The Execution That Ended the Gallows: The Murder of Amasa Sprague (Rhode Island) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 31, 2026 · 25 MIN

The Execution That Ended the Gallows: The Murder of Amasa Sprague (Rhode Island)

from Haunted American History · host Christopher Feinstein

On New Year's Eve 1843, Rhode Island's most powerful industrialist was found brutally beaten to death along the Pocasset River. His pockets were still full of cash, making one thing immediately clear: this wasn't robbery... it was revenge. What followed became one of the darkest chapters in American legal history, as prejudice, political influence, and a corrupt court system sent an innocent Irish immigrant to the gallows. Tonight, we unravel the murder of Amasa Sprague, the execution of John Gordon, and the wrongful conviction that ultimately led Rhode Island to abolish the death penalty forever.   HAH DISCORD - https://discord.com/invite/bJdbpH3hQm   YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HAHChris   TikTok - @hah_podcast   hauntedamericanhistory.com       Patreon- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hauntedamericanhistory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   LINKS FOR MY DEBUT NOVEL, THE FORGOTTEN BOROUGH Barnes and Noble -   https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-forgotten-borough-christopher-feinstein/1148274794?ean=9798319693334   AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQPQD68S Ebook   GOOGLE: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=S5WCEQAAQBAJ&pli=1       KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-forgotten-borough-2?sId=a10cf8af-5fbd-475e-97c4-76966ec87994&ssId=DX3jihH_5_2bUeP1xoje_       SMASHWORD: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1853316     !! DISTURB ME !! APPLE - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disturb-me/id1841532090 SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/3eFv2CKKGwdQa3X2CkwkZ5?si=faOUZ54fT_KG-BaZOBiTiQ   YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@DisturbMePodcast   www.disturbmepodcast.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HauntedAmericanHistoryTikTok - @hah_podcasthauntedamericanhistory.comPatreon- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hauntedamericanhistory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HAH DISCORD - https://discord.com/invite/bJdbpH3hQm Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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On New Year's Eve 1843, Rhode Island's most powerful industrialist was found brutally beaten to death along the Pocasset River. His pockets were still full of cash, making one thing immediately clear: this wasn't robbery... it was revenge. What followed became one of the darkest chapters in American legal history, as prejudice, political influence, and a corrupt court system sent an innocent Irish immigrant to the gallows. Tonight, we unravel the murder of Amasa Sprague, the execution of John Gordon, and the wrongful conviction that ultimately led Rhode Island to abolish the death penalty forever.

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The Execution That Ended the Gallows: The Murder of Amasa Sprague (Rhode Island)

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