Ernest Hoefgen

Hanged for murder on March 10, 1944

Hoefgen was an escaped convict from Huntsville, Texas, where he was already serving time for murder when he made his way to Kansas. In September 1943, while on the run, he picked up Bruce Smoll, an 18-year-old Kansas State College student who was hitchhiking home for Thanksgiving break near Marion, Kansas. Hoefgen believed that Smoll recognized him as an escaped fugitive. In a tragic turn of events, he shot and killed Smoll as the young man was running through a cornfield not far from where Hoefgen had picked him up. Smoll’s decomposing body would not be discovered until a month later.

For A.E. Smoll, witnessing his son’s killer meet his end was a significant moment. He reportedly remarked that he held no personal grudge against Hoefgen but viewed him as “the worst kind of traitor we have in this country.”

Warden Amrine resigned from his position as warden because he refused to oversee the construction of the gallows and the subsequent execution.

Clark B. Knox

Clark B. Knox was executed by hanging at the Kansas State Penitentiary on April 15, 1944. He was sentenced to death for the murder of Edward Nugent, a police officer in Kansas City, Kansas, on August 1, 1943.

The incident began when a young woman, a war worker, accused Knox of molesting her. Officer Nugent responded to the complaint and placed Knox under arrest. However, during the arrest, Knox managed to overpower Nugent, seizing the officer’s gun and fatally shooting him.

Knox was quickly apprehended and brought to trial. Given the gravity of the crime, the murder of a police officer in the line of duty, he was convicted and sentenced to death.

On the day of his execution, Knox consumed six candy bars, drank three bottles of strawberry soda, and chewed three sticks of gum. As he walked up the 13 steps to the gallows, he energetically cracked his gum, showing no visible fear.

Fred Brady

Fred L. Brady was hanged on April 15, 1944, at the age of 46. His occupation was listed as a baker from Arkansas City, Kansas. Brady had a long criminal history, with prison terms in Arkansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, and Kansas a record dating back 30 years.

On January 9, 1943, he attempted to rob Joe Williams, arming himself with a .22-caliber rifle. Having heard that Williams regularly carried large sums of money, Brady hid behind a tree near Williams’ house, waiting for him to return home. Around 11:15 p.m., as Williams stepped onto his front porch, Brady approached from behind and attempted to strike him. Williams ran off the porch, at which point Brady shot him. He then fled the scene, discarding the rifle in the woods.

Williams, who had $1,700 in his possession at the time, managed to run for a short distance before collapsing and dying. At trial, Brady pleaded guilty to the crime, leading to his execution the following year.

George Gumtow

George Gumtow was born on August 11, 1925, in Comstock, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was executed by hanging on July 29, 1947, at the age of 21. Alongside him, Cecil Tate, who was 22, was also hanged simultaneously on the gallows of the Kansas State Penitentiary. They were convicted of the brutal murders of W.W. McClellan and his son, Arnold, a crime that netted them only $4.50.

McClellans other son, Raymond witnessed his father and brother brutally murdered. Despite being paralyzed and having a speech impediment, he managed to crawl to a neighbor’s house to seek help and raise the alarm. The murderers did not get far and were captured just miles away from the McClellans farm. They had not anticipated Raymond’s determination to get help.

W.W. McClellan had given the two hitchhiking youths jobs on a Saturday and had taken them to the movies that evening. He even allowed them to use his gun for hunting on Sunday, only to be killed with it on Monday night.

Gumtow was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lansing.

Cecil Tate

Cecil Tate, was born September 7, 1924 in Hot Springs, Ark. He was executed by hanging on July 29, 1947, at the age of 22. Alongside him, George Gumtow, who was 21, was also hanged simultaneously on the gallows of the Kansas State Penitentiary. They were convicted of the brutal murders of W.W. McClellan and his son, Arnold, a crime that netted them only $4.50.

McClellan’s other son, Raymond, was witness to the murders and despite being paralyzed and having a speech impediment, managed to crawl to a neighbor’s house to seek help and raise the alarm. The two murders took place just miles away from where George and Cecil were captured, and they had not anticipated Raymond’s determination to get help.

W.W. McClellan had given the two hitchhiking youths jobs on a Saturday and had taken them to the movies that evening. He even allowed them to use his gun for hunting on Sunday, only to be killed with it on Monday night.

Tate was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lansing.

Preston McBride

Preston McBride was born on June 5, 1925, in Wichita, Kansas. He was the fourth of five children.

On February 15, 1950, in Hutchinson, Kansas, 25-year-old Preston Franklin McBride committed a crime that would lead to his execution just over a year later. Early that morning, McBride made an anonymous call to McVay Taxi Company from a booth at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, requesting a cab to pick him up. John Watkins, a 61-year-old taxi driver, responded to the call. After being picked up, McBride directed Watkins to a secluded area on the outskirts of Hutchinson. There, McBride fatally shot Watkins with a .22 caliber revolver that he had purchased the day before. The motive appeared to be robbery, as McBride took Watkins’ money before fleeing the scene.

Watkins’ body was discovered later that day. Evidence quickly pointed to McBride, who was apprehended shortly thereafter. He confessed to the murder, providing detailed accounts of his actions.

James Lammers

James Lammers was an American mass murderer executed at the Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing on January 5, 1952. On December 12, 1950, Lammers strangled his pregnant wife, attempted to cover the crime by dousing her body with kerosene, and then killed their three children. He claimed his children had driven him “crazy” and feared the arrival of a fourth child.

Lammers had unsuccessfully tried to take his wife to Missouri for an abortion. During the trial, 25-year-old Zeta Spencer testified that she and Lammers had been having an affair for about a year and had a child together. She said he never disclosed that he was married.

Lammers declined a last meal. His final words were, “I have been treated very well.” The trapdoor was sprung at 1:01 a.m., and he was pronounced dead nine minutes later.

He is buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lansing, Kansas.

Nathaniel Germany

Nathaniel Germany was executed on the gallows at Kansas State Penitentiary, bringing an end to a six-year legal battle by the state of Kansas to hold him accountable for the 1947 murder of David W. Gray. Germany initially avoided trial for over two years, spending 33 months in a mental hospital before being declared sane and fit to stand trial for the Lovers’ Lane shooting.

In January 1951, a Wyandotte County jury convicted Germany of Gray’s murder, and he was sentenced to death on December 3, 1952. The key witness at his trial was Mary Lou Johnson, who had been with Gray on the night of the murder. Johnson testified that Germany confronted them, demanding Gray’s wallet and car keys. Gray agreed to comply, asking that Johnson be allowed to leave unharmed, but as he stepped from the car, Germany shot and killed him.

Germany’s execution marked the resolution of a case that had lingered for years in the Kansas legal system.

George Miller

On the morning of February 3, 1947, Osawatomie Police Chief Mike Churchill, accompanied by George Miller’s estranged wife, arrived at Miller’s residence to serve a warrant for assault and domestic violence. As Churchill approached the house, Miller ambushed him with a shotgun, resulting in Churchill’s death. Miller fled the scene but was apprehended hours later in a nearby garage loft.

Miller was charged with first-degree murder. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence of premeditation, emphasizing the nature of the ambush. Miller’s defense argued for a lesser charge, but the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to death.

Miller’s legal team filed multiple appeals, including petitions to the United States Supreme Court, challenging both the conviction and the sentence. These appeals were unsuccessful. After several delays, Miller was executed by hanging at the Kansas State Penitentiary on May 6, 1950. He was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lansing.

William Merle “Red” Martin

William Merle “Red” Martin was born 11 December 1909 in Kansas.

On June 22, 1952, he and an accomplice burglarized a home in Overland Park, Kansas. The following night, while attempting to steal a car in a nearby neighborhood, they were confronted by Johnson County Deputies Willard Carver and Floyd Gaunt. During the encounter, Martin opened fire, fatally wounding Deputy Carver.

After the murder, Martin fled and was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on August 11, 1952. He was apprehended on August 30, 1952, in St. Louis by local police following a routine investigation.

Martin was convicted of first-degree murder on November 29, 1952, and was executed on July 16, 1954. He walked unaided to the gallows, and the trap was sprung at 1:03 a.m.

He was baptized Catholic the day before his execution and is buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Lansing.

Lowell
Lee Andrews