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Behind the Walls
LIFE ON THE FARM
Williams Great BattleRoy Miller and GodDying to SeeThe Shaming of Jack KennedyAre You In A Hurry BoyTHE CUMMINS UNIT
A Wife Tours CumminsVARNER UNIT
Tour of Varner UnitLONELINESS ON THE FARM
Drop A LineDEATH ON THE FARM
Cause of Death Brain TumorA Sentence of DeathMEDICAL NEGLECT ON THE FARM
Emergency OnlyTo Read A Book Would Be HeavenDEATH CAMP NURSE SPEAKSVERSE
A Lifer Dont CryDeath RowA Wayward GrandsonCOMMENTARY
Necessary ChangesLINKS|
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| A SENTENCE OF DEATH |
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See who's on Arkansas' death row today  Another candle lit; another life extinguished. Marian Pruitt was executed at 8:00 p.m. on April 12, 1999, thereby becoming the sixteenth man to die since Arkansas has resumed capital punishment. Although the reasons are many, the families and friends of prisoners and those who regularly interact with them often feel compelled to ask what it is like being in prison during an execution. Are we solemn and depressed, or afraid and full of worry? I suppose that the concern for our welfare in what some people might think must be a troubling time for prisoners in general during an execution, often has its root in Hollywood prison movies. Execution scenes are usually highly dramatic and take place in dark and gloomy settings. Prisoners are depicted as lying quietly in their half-lit cells with looks of apprehension or fear and deep introspection upon their faces. Each is mutely staring at the overhead light, knowing that at any moment it will suddenly dim as the "juice" is drained from the power lines and fed into the electric chair to fry the condemned criminal. The impression is left that every such prisoner is seeing his wasted life flashing before his mind's eye, and coming to the realization that if he does not change his evil ways he, too, may soon be sitting in Ol' Sparky. Needless to say, such Hollywood dramas often have very little to do with reality. Then... When John Swindler became the first man executed after Arkansas' long sabbatical from carrying out death sentences, there did in fact appear to be a kind of fatal attraction toward the event, not only in the public's minds, but in those of the ADC prisoners as well. Beginning several weeks before the scheduled event the prime time airwaves and front page columns were filled with debates over the pros and cons of capital punishment. Every lurid detail about sensationalist crimes all around the country was examined, and re-examined. Everything from Swindler's own offense of slaying a Fort Smith police officer, to whether electrocution or lethal injection was the best way to go about executing him was discussed. Even inside the Cummins Unit prisoners were kept glued to the TVs and radios, mesmerized, listening to the harangue. Such hate and malice, such vehemence issuing forth from those people interviewed! It made even Jerry Springer look like a pacifist, and most prisoners wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world! Within the week of the scheduled execution the debates became more and more slanted in obvious support for capital punishment. From that, it was difficult not to conclude that just about everyone in the entire world was in favor of executions. To make certain that Swindler stood absolutely no chance for clemency, repeated references were made to him and Charles Manson - despite the fact that Swindler's and Manson's offenses bore not the slightest resemblance. On the morning of execution day, media vans with satellite dishes began to arrive in droves, preceded by a couple dozen local police cars, State Troopers, and what appeared to be National Guardsmen. Some four miles of the Cummins prison farm were cordoned off to bar entry to anyone who was not on the guest list. A special rest stop to accommodate those who wanted to unofficially be a part of it all was set up off Highway 65 about two miles away. Inside the Cummins Unit, the inmate population was kept on "lock down" status beginning the previous evening. Scores of prisoners stayed stuck to the windows looking out onto the perimeter fences watching the maneuvers taking place, at least until the evening news came on. The number of prison guards inside Cummins was almost doubled. Throughout that day special preparations were being made, and everything was checked and re-checked - from making sure that fresh cold cuts and refreshments were available to the media and other guests, to testing the electric chair for the dozenth time. During the early evening news, just a few hours before the execution, updates of every kind were given. All the last minute scoops that reporters had gleaned from all around the country about anyone or anything which bore the name Swindler were presented along with coverage of the "party" hosted by members of the Fort Smith police department, who arrived bearing signs with "Fried Swindler Burgers" and "Turn Out the Lights, the Party's Over" stuck to the sides of the bus they had rented to make their appearance. Yes, indeed, the stage was set and everyone watching was kept at the proverbial edge of their seat. Popcorn, anyone? Across the remaining few hours, several special reports interrupted the regular programming. Repeated references were made to the fact that "as of yet the Governor has given no indication that a commutation will be granted." Zoom shots of the "hotline" telephone which apparently connected the death chamber directly to the Governor's Office were shown with spellbinding implications. Would it ring or would it not ring? What suspense! Prisoners were joking about the havoc it would wreak if the thing did dare to ring, painting verbal images of the Fort Smith police department slamming their signs on their cars and busses, and storming home in a tempest after their party was ruined. Comments were made by the local bookies that bets would be taken that if the "Swindler fry" was in fact canceled, the Fort Smith morgue would have half a dozen new bodies in it by the following night after the cops vented their frustrated blood lust on some unfortunate Fort Smith speeders or DUIs. In Little Rock a tiny handful of people who still believe that capital punishment is barbaric and does little more than elevate the criminal to equality with the prevailing social order, lit candles and picketed the Capital. As the final hour drew nigh there was an inexplicable silence on the airwaves. No more special reports. No "It's about to happen any moment now." Elsewhere, the Enterprise was about to nuke some alien invaders on the nightly Star Trek. Shortly after the execution had actually taken place, one final "climaxing" series of reports issued, which included Swindler's last words; the tears among those close to Swindler and the joyful yelps of those who were on the side of capital punishment; a blow by blow account of those final few minutes in the death house; description of the flames which had leapt forth where the electrodes had touched Swindler's body. He apparently had caught fire when the "juice" ignited his body fluids. Some last minute zooms were given of the Fort Smith cops to whom the moment was indeed very obviously orgasmic. Then, it was all over. Done. "Good night from Cummins Unit." Now... Since Swindler's execution the entire spirit and atmosphere surrounding Arkansas' executions has radically changed. By the third and fourth executions about the only media showing up were from local stations that apparently felt an obligation to cover the story, at least to a degree. The police and security forces had been cut to less than half. Cummins prisoners were expected to fulfill their regular work assignments, with lock down not occurring until after 6:00 p.m., when the prison's movement and activity is generally restricted anyway. No heated debates about capital punishment took place and the weather report took up more time on the evening news than the imminent execution. The death row execution drama had apparently already become stale, mundane, and boring; especially since officials were obviously not going to allow live broadcasts of the actual execution itself. By the tenth execution the entire affair was obviously more trouble than it was worth. All those preparations, all that expense - and for what? Even VIP's cold cuts were reduced to only three or four selections. Among the prisoners, the executions had become a kind of standing joke. Beginning with Swindler, it was noted by all that on the day of an execution a meal was served to the entire prison population that made the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday meals seem bland by contrast. So now, whenever prison menus become a little routine remarks are heard to the effect that many of the prisoners wish "they'd go ahead and fry another one so we can get something decent to eat around here." Or, whenever a good meal is unexpectedly served, as when dignitaries bless the prison with a visit or tour, someone asks whether an execution is taking place that evening and they just missed learning about it. Yes indeed, thumbs up or thumbs down for people on death row has become premised on the rise and fall of a prison diet. So much for deterrence. by ROLF KAESTEL Tell the Governor of Arkansas what you think Explore Arkansas' River of Blood Follow the Blood Trail Meet Rolf Kaestel, read his Executive Clemency appeal and raise your voice to free him from the ADC Peek inside the dark and evil world through the eyes of one buried there These are the men and women currently residing on Arkansas' Death Row View the artistic works of men and women incarcerated in the Dark and Evil World |
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