#amos squire

[pilgrim1975]

Martha Place – The first woman in the electric chair.

Like many countries the US has an at times contradictory attitude to its death penalty, no more so than when a woman faces execution. Women account for fewer than 5% of death sentences in the US and less than 1% of those executed have been female regardless of their crime. That isn’t to say that female killers are less brutal or cruel than their male counterparts although they are far rarer.…

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[pilgrim1975]

On This Day in 1932, Michael Malloy - The Man Who Would Not Die

On This Day in 1932, Michael Malloy – The Man Who Would Not Die

One of the cases in my book ‘Murders, Mysteries and Misdemeanors in New York‘ is that of New York legend ‘Iron’ Mike Malloy. Malloy’s story is part of the city and state’s history and his death led to the destruction of the so-called ‘Murder Trust’ that had killed already and would no doubt have continued doing so. To help promote the book here’s the chapter on Malloy free, gratis and for…

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[pilgrim1975]

On This Day in 1932 - Francis 'Two-Gun' Crowley,provided inspiration for James Cagney

On This Day in 1932 – Francis 'Two-Gun' Crowley,provided inspiration for James Cagney

He was no relation to notorious Satanist Aleister Crowley, but had more than a touch of the Devil in him just the same. Born in New York City on October 31, 1912 (fitting for someone as scary as him) he lasted only 19 years before walking his last mile at Sing Sing’s death house on January 21, 1932. Some say that life can be nasty, brutish and short. Crowley’s was certainly a short life, very…

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[pilgrim1975]

On This Day in 1958 – Elmer ‘Trigger’ Burke.

On This Day in 1958 – Elmer ‘Trigger’ Burke.

Elmer Francis Burke to be exact, AKA ‘Trigger’ or ‘Machine Gun Burke’ due to his fondness for the Tommy gun. He was also fond of the double-barrelled shotgun, habitually carrying a .45 automatic as well. An extortionist and freelance hitman-for-hire, Burke had an extensive record even before joining the US Army Rangers to get early parole in 1941. In return the army had made him an expert with…

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[pilgrim1975]

On This Day in 1939 – Anton Myslevic, Theodore Maselkiewicz and Everett McDonald make their exit. Executioner Joseph Francel makes his entrance.

On This Day in 1939 – Anton Myslevic, Theodore Maselkiewicz and Everett McDonald make their exit. Executioner Joseph Francel makes his entrance.

Not a tale of Christmas cheer, granted, but worth noticing all the same. Not only the debut of New York’s fourth and penultimate State Electrician, but Francel also arrived with what was known as a ‘triple hitter.’ That night three men would die at his hand, and for Francel it was only the beginning.

On 24 August that year predecessor Robert Greene Elliott performed his 387th and last…

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[pilgrim1975]

On This Day in 1920: Five face the chair at Sing Sing.

On This Day in 1920: Five face the chair at Sing Sing.

Normally Sing Sing’s electric chair, the legendary Old Sparky, accommodated single or double executions. Triples were less frequent, quadruples a rarity and very seldom did five convicts die on the same day. December 9 1920 was one of those days. State Electrician John Hurlburt (in the post since 1914) was firmly established as perhaps the leading ‘electrocutioner’ in the country.

According to…

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[pilgrim1975]

On This Day in 1944: A bad day for Louis ‘Lepke’ Buchalter, a birthday present for Burton Turkus.

On This Day in 1944: A bad day for Louis ‘Lepke’ Buchalter, a birthday present for Burton Turkus.

Convicted of ordering the murder of candy store owner Joseph Rosen, Buchalter and accomplice Emmanuel ‘Mendy’ Weiss and Louis Capone (no relation) stood before Judge Taylor in the Kings County Courthouse to hear their fate. With no recommendation for mercy there could only be one sentence; Death, and Lepke knew it. Sweating, glaring and with his hands gripping the rail between him and the judge,…

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[pilgrim1975]

On This Day in 1885, NOT Roxalana Druse.

On This Day in 1885, NOT Roxalana Druse.

Roxalana Druse, convicted brutally murdering husband William, would have entered New York State’s chronicles of crime on this day in 1885. The Empire State’s last woman to hang (and the first hanging in Herkimer County) she had been condemned on October 6.

Her defence had been diminished capacity caused by William’s alleged abuse. Prosecution witnesses, however, testified she had repeatedly…

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