Joseph Francel Explained

Joseph Francel
Birth Date:2 September 1895
Birth Place:Soudan, Minnesota, U.S.
Death Place:Cairo, New York, U.S.
Resting Place:Cairo Cemetery
Occupation:Electrician, Executioner
Employer:New York State
Known For:Executions of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
State electrician
Term:1939–1953
Predecessor:Robert G. Elliott
Successor:Dow Hover

Joseph Francel (September 2, 1895 – January 25, 1981)[1] [2] [3] was an American electrician from Cairo, New York, who was the state of New York's executioner from 1939 until 1953.

Life and career

He was a World War I veteran, having served as a sergeant in the United States Army.

His first execution was the triple electrocution of Anton Myslivec, Everett McDonald, and Theodore Maselkiewicz on December 21, 1939, in Sing Sing's death chamber.[4] Among those he executed were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.[5] Like his predecessors, Francel also performed electrocutions in the neighboring states that used the electric chair as method of execution.

After the execution of William Draper, whom he had electrocuted in Sing Sing on July 23, 1953, Francel decided to quit his job.

At the time of his resignation in August 1953, The New York Times reported that Francel was dissatisfied with his pay of $150 per execution, and that he was particularly exasperated about threats to his life.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sgt Joseph P. Francel. October 29, 2020. Find A Grave.
  2. News: The grape-belt and Chautauqua farmer . The Grape Belt and Chautauqua Farmer . 7 August 1953 . 1 . clip 7159288 . newspapers.com.
  3. News: On this day in 1939 Anton Myslevič Theodore Maselkiewicz and Everett McDonald make their exit; executioner Joseph Francel makes his entrance . crimescribe.com . 1939 . 2019-12-21 .
  4. Web site: Executions in New York - 1926-1940. October 29, 2020. DeathPenaltyUSA.
  5. Web site: Jennifer . Gonnerman . January 18, 2005 . The last executioner . . July 17, 2012.
  6. News: August 5, 1953 . State executioner quits; Joseph Francel, in job 14 years, has put 137 to death in chair . . January 2, 2020.