Early Executions From Cochise County

Arizona State Library relates that, "Since Territorial days, Arizona law has established both county jails, kept by the sheriffs of the counties where they are located; and territorial (state) institutions for adult and juvenile offenders. In 1875, Arizona’s first Territorial Prison was constructed in Yuma. In 1908 the Arizona Prison at Florence was built by inmates and replaced the Territorial Prison at Yuma. A superintendent and board of control were responsible for operating the prisons."  According to the Arizona Department of Corrections, the first hanging execution occurred on January 5, 1910.  On December 8, 1916, an initiative measure went into effect eliminating the death penalty as punichment of convictions of first degree murder.  The Death penalty was restored December 5, 1918.  Nineteen executions by hanging occurred between April 16, 1920 and June 20, 1931.  The first execution by lethal gas was carried out on July 6, 1934.

LAST NAME	FIRST NAME	AGE	RACE	SEX	OCCUPATION	CRIME	METHOD	DATE	ADC#
Dowd	Daniel	18	White	Male	Gangster	Murder	Hanging	28 Mar 1884
Sample	Omer		White	Male	Gangster	Murder	Hanging	28 Mar 1884
Kelly	Daniel		White	Male	Gangster	Murder	Hanging	28 Mar 1884
Delaney	William		White	Male	Gangster	Murder	Hanging	28 Mar 1884
Howard	James		White	Male	Gangster	Murder	Hanging	28 Mar 1884
Halderman	William	25	White	Male	Farmer	Murder	Hanging	16 Nov 1900
Halderman	Thomas	23	White	Male	Farmer	Murder	Asphyxiation-Gas	16 Nov 1900
Sullivan	Jack	23	White	Male	Printer	Murder	Asphyxiation-Gas	15 May 1936	9924
Cole	Grady	28	Black	Male	Soldier	Murder	Asphyxiation-Gas	8 Jan 1943	12411
Sanders	Charles	20	Black	Male	Soldier	Murder	Asphyxiation-Gas	8 Jan 1943	12410
Levice	J. C.	21	Black	Male	Soldier	Murder	Asphyxiation-Gas	8 Jan 1943	12409
Smith	Lee		White	Male	Farmer	Murder	Asphyxiation-Gas	6 Apr 1945	12988
Lantz	Harold	28	White	Male	Carpenter	Murder	Asphyxiation-Gas	18 Jul 1951	16003
Thomas	Arthur	27	Black	Male	Bricklayer	Murder	Asphyxiation-Gas	17 Nov 1958	17337

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