| The Pawtucket Chapter of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick cordially invites you to join in the honoring of John Gordon. |
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Saturday October 8th, 2011 at St. Mary’s Cemetery – 103 Pine Street, Pawtucket, RI John Gordon was the last person executed in the State of Rhode Island, on February 14th, 1845. Gordon was charged and convicted in the 1843 murder of a wealthy business owner, Amasa Sprague. The Gordon saga has lived on for 150+ years in the political and judicial arenas. Gordon’s execution being cited as evidence against capital punishment many times through the years. At the bare minimum John Gordon certainly did not receive a fair shot at proving his innocence. Gordon was faced with a general Anti-Catholic and Anti-Irish temperament across the state, specifically from the direction of the judge and jury involved in his case. Through the efforts of many Rhode Island citizens, elected officials, and various people with an interest in the clearing of Gordon’s name, after several proceedings through the House of Representatives, and the State Senate, on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 Governor Chafee granted a pardon to John Gordon, in the same room that his trial and conviction took place in. John Gordon was secretly buried in the St. Mary’s Cemetery by his fellow Irishman, without a marker on his grave. Saturday, October 8th the Friendly Son’s of St. Patrick – Pawtucket Chapter will proudly honor Gordon with a monument in the St. Mary’s Cemetery. Tentatively set for a 1:00 pm ceremony within the cemetery. Please join us on this historic day! Regards,
Shaun O’Brien, President www.friendlysonspawtucket.com Google Map showing St. Mary's Church
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