Executed today in 1934: Anna Antonio, a convicted murderer. At 85 pounds, possibly the smallest person to ever get fried in the electric chair. There’s a good chance she was innocent, and on top of everything else they put her to death on her daughter’s birthday.
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The Charley Project Blog 
Where do you find these people Meaghan? You seem to find some very offbeat people to chronicle. By chance though, do you read one of the New York papers? I get two every week, can’t remember if it is the Post or the News but one does a Justice File every week and I swear this lady was profiled a month or two ago.
I think I first heard of Anna Antonio from a book I read about women who were executed.
I don’t really “read” any papers in the sense of cover to cover. I just look for articles on specific topics.
Then you’d love the justice files. Both those papers have essentially the same stories in different order and then food/entertainment inserts. I love the Justice Files. It is usually a NY case, and most dating a long way back. I buy the one for the gossip and the JF.
just wondering…in 1934 how long was the inmate on death row?? For sure, not 20 years like they are now……how much evidence was needed? Seems like there would be a chance of this woman being not guilty.
Not very long. Often less than a year.
Theoretically, the standard of evidence was the same as now: beyond a reasonable doubt. But I think a lot more innocent people were convicted back then, and not just because we have more science and stuff to make sure we have the right person. It was typical for juries to deliberate for less than an hour before making their decision.
But there are plenty of innocent people today who get executed. Try Googling “Cameron Willingham.”