The Tragic Story of George Stinney – The Youngest Person Executed in 20th Century America
Date: March 23, 1944
Location: Alcolu, South Carolina, USA
Age: 14
Crime: Murder (allegedly)
Punishment: Death by electric chair
A Child on Trial
George Junius Stinney Jr. was just 14 years old when he was arrested in the small segregated town of Alcolu, South Carolina. The charge? The brutal murder of two white girls, Betty June Binnicker (11) and Mary Emma Thames (7), who were last seen riding bicycles near the railroad tracks.
George and his younger sister were among the last people to see the girls alive. For that, George was taken by police — without his parents, without a lawyer, and without due process.
A Sham of a Trial
George was interrogated alone. No transcript of his confession exists. Police claimed he confessed. He said he didn’t. The only evidence presented was that alleged confession. No physical evidence. No witnesses.
His trial lasted just one day.
The jury deliberated 10 minutes.
The verdict: Guilty.
The sentence: Death.
The Execution
On June 16, 1944, barely two months after the trial, George was led to the electric chair at Columbia Penitentiary. He was so small — barely 95 pounds — that the straps didn’t fit. The oversized mask slipped off during the execution. Witnesses say his body convulsed as 2,400 volts coursed through him.
He was the youngest person executed in the United States in the 20th century.
The Truth Uncovered
For decades, activists and lawyers pushed to reopen George's case. In 2014 — 70 years later — a South Carolina judge vacated his conviction, declaring a grave injustice had been done.
Judge Carmen Mullen wrote:
“No one can justify a 14-year-old child being tried and sentenced to death in 1 day… He was denied due process.”
It turned out:
No signed confession existed
George had been denied legal counsel and a defense
He may have been completely innocent
Why His Story Matters
George Stinney’s story is not just about one child.
It’s about a broken system, racial injustice, and the deadly consequences of prejudice.
It reminds us:
Justice should never be rushed.
Children must be protected.
The truth, no matter how long buried, deserves to be uncovered.
Conclusion: A Name Remembered
Today, George Stinney’s name has become a symbol — not of guilt, but of a justice system’s failure. His case continues to inspire reform, reflection, and reckoning with America’s troubled history of race, law, and punishment.
Reviewed by Sagar B
on
June 22, 2025
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