Executions Mississippi

Two men who committed murders during holdups were executed within two minutes of each other early Wednesday in Texas and Mississippi, one by lethal injection and the other by cyanide gas. John R. Thompson, 32, died by injection at 12:20 a.m. at Huntsville prison in Texas, and Connie Ray Evans, 27, was pronounced dead two minutes later in the gas chamber at Parchman prison in Mississippi. Both men were denied stays by the Supreme Court about five hours before their executions.

Two men who committed murders during holdups were executed within two minutes of each other early Wednesday in Texas and Mississippi, one by lethal injection and the other by cyanide gas. John R. Thompson, 32, died by injection at 12:20 a.m. at Huntsville prison in Texas, and Connie Ray Evans, 27, was pronounced dead two minutes later in the gas chamber at Parchman prison in Mississippi. Both men were denied stays by the Supreme Court about five hours before their executions.

Convicted murderer Edward Earl Johnson, 26, who killed a marshal, was executed in the gas chamber in Parchman, Miss., early today. Last-minute appeals were turned down by the U.S. Supreme Court, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and a federal district judge. Gov. Bill Allain denied clemency.

Convicted murderer Edward Earl Johnson, 26, who killed a marshal, was executed in the gas chamber in Parchman, Miss., early today. Last-minute appeals were turned down by the U.S. Supreme Court, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and a federal district judge. Gov. Bill Allain denied clemency.