Joseph Francel
Joseph Francel (September 2, 1895 – January 25, 1981)[4][5][3] was an electrician from Cairo, New York, who was the state of New York's executioner from 1939 until 1953.
Joseph Francel | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 2, 1895 Soudan, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA |
| Died | January 25, 1981 (aged 85) Cairo, Greene County, New York, USA |
| Resting place | Cairo Cemetery |
| Occupation | Electrician, Executioner[1][2] |
| Employer | New York State[3][1][2] |
| Known for | Executions of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg[2] |
| Title | State electrician |
| Term | 1939–1953 |
| Predecessor | Robert G. Elliott |
| Successor | Dow Hover |
Life and career
He was a World War I veteran, having served as a sergeant in the United States Army.[5]
His first execution was the triple electrocution of Anton Myslivec, Everett McDonald and Theodore Maselkiewicz on December 21, 1939 in Sing Sing's death chamber.[3][6] Among those he executed were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.[2] Like his predecessors, Francel also performed electrocutions in the neighboring states that used the electric chair as method of execution.
After the execution of William Draper, whom he had electrocuted in Sing Sing on July 23, 1953, Francel decided to quit his job.
At the time of his resignation in August 1953, The New York Times reported that Francel was dissatisfied with his pay of $150 per execution, and that he was unhappy about threats to his life.[1]
References
- "State executioner quits; Joseph Francel, in job 14 years, has put 137 to death in chair". The New York Times. August 5, 1953. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
- Gonnerman, Jennifer (January 18, 2005). "The last executioner". The Village Voice. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
- "On this day in 1939 Anton Myslevič Theodore Maselkiewicz and Everett McDonald make their exit; executioner Joseph Francel makes his entrance". 2019-12-21 [1939] – via crimescribe.com.
- "Sgt Joseph P. Francel". Find A Grave. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- "The grape-belt and Chautauqua farmer". clip 7159288 – via newspapers.com.
- "Executions in New York - 1926-1940". DeathPenaltyUSA. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
See also