DEATH ROW JEWELLERY
42 JEWELLERY FOCUS
were walked through the 15 empty
cells. These cells are always empty
and only the cell nearest is used on
the day of execution to allow the
prisoner to eat and have their last
rites read. At this point the tour
would usually end for the general
public or visitors, however, Warden
Jackson arranged a very special
visit, to meet the 140+ death row
prisoners in person and for a very
special reason.
I walked into the most amazing
and well stocked workshop I
have ever seen to date housing
between 20/30 men. There were
men creating artwork that sold for
tens of thousands. Sculptors whose
works were on display in some of
‘‘
I walked into
the most
amazing and
well stocked
workshop
I have ever
seen to date
housing
between 20/30
men
‘‘
how to make (basic) jewellery and
went off to make a call.
Warden Jackson had been on
to his contact at Huntsville to ask
them if they would give me and
Marc, the journalist, and for that
day honorary prison officer, a tour.
A six-hour drive to Huntsville and
we finally arrived at ‘The Walls’ as
they were affectionately known and
made our way in through the most
stunning Art Deco, highly polished
gates, past the four armed guards,
and through security, finally, onto
Death Row. At that time all death
sentences were on hold due to
appeals in the courts about the
humaneness of the death sentences
and how they were carried out. We
the most luxurious museums and
galleries (sadly the law prevents
promotion and publication of their
locations however these guys had
the lists). Gun holsters expertly
hand carved and branded into only
the highest quality leather that sold
for upwards for $2,000 a piece
(belt not included). At the end I met
Lee, a bald man of no more than
5ft 3in with the thickest lensed
glasses I have ever seen.
Lee, held on death row for 22
years, had been taught by other
death row inmates over the years,
how to make phenomenally
intricate, stunning, diamond set
jewellery and all other types of
jewellery you can imagine. When
August 2017 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk