The Three Executions
An execution is the carrying out of a sentence of death on a condemned person; the killing of someone as a political act. Execution of criminals and political opponents has been used by nearly all societies—both to punish crime and to suppress political dissent. This paper examines three executions: the execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587, the execution of Joan of Arc in 1431, and the execution of John Wayne Gacy in 1994. In history books, all three executions represent the sentence of death on a condemned person. However, one difference is that the methods of execution, the public perception of execution, and requirements to earn a death sentence have changed dramatically from 1431 to 1994. Mary Queen of Scots was charged with “treason”
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and beheaded. Joan of Arc was charged with “heresy” and burned at the stake (martyred later). Finally, John Wayne Gacy was charged with 33 counts of murder and was put to death by lethal injection. Another difference is how the criteria for an execution to be “humane” has evolved over the last 500 years. Thirdly, the legitimacy and fairness of each trial has transformed from the first execution to the most recent one. Altogether, these three executions show historians revenge is an emotion people throughout history, reluctantly enjoy and executions are society’s ultimate revenge, and people are gradually becoming more civilized and executions are becoming a spectacle of humanity’s less civilized past All three executions were preceded by a trial however, the fairness and legality of each trial transfroms 1431 to 1994. Joan of Arc’s trial of heresy was politically motivated and the ultimate goal of the trial was not to establish justice but rather to discredit Joan. The procedure was illegal on a number of points that would later promote much deserved criticism. To summarize some major problems the low standard of evidence used in the trial also violated inquisitorial rules (Peters 69) No evidence against Joan could be found and without such evidence the court lacked grounds to initiate a trial. Opening a trial anyway, the court also violated the law by denying her the right to a legal adviser. Worse, stacking the jury entirely with pro-English clergy violated the Church's requirement that heresy trials needed to be judged by an impartial or balanced group of clerics. Joan complained that those present were all partisans against her and asked for "ecclesiastics of the French side" to be invited in order to provide balance. This request was denied (Taylor 137). The purpose of Mary Queen of Scots’ trial was similar to Joan of Arcs. Like Joan, Mary complained that the court was not legitimate and argued against the fact that she was not allowed legal defense and was not able to call any witnesses. Mary was also not permitted to examine any of the documents being used against her (“The Trial of Mary”). John Wayne Gacy’s trial was to establish justice. John Gacy was brought to trial on February 6, 1980, charged with 33 murders (“Speedup Sought In Gacy Trial”). He was tried in Cook County, Illinois; the jury was selected from Rockford, Illinois, due to saturation of press coverage in Cook County (Amirante & Broderick 241-242). The prosecution also had sufficient amounts of evidence against Gacy including: bodies found Gacy’s home, DNA, and a verbal confession. Gacy also had access to attorneys unlike Joan or Mary. Gacy’s trial was impartial and he was eventually found guilty on all 33 charges and sentenced to death. Joan of Arc had almost no time before her execution while Gacy remained on death row for 14 years. If Joan of Arc or Mary Queen of Scots existed today their trials would be considered unconstitutional and they would be acquitted of the charges against them. Conclusively, the fairness and legitimacy of the trials preceding the executions range from the unacceptable trials of the innocent Joan of Arc and Mary Queen of Scots to the impartial and fair trial of John Wayne Gacy. Showing historians that human beings are gradually becoming more civilized with the evolution of the justice system and executions. Next, the methods of execution, and requirements to earn a death sentence have changed dramatically from 1431 to 1994. In medieval and early modern Europe, before the development of modern prison systems, the death penalty was also used as a generalized form of punishment. During the reign of Henry VIII, as many as 72,000 people are estimated to have been executed (Reggio). Compared to the 1,389 people who have been executed in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 (Reggio). It is fair to say that trends in most of the world have long been to move to less painful, or more humane executions. In the times of Joan of Arc and Mary Queen of Scots the most popular forms of execution were: beheading, hung, drawn and quartered, and burning at the stake (“Elizabethan Executions”). In 1994, the year of John Wayne Gacy’s execution the gruesome methods of 500 years ago have been replaced by: lethal injection, electrocution and gas chambers (“Executions in the U.S.”). All three of the executions were public. However, in the artifacts that represent the executions as time goes on show a dwindling number of spectators at the execution. It is reported that an estimated 10,000 people attended the brutal execution of Joan of Arc in 1431 (Biography.com). An estimated 500 attended Mary Queen of Scots’ (“The Execution of Mary”). While only an estimated 300 people intended the much more humane execution of John Wayne Gacy (Murderpedia.com). In the artifact associated with Joan of Arc a large crowd is shown in the background. Compared to the John Wayne Gacy photograph where he is the only person in the photograph. The receptions of the three executions also differ from one another Joan of Arc was a hero to the people she represented. She was martyred in 1456 and eventually became a saint in 1920. Mary Queen of Scots’ courage at her execution helped establish her popular image as the heroic victim in a dramatic tragedy (Guy 502). On the execution of John Wayne Gacy prosecuting attorney William Kunkle said, “He got a much easier death than any of his victims,” (Associated Press). Overall over the past 500 years changes in execution methods, the requirements to earn a death penalty and the shift in public perception of executions, show historians that humans with time have become more civil while still using execution as societys ultimate form of revenge. In, 2008, Michael Portillo on the show Horizon laid out the critearia of a humane execution:
➢ Death should be quick and painless to prevent suffering for the person being executed.
➢ Medical education should be provided to the executioner to prevent suffering caused by error
➢ The death should not be gory
➢ No co-operation should be required from the person being executed
Out of the three executions talked about two of them do not live up to the criteria stated above.
First, Joan of Arc had to be burned three times before she died of smoke inhalation because her organs survived the first two burnings reports say she was calm at first but started screaming when the flames rose high (Smith). Joan’s execution violates the quick and painless rule for humane execution along with the gore rule. John Wayne Gacy’s execution was easily the most humane of the three. Except, before the execution began, the chemicals used to perform the execution unexpectedly solidified. Clogging the IV tube that pumped the drugs into Gacy’s system thus complicating the procedure. The clogged tube was replaced and the entire procedure only took about 18 minutes (Seiderman). However Mary Queen of Scots’ execution was by far the most brutal and undignified. Mary was not beheaded with a single strike, the first blow missed her neck and struck her in the back of the head. The second blow severed her neck except for a small bit of tendon, which the executioner cut through using the axe (Fraser 539). Following Elizabethan tradition after the head was severed from the body, the executioner held the head by its hair and showed it to the crowd (“Elizabethan Executions”). When the executioner lifted up Mary’s detached head to show the crowd, it became separated from the wig she had been wearing and her head went rolling. Ultimately, with the universal agreement on basic human rights and an international disgust that is shown to offenders of those rights, executions like Joan of Arc’s and Mary Queen of Scots’ are most likely never going to happen
again. This essay speculates the fairness and methods of execution and from 1431 to 1994. For example, in Elizabethan England it was customary in treason trials that the accused have no legal counsel (“Elizabethan Executions”). So, denying Mary of the right to legal counsel was completely legal. Also, John Wayne Gacy tried to plea guilty by reason of insanity and despite an expert opinion agreeing with the testimony the plea was denied. Was Gacy’s trial also motivated by revenge? Did the United States execute a mentally ill man who was not mentally in control of the unspeakable acts he commited? This paper is also somewhat bias to the innocene of Mary Queen of Scots’ even though it is still debated whether or not she was innocent. If Mary really tried to kill her cousin how could she be considered a hero? Are histrorians trying to make certain people seem more heroic than they actually were to prove a point?
and beheaded. Joan of Arc was charged with “heresy” and burned at the stake (martyred later). Finally, John Wayne Gacy was charged with 33 counts of murder and was put to death by lethal injection. Another difference is how the criteria for an execution to be “humane” has evolved over the last 500 years. Thirdly, the legitimacy and fairness of each trial has transformed from the first execution to the most recent one. Altogether, these three executions show historians revenge is an emotion people throughout history, reluctantly enjoy and executions are society’s ultimate revenge, and people are gradually becoming more civilized and executions are becoming a spectacle of humanity’s less civilized past All three executions were preceded by a trial however, the fairness and legality of each trial transfroms 1431 to 1994. Joan of Arc’s trial of heresy was politically motivated and the ultimate goal of the trial was not to establish justice but rather to discredit Joan. The procedure was illegal on a number of points that would later promote much deserved criticism. To summarize some major problems the low standard of evidence used in the trial also violated inquisitorial rules (Peters 69) No evidence against Joan could be found and without such evidence the court lacked grounds to initiate a trial. Opening a trial anyway, the court also violated the law by denying her the right to a legal adviser. Worse, stacking the jury entirely with pro-English clergy violated the Church's requirement that heresy trials needed to be judged by an impartial or balanced group of clerics. Joan complained that those present were all partisans against her and asked for "ecclesiastics of the French side" to be invited in order to provide balance. This request was denied (Taylor 137). The purpose of Mary Queen of Scots’ trial was similar to Joan of Arcs. Like Joan, Mary complained that the court was not legitimate and argued against the fact that she was not allowed legal defense and was not able to call any witnesses. Mary was also not permitted to examine any of the documents being used against her (“The Trial of Mary”). John Wayne Gacy’s trial was to establish justice. John Gacy was brought to trial on February 6, 1980, charged with 33 murders (“Speedup Sought In Gacy Trial”). He was tried in Cook County, Illinois; the jury was selected from Rockford, Illinois, due to saturation of press coverage in Cook County (Amirante & Broderick 241-242). The prosecution also had sufficient amounts of evidence against Gacy including: bodies found Gacy’s home, DNA, and a verbal confession. Gacy also had access to attorneys unlike Joan or Mary. Gacy’s trial was impartial and he was eventually found guilty on all 33 charges and sentenced to death. Joan of Arc had almost no time before her execution while Gacy remained on death row for 14 years. If Joan of Arc or Mary Queen of Scots existed today their trials would be considered unconstitutional and they would be acquitted of the charges against them. Conclusively, the fairness and legitimacy of the trials preceding the executions range from the unacceptable trials of the innocent Joan of Arc and Mary Queen of Scots to the impartial and fair trial of John Wayne Gacy. Showing historians that human beings are gradually becoming more civilized with the evolution of the justice system and executions. Next, the methods of execution, and requirements to earn a death sentence have changed dramatically from 1431 to 1994. In medieval and early modern Europe, before the development of modern prison systems, the death penalty was also used as a generalized form of punishment. During the reign of Henry VIII, as many as 72,000 people are estimated to have been executed (Reggio). Compared to the 1,389 people who have been executed in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 (Reggio). It is fair to say that trends in most of the world have long been to move to less painful, or more humane executions. In the times of Joan of Arc and Mary Queen of Scots the most popular forms of execution were: beheading, hung, drawn and quartered, and burning at the stake (“Elizabethan Executions”). In 1994, the year of John Wayne Gacy’s execution the gruesome methods of 500 years ago have been replaced by: lethal injection, electrocution and gas chambers (“Executions in the U.S.”). All three of the executions were public. However, in the artifacts that represent the executions as time goes on show a dwindling number of spectators at the execution. It is reported that an estimated 10,000 people attended the brutal execution of Joan of Arc in 1431 (Biography.com). An estimated 500 attended Mary Queen of Scots’ (“The Execution of Mary”). While only an estimated 300 people intended the much more humane execution of John Wayne Gacy (Murderpedia.com). In the artifact associated with Joan of Arc a large crowd is shown in the background. Compared to the John Wayne Gacy photograph where he is the only person in the photograph. The receptions of the three executions also differ from one another Joan of Arc was a hero to the people she represented. She was martyred in 1456 and eventually became a saint in 1920. Mary Queen of Scots’ courage at her execution helped establish her popular image as the heroic victim in a dramatic tragedy (Guy 502). On the execution of John Wayne Gacy prosecuting attorney William Kunkle said, “He got a much easier death than any of his victims,” (Associated Press). Overall over the past 500 years changes in execution methods, the requirements to earn a death penalty and the shift in public perception of executions, show historians that humans with time have become more civil while still using execution as societys ultimate form of revenge. In, 2008, Michael Portillo on the show Horizon laid out the critearia of a humane execution:
➢ Death should be quick and painless to prevent suffering for the person being executed.
➢ Medical education should be provided to the executioner to prevent suffering caused by error
➢ The death should not be gory
➢ No co-operation should be required from the person being executed
Out of the three executions talked about two of them do not live up to the criteria stated above.
First, Joan of Arc had to be burned three times before she died of smoke inhalation because her organs survived the first two burnings reports say she was calm at first but started screaming when the flames rose high (Smith). Joan’s execution violates the quick and painless rule for humane execution along with the gore rule. John Wayne Gacy’s execution was easily the most humane of the three. Except, before the execution began, the chemicals used to perform the execution unexpectedly solidified. Clogging the IV tube that pumped the drugs into Gacy’s system thus complicating the procedure. The clogged tube was replaced and the entire procedure only took about 18 minutes (Seiderman). However Mary Queen of Scots’ execution was by far the most brutal and undignified. Mary was not beheaded with a single strike, the first blow missed her neck and struck her in the back of the head. The second blow severed her neck except for a small bit of tendon, which the executioner cut through using the axe (Fraser 539). Following Elizabethan tradition after the head was severed from the body, the executioner held the head by its hair and showed it to the crowd (“Elizabethan Executions”). When the executioner lifted up Mary’s detached head to show the crowd, it became separated from the wig she had been wearing and her head went rolling. Ultimately, with the universal agreement on basic human rights and an international disgust that is shown to offenders of those rights, executions like Joan of Arc’s and Mary Queen of Scots’ are most likely never going to happen
again. This essay speculates the fairness and methods of execution and from 1431 to 1994. For example, in Elizabethan England it was customary in treason trials that the accused have no legal counsel (“Elizabethan Executions”). So, denying Mary of the right to legal counsel was completely legal. Also, John Wayne Gacy tried to plea guilty by reason of insanity and despite an expert opinion agreeing with the testimony the plea was denied. Was Gacy’s trial also motivated by revenge? Did the United States execute a mentally ill man who was not mentally in control of the unspeakable acts he commited? This paper is also somewhat bias to the innocene of Mary Queen of Scots’ even though it is still debated whether or not she was innocent. If Mary really tried to kill her cousin how could she be considered a hero? Are histrorians trying to make certain people seem more heroic than they actually were to prove a point?