November 13, 1863San Patricio, TexasJosefa “Chipita” Rodriguez is executed for the murder of a man On August 25, 1863, the body of John Savage was found in a burlap sack in the Aransas River. The cause of death was immediately apparent: his skull had been caved in by an axe. Savage was a horse trader…
Man executed for the shooting death of a teenager
November 9, 1899Moundsville, West VirginiaFrank Broadenax (29) is hanged for the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old Broadenax (alternatively spelled Broadnax) had been part of a group of men, called “strong and lusty fellows” by the press, who established themselves as the local law enforcement in their mining camp. The men appointed a judge who in…
Woman bludgeons, suffocates young son
October 27, 1899London, EnglandLouise Josephine Masset (36) kills her 3-year-old son Masset’s son Manfred was left in the care of a guardian named Miss Gentle from the time he was 3 weeks old, and his £12 a year (approximately £1,550 in today’s economy) maintenance was paid by Manfred’s father. While Manfred was in Gentle’s care,…
A double hanging, one for murder the other for rape
April 2, 1880 Louisville, Kentucky Two men are hanged: one for murder, the other rape Robert Anderson was convicted of killing his wife in April 1878. Margaret Anderson made an earning by washing laundry and, when she returned home after her day’s work, Robert demanded a portion of her wages. She refused. Robert became enraged…
Man hanged for killing wife, children with axe
March 30, 1899 Harrisonville, Missouri Edwin Bates Soper is hanged for the murder of his wife and two children In April 1891, Soper suddenly announced to neighbors and acquaintances he had heard of a local “blind tiger” (an illegal saloon) and had decided to move there, then quickly sold his butcher shop and moved away.…
