2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
Archive of 13 letters written to then Governor of New York Theodore Roosevelt pleading for him to pardon Martha Place and prevent her execution in the electric chair. Mirth Place was the first women in the United States to die by the electric chair. Place was convicted of murder in February 1899 for killing her stepdaughter. She was sentenced to death on March 20th, 1899. These 13 letters, written by supporters of Martha, plead with Governor Roosevelt to pardon Martha, and prevent her execution, which he did not. Martha Place was put to death via the electric chair on April 8th, 1899. The letters date from February and March 1899. All were strangers and did not know Martha personally, but ALL were against the death penalty, especially executing a Women via the electric chair. Some excerpts from the letters read “In the Holy name of God and woman, I beg you to spare Mrs. Place’s life. If you put woman to death you will degrade her whole sex. Men and women are not equal and when you think you are punishing the equally for possibly the same crime you make the women’s punishment far greater”........Another states “I plead for a pardon of Martha Place”....”Place should be saved from the electric chair”.....The letters go on and on, pleading for her life and begging future President Roosevelt to let her live! An extraordinary archive.
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