As Pinkerton was last seen at the farm in the company of March and
Pennington, they immediately became asuspects in his disappearance
but denied any knowledge of his whereabouts, Afew days later, March's
woman friend told officers that she had heard Pinkerton screaming in
the barn on the night of his disappearance and that both March and
Pennington had blood on their clothes that night. Both men were then
arrested and Pennington made a complete confession, When confront ed
with Pennington's statement, March. affirmed it and took the officers
to Pinkerton's grave, March was tried first and both Pennington and
the woman testified against him with damaging effect, At his own
trial, Pennington related the story of the crime and his attorneys
offered a plea of mental responsibility, Alienists testified on both
sides and Pennington was also convicted and sentenced to die, Both
cases were affirmed on appeal and,: following a number of respites,
they were electrocuted at the Rockview State Prison on Feb, 21, 1916,
WAKEHXH Pennington, with ashen face and whimpering went to the chair
first, ‘The ordeal of having his partner executed before him som un- _
nerved March that it took fifteen minutes to calm him down sufficients
ly for his execution to proceed. He entered the death chamber sobbing
and his €X¥XK last words were: "Oh, Rowland, why didn't they take me
first?" According to the Chester tiMES, Pennington was the first
Quaker to be executed in the State of Pennsylvania, 91; ATLANTIC 142 —
CHESEER, Paey TIMES, 2-18-1916; 2-21-1916; 2-22-1916; 95 ATLANTIC 107
As Pinkerton was last seen at the farm in the company of March and
Pennington, they immediately became asuspects in his disappearance
but denied any knowledge of his whereabouts. Afew days later, March's|
woman friend told officers that she had heard Pinkerton screaming in
the barn on the night of his disappearance and that both March and
Pennington had blood on their clothes that night. Both me were then
arrested and Pennington made a complete confession, When confront ed
with Pennington's statement, March. affirmed it and took the officers
to Pinkerton's grave, March was tried first and both Pennington and
the woman testified against him with damaging effect. At his own
trial, Pennington related the story of the crime and his attorneys
offered a plea of mental responsibility, Alienists testified on both
sides and Pennington was also convicted and sentenced to die, Both
cases were affirmed on appeal and,. following a number of respites,
they were electrocuted at the Rockview State Prison on Feb, 21, 1916,
WAXKHXH Pennington, with ashen face and whimpering went to the chair
first. ‘The ordeal of having his partner executed before him sox un- —
nerved March that it took fifteen minutes to calm him down sufficients
ly for his execution to proceed, He entered the death chamber sobbing
and his XXX last words were: "Oh, Rowland, why didn't they take me
_ first?" According to the Chester times, Pennington was the first
Quaker to be executed in the State of Pennsylvania, 9h ATLANTIC 12 —
CHESTER, Paey TIMES, 2-18-1916; 2-21-1916; 2-22-1916; 95 ATLANTIC 107
As Pinkerton was last seen at the farm in the company of March and
Pennington, they immediately became asuspects in his disappearance
‘but denied any knowledge of his whereabouts, Afew days later, March's|
woran friend told officers that she had heard Pinkerton screaming in
the barn on the night of his disappearance and that both March and
Pennington had blood on their clothes that night. Both men were then
arrested and Pennington made a complete confession, When confront ed
with Pennington's statement, March. affirmed it and took the officers
to Pinkerton's grave, March was tried first and both Pennington and
the woman testified against him with damaging effect. At his own
trial, Pennington related the story of the crime and his attorneys
offered a plea of mental responsibility, Alienists testified on both
sides and Pennington was also convicted and sentenced to die, Both
ly for his execution to proceeds
and his KQMK last words were: "Oh, Ro
4 E
firstz" According to the Chester TIMES, P
Quaker to be executed in the State of Per
CHESTER, Pas, TIMES, 2-18-1916; 2-21-1916; 2
SB ar re See
ae = ‘el mail ee eecsig 96 taste
fi
if
MABCH, George H,, and PENNINGTON, John 5,
March, a young white farmer, was employed on the Brick House Farms
in Edgemend, Delaware Co,, Pas, of which S, Lewis Pinkerton was the
managere In October, 1913, Pennington, a young white Quaker was also
employed by Pinkerton and boarded in the house which March shared WX
whth HXX a woman with whom he was living outside of wedlock because
he was not divorced from his wife. March was jealous of Pinkerton,
believing that he had been having an affair with March's woman, and
he told Pennington that the overseer habitually carried a large sum
of money which they would share if M& Pennington would help him to
kill Pinkerton, There is little doubt but that Pennington had a very
low mentality and he was easily persuaded to join March in the mr-
der. Early on the evening of Nov. 7, 1913, Pennington summoned Pin~
_kerton into a new barn to inspect a stall and struck him over the
head with a jack. Pinkerton was not rendered unconscious and began
struggling with Pennington who called to March to assist him, Penn-
ington managed to throw Pinkerton to the ground and March kicked him
in the head and then jumped on his chest with such force that he
drove his ribs through his heart and lungs and killed him, After
they had eaten supper, they loaded Pinkerton's body onto a wagon and
covered it with potato sacks, They then drove it to a spot in the
Logtown woods about eight miles away and buried ih in a shallow grave
MARCH, George H., and PENNINGTON, John 5,
March, a young white farmer, was employed on the Brick House Farms
in Edgemend, Delaware Co,, Pas, of which S, Lewis Pinkerton was the
managere In October, 1913, Pennington, a young white Quaker was also
employed by Pinkerton and boarded in the house which March shared #X
whth WX# a woman with whom he was living outside of wedlock because
he was not divorced from his wife, March was jealous of Pinkerton,
believing that he had been having an affair with March's woman, and
he told Pennington that the overseer habitually carried a large sum
of money which they would share if M& Pennington would help him to
kill Pinkerton, There is little doubt but that Pennington had a very
low mentality and he was easily persuaded to join March in the mr-
der. Early on the evening of Nov. 7, 1913, Pennington summoned Pin-
_kerton into a new barn to inspect a stall and struck him over the
head with a jack. Pinkerton was not rendered unconscious and began
struggling with Pennington who called to March to assist him, Penn~
ington managed to throw Pinkerton to the ground and March kicked him
in the head and then jumped on his chest with such force that he
Grove his ribs through his heart and lungs and killed him, After
they had eaten supper, they loaded Pinkerton's body onto a wagon and
covered it with potato sacks, They then drove it to a spot in the
Logtown woods about .cight miles away and buried ih in a shallow graved
" MABCH, George H,, and PENNINSTON, John S,
March, a young white farmer, was employed on the Brick House Farms
in Edgemend, Delaware Co,, Pasy of which S, Lewis Pinkerton was the
manager. In October, 1913, Pennington, a young white Quaker was also
employed by Pinkerton and boarded in the house which March shared ¥X
whth MIX a woman with whom he was living outside of wedlock because
he was not divorced from his wife. March was jealous of Pinkerton,
believing that he had been having an affair with March's woman, and
he told Pennington that the overseer habitually carried a large sun
of money which they would share if MA Pennington would help him to
kill Pinkerton, There is little doubt but that Pennington had a very
low mentality and he was easily naseuated to join March in the mr-
913, Pennington summoned Pin-
head with a jack,
struggling with Pennington vho called to March to assist. hin.
to throw Pinkerton to the ground and March kicked him
in the head and then ae on his chest with such force that he
Grove his ribs through his heart and lungs and killed hin, After
they had eaten supper, they loaded Pinkerton!'s body onto a ee and
covered it with potato sacks, They then drove it to a spot in the
Logtown woods about .eight miles avay and buried ih ina shallow grave
rites tteveh abe ot ve od ted ne A
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