Joseph Francel

Life and career Francel was a father of two. Originally from St. Cloud, Minnesota, he was a World War I veteran, having served 16 months overseas as a sergeant in the United States Army. Among those he executed were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Like his predecessors, Francel also performed electrocutions in the neighboring states that used the electric chair as method of execution.

After the execution of William Draper, whom he had electrocuted in Sing Sing on July 23, 1953, Francel decided to quit his job.

At the time of his retirement in August 1953, The New York Times reported that Francel was discontent with his pay of $150 per execution, and that he was particularly exasperated about threats to his life.