Executed
Elmer Sharkey
Elmer Sharkey professed conversion to the Catholic faith and was baptized the Thursday before his execution. He was hanged at the penitentiary annex in Columbus, Ohio, shortly after midnight on December 19, 1890, the first of two men executed that morning. The Daily Tobacco Leaf-Chronicle reported that he died slowly from strangulation. The newspaper account also reports that he maintained his innocence to the end.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state. The 1890 newspaper account says Sharkey maintained his innocence to the end and that the hanging slowly strangled him.
Reported by: 1890 newspaper account (reporters).