Weber State College Comment, April 1986, page 4 When do women get the death penalty? Prof studies legal executions of women on a ship where John Green was the sociologist is collecting information on women who ave been executed that he. said will reveal interesting master, and was objected to by John Washington, the great grandfather of George Washington. “Over all, most of the executions have been by hanging,” Gillespie said. “But since 1930 most have been by electrocution.” Lopez said that the data is gathered from historical societies, newspapers, archives and from university and college libraries across the nation. “It’s things about females in America and about the justice system. It’s all a part of a first-of-a-kind study that Dr. L. Kay Gillespie, a professor of sociology, is researching. One grandmother hired two ex-cons to strangle her daughter-in-law, one lady poisoned four with arsenic and was suspected of doing the same to two kind of like putting a detective story others, one woman axed her landlord and one used a shotgun on a waiter. together,” she said. Gillespie's office is drifted over with Gillespie said, “It may piles of information and each woman be a morbid discovered has her own file that includes her crime, how she was killed, last meal, last words and any other fact topic, some people put us in the same category as ghouls, but lots of good information will come from it.” The search focuses on females that have been legally executed in the two researchers can find. Dr. L. Kay Gillespie the United States and he’s gathering the never before compiled facts in hopes that what he finds will give a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system and how it handles female criminals. Gillespie said, “What's the difference when one woman is sentenced to death and others who have committed essentially the same crime are not. The answers to those kinds of questions will give great insight into the justice system.” Gillespie said that Barbara Lopez, a junior, first had the idea when she wondered whether the women’s liberation movement had resulted in more executions of women. That curiosity led to a dead end as she found no available facts. She approached Dr. Gillespie with the idea and the two started an extensive search that will take three to five years to complete and will probably result in a new book. Gillespie, who has_ studied criminology and the death penalty for many years and who served full-time on the Utah State Board of Pardons, said, “Everyday there's a new piece to the puzzle. It never gets boring.” So far the two have collected data on 123 women that have been executed. Most of them have been older, most are either nurses or waitresses and the earliest ones so far are two who were executed in the 1600's on Pilgrim's ships that were sailing for America. In both cases a storm at sea didn’t let up for anumber of days so witchcraft was suspected, and the two elderly ladies were hanged. One execution occurred Gillespie said that so far it seems that women who cry at the trial have a better chance of “getting away with murder” and avoiding the death penalty. The dry-eyed ones tend to receive the death sentence. “Also, for the killing of a family member where there was no profit motive the woman is not really risking the death penalty,” Lopez added. There have only been 33 executions of females since 1930 even though hundreds have committed murder, Lopez said. During that same time over 3,000 men have been executed. Women have chopped up _ other women and avoided the death penalty, some have hired killers to do their husbands in, and others have just plain shot them and have not been sentenced: to death. Gillespie said, “Women tend to avoid the death penalty, and if they do get the death penalty they avoid execution much more than men.” He added, ‘We find that the patterns are different and that the use of the death penalty has not so much to do with the crime as with the political feelings at the time.” Gillespie said that except for three federal executions, one for spying, one for kidnapping, and one in connection with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, all legal killings of women have been by the states. Lopez said, “The south has had the most executions, including women, and the north-west has had the least.” Utah has never executed a woman, she noted. Contrary to common belief, Gillespie said that more females have been legally killed during the 20th century than during the witch hunt days of the 1600 and 1700's, and pregnant women have also been killed. Lopez said the process of discovering the historical executions poses many problems, but as many people have found out about the research they have phoned or sent documents, newspaper clippings and anecdotal material. She said, “When people first hear about it they go ‘ugh.’ Then they say, ‘Hey, this stuff is interesting.’ ” Gillespie said that once the data is collected the two will examine it to see if any patterns evolve. He said, tionale for saying as system by “If we find no consistent rathe executions we may be much about the criminal what we don’t find as by what we do find.” o Dear Sharmea Pink Lady, under stay free Deortaylare Main Gate _ Even though we're a little late, We've finally set our luncheon date. Sharmea alumae together at last, The days of waiting are all past. So make your plans to come right now We'll have a great time — and how! The date is Saturday, April 20, And there will be food aplenty. maymy ih -AVAILABLE AT D.E.C. TICKET OFFICE-- Stovall’s 7 Best Western Hotels are adjacent to Disneyland and within easy driving distance of all ee California attractions. And a visit to Anaheim isn’t cartel tciny test to the Best Tomorrow's “Wonderia oe plants in an incredible outdoor heated pools, sauna, spa, and children’s wading pool... ee ss ae * D, 3233 Washington Blvd. at Sandy’s Fine Food at 1 p.m., so get in the mood To have a good visit, food and fun. Please come and join us — everyone! Please R.S.V.P. by April 15 to one of the following: i — Z mi, "i Aan ff Need en 5 { Shirley Johnson, 1536 7th Street, Ogden, UT 84404 (801)393-7852. Jean Sutherland, 707 Robins, Ogden, UT 844084 (801)399-0065 Alice McGill, 1526 7th Street, Ogden, UT 84404 (801)394-2882. The price will be $5.25 and the luncheon will be boneless Parmesan Chicken Breast, dipped in butter and served with fresh fruit or potato, and vegetable. A small salad, hot rolls and your choice of beverage will also be included. See you all there! z Ti in ps r iy : ‘ ot i i es G ae Shirley, Jean and Alice (3 a ua ee vAXAiN e TOL Saeed a