William W. Kirtley: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American anti-death penalty activist}} |
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[[File:William Kirtley.jpg|thumb|William Kirtley]] |
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{{Underlinked|date=May 2013}} |
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| ⚫ | '''William W. Kirtley''' (December 10, 1897 – September 23, 1944) was an American anti-death penalty activist and lead defense attorney to [[Rainey Bethea]], the last man ever publicly executed in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/lastpublichang/Chapter13.htm |title=The Last Public Execution in America, By Perry T. Ryan |publisher=Geocities.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-14}}</ref> He was also the husband of feminist Louise Gasser Kirtley, the first female [[Kentucky State Legislature|Kentucky State Representative]] (serving two terms, 1962–1966) and first female [[Kentucky Bar Association]] President<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.womeninkentucky.com/site/law.html |title=Women in Law |publisher=Womeninkentucky.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-14}}</ref> and grandfather of Franco-American international arbitration lawyer William Kirtley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.acerislaw.com/international-arbitration-lawyer/|title=International Arbitration Lawyer |publisher=Aceris Law |date= |accessdate=2018-07-13}}</ref> Arguing that [[capital punishment]] was the "most premeditated of murders," Kirtley was unable to convince Rainey Bethea to testify on his own behalf, and he was ultimately hanged before a crowd of 20,000 people in what was described as a carnival-like atmosphere, drawing media attention throughout the United States that was fanned by Kirtley and his wife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/12/after-75-years-last-public-hanging-haunts-city/%20%20%20 |title=After 75 years, last public hanging haunts city |publisher=Fox News |date= |accessdate=2013-10-14}}</ref> Afterwards, he sought to have Kentucky adopt a law based on a Missouri statute (L.1919, p. 781) banning all [[public execution]]s. Following his early death, his wife took up the cause, playing a key role in the Kentucky legislature's ban on all public executions still found in statute KRS 431.220. Many legal scholars and human rights advocates<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/iconic-images-of-human-rights-violations-53-last-public-execution-in-the-us/ |title=Iconic Images of Human Rights Violations (53): Last Public Execution in the US | P.a.p.-Blog // Human Rights Etc |publisher=Filipspagnoli.wordpress.com |date=2010-07-23 |accessdate=2013-10-14}}</ref> credit the scandal he generated and the execution itself to have led to the eventual ban of all public executions in America.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2001/apr/010430.execution.html |title=Last Public Execution in America |publisher=NPR |date= |accessdate=2013-10-14}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | '''William W. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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<references /> |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirtley, William W}} |
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{{Persondata |
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| NAME = Kirtley, William W. Bill |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = December 10, 1897 |
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| DATE OF DEATH = September 23, 1944 |
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}} |
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[[Category:American anti–death penalty activists]] |
[[Category:American anti–death penalty activists]] |
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[[Category:1897 births]] |
[[Category:1897 births]] |
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[[Category:1944 deaths]] |
[[Category:1944 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Activists from Kentucky]] |
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[[Category:Place of birth missing]] |
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[[Category:Place of death missing]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]] |
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Latest revision as of 08:49, 7 August 2023
William W. Kirtley (December 10, 1897 – September 23, 1944) was an American anti-death penalty activist and lead defense attorney to Rainey Bethea, the last man ever publicly executed in the United States.[1] He was also the husband of feminist Louise Gasser Kirtley, the first female Kentucky State Representative (serving two terms, 1962–1966) and first female Kentucky Bar Association President[2] and grandfather of Franco-American international arbitration lawyer William Kirtley.[3] Arguing that capital punishment was the "most premeditated of murders," Kirtley was unable to convince Rainey Bethea to testify on his own behalf, and he was ultimately hanged before a crowd of 20,000 people in what was described as a carnival-like atmosphere, drawing media attention throughout the United States that was fanned by Kirtley and his wife.[4] Afterwards, he sought to have Kentucky adopt a law based on a Missouri statute (L.1919, p. 781) banning all public executions. Following his early death, his wife took up the cause, playing a key role in the Kentucky legislature's ban on all public executions still found in statute KRS 431.220. Many legal scholars and human rights advocates[5] credit the scandal he generated and the execution itself to have led to the eventual ban of all public executions in America.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Last Public Execution in America, By Perry T. Ryan". Geocities.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
- ^ "Women in Law". Womeninkentucky.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
- ^ "International Arbitration Lawyer". Aceris Law. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
- ^ "After 75 years, last public hanging haunts city". Fox News. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
- ^ "Iconic Images of Human Rights Violations (53): Last Public Execution in the US | P.a.p.-Blog // Human Rights Etc". Filipspagnoli.wordpress.com. 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
- ^ "Last Public Execution in America". NPR. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
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