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This newspaper article published in the Topeka State Journal illustrates the confusion surrounding the history of state death penalty laws in Kansas. The article concerns the possible execution, under federal law, of a convict at the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth. The article claims that should this execution proceed "Kansas will see its first legal hanging in its history as a state." The article concludes by saying "that there never has been a hanging under state law in Kansas." In fact, between 1862-1888 there were nine legal executions in Kansas under state law, three under military law, and two under federal law. The state repealed its capital punishment law in 1907.
Creator: Topeka State Journal Company
Date: February 18, 1916
Item Number: 208827
Call Number: K 343.2 Clipp. V. 1 pg. 10
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 208827
Collections - Library
Date - 1910s - 1916
Government and Politics - Crime and Punishment - Crime - Murder
Government and Politics - Crime and Punishment - Prisoners
Government and Politics - Crime and Punishment - Prisons and Jails
Government and Politics - Crime and Punishment - Punishment - Death penalty
Government and Politics - Federal Government - Federal agencies and programs - Agencies - Penitentiary
Government and Politics - State Government
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Newspaper - clipping
Places - Cities and towns - Leavenworth
Places - Cities and towns - Topeka
Places - Counties - Leavenworth
Places - Counties - Shawnee
Thematic Time Period - Age of Reform, 1880 - 1917 - Progressive Era, 1900 - 1916
Type of Material - Newspapers - Clippings
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/208827