How many of us get to have our last words transcribed and published?
No, not many. An intriguing exception are the men — and occasional woman — executed in the state of Texas. (I say “state of” because that place is truly a state unto itself; it’s not just another of “these United States.”)
In the Sunday New York Times, reporter Manny Fernandez wrote about the state’s tradition of transcribing inmates’ last words before they are injected with lethal chemicals as they lie strapped to a gurney.
Fernandez wrote:
“The state’s execution record has often been criticized as a dehumanizing pursuit of eye-for-an-eye justice. But three decades of last statements by inmates reveal a glimmer of the humanity behind those anonymous numbers, as the indifferent bureaucracy of state-sanctioned death pauses for one sad, intimate and often angry moment.”
For example, these were the last words of Thomas A. Barefoot, who was executed in 1984 for murdering a police officer:
“I hope that one day we can look back on the evil that we’re doing right now like the witches we burned at the stake.”
Full of irony, wouldn’t you agree? If I interpret him correctly, he condemned execution as “evil” but didn’t mention murder.
Texas gurney unit. Note microphone above headrest.
Texas inmates being executed speak their last words into a microphone hanging above the gurney. Listening to their statements are lawyers, reporters, prison officials, inmates’ families and victims’ relatives — at least those relatives who want to be there, or can stand to be there.
Fernandez explained that the final statements are not recorded but transcribed by staff members listening in the warden’s office. The statements are posted on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website, www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/ (click on “executed offenders”), and they are also posted on a blog called Lost Words in the Chamber.
A brief digression: One classic statement that is on the blog but that Fernandez did not use in his story was uttered by one Douglas Roberts in 2005…
“Yes, sir, warden. Okay, I’ve been hanging around this popsicle stand way too long. Before I leave, I want to tell you all: When I die, bury me deep, lay two speakers at my feet, put some headphones on my head and rock and roll me when I’m dead. I’ll see you in Heaven someday. That’s all, warden.”
Beneath these often curious and compelling final statements lies the question: What is the effect, if any, of these words? As Fernandez noted that “the power of their words to change the system or even heal the hearts of those they have hurt is uncertain.”
Fernandez quoted Robert Perkinson, the author of a book about the Texas prison system, as saying, “Most people about to be executed haven’t had a lot of success in school or life. They’re not always so skilled at articulating themselves…But I think many of these individuals are also striving to say something poignant, worthy of the existential occasion.”
To me, these statements are mesmerizing and read like a good novel that is hard to put down. And yet, it gives me an odd feeling because I know that the words have been preserved at the expense of innocent people having lost their lives. It certainly doesn’t seem fair that the words of the killers — each of whom have prison i.d. numbers — are immortalized, while the victims are reduced, in a sense, to little more than numbers.
But that’s the way it is in this instance, so, here you go…here are some more of these ultimate statements. Meanwhile, I think I’ll get to work on my own “final statement.”
***
“I deserve this.” Charles William Bass, convicted of murdering a Houston city marshal.
“Tell my son I love him very much. God bless everybody. Continue to walk with God. Go Cowboys! Love y’all, man. Ms. Mary, thank you for everything that you’ve done. You, too, Brad, thank you. I can feel it, taste it, not bad. Please.” Jesse Hernandez, convicted of killing an 11-month-old boy with a flashlight.
“Sir, in honor of a true American hero, ‘Let’s roll.’ Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” David Ray Harris, convicted of shooting a man to death after trying to kidnap the man’s girlfriend.
“My death began on August 2, 1991, and continued when I began to see the beautiful and innocent life that I had taken. I am so terribly sorry. I wish I could die more than once to tell you how sorry I am. I have said in interviews if you want to hurt me and choke me, that’s how terrible I felt before this crime.” Karl Eugene Chamberlain, convicted of sexually assaulting and killing a 29-year-old woman.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Penultimate = “next to last.” Are these the last words or the next to last words?
Thanks, Suzanne…I should have checked that. I changed it to “ultimate.”
See you in Arcadia tomorrow!
The death penalty needs to be used much more often and administered much more promptly, in most cases the weekend after the trial is over.
+1
Now there’s a man who likes speedy justice…(Gotta like the weekend touch.)
I’m with John. If there is indeed no reasonable doubt to be wrung from the rock of justice……GIT ER DONE!!! Give them the option of signing organ donor cards and see if some good might not come out of their tragic lives. Make a game show out of it, for all I care. Let people text in like on American Idol and vote for lethal injection, gas chamber, firing squad, hanging, marrying Rosie O’Donnell, or reading The Star.
Words can only hurt us if we let them and supposedly that n-word is just the all-time worst. Admit to saying it once 30 years ago to your spouse after you’ve been robbed by a black man and your whole damn life will change…..but only if you’re white. Talk about cruel and unusual punishment.
Like a will, I think you’re better off having a goodbye video that you update every year. Forget about final words. Let’s all have that last lecture, maybe not as poignant as Randy Pausch’s, but a final cleansing nonetheless. Hell, it’s something you can do yourself on your computer. We don’t always get to say goodbye in the way we’d like to. Having a video designated for friends and loved ones is, in this modern age, the best way to say “see ya later.”
I think upon my death I’ll have a website launched with my last lecture. It will start with, “to all of you idiots that voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012…….”
That lede could cut deeply into your readership, Smartman…maybe 51 or 52 percent.
How about a follow up to all the idiots that thought Sarah Palin was the second coming of Lady Margaret Thatcher?
Guest blog…by The Smartman???? (Subject to JimmyCsays editing, of course.)
I’m sorry, Smartman, but the Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment, so forcing someone to either read The Star or marry Rosie O’Donnell would be outside the bounds. If taping final words is considered tacky, think about the sight of forcing someone to read a Lewis Diuguid or Barb Shelly column. And being forced to consummate the marriage with Rosie? Talk about cruel and unusual, that’s just inhuman. Nice touches though, just unconstitutional.
As for you Fitz, that lede might cut into the readership by a few points, but the average IQ of the readers would skyrocket by triple the percentage loss.
John, I’m going to forgive you for all the derogatory things you’ve said over the years about The Star, but for your penance you have to read 10 Lewis Diuguid columns back to back…Heh, heh…
That’s just vicious. And how would I know when I’d hit number 10 since they all say the same thing. 20 points to you for funniest comment of the day.
I don’t think I’ve ever read one of his columns from start to finish. You know they took him off the masthead a few years ago (he was a vice president), and I think that in exchange for the demotion he extracted the right to keep his column…I know the editors would like to see it go away. But that’s politics at work in journalism.
Lewis seems like a good guy, but his columns are just rehashing the same thing over and over again. It’s sad really. But he does get to go to many conferences each year.
After five years I think Lewis needs to stop telling the reading that Obama is the first black president. I think we all know that.
He needs to retire, take up golf and stop preaching.
Fitz,
Where there is no doubt, no DNA etc., suspects should have their day in court. Suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
I feel nothing should be televised. I do not waste a second of my time viewing anything like this on television.
After trial, sentences should be carried out as Judges and juries command.
I was Huntsville, TX and an inmate within days of execution in 03/99, I believe, escaped. I was arriving at a friend’s home who lived close to “The Frying Pan.” This institution has earned it’s nickname (and another “The Walls Unit”) by Texans near it’s location in Huntsville about seventy miles from Houston.
It was about 11PM on this March evening and I noticed helicopters in the skies with beams of light lowered to the terrain.
A few minutes later, we arrived and the home was on television. Their closest neighbors were about a mile away and the folks I visited were the closest to the road.
The man, convicted of murder (in the first degree) had two female accomplices. Their plan was to get the killer to a river not far.
They did not make it.
The convicted man was executed.
I know someone in prison for murder. He made a plea arrangement and serving his sentence. He knows he made a huge mistake and is full of remorse.
I have an identical twin brother murdered 07/11/94. His killer also died.
I can look at this from both sides, unfortunately.
I would normally pray for those convicted of murder, but one of the few things we are told to judge in my King James Bible, is things that are evil.
So as the juror said in the early-90’s comedy, “My Cousin Vinny,” during voir dire, “Fry them!”
You’ve seen a lot, and your family has been through a lot, Larry, and you’ve got a lot of stories to tell. You can be proud that you have persevered and tilled a steady row through it all…
I am against the death penalty for a number of reasons, one being the punishment is not consistently and fairly handed down. Plea agreements, incompent lawyers, bias against certain class of people, etc etc. But I won’t go lighting any candles for those convicted of these heinous crimes.
I certainly find these ‘last words’ more interesting than reading about their last meal.
Damn it, Jennifer, that’s what I was going to write about next — last meals!
Fish and chips, fried chicken, cabbage, beets and onions, choc-van-straw ice cream, etc…..But since you’ve already given a thumbs down to that idea, I’ll pull the plug.
Sorry. Last meals aren’t newswothy is what I meant. But the compilation of such feasts might be interesting–and costs as well. What’s really stinks would be some guy who gets a last meal, then a delay, and then another last meal.
Nice one Fitz.
I love it when they (The condemmed) include thier hopes for their favorite NFL team that year.
Brutal.
There was a science fiction movie, where you could go to a grave yard and there were videos from all the deceased on the headstones to look at.
I would definitely make the trek to smartman’s were I a young man. Maybe bring some popcorn and friends too.
:)