Regarding: > Subject: Skeletons in the closet > From: Mary McIndoe <[email protected]> .... > Here's one of the more bizarre online databases I've come across recently: > http://users.bestweb.net/~rg/execution/PENNSYLVANIA.htm During the 270 years of Pennsylvania executions recorded here, there were an average of 3.85 per year. The statistics always interest me and I found that numerous crimes were considered capital crimes in the early years. Counterfeiting, housebreaking, burglary, robbery and rape all qualified in the good old days. Since 1900, none were ever executed unless murder was involved. (except Wm Evans in 1917 where no information was given). The crime of treason lead to only 4 hangings, 2 in 1778 and 2 in 1780. The most unusual entry was the 1788 charge of guerilla activity against the Doan brothers. I examined the ratios of blacks to whites. males to females, and Chester county versus other counties. Of the more than 900 murders listed, over 200 were attributed to black males and 7 to black females. All together there were 27 females executed; but only 3 since 1900. The last two were electrocuted in 1946. Three native Americans were listed, by the way. Chester county boasts of only 24 capital crimes, while Philadelphia county had 246. Actually, that rate probably places Chester well ahead of our neighbors in the City of Brotherly Love. Chester had around 400,000 in 1999 versus 1.6 million in Philadelphia county. I'll change that Chester county boast to lament. Thanks, Mary, for an interesting link. Clay