first posted y10509
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Michael L. Radelet, Hugo Adam Bedau, and Constance E. Putnam, In Spite of Innocence: Erroneous Convictions in Capital Cases, Northeastern University Press, Boston MA, 1992; cloth, 399 pp.
General observations:
(2) The most common retort of death-penalty supporters is that even though there may have been problems with the death penalty in the early 1900s, those problems were resolved by the time the death penalty was revived in the 1970s. For that reason, Radelet et al. put special emphasis on the James Adams case, the only one of the 23 to arise since 1970. Reading what they had to say, however, I found it quite likely that Adams was guilty as charged.
Comments:
Sacco and Vanzetti -- It has been an article of faith on the Left that they were innocent, framed for their Left-Anarchist beliefs. In answer,
James Adams (pp. 5-10) --
(1) Under a barrage of scholarly criticism, Radelet et al. have backed off their original assertion that all these 23 were actually innocent. Their new position is that since all the cases were troubling in some way, there is a good chance that one or more might be innocent.
The 23 "innocents" cited by Radelet et al.
name race State
date (of alleged crime?)
charge additional remark
Adams, James B FL
1974
murder. Executed in 1984
had criminal record
Anderson, William Henry
B FL
1945
Rape of white woman.
Was it consensual?
I (HSC) oppose execution for simple rape.
Appelgate, Everett
W NY
1936
Murder
Convicted with girlfriend, who was clearly guilty
Bambrick, Thomas
W NY
1915
Murder
Refused to "squeal" on guilty party?
Becker, Charles
W NY
1912
murder
A detective. Was he framed by gamblers?
Cirofici, Frank "Dago"
W NY
1912
murder
(See Becker case)
Collins, Roosevelt
aka "Roosevelt Wilson"B AL
1945
Rape.
Was it consensual?
I (HSC) oppose execution for simple rape.
Dawson, Sie
B FL
1960
Murder
Retarded, forced into unsubstantiated confession
Garner, Vance
B AL
1905
Murder
Companion admitted to crime
Grzechowiak, Stephen
W NY
1929
Murder
Another party, guilty (and convicted?) said others did it.
Hauptmann, Bruno Richard
W NJ
1935
kidnap-murder (Lindbergh)
(see below)
Hill, Joe
aka Joseph HillstromW UT
1915
Murder x 2
Framed for union activity?
Lauble, Harold
aka George BrandonW NJ
1920
Murder
shaky?
Mays, Maurice F.
B TN
1919
Murder
Later confession by another rejected
McGee, Willie
B MS
1945
rape, executed 1951
Consensual? Coerced confession
I (HSC) oppose execution for simple rape.
Rybarczyk, Max
W NY
1929
Murder
See Grzechowiak
Sacco, Nicola
W MA
15 Apr 1920?
Murder (in robbery?), executed 1927
(See below)
Sanders, Albert
B AL
1917
Murder
Another party, guilty (and convicted?) said Sanders was innocent.
Sberna, Charles
W NY
1938
Murder of police officer
Co-defendant (convicted?) said Sberna was innocent.
Shumway, R. Mead
W NY
1907
Murder
Victim's husband(?) later confessed.
Tucker, Charles Louis
W MA
1905
?
Vanzetti, Bartolomeo
W MA
1921
Murder (in robbery?)
See Sacco
Wing, George Chew
As ?
1937
?
Hauptmann -- Revisionists have long questioned the conviction of Hauptmann for the Lindbergh kidnaping. They have not, however, been able to explain why kidnap-ransom banknotes were found in Hauptmann's possession.
(1) Left-anarchism at that time was a very violent philosophy, justifying assassinations and robberies.
(2) A substantial number of historians have reexamined the case and convinced themselves that at least one of the two was unquestionably guilty. It is possible the other one was not, but refused to disclose exculpatory evidence (for himself) that made his partner's guilt more clear.
Crime: Murder and robbery at home of Edgar Brown, 12 Nov. 1973.
R, B, & P seek to draw suspicion to Vivian Nickerson, a friend who had access to Adams's car. Adams's car(?) was seen at the scene of the crime.
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