The Anatomy of an Execution: John Deering Case of 1938.
John Deering was given a death sentence in Utah in 1938. He requested to be shot rather than being hanged, and his execution was something strange, and was planned as a medical operation. He was firmly tied in a wooden chair to prevent movement. One of the doctors wrote his name on his chest, and created a circle around the heart and a small target in the center to be shot. There were five men standing about 20 feet distant. The warden loaded four of the rifles in the secret with live bullets and one with a blank. This would ensure that every shooter was not aware of whether he had shot the fatal shot. On the signal the rifles opened fire. The heart was struck with four bullets and Deering passed away nearly at a single instant. This demonstrates how the old West justice was precise planned and scientific.
