This paper focuses exclusively on publicized execution stories during 1950-80. An analysis of monthly data reveals a negative relationship between publicized executions and the incidence of homicide. On the average, a publicized execution story is associated with a drop of 30 homicides in the month of the story. In contrast, little-publicized executions have no impact on homicide. However, the relationship between publicized executions and homicides is relatively weak compared with other independent variables. In particular, the percent of the population in the homicide-prone age group is 21 times more closely associated with the monthly homicide rate than is the publicized story variable. (Author abstract)