January 21, 1881Danville, IllinoisFrederick Kester is hanged for the murder of his wife On the morning of August 22, 1879, Caroline Burmeister (also spelled as Bearmiester or Burmaster in contemporary newspapers) visited her sister Minnie Kester (alternately spelled Koester). Minnie was approximately 7 months pregnant at the time and Caroline often assisted with the chores…
Woman and her 4 young children are murdered in their home
January 19, 1889Near Brookfield, MissouriMinnie Hall (29) and her 4 children are killed in their home before the house is set on fire Neighbors noticed the Hall house on fire in “one big round of flame” and ran to assist the family. The only family members rescuers could see through the flames were Minnie and…
Man executed for killing acquaintance over a torn shirt
January 14, 1910Richmond, VirginiaThurman Spinner is executed for the axe murder of an acquaintance after the victim tore his shirt Spinner (as he’s recorded in the Library of Virginia records) or Skinner (as most newspapers referred to him) had been ‘possum hunting with Charles W. Noell (21) and several others near Colfax, Virginia on October…
Woman is executed — probably wrongly — for the murder of a man
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 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.…
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