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Witness for the execution

By Michael Toney

From a listing that appeared in May 2000 on eBay, the Internet auction site. Ebay removed the item four hours after it was posted.

ITEM: 340903491 FIRST

QUANTITY: 1

BID: $100.00

LOCATION: Huntsville, TX

My name is Michael Toney. Most people call me Cowboy. I am on Texas's death row, awaiting execution for a crime I did not commit. It is against Texas law for a person who has been convicted of a crime to profit from the crime itself. I do not intend to profit. However, I have a responsibility to my two beautiful daughters. I have a right to choose five people to witness my execution. I have decided to select the five by taking bids on each of the seats. The five highest bidders will be asked to donate the amount of their bid to my children. I figure the bidders will be one of two types: a compassionate person who understands what I am doing and wishes to help my children overcome the obstacle of their father's death, or a sadist. I will thank the compassionate and I will forgive the sadists.

My goals are to own up to my responsibility to my children, whom I have neglected for some thirteen years, and to shed some light on the injustices in this country, and especially those in Texas. I know that innocent people are being executed.

Once the five highest donors are determined and accepted, I will withdraw my right to appeal this wrongful conviction. About six months later I will be given a murder date. My murder will take place within the following month or so at 6:00 P.M. in Huntsville, Texas, by lethal injection. For those of you who may be sadists, I will provide you with proof that lethal injection is not the painless and humane death that most believe it is. I will also supply you with a detailed description of my feelings of knowing that I will be murdered. I will even tell you how it feels as I draw my last breaths.

I know the auctioning of witness seats to a murder is unheard of, but I assure you that this is legitimate. What could be more serious than death? If you would like more information, feel free to contact me at mrcowboytoney@hotmail.com.

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SEE ALSO: Auctions; Death row inmates; Executions and executioners; Witnesses

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