In Steve Earle’s essay, “A Death in Texas”, Earle gives descriptions of his and Nobles interactions and how he behaved during the days that lead up to his execution on October 7th, 1998. The essay gives a glimpse of Nobles through Earle’s eyes, depicting him as a sorrowful man who confessed to his murders and was working to atone for his sins. Earle’s wrote about how he changed his behavior by getting clean and finding God, as well as earning the respect of the inmates and guards along the way. Reading Earle’s descriptions of Nobles could lead one to believe he was rehabilitated and could have possibly been fit for society, however, some evidence points towards the direction that Nobles may not have been completely rehabilitated after all. …show more content…
Often, individuals who were abused as children become controlling and seek power over others as they grow. During the beginning of his incarceration, Nobles was very violent and often went to great lengths just to attack the guards. His behavioral change was apparently brought on by him finding religion and how “He admired the Dominicans so much that he set his sights on becoming one of them” (Earle 76). He did end up becoming a lay member, helping with mass and being a godfather to another inmate. Nobles was also allowed to speak with other inmates and minister them. Earle’s writes about the time he visited Nobles in Ellis, and another inmate stopped to speak with the two. The guard allowed the conversation to end, writing “Such socialization during inmate transfer is a clear violation of policy, but a lot of the rules have relaxed for Jon” (77). Deviating from the strict policy for a single man seemed illogical, it gave Nobles exactly what he wanted: A sense of power over not only the inmates, but the guards as
Introduction The book that I selected is called “Getting Life” by Michael Morton, who is a man that was wrongfully convicted of killing his wife in Texas in 1986. This book takes us from a happy young couple to the day of the murder, through the investigation into his wife’s murder, Michael’s trial and conviction, 25 years in prison, appeals, release from prison, and reintegration into society. One unique fact about this case is that is the first case where the prosecutor in a wrongful conviction case was subsequently convicted of prosecutorial misconduct, stripped of their law license and sentenced to serve time in jail.
The False Accusation of an innocent man Leroy Orange puts him onto Death Row. Leroy Orange and his half brother Leonard Kidd were accused for the murder of 4 people, who I will go into more depth later. From a corrupt cops torture Orange to the verge of death. Leroy Orange was accused of Charges of murders, concealment of homicidal death and aggravated arson.
The Rehabilitation of Jonathan Wayne Nobles The friendship of two men, one free from the constraints of alcohol and drugs and another still facing the consequences, torn to pieces by the hands of an injustice punishment, the death penalty. In the essay, “A Death in Texas,” Steve Earle explains, through his friendship and final moments with prisoner Jonathan Wayne Nobles, how the death penalty is not a way to bring justice and how it is a cruel and brutal form of punishment. Throughout the essay, Earle tries to illustrate how Nobles was rehabilitated and undeserving of the punishment he received, which is where many controversies lay. The question is, was Jonathan Wayne Nobles truly rehabilitated?
I Want Constantine’s Murderer to Die Olga Polites Newsweek In the article “I Want Constantine’s Murderer to Die”, Olga Polites received a call from her sister-in-law informing Olga that her husbands 22-year-old cousin had been murdered, which, in turn, made her question her formerly unwavering stance on capital punishment. Summary
Roberts and Olson try and relate what each group is feeling, thinking, and what drove them to the extremes that were executed. It is hard to tell an author bias because so many different versions of an event were made available to the reader for consideration. It seems, however, there is an overall “tilt” toward Texas and its defenders, though the portrait of Sam Houston was, at times, harsh.
He could not escape his fate though. He was charged with murder and rape on multiple accounts, and also faced many death penalties. He was executed in the electric chair where his chilling last words were, “I’d like you to give my love to my family and friends.” People were cheering when he was executed. Of course since he had ASPD, he felt no remorse for his crimes.
November 20, 1903, the infamous Wild West outlaw, Tom Horn, was hanged for a crime, the murder of Willie Nickell. Historians, to this day, questions if he actually committed this offense, giving that the only evidence was an alleged confession. However, guilty or innocent, it is without a doubt he was responsible for other deaths. Tom was a well known gunman to most, law enforcers to some, and his profession in his own words, “that of an detective” (Wyoming Enigma).
A Lesson Before Dying highlights the events surrounding the conviction and eradication of an innocent man. Prearranged in deep south during the 1940s, the book ostentatiousness many of the common racial injustices of the era. Despite the fact the book chronicles the events ultimately leading to Jefferson’s eradication, it is really more about the way Jefferson’s conviction transformed and modified others. The book culminates with the electrocution of Jefferson, which was apperceived throughout the town. From the origination of the book the reader knows Jefferson has a ghost of a chance.
In the New Commandant’s colony, death has lost most of the major significance it once held, as the people avoid the Officer’s executions and refuse to bare witness to the execution of the convicted, shunning the practice like it was a redheaded stepchild. Furthermore, in this new society that is removed of the “religion” of the old colony, death no longer holds the “enlightenment” that it once did, as evidenced by the lack of “redemption” in the Officer’s expression when he was murdered by the machine (p.224-225). This detachment to death is comparable to the circumvention of death in modern day society, as people do all they can to
The young prophet, Imam Hussein once said, “death with dignity is better than love with humiliation.” In Ernest Gaines novel A Lesson Before Dying, presents the importance of dignity through the journey of a young black man and his wrongful conviction. The lesson that dignity comes from loving and being loved through the actions and thoughts of Grant Wiggins, Reverend Ambrose, and Jefferson is taught. Who these characters love, who they care for, and how and individuals that love them, define the dignity they feel and experience in their lives.
The prisoners had seen and experienced so much brutality, endured repeated beatings, and humiliated beyond imagination, so one more death did not affect them. Their emotions hardened to the point of being non-existent… or so they thought. Although the prisoners seemed hardened and unaffected by death, a different hanging did deeply affect them.
For, at this point, the public realized what was truly occurring. According to Hoffer, “Corey’s death was unique; no one in the colony had seen such an execution–for that is what it became. Finally, by allowing himself to be crushed, Corey gave back fortitude and courage rather than spite and bewilderment, unlike Bishop, Good, and others.” Thus, a shift had to occur.
A name, in theory, is a word or phrase that helps you recall a person or thing. In practice, a name also helps one recall the person’s or thing’s reputation. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the characters’ decisions emphasize this quality. Not only does the name include the reputation and legacy of the people they identify, the characters’ choices and behaviors in The Crucible are motivated by the preservation of their dignity and the reputation associated with their names. By assessing the choices made, the inner personality traits of each character can be seen.
In Ernest Gaines’ novel, A Lesson Before Dying, the author uses a third person point of view to assess the issue of racial injustice in the South during the 1940’s. Grant understands that justice is evaluated unfairly and knows that it does not favor the poor and uneducated black man. Due to Grant’s ability to be able to understand others, he successfully learns how to bring justice, while assisting Jefferson. This presents the audience the significance of the novel as a whole, embracing responsibility and facing injustice. Grant feels as if he shouldn’t feel obligated or pressured to help bring justice to Jefferson.
In Darrow’s closing argument he gives his famed “A Plea for Mercy” to the judge. This plea not only acted as a conclusion to his defense, but it also acted as an introduction the eradication of the death penalty. Darrow uses a mix of ethos, pathos, logos, and other rhetorical devices to impose a merciful effect on his audience in hopes to reduce his clients punishment and the use of capital punishment. Darrow gracefully uses all three appeals when referring to the rise of crime after war “I know that it has followed every war; and I know it has influenced these boys so that life was not the same to them as it would have been if the world had not been made red with blood.