The Last Public Execution in America

by Perry T. Ryan

---

CHAPTER 19

MRS. EDWARDS' PROPERTY RETURNED; THE TRIAL TRANSCRIBED

On July 25, 1936, Judge Wilson ordered that the victim's property be returned to her estate. His order stated as follows:

The jewelry, consisting of five rings, brooch, ear-rings, two strands of pearl beads, 1 strand of amber beads and one dress, which were exhibited in the trial of this prosecution, shall be turned over to the Estate of Mrs. Lishia Edwards.

On the same day, Judge Wilson ordered the court reporter, Mrs. Birdie Woodward Anderson, to transcribe the proceedings at trial. This was an unusual move on the part of the judge, since in most criminal proceedings, the trial is not actually transcribed from the stenographic notes taken by the reporter unless there is an appeal. At the time the order was entered, no notice of appeal had been filed by either party.

Only six days later, on July 31, Birdie Anderson filed her transcript of the trial, and on the same day, Judge Wilson ordered that the transcript be made part of the court record.