From 1873 until 1896, the federal court conducted executions on the grounds of the courthouse. The gallows scaffold was located against the southeast corner of the wall that surrounded the old fort. From 1873 through 1896, eighty-six men were executed on the gallows at Fort Smith. All the men executed were convicted of rape or murder. After the Civil War, there was a mandatory federal death sentence in cases of rape or murder. Of the eighty-six men executed here, seventy-nine were sentenced to death by Judge Parker. During Judge Parker's twenty-one year tenure, a total of 160 death sentences were handed down. Of that number, 43 were commuted to life in prison or lesser terms; 2 were pardoned by the President; 31 had appeals that resulted in acquittals or convictions overturned; 2 were granted new trials and discharged; 1 was shot and killed while attempting to escape; and 2 died in jail while awaiting execution. Click on each date to learn more about the execution that occurred on that day. August 15, 1873 October 10, 1873 April 3, 1874 January 15, 1875 September 3, 1875 April 21, 1876 September 8, 1876 December 20, 1878 August 29, 1879 September 9, 1881 June 30, 1882 April 13, 1883 June 29, 1883 July 11, 1884 April 17, 1885 June 26, 1885 April 23, 1886 July 23, 1886 August 6, 1886 January 14, 1887 April 8, 1887 October 7, 1887 April 27, 1888 July 6, 1888 January 25, 1889 April 19, 1889 August 30, 1889 January 16, 1890 January 30, 1890 July 9, 1890 June 30, 1891 April 27, 1892 June 28, 1892 July 25, 1894 September 20, 1894 March 17, 1896 April 30, 1896 July 1, 1896 July 30, 1896
|
Last updated: September 25, 2017