Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: Michael Clarence Lindsey - Alabama Execution - May 26, 1989

  1. #1
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217

    Michael Clarence Lindsey - Alabama Execution - May 26, 1989

    Summary of Offense: Convicted of the 1981 murder of a widow and stealing her Christmas presents

    Victim: Rosemary Zimlich Rutland

    Time of Death: 12:10 a.m.

    Manner of execution: Electric Chair

    Last Meal:

    Final Statement: Mr. Lindsey stared at Warden Charlie Jones as the death warrant was read. Asked whether he wanted to say anything, Mr. Lindsey shook his head.

  2. #2
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    May 27, 1989

    Alabama Executes Man in Death of a Widow

    ATMORE, Ala., May 26 — A man convicted of killing a widow and stealing her Christmas presents was executed in Alabama's electric chair early today after the United States Supreme Court denied his appeal.

    Michael Lindsey, 28 years old, was the fourth person executed in Alabama and the 111th in the nation since the 1976 Supreme Court ruling allowing states to resume capital punishment.

    Mr. Lindsey stared at Warden Charlie Jones as the death warrant was read. Asked whether he wanted to say anything, Mr. Lindsey shook his head.

    He was declared dead at 12:10 A.M., prison officials said. The high court rejected Mr. Lindsey's appeal Thursday despite dissents by Justices William J. Brennan Jr. and Thurgood Marshall, a court spokeswoman, Toni House, said. Both Justices oppose capital punishment.

    Mr. Lindsey had no reaction to the Court's decision, a Holman Prison spokesman, John Hale, said. Governor Refuses Clemency

    Earlier, Gov. Guy Hunt refused to grant clemency.

    ''The Governor declines to alter the decision of the jury and the courts,'' said Stacey Rimer, Mr. Hunt's assistant press secretary. Mr. Lindsey was convicted in the stabbing and shooting death of Rosemary Zimlich Rutland, 64, on Dec. 14, 1981, in Mobile.

    She was bound, gagged, stabbed and shot, and Christmas presents were taken from her home. Police investigators said Mr. Lindsey was captured at a shopping mall using the victim's credit cards.

    Mr. Lindsey lived in a rental house directly behind Mrs. Rutland's home.

    District Attorney Chris Galanos of Mobile County maintained that Mr. Lindsey killed the woman because she recognized him.

    On Wednesday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit found no merit in Mr. Lindsey's request for a stay, according to court spokesman, Matt Davidson.

    The Governor's legal adviser, Bill Wasden, said before Mr. Hunt's decision that clemency could be granted only if there were ''evidence that was not presented at the trial that was so overwhelming as to preclude every other possibility but innocence.''

    Alabama's last electrocution was Aug. 28, 1987, when Wayne Eugene Ritter was put to death for his role in the robbery and killing of a Mobile pawn shop owner.

    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...xecuted&st=cse

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •