82 years ago, Clarendon Co. teen executed by the electric chair

82 years ago, Clarendon Co. teen executed by the electric chair CLARENDON COUNTY S.C.(WPDE) — The community is remembering 14-year-old George Stinney, Junior, who was convicted and put to death by the electric chair on June 16, 1944, for the murders of two girls ages 7 and 11 in the Alcolu community of Clarendon County. Their bodies were found on March 24, 1944. Stinney was arrested the same day. Officials said Stinney confessed, but that he was coerced. The trial lasted 2 and a half hours without testimony from Stinney. In 2014, a circuit court judge heard arguments on whether a new trial should be granted and overturned his conviction, saying the state did a great injustice when it put Stinney in the electric chair less than two months after he was convicted and just 12 weeks after he was arrested. The judge further stated Stinney got an unfair trial and it was impossible to determine the boy's guilt or innocence. George Frierson led the fight for more than 10 years to get justice for Stinney. MORE: 1 shot near Bunker Hill community of Dillon County, sheriff says ABC 15 talked with Frierson on this 82 year following the teen's execution saying he fought for 10 and a half years for justice on Stinney's part. Frierson said he was a combat soldier during the Vietnam War and was trained to never leave a fellow soldier behind. He added that's why for more than a decade of his life, he fought so hard for the 14-year-old and for South Carolina to admit its wrong in Stinney's unfair execution. Many credit Frierson with being the catalyst who worked to get to Stinney’s conviction overturned. He and a special committee worked hard to have a memorial erected for the 14-year-old. It will serve as a lasting reminder of what happened to him. The memorial for Stinney is on three acres off of Sumter Highway in Alcolu.