Current Date: 28 Aug, 2025
{{entry.title}}

The youngest person executed, George Stinney Jr was proven innocent

In 1944, George Stinney Jr. was 14 years old when he was executed in South Carolina. It took only ten minutes to convict him — and 70 years to exonerate him.

George Stinney Jr., an African-American 14-year-old, was the youngest person in the United States to be executed in the electric chair. In the midst of the Jim Crow era, he was executed in the Deep South in 1944.

Youngest person ever executed George Stinney Jr 1
Photo Credit: South Carolina Department of Archives and History

George Stinney Jr. grew up in the segregated mill town of Alcolu, South Carolina, where railroad tracks separated white and black residents. Stinney’s family resided in a run-down business house until the young kid was suspected of murdering two white girls and was forced to flee.

It took a jury of white men 10 minutes to find Stinney guilty — and it would take 70 years before Stinney was exonerated.

The Murder Of Betty June Binnicker And Mary Emma Thames

Youngest person ever executed George Stinney Jr 2
Mary Emma Thames (left) is pictured with her family in 1943. Thames and her friend Betty June Binnicker were murdered the following year. Photo Credit: File/Reuters

Betty June Binnicker, 11, and Mary Emma Thames, 7, were exploring for flowers on their bicycles in Alcolu in March 1944. During their quest, they came across Stinney and his younger sister Aime and inquired if they knew where they might obtain maypops, the yellow delicious fruit of passionflowers.

According to reports, that was the last time the girls were seen alive.

Binnicker and Thames, both white, did not return home that day. Hundreds of Alcolu villagers, including Stinney’s father, banded together to hunt for the missing girls after they vanished. Their bodies were not discovered in a muddy ditch until the following day.

There was no evident trace of a struggle when Dr. Asbury Cecil Bozard inspected their bodies, but both girls had died terrible deaths including multiple skull trauma.

Thames had a two-inch-long cut above her right eyebrow, as well as a hole boring straight through her forehead into her skull. Binnicker, meantime, had taken at least seven hits to the head. The rear of her head was later described as “nothing but a mess of smashed bones.”

Binnicker and Thames had wounds made by a “round device roughly the size of the head of a hammer,” according to Bozard.

A rumor circulated in town that the girls had stopped at the home of a prominent white family on the day they were murdered, but this was never proven. And the cops didn’t appear to be on the lookout for a white killer.

Officers from Clarendon County responded to Stinney’s residence after receiving information from a witness that Binnicker and Thames had been spotted chatting to him. George Stinney Jr. was immediately handcuffed and interrogated in a small room for hours without the presence of his parents, a counsel, or any witnesses.

A Two-Hour Trial

Youngest person ever executed George Stinney Jr 3
George Stinney Jr.’s fingerprints are pictured on this certificate. Photo credit: South Carolina Department of Archives and History

H.S., a police officer, “I arrested a boy by the name of George Stinney,” Newman stated in a handwritten statement. He then made a confession and told me where to find a 15-inch-long piece of iron. He said he dumped it around six feet away from the bicycle in a ditch.”

As reports of a lynching grew across the village, Newman refused to identify where Stinney was being held. As his trial drew nearer, not even his parents knew where he was. At the time, 14 was thought to be the age of responsibility, and Stinney was suspected of murder.

George Stinney Jr.’s trial began about a month after the girls’ deaths in a Clarendon County courthouse. Charles Plowden, a court-appointed attorney, did “little to nothing” to defend his client.

During the two-hour trial, Plowden failed to summon witnesses to the stand or provide any evidence that might cast doubt on the prosecution’s case. Stinney’s supposed confession was the most important piece of evidence brought against him, however there was no written record of the kid admitting to the murders.

Stinney hadn’t seen his parents in weeks by the time of his trial, and they were frightened of being attacked by a white crowd if they came to the courthouse. As a result, the 14-year-old was surrounded by strangers – possibly as many as 1,500.

The all-white jury found Stinney guilty of murder after less than 10 minutes of deliberation, with no recommendation for compassion.

The teen was condemned to death by execution on April 24, 1944.

Similar Stories
Before Radar: How Giant Acoustic Mirrors Detected Enemy Aircraft in WWI and WWII

Before Radar: How Giant Acoustic Mirrors Detected Enemy Aircraft in WWI and WWII

Long before radar revolutionized air defense, enormous acoustic mirrors and specialized sound locators stood as the first line of defense against enemy aircraft. Designed as giant “ears,” these structures amplified distant engine noises, allowing operators to detect incoming planes by sound alone. Dive into the intriguing world of these pioneering listening devices, their operation, limitations, and enduring legacy in military history.

Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt

Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt

When Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs first opened in 1916, the owner hired people to dress as doctors and eat hot dogs outside his shop, to convince people his hot dogs were healthy.

Medals of Friendship: The Enduring Olympic Story of 1936

Medals of Friendship: The Enduring Olympic Story of 1936

At the 1936 Summer Olympics, two Japanese pole vaulters named Sueo Oe and Shuhei Nishida tied for second, but they declined to compete against each other. As a result, Nishida was awarded the silver medal and Oe won a bronze medal. Upon returning to Japan, the athletes had their medals cut in half and spliced together to create new "friendship medals," which were half silver and half bronze.

Quaker Oats Fed Children with Radioactive Oatmeal

Quaker Oats Fed Children with Radioactive Oatmeal

In the 1940s and 1950s, Quaker Oats and MIT conducted experiments on radioactive iron and calcium-containing cereal. The diet was part of a study to see if the nutrients in Quaker oatmeal traveled throughout the body. In January 1998, a $1.85 million settlement was reached for 30 victims who came forward.

How a Total Lunar Eclipse Saved Christopher Columbus in 1504

How a Total Lunar Eclipse Saved Christopher Columbus in 1504

In 1504, Christopher Columbus was stranded in Jamaica with natives who refused to give him food. But he knew the date and time of an upcoming lunar eclipse. So he told the natives that his gods were angry at their treatment of him, and would provide a clear sign. Once the eclipse started, the natives raced to give him food and begged for mercy.

The Assassination Of King Alexander

The Assassination Of King Alexander

The assassination of King Alexander of Yugoslavia marked a pivotal moment in the country's history. This article delves into the rise and reign of King Alexander, exploring his early life and ascension to the throne. It also examines the political and social climate in interwar Yugoslavia, setting the stage for the tensions and challenges that ultimately culminated in his tragic assassination. By understanding the context in which this event unfolded, we can better grasp the significance and impact it had on the nation and its future.

how Ferris wheel invented

how Ferris wheel invented

In 1891, Chicago challenged engineers to create a structure to surpass the Eiffel Tower for the World's Columbian Exposition. George Washington Gale Ferris jr. responded with the original Ferris Wheel, a giant rotating structure elevating visitors above the city. This invention became an iconic attraction at the fair.

How 18th Century Women’s Rights Movements Shaped Modern Equality

How 18th Century Women’s Rights Movements Shaped Modern Equality

The 18th century marked a turning point in the quest for women’s rights, as passionate voices challenged centuries of gender inequality and laid the groundwork for modern feminism. From pioneers like Mary Wollstonecraft to revolutionary declarations and early advocacy, this era sparked debates on education, political participation, and social justice that continue to resonate today. Journey through the origins of women’s rights movements and discover how their bold ideas shaped the fight for equality.