Early Executions

Arizona State Library relates that, "Since Territorial days, Arizona law has established both county jails, kept by the sheriffs of the counties where they are located; and territorial (state) institutions for adult and juvenile offenders. In 1875, Arizona’s first Territorial Prison was constructed in Yuma. In 1908 the Arizona Prison at Florence was built by inmates and replaced the Territorial Prison at Yuma. A superintendent and board of control were responsible for operating the prisons." According to the Arizona Department of Corrections, the first hanging execution occurred on January 5, 1910. On December 8, 1916, an initiative measure went into effect eliminating the death penalty as punichment of convictions of first degree murder. The Death penalty was restored December 5, 1918. Nineteen executions by hanging occurred between April 16, 1920 and June 20, 1931. The first execuction by lethal gas was carried out on July 6, 1934.

LAST NAME	FIRST NAME	AGE	RACE	SEX	OCCUPATION	CRIME	METHOD	DATE	ADC#
Zeac	Mahdi		Nat. Am.	Male	?	Murder	Hanging	27 Dec 1889
Booth	Zach	37	White	Male	Cattleman	Murder	Hanging	16 Aug 1905
Baldwin	William		Black	Male	Construction Laborer	Murder	Hanging	12 Jul 1907
Goodwin	John	27	White	Male	Army Deserter	Murder-Robbery	Hanging	13 May 1913
Stewart	William	28	White	Mael	Army Deserter	Murder-Robbery	Hanging	29 May 1913
Holley	U.L.	38	Black	Male	Chemist Helper	Murder	Asphyxiation-Gas	13 Apr 1945	13306

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