electrocutions. Secondly, the method of choice is currently lethal injection. In response to those who fondly quote the eighth amendment, the Constitution actually makes reference to the death penalty not one, but twice. The first occurrence is in the fifth amendment of the Bill of Rights, which says that, “no person shall be held to answer for a capital...crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury... nor be deprived of life... without due process of law” (Stewart 21). In other words, the Constitution is specifying that the death penalty may be used, but warns that there are certain stipulations that must first be met. The second mentioning is in the Fourteenth Amendment which says states shall not, “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process” (Stewart 22). Once again, the same law regarding the death penalty is passed on to the states. In either case, the constitution is permitting the death penalty, but stating that there must be a due process in which the verdict is made.The death penalty was legalized in Texas in 1923. It was instituted as an alternative to lynching and county level executions. Since Texas was a rather prejudice state, lynching were common after the abolition of slavery. After the death penalty was instituted, the number of lynchings was significantly reduced (Bright 1). The new capital punishment statute took effect the morning of February 8, 1924. At 12:09 A.M. Charles Reynolds walked through the door to the electrocution chair, was strapped in by the guards, and because the first man executed in the state of Texas. Reynolds was pronounced dead at 12:16 after three jolts of electricity. After Reynolds, there was a quick succession of inmates sentenced to die that night. Ewell Morris, George Washington, and Mack Mathews followed, and Melvin Johnson was granted a one hour stay of execution. He receive no further reprieves, however, and was pronounc...
