Joseph Ernst
Encyclopedia
Joseph R. Ernst was a convicted murderer who was executed at the New Jersey State Prison
electric chair
on July 31, 1962. He was the 159th convict to be executed in the New Jersey electric chair since 1907.
Joseph Ernst was convicted of shooting and killing his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend, Joan Connor, on March 14, 1959. Connor had left Ernst when Ernst was incarcerated at a juvenile detention facility when he was seventeen. When Ernst got out of prison, he went to try and rekindle his friendship with Connor, who rebuffed him. Ernst then struck Connor, inflicting a scalp wound on her. Joan Connor's father signed a criminal complaint against Ernst which caused him to flee. Ten days later Ernst returned to the Connor home armed with a .38 caliber handgun. Ernst fired multiple shots through the door which struck and killed Connor, who was standing behind the door.
New Jersey State Prison
The New Jersey State Prison , formerly known as Trenton State Prison, is a state prison in Trenton, New Jersey operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections. It accommodated over 1,900 prisoners as of January, 2005....
electric chair
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
on July 31, 1962. He was the 159th convict to be executed in the New Jersey electric chair since 1907.
Joseph Ernst was convicted of shooting and killing his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend, Joan Connor, on March 14, 1959. Connor had left Ernst when Ernst was incarcerated at a juvenile detention facility when he was seventeen. When Ernst got out of prison, he went to try and rekindle his friendship with Connor, who rebuffed him. Ernst then struck Connor, inflicting a scalp wound on her. Joan Connor's father signed a criminal complaint against Ernst which caused him to flee. Ten days later Ernst returned to the Connor home armed with a .38 caliber handgun. Ernst fired multiple shots through the door which struck and killed Connor, who was standing behind the door.