Theodore "Ted" Jordan, Jr. was an African American sentenced to death in Oregon, which was later commuted down to life in prison. It was reported that authorities in Klamath Falls, Oregon questioned Jordan where he confessed to robbing and murdering a Southern Pacific Railway employee. Jordan vehemently denied that he confessed and during his trial professed his innocence repeatedly while on the witness stand. Jordan claimed a railroad special investigator framed him. The jury rule him guilty and the judge sentenced Jordan to death by hanging.
According the Jordan, he was tortured by the authorities to get several confessions until it matched the case well enough.
While enroute to a state penitentiary, Jordan received wounds inflicted upon him by his Klamath County sheriff escort.[1] Just a month from his execution date, Governor Julius Meier commuted Jordan's term from death to life in prison along with another inmate, Harry Riley.[2]