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Acknowledgments

I wish to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to my father, Warden W. Jesse Buchanan, who made his personal papers available to me and answered myriad questions with candor; to Governor A. B. “Happy” Chandler, Deputy Warden Porter Lady, Death House Supervisor John Rankin and Columnist Allan Trout who added invaluable details during my research; to my mother, Margaret Kagy Buchanan, and sister, Margaret Baldwin Clements, for their contributions about Frog Island, and other key events; to Father Thomas Libs, who related events not a matter of public or church records; and to the three convicted murderers, Thomas Penney, Raymond Baxter, and Robert Anderson, who shared intensely personal recollections and thoughts with me during the final days, hours and minutes of their lives.

Thanks also to Clara Wiedemann, Frances Baccus, O. Thomas Bell, William Biggs, A. Waller Clements, Hugh and Mary Louise Greene, Porter Lady, Jr., James Park, Jr., Frankie Thomas, Jim Thomas, Odell Walker, and others who wish to remain anonymous, for their help during my more recent research for the book.

Finally, a special thanks to my wife, Milli, for her encouragement and priceless assistance during the final composition of the manuscript.