Condemned: Inside the Sing Sing Death House

Ties

Personal effects left behind by a deceased prisoner Ties Prison note cards dutifully recorded the names, addresses, and relationships of next of kin, relatives seeking to visit or correspond, and notations about children. Some inmates received no visits from family, and their own wives or mothers declined to claim their bodies for burial after the execution. Others were visited and written to as often as was allowed. Family relations were both complex and emotionally charged; so were attorney-client relations. And some prisoners attracted unusual interest, both sympathetic and condemnatory, from members of the general public, who wrote letters that ended up in the warden’s pile. I heard that you have a new guard up there who is telling you that you have no chance—that you will certainly get the chair. I do not see how anybody can be that brutal. Even if he believed you would get the chair, he should not have told you, he should have used a little tact. 60 C O N D E M N E D name: number: born: age: occupation: physical: crime: accomplices: judge: sentenced: received: executed: Benitez DeJesus B101824 6–30–24 (San Tuce, PR) 18 Handyman 5'7", 127 lbs. Murder, stabbed Edwin Berkowitz, $6 robbery, 10–2–42 William Diaz 101–827, Americo Romano 101–831 Wallace, New York General Sessions 12–21–42 12–21–42 7–8–43 —“Kite”(written message) to De Jesus from a fellow prisoner For participating in the robbery and murder of an American serviceman in wartime,18-year-old Benitez DeJesus was condemned for“aiding and abetting the enemy.” 7–5–46 Dear Mother Before you come up Sunday, call the lawyer and bring him up with you. And when you come up stop and see the Warden, W E Snyder. I had a fight with two officers but I am all right now. 104778 Edward N Jones 219 St. James, Pl Brooklyn NY Ties 61 name: number: physical: age: occupation: crime: accomplices: claims: judge: sentenced: received: executed: Edward Jones, aka Sunny, Sunny Grayson 104–778 5'7-½", 173 lbs. 21 Counterman Held up deli, shot owner Gustave Winkelmann, night Richard Mills, Arnold Sims 104–777 Was at home at the time of crime—denies guilt Goldstein, Kings County Court 4–22–46 4–22–46 7–10–47 Time:10:00 p.m. Place:Home Date:April 19 Dear Harley: You probably have received many letters from Buffalo in the past two weeks. It is only natural that we should feel closer to a person of our own age. One thing that has bothered me since I saw you at the Erie County Court House. You put on a good act that convinced most people that you were tough and not afraid. But when I saw you I knew that you were as afraid as any other person in your position. I can truly say that I believe the sentence was a big mistake. It seems that every time I pick up a newspaper that I see of a murder, but do they ever sentence these men and women to die? I haven’t seen it happen yet. They wait till a boy of 19 makes a mistake till they decide that justice has to be done. This letter will be read before it gets to you (if it ever does) and I hope that the one who reads it will have mercy on you. It was brought up at the trial that you had no friends. Maybe you had none then but I am sure that you have now. Not only girls but boys too. “God Bless You” A Friend 62 C O N D E M N E D name: number: race: born: age: physical: residence: kin: education: occupation: crime: motive: arested: judge: sentenced: received: executed: Harley LaMarr 109–333 “Red” [Native American] 9–25–30 (Buffalo) 19 5'11-½", 137 lbs. Buffalo Foster mother 8th grade Laborer Shot Marion L. Frisbee with rifle in attempted rape, robbery, night No cause—needed money 2–13–50 Munson, Erie County Court 4–17–50 4–17–50 1–11–51 Translation of letter in German from Baden,Germany,addressed to “Sing-Sing,U.S.A.,Kommandant,” no date: I hold the Commandant and the guard unit fully and entirely...