Toni Jo Henry

Pretty Toni Jo Henry seemed to have it all – cover girl looks, a good brain and membership of a respectable old Louisiana family. However she also had a strong will and an unhealthy fascination with the murkier side of life. At 16 she became one of the most popular hookers in Shreveport's premier brothel. One day, on an outside assignment in nearby Texas she met an outlaw called Cowboy Henry and the pair fell in love and married. Sadly their plans for a future together had to be put on hold as Cowboy was free only on bail whilst awaiting sentencing for manslaughter. In the event he was given 50 years and Toni Jo was distraught. She vowed at the trial that she would get him out. After obtaining a veritable arsenal of guns, she set about finding a getaway car. This was achieved by hitchhiking and then drawing a gun on the hapless driver. She forced him first to drive to a secluded spot where she told him to strip. She then, according to some reports, pulled out a pair of pliers with which she secured his most vital organ and dragged him to a rice field. There she shot him dead and took off with her booty. She never got to Cowboy and was quickly arrested and sentenced to die. Her head having been shaved to facilitate contact with the electrode, she walked the last mile to Louisiana's electric chair on 28 November 1942 with a gaily coloured bandana wrapped round her head. She was 26.