List of people executed in Oklahoma (pre-1972)

The following is a list of people executed by the U.S. state of Oklahoma before 1972, when capital punishment was briefly abolished by the Supreme Court's ruling in Furman v. Georgia. For people executed by Oklahoma after the restoration of capital punishment by the Supreme Court's ruling in Gregg v. Georgia (1976), see List of people executed in Oklahoma.[1][2]

Background

When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, all executions were carried out by hanging within the county of conviction. Very few hangings occurred during this time period due to governor Lee Cruce's opposition to capital punishment.[3] In 1915, Oklahoma adopted electrocution as its main form of capital punishment, with a designated execution chamber being added to the state penitentiary in McAlester.[4] From that year to 1972, 83 prisoners (all male) were executed in the state penitentiary. 82 were electrocuted; one of the prisoners, sentenced to death by the federal government under the "Lindbergh law", was hanged instead as was required for federal executions at the time.[5] (Hanging was retained by the state as an alternative method.[6])

List of executions

Name Race Age Date of execution County Crime Victim(s) Governor
Frank Ford Black 26 June 12, 1908 Tillman Murder Anna Rogers, black (wife)[7][8][9] Charles N. Haskell
John Hopkins White 38 August 28, 1908 Ottawa Murder Lena Craig, 18, white[10][11]
Will Johnson Black December 11, 1908 Pottawatomie Murder-Robbery Mary Cuppy, elderly, white[12]
Henry Armstrong White November 19, 1909 Noble Murder Isaac Fell, white[13]
Alfred King Black February 4, 1910 Nowata Murder-Robbery George Bird, black[14]
Alf Hunter Black April 8, 1910 Blaine Murder George Washington Garrison, 50, white (Oklahoma County sheriff)[15][16][a]
John Black Black April 15, 1910 Hughes Murder-Robbery J. P. Stephens, white[17][18]
Frank Henson Black March 31, 1911 Tulsa Murder Charles W. Stamper, white (deputy sheriff)[19] Lee Cruce
Henry Bookman Black 28 December 10, 1915 McIntosh Murder Richard Hardin, white[20] Robert L. Williams
Cecil Towery Black 22 November 6, 1916 McIntosh Murder-Robbery Charles Vaughn, white[21]
Chester Taylor Black 44 April 13, 1917 Creek Murder Millie Taylor, black (wife)[22]
Charley Young Black 26 Tillman Murder Male, white[22]
Willie Williams Black 35 Muskogee Murder Samuel Henry Neal, 39, white (policeman)[22]
John Prather Black 26 May 3, 1918 Pittsburg Murder Charles Chapman, black (cellmate)[23]
James Brown Black 34 November 8, 1918 Muskogee Murder Glenn Jacobs, white[24]
T. R. Braught White 29 May 23, 1919 Creek Murder Otis Robbin, white[25] Jack C. Walton
Monroe Betterton White 48 July 9, 1920 Craig Murder Elzadah Betterton, white (wife)[26]
John Ledbetter Native American 31 February 25, 1921 Muskogee Murder Robert Moreland, race unknown[27]
Robert Blakely White 39 Murder Effie May Allford, white[28]
Eli Thomas Black 22 July 15, 1921 Le Flore Murder Selma Mayfield, white[29]
Steve Sabo White 50 March 17, 1922 Coal Murder-Rape Sophia Sabo, 19, white (niece)[30]
Sam Watkins White 39 May 5, 1922 Atoka Murder-Rape Cora Jones, white[31]
Aaron Harvey White 21 January 13, 1924 McCurtain Murder Five people, white[32][b] Martin E. Trapp
Jack Pope White 45
Richard Birkes White 29 September 5, 1924 Craig Murder-Robbery Frank Pitts, white[33]
Leroy Scott Black 22 May 29, 1925 Pittsburg Murder Frank Daniels, white[34]
Johnnie Washington Black 29 December 4, 1925 Jackson Murder Male, white (peace officer)[35]
Theodore Bruster Black 21 June 29, 1928 Muskogee Murder-Robbery William Heeman, white[36] Henry S. Johnston
Walter Wigger White 31 Ottawa Murder Ruth Harris, white (girlfriend)[36]
Willie O'Neil Black 27 Oklahoma Murder-Robbery Mark Hipscher, white[36]
James Forrest Black 23 July 17, 1930 Stephens Rape Female, white[37] William J. Holloway
Tom Guest White 48 Pottawatomie Murder-Robbery Bailey Browder, white[37]
E. S. Hembree Native American 32 April 17, 1931 Stephens Rape Leota Bosley, 23, white[38] William H. Murray
Paul Cole White 33 July 10, 1931 Seminole Murder Ernest Irby, white[39]
Bennie Nichols Black 31 August 21, 1931 Pontotoc Murder-Robbery Jack Hornton, white[40]
Henry Lovett White 39 September 25, 1931 Canadian Murder-Robbery Dee Foliart, 28, white[41]
Martin Keeney White 49 March 11, 1932 Oklahoma Murder W. H. Folwell, 73, white
A. M. Harris White 49 June 17, 1932 Oklahoma Murder Ed Martin, 62, white
Ira J. Adler White 50 August 19, 1932 Blaine Murder Tom and Nora McDonald, white (brother- and sister-in-law)[42]
Charles Davis Black 42 Murder Guy M. Jarvis, 38, white (undersheriff)[42]
Ivory Covington Black 25 January 27, 1933 Choctaw Murder-Robbery Luther Williams, white
Nathan Rightsell White 27 February 24, 1933 Choctaw Murder Jason Victor Buchanan, white (officer)
Charles Lattimer White 29 March 24, 1933 Comanche Murder Female, white (wife)[43]
Proctor McDonald White 24 May 5, 1933 Creek Murder-Robbery Raymond Butler, 8, white[44]
Joe Martin White 54 Noble Murder Pete Von Uearop, white[44]
Albert Ellis White 25 Carter Robbery[c] John Weber and his family, white[44]
Luke Nichols White 44 May 19, 1933 Alfalfa Murder Harriet Crawford, 26, white (girlfriend)[45]
Claude Oliver White 28 August 23, 1933 Murray Murder Della Oliver, 15, white (George's wife)[46]
George Oliver White 18
Ted Patton White 25 October 20, 1933 Sequoyah Murder Robert Wall, 19, white[47]
Charley Dumas Black 29 Coal Rape Female, white[48]
William Johnson Black 28 November 10, 1933 Muskogee Murder Mary Wolfenberger, white[49]
Tom Morris Black 40 November 24, 1933 Pittsburg Murder Mr. and Mrs. Joe House, white[50]
Earl Quinn White 29 Garfield Murder-Rape Jessie Griffith, 24, white[51][d]
Frank Clark Black 60 October 19, 1934 McCurtain Murder Dan and Anna Stiles, white[52][53]
Ernest Oglesby White 27 January 4, 1935 Oklahoma Murder Douglas Gates, white (Oklahoma City policeman)[54]
Robert Cargo White 21 May 24, 1935 Oklahoma Murder-Robbery A. L. Luke, white[55] E. W. Marland
Alfred Rowan Black 30 September 20, 1935 Jackson Murder Roy Gentry, white[56]
Bun Riley White 29 Pittsburg Murder Three persons, white[57][56][e]
Chester Barrett White 37 Creek Murder Three of his children, white[58][56][f]
Roy Guyton Black 25 March 20, 1936 Oklahoma Murder E. L. Bailey, white[59]
James Hargus White 26 April 24, 1936 Tulsa Murder L. D. Mitchell, white (Tulsa policeman)[60]
Arthur Gooch White 27 June 19, 1936[g] N/A (Federal) Kidnapping[h] R. N. Baker and H. R. Marks, white (policemen)[61]
Leon Siler White 22 June 11, 1937 Comanche Murder J. E. Wilson, white (Grady County deputy sheriff)[62]
Charlie Sands Native American 21
Roy Mannon White 38 March 1, 1940 Wagoner Murder-Robbery Jake Skelly, 67, white[63] Leon C. Phillips
Roger Cunningham White 30 November 15, 1940 Oklahoma Murder Eudora Cunningham, white (wife)[64]
Warren Abby White 59 August 29, 1941 Custer Murder Julia Abby, 78, white (wife)[65]
J. D. Tuggle White 23 February 9, 1942 Garvin Murder-Robbery Mr. and Mrs. D. Wilburn Jones, white (uncle and aunt)[66]
Finley Porter Black 40 April 16, 1943 Pittsburg Murder L. Z. Beacham, black (cellmate)[67][i] Robert S. Kerr
Hiram Prather White 35 July 14, 1943 Pittsburg Murder Jess Dunn, white (warden)[68][j]
Amos Johnson Black 30 March 23, 1945 Lincoln Murder Victoria and Martha Gorski, 38 and 3, white
Clifford Norman Black 30 November 9, 1945 Murray Rape Female, white[69]
Alfred Bingham White 40 May 31, 1946 Tulsa Murder Mary Bingham, 30, white (wife)[70]
Mose Johnson Black 33 November 1, 1946 Pittsburg Murder L. C. Smalley, race unknown[71]
Harlan Broyles White 32 January 30, 1947 Seminole Murder Eric Nicholson, 35, white (deputy sheriff)[72] Roy J. Turner
Lewis Grayson Black 31 May 25, 1948 Muskogee Rape Female, white
Ben Gould Black 40 September 27, 1948 Atoka Murder-Rape-Robbery Mary Lynn, 57, white[73]
Max Kletke White 25 January 6, 1951 Oklahoma Murder Carl E. Beach, 45, white
Jearell Hathcox White 38 July 27, 1951 Oklahoma Murder Martin Lyle Shaffer, 67, white[74] Johnston Murray
Melburn Mott White 35 September 21, 1951 Tulsa Murder Mary Frances Mott, 6, white (daughter)[75]
Carl DeWolf White 37 November 17, 1953 Tulsa Murder Jerry St. Clair, 25, white (Tulsa policeman)[76]
Hurbie Fairris White 22 January 18, 1956 Oklahoma Murder Bennie F. Cravatt, white (detective)[77] Raymond D. Gary
Otto Loel White 44 January 11, 1957 Oklahoma Murder Elizabeth Jeanne Henderson, 31, white[78]
Robert Hendricks White 66 February 5, 1957 Craig Murder-Robbery Rheam Payton, 54, white[79]
Edward Williams White 30 July 28, 1960 Tulsa Kidnapping[k] Tommy Cooke, 24, white[80] J. Howard Edmondson
James Spence White 32 August 31, 1960 Cotton Murder Ruth Zimmerman, 19, white[81][82]
Ray Young White 34 December 15, 1960 Jackson Murder John Barter, white (highway patrolman)[83]
Shelby Doggett White 29 October 1, 1962 Comanche Murder-Robbery Jimmy Lee Lanman, 24, white[84]
Richard Dare White 30 June 1, 1963 Oklahoma Murder Ted Albert, 60, white[85][l] Henry Bellmon
James French White 30 August 10, 1966 Pittsburg Murder Eddie Shelton, white (cellmate)[86]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Serial killer, previously committed a murder in Arkansas and then murdered a black woman named Susie Pride in Oklahoma City out of fear she would reveal his location.
  2. ^ Jack Pope's wife, her two children, and her parents.
  3. ^ Also kidnapped and raped one of the victims, 19-year-old Jo Anna Weber.
  4. ^ Also murdered Jessie's sister, Zenia.
  5. ^ Homer Beasley, Hobart Watkins, and William Gann.
  6. ^ 6-year-old Betty Jo, 3-year-old Mary Kathryn, and 2-year-old Wanda Marie.
  7. ^ Only hanging at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
  8. ^ One of the victims was badly injured.
  9. ^ Serial killer, murder committed in 1941 while serving a life sentence for the 1925 murder of his wife.
  10. ^ Serial killer, had committed two other murders. Murdered Dunn during an escape attempt.
  11. ^ Also murdered the victim, but was tried on the murder charge separately beforehand and received a life sentence.
  12. ^ Also murdered his 24-year-old wife Patricia Ann, her 17-year-old nephew William McCormick, and Ted Albert's wife.

References

  1. ^ "Executions in Oklahoma - 1841-1966 - DeathPenaltyUSA, the database of executions in the United States". deathpenaltyusa.org. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  2. ^ Wilson, R. Michael (January 10, 2014). Legal Executions in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma Including the Indian Territory: A Comprehensive Registry. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8909-1.
  3. ^ "Capital Punishment | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  4. ^ "Death Chair Ready In Sixty Days". The Perkins Journal. July 2, 1915. p. 3. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "States adopt death-by-drug laws". The Day. December 6, 1979. p. 16. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "Death Penalty Still Upheld". The Perkins Journal. March 12, 1915. p. 2. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Frank Ford, OK, 1908 June 12
  8. ^ "Hanged for Killing Wife". St. Joseph Gazette. June 13, 1908. p. 6. Retrieved January 24, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Frank Ford Hangs". Manitou Field-Glass. June 18, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved January 25, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ John Hopkins, OK, 1908 August 28
  11. ^ "Hopkins Dies On Gallows Today". The Daily Oklahoman. August 28, 1908. pp. 1–3. Retrieved January 25, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Will Johnson, OK, 1908 December 11
  13. ^ Henry Armstrong, OK, 1909 November 19
  14. ^ Alfred King, OK, 1910 February 4
  15. ^ Alf Hunter, OK, 1910 April 8
  16. ^ "Hunter Cool Before Death". The Daily Oklahoman. April 8, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved January 25, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ John Black, OK, 1910 April 15
  18. ^ "Black Pays Death Penalty". Holdenville Democrat. April 16, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved January 25, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Frank Henson, OK, 1911 March 31
  20. ^ "Negro First Person Electrocuted in Okla". The Bakersfield Californian. December 10, 1915. p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  21. ^ "Attempted Lynching Fails". St. Joseph News-Press. August 9, 1916. p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c "State News Notes". The Dacoma Enterprise. May 4, 1917. p. 3. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ Appeals, Oklahoma Criminal Court of (1918). Oklahoma Criminal Reports: Cases Determined in the Criminal Court of Appeals of the State of Oklahoma. Leader Print. Company.
  24. ^ "Oklahoma State News". The Black Dispatch. November 22, 1918. p. 6. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Electrocution In Oklahoma". St. Joseph News-Press. May 23, 1919. p. 26. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  26. ^ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1920.
  27. ^ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1921.
  28. ^ The Pacific Reporter. West Publishing Company. 1921.
  29. ^ "Eli Thomas, Negro Be Electrocuted Tomorrow". Daily Free-Lance. July 14, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "Slayer Dies In Chair". St. Joseph News-Press. March 17, 1922. p. 20. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  31. ^ "Man Went To Electric Chair". The Victoria Advocate. May 5, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  32. ^ "Two Die In Death Chair". St. Joseph News-Press. January 14, 1924. p. 11. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  33. ^ "Murderer Goes To Death Calmly". The Telegraph-Herald. September 5, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  34. ^ "Negro Murderer Is Put To Death". The Telegraph-Herald. May 29, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  35. ^ "Forgotten Negro Is Electrocuted". Nowata Daily Star. December 4, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ a b c "Three Executed In Oklahoma Prison". The Border Cities Star. June 29, 1928. p. 24. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  37. ^ a b "Two Executed In Oklahoma For Slayings". The Southeast Missourian. July 17, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  38. ^ "Indian Is Executed For Attacking Girl". Eugene Register-Guard. April 17, 1931. p. 4. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  39. ^ "Penalty For Murder". The Telegraph. July 10, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  40. ^ "Oklahoma Negro Dies In Chair For Murder". Warsaw Union. August 21, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  41. ^ "Young Farmer Dies In Electric Chair". The Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal. September 25, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  42. ^ a b "Denies Clemency To Pair - 30 See Deaths". The News-Sentinel. August 18, 1932. p. 12. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  43. ^ "Man Executed In Wife's Slaying". The Southeast Missourian. March 24, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  44. ^ a b c "Triple Execution Held In Oklahoma State Penitentiary". The Victoria Advocate. May 7, 1933. p. 3. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  45. ^ "Sorry At End". The Southeast Missourian. May 19, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  46. ^ "Boy, 18, Pays". The Southeast Missourian. August 25, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  47. ^ "Two Men Die In Oklahoma Chair". Reading Eagle. October 20, 1933. p. 34. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  48. ^ "Pair Die In Chair At State Prison". The El Reno Daily Tribune. October 20, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  49. ^ "To Prison for Safekeeping After Confessing Murder". St. Joseph Gazette. April 18, 1933. p. 9. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  50. ^ "To Die At Midnight". Lawrence Journal-World. November 23, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  51. ^ "Bootlegger Slayer Of Girls Executed". The Pittsburgh Press. November 24, 1933. p. 14. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  52. ^ "Dies In Chair". The Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal. October 19, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  53. ^ "Negro Electrocuted". The Evening Independent. October 19, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  54. ^ "Convicted Oklahoma Slayer Is Executed". The Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal. January 4, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  55. ^ "Slayer Electrocuted". The Evening Independent. May 24, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  56. ^ a b c "Three Die In Chair For Seven Murders". The Pittsburgh Press. September 20, 1935. p. 3. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  57. ^ "Tells Of Slaying Three Companions". Ellensburg Daily Record. July 9, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved January 25, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  58. ^ "'Quinine' Fatal To 3 Children". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 4, 1934. p. 31. Retrieved January 25, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  59. ^ "Execution Date Almost Skipped". The El Reno Daily Tribune. March 18, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  60. ^ "Slayer Is Executed". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 24, 1936. p. 9. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  61. ^ "Hang Kidnapper Under New Law". The Daily Times. June 18, 1936. p. 18. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  62. ^ "Grin At Death". The Southeast Missourian. June 11, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  63. ^ "Desperado Dies Denying Murder". The Telegraph-Herald. March 1, 1940. p. 13. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  64. ^ "Slayer Of Wife Is Electrocuted". The Victoria Advocate. November 15, 1940. p. 2. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  65. ^ "Louisiana Farmer Executed In Chair". The Victoria Advocate. August 29, 1941. p. 2. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  66. ^ "Slayer Pays With Life For Murders". The Telegraph-Herald. February 9, 1942. p. 11. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  67. ^ "Negro Is Electrocuted". Lawrence Journal-World. April 16, 1943. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  68. ^ "Oklahoma Takes Life Of Warden's Slayer". The Southeast Missourian. July 15, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  69. ^ "Oklahoma's First Execution in Two Years Set Tonight". The Altus Times-Democrat. November 8, 1945. p. 4. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  70. ^ "Wife Slayer Blames Drink". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 30, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  71. ^ "Oklahoma Slayer Pays Penalty". The Windsor Daily Star. November 2, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  72. ^ "Man Dies in Electric Chair for Okla. Murder". Lewiston Evening Journal. January 30, 1947. p. 7. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  73. ^ "Execution Is Set Tonight At State Prison". The Altus Times-Democrat. September 27, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  74. ^ "Victim's Brother Sees Slayer Die in Chair". The Telegraph-Herald. July 27, 1951. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  75. ^ "Child Killer". Lawrence Journal-World. August 18, 1951. p. 2. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  76. ^ "Gunman, 37, Dies In Electric Chair". The Spokesman-Review. November 18, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  77. ^ "Killer In Desperado Family Executed; Eyes And Aorta Go To Banks On His Bid". Toledo Blade. January 18, 1956. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  78. ^ "Woman's Slayer Dies In Electric Chair". Reading Eagle. January 11, 1957. p. 9. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  79. ^ "Slayer Says Last Letters 'Doom' Others". The Altus Times-Democrat. February 5, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  80. ^ "In The News". The Telegraph. July 29, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  81. ^ "Killer Goes Calmly To His Execution". Youngstown Vindicator. September 1, 1960. p. 9. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  82. ^ "Spence Waits Quietly for Death Tonight". The Duncan Banner. August 31, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  83. ^ "Young Stays Calm in His Death March". The Altus Times-Democrat. December 16, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  84. ^ "Dies for Slaying Young Golf Pro". The Fort Scott Tribune. October 4, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  85. ^ "Man Executed In Oklahoma". St. Petersburg Times. June 3, 1963. p. 13. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  86. ^ "Two-Time Killer James French To Get His Wish - Death In The Chair". The Washington Observer. August 4, 1966. p. 9. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
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