THE YOUNGEST PERSON LEGALLY EXECUTED IN THE UNITED STATES

Born on the 21st of October, 1929, GEORGE STINNEY is the youngest person to be legally executed in the United States in the twentieth century. At the tender age of 14 years, he was sentenced to death by the state of South Carolina in the electric chair (death by electrocution). But what did he do? 

George Junius Stinney, Jr. 

Actually, he was convicted for first-degree murder of two white girls, Betty June Binnicker (11 years) and Mary Emma Thames (8 years). He was put on trial and was said to have confessed to the crime and even attempted to have intercourse with the girls. He was sentenced but the case was not appealed as his family was too poor to pay the legal fees needed for the appeal. 


On the 16th of June, 1944, at the  South Carolina State Penitentiary, he was executed around 7.30 pm. He clutched a copy of the Holy Bible under his arm as he walked into the execution chamber. Stinney stood a little over five feet and had a weight of around 90 pounds, he was quite small, even for his age and the executioners had a hard time strapping him to the electrodes which had been primarily designed for adults. He died just within 4 minutes of the first jolt of electricity through his head. Till today, the case remains very controversial as there were virtually no witnesses except the officers who had arrested him. 

THE THICKNESS OF BLOOD: Picture shows George Stinney's brother, Rev. Charles (left), who is still trying to establish the innocence of his brother, 68 years after the execution of his brother. 

Leading him into the execution chamber, 1944.