PUBLIC AFFAIR
Although the crime was infamous in the surrounding areas, it came to nationwide attention because the sheriff of Daviess County was a woman. Florence Thompson, had became sheriff after her husband unexpectedly died of pneumonia. As sheriff of Daviess County it was her duty to hang Bethea. After it became public knowledge that she would be performing the hanging, she received many letters from those who offered their services free of charge to perform the execution. She accepted this offer from Arthur Hash, a former Louisville police officer, with the rule that she kept his name anonymous.
Thompson also received a letter from the Chief Deputy United States Marshal for the District of Indiana, telling her of a farmer from Epworth, Illinois, named G. Phil Hanna, who had assisted with hangings across the country. Bethea's hanging would be the 70th which Hanna had supervised. The only thing he asked for in return was the weapon used in the crime, he had developed an interest in the "art" of hanging after he witnessed the botched execution of Fred Behme, in 1896. Hanna saw it as his main task to provide whatever assistance he could to ensure a quick, painless death. However, Hanna did not always succeed in this endeavor.
On August 6, the Governor of Kentucky, Albert Chandler, signed Bethea's execution warrant and set the execution for sunrise on August 14. However, Sheriff Thompson requested the governor to issue a revised death warrant because the original warrant specified that the hanging would take place in the courthouse yard, where the county, had recently planted new shrubs and flowers. Chandler was out-of-state, so Lt. Governor of Kentucky Keen Johnson signed a second death warrant, moving the location of the hanging from the courthouse yard to an empty lot near the county garage.
Rainey Bethea's last meal consisted of fried chicken, pork chops, mashed potatoes, pickled cucumbers, cornbread, lemon pie, and ice cream. The Daviess County deputy sheriffs transported Bethea from Louisville to Owensboro. At the jail, Hanna visited Bethea and instructed him to stand on the X that would be marked on the trapdoor. He left the Daviess County Jail at 5:21 a.m. and walked with two deputies to the scaffold. It was estimated that a crowd of 20,000 people gathered to watch the execution, with thousands coming from out of town. Within two minutes, he was at the base of the scaffold. Removing his shoes, he put on a new pair of socks. He ascended the steps and stood on the large X as instructed. He made no final statement to the waiting crowd. After Bethea made his final confession to Father Lammers, of the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville, the black hood was placed over his head, and three large straps placed around his ankles, thighs, arms, and chest.
Hanna placed the noose around Bethea's neck, adjusted it, and then signaled to Hash to pull the trigger. Instead, Hash, who was drunk, did nothing. Hanna shouted at Hash, "Do it!" and a deputy leaned onto the trigger which sprang the trap door. Throughout all of this, the crowd was hushed. Bethea fell eight feet, and his neck was instantly broken. About 14 minutes later, two doctors confirmed Bethea was dead.
Thompson also received a letter from the Chief Deputy United States Marshal for the District of Indiana, telling her of a farmer from Epworth, Illinois, named G. Phil Hanna, who had assisted with hangings across the country. Bethea's hanging would be the 70th which Hanna had supervised. The only thing he asked for in return was the weapon used in the crime, he had developed an interest in the "art" of hanging after he witnessed the botched execution of Fred Behme, in 1896. Hanna saw it as his main task to provide whatever assistance he could to ensure a quick, painless death. However, Hanna did not always succeed in this endeavor.
On August 6, the Governor of Kentucky, Albert Chandler, signed Bethea's execution warrant and set the execution for sunrise on August 14. However, Sheriff Thompson requested the governor to issue a revised death warrant because the original warrant specified that the hanging would take place in the courthouse yard, where the county, had recently planted new shrubs and flowers. Chandler was out-of-state, so Lt. Governor of Kentucky Keen Johnson signed a second death warrant, moving the location of the hanging from the courthouse yard to an empty lot near the county garage.
Rainey Bethea's last meal consisted of fried chicken, pork chops, mashed potatoes, pickled cucumbers, cornbread, lemon pie, and ice cream. The Daviess County deputy sheriffs transported Bethea from Louisville to Owensboro. At the jail, Hanna visited Bethea and instructed him to stand on the X that would be marked on the trapdoor. He left the Daviess County Jail at 5:21 a.m. and walked with two deputies to the scaffold. It was estimated that a crowd of 20,000 people gathered to watch the execution, with thousands coming from out of town. Within two minutes, he was at the base of the scaffold. Removing his shoes, he put on a new pair of socks. He ascended the steps and stood on the large X as instructed. He made no final statement to the waiting crowd. After Bethea made his final confession to Father Lammers, of the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville, the black hood was placed over his head, and three large straps placed around his ankles, thighs, arms, and chest.
Hanna placed the noose around Bethea's neck, adjusted it, and then signaled to Hash to pull the trigger. Instead, Hash, who was drunk, did nothing. Hanna shouted at Hash, "Do it!" and a deputy leaned onto the trigger which sprang the trap door. Throughout all of this, the crowd was hushed. Bethea fell eight feet, and his neck was instantly broken. About 14 minutes later, two doctors confirmed Bethea was dead.