Lester Edward Bartholomew

Case information

Lester Edward Bartholomew was charged in Arizona with murder in the Superior Court of Maricopa County.

Timeline

• May 28, 1955 — Bartholomew shot and killed his wife and two children at a motel court at 2133 East Monroe Street, Phoenix, Arizona.
• June 7, 1955 — An Information was filed in the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona, charging Bartholomew with murder (first degree), three counts (felonies).
• June 9, 1955 — Bartholomew was arraigned and entered guilty pleas.
• June 22, 1955 — Bartholomew was sentenced to death for the murders charged in Counts II and III, and the court fixed execution for August 31, 1955 within the walls of the Arizona State Prison at Florence, Arizona.
• August 31, 1955 — Bartholomew was executed by asphyxiation-gas in Arizona.

The offence

On or about the 28th day of May, 1955, in a motel court at 2133 East Monroe Street, Phoenix, Arizona, Bartholomew shot and killed his wife, Marie Bartholomew, and two of their children: Rickie Bartholomew, age 3 years, and Pamela Bartholomew, age 2 years.

• Rickie was shot in the back.
• Pamela was shot while she was lying on a bed.
• Marie was shot in the front a little below the left nipple.
• There was another child involved, but the child was not harmed because Marie, “in some way prevented the defendant from shooting the third child.”

The killings were described as showing a “completely wanton disregard of human life” and as showing “a malignant heart on the part of the defendant.” The killings were described as “brutal,” “without provocation or cause,” and investigation disclosed “that there had been some premeditation for some days before the actual shootings.”

Charges

On June 7, 1955, an Information was filed in the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona, charging Bartholomew with the crime of MURDER (FIRST DEGREE), three counts (felonies):

• Count I — murder of the defendant’s wife, Marie Bartholomew.
• Count II — murder of the defendant’s son, Rickie Bartholomew, age 3 years.
• Count III — murder of the defendant’s daughter, Pamela Bartholomew, age 2 years.

Investigation and psychiatric evaluation

After the plea of guilty and before sentence was passed, two psychiatrists were appointed to look into Bartholomew’s mental condition:

• Dr. William B. McGrath
• Dr. Bruce Hart

Both doctors stated that, in their opinion, Bartholomew was legally sane and knew the difference between right and wrong.

Arrest and prior legal history

Bartholomew stated he had been arrested numerous times on charges including:

• Petty Theft
• Bogus Checks
• Simple Assault
• Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• Aggravated Assault

He was arrested March 18, 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona on the latter charge. In March 1953, he was sentenced to serve a term of 1.5 to 2 years in the Arizona State Prison.

Trial and plea

On June 9, 1955, Bartholomew was arraigned and entered pleas of guilty:

• For Murder (Second Degree) as to Marie Bartholomew, Count I.
• For Murder (First Degree) as to Rickie Bartholomew and Pamela Bartholomew, Counts II and III.

Sentencing

On the 22nd day of June, 1955, before judge Renz L. Jennings in Division 6 of the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona:

• Bartholomew was sentenced to death for the murder of Rickie Bartholomew as charged in Count II of the Information.
• Bartholomew was sentenced to death for the murder of Pamela Bartholomew as charged in Count III of the Information.

The court fixed the time for execution for the 31st day of August, 1955 within the walls of the Arizona State Prison at Florence, Arizona.

Personal statements and background

Bartholomew stated:

• His true name was Lester Edward Bartholomew.
• He was 28 years of age.
• He was born in Fayettville, Arkansas.
• His father was deceased.
• His mother and one sister lived in Phoenix, Arizona.
• One brother and one sister lived in Chandler, Arizona.
• One sister lived in Fayettville, Arkansas.
• He was an American citizen.
• He had lived in Arizona and in Maricopa County for 19 years.
• He had made his living as a truck driver.
• He had one child in Phoenix, Arizona.

Other details

The filing referenced a submission dated the 22nd day of June, 1955 and signed “WM. P. MAHONEY, jr County Attorney.”