U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for September 30

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30: FIRST EXECUTION IN AMERICA

Profile America — Thursday, September 30th.  The first execution in young America occurred on this date in 1630 at Plymouth Colony, with the hanging of John Billington. He sailed to America aboard the Mayflower and was a signer of the Mayflower Compact.  His execution followed a jury trial which found him guilty of the shooting death of fellow colonist John Newcomen, after a heated argument over hunting rights.  Billington had a record of problems with the authorities, even on the voyage of the Mayflower.  From 1930 to 2008, just under 5,000 people were executed by civil authority across the country.  Just two states have executed more than 100 — Virginia at 102 and Texas at 423.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 489

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 339, 340, 341

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau