Twisted last words of notorious cop killer before he was executed on death row electric chair

George Appel, infamous for his last words before being executed in the electric chair in 1928 for killing a police officer , has left a chilling legacy.

Lieutenant Charles J. Kemmer was gunned down by Appel after stumbling upon a robbery in a Brooklyn eatery. Despite being mortally wounded, Kemmer managed to scribble down the license plate of Appel's escape vehicle, leading to the arrest of Appel and his cohort.

Appel, at age 41, maintained his innocence regarding the officer's death , claiming, "I am innocent of the killing of that cop. I committed other crimes and I lay that to evil companions. But I didn't kill the cop, I wouldn't kill one."

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He said: "Didn't I try to save the life of one? Graham was one, wasn't he, and didn't I try to prove him innocent?" His final quip as he faced death was: "Well, gentlemen, you are about to see a baked Appel."

Journalist Matt Roper said: "He would have been forgotten by history by now if not for his notorious 'dad joke' just before having thousands of volts pumped into him." The "Graham" mentioned by Appel referred to Daniel J. Graham Jr., another lawman executed that same night, whom Appel had tried to exonerate while behind bars.

There were whispers in the courtroom as one account mentioned: "The evidence was found to be so flimsy, no new trial was ordered." Edward Byrne, an associated suspect, seemed to be even more disturbed than Appel, although he dodged the doom of the electric chair.

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Appel's partner in crime, the 24-year-old Byrne, was handed down a life sentence when he admitted his guilt in front of the jury at their collective trial.