New York State had no death penalty at the time. It later adopted it in 1995, but it's been overturned and nobody was ever executed while it was in force. New York State hasn't executed anyone since 1963.
Of course, that wouldn't stop the police from threatening such a thing anyway ... but ignorance is no excuse.
23 posted on 02/09/2014 12:15:07 PM PST by Alberta's Child
("I've never seen such a conclave of minstrels in my life.")