James Dupree Henry
James Dupree Henry | |
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Born | Orlando, Florida, U.S. | January 17, 1950
Died | September 20, 1984 | (aged 34)
Cause of death | Execution by electrocution |
Known for | Killing civil rights leader Zellie Riley |
Conviction(s) | First degree murder |
Criminal penalty | Death |
Details | |
Date | March 23, 1974 |
Land | Vereinigte Staaten |
State(s) | Florida |
Date apprehended | March 28, 1974 |
James Dupree Henry (January 17, 1950 – September 20, 1984) was an American criminal who was executed in 1984 for the murder of civil rights leader Zellie Riley.[1] Henry slashed Riley's throat during a robbery in Orlando, Florida, on March 23, 1974. He also shot and almost killed Orlando detective Ronald E. Ferguson during his arrest on March 28, 1974.[2] Notably, despite killing a prominent civil rights leader, other civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King attempted to stop Henry's execution. William Riley, Zellie Riley's son, also stated he did not want his father's killer to be executed.[3] On September 20, 1984, Henry was executed via the electric chair.[4][5][6]
Early life
James Dupree Henry was born in Orlando on January 17, 1950.[7] Growing up, he shifted among family members, and in later years said he was unsure as to whether or not he had any siblings. It was not until his murder conviction that he met his real mother.[8] In 1965, when Henry was 15 years old, he stabbed a 19-year-old man in Orlando's west side. He claimed the man was trying to rob him, but nevertheless Henry was forced to be housed at a boy's reformatory in Marianna, Florida, for a few months.[8]
Henry was re-arrested in 1970, at age 20, for shooting and critically wounding a man. Once again Henry claimed it was self-defense, but the man said Henry tried to rob him. In jail, he was accused of attacking a jail supervisor.[8] In 1973, Henry took part in a prison fight, during which he suffered a knife wound to his left eye, causing him to permanently lose sight in that eye. Later that year Henry was released from prison.[8]
Victim
Zellie L. "Z. L." Riley (April 1, 1892 – March 23, 1974)[9] was a prominent civil rights leader in Orlando. Born in Georgia[10] in 1892, he moved to the Orlando area in 1920, and became a member of the Mount Olive A.M.E. Church. In 1950, he founded the Orlando Negro Chamber of Commerce (now known as the African American Chamber of Commerce).[10] In 1957, he was promoted as the chairman of the Negro division for the United Appeal campaign.[11] He also was behind several other projects to alter the view of African Americans of Orlando, such as a community center in Washington Shores. After his death, Z.L. Riley Park was opened in the neighborhood of Parramore.[12]
Murder
On Saturday, March 23, 1974, Henry broke into Riley's home at 422 Sunset Avenue. Henry, who had planned a robbery, attacked Riley, who was 81 years old at the time. Henry bound Riley, gagged him, slashed his throat open with a razor, then viciously beat him with his fists and a gun until he was sure Riley was dead.[13] Afterwards he scoured around the house and stole multiple valuables. He also took $64 of Riley's personal money.[13] The following day, Sunday, March 24, Riley was expected to attend church with his nephew, but did not show up.[10] In a welfare check on his home, police found his body. Carl T. Langford, the mayor of Orlando during this time, spoke to the Orlando Sentinel on March 25. He said "I've known Mr. Riley nearly 30 years. He was always concerned about Orlando and the people of Orlando, and, in his quiet, gentle way, he worked to bring about better conditions in the section where he lived and better understanding between segments of the community".[10] A reward fund was started on March 26 to locate the killer.[14] Riley was buried at Washington Park Cemetery.[9]
On March 28, 1974, Ronald Eugene Ferguson, an award-winning Orlando detective, approached Henry to question him about the murder. At the time Henry was the only suspect in the murder. When told he was going to get arrested, Henry attacked Ferguson and stole his gun. He then demanded Ferguson to get away from him. When Ferguson said no Henry shot him once in the upper chest and the lower right abdomen.[15] He then continued to beat him until backup arrived, and Henry was arrested. Ferguson was rushed to the hospital where he was treated for critical injuries. Ferguson ended up making a full recovery.[15]
Incarceration
In June 1974, a 12-member jury found Henry guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced him to death days later.[16] He was housed at Florida State Prison to await his execution. He was first scheduled to be executed on December 6, 1979, after Florida governor Bob Graham signed to approve the execution.[17] When it was publicly announced that Henry was going to die, Riley's own son William, a taxi service owner in Orlando, publicly stated that his father loved peace and despised vengeance. William said he did not want Henry to be executed, and also said that his father would not want him executed either; "This is not the way, a life for a life. My father taught me God gave life and only God can take life. We suffered as a family when he died, and we ask you not to add to our suffering by killing James Dupree Henry".[3] Seven days before Henry was scheduled to be executed, Justice John Reed ordered to stop the execution due to an investigation on whether or not capital punishment was disproportionately used in Orange County.[18]
In 1981, a federal court ruled that Henry would have to be re-sentenced by a new jury.[19] This was due to the testimony of Ferguson in Henry's trial, which the court ruled should not have been allowed.[19] However, this never ended up happening and Henry remained on death row. In 1984, Governor Graham delayed Henry's September 19 execution, rescheduling it to the next day. That same day he also delayed the execution of Aubrey Adams Jr., who was on death row for killing an 8-year-old in 1978.[20] In September 1984, Graham received letters from civil rights advocates Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King, begging the governor clemency for Henry.[20] In the letters both were convinced Henry's conviction was racially motivated.[20] Governor Graham ignored their accusations, saying it did not change his mind about Henry. Henry was executed by the electric chair on September 20, 1984. In his final statement Henry stated that he felt innocent; "My final words are, I am innocent".[3][4][5]
See also
References
- ^ Wendy Spirduso (October 2, 1984). "Is Capital Punishment Just? The Answer Is Painful Yes". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Tom Scherberger & Wendy Spirduso (September 21, 1984). "Henry becomes 7th slayer executed by state in 1984". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Victim's Son Pleads for Florida Killer". United Press International. November 11, 1979. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b "ASSERTING INNOCENCE, CONVICT DIES IN FLORIDA ELECTRIC CHAIR". The New York Times. September 21, 1984. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b Wendy Spirduso (September 21, 1984). "Killer dies with message 'from heart'". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Marylyn Kalfus (September 21, 1984). "Civil rights leader's killer executed in electric chair". The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Execution List: 1976 - present". Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "This death row inmate knows time running". Orlando Sentinel. June 10, 1979. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b Zellie Riley (1892 - 1974)
- ^ a b c d "Theft 'Motive' Behind Brutal Riley Murder". Orlando Sentinel. March 26, 1974. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Riley Heads Negro Division For Appeal". Orlando Sentinel. August 16, 1957. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Sherri M. Owens (July 14, 1997). "New look for park, new life for area". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b Wendy Spirduso (September 19, 1984). "Henry says he became better person because of man's death". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Reward Fund Begun In Slaying". Orlando Sentinel. March 27, 1974. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b Ralph Pugh (March 29, 1974). "Decorated Policeman Listed Fair". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Orlando Jury Sentences Man to Electric Chair". United Press International. June 28, 1974. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Larry Lipman & Yvonne Wilson (November 9, 1979). "Convicted killer of Riley ordered to die on Dec. 6". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Execution delayed". Associated Press. December 1, 1979. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b "Death row inmate gets new jury". Tampa Bay Times. November 20, 1981. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b c Tom Scherberger & Donna Blanton (September 19, 1984). "Court delays 2 executions — Orlando man gets 1 day". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- 1950 births
- 1974 murders in the United States
- 1984 deaths
- 20th-century African-American people
- 20th-century American criminals
- 20th-century executions by Florida
- 20th-century executions of American people
- American male criminals
- American people convicted of murder
- Criminals from Florida
- Executed African-American people
- People convicted of murder by Florida
- People executed by Florida by electric chair
- People executed by electric chair