The Last Judicial Hanging in The United States

 

Billy Bailey was born in 1946, the ninth of 23 children, in South Carolina, where they lived in poverty. When he grew up, he developed an alcohol addiction and had a filthy temper. Bailey also got in trouble with the law on numerous occasions, committing six felonies ranging from grand larceny to burglary.

In 1979, in Delaware, after being placed in a work release facility, Billy Bailey learned he faced a potential 45-year sentence for his most recent string of crimes. After attempting to kill himself with a knife only to be stopped by his brother-in-law, Bailey asked him to stop at a liquor store. There, he robbed the clerk before knocking her down and attempting to shoot her, but thankfully, the gun jammed. He fled the scene, being dropped off by his brother-in-law at Lambertson’s Corner.

There, Billy Bailey entered a farmhouse and stole a shotgun. The elderly couple inside were then slaughtered by Bailey, the man being shot twice in the chest and once in the head with the pistol and the woman being shot in the abdomen with their shotgun. As authorities descended on the suspect, he fired his pistol at a police helicopter, attempting to hit the pilot. He was apprehended shortly later.

After a trial, Billy Bailey was found guilty of two counts of First-degree murder. The jury found the murders “were outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible, or inhuman” and recommended the death penalty. At that time, the condemned had the option to choose hanging as their execution method as opposed to lethal injection. Bailey told a visitor in prison that, “I’m not going to let them put me to sleep.” Therefore, the judge sentenced Billy Bailey to be hanged by his neck until dead.

On January 25, 1996, Billy Bailey was led to the gallows after having been weighed the previous day, that way the drop could be calculated. The noose was placed around his neck, and he was asked if he had any last words. “No, sir.” he simply replied. The door sprung open and Bailey hanged. He was declared dead about 9 minutes later.