Old Sparky

A shocking exploration of America’s preferred method of capital punishment. In early 2013, Robert Gleason became the latest victim of the electric chair, a peculiarly American execution method. Shouting Póg mo thóin (“Kiss my ass” in Gaelic), he grinned as electricity shot through his system. When the current was switched off, his body slumped against the leather restraints, and Gleeson, who had strangled two fellow inmates to ensure his execution was not postponed, was dead. The execution had gone flawlessly—not a guaranteed result with the electric chair, which has gone horrifically wrong on many occasions. Old Sparky covers the history of capital punishment in America and the “current wars” between Edison and Westinghouse that led to the development of the electric chair. It examines how the electric chair became the most popular method of execution in America before being superseded by lethal injection. Famous executions are explored, alongside quirky last meals and poignant last words. The death penalty remains a hot topic of debate in America, and Old Sparky does not shy away from that controversy. Executions have gone spectacularly wrong, with convicts being set alight or needing up to five jolts of electricity before dying. There have been terrible miscarriages of justice, and the death penalty has not been applied even-handedly. Historically, African Americans, the mentally challenged, and poor defendants have been likely to get the chair, an anomaly which led the Supreme Court to briefly suspend the death penalty. Since the resumption of capital punishment in 1976, Texas alone has executed more than five hundred prisoners, and death row is full. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

While there are more than 15,000 museums in our country, visitors get to see only about five percent of any institution’s collections. Most museums simply don’t have room to display everything they’ve got. However, there are a wide variety of surprising and intriguing reasons that, for example, the Smithsonian Institution doesn’t display its collection of condoms, Florida's Lightner Museum locks up all but one of its shrunken heads, and a world-class stash of Japanese erotica (shunga) art was kept in the Honolulu Museum of Art's storage until only recently. Each item or collection included in this volume is described and placed in context with stories and interviews that explore the historical, social, cultural, political, environmental, or other circumstances that led to keeping that object or group of objects out of public view--the ultimate museum buff's voyeuristic experience. Color photographs of the artifacts are included.

Thousands of fascinating facts and figures on all aspects of life in the Sunshine State. This book, a combination atlas, directory, tourist guide, and reference manual, covers everything you want to know about the state of Florida. The current edition has updated statistics on all of the topics found in past annuals, a hurricane survival guide, and everything from basic history to residential requirements to live in the state of Florida. A very good resource for Florida natives as well as those planning to visit the state.

An extensive survey of the pros and cons, evolution, and current issues surrounding one of the hottest topics in today's social debates. Death Penalty on Trial: A Handbook with Cases, Laws, and Documents sifts through the rhetoric, politics, and emotion that characterize one of the most highly discussed, yet least understood issues facing the United States today. Placing the death penalty in a historical perspective with an emphasis on the last 50 years, this case-driven volume explains the legal theory that has perpetuated it and the judicial reasoning, both pro and con, behind such landmark Supreme Court cases as Furman v. Georgia and The United States of America v. Alan Quinones. From the first Massachusetts Bay Colony execution and the inventions of the electric chair and gas chamber to DNA testing of inmates, readers will learn how and why capital punishment continues to be so controversial.

This is the story of Mareia Dondi. This story begins in the late thirties. Mareias was raised by her grandfather and grandmother. Her grandfather was a gangster and a murderer; he killed many men. He made a fortune during the Second World War. Mareia witnessed some of these deaths, as you will find out when you read this book. I started writing when I was forty-four years old. I have never wrote anything before. At the time, I didn't have a typewriter. I wrote everything with a pencil and paper. I worked on this book off and on for forty years. I had very little education. What I learned about writing, I learned by reading stories to find out where periods and commas were. I taught myself how to read with an old worn-out dictionary. When computers came out, I saw that a person could write, and if they made an error, they could erase it and start all over. So I bought one and typed out my story. This is my first book I wrote, and now I have eight books and a book of country boy poetry. Its guaranteed to make you laugh or cry. So I hope you enjoy my story. Thank you, and may God bless you.

This volume provides an abundance of information on the history of capital punishment, and ongoing opposition to it. Author Bruce E.R. Thompson includes narratives on well-known figures on both sides of the issue. Various methods of execution are explained and their use placed in historical context. Legal terminology important to the debate is defined and explained.

Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Author Rosemary Ellen Guiley shines a light in the dark corners of Virginia and scares those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection.

Wild, wacky, and often-hilarious Florida trivia