Ralph Hudson

Ralph James Hudson (February 17, 1919 – January 22, 1963) was the last person to be executed by New Jersey. A native of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Hudson was convicted of stabbing his 49-year-old estranged wife Myrtle Hudson to death as she worked in an Atlantic City, New Jersey, restaurant. Preferring execution over a long prison sentence, Hudson turned down a plea offer for second degree murder. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death.

Hudson was executed by electric chair in the Trenton State Prison. Although other prisoners were sentenced to death by New Jersey after Hudson, including after the state transitioned from the electric chair to lethal injection as their method of execution, no prisoner has been executed since Hudson. The New Jersey Legislature voted to abolish the death penalty in 2007, and the measure was signed into law by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

Background Prior to the murder, Hudson was employed at a shipyard. He had lived in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, from approximately 1935 to 1957; his mother, stepfather, and three teenage children from relationships prior to Myrtle still lived in Pottstown, and he visited them frequently.

Between 1947 and 1957, Hudson accumulated seven arrests for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Also prior to the murder, Hudson was convicted of assault and battery, as well as attempted burglary, after going to the Brigantine, New Jersey, home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lighthizer, a couple that was housing Hudson's estranged wife, so he could assault Myrtle. He was sentenced to six months in jail, but he was released early on December 22, 1960, in time for Christmas. Hudson committed the murder a few days later.

Murder On December 26, 1960, the day before the murder, Hudson went on a drinking binge across multiple Atlantic City taverns.

Right before the murder, Hudson purchased a bread knife from a discount store. Hudson took the knife directly from the store to the restaurant where his estranged wife Myrtle Hudson worked and stabbed her at least twice in the lower chest or abdomen. As other witnesses attempted to aid Myrtle, Hudson told them, "Don't bother with her now; she's dead."

According to Myrtle Hudson's autopsy, she suffered multiple lacerations across her face and one hand, as well as two stab wounds in the lower chest, one of which entered her heart, although both stab wounds would have been fatal. Her death was officially due to hemorrhaging from the chest wounds.

At trial, Hudson faced a jury of eight men and four women. His trial lasted for five days. The judge presiding over Hudson's trial was Judge George Naame. Hudson testified that he was guilty of murder, stating on the stand, "Yeah, I did it."

Death row and execution

Hudson remained on death row in the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton for 13 months between his death sentence and his execution. During his stay in the death house, prison workers described him as a quiet "model prisoner" who spent most of his time watching television. He gained 70 pounds while awaiting execution. The prison's warden stated that "[Hudson's] attitude seemed to be, 'Let's get it over with,'" and that Hudson spent significant portions of his last days writing "chipper" goodbye letters to friends. In early January 1963, less than a month before his execution, he received visits from one of his brothers and one of his sisters. His final visit, two days before his death, was from his stepfather.

On January 22, 1963, Hudson had a last meal consisting of roast beef, French fries, peas, apple pie, ice cream, and coffee, as well as cigars and cigarettes, all of which he shared with fellow inmates. Hours later, he was executed. Hudson entered the death chamber at 9:56 pm with a Methodist priest holding his hand, and Hudson was pronounced dead at 10:03 pm. He did not make a last statement and did not speak at all in the death chamber. There were approximately 50 witnesses to Hudson's death, many of whom were prison employees.

During his execution, protestors stood outside the New Jersey State House picketing, with some protesting the death penalty and some, including state assemblyman John W. Davis, supporting the death penalty.

After his execution, Hudson's body was buried in the New Jersey state prison cemetery in Hamilton Township; his gravesite was marked with a tombstone that bore a number but did not bear his name. Hudson was the last of 361 people to be executed in New Jersey's documented history.