The statements are hard to read. They are at once public and very private. They are domestic. They ask partners to care for soon-to-be fatherless children. There is a lot of love - for friends, supporters, partners, already grieving parents. There is guilt. They are overwhelmingly religious, mostly asking for mercy from a Christian God, though there is the occasional invocation of Allah. The appearance of a foreign language is unusual. In more recent years the recorders have contented themselves with "...(Spanish)...", as if being foreign stripped the prisoner of their last words. Profanity gets the same treatment. State-sanctioned murder is fine. Swearing, it seems, is not.

Many are still pleading their innocence. This too is difficult to read, because there is no way for us to know whether they are telling the truth. Along with each statement is a description of the crimes each prisoner is accused of committing. Rape, sexual molestation and murder of a five-year-old. Rape, strangling and drowning of a 28-year-old woman. Murder, during robberies, of a whole procession of small-town store clerks. Many may well not be able to face, possibly even comprehend what they have done; others may be hoping for the last-minute stay. And some may be telling the truth: a careful Boston Globe review of the 127 death-row inmates who died during George Bush's governorship of Texas concluded that "there was powerful proof of guilt - uncontradicted scientific evidence, freely offered confessions, or an admission of regret before the execution - in nine out of 10 cases."

Farley Matchett is the most recent prisoner to be executed in Texas, and the 21st this year. According to his own account, he killed a man in self-defence in a fight in July 1991. "I called the paramedics but he died in surgery later," he said. He was arrested, and for the next 36 hours, he claimed, "The detectives literally beat a confession out of me. I signed it just to get them to stop the beatings." He accused his lawyer of failing to plead self-defence, and anti-death penalty activists took up his cause. But the official record alleges that the argument was about his crack addiction, and an autopsy contradicts his account of the death. He also, the police say, killed a 74-year-old woman with a hammer the day before.

Some cases have become causes celebre. Gary Graham was convicted of killing Bobby Grant Lambert in a Houston parking lot in Houston in May 1981, when he was 17. His last words, on June 22 2000, ended with: "Keep marching, black people. They are killing me tonight. They are murdering me tonight."

Race is an unignorable factor, but though the general perception is that death row is populated largely by black men, 49% of those executed since 1976 have been white, 36% black, and 15% Hispanic; much more striking is the lack of opportunity, the generally low level of education: few went further than high school.

Then there are those executed despite their mental incapacity: Oliver Cruz, executed in August 2000, had an IQ of between 64 and 76; Larry Robison, also executed in 2000 for killing five people when he was 24, was a paranoid schizophrenic.

After a while, when you have read 100 or so of these final statements, they start to run together into a ghoulish mass of murder and rapine, so you start looking for the differences. The man who wanted to reassure the husband of the woman he strangled, raped and killed that she fought him to the end. Or Billy Vickers, who admitted on the gurney that he was responsible for not one, but at least a dozen deaths.

Many - including Cruz - accept what they have done and simply say that they are sorry. Some exit defiant, squaring up to the victims' relatives. Many end with what seems, on paper at least, a gentle word of assent to the warden, as if giving permission, a tiny gesture of control over their own ends. Lawrence Lee Buxton was executed on February 26 1991 for shooting a customer in a grocery-store hold-up. His entire last statement reads: "I'm ready, Warden".

Henry Porter

Executed July 9 1985

Age 43

Age at time of offence 33

Crime Killing a police officer

Last statement "What I want people to know is that they call me a cold-blooded killer when I shot a man that shot me first. The only thing that convicted me was that I am a Mexican and that he was a police officer. People hollered for my life, and they are to have my life tonight.

"The people never hollered for the life of the policeman that killed a 13-year-old boy who was handcuffed in the back seat of a police car. The people never hollered for the life of a Houston police officer who beat up and drowned Jose Campo Torres and threw his body in the river. You call that equal justice. This is your equal justice. This is America's equal justice.

"A Mexican's life is worth nothing. When a policeman kills someone he gets a suspended sentence. When a Mexican kills a police officer this is what you get. From there you call me a cold-blooded murderer. I didn't tie anyone to a stretcher. I didn't pump poison into anybody's veins from behind a locked door [ ... ] I hope God will be as merciful to society as he has been to me. I'm ready, Warden."

Freddie Webb

Executed March 31 1994

Age 33

Age at time of offence 25

Crime Abduction and murder

Last statement "Peace."

Willis Jay Barnes

Executed September 10 1999

Age 51

Age at time of offence 39

Crime Rape and murder of an 84-year-old woman

Last statement "I would like to give love to my mother, sisters and brothers and let them know that I am thinking of them right now and I want to thank God for giving me such a loving family. To the victim's family: I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me as I have forgiven you. I'm ready, Warden."

Jason Eric Massey

Executed April 3 2001

Age 28

Age at time of offence 20

Crime Murder of two children, aged 13 and 14

Last statement "Yes, first I would like to speak to the victims' family. First of all, I would like to say that I do not know any of y'all and that is unfortunate, because I would like to apologise to each and every one of you individually. I can't imagine what I have taken from y'all, but I do want to apologise and I want to let you know that I did do it. You guys know that I am guilty and I am sorry for what I have done.

"I apologise and I know that you may not be [ ... ] able to forgive me in this life and in this world, but I hope sometime in the future you will be able to find it in you to forgive me. And I want you to know that Christina, she did not suffer as much as you think she did. I promise you that. I give you my word. I know you guys want to know where the rest of her remains are. I put her remains in the Trinity river. I have said that since I have come to death row. I want to apologise to you again. I hope sometime in the future you can forgive me.

"OK, now I want to speak to my mom and my family. Brother Anderson, Kathy, I want you to know that I appreciate all these years that you have been coming to see me on death row and Daddy, I love you. I appreciate y'all being here and being strong for me, and Mama, you know I love you, and I appreciate all these visits, the letters and everything y'all have done for me. Y'all have been wonderful. You too, Granny. I love y'all and you know, I want to apologise to y'all too for what I have done. For all the pain that I have caused, but all this pain has brought us closer together and all this suffering that we have been through has brought us all closer to the Lord and in the end that is what counts. Isn't it? That's what counts in the end; where you stand with Almighty God."

Jeffery Doughtie

Executed August 16 2001

Age 39

Age at time of offence 31

Crime Murder of an elderly couple in their antique shop

Last statement "For almost nine years I have thought about the death penalty, whether it is right or wrong, and I don't have any answers. But I don't think the world will be a better or safer place without me. If you had wanted to punish me you would have killed me the day after, instead of killing me now. You are not hurting me now. I have had time to get ready, to tell my family goodbye, to get my life where it needed to be."

Jermarr Arnold

Executed January 16 2002

Age 43

Age at time of offence 24

Crime Murder of a 21-year-old jewellery-store worker

Last statement "Yes sir, members of Mrs Sanchez's family, I don't know who you are and other people present. As I said, I'm taking responsibility for the death of your daughter in 1983. I'm deeply sorry for the loss of your loved one [ ... ] I cannot explain and can't give you answers. I can give you one thing, and I'm going to give that today. I [can] give a life for a life. I pray you will have no ill will or animosity. You have the right to see this, I am glad you are here. All I can do is ask the Lord for forgiveness. I am not saying this to be facetious. I am giving my life. I hope you find comfort in my execution. As for me, I am happy, that is why you see me smiling. I am glad I am leaving this world. I am going to a better place. I have made peace with God, I am born again [ ... ] God bless all of you. Thank you all for being here."

Napoleon Beazley

Executed May 28 2002

Age 25

Age at time of offence 17

Crime "Carjacking murder" of 63-year-old John Luttig

Last statement "The act I committed to put me here was not just heinous, it was senseless. But the person that committed that act is no longer here - I am.

"I'm not going to struggle physically against any restraints. I'm not going to shout, use profanity or make idle threats. Understand, though, that I'm not only upset, but I'm saddened by what is happening here tonight. I'm not only saddened, but disappointed that a system that is supposed to protect and uphold what is just and right can be so much like me when I made the same shameful mistake.

"If someone tried to dispose of everyone here for participating in this killing, I'd scream a resounding, "No." I'd tell them to give them all the gift that they would not give me [ ... ] and that's to give them all a second chance.

"I'm sorry that I am here. I'm sorry that you're all here. I'm sorry that John Luttig died. And I'm sorry that it was something in me that caused all of this to happen to begin with.

"Tonight we tell the world that there are no second chances in the eyes of justice [ ... ] Tonight, we tell our children that in some instances, in some cases, killing is right [ ... ] No one wins tonight. No one gets closure. No one walks away victorious."

Billy Vickers

Executed January 28 2004

Age 58

Age at time of offence 47

Crime Murder

Last statement "Tell Mama and the kids I love you; I love all of you. And I would like to clear some things up if I could. Tommy Perkins, the man that got a capital life sentence for murdering Kinslow - he did not do it. I did it. He would not even have had anything to do with it if he had known I was going to shoot the man. He would not have gone with me if he had known. I was paid to shoot the man. And Martin, the younger boy, did not know what it was about. He thought it was just a robbery. I am sorry for that.

"It was nothing personal. I was trying to make a living. A boy on Eastham doing a life sentence for killing Jamie Kent - I did not do it, but I was with his daddy when it was done. I was there with him and down through the years there were several more that I had done or had a part of. And I am sorry and I am not sure how many - there must be a dozen or 14 I believe all total. One I would like to clear up is Cullen Davis - where he was charged with shooting his wife. And all of these it was never nothing personal. It was just something I did to make a living. I am sorry for all the grief I have caused. I love you all. That is all I have to say."

Cameron Todd Willingham

Executed February 17 2004

Age 36

Age at time of offence 23

Crime Killing his three children in a house fire

Last statement "The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man - convicted of a crime I did not commit. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. From God's dust I came and to dust I will return - so the earth shall become my throne. I gotta go, road dog. I love you, Gabby." [Remaining portion of statement omitted due to profanity.]

Kelsey Patterson

Executed May 18 2004

Age 50

Age at time of offence 38

Crime Murder of an oil-company owner and his business secretary. Was standing naked in the street, not far from the murder scene, at the time of his arrest.

Last statement "Statement to what. State what. I am not guilty of the charge of capital murder. Steal me and my family's money. My truth will always be my truth. There is no kin and no friend; no fear what you do to me. No kin to you undertaker. Murderer. [Portion of statement omitted due to profanity] Get my money. Give me my rights. Give me my rights. Give me my rights. Give me my life back."

Dominique Green

Executed October 26 2004

Age 30

Age at time of offence 18

Crime Aggravated robbery

Last statement "I am not angry, but I am disappointed that I was denied justice. But I am happy that I was afforded you all as family and friends. You all have been there for me; it's a miracle. I love you [ ... ] I am not as strong as I thought I was going to be. But I guess it only hurts for a little while. You all are my family. Please keep my memory alive."

Melvin White

Executed November 3 2005

Age 55

Age at time of offence 47

Crime Sexual assault and murder of a young girl

Last statement "Tell Beth and them I am sorry, truly sorry for the pain that I caused your family. I truly mean that too. She was a friend of mine and I betrayed her trust. I love you all. Tell Momma I love her. [He recites the Lord's prayer.] All right, Warden, let's give them what they want."

Shannon Charles Thomas

Executed November 16 2005

Age 34

Age at time of offence 22

Crime Murder of a father and his two children during a robbery

Last statement "This is kind of hard to put words together; I am nervous and it is hard to put my thoughts together. Sometimes you don't know what to say; I hope these words give you comfort. I don't know what to say. I want you to know I love you; just stay strong and don't give up. Let everybody know I love them [ ... ] and love is unconditional, as Mama has always told us. I may be gone in the flesh, but I am always with you in spirit. I love you."

Reese Lamont

Executed June 20 2006

Age 28

Age at time of offence 21

Crime Shot and killed three people

Last statement "I am glad it didn't take that long - not 10 or 20 years. I am at peace [ ... ] I love you all. I do not know all your names. And I don't know how you feel about me. And whether you believe it or not, I did not kill them [ . . . ] I am glad it didn't last long. I am glad it didn't last long. I am at peace. I am at peace to the fullest. The people that did this - they know. I am not here to point fingers. God will let them know. If this is what it takes, just do what you got to do to get past it. What it takes. I am ready, Warden. Love you all. Let my son know I love him."

Angel Resendiz

Executed June 27 2006

Age 45

Age at time of offence 38

Crime Murder

Last statement "I want to ask if it is in your heart to forgive me. You don't have to. I know I allowed the devil to rule my life [ ... ] I deserve what I am getting."

Derrick O'Brien

Executed July 11 2006

Age 31

Age at time of offence 18

Crime Sexual assault and strangling of two girls

Last statement "I am sorry. I have always been sorry. It is the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life. Not because I am here, but because of what I did and I hurt a lot of people [ ... ] I love you all [ ... ] All right."

William Wyatt

Executed August 3 2006

Age 41

Age at time of offence 32

Crime Sexual assault and murder of a three-year-old boy

Last statement "I would like to say to Damien's family that I did not murder your son. I did not do it. I just want you to know that - I did not murder Damien and would ask for all your forgiveness and I will see all of you soon. I love you guys. I love you guys. That's it."

Farley Matchett

Executed September 12 2006

Age 43

Age at time of offence 28

Crime Murder

Last statement "To my family and my mother and my three precious daughters, I love you all. And to my brother and sister for standing with me throughout this situation. Stay strong and know that I'm in a better place. I ask for forgiveness. And to the victim's family, find peace and cancellation with my death and move on. Our Lord Jesus Christ, I commend myself to you. I am ready".