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List of people executed in Minnesota: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 22:47, 8 January 2025 editAfddiary (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users2,396 edits More info re: William WilliamsTag: Visual edit← Previous edit Latest revision as of 18:23, 9 January 2025 edit undoAfddiary (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users2,396 edits Replaced hyphenated names (which can potentially be offensive and are largely inaccurate) with the names as they were spelled directly on a photo of a memorial to the 38 men, uploaded to the Wikimedia Commons. Memorial pictured here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/File:Memoriam_at_Reconciliation_Park,_Mankato_Minnesota.jpgTag: Visual edit 
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Between ]'s first recorded execution in 1854 (which occurred while it was a ]) and the state's final recorded execution in 1906, there were at least 69 executions in Minnesota. This is a '''list of people executed in Minnesota''' as both a territory and a state. Between ]'s first recorded execution in 1854 (which occurred while it was a ]) and the state's final recorded execution in 1906, there were at least 70 legal executions in Minnesota. All executions in Minnesota were carried out by ].


Notably, on December 26, 1862, Minnesota was the site of the largest ] in United States history when 38 men, all ] involved in the ], were simultaneously executed by hanging on the same gallows in ], after being convicted of various capital crimes including murder, being an accessory to murder, and kidnapping. The hangings were ordered by a ] and technically overseen by the federal government.<ref name="apology">{{cite news |date=January 7, 2020 |title=Governor Walz makes historic apology for 1862 mass hanging in Mankato |url=https://ictnews.org/the-press-pool/governor-walz-makes-historic-apology-for-1862-mass-hanging-in-mankato |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108214154/https://ictnews.org/the-press-pool/governor-walz-makes-historic-apology-for-1862-mass-hanging-in-mankato |archive-date=2025-01-08 |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=ICT News |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Bessler |first=John |date=March 2004 |title=The Botched Hanging of William Williams: How Too Much Rope and Minnesota's Newspapers Brought an End to the Death Penalty in Minnesota |url=https://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/all_fac/88/ |journal=University of Baltimore School of Law Journal |via=ScholarWorks}}</ref>
All executions in Minnesota were carried out by ].


Minnesota experienced a 17-year moratorium on executions between 1868 and 1885 due to the passage of a law limiting the application of the death penalty in the state; the law was passed in 1868 and repealed in 1883.<ref name=":0" />
Notably, on December 26, 1862, Minnesota was the site of the largest ] in United States history when 38 men, all ] involved in the ], were simultaneously executed by hanging on the same gallows in ], after being convicted of various capital crimes including murder, being an accessory to murder, and kidnapping. The hangings were ordered by a ] and technically overseen by the federal government. Two more executions of Dakota men took place in 1865. In 2019, the Dakota people received an apology from Minnesota governor ] for the mass hanging, with the state government apologizing for "150 years of trauma inflicted on Native people at the hands of state government".<ref name="apology">{{cite news |date=January 7, 2020 |title=Governor Walz makes historic apology for 1862 mass hanging in Mankato |url=https://ictnews.org/the-press-pool/governor-walz-makes-historic-apology-for-1862-mass-hanging-in-mankato |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108214154/https://ictnews.org/the-press-pool/governor-walz-makes-historic-apology-for-1862-mass-hanging-in-mankato |archive-date=2025-01-08 |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=ICT News |publisher=]}}</ref>

Capital punishment in Minnesota was officially abolished on {{Date|April 22, 1911|MDY}}. No executions have taken place in Minnesota since 1906.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Minnesota: History of the Death Penalty |url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-and-federal-info/state-by-state/minnesota |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108215825/https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-and-federal-info/state-by-state/minnesota |archive-date=2025-01-08 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Cartwright |first=R. L. |date=2023-01-30 |title=Execution of William Williams |url=https://www.mnopedia.org/event/execution-william-williams |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108235854/https://www.mnopedia.org/event/execution-william-williams |archive-date=2025-01-08 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=MNopedia}}</ref>


Information is sourced from the Espy Files unless otherwise specified.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Executions |url=http://users.bestweb.net/~rg/execution/MINNESOTA.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801002222/http://users.bestweb.net/~rg/execution/MINNESOTA.htm |archive-date=2009-08-01 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Before the Needles}}</ref> Information is sourced from the Espy Files unless otherwise specified.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Executions |url=http://users.bestweb.net/~rg/execution/MINNESOTA.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801002222/http://users.bestweb.net/~rg/execution/MINNESOTA.htm |archive-date=2009-08-01 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Before the Needles}}</ref>

The list does not contain extrajudicial executions, murders, or lynchings.


{{Dynamic list|multiple=no}} {{Dynamic list|multiple=no}}
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|- |-
! scope="row" |1 ! scope="row" |1
|Uhazy (or Yuhagu)
|{{sortname|Yu-Ha-Gu||nolink=1|link=}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
Line 29: Line 33:
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
|<ref name=":0" />
|
|- |-
!2 !2
Line 52: Line 56:
|- |-
!4 !4
|Ti hdo' ni ca
|{{sortname|Te-he-do-ne-cha||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|{{Date|December 26, 1862|MDY}} | rowspan="39" |{{Date|December 26, 1862|MDY}}
|] | rowspan="39" |]
| rowspan="39" |Murder, accessory to murder, or kidnapping related to involvement in the ]
|Kidnapping
| rowspan="39" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Trials & Hanging |url=https://www.usdakotawar.org/history/aftermath/trials-hanging |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109092845/https://www.usdakotawar.org/history/aftermath/trials-hanging |archive-date=2025-01-09 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=The US-Dakota War of 1862}}</ref>
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |5 ! scope="row" |5
|Hda Inyan Ka
|{{sortname|Rad-in-yau-ka||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|{{Date|December 26, 1862|MDY}}
|]
|Kidnapping
|
|- |-
!6 !6
|Ptan Du ta
|{{sortname|Ptan-doo-ta||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
| rowspan="37" |{{Date|December 26, 1862|MDY}}
| rowspan="37" |]
| rowspan="37" |Murder, accessory to murder, or kidnapping related to involvement in the ]
|
|- |-
!7 !7
|Mahpi'ya A i'na zin
|{{sortname|Wy-a-tah-ta-wa||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |8 ! scope="row" |8
|Hin han'sunko yag mani
|{{sortname|Hin-han-shoon-ko-yang||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!9 !9
|Maza Bo mdu
|{{sortname|Ma-za-boom-doo||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!10 !10
|Wa hpe Duta
|{{sortname|Wah-pa-doo-ta||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!11 !11
|Wa hi' hna
|{{sortname|Wa-ha-hua||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!12 !12
|Sna Mani
|{{sortname|Sna-ma-ne||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |13 ! scope="row" |13
|Oyate' A ku
|{{sortname|Ta-tay-me-ma||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!14 !14
|{{sortname|Do-wau-sa||nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Do|wan' s'a|nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| |
|M |M
|
|- |-
!15 !15
|He pan
|{{sortname|Ha-pan||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!16 !16
|Sun'ka ska
|{{sortname|Shoon-ka-ska||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |17 ! scope="row" |17
Line 156: Line 142:
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!18 !18
|Tunkan' I ca'hda mani
|{{sortname|Toon-kan-e-chah-tay-m||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!19 !19
|I te' Duta
|{{sortname|E-tay-doo-tay||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |20 ! scope="row" |20
|He pi'da
|{{sortname|Hay-pe-dan||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!21 !21
Line 184: Line 166:
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!22 !22
Line 191: Line 172:
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!23 !23
|]
|{{sortname|Chas-kay-dan||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |24 ! scope="row" |24
Line 205: Line 184:
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!25 !25
|Tate' Kaga
|{{sortname|Ta-ta-ka-gay||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!26 !26
|He In'Kpa
|{{sortname|Hay-pin-kpa||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |27 ! scope="row" |27
Line 226: Line 202:
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!28 !28
|Na pe'sni
|{{sortname|Nay-pay-shne||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!29 !29
|Wakan Tanka
|{{sortname|Wa-tau-kau-ka||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!30 !30
|Tunkan' Ko yag Ina'zin
|{{sortname|Toon-kan-ko-yag-e-na||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |31 ! scope="row" |31
|Maka'ta I na'zin
|{{sortname|Ma-ka-ta-e-na-jin||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!32 !32
|Maza Kute' mani
|{{sortname|Pa-za-koo-tay-ma-ne||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!33 !33
|Tate' Hdi da
|{{sortname|Ta-tay-hde-dan||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |34 ! scope="row" |34
|Wasicuƞ
|{{sortname|Wa-she-choon||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!35 !35
|A i caga
|{{sortname|A-e-cha-ga||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!36 !36
|Ho i'tan in ku
|{{sortname|Ho-tau-in-koo||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!37 !37
|Ce tan' Hunka'
|{{sortname|Khay-tau-hoon-ka||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |38 ! scope="row" |38
|Can Ka hda
|{{sortname|Chau-ka-hda||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!39 !39
|Hda' hin hde
|{{sortname|Hda-hin-hday||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!40 !40
|Oyate Ta Wa
|{{sortname|O-ya-tay-a-kee||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |41 ! scope="row" |41
|Mahu we hi
|{{sortname|Ma-hoo-way-ma||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!42 !42
|Wa Kin' yan na
|{{sortname|Wa-kin-yau-wa||nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
| - | -
|M |M
|
|- |-
!43 !43
|John Campbell
|Multiracial
| -
|
|{{Date|May 3, 1865|MDY}}
|]
|Murder of Andrew Jewitt
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Bessler |first=John D. |date=1996 |title=The "Midnight Assassination Law" and Minnesota's Anti-Death Penalty Movement, 1849–1911 |url=http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol22/iss2/15 |journal=William Mitchell Law Review |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=577–730}}</ref>
|-
!44
|{{sortname|Medicine|Bottle|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Medicine|Bottle|nolink=1}}
|Native American |Native American
Line 341: Line 311:
| rowspan="2" |] | rowspan="2" |]
| rowspan="2" |Murder, accessory to murder, or kidnapping related to involvement in the ] | rowspan="2" |Murder, accessory to murder, or kidnapping related to involvement in the ]
| rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |<ref name=":0" />
|- |-
!44 !45
|{{sortname|Shakopee|III|nolink=}} |{{sortname|Shakopee|III|nolink=}}
|Native American |Native American
Line 349: Line 319:
|M |M
|- |-
! scope="row" |45 ! scope="row" |46
|{{sortname|Andreas|Roesch|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Andreas|Roesch|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 355: Line 325:
|M |M
|{{Date|Mar 6, 1868|MDY}} |{{Date|Mar 6, 1868|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
!46 !47
|{{sortname|John|Waisenen|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|John|Waisenen|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 365: Line 335:
|M |M
|{{Date|Aug 28, 1885|MDY}} |{{Date|Aug 28, 1885|MDY}}
|] |]
|Robbery and murder |Robbery and murder
| |
|- |-
!47 !48
|{{sortname|Nels|Holong|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Nels Olsom|Holong|nolink=1}}
|White |White
|30 |30
|M |M
|{{Date|Apr 13, 1888|MDY}} |{{Date|Apr 13, 1888|MDY}}
|] |]
|Rape and murder |Rape, murder, and mutilation of a young woman
|<ref name=":0" />
|
|- |-
! scope="row" |48 ! scope="row" |49
|{{sortname|John|Lee|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|John|Lee|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 385: Line 355:
|M |M
|{{Date|Feb 15, 1889|MDY}} |{{Date|Feb 15, 1889|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
!49 !50
|{{sortname|Timothy|Barrett|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Timothy|Barrett|nolink=1}}
|White |White
| - | -
|M |M
|{{Date|Mar 22, 1889|MDY}} | rowspan="2" |{{Date|Mar 22, 1889|MDY}}
|] | rowspan="2" |]
|Robbery and murder | rowspan="2" |Robbery and murder
| rowspan="2" |
|
|- |-
!50 !51
|{{sortname|Peter|Barrett|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Peter|Barrett|nolink=1}}
|White |White
|17 |17
|M |M
|{{Date|Mar 22, 1889|MDY}}
|]
|Robbery and murder
|
|- |-
!51 !52
|{{sortname|Albert|Bulow|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Albert|Bulow|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 415: Line 381:
|M |M
|{{Date|Jul 19, 1889|MDY}} |{{Date|Jul 19, 1889|MDY}}
|] |]
|Robbery and murder |Robbery and murder
| |
|- |-
! scope="row" |52 ! scope="row" |53
|{{sortname|Thomas|Brown|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Thomas|Brown|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 425: Line 391:
|M |M
|{{Date|Sep 20, 1889|MDY}} |{{Date|Sep 20, 1889|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
!53 !54
|{{sortname|William|Brooker|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|William|Brooker|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 435: Line 401:
|M |M
|{{Date|Jun 27, 1890|MDY}} |{{Date|Jun 27, 1890|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
!54 !55
|{{sortname|William|Rose|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|William|Rose|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 445: Line 411:
|M |M
|{{Date|Jan 17, 1891|MDY}} |{{Date|Jan 17, 1891|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
! scope="row" |55 ! scope="row" |56
|{{sortname|Adelbert|Goheen|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Adelbert|Goheen|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 455: Line 421:
|M |M
|{{Date|Jan 23, 1891|MDY}} |{{Date|Jan 23, 1891|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
!56 !57
|{{sortname|Charles|Ermisch|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Charles|Ermisch|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 465: Line 431:
|M |M
|{{Date|Jan 19, 1894|MDY}} |{{Date|Jan 19, 1894|MDY}}
|] |]
|Robbery and murder |Robbery and murder
| |
|- |-
!57 !58
|{{sortname|Otto|Wonigkeit|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Otto|Wonigkeit|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 475: Line 441:
|M |M
|{{Date|Jan 19, 1894|MDY}} |{{Date|Jan 19, 1894|MDY}}
|] |]
|Robbery and murder |Robbery and murder
| |
|- |-
!58 !59
|{{sortname|Harry T.|Hayward|nolink=}} |{{sortname|Harry T.|Hayward|nolink=}}
|White |White
Line 485: Line 451:
|M |M
|{{Date|Dec 11, 1895|MDY}} |{{Date|Dec 11, 1895|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder of Katherine "Kitty" Ging |Murder of Katherine "Kitty" Ging
| |
|- |-
! scope="row" |59 ! scope="row" |60
|{{sortname|John|Pryde|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|John|Pryde|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 495: Line 461:
|M |M
|{{Date|Jul 23, 1896|MDY}} |{{Date|Jul 23, 1896|MDY}}
|] |]
|Robbery and murder |Robbery and murder
| |
|- |-
!60 !61
|{{sortname|George|Kelly|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|George|Kelly|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 505: Line 471:
|M |M
|{{Date|March 23, 1897|MDY}} |{{Date|March 23, 1897|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder of Dr. Foster{{Efn|Kelly also confessed to the murders of Edward Paul and Jacob Hayes, which took place in Wyoming. He was executed for the Minnesota-based murder of Dr. Foster.}} |Murder of Dr. Foster{{Efn|Kelly also confessed to the murders of Edward Paul and Jacob Hayes, which took place in Wyoming. He was executed for the Minnesota-based murder of Dr. Foster.}}
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=1897-03-23 |title=Stern Justice Dealt Out to Murderer George Kelly. Hanged at Center City Shortly After Midnight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saint-paul-globe-news-23-mar-1897-ge/26735630/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108224223/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saint-paul-globe-news-23-mar-1897-ge/26735630/ |archive-date=2025-01-08 |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=The Saint Paul Globe |pages=1 |via=]}}</ref> |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1897-03-23 |title=Stern Justice Dealt Out to Murderer George Kelly. Hanged at Center City Shortly After Midnight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saint-paul-globe-news-23-mar-1897-ge/26735630/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108224223/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saint-paul-globe-news-23-mar-1897-ge/26735630/ |archive-date=2025-01-08 |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=The Saint Paul Globe |pages=1 |via=]}}</ref>
|- |-
!61 !62
|{{sortname|John|Moshik|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|John|Moshik|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 519: Line 485:
| |
|- |-
!62 !63
|{{sortname|Joseph|Ott|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Joseph|Ott|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 525: Line 491:
|M |M
|{{Date|Oct 20, 1898|MDY}} |{{Date|Oct 20, 1898|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
! scope="row" |63 ! scope="row" |64
|{{sortname|Franz|Wallert|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Franz|Wallert|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 535: Line 501:
|M |M
|{{Date|Mar 29, 1901|MDY}} |{{Date|Mar 29, 1901|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
!64 !65
|{{sortname|Andrew|Tapper|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Andrew|Tapper|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 545: Line 511:
|M |M
|{{Date|Feb 18, 1902|MDY}} |{{Date|Feb 18, 1902|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
!65 !66
|{{sortname|Charles|Henderson|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Charles|Henderson|nolink=1}}
|Black |Black
Line 555: Line 521:
|M |M
|{{Date|Mar 6, 1903|MDY}} |{{Date|Mar 6, 1903|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
!66 !67
|{{sortname|Ole|Oleson|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Ole|Oleson|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 565: Line 531:
|M |M
|{{Date|Mar 20, 1903|MDY}} |{{Date|Mar 20, 1903|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder |Murder
| |
|- |-
! scope="row" |67 ! scope="row" |68
|{{sortname|William|Chounard|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|William|Chounard|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 579: Line 545:
| |
|- |-
!68 !69
|{{sortname|Claud|Crawford|nolink=1}} |{{sortname|Claud|Crawford|nolink=1}}
|White |White
Line 589: Line 555:
| |
|- |-
!69 !70
|{{sortname|William|Williams|nolink=|link=William Williams (murderer)}} |{{sortname|William|Williams|nolink=|link=William Williams (murderer)}}
|White |White
Line 595: Line 561:
|M |M
|{{Date|Feb 13, 1906|MDY}} |{{Date|Feb 13, 1906|MDY}}
|] |]
|Murder of John Keller and Keller's mother Mary |Murder of John Keller and Keller's mother Mary
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Latest revision as of 18:23, 9 January 2025

This is a list of people executed in Minnesota as both a territory and a state. Between Minnesota's first recorded execution in 1854 (which occurred while it was a territory) and the state's final recorded execution in 1906, there were at least 70 legal executions in Minnesota. All executions in Minnesota were carried out by hanging.

Notably, on December 26, 1862, Minnesota was the site of the largest mass execution in United States history when 38 men, all Dakota men involved in the Dakota War of 1862, were simultaneously executed by hanging on the same gallows in Mankato, Minnesota, after being convicted of various capital crimes including murder, being an accessory to murder, and kidnapping. The hangings were ordered by a military commission and technically overseen by the federal government.

Minnesota experienced a 17-year moratorium on executions between 1868 and 1885 due to the passage of a law limiting the application of the death penalty in the state; the law was passed in 1868 and repealed in 1883.

Capital punishment in Minnesota was officially abolished on April 22, 1911. No executions have taken place in Minnesota since 1906.

Information is sourced from the Espy Files unless otherwise specified.

The list does not contain extrajudicial executions, murders, or lynchings.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

All executions in Minnesota, 1854–1906

No. Name Race Age Sex Date of Execution County Crime(s) Ref.
1 Uhazy (or Yuhagu) Native American - M December 29, 1854 Morrison Murder
2 Ann Bilansky White 34 F March 23, 1860 Waseca Murder of her husband
3 Henry Kriegler White - M March 1, 1861 Ramsey Murder
4 Ti hdo' ni ca Native American - M December 26, 1862 Blue Earth Murder, accessory to murder, or kidnapping related to involvement in the Dakota War of 1862
5 Hda Inyan Ka Native American - M
6 Ptan Du ta Native American - M
7 Mahpi'ya A i'na zin Native American - M
8 Hin han'sunko yag mani Native American - M
9 Maza Bo mdu Native American - M
10 Wa hpe Duta Native American - M
11 Wa hi' hna Native American - M
12 Sna Mani Native American - M
13 Oyate' A ku Native American - M
14 Do wan' s'a Native American M
15 He pan Native American - M
16 Sun'ka ska Native American - M
17 Am-da-cha Native American - M
18 Tunkan' I ca'hda mani Native American - M
19 I te' Duta Native American - M
20 He pi'da Native American - M
21 Maȟpiya Akan Nažiŋ Native American - M
22 Henry Milford Native American - M
23 Chaska (Dakota: Wičháhpi Waštédaŋpi) Native American - M
24 Baptiste Campbell Native American - M
25 Tate' Kaga Native American - M
26 He In'Kpa Native American - M
27 Hypolite Ange Native American - M
28 Na pe'sni Native American - M
29 Wakan Tanka Native American - M
30 Tunkan' Ko yag Ina'zin Native American - M
31 Maka'ta I na'zin Native American - M
32 Maza Kute' mani Native American - M
33 Tate' Hdi da Native American - M
34 Wasicuƞ Native American - M
35 A i caga Native American - M
36 Ho i'tan in ku Native American - M
37 Ce tan' Hunka' Native American - M
38 Can Ka hda Native American - M
39 Hda' hin hde Native American - M
40 Oyate Ta Wa Native American - M
41 Mahu we hi Native American - M
42 Wa Kin' yan na Native American - M
43 John Campbell Multiracial - May 3, 1865 Blue Earth Murder of Andrew Jewitt
44 Medicine Bottle Native American - M November 11, 1865 Hennepin Murder, accessory to murder, or kidnapping related to involvement in the Dakota War of 1862
45 Shakopee III Native American 54 M
46 Andreas Roesch White - M March 6, 1868 Nicollet Murder
47 John Waisenen White - M August 28, 1885 St. Louis Robbery and murder
48 Nels Olsom Holong White 30 M April 13, 1888 Otter Tail Rape, murder, and mutilation of a young woman
49 John Lee White - M February 15, 1889 Douglas Murder
50 Timothy Barrett White - M March 22, 1889 Hennepin Robbery and murder
51 Peter Barrett White 17 M
52 Albert Bulow White 28 M July 19, 1889 Morrison Robbery and murder
53 Thomas Brown White 24 M September 20, 1889 Clay Murder
54 William Brooker White - M June 27, 1890 Pine Murder
55 William Rose White - M January 17, 1891 Redwood Murder
56 Adelbert Goheen White 20 M January 23, 1891 Otter Tail Murder
57 Charles Ermisch White 19 M January 19, 1894 Ramsey Robbery and murder
58 Otto Wonigkeit White 19 M January 19, 1894 Ramsey Robbery and murder
59 Harry T. Hayward White 29 M December 11, 1895 Chisago Murder of Katherine "Kitty" Ging
60 John Pryde White - M July 23, 1896 Hennepin Robbery and murder
61 George Kelly White 32 M March 23, 1897 Crow Wing Murder of Dr. Foster
62 John Moshik White 25 M March 18, 1898 Hennepin Robbery and murder
63 Joseph Ott White - M October 20, 1898 Yellow Medicine Murder
64 Franz Wallert White - M March 29, 1901 Sibley Murder
65 Andrew Tapper White 35 M February 18, 1902 Carver Murder
66 Charles Henderson Black - M March 6, 1903 St. Louis Murder
67 Ole Oleson White - M March 20, 1903 Aitkin Murder
68 William Chounard White - M August 30, 1904 St. Louis Murder
69 Claud Crawford White - M December 5, 1905 Aitkin Robbery and murder
70 William Williams White 27 M February 13, 1906 Ramsey Murder of John Keller and Keller's mother Mary

Notes

  1. Kelly also confessed to the murders of Edward Paul and Jacob Hayes, which took place in Wyoming. He was executed for the Minnesota-based murder of Dr. Foster.

See also

References

  1. "Governor Walz makes historic apology for 1862 mass hanging in Mankato". ICT News. Indian Country Today. January 7, 2020. Archived from the original on 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  2. Bessler, John (March 2004). "The Botched Hanging of William Williams: How Too Much Rope and Minnesota's Newspapers Brought an End to the Death Penalty in Minnesota". University of Baltimore School of Law Journal – via ScholarWorks.
  3. ^ Bessler, John D. (1996). "The "Midnight Assassination Law" and Minnesota's Anti-Death Penalty Movement, 1849–1911". William Mitchell Law Review. 22 (2): 577–730.
  4. "Minnesota: History of the Death Penalty". Death Penalty Information Center. Archived from the original on 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  5. Cartwright, R. L. (2023-01-30). "Execution of William Williams". MNopedia. Archived from the original on 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  6. "Minnesota Executions". Before the Needles. Archived from the original on 2009-08-01. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  7. "Minnesota: History of the Death Penalty". Death Penalty Information Center. Archived from the original on 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  8. "The Trials & Hanging". The US-Dakota War of 1862. Archived from the original on 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  9. "Stern Justice Dealt Out to Murderer George Kelly. Hanged at Center City Shortly After Midnight". The Saint Paul Globe. 1897-03-23. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08 – via Newspapers.com.
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