Stockley's Execution
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Historian's Note
By Susan L. Conklin, County Historian
Stockley's Execution
Crime may not pay for the criminal but it certainly helps with the selling of newspapers and boosting television ratings. On Monday, June 11, 2001 Timothy McVeigh was executed by chemical injection and was the first federal prisoner executed in 38 years. McVeigh's crime of blowing up the Oklahoma City, Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995 killed 168 victims and his execution was the topic in the news media for months. The actual death by lethal injection as described in the newspaper was peaceful according to the 10 media witnesses. Peaceful was not how the last execution in this County was reported.
Andrew Jackson McWain and his partner Gerrit Smith Griswold purchased the Daily News on August 15, 1881, only four days before the last execution in Genesee County. The newspaper's circulation was 520 when the partnership began and the approaching demise of young Charles Stockley began to boost sales. According to McWain " The News was then an evening paper, selling at 2 cents a copy. The first week we had the paper was a lively one, for the last legal hanging in Genesee County took place on Friday. Gerrit wanted to report the execution and so did I and we agreed to "draw cuts" to determine who should have the assignment. But when the hour drew near, Gerrit graciously yielded the distinction to me, and I witnessed the passing of Charles Stockley. In the jail-yard I wished that I had been the gracious one and let Gerrit do the work, for it was by no means a pleasing task."
The hanging was set for 11:00 a.m. and unfortunately for Stockley, he was not pronounced dead until 11:23 a.m. Imagine McWain standing with the other selected witnesses waiting 23 minutes as Stockley died as a result of strangulation. Ironically, Stockely was quoted as saying to the Deputy Sheriff, who kept him company during his last two hours, "I ain't afraid to die, but I don't like to go in this way." He was fearful that his death would be caused by strangulation and that his neck would not be broken. Stockley was executed for deliberately shooting and killing John Welker a farmer from Batavia. McWain reported: " Justice has been swift and sure in the case of Charles Stockley. Within four months he committed the greatest crime known to the law, had a fair and impartial trial, was convicted and sentenced, and today his life has paid the penalty of the transgression. It may be that some people will be found who will say that the punishment was too severe, but all who think justice best subserved by the infliction of the death penalty will look upon the final act as the highest exemplification of the majesty of the law."
The Daily News printed 2,800 extra papers which was six times its normal press run on the day of the execution. McWain observed in an interview years later that " the first week's news of the Stockley case embracing futile efforts to have him declared insane, increased the circulation of The News, which has been doing pretty well ever since."
[If you would like to read additional information about Charles Stockley or the other six men executed in Genesee County, please do not hesitate to visit the History Department.]
