James Autry
James Autry | |
---|---|
Executed | |
Conviction(s) | Capital murder |
Criminal penalty | Death |
James David Autry (September 27, 1954 – March 14, 1984[1]) was a convicted murderer in the U.S. state of Texas, executed by lethal injection.[2]
Autry, a native of
On October 4, 1983, he had been strapped in the gurney in the execution chamber, with the needles in his arms, when a stay of execution came through.[4][5] He would later be executed on March 14, 1984, in the second execution in Texas since the reintroduction of the death penalty in the state after Gregg v. Georgia.[5]
He declined to make a
Autry was known as "Cowboy" on death row. As to lethal injection he said "it ain't manly" and said he would prefer to be hanged or beheaded. He also said he preferred execution to life in prison. He petitioned the Texas Board of Corrections to have his execution televised, arguing that the execution is not "real" to the people unless they see it. The request was refused.[7]
He is buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery.
See also
- Capital punishment in Texas
- Capital punishment in the United States
- List of people executed in Texas, 1982–1989
References
- ^ a b c "James Autry Offender information." Archived 2005-11-01 at the Wayback Machine Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
- ^ Nichols, Bruce (March 14, 1984). "Killer dies smiling". United Press International. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
- ^ "Texas Executes Convicted Killer Who Won Late Reprieve In 1983". The New York Times. March 14, 1984. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
- ^ "When someone is executed by lethal injection, do they swab off the arm first?"Archived 2008-05-26 at the Wayback Machine The Straight Dope.
- ^ a b Taylor, Paul (March 14, 1984). "Texas Murderer Is Executed by Injection". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ Final Meal Requests at the Wayback Machine (archived December 2, 2003). Texas Department of Criminal Justice (September 12, 2003). Archived from the original on December 2, 2003. Retrieved on November 17, 2007.
- ISBN 0-8065-1184-2.