard Simpson, 23, white[147]
Mark McCauley White 36 M January 30, 1948 Mineral Murder Joseph Pierce Horne, and Orpha Gay Hovatter, 44 and 51, white (sheriff and state police officer)[148]
Matthew Perison Black 31 M September 23, 1948 Logan Murder Jack Martin, 70, black (father-in-law)[149][af]
Lemuel Steed Black 28 M January 15, 1949 Fayette Murder-Robbery Loren Robert McClurg, 50, white[150]
Bud Peterson Black 53 M February 25, 1949 Logan Murder Bessie Wright, 40, black[151] Okey Patteson
Harry Burdette White 27 M March 26, 1951 Kanawha Murder Edward Conrad O'Brien, 31, white[152]
Fred Painter White 33 M
James Hewlett Jr. White 22 M April 10, 1951 Cabell Murder-Robbery Julian Edward Buie, 40, white[153]
Oshel Gardner White 23 M April 17, 1953 Mason Murder-Robbery Roy C. Jackson, 54, white[154] William C. Marland
Thomas L. Ingram Black 31 M March 27, 1954 McDowell Murder Zenobia Irene and Melba Lois Bigelow, 30 and 7, black[155]
Robert L. Hopkins White 28 M September 7, 1956 Kanawha Murder-Robbery Thomas Lantz Ervine, 30, white[156]
Eugene H. Linger White 30 M June 5, 1958 Upshur Murder-Robbery William H. White, 40, white[157] Cecil H. Underwood
Larry P. Fudge White 26 M July 1, 1958 Cabell Murder-Rape Inez Lea Robertson Booth, 51, white[158]
Elmer Bruner White 41 M April 3, 1959 Cabell Murder-Burglary Ruby Hood Thomas Miller, 58, white[159]
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Also poisoned William Robs Jr.
  2. [b]
    Serial rapist, raped two other women and murdered one of them.
  3. [c]
    Abram was later believed to be innocent of the crime.
  4. [d]
    His wife Barbara Carpenter Clemmons and their eight children: Elijah, Hester, Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Parthense, and Ann.
  5. [e]
    "Carnal knowledge".
  6. [f]
    His wife, their three children, her sister-in-law, and her brother.
  7. [g]
    Executed by firing squad.
  8. [h]
    Joined a gang after deserting with whom he committed "depredations upon citizens and straggling soldiers who fell in his way."
  9. [i]
    Serial killer, also murdered Alois Ulrich, white.
  10. [j]
    Also suspected of murdering his wife and his employer.
  11. [k]
    Husband of Araminta Jane Radford, whom Jerry Brown was later executed for raping.
  12. [l]
    Wife of Isaac A. Radford, whom Washington Adkins was previously executed for murdering.
  13. [m]
    His adoptive mother, 59-year-old Chloe Green, and two of her children, 18-year-old James Green and 26-year-old Matilda Pfost.
  14. [n]
    Mooney previously served time in the Ohio State Penitentiary for the murder of Ashtabula police officer John E. Doran.
  15. [o]
    Serial killer, also murdered four other people
  16. [p]
    Change of venue from Lewis County.
  17. [q]
    Also murdered Edward Ratcliff (30, white) in an unrelated crime.
  18. [r]
    Also committed a previous murder which he feared she would inform police of.
  19. [s]
    Members of a Black hand syndicate. Fierri, who was described as a high-ranking member of the Italian Mafia, confessed to 17 murders and said that Connizzaro and Salamante committed at least three murders.
  20. [t]
    Member of a Black hand syndicate.
  21. [u]
    Also murdered his mother-in-law, Mary Burdette Totten (42), and brother-in-law, William Hobart Totten (19).
  22. [v]
    Murdered in the state penitentiary. Jackson was serving a life term for a previous murder in McDowell County.
  23. [w]
    The victim killed herself after Grogan was convicted.
  24. [x]
    Also murdered 21-year-old Edward Malcom Wolford and 60-year-old jailer Benjamin E. Miller and attempted to murder two women and an 11-year-old girl.
  25. [y]
    Also murdered his wife, Flossie Cobern Adams (28), and his mother-in-law Mallie Campbell (55).
  26. [z]
    Serial killer, also murdered mother and her three children and suspected in other murders.
  27. [aa]
    Also murdered 18-year-old Ralph Edward Harper, white.
  28. [ab]
    Also murdered his wife, Ada Ghiz Corey (44).
  29. [ac]
    Previously murdered Ellwood Matthews (68, white) in Maryland four days prior.
  30. [ad]
    The victim was badly beaten and later died from his injuries.
  31. [ae]
    Previously convicted of first degree murder and was serving a life sentence when he escaped from prison. Also stabbed a female inmate after she refused to have sex with him.
  32. [af]
    Also murdered his wife (Clancy Martin Perison, 28) and mother-in-law (Pearl Martin, 54).

References

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