UTAH: Tales of the Firing Squad

In Utah one day in 1912, a convicted murderer named J. J. Morris was told he must choose how to die: he could be executed by firing squad, the officers told him, or he could swing by the noose. "Which will cost the State of Utah more?" asked the murderer. "Hanging," came the sepulchral reply. "Hang me," cried J. J. Morris. "I want the best Utah's got."

In Utah one day last week, another brave-talking killer named Don Jesse Neal was led out from Utah State Prison at sunrise to take the second best that Utah could give. He was...

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