June 12, 1857 Toledo, Ohio Return Jonathan Meigs Ward is hanged for the murder of his wife Ward had been abusing his wife Olive for some time before the murder. Olive sent her children from a previous marriage to other homes, and attempted to flee on a train. In an effort to detain her, Ward…
The assassination of Medgar Evers
June 12, 1963 Jackson, Mississippi Medgar Evers is shot in the back while standing in his driveway Evers, a civil rights activist, worked towards voting rights, challenged segregation laws, and publicly investigated the murder of Emmett Till. Because of his activism, he became a target of the Ku Klux Klan and the White Citizens’ Council.…
FLW: rather be fishing
Famous Last Words Jimmy Glass Louisiana June 12, 1987 "Yeah, I think I'd rather be fishing." Glass was executed at the age of 25 for the murders of Newton and Erlene Brown. The Browns were shot in their bed the night of Christmas Eve in 1982; their children discovered their bodies on Christmas morning. Glass…
Woman beheaded by husband after criticizing him for allowing the common people to starve
June 12, 1535 Bishopric of Münster, Holy Roman Empire (modern day Münster, Germany) Elisabeth Wandscherer is beheaded for criticizing her husband about allowing the common people to starve Wandscherer was one of 16 wives of Jan van Leiden. Leiden was the self-proclaimed "King of Münster" and attempted to establish a "New Jerusalem" in Münster. He…
