Kansas Charlie’s Day of Execution

A Fine Suit of Clothes At Last

Sep 24, 2006 Mary Trotter Kion

Kansas Charley is executed. He is given a new suit of clothes to wear. Now he can die in style.

Kansas Charley, as his day of execution quickly approached, now dined upon restaurant food. Newspapermen were nearly constant visitors to the Laramie County jail, scribbling down Charlie's every word. But Charley, though he was generous with his talk, requested from each visitor of the press either cigarettes, doughnuts, or "two bits" in exchange for an interview.

Charlie's Final Days

In those last days of his life, Kansas Charley wrote out a narrative of his life, as well as penning several "sentimental poems and songs."

When he realized his time "was getting pretty close now" he knew he had no need for the money he had collected from visitors. True to his generous nature, such as when many months ago he had given away two pieces of pie that he well could have eaten himself, Charley began giving away his small collection of coins to those he felt could use them.

It is said that Charley Miller "got religion" in those final days. The day before he was hanged he said: "I feel that my sins are forgiven in heaven, and that I can die game."

All Dressed Up to Die

April 22, 1892, the day that Kansas Charley was to die, finally arrived. For the fatal event he was provided with a new pair of shoes. He was also given a dark-blue shirt and a black tie. Best of all, perhaps, of his new attire was a "cutaway suit jacket." At long last, Kansas Charley could dress in style, just as he had always wanted to do.

At last Sheriff Kelley came to lead Charley Miller from his cell and to the scaffold. Charley had, while in jail, converted to Catholicism, and now walked arm-in-arm with Father McCormack to the platform.

Upon the platform the noose was placed around Charlie's neck. A black hood was settled over his face. And then-Charley Miller, the Boy Murderer who called himself Kansas Charley, was hanged. Of all the spectators who witnessed Charlie's last moment neither his sister Carey nor his brothers Frank or Willie had come to be with their brother-all that were left of the family Kansas Charley had so loved.

Previous: Kansas Charley A Legal Victim: Hired Texas Killers Go Free.

Sources:

Brumberg, Joan Jacobs. Kansas Charley. Viking Penguin, London, England, 2003.

Tanner, Ogden. The Ranchers: The Old West. Time-Life Books, Alexandria, Virginia, 1977.

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