The person in this photo is Joe Hallyday.
He loved trains, ice cream, and building blocks. Mr. Alidy had severe autism. Therefore, even though he was arrested for murdering a female student and imprisoned in death row, he was unable to offer any defense.
During his months in death row, he was recorded as playful, happy, and optimistic. He often shared his toy trains with other inmates. Even the prison warden developed a paternal affection for Alidy. He was known as "the happiest prisoner in death row."
Before his execution, Mr. Alidy was summoned by the warden and told that he would be executed peacefully. Confused by these words, Mr. Alidy shook his head, smiled brightly at the warden whom he believed to be a close friend, and said:
No, no. Joe isn't going to die.
Mr. Alidy clearly didn't understand what a gas chamber was. He was smiling the whole time, holding the director's hand (who was wearing a gas mask) in the room. Eventually, the gas spread throughout his body and he died. To the very end, he never understood what was happening or why it was happening…
In 2011, 72 years after his death, Mr. Hallydi was acquitted. It was revealed that his confession had been coerced.

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