History» Riot (January 2, 1986) » Pierce Jeffries (February 18, 1927) » Riot (March 20, 1973) » Escape (February 20, 1992) » Escape (April 5, 1988) » Escape (November 17, 1988) » Executions (1899-1914) » Executions (1915-1926) » Executions (1927-1937) » Executions (1938-1959) » Wardens » Warden's Letter » Special Correspondence of the Sunday Register Part 2 » Prison Maps » Links » Contact Us » Greenbrier Ghost: The only ghost to testify in a murder trailTicket SalesMoundsville Economic Development Council818 Jefferson AveMoundsville, WV 26041Phone: 304-845-6200Fax: 304-843-4146Harry BurdetteDate Executed: March 26, 1951 Race: White For: MURDER From: Kanawha County How: ELECTROCUTED The first two inmates to sit in the electric chair were Harry Burdette and Fred Painter on March 26, 1951. The men were convicted of stomping a soft drink salesman to death at the corner of Washington and Summers streets in downtown Charleston. Once penitentiary officials got down to business, it took a little more than three minutes' worth of electricity to execute Burdette. |
