dencee He made no spe ial requests prior to his execution and he
calmly went to, his death in the electric chair at Rockview State Pri-
son on July 12, 1918
56 ATLANTIC (2nd) 56
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, July 12, 19),8
dence. He made no spe ial requests prior to his execution and he
calmly went to his death in the electric chair at Rockview State Pri-
son on July 12, 198
56 ATLANTIC (2nd) 5h6
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, July 12, 198
dence, He made no spe ial requests prior to his execution and he
ceil went to, his death in the electric chair at Rockview State Pri-
on July 12, 1948
56 ATLANTIC (2ha) 5u6
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, July 12, 1918
HOLLEY, Grant
Holley, a l6-year-old black native of Chowan Co,., N, C,, had a long
criminal record beginning with his conviction in 1923 of assault with
intent to kill, In 1925, he pleaded guilty to a charge of second de-
gree mrder and in 1935, 1937 and 1942 he was convicted on charges of
assault with a deadly weapon, Early in 19,6, he moved to Philadelphia
Pas On the evening of July 5, 196, he entered a tavern located on th
corner of 2lst and Norris Streets and got into an argement with some
other men, As he backed out of the door, he drew a revolver and fired
twice. He then shot a third time through the door and the bullet
struck 27-year-old Ella Wiggins in the heart, killing her, Miss
Wiggins lived in the same apartment building as Holley and they had,
on a previous occasion, argueed about his gambling with one of her
friends. Holley fled Philadelphia and made his way to Hampton, Va,,
where he was captured on Sept. li and returned to stand trial, He
made a statement in which he admitted having fired into the tavern
but claimed that he had done so only after some other men had
threatened to kill him, but at his trial he did not take the stand in
his own behalf and hig conviction and death sentence were unsuccess<
teense to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on the grounds that
judge had mentioned this avorably in his charge and that
his prior record of convictions should not have been brought into evi-
HOLLEY, Grant
Holley, a l6-yeareold black native of Chowan Co,, N, C,, had a long
criminal record beginning with his conviction in 1923 of assault with
intent to kill, In 1925, he pleaded guilty to a charge of second de-
gree murder and in 1935, 1937 and 192 he was convicted on charges of
assault with a deadly weapon, Early in 1916, he moved to Philadelphia,
Pas On the evening of July 5, 1946, he entered a tavern located on th
corner of 21st and Norris Streets and got into an argement with some
other men. As he backed out of the door, he drew a revolver and fired
twice. He then shot a third time through the door and the bullet
struck 27-year-old Ella Wiggins in the heart, killing her, Miss
Wiggins lived in the same apartment building as Holley and they had,
on a previous occasion, argueed about his gambling with one of her
friends. Holley fled Philadelphia and made his way to Hampton, Va,,
where he was captured on Sept. 1 and returned to stand trial. He
made a statement in which he admitted having fired into the tavern
but claimed that he had done so only after some other men had
threatened to kill him, but at his trial he did not take the stand in
his own behalf and his conviction and death sentence were unsuccess-
full php cst to the Pennsylvania reme Court on the grounds that
the trial judge had mentioned this avorably in his charge and that
his prior record of convictions should not have been brought into evi-
HOLLEY, Grant
Holley, a li6-year-old black native of Chowan Co,, N, had a long
criminal record beginning with his conviction in 1923 ae assault with
intent to kill, In 1925, he pleaded guilty to a charge of second de-
gree mrder and in 1935, 1937 and 1912 he was convicted on charges of
assault with a deadly weapon, Early in 1916, he moved to Philadelphia,
Pa. On the evening of July 5, 1916, he entered a tavern located on thi
corner of 2lst and Norris Streets and got into an argument with some
other men, As he backed out of the door, he drew a revolver and fired
twice, He then shot a third time through the door and the bullet
struck 27-year-old Ella Wiggins in the heart, killing her, Miss
Wiggins lived in the same apartment building as Holley and they had,
on a previous occasion, arfueed about his gambling with one of her
friends, Holley fled Philadelphia and made his way to Hampton, Va,,
where he was captured on Sept, 1h and returned to stand trial, He
made a statement in which he admitted having fired into the tavern
but claimed that he had done so only after some other men had
threatened to Kill him, but at lis ‘ial he éld not take the stand in
tence were unsuccess=
his nen ein Gas ES ceamniie me tae Seek 2a § 750 SER
the trial Judge had mentioned this untevorably: in his charge and that
8 prior record of convictions should not have been brought into evi-
PEO SS CaS,
