| Less than 1 percent of the criminal cases tried in the lower federal courts in Western Missouri involved capital crimes; however, it was up to federal prosecutors whether or not to seek the death penalty. Principally relying on court records in the National Archives - Central Plains Region and filling in the gaps with secondary sources such as newspapers, I examine four cases that captured public attention: United States v. Barker (1854)---capital treason, United States v. Stokes (1918)---non-capital espionage; United States v. Hall and Heady (1953)---capital kidnapping; and United States v. Brown (1956)---capital kidnapping. The unique judicial personalities of the judges assigned to each case explained why they allowed certain evidence and testimony, ruled as they did, and, in cases where juries determined sentences, to what degree, if any, judges influenced jurors. |
