June 19, 1953 Ossining, New York Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed for selling top-secret nuclear bomb plans to the Soviet Union The couple had many supporters who believed the Rosenberg were victims of Cold War propaganda. However, after the fall of the USSR, information regarding the pair was declassified. The information detailed Julius' role… Continue reading The Rosenbergs are executed for treason
Category: Executions
Man executed for killing five in a “wild orgy of death,” sticks out tongue in lieu of a final statement
June 19, 1944 Utah Austin Cox is executed by firing squad for killing five people in a "wild orgy of death" Cox had flown into a jealous rage upon hearing of his ex-wife's new residence. (The couple had been married for only seven weeks and had recently divorced after she accused him of battery and… Continue reading Man executed for killing five in a “wild orgy of death,” sticks out tongue in lieu of a final statement
Man thrown from window during a robbery attempt gone wrong
From The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Adviser (Bristol, England) Published June 18, 1853 In Glasgow, two men got drunk, were invited by some women back to a “low den” (a place of low moral values, including brothels, gambling houses, or seedy bars), where they were given more alcohol until… Continue reading Man thrown from window during a robbery attempt gone wrong
Man executed by guillotine; reporter describes execution in detail
June 18, 1898 Paris, France Xavier-Ange Carrara is executed by guillotine for the robbing, murdering, and burning the body of Augustin Lamarre, a collection clerk Carrara's execution was a gruesome affair, as executions by guillotine were known to be. A newspaper article described the events in vivid detail: What followed beggars description. The executioner and… Continue reading Man executed by guillotine; reporter describes execution in detail
The last public execution in France
June 17, 1939 Versailles, Yvelines, France Eugen Weidmann becomes the last person publicly executed by guillotine Weidmann and two accomplices kidnapped, robbed, and murdered six people. The victims were strangled or shot in the nape of the neck. Spectators at the execution demonstrated such "hysterical behaviour" (the witnesses reportedly dipped handkerchiefs in Weidmann's blood as… Continue reading The last public execution in France
