Willie McGee: Executed in “Traveling” Electric Chair for the Alleged Rape of White Housewife
Willie McGee was put to death by electrocution a few minutes past midnight on May 8, 1951, on the courthouse lawn in Laurel, Mississippi for the alleged “rape” of a farmer’s wife with whom he was having a consensual affair.
There is a radio recording of the execution where you can hear the crowd’s celebration at the moment of McGee’s death.
In 1945, McGee was arrested for the alleged rape of Willette Hawkins, a 32-year-old white housewife.
After McGee’s conviction, he was defended by the Civil Rights Congress (CRC), which mounted a public campaign as well as filed legal appeals of his case.
McGee was convicted again each time and sentenced to death.
