The rabbit had been trapped in the woods at Parchman by two of
the guards, who named him Sam for the occasion. He was the
largest of the four brown rabbits captured. The other three had
already been eaten.
Late at night, Sam the rabbit and his handlers, with Colonel
Nugent and the execution team, parked by the Maximum Security
Unit in prison vans. The execution team went into the Chamber
Room . The room was spotless and newly painted. Nugent had
organized that. Now he walked around, inspecting everything —
pointing and nodding and frowning. At last he seemed satisfied.
“Get the rabbit,” Nugent ordered. One of the handlers
brought the animal in. He sat innocently in a wire cage which
was handed to the guards. They carefully placed the cage in the
chair, then began their task of tying in an imaginary man. Wrists,
knees, ankles, head, and the rabbit was ready for the gas. The
guards left the chamber.