George Junius Stenny Jr. was born October 21, 1929 and was Americas first child to be executed in the electric chair on June 16, 1944.
As you can see by his picture, George was a small child even at age 14, barely standing at 5’1 and weighing less than 100 pounds. He was accused of murdering two white children, 11-year-old Betty June Binnicker, and 8-year-old Mary Emma Thames.
On March 23, 1944 the girls were outside riding their bikes looking for a type of flowering fruit called “maypops.” They were last seen by George and his sister who were sitting near some railroad tracks, the girls asked them where they could find the “maypops.”
When the parents reported them missing, George told the investigators about their visit that day. George even joined the search for the missing girls. On March 24, 1944 the missing girls were found with their skulls crushed, one girl may have been sexually assaulted. The blame immediately fell on George.
In a matter of hours the corrupt and racist police department tricked George into a verbal confession. There was a trial which lasted all of two?hours, with no documentation of the proceedings, and no signed confession of his guilt. His sister was not a witness because his family had to flee town out of fear of being lynched by the mob. George was all alone and he was convicted of first degree murder by an all-white jury from that town. Sadly that was probably not Americas first trisl to be done in such a fashion.
At his execution they had to pile books underneath the boy because he was too small to reach the electric helmet. His head was also too small for the helmet itself. His body was mutilated beyond recognition following his electrocution. When many people talk about their opposition to the death penalty they refer to this case. George Junius Stenny Jr. was 14 years old and his blood is still on Americas hands.
This video tells the story of his wrongful conviction and execution by the state of South Carolina?–?Americas first child to be executed and hopefully its last. Please share and join the fight and ask President Obama to pardon this young man.
