EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER, WARDEN - A DISCUSSION OF DEATH IN THE GAS CHAMBER

• NCJ Number: 48090
• Journal: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1976) Pages: 44-57
• Author(s): R SUFRIN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Behavioral Publications
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: WRITTEN FOR THE DEATH AND SUICIDE COURSE, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES, FALL 1974

Annotation

THE PAPER ASSERTS THAT DEATH IN THE GAS CHAMBER, OR ANY DEATH BY EXECUTION, IS AN INAPPROPRIATE DEATH, AS IT COMES NEITHER AT THE RIGHT TIME NOR IN THE RIGHT WAY. SUCH DEATHS ARE DESCRIBED BY WITNESSES AND THE CONDEMNED.

Abstract

FOR THE CONDEMNED PRISONER, AFTER THE WAITING AND ANXIETY OVER A POSSIBLE REPRIEVE, THE DATE AND TIME OF HIS DEATH BECOME CERTAIN. ONCE STRAPPED IN THE CHAIR, HE CAN EXPECT NO MIRACLE CURES; IN A MATTER OF SECONDS A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL IS DEAD. MANY OF THE PERSONS WHO HAVE GONE TO DEATH IN THE GAS CHAMBER HAVE DIED INAPPROPRIATELY AND BADLY. TO ILLUSTRATE THE FEARS, ANXIETY, ATTITUDES, AND REACTIONS OF A CERTAIN AND UNDESIRABLE DEATH, EXCERPTS ARE GIVEN FROM WRITINGS BY OR ABOUT CONDEMNED PERSONS AS THEY FACED APPROACHING DEATH, WENT THROUGH THE PREPARATORY RITUALS OF DYING, AND FINALLY DIED. ONE MAN WENT TO HIS DEATH FIGHTING, SCREAMING, AND CURSING. ANOTHER SLIT HIS THROAT PRIOR TO HIS EXECUTION AND ENTERED THE GAS CHAMBER FIGHTING HIS GUARDS AND BLEEDING PROFUSELY. STILL ANOTHER TRIED TO STAB HIS GUARDS AND TORE UP THE FURNISHINGS OF HIS DEATH ROW CELL ON HIS ARRIVAL THERE. HOWEVER, FOLLOWING A REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE WARDEN'S WIFE HE FOUND PEACE AND RELIGION AND WAS ABLE TO ACCEPT HIS IMPENDING DEATH CALMLY. NOT ALL CONDEMNED PERSONS HAVE GONE BADLY TO THEIR DEATHS. FOR SOME HAVE DIED CALMLY. ONE TALKED OF HIS IMPENDING DEATH WITH HUMOR THROUGHOUT HIS 11 REPRIEVES AND KEPT HIS COMPANIONS ON DEATH ROW AMUSED. EVEN WITHIN HOURS OF HIS EXECUTION HE JOKED ABOUT THE GAS CHAMBER. ONE EXAMPLE OF AN APPROPRIATE DEATH IS THAT OF LESLIE GIRETH. AFTER MURDERING HIS GIRLFRIEND, GIRETH CALLED THE POLICE, REFUSED LEGAL ADVICE, PLED GUILTY, AND WAS CONDEMNED TO DEATH. HE INFORMED THE WARDEN THAT HE HAD COME TO DIE AND WANTED NOTHING DONE TO STAY HIS EXECUTION. THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS EXECUTION HE ASKED FOR HIS PHONOGRAPH, TWO SOFT DRINKS, AND TWO HAMBURGERS. LATER HE EXPLAINED THAT WHENEVER HE AND THE DECEASED GIRL HAD GONE OUT, THEY HAD ALWAYS HAD THE PHONOGRAPH AND A COKE AND HAMBURGER. HE WENT TO HIS DEATH WITH GREAT SERENITY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.