James French, 1966 August 10

Prison in McAlester. On Oct. 23, 1961, he told the: prison chaplain
that the planned to kill someone and the chaplain reported this to
the prison authorities but nothing was done to isolate French, Four
days later, shortly after breakfast, he strangled to deah his cell-
mate, Eddie. lee Shelton. He SHSSXXHSA explained that he had waited

until after breakfast because he "was opposed to killing a man on an
19) g

empty stomach," This SS gests ene CEHAEXKE French
ceived, his wish to be sentenced to deat He was electrocuted on

Aug Py 10 fal 966,

Fan)
ae)
ie

PILEUP ON DEATH ROW, Pages 222-299

LD DT! Bae November, 1963. "TL Want My
Ts ad
-OOlKLs - roo ge ig

rr CC ay

ison in McAlester. On Oct. 23, 1961, he told the. prison chaplain

the planned to kill someone and the chaplain reported this to
, prison authorities but nothing was done to olate French, Four
age later, shortly after breakfast, he strangled to deah his cell-
mate, Eddie. Lee Shelton. He SXS8XXHSA explained that he had waited
until after EY because he 'Wwas opposed to killing a man on an
omach." This timelXARXSpAeaXee NS XRAsEXeBARKKE Pronch re
ved his wish to be sentenced to death. He was electrocuted on

ge 10, 1966.

PILEUP ON DEATH ROW, Pages 222—2299

Ma Di POL Vib y

ison. fage 15,

CCNeTICLVESOCUT EGS
enced to death. le

FRENCH, James De

French, a 29-year-old native of Peoria, J11; raised in a foster home,
had stabbed a man when he was only 5-yerrs-old because he thought
that the man was making improper advances to his mother. From the
age of nine onward, he was obsessed with the idea that he would die
a violent death for having kill8d someone. Setween the ages of 16
and 19, he was committed to a mental hospital on three separaté
Em occasions and released. His record, prior to the time that he
turned 19, included offenses S8EXF of forging checks, stealing, de-
serting from the “rmy, and striking a non-commisioned officer with
estas to kill. He served two years in she "ederal K formatory at
Chillicothe, Ohio, for car theft and ech Tacit to live with his fos-
ter parents who had moved to Slameda, Walits After a few months ,
his behaviour became such that he was-sent-to the Psychiatric Ward
BEK at the “lameda Hospital where he was found to be suffering from
"epilepsy of the brain." After his release on Nov. 15, 1958, he
started hitchiking east and-in lincoln County, Oklaes he shot in the

head and killed a motorist who had piven him a ride and who he had
then proceeded to kidnap, Franklin Boone. He begged his attorney to
plead him cuilty and seek the death penalty, but the attorney re~
fused and he was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Oklahoma State

PRED

FRENCH, James D.

French, a 29-year-old native of Peoria, I11; raised in a foster home,
had stabbed a man when he was only 5-yerrs-old because he thought
that the man was making improper advances to his mother. From the
age of nine onward, he was obsessad with the idea that he would die
a violent death for having kil18d someone. Between the ages of 16
and 19, he was committed to a mental hospital on three separaté

m&™ occasions and released. His record, prior to the time that he
turned 19, included offenses S8EXX of forging checks, stealing, de-
serting from the “rmy, and striking a non-commisioned officer with
intent to kill, He served two years in she federal H eformatory at
Chillicothe, Ohio,for car theft and ene went to live aah his fos-
ter parents who had moved to #lameda, Valif, After a few months 3
his beheron became such that he was-sent-to-the Psychiatric Ward
BEK at the “lameda Hospital where he was found to be ct ieate from
ee of the brain." After his release on Nov. 15, 1958, he
started hitchiking east and-in baincoln County, Okla., he shot in the
head and killed a motorist who had given him a ride_and who he had
then proceeded to kidnap, Franklin Boone. He begged his attorney to
plead him guilty and-seek the death penalty, but—the attorney re-
fused and he was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Oklahoma State

James De

foster home,

because he thought
B eee ea
Seca ne seaue. Te ve
rLolent death for hae ‘ing kill8d someone. Setween the Agee of 16
19, he was committed to a mental hospital on separate
Tis Eee, prior

asions and released. ip io ees ate
turned 19, included offenses 38HX of forging checks, sté
Army, and striking a non-commisioned of:

ea
He served two years in the Federal “;formatory at

Chillicothe, Ohio,for car theft and. then vent to live with his fos-
ter parents who had moved to Blameda, “alif, After a few months,
his behaviour becane such that-he was-senb tothe
WK

ospittal whore he w
bri

1 m Nov. 15, 1958, he
sti ee hitchiing eer -incoln County Okay) he-shot-in the