Here is a macabre photo share for a rainy Sunday. A death warrant is being read to a man about to be hanged. The man on the gallows is Henry Wirz, a confederate captain, being executed in 1865. Wirz was in charge of the prisoner of war Camp Sumter near Andersonville, Georgia. He is one of only two men tried, ... Read More »
Here’s another excellent story idea from Poolesville GoDCer Jack. If we gave awards for class participation, Jack would win. Thanks for all the tips. If any of you have story ideas, feel free to email tips@ghostsofdc.org. The Washington Post had yet another crazy article on April 3rd, 1880 about an execution that was, well … over-executed (another, more recent hanging had ... Read More »
A brief article tells the tale of the last execution by hanging in the District. Copeland was a cop killer and had murdered three policemen in cold blood in May 1918. He shot and killed Officer Conrad and Deputy Sheriff McParlin and then engaged in a shootout near his relatives home in Southwest. There, he mortally wounded Lt. Dunigan. He ... Read More »
Ghosts of DC The lost and untold history of Washington