West Virginia Penitentiary gained notoriety as one of the most violent correctional facilities. It is even ranked today on the United States Department of Justice’s Top Ten Most Violent Correctional Facilities List. The penitentiary had many forms of punishment. Over the 129 years it was open, 104 men were executed for their crimes. The two forms of punishment were hangings and electrocution. This came about when the state assumed the responsibility of capital punishment from the counties. Hangings were used between 1899 and 1949. Some records indicate the earliest hangings taking place in the North Wagon Gate. Others proceeded up the Death House’s thirteen stairs where a noose was slipped over their heads with thirteen knots. The thirteen
