The California justice system and Folsom prison provided a twofor on Eighty-Three Years ago when Bloody Brown became the Sixty-First Inmate hanged at Folsom for his participation in a guard's death. He was followed thirty minutes later by Sixty-Two Roy Stokes.
They earned their trip to the gallows because of their participation in 1927 when Folsom played host to The Thanksgiving Day Riots that left 10 convicts and 1 guard dead. For those considered to be the ringleaders, the riot earned them certain nicknames. Forger, Albert Stewart was called “The Penman” but after turning states’ evidence against his fellow rioters, he is forever known as “The Squealer.”. His co-conspirators: #63 Walter E. Burke became “Scarface,”. #64, James Gregg became “The Weasel,”. #65, James Gleason was “The Rat” as he was expected to “squeal” at trial.
Anthony Tony Brown became Bloody Brown after his role in the Thanksgiving Day Riot of 1927. He and Roy Stokes both ordered sweet potatoes, baked squash, bread and butter, peach pie and homemade donuts and coffee for their final meal. It is good to see that they were concerned with a natural healthy diet. They both commented that their final dinner was very nice. In the morning, they enjoyed a hearty breakfast of cereal, fried eggs, fried potatoes, corn griddle cakes and maple syrup, peaches, hot muffins, buttered toast and, coffee.
At eleven o'clock, Bloody was lead from his cell some twenty paces to his place atop the trap. His sentence of death by hanging was read to him. He was asked for any last comments and he declined. The drop was good and his feet twirled twice to the right and back three times to the left and then stopped. He was cut down at 11:11 and conveyed to the prison morgue. The inmates mopped up the urine and feces and prepared for Roy to complete the dual execution.
At 12:05 Roy was lead from his adjacent cell. He heard the same words from the warden as Brown did. He too left no words and dropped at 12:25. His drop was equally efficient, cleaning snapping his neck. The trusties responded smartly with disinfectant, soap and water, clearing the air the cement beneath the gallows.
Anthony Bloody Brown became the 427th legally executed Californian and Roy Stokes became the 428th since California recorded its first execution of a Pamo leader in 1778 in San Diego.
