Luis Monge
Encyclopedia
Luis José Monge was a convicted murderer who was executed in the gas chamber
at Colorado State Penitentiary in 1967. Monge was the last inmate to be executed before an unofficial moratorium on executions began in the United States in 1972.
who grew up in New York. He was convicted of and sentenced to death for murdering his pregnant wife and three of the couple's ten children after his wife had discovered he'd had an incest
uous relationship with one of their daughters. Monge's murder victims were: his pregnant wife, Leonarda; Alan, age six; Vincent, age four; and Teresa, age eleven months. Immediately after the four murders, Monge called police and admitted his guilt. Monge had no prior felony
convictions; in 1961, however, he abandoned his family for two months and served a short jail sentence in Louisiana for vagrancy
. The alleged motive for the murders was "to prevent exposure of sex crimes committed by defendant with his own children". Monge beat his wife to death with a steel bar as she slept, stabbed Teresa, choked Vincent, and bludgeoned Alan with the steel bar.
on the front steps of the Denver City and County Building. This request was denied.
The following month, Monge fired his attorneys and directed that no attempts should be made to save his life. He gave up all of his appeals and asked to be executed. Nonetheless, his surviving children appealed for clemency. Doctors again evaluated Monge's mental status and found him mentally competent for execution. A week before his death, Monge shared a final meal with his surviving seven children. On the eve of the execution, some seventy members of the Colorado Council to Abolish Capital Punishment gathered on the steps of the state capitol building in Denver in a rally to protest the execution. On June 2, 1967, Monge was executed at the age of 48 in the state's gas chamber.
Upon his death, and according to his wishes, one of Monge's cornea
s was transplanted to a teenaged reformatory inmate. Monge was buried in Greenwood Pioneer Cemetery in Cañon City, Colorado, in a special pauper's section set aside for deceased inmates of Colorado State Penitentiary. His grave lies a few feet from that of John Bizup, Jr., a convicted murderer executed in 1964. The metal marker indicating Monge's grave has been marred with bullet holes. The Colorado gas chamber, retired after Monge's execution, is now an exhibit at the Museum of Colorado Prisons in Cañon City
.
, Monge inquired: "Will that gas bother my asthma
?".
. The Court agreed to review a series of cases challenging that the death penalty was unconstitutional
. While the Supreme Court reviewed these cases, lower courts in all states stayed all pending executions
, thereby creating a de facto
moratorium
on death sentences throughout the nation. The period of this "unofficial" moratorium on capital punishment began on June 2, 1967, with the execution of Luis Monge in Colorado. It would end nearly ten years later on January 17, 1977, with the execution of Gary Gilmore
in Utah.
Execution:
. It would be ten full years before any state would carry out another execution and 30 years before Colorado itself would do so. Monge's was one of only two executions to occur in the United States in 1967. His was also the last execution by gas chamber
in Colorado.
Gas chamber
A gas chamber is an apparatus for killing humans or animals with gas, consisting of a sealed chamber into which a poisonous or asphyxiant gas is introduced. The most commonly used poisonous agent is hydrogen cyanide; carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide have also been used...
at Colorado State Penitentiary in 1967. Monge was the last inmate to be executed before an unofficial moratorium on executions began in the United States in 1972.
Murders
Monge, a Denver salesman, was a native of Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
who grew up in New York. He was convicted of and sentenced to death for murdering his pregnant wife and three of the couple's ten children after his wife had discovered he'd had an incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
uous relationship with one of their daughters. Monge's murder victims were: his pregnant wife, Leonarda; Alan, age six; Vincent, age four; and Teresa, age eleven months. Immediately after the four murders, Monge called police and admitted his guilt. Monge had no prior felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
convictions; in 1961, however, he abandoned his family for two months and served a short jail sentence in Louisiana for vagrancy
Vagrancy (people)
A vagrant is a person in poverty, who wanders from place to place without a home or regular employment or income.-Definition:A vagrant is "a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging;" vagrancy is the condition of such persons.-History:In...
. The alleged motive for the murders was "to prevent exposure of sex crimes committed by defendant with his own children". Monge beat his wife to death with a steel bar as she slept, stabbed Teresa, choked Vincent, and bludgeoned Alan with the steel bar.
Execution
After pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, psychiatrists evaluated Monge and found him to be sane. He then insisted on pleading guilty to first-degree murder. A jury that was convened for the penalty phase of the trial recommended a death sentence, and Monge's conviction and sentence were affirmed on appeal. In January 1966, Governor John Arthur Love suspended all executions in Colorado, pending a referendum on capital punishment by voters. On November 8, 1966, the voters decided to retain the death penalty by a three-to-one margin. In March 1967, Monge attracted national attention when he asked a Denver court to allow him to be hanged at high noonHigh Noon (disambiguation)
High Noon is a 1952 western film directed by Fred Zinnemann.High Noon may also refer to:* High Noon , by Mark Heard, released in 1993...
on the front steps of the Denver City and County Building. This request was denied.
The following month, Monge fired his attorneys and directed that no attempts should be made to save his life. He gave up all of his appeals and asked to be executed. Nonetheless, his surviving children appealed for clemency. Doctors again evaluated Monge's mental status and found him mentally competent for execution. A week before his death, Monge shared a final meal with his surviving seven children. On the eve of the execution, some seventy members of the Colorado Council to Abolish Capital Punishment gathered on the steps of the state capitol building in Denver in a rally to protest the execution. On June 2, 1967, Monge was executed at the age of 48 in the state's gas chamber.
Upon his death, and according to his wishes, one of Monge's cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
s was transplanted to a teenaged reformatory inmate. Monge was buried in Greenwood Pioneer Cemetery in Cañon City, Colorado, in a special pauper's section set aside for deceased inmates of Colorado State Penitentiary. His grave lies a few feet from that of John Bizup, Jr., a convicted murderer executed in 1964. The metal marker indicating Monge's grave has been marred with bullet holes. The Colorado gas chamber, retired after Monge's execution, is now an exhibit at the Museum of Colorado Prisons in Cañon City
Cañon City, Colorado
The City of Cañon City is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Fremont County, State of Colorado. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 16,000 in 2005. Cañon City is noted for being the location of nine state and four ...
.
Quotation
It is reported that, while awaiting his execution by gassingGas chamber
A gas chamber is an apparatus for killing humans or animals with gas, consisting of a sealed chamber into which a poisonous or asphyxiant gas is introduced. The most commonly used poisonous agent is hydrogen cyanide; carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide have also been used...
, Monge inquired: "Will that gas bother my asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
?".
Moratorium
Opponents of capital punishment, in an attempt to abolish the death penalty, waged a national litigation campaign that ultimately found its way to the Supreme Court of the United StatesSupreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. The Court agreed to review a series of cases challenging that the death penalty was unconstitutional
Constitutionality
Constitutionality is the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution. Acts that are not in accordance with the rules laid down in the constitution are deemed to be ultra vires.-See also:*ultra vires*Company law*Constitutional law...
. While the Supreme Court reviewed these cases, lower courts in all states stayed all pending executions
Stay of execution
A stay of execution is a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a court judgment or other court order. The word "execution" does not necessarily mean the death penalty; it refers to the imposition of whatever judgment is being stayed....
, thereby creating a de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
moratorium
Moratorium (law)
A moratorium is a delay or suspension of an activity or a law. In a legal context, it may refer to the temporary suspension of a law to allow a legal challenge to be carried out....
on death sentences throughout the nation. The period of this "unofficial" moratorium on capital punishment began on June 2, 1967, with the execution of Luis Monge in Colorado. It would end nearly ten years later on January 17, 1977, with the execution of Gary Gilmore
Gary Gilmore
Gary Mark Gilmore was an American criminal, and murderer, who gained international notoriety for demanding that his own death sentence be fulfilled following two murders he committed in Utah. He became the first person executed in the United States after the U.S...
in Utah.
Summary
Inmate:- Name: Luis José Monge
- Race: Hispanic
- Sex: Male
- Date of Birth:
- Place of Birth: Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
- Occupation: salesman
- Offense: murder (four victims)
- Location of Offense: Denver, Colorado
- Date of Offense:
- Age at Offense:
- Date of Execution: June 2, 1967
- Age at Execution: 48
- Years on Death Row:
Execution:
- Date: Friday, June 2, 1967
- State: ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- GovernorGovernor of ColoradoThe Governor of Colorado is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the...
: John Arthur LoveJohn Arthur LoveJohn Arthur Love was a United States attorney and Republican politician who served as the 36th Governor of the State of Colorado from 1963 to 1973.... - Warden: Wayne K. Patterson
- Prison: Colorado State Penitentiary
- Location: Cañon City, ColoradoCañon City, ColoradoThe City of Cañon City is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Fremont County, State of Colorado. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 16,000 in 2005. Cañon City is noted for being the location of nine state and four ...
- Method: gas chamberGas chamberA gas chamber is an apparatus for killing humans or animals with gas, consisting of a sealed chamber into which a poisonous or asphyxiant gas is introduced. The most commonly used poisonous agent is hydrogen cyanide; carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide have also been used...
- Last MealLast mealThe last meal is a customary part of a condemned prisoner's last day. Often, the day of, or before, the appointed time of execution, the prisoner receives a last meal, as well as religious rites, if they desire. In the United States, inmates generally may not ask for an alcoholic drink...
: - Last WordsFinal statementWhen a criminal is convicted and sentenced to capital punishment, the criminal can make a final statement, or his "last words", before being executed. Much of the time, the last word is an apology to family, friends, or God. Sometimes though, a final statement includes words of hatred, disgust, or...
: - The 101st execution in Colorado since 1859
- The 14,489th execution in the United States since 1607
Execution in context
Luis Jose Monge's was the last execution both in Colorado and in the United States prior to the 1972 Supreme Court decision in Furman v. GeorgiaFurman v. Georgia
Furman v. Georgia, was a United States Supreme Court decision that ruled on the requirement for a degree of consistency in the application of the death penalty. The case led to a de facto moratorium on capital punishment throughout the United States, which came to an end when Gregg v. Georgia was...
. It would be ten full years before any state would carry out another execution and 30 years before Colorado itself would do so. Monge's was one of only two executions to occur in the United States in 1967. His was also the last execution by gas chamber
Gas chamber
A gas chamber is an apparatus for killing humans or animals with gas, consisting of a sealed chamber into which a poisonous or asphyxiant gas is introduced. The most commonly used poisonous agent is hydrogen cyanide; carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide have also been used...
in Colorado.
See also
- Capital punishment in ColoradoCapital punishment in ColoradoCapital punishment is legal in the U.S. state of Colorado.Colorado was the last state to perform an execution in pre-Furman period , but since 1977 executed only one prisoner.-Current development:...
- Capital punishment in the United StatesCapital punishment in the United StatesCapital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
- Furman v. GeorgiaFurman v. GeorgiaFurman v. Georgia, was a United States Supreme Court decision that ruled on the requirement for a degree of consistency in the application of the death penalty. The case led to a de facto moratorium on capital punishment throughout the United States, which came to an end when Gregg v. Georgia was...
- Gas chamberGas chamberA gas chamber is an apparatus for killing humans or animals with gas, consisting of a sealed chamber into which a poisonous or asphyxiant gas is introduced. The most commonly used poisonous agent is hydrogen cyanide; carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide have also been used...
- Gregg v. GeorgiaGregg v. GeorgiaGregg v. Georgia, Proffitt v. Florida, Jurek v. Texas, Woodson v. North Carolina, and Roberts v. Louisiana, 428 U.S. 153 , reaffirmed the United States Supreme Court's acceptance of the use of the death penalty in the United States, upholding, in particular, the death sentence imposed on Troy Leon...
External links
- Colorado Executions: 1859-1967
- Colorado State Archives: State Penitentiary Records - A Short History of the Colorado State Penitentiary
- The Death Penalty: Office of the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney - Capital Punishment Timeline
- The Executioner's Song: Job's not all it's cracked up to be
- Executions: Regional Studies of Central States
- Eye for an Eye: The grisly legacy of Colorado's death penalty past