Famous Last Words Harrison Gibson White Sulphur Springs, Montana February 16, 1917 “You can’t kill a smile!” Harrison was one of 3 executed for the murder of a robbery victim, reported upon earlier today.
Triple hanging of murderers (and a formal invitation to the event)
February 16, 1917 White Sulphur Springs, Montana Harrison Gibson, Henry Hall, and Lester Fahley are hanged for murder The executed convicts were from a group of seven railway workers who robbed a train unassociated to their employer. Gibson, Hall, and Fahley shot their victims after the robbery, which earned them the death penalty. Invitations were…
First person executed based on fingerprint evidence
February 16, 1912 Illinois Thomas Jennings becomes the first person executed based on fingerprint evidence left at the scene of the crime Jennings had killed a Chicago homeowner during a burglary gone wrong. The homeowner discovered Jennings and a scuffle ensued, during which time Jennings’ hand touched some wet paint. The wet paint managed to…
Vintage crime scene: bomb removal (1963)
February 16, 1963 New York, New York A bomb squad moves sticks of dynamite from a car (seen in the photo behind the sign) into a bomb truck