George Hassell
George Jefferson Hassell (July, 1888 – February 10, 1928)[1] was a convicted mass murderer who killed his wife and eight children (ranging in age between 1 and 21 years old) on December 5, 1926 in Farwell, Texas.
George Hassell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | George Jefferson Hassell July , 1888 |
| Died | February 10, 1928 (aged 39) |
| Cause of death | Execution by electric chair |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Details | |
| Date | December 5, 1926 |
| Location(s) | Farwell, Texas, United States |
| Target(s) | Family |
| Killed | 9 |
| Weapons | Ballpeen hammer Straight razor Stockings shotgun axe |
Family background
Hassell was born in Smithville, Texas, the youngest of seven children. After his brother died from being kicked in the head by a mule, he married his brother's widow, Susan Ferguson of Oklahoma.
Crime
On the night of December 5, 1926, Hassell and his wife argued over him raping Ferguson's under-aged daughter, Hassells own niece and step-daughter. Hassell proceeded to strike his wife in the face repeatedly with a ballpeen hammer. After the murder of his wife he moved between each member of the family's beds, using a straight razor and stockings to kill them, in order from youngest to oldest. He woke the two eldest boys and a scuffle ensued, ending with Hassell killing them with a shotgun and an axe. All of the bodies were then stored in the newly dug root cellar by the house.
The victims
- Susie, age 41
- Alton, age 21
- Virgil, age 15
- Maudie, age 13
- Russell, age 11
- David, age 7
- Johnnie, age 6
- Nannie Martha, age 4
- Samuel, age 22 months
Arrest, trial, and execution
Hassell claimed to the town he and his family were returning to Oklahoma, and sold all of their belongings in a large yard sale. During the auction a wagon ran over the sinkhole and aroused the suspicion of law enforcement. Soon afterward, Hassell attempted suicide but survived, and excavations revealed the remains in the root cellar.
After Hassell confessed, a short trial was convened, and Farwell and its sister city of Texico, New Mexico took on a carnival atmosphere.
At the time death row for men and the execution chamber were both at Huntsville Unit.[2] On February 10, 1928,[1] George Hassell became the 37th man to be put to death in the electric chair in the state of Texas.
Motive
Hassell had a long history of criminal behavior, including the murder of his first family (wife and children) in Whittier, California, embezzlement and military desertion.[3] According to his testimony his initial act was a crime of passion, and he killed the children to protect himself. A psychiatric report at the time characterizes him as a sociopath.
References
- "State of Texas Electrocutions 1923 - 1973". tx.us. 2000-03-02. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
- "Death Row Facts". Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
Death row was located in the East Building of the Huntsville Unit from 1928 to 1952.
- "Slayer of nine adds 4 to his gruesome list". Prescott Evening Courier. February 1, 1927. Retrieved May 30, 2019.