Regional Studies
The West

The West

The West has carried out 1,134 Pre-Furman executions.

The first execution in the West was that of 4 Native Americans in what would become San Diego, California. Aaran, Aleuirin, Achil and Taquaqui were convicted of Conspiracy to Murder then shot to death on April 11, 1778.

California also claims the honor of executing the first woman. Records state that a Hispanic female named Juanita was hanged for murder in July of 1851. The crime took place in Sierra County, California.

The last Pre-Furman execution in the West was that of a 37-year-old Black man named Aaron Mitchell who died in the San Quinton gas chamber on April 12, 1967 for murder in Sacramento County.

The last Pre-Furman execution of a female in the West was that of a 58-year-old murderess Elizabeth "Ma" Duncan who died in the San Quinton gas chamber on August 8,, 1962 for murder in Ventura County.

There are a known 1,134 Pre-Furman executions in the West. 94 (8.3%) were Black and 709 (62.5%) were White. 8 of them were females.

In the 189 years from Aaran etal to Aaron Mitchell there was an average of 6 executions per year.

8 of the 1,134 executions were females (0.01%).

There were 816 Hangings, 243 Gas Chambers and 70 Shootings.

Note: All executions cited below are Pre-Furman, occurring before 1968.
Counties mentioned may not have been in existence at the time of the crime.

Alaska Executions

The State was admitted into the Union on January 3, 1959.

Alaska has executed 12 people between 1869 and 1950.

All of these execution were prior to Statehood.

Scutdor, a Native American was the first executed in Alaska. He was hanged for murder on December 29, 1869. The crime occurred in Wrangell-Petersburg County.

Eugene LaMoore, a Black mechanic, was the last man executed in Alaska. He was hanged on April 14, 1950 for first degree murder of a merchant in Juneau County.

All executions in Alaska have been by hanging. 

The State's 12 executions averages 1 execution every 6.75 years.

California Executions

The State was admitted into the Union on September 9, 1850.

California has executed 709 people between 1778 and 1967.

29 of these execution were prior to Statehood, 680 since.

7 of these executions were women.

The first execution in California was that of 4 Native Americans in what would become San Diego, California. Aaran, Aleuirin, Achil and Taquaqui were convicted of Conspiracy to Murder then shot to death on April 11, 1778.

California also claims the honor of executing the first woman. Records state that a Hispanic female named Juanita was hanged for murder in July of 1851. The crime took place in Sierra County, California.

The last execution in the California was that of a 37-year-old Black man named Aaron Mitchell who died in the San Quinton gas chamber on April 12, 1967 for murder in Sacramento County.

The last execution of a female in the California was that of a 58-year-old murderess Elizabeth "Ma" Duncan who died in the San Quinton gas chamber on August 8,, 1962 for murder in Ventura County.

The early executions were by firing squad until January of 1849 when William Campbell, David Davis and Matthew Freer were hanged for Murder-Robbery in Santa Clara County. Hangings then dominated executions until December 2, 1938 when Albert Kessell and Robert Cannon died in the San Quinton gas chamber for murder in Sacramento County.

The State's 709 executions averages 3.75 executions a year.

There were 487 Hangings, 194 Gas Chambers and 28 Shootings.

Hawaii Executions

The State was admitted into the Union on August 21, 1959.

Hawaii has executed 47 men between 1856 and 1941.

All of these execution were prior to Statehood.

Ayou, an Asian Male, was the first executed in Hawaii. He was hanged for murder on November 7, 1856. The crime was committed in Honolulu County.

Mariano Flores, a 54-year-old Asian man was hanged for an un-mentioned crime on September 19, 1941, becoming the last person executed in Hawaii.

None of the executions were White men nor Black men.

The State's 47 executions averages 1 execution every 1.8 years.

All the executions were by Hanging.

Idaho Executions

The State was admitted into the Union on July 3, 1890.

Idaho has executed 26 men between 1864 and 1957.

14 of these execution were prior to Statehood, 12 since.

David Howard was the first man executed in Idaho. He was hanged for Murder-Robbery on March 4, 1864. The crime occurred in Nez Perce County.

Raymond Snowden was the last man executed in Idaho. He was hanged for Murder-Rape on January 18, 1957. The crime occurred in Ada County.

The State's 26 executions averages 1 execution every 3.6 years.

All the executions were by Hanging.

Nevada Executions

The State was admitted into the Union on October 31, 1864.

Nevada has executed 61 people between 1862 and 1961.

3 of these execution were prior to Statehood, 58 since.

Bill Carr, a gambler, was the first man executed in Nevada. He was hanged for murder some time in 1862. The crime occurred in Carson City County.

Thayne Archibald, a parolee, was the last man executed. He died in the gas chamber on August 23, 1961 for murder in Washoe County.

All executions were by hanging until Andrigi Mirkovich died by being shot to death on May 14, 1913. He was convicted of murder in Nye County.

The next execution was the first use of the gas chamber in the nation. 29-year-old Asian Tong Assassin Jon Gee. He was executed on February 8, 1924 for murder in Mineral County.

The State's 61 executions averages 1 execution every 1.6 years.

There were 30 Hangings, 31 Gas Chambers and 1 Shooting.

Oregon Executions

The State was admitted into the Union on February 14, 1859.

Oregon has executed 122 people between 1815 and 1962.

14 of these execution were prior to Statehood, 91 since.

A couple of un-named Native Americans were the first executed in Oregon. They were shot to death sometime in 1815.

Leroy McGauhey was the last man executed. He died in the gas chamber on August 20, 1962 for murder in Jackson County.

Except for the first 2 shootings, all executions were hangings until Leroy McCarthy died in the gas chamber on June 20, 1939 for Murder-Robbery in Multnomah County.

The State's 122 executions averages 1 execution every 1.2 years.

There were 102 Hangings, 18 Gas Chambers and 2 Shootings.

Utah Executions

The State was admitted into the Union on February 4, 1896.

Utah has executed 43 people between 1854 and 1960.

11 of these execution were prior to Statehood, 32 since.

2 Native Americans, Long Hair and Antelope, were the first executed in Utah. They were hanged for murder on September 15, 1854.

James Rodgers was the last Pre-Furman execution in Utah. He died facing the firing squad on March 30, 1960 for murder in San Juan County.

Utah has almost always given the condemned a choice as to the method of their death. Originally the choices were Hanging, Shooting or Beheading. Eventually Beheading was dropped as a choice.

Of the 43 executions, only 5 were by hanging and 38 were shootings.

The first Post-Furman execution was the death of 36-year-old Gary Gilmore on January 17, 1977. He also chose to die facing the firing squad for Murder-Robbery.

The State's 43 executions averages 1 execution every 2.5 years.

Washington Executions

The State was admitted into the Union on November 11, 1889.

Washington has executed 105 people between 1849 and 1963.

15 of these execution were prior to Statehood, 90 since.

Cussas and Quallahworst, 2 Native Americans, were the first executed in Washington. They were hanged on January 5, 1849 for murder in Pierce County.

Joseph Self was the last executed. He was hanged for Murder-Robbery on June 20, 1963. The crime occurred in King County.

The State's 105 executions averages 1 execution every 1.1 years.

All the executions were Hangings.

Note: All executions cited above are Pre-Furman, occurring before 1968.
Counties mentioned may not have been in existence at the time of the crime.