In 1972, when the Supreme Court took all the fun out of the death penalty by declaring it "cruel and unusual punishment" a couple of local hanging judges took exception.
Judge Lamar Rose, by throwing a rope with a noose at one end over the limb of an oak at the Lee County Courthouse, aptly declared what he thought of the ruling. (That historic oak is the one they're going to cut down)
At home here in Collier, Judge Richard "Retched" Stanley had shown and said what he thought of the death penalty beforehand. According to news reports, during the Porter murder trial, Stanley brought out the brass knuckles and pistol he carried and displayed them prominently before him on the bench.
At the time of the trial, when asked if he could personally execute anyone he said, "Well, I'll go along with that as long as they allow me, right after I pronounce the sentence, to reach down by my left leg and come up with my pistol, and shoot 'em right between the eyes."
The Porter jury didn't agree with the Judge and voted, unanimously, for a life sentence. Stanley ignored them and imposed the death penalty.
Later, the Judge's court clerk testified that even before the trial Stanley had told him that he was going to send the S.O.B. to the electric chair.
I knew Judge Stanley professionally and personally, having been with him at many social gatherings. And for his honor to leave the slightest bit of doubt where he stood, would have been way out of character.
And, he was usually right!
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