The following totally badass statements, many of which were uttered while awaiting execution, demonstrate that some people just do not scare easily, either that or they are masters at never revealing their fear. The quotes come to us courtesy of Cracked.Com. All Things Crime Blog has altered or added to the descriptions, often with the help of Wikipedia.
Carl Panzram was an American serial killer, rapist, arsonist and burglar. In graphic detail, Panzram confessed to his only friend, prison guard Henry Lesser, to 22 murders, and to having sodomized over 1,000 males. Imprisoned a number of times, he was finally hanged for having murdered another prisoner at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in 1930. Panzram was a master of the pithy, one-line, badass statement. Once, when asked what he thought about his victims, Panzram replied: “I wish you all had one neck and I had my hands on it.”
–Carl Panzram
In 1928, convicted New York murderer George Appel was to die in the electric chair. He did not express regret or contrition. Nor die he apologize to his loved ones. Instead, when asked to make a final statement, Appel quipped: “Well, gentlemen, you are about to see a baked Appel.”
–George Appel
Edward H. Rulloff was a noted philologist and criminal accused of beating his wife and daughter to death as well as poisoning his sister-in-law and niece. Rulloff is also notable for his brain which as of 1970 was considered the second largest on record and can be seen on display at the psychology department at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. While awaiting his death, Rulloff admonished his executioners to get a move on: “Hurry it up! I want to be in hell in time for dinner!”
–Edward H. Rulloff
James W. Rodgers was an American who was sentenced to death by the state of Utah for the murder of miner, Charles Merrifield, in 1957. While awaiting his death by way of the firing squad, when asked if he wanted anything before facing the riflemen, he replied logically : “Why, yes… A bullet-proof vest.”
– James W. Rodgers
Famous Utah murderer, Gary Gilmore (chronicled by Norman Mailer in The Executioners Song) broke precedent and managed to fire off two totally badass statements during his final moments. First, he kissed his brother good-bye with these immortal words: “See you in the darkness.” Then, as he headed to face the firing squad, he barked: “Let’s do it!”
–Gary Gilmore
In keeping with the time-honored tradition, James Allan “Red Dog” was asked whether he had any final words, to which he replied: “Y’all can all kiss my ass.”
–James Allan “Red Dog”
Frustrated by the stupidity and inanity of the human race, famous muckraking journalist, H. L. Mencken, snapped: “Every normal man must be tempted at time to spit on his hands, hoist that black flag, and begin slitting throats.”
–H.L. Mencken
Noted rabble-rouser, drunkard, Indian hater and frontiersman, Davy Crockett, once announced, presumably before taking his final stand at the Alamo: “You may all go to Hell and I will go to Texas.”
–Davy Crockett
During the famous 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle”, Mohammed Ali, after taking everything George Frazier had to throw at him for seven rounds, whispered: “That all you got, George?”
–Mohammad Ali
Emiliano Zapata was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South. Followers of Zapata were known as Zapatistas and he is still revered today. At some point preceding his death, Zapata uncorked the following classic line: “It’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees.”
–Emiliano Zapata