Seven Executed Innocent People

William Marion
In 1872, William Marion and John Cameron traveled to Kansas to visit Marion's family, but only Marion returned home to Nebraska. Eleven years later, police found a boy's body wearing clothing identified as Cameron's. Marion was arrested, convicted, and executed by firing squad for murder. Four years after his execution, Cameron turned up alive, explaining that he had run away to Mexico to avoid a wedding.

Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc was a peasant girl from France, who helped lead a successful French arm during the Hundred Years War. Claiming to had a vision from God, she made herself look like a man by cutting her hair and wearing men's clothing and armor to defend her country. She was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the English, who found her guilty of heresy. She was burned at the stake.

Giles Corey
From 1692-1693, over 150 people were accused of practicing witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Of the 150 accused, nineteen were found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. One of the most famous deaths that occurred during the Salem Witch Trials was Giles Corey, who refused to enter a plea. Corey was crushed to death by heavy rocks.

Socrates
After Athens was defeated by Sparta, Socrates sought to change Athens, looking to reform the justice system. He often spoke out with his ideas and thought and became known as a gadfly, making many prominent citizens of Athens look like fools. Socrates was arrested and charged with corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens. He was sentenced to death by drinking a mixture containing hemlock.

Jesse Tafero
During a routine check, Florida Highway Patrol officer Phillip Black realized that Jesse Tafero and Walter Rhodes were sleeping in a car with guns. After approaching the car and waking the men up, Black and his friend Donald Irwin were shot. Tafero and Rhodes stole and abandoned the police car, but both were later arrested. Both were convicted, but only Tafero received the death by electric chair. During his execution, the chair malfunctioned because the wrong type of sponge was used, causing flames to shoot from his body. The execution lasted 13 minutes after three jolts of electricity were given. Later, evidence was found that Rhoes was the man who actually shot both men.

Cosmas and Damian
Cosmas and Damian were twins born in Arabia, who focused their lives on practicing the art of healing. Many people believed they were doing their healing practices in the name of Christianity, and the two were soon arrested due to the Prefect of Cilicia. The boys were tortured and ordered to recant. When the boys refused to recant, they were hanged to a cross, stoned, shot, and then beheaded. Today the boys are saints and are patrons of physicians and surgeons.

Jan Hus
Prior to the Reformation, Jan Hus and John Wycliffe sought to change religion. Hus spoke out about the abuses of the priests, especially their indulgences, as well as the flaws of the church hierarchy. He wrote several books expressing his beliefs. Hus was condemned to be an arch-heretic of the Council of Constance and was sentenced for execution. Prior to his execution, he was ordered to recant his ideas. Hus was burned to the stake.