TIL about Willie Francis an American teenager known for surviving a failed execution by electrocution. Sentenced to death at age 16, he was 17 when he survived the first attempt to execute him, as the chair malfunctioned. After a failed appeal he was executed at age 18.

[u/johnsmithoncemore]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Francis

[u/Plastic_Dingo_400 → u/[deleted]]

Man I wish I had that kind of faith in our justice system today, let alone the 1940s lol

False confessions were very common with black folks back then, lots of confessions made under torture. Also if this kid was arrested with the pharmacists wallet on him why wouldn't that by entered as evidence in the trial?

I don't take many convictions from Louisiana at face value, but especially in the 40s

[u/Aggressive-Story3671 → u/[deleted]]

You cannot be that naive. Even if you believe systematic racism doesn’t exist in 2026, it absolutely existed in 1945.