George Hassell

July, 1888 (age 38)

Smithville, Bastrop County, United States of America

He woke the two eldest boys and a scuffle ensued, ending with Hassell killing them with a shotgun and an axe. All of the bodies were then stored in the newly dug root cellar by the house. The victims Susie, age 41 Alton, age 21 Virgil, age 15 Maudie, age 13 Russell, age 11 David, age 7 Johnnie, age 6 Nannie Martha, age 4 Samuel, age 22 months Arrest, trial, and execution Hassell claimed to the town he and his family were returning to Oklahoma, and sold all of their belongings in a large yard sale. During the auction a wagon ran over the sinkhole and aroused the suspicion of law enforcement. Soon afterward, Hassell attempted suicide but survived, and excavations revealed the remains in the root cellar. On February 10, 1928, George Hassell became the 37th man to be put to death in the electric chair in the state of Texas. Hassell had a long history of criminal behavior, including the murder of another family in California, embezzlement and military desertion. According to his testimony his initial act was a crime of passion, and he killed the children to protect himself. A psychiatric report at the time characterizes him as a sociopath.

George Hassell

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Background

Hassell was born in Smithville, Texas, the youngest of seven children.

Career

He woke the two eldest boys and a scuffle ensued, ending with Hassell killing them with a shotgun and an axe. All of the bodies were then stored in the newly dug root cellar by the house. The victims

Susie, age 41

Alton, age 21

Virgil, age 15

Maudie, age 13

Russell, age 11

David, age 7

Johnnie, age 6

Nannie Martha, age 4

Samuel, age 22 months

Arrest, trial, and execution

Hassell claimed to the town he and his family were returning to Oklahoma, and sold all of their belongings in a large yard sale.

During the auction a wagon ran over the sinkhole and aroused the suspicion of law enforcement.

Soon afterward, Hassell attempted suicide but survived, and excavations revealed the remains in the root cellar. On February 10, 1928, George Hassell became the 37th man to be put to death in the electric chair in the state of Texas.

Hassell had a long history of criminal behavior, including the murder of another family in California, embezzlement and military desertion. According to his testimony his initial act was a crime of passion, and he killed the children to protect himself.

A psychiatric report at the time characterizes him as a sociopath.

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George Hassell

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