Researching Richard Cartwright

Cartwright was one of Canada's most distinguished federal politicians during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a cabinet minister in five Liberal governments. He served in the Canadian Parliament for 43 years and 5 months, being an MP from 1867 to 1904 then a Senator until his death in 1912.Prior to Confederation, he had served 4 years, 1 month and 15 days in the Legislative Assembly of the old Province of Canada. Thus, he was a legislator for more than 47 and a half years. He was a vigorous and trenchant orator, and was known as 'the Rupert of debate'. In particular, his debates with his Conservative counterpart, Sir George Eulas Foster, are the stuff of Canadian Parliamentary legend.

He was a progressive. A free trader, he stood against the Conservatives' high-tariff policy. Often propounding on the inalienable right of Canadian freeman to vote for and in support of their patriotic convictions independent of any party, he favoured proportional representation via Single Transferable Voting. He supported the fight of western farmers for accessible terminal grain elevators in 1910.

Cartwright became known with the Abolishment of the Death Penalty Movement after contributing to a series of articles known as Uncensored from Texas Death Row. After his execution, Clinton Lee Young, presently on Texas Death Row, took over the Uncensored from Texas Death Row articles.

Cartwright never denied being a part of the robbery which resulted in Moraida's death, however, he claimed innocence of the shooting and stabbing of Moraida throughout his life on Death Row. Richard Cartwright, Dennis Hagood and Kelly Overstreet hatched a plan to rob a gay man by posing as male prostitutes. They thought such a victim would be an easy target because he would be less apt to report the robbery to police. They met 37-year-old Nick Moraida after he pulled up in a small black sports car. The trio invited Moraida to go drinking with them at a remote gulfside park. When they reached the secluded area, Cartwright pulled out a gun and said, "This is a robbery. Put your hands on the cement [wall]." At the same time, Overstreet held a knife to Moraida's neck. Their plan turned deadly when Moraida refused to give up and tried to flee. One of the men tried to stab Moraida but could not kill him. According to Hagood and Overstreet, Cartwright then shot him in the back with a .38 caliber pistol. Hagood and Overstreet both testified against Cartwright in exchange for reduced sentences; Hagood received 20 years imprisonment and Overstreet received 50 years. Death penalty proponents argue that Cartwright confessed to the murder when he apologized to the family of the victim during his last statement. However, his supporters point out that he never denied being a part of the robbery which resulted in Moraida's death and was apologizing for being involved.

Several months after Cartwright's death, his supporters still claim he had an effect on the abolishment movement against the death penalty, including among his fellow inmates.

For his last meal, Cartwright requested fried chicken, a cheeseburger, onion rings, french fries, bacon, sausage, cheesecake, and cinnamon rolls. When asked if he had a final statement, he said:

After his final statement, the lethal injection was started and Cartwright was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m.

Cartwright was born son of George Frederick Cartwright (1874–1938), M.A., vicar of Plumstead from 1928 to 1938, Organising Secretary of the White Cross League from 1910 to 1915; he was educated at The King's School, Canterbury and Pembroke College, Cambridge. After he was deaconed (during Advent 1936 {19 December}) and priested (the following Advent {18 December 1937}) — both times by Richard Parsons, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral, he was a curate at St Anselm's Kennington Cross and then priest in charge of Lower Kingswood. He was then Vicar of Surbiton, Redcliffe, Bristol and Silverton, Devon before being ordained to the episcopate. He was consecrated on by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, on 29 September 1972 at Westminster Abbey; in retirement he was an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Truro.

He married Rosemary Magdalen (1919-2002), daughter of Lloyd's member Francis Evelyn Bray, of Woking, in 1947, and had a son and three daughters. A daughter, Jane, married Roger Cunliffe Turner, son of Sir (Ronald) Mark Cunliffe Turner (1906-1980), chairman of BHS; their son is the musician Frank Turner.