When someone is executed, there are two things people almost always want to know: what was their last meal, and what were their final words.

Sometimes the condemned have no final words at all. Sometimes they give long speeches. Sometimes they put on a show of repentance, regret, and sorrow for what they’ve done.

And sometimes, very rarely, they say something that delivers a roundhouse kick straight to the face of justice.

Check out this book!

https://www.amazon.com/Grit-Based-Bloody-Breathitt-Story/dp/B0FLKDX2ZB

Sources:

The Courier Journal: 7/10/1938,

The Lexington Herald: 7/12/1938, 7/13/1938, 7/14/1938, 8/19/1938, 8/20/1938, 7/23/1939, 7/29/1939, 8/27/1939, 12/9/1939, 10/31/1940,

Lexington Herald-Leader: 7/15/1938, 7/30/1938, 8/18/1938, 8/19/1938, 4/25/1939, 7/21/1939, 7/26/1939, 10/31/1940

The Winchester Sun: 7/12/1938, 7/13/1938, 7/14/1938, 8/12/1938, 8/16/1938, 8/25/1938, 8/27/1938, 7/21/1939, 7/22/1939, 7/24/1939, 12/8/1939, 12/9/1939,

Hazard Herald: 7/14/1938, 7/21/1938, 7/28/1938, 8/18/1938, 8/25/1938, 9/1/1938, 4/27/1939, 6/22/1939, 7/20/1939

The Hazard Plaindealer: 7/20/1939,

The Arizona Republic 1/11/1985

Davis v Commonwealth 1939 https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/5914cc0dadd7b0493480746f

Shelton v Commonwealth 1939 https://www.studicata.com/summaries/court-of-appeals-of-kentucky/shelton-v-commonwealth-1939-lxwmpo/

Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83861423/abram_b-combs

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25040826/isaac-j-shelton

In the early 1980s, a man committed the unthinkable and set his life on a path to ruin. Years later, he claimed he had changed. But was he really reformed, or just manipulating the narrative?
Joining us is retired KSP Captain Jennifer Sandlin, with 23 years of experience in the Kentucky State Police and a graduate of the FBI National Academy, bringing real-world expertise and perspective to the story.

Check out Grit: Based on a Bloody Breathitt Story

Lexington Herald Leader: 1/18/80, 1/19/80, 1/23/80, 3/17/81, 3/24/81, 3/25/81, 3/27/81, 3/28/82, 3/29/81, 3/30/81, 4/21/81, 4/29/81, 4/27/92, 4/11/93, 1/12/95,1/22/96, 11/5/96, 12/18/96, 5/22/97, 6/2/97, 6/8/97, 6/10/97, 6/12/97, 6/13/97, 6/18/97, 6/20/97, 6/24/97, 6/25/97, 6/26/97, 6/28/97,7/1/97, 7/2/97

Courier Journal:1/19/80, 1/20/80, 3/26/81, 10/2/87, 10/3/87, 10/10/87, 10/12/87, 6/10/87, 2/17/84, 5/7/84, 6/29/84, 9/9/84, 9/25/85, 9/26/85, 5/19/87, 5/22/87, 6/10/87, 2/29/93, 4/6/93, 12/31/95, 5/5/97, 5/20/97, 5/31/97, 6/3/97, 6/5/97, 6/6/97, 6/11/97, 6/12/97, 6/18/97, 6/19/97, 6/21/97, 6/22/97, 6/24/97, 6/25/97, 6/26/97, 6/28/97, 6/29/97, 6/30/97

The Central Record:1/24/80, 2/7/80, 2/21/80, 5/15/81, 1/29/81, 2/5/81, 3/19/81, 3/24/81, 3/26/81, 4/2/81, 7/17/80,7/10/97

New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/02/us/execution-in-kentucky-is-state-s-first-since-1962.html

McQueen V Scroggy 1996: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/99/1302/639773/

McQueen V Commonwealth 1997

https://law.justia.com/cases/kentucky/supreme-court/1997/97-sc-507-mr-1.html

McQueen V Parker 1997

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ky-supreme-court/1215379.html

It Could Happen to You: The Harold McQueen Story parts 1 & 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrO9XLjOJtc

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_McQueen_Jr.

WHAS: https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/kentucky-has-not-executed-anyone-in-10-years-heres-why/417-616648716

Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30051641/harold-mcqueen

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109148304/rebecca_bryan-o'hearn

Most people accused of a capital offense lawyer up and go silent. This is the story of a man accused of dumping his mistress in a Lexington, Kentucky pond...who just couldn’t stop talking to the press.

Check out Kentucky author Tashia L. Fugate!https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Aconite-Prophecy-Blood-Flowers/dp/1509258027#:~:text=Tashia%20L.%20Fugate%20lives%20in,of%20Blood%20and%20Flowers%20series.

Sources:

Lexington Herald Leader: 3/10/1903, 3/11/1903, 3/12/1903, 3/15/1903, 3/16/1903, 3/17/1903, 3/18/1903, 3/20/1903, 3/27/1903, 3/28/1903, 3/30/1903, 3/31/1903, 5/8/1903, 5/20/1903, 5/24/1903, 6/12/1903, 6/22/1903, 7/7/1903, 7/20/1903, 10/23/1903, 12/2/1903, 12/6/1903, 12/21/1903, 3/8/1904,3/9/1904,3/10/1904, 3/11/1904, 3/12/1904, 3/13/1904, 3/14/1904, 3/16/1904, 3/25/1904, 3/26/1904, 5/24/1904, 5/25/1904, 5/27/1904, 6/14/1904, 6/15/1904, 7/17/1904, 10/27/1904, 12/2/1904, 12/4/1904, 12/5/1904, 12/9/1904, 12/15/1904, 12/18/1904, 12/29/1904, 1/4/1905, 1/5/1905, 1/9/1905, 1/10/1905, 1/11/1905, 1/12/1905, 1/13/1905, 1/22/1905, 9/9/1914

The Lexington Herald: 3/3/1903, 3/12/1903, 3/13/1903, 3/14/1903, 3/15/1903, 3/17/1903, 3/18/1903, 3/29/1903, 4/1/1903, 4/2/1903, 4/3/1903, 4/5/1903, 4/7/1903, 4/10/1903, 5/20/1903, 5/21/1903, 5/24/1903, 5/25/1903, 5/27/2903, 5/29/1903, 6/9/1903, 6/23/1903, 6/25/1903, 6/29/1903, 7/8/1903, 7/21/1903, 7/24/1903, 3/1/1904, 3/9/1904, 3/15/1904, 3/16/1904, 3/20/1904, 5/8/1904, 5/24/1904, 7/17/04, 7/25/1904, 11/2/1904, 12/7/1904, 12/11/1904, 12/19/1904, 12/21/1904, 12/25/1904, 12/29/1904, 12/30/1904, 1/3/1905, 1/8/1905, 1/13/1905, 1/14/1905, 1/15/1905, 1/10/1914

The Kentucky Post: 3/11/1903

Courier Journal: 3/11/1903, 3/12/1903, 3/13/1903, 3/16/1903, 3/19/1903, 3/23/1903, 3/29/1903, 3/31/1903, 4/1/1903, 4/11/1903, 5/21/1903, 9/20/1903, 6/18/1904, 7/19/1904, 10/28/1904

Bess V Commonwealth 1903 https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/bess-v-commonwealth-902345880

Bess V commonwealth 1904 https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/bess-v-commonwealth-902342387

Find a grave

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159409453/james_william-bess

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100748694/martha-martin

United States Census Records 1900, 1910, 1920, 1950

United States Vital Records Lexington Children’s Home School Records 1901-1902