NCJ Number
126824
Date Published
1990
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This research obtained 25 death certificates associated with executions in Missouri between 1910 and 1965 and focused on the execution of a juvenile.
Abstract
The male juvenile, Lawrence Mabry, was 17 years of age at the time of his crime and was a 4th grade dropout. Mabry shot another man in 1928 and stole several cars in the process of running away. When caught, he made a full confession to the shooting and was later found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to death. The Supreme Court of Missouri affirmed the conviction and death sentence. It held that the attempt to rob took the place of deliberation and premeditation, that the defendant's confession was voluntary, and that the State had proven the corpus delicti of Mabry's crimes. At the time he was hanged in 1930, Mabry was almost 20 years of age. An inspection of the death certificates of 14 other persons aged 24 years or younger when put to death confirms no execution in Missouri of anyone less than 18 years of age at the time of the crime other than Mabry during the past 80 years. 29 notes