Digital Commonwealth — Boston Public Library
Eyes of dead murderer might give sight to two blind men
International News Photos (New York, N.Y.) · May 18, 1947
Surgeons today, hoped that the eyes of a dead murderer might restore sight to two living men, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Before 20-year-old Vollie Bill Bates (left) was put to death in the Tucker Prison Farm electric chair for the robbery slaying of a cab driver, he willed his eyes to someone who "needed them badly." Surgeons removed the corneas from Bates' eyes shortly after his death and transplanted them to the eyes of Frank McCracken, 49, (center) and Michael F. Boucher, 73, (right). Now time will tell if the operation was successful.
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