Before we dig into today s fun topic how colleagues of Arkansas Gazette cops-beat reporter Joe Wirges mocked his candidacy for Big Rock constable in 1922 we must scratch up an un-fun bit of necessary background.
A century ago, Arkansas Gov. Thomas McRae postponed the execution of a murderer named Amos Ratliff 10 hours before he was due to die in the electric chair. But the warden and Ratliff’s minister didn’t tell him right away. They let him confess first.