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Rhode Island’s Last Execution – a presentation by the 1916 Commemorative Committee
Photo: Paul Caranci
Rhode Island is one of 23 states that does not have capital punishment. Author Paul Caranci will discuss the story of the last person executed in the state in a multi-media presentation on Friday, April 29th at 7:30 pm, at the Rhode Island Irish Ceilide Club, 50 America Street in Cranston.
Caranci tells how Amasa Sprague, a wealthy Yankee mill owner, was beaten to death on a cold night in 1843. A poor Irish immigrant, John Gordan was arrested, tried and convicted. He was sentenced to hang in spite of the overwhelming evidence that the trial was flawed, and newly discovered evidence would have exonerated him. But an “anti-Irish Catholic establishment” refused him a new trial. He was hanged on February 14, 1845.
Caranci is the latest in a series of speakers presented by the 1916 Commemorative Committee. Topics have ranged from “The Abbey Theatre and Its Role in Irish Nationalism”, “The Town I Loved So Well” describing the city of Derry in Northern Ireland and its difficulties during British Army occupation in the 70s and 80s, to a presentation on Brexit and its effect on Ireland.
The 1916 Commemorative Committee was formed to recognize the Easter Rising in Dublin in April 1916. The group is composed of representatives from Irish organizations throughout the state. Its goal is to educate and engage not only the approximately 193,000 Rhode Island residents of Irish ancestry, but people of all ethnic backgrounds, with the goal of leading to a better understanding of this small but significant country.
Another goal is to encourage visitation to the Famine Memorial Site located on the Greenway in Providence (across from Capriccio Restaurant).
Following Caranci’s presentation, Sean Connell will provide music immediately after the lecture in the downstairs pub. There is no admission, and the public is welcome.
More information: Ann McCarthy-401 722-576
More information on Paul Caranci: http://www.paulcaranci.com/ – Paul is an author with twelve published books to his credit including four award winning books. The Hanging & Redemption of John Gordon: The True Story of Rhode Island’s Last Execution (The History Press, 2013) was voted one of the top five non-fiction books of 2013 by the Providence Journal. Scoundrels: Defining Corruption Through Tales of Political Intrigue in Rhode Island (Stillwater River Publications, 2016) was the winner of the 2016 Dorry Award as the non-fiction book of the year. The Promise of Fatima: One Hundred Years of History, Mystery & Faith (Stillwater River Publications, 2017) and I Am The Immaculate Conception: The Story of Bernadette of Lourdes (Stillwater River Publications, 2019) were each names finalists in the International Book Awards in Los Angeles, California. Paul’s seventh book, Wired: A Shocking True Story of Political Corruption and the FBI Informant Who Risked Everything to Expose It (Stillwater River Publications, 2017) tells his own story of courage in the face of the political corruption that surrounded him..