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You Won't See This In The History Books



The above is George Stinney, a 14 year old who was the youngest person executed in the U.S. in the 20th century. 

This from Wikipedia: "Stinney, who was black, was arrested on suspicion of murdering two white girls, Betty June Binnicker, age 11, and Mary Emma Thames, age 8, in Alcolu, South Carolina on March 23, 1944.  The girls had disappeared while out riding their bicycles looking for flowers.  As they passed the Stinney property, they asked young George Stinney and his sister, Katherine, if they knew where to find "maypops", a type of flower.  When the girls did not return, search parties were organized, with hundreds of volunteers. The bodies of the girls were found the next morning in a ditch filled with muddy water.  Both had suffered severe head wounds."

Race relations in America could fill large libraries and this is not the forum for that discussion.  I personally believe that it has improved as the nation has grown older, with occasional steps back.  But that within our parents' lifetime this nation could have legally executed a 14 year old boggles my mind.  Here are the facts:

  •  Within hours, Stinney was arrested by white officers and questioned without any legal representation, witnesses or family present.
  •  According to the accounts of deputies, Stinney apparently had been successful in killing both at once, causing major blunt trauma to their heads, shattering the skulls of each into at least 4-5 pieces.
  • His father was fired from his job the next day. The entire family had to leave town for fear of their lives.
  • Exactly one month later jury selection began at 10 am, ending just after noon, and the trial commenced at 2:30 pm. 
  • Stinney's court appointed lawyer was 30-year-old Charles Plowden, who had political aspirations.  Plowden did not cross-examine witnesses; his defense was reported to consist of the claim that Stinney was too young to be held responsible for the crimes.  However the law in South Carolina at the time regarded anyone over the age of 14 as an adult.
  • Closing arguments concluded at 4:30 pm on the same day, the jury retired just before 5 pm and deliberated for 10 minutes, returning a guilty verdict with no recommendation for mercy. He was sentenced to die in the electric chair.
  • When asked about appeals, Plowden replied that there would be no appeal, as the Stinney family had no money to pay for a continuation.
  • From the time of the murders until Stinney's execution, eighty one days had passed.
There were no witnesses or evidence presented for the defense, a small 5'1", 90 lb kid accused of killing two girls by a railroad spike with 4 to 5 jabs to the skulls.  I'm not retrying the case here, but to have a capitol offense trial last 3 hours is unheard of today, let alone a defense by an ambitious local lawyer who didn't even put on a defense would be overturned today within 10 seconds. 

George walked to the chair with a Bible under his arm.  Due to the size of the mask, it slipped off his head and his face was visible during the execution.  It was not an easy process, as it took over four minutes to do the deed.

One of the last surviving members of the girls' family said she didn't think it was much of a trial.  Yeah, I think things are better nowadays.   

Today is the 67th anniversary of his death. 
     

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