Description: Before the Ohio Penitentiary’s closing in 1979, the execution chamber within the facility housed and displayed photographs of many of the prisoners sentenced to death throughout the state’s history. This portrait of Walker Brown of Hanford Village, Columbus is one of them. Brown was the youngest member of a gang led by another Columbus resident, Henry Loudermilk. On December 10, 1931 Loudermilk’s gang invaded the home of John and Sarah Kidney in Monroe Township with the intent of stealing roughly $60,000 that was rumored to be hidden within. In actuality, the robbers were only able to find $446. John Kidney, an elderly farmer and blacksmith, age 75, was violently beaten and killed by the assailants. Sarah, his invalid sister, age 70, was beaten and tortured. Although there were multiple men involved in this violent crime, Brown was identified by each of the accomplices as the one responsible for the actual murder of John Kidney. However, Brown continually denied being involved. He was the first person in the group to be executed for Kidney’s murder. The caption at the bottom of the photograph reads, “Walker Brown, of Pickaway County, electrocuted June 3rd, 1932, for the murder of John Kidney of Pickaway County, Ohio.” Brown was executed at the age of 24. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08224
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Electrocution; Death row; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio)
Places: Pickaway County (Ohio); Columbus (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of 30-year-old Walter Wilson, a laborer from Cleveland. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. Wilson was the 298th individual to be executed via the electric chair in Ohio. The caption at the bottom reads: “No. 298 Walter Wilson Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Legally Electrocuted July 13, 1956, for the Murder of Joseph Fena.” In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08350
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Death row; Electrocution; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of 43-year-old Walter Byomin. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. Byomin, convicted of murdering a Wellington police officer, was the 308th individual to be executed via the electric chair in Ohio. The caption at the bottom reads: “No. 308 Walter J. Byomin Lorain County, Electrocuted July 3, 1959 for the Murder of Police Officer Edmund G. Smith” In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08360
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Death row; Electrocution; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio); Wellington (Ohio)
 

Description: Three photographs showing soap and clothing items issued to early twentieth century prisoners at the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. The photograph in the upper left depicts two patterned, folded handkerchiefs or bandanas, a pair of overalls, and a folded, button-down shirt. The image on the upper right shows a pair of men's pants, with a label directly underneath that has "MEN'S PANTS" typed on it. The clothes appear to be denim fabric, which could mean they were issued for work purposes. The photograph at the bottom shows three blocks of white soap. Each block of soap appears to be stamped with the words "MADE FOR STATE USE BY OHIO BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION." A typewritten label underneath this image states "STATE BATH & LAUNDRY SOAP" with "Ca 1911-21" handwritten. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08367
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of 57-year-old Willie Johnson. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. Johnson was the 240th individual to be executed via the electric chair in Ohio. The caption at the bottom reads: “No. 240 Willie Johnson of Cuyahoga County, Legally Electrocuted March 10th, 1944, for the Murder of Margaret Wilson.” In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08294
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Death Row; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Electrocution; Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of James Willie Brown, age 28. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. Brown, along with Cook Jenkins, was convicted of robbing and murdering Jacob Reinstatler, a Cincinnati jeweler; both men were executed. The caption at the bottom reads: “No. 241, James Willie Brown of Hamilton County, Legally Electrocuted April 6th, 1945, for the Murder of Jacob Reinstatler.” In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08295
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Death Row; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Electrocution; Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of James "Cook" Jenkins, age 24. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. Jenkins, along with James Brown, was convicted of robbing and murdering Jacob Reinstatler, a Cincinnati jeweler; both men were executed. The caption at the bottom reads: “No. 242, Cook Jenkins of Hamilton County, Legally Electrocuted April 6th, 1945, for the Murder of Jacob Reinstatler.” In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08296
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Death Row; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Electrocution; Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Vincent Damico, of Summit County, was electrocuted March 31, 1920, for the Murder of Patrolman George Werne. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08112
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Death row
Places: Summit County (Ohio)
 

Description: Henry White, of Franklin County, was electrocuted March 2, 1923, for the Murder of his Wife, May White. He was a black male, age forty-one and his occupation is unknown. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08137
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Electrocution; Death row; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio)
Places: Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of 29-year-old Donald Reinbolt. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. Reinbolt was the 315th and final individual to be executed in the electric chair in Ohio. The caption at the bottom reads: “No. 315 Donald L. Reinbolt Franklin County, Legally Electrocuted March 15, 1963 for the murder of Edgar L. Weaver” In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08366
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Electrocution; Death row; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Portrait photography
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Before the Ohio Penitentiary’s closing in 1979, the facility's east annex housed and displayed photographs of many of the prisoners sentenced to death throughout the state’s history. This portrait of Hampton Pannell is one of them. Also located in this section of the penitentiary were the cells of prisoners awaiting execution and the death chamber itself. The Ohio Penitentiary closed in 1972 when construction of the new Southern Ohio Correctional Facility was completed in Lucasville. At this time, the execution chamber was relocated to the new Lucasville facility and the photograph collection of condemned prisoners was donated to the Ohio Historical Society. The caption at the bottom of Pannell's photograph reads, “No. 187, Hampton Pannell of Franklin County, Electrocuted January 4th, 1935, for the Murder of Fred Halten.” Pannell was executed at the age of 37. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08219
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Electrocution; Death row; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio)
Places: Franklin County (Ohio); Columbus (Ohio)
 

Description: Before the Ohio Penitentiary’s closing in 1979, the east annex within the facility housed and displayed photographs of many of the prisoners sentenced to death throughout the state’s history. This portrait of William Wright is one of them. Also located in this section of the penitentiary were the cells of prisoners awaiting execution and the death chamber itself. The Ohio Penitentiary closed in 1972 when construction of the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility was completed in Lucasville. At this time, the execution chamber was relocated to the new Lucasville facility and the photograph collection of condemned prisoners was donated to the Ohio Historical Society. The caption at the bottom of Wright's photograph reads, “William Wright, of Franklin County, Electrocuted April 9, 1935, for the murder of Mrs. Addie Warrick, at Columbus, Ohio.” Wright was executed at the age of 39. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08220
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Capital punishment--Ohio--History; Electrocution; Death row; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio)
Places: Franklin County (Ohio); Columbus (Ohio)