Before you judge me as having a sadistic mind, ponder the following paragraphs:
It's not the sort of thing most people think about, but death row inmates aren't "most people," and the percentage of waking thought they've given over to contemplating capital punishment's immeadiate, physical results isn't just higher than that of the general population, but considerably more intimate.
With an average death row stay of seven and a half years, most residents have lots of time to ponder their lifestyles, debate philosophy, or even invent their own religion.
Whether its just morbid curiosity or that they hope to catch some "near-death" wisdom, observers, reporters and prison staff often find themselves jottinging down these final utterances
The vast majority of convicts who find themselves offered the chance to leave a few words for posterity keep it short and to the point.
| Gary Gilmore, Jan 17, 1979 | "Let's do it." |
| Paul Roberts, March 8, 1982 | "Hey, what's the holdup?. This is worse than the drive-through at McDonalds!" |
| Jesse Bishop, Oct 12, 1979 | Commute me or execute me. Don't drag it out." |
| Edward Earl Johnson, May 20, 1987 | "I guess nobody is going to call." |
| "Stretch" Galway, July 1, 1990 | "I'm innocent....Not!" |
| Robert Hurley, Oct 12, 1991 | "You gonna shave me where?" |
| Walter Gibson, Jan 12, 1989 | "Don't you touch that switch, man! Don't you touch th-" |
| Jimmy Glass, June 12, 1987 | "Yeah, I think I'd rather be fishing." |
| Gerald Koss, April 17, 1986 | "I'm sorry." |
An amazing number of those facing execution find some form of religion. Religious convictions, comdemnations, and attempts at renewed negotiations have all found their way into those final speeches.
| Samein Strub, May 3, 1993 | "I forgive you all, for you know not what you do." |
| Jerry Lloyd, Feb 19, 1992 | "Oh, well, a bug ain't so bad. How could I screw that up?" |
Prison Poets
A few of those condemned to death took a more artistic view of the whole thing, obviously conscious of the pencils scribbling across notepads
| Robert Alton Harris, April 21, 1992 | "You can be a King or a street sweeper, but everybody dances with the Grim Reaper." |
| Tommy Lee Guthrie, May 11, 1990 | "Roses are red, violets are blue, I got Bobby, and I'm gonna get you!" |
| Enrico Nuevo, Nov 10, 1987 | "Do not gentle into that good night! Bitch, bitch, bitch against the coming of th dark!" |
The "Record" for the longest set of last words undoubtedly belongs to Hubert Muthison, who, before being electrocuted in January of 1984, recited, word for word, three-quarters of the Book of Revalations. He might have finished if the executioner's hand hadn't fallen asleep during the presentation and accidently depressed the switch
For original material though, Calvin "Coolio" Cooper would be hard to top:-
"I made my confession to the priest you sent me, now I gonna make confession for them what sinned against me! You know who you are. You know what I mean. I didn't do nothing alone....
Calvin doesn't seem to have been successful in his attempt at reincarnation; none of the people on his personal hit list have ever come to any harm.
"And that lawyer, yeah, right, I'd a done better yo defend myself! Your time is coming, man, you'll see. N'If I don' get back for you next time around, some fool will get hisself off in spite of you and then you'll be screwed right...."
