The US used Ellis Island to execute two pirates April 22, 1831 and used Bedloe’s Island to execute pirate Albert Hicks July 12, 1860. Why not likewise with Gordon? His appeal even argued that a new state law barred execution except for murder or treason, and not sooner than one year after conviction. But the court rejected that argument. Correction head Simeon Draper gave feds the permission. Note: his signature.
	The Bedloe's Island Fort Wood image was extracted from one found on the National Park Service site's "Early History of Bedloe's Island" web page at
	http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/hh/11/hh11m.htm
	The “S. Draper” signature was extracted from an image of 2 dozen signatures on a petition by leading NYers on behalf a candidate for a federal appointment in the Lincoln administration.