Old Smokey is a euphemistic name given to the state prison electric chair in New Jersey, which is on display at the New Jersey State Police Museum. The chair's most notorious target was Richard Hauptmann, the man behind the Lindbergh kidnapping.

It was also the name given to Pennsylvania's, as well as Tennessee‘s electric chair.

Old Smokey

Executions

New Jersey's chair was used in the electrocution of 159 men between 1907 and 1963. The Pennsylvania electric chair was used in the electrocution of 348 men and two women between 1915 and 1962.

Old Smokey

New Jersey abolished capital punishment in 2007, but had abandoned electrocution in favor of lethal injection in 1983. Pennsylvania abolished electrocution in favor of lethal injection in 1990.

Old Smokey

See also

Old Sparky, the nickname given to several states' electric chairs

Gruesome Gertie, the nickname given to Louisiana's electric chair

Yellow Mama, the nickname given to Alabama's electric chair

References

External links

NJ State Police Museum

The Newseum

1963 disestablishments

Electric chairs

Capital punishment in New Jersey