Hangings in the Old West town of Prescott, Arizona

Capital punishment was the law in Arizona since Arizona became a federal territory in 1863.  In 1790 the US Congress passed a law declaring hanging to be the method for all federal executions.  Even when Arizona became a state, capital punishment remained in effect and hanging was the method employed.

In Prescott, Arizona Territory the hangings took place on the east side of the plaza or in the vicinity of Honor Island Park on West Gurley Street.

The Hanging of James Fleming Parker

James Fleming Parker was hung in the Courthouse Square in Prescott, AZ on June 3, 1898.  A known robber/murderer, escaped from jail along with one of this fellow prisoners.  In the process, Parker shot and killed the Assistant District Attorney in the courthouse square.  When captured Parker was sentenced to death and hanged in the square.  He was buried in the Potter's Field of the Citizen's Cemetery in Prescott, AZ.

From the book, Outlaw Tales of Arizona, 2nd: True Stories of the Grand Canyon State's Most Infamous Crooks, Culprits, and Cutthroats by Jan Cleere, it is written:  "As the black hood was placed over his head, he asked it be removed so he could shake hands with everyone on the scaffold.  When he got to the jailer, he gave him a message for the other prisoners. 'Tell the boys that I died game and like a man', he said.  He requested his old friend, Sheriff George Ruffner replace the hood.  As he did so, Ruffner sprang the trap that sent Parker to his death."

Hidalgo and Rentezia hanging

Elijo Hidalgo and Francisco Rentezia were hung on July 23, 1904, for the murders at Goddard Station. This was the first hanging to take place in Prescott since the 1898 hanging of James Fleming Parker. After a prayer, the two prisoners rose, and at this time their hands and feet were bound, and black caps were pulled over their heads.  Sheriff Roberts pulled the lever and just before the trap door dropped, they heard Hidalgo say, "Adios amigos! Adios everybody!"  This photograph was taken from one of the courthouse windows.

The last hanging in Arizona was July 13, 1936, and was near Coolidge Dam with makeshift gallows and the preparation was so poorly planned that the victim hung by his neck and strangled for nearly 30 minutes before he died. Though the execution was considered "private", the horror of the event was widely discussed.  About that time the US Congress took action and stated that the method of execution should be that of the state in which the crime was committed.  The gas chamber replaced the gallows.  (Excerpts from The Prescott Courier, March 1988 by Budge Ruffner, Columnist.)

The Haunted Hassayampa Inn

Hassayampa Inn

Welcome to the Hassayampa Inn, built in 1927 when the previous hotel (Hotel Congress) burned down and when hundreds of citizens bought shares in the project to build first-class lodging in downtown Prescott.  

The year it opened, its most famous legend was made.  The story goes... a very young bride named Faith Summers checked into a balcony suite with her much older husband. Faith's husband went out to buy cigarettes and never returned.  Faith walked the halls and lobby waiting for his return. After three days Faith took her own life by hanging herself from the flag pole on her balcony outside her room...or so the story goes.

When the hotel staff allowed me to visit Faith's room, I had several things happen to me that confirmed that Faith or someone's presence was in that room.  Room 426 and it can be rented.  Are you brave enough to stay there?

I would also like to share the adventure that my friend wrote about her stay in Faith's room.  Debe Branning - Haunted Hassayampa Inn 


I've done hundreds of tours in Prescott and always take the group into the lobby of this beautiful hotel.  Have "ghostly" things happened to me while on the tours? Definitely YES!!!  So many things from knowing when the "Night Watchman" is close by, being tapped on the shoulder by "Silas" a miner who died in the fire of the previous hotel, to stories that guests at the hotel have told me.  I share these and many more stories on my tour.  To find out more about the upcoming tours, please check out my website at:  A Haunting Experience Tours


Darlene Wilson
Owner and Tour guide
928.642.5074
darlene@ahauntingexperiencetours.com


To find out more about the beautiful and haunted Hassayampa Inn check out their website:  Hassayampa Inn

The Hotel Vendome is a special, beautiful and welcoming place to stay

 

Hotel Vendome ~ 1917

The haunted Hotel Vendome has a book of stories about the different haunts in the lobby. One story - a lady didn't like her bed sheets tucked in at the end of the bed so she always pulls the sheets loose.  When she arrived at the Hotel Vendome and checked into Room 16 (Abby’s Room) she did the same thing she always does. The next morning when she woke up - her sheets were all tucked in.

The most famous ghosts at the Hotel Vendome is Abby and her cat Noble in Room 16.  There is an old dress hanging in the closet in that room and the dress has been known to move from one side of the closet to the other.  Others have heard a cat meowing in the closet, where the cat died.  People have reported being touched by unseen presences.  Hearing or feeling Noble jump up on the bed.  Footsteps have been heard in Room 16 when no one is there...or I should say, no human is in the room.

To hear these stories and more, things that I have experienced myself, join me on my haunted tours.  What will you experience?  Are you brave enough to stay in Room 16 at the Hotel Vendome?  


Darlene Wilson
Owner and Tour Guide
928.642.5074

AHauntingExperienceTours.com
http://AHauntingExperienceTours.com

The Hotel Vendome is such a beautiful and welcoming place to stay.  Each room has their own special decor, some with claw-foot tubs and others with a garden tub.  The room includes a continental breakfast, it's located a block from the Courthouse Square, shops and wonderful restaurants.  To treat yourself to a wonderful experience, stay in the Hotel Vendome.  

http://www.vendomehotel.com/