Condemned: Inside the Sing Sing Death House

Settling Up

A. Provenzano Licensed Undertaker 43 Second Ave. 240 Elizabeth Street New York City Grammercy 3-2220-1 July 3, 1944 Dear Mr. McCue: Please send us two transcripts of death on Alex Bellomo, who died at Sing-Sing on June 29, 1944. If there is any charge let us know and we will forward check. Thanking you Mr. A. Provenzano name: number: age: occupation: physical: crime: accomplices: judge: sentenced: received: executed: Alex Bellomo 102–655 25 Laborer 5'6-¼", 126 lbs. Shot Francis Servido in poolroom DeLitro, DiMaria Donnellan, New York General Sessions 10–25–43 11–8–43 6–29–44 Settling Up SING SING PRISON Ossining, N.Y. June 9, 1961 To Whom It May Concern: This is to certify that WOODROW MILLER received the last rites and sacraments of the Catholic Church and is, therefore, entitled to burial in consecrated ground. Sincerely yours, (Rev.) George F. McKinney Catholic Chaplain Wednesday August 13, 1958 Dear Warden Denno I want to thank you, so very sincerely, for being so kind and thoughtful to me, in my hour of need. I shant ever forget how very good you’ve been. When I started to write this there was so much I wanted to say & now I can’t think of how to say anything. Warden, there was a paper I had to sign for you, or a “statement ” I had to make? I did think you had said something like that to me, my brother-inlaw had said,“it was all taken care of.” I really don’t remember. My husband Angelo J. LaMarca had a “beautiful” mass said for us by Father McKinney & also the funeral services. It was all so peaceful and quiet, and again, I have you to thank for all that being possible. Please, let me know if there was something I had to do for you, won’t you? May God be with you—Always. Most sincerely, DONNA LAMARCA 140 C O N D E M N E D name: number: age: occupation: marital: religion: crime: claims: judge: sentenced: received: executed: Angelo LaMarca 120–110 31 Truck driver Married, 2 children Catholic Kidnapped and murdered 1-month-old baby I’m unable to answer that question Pittoni, Nassau County Court 12–14–56 12–14–56 8–7–58 Settling Up 141 August 16, 1954 Mr. Thomas J. Lunney U.S. Marshal Southern District of New York U.S. Court House Foley Square New York 7, N.Y. Dear Mr. Lunney: I am attaching herewith vouchers executed by Mr. Dow B. Hower who officiated as legal executioner in the case of Gerhard A. Puff, #113970. One of these vouchers is in the amount of $150.00, which is the usual fee paid the executioner. The other is in the amount of $12.80 which covers mileage of 160 miles at the rate of eight cents per mile. You will note that the voucher covering the mileage does not give the starting point or the return point from Ossining. This is done in order to protect the locality in which the executioner resides as we do not desire his name nor his place of residence to become public knowledge through the press. However, you can use my letter as certification to the effect that the mileage claimed by the executioner is the mileage which the State of New York pays him and is correct in all respects. Therefore, in order to protect the official residence of the executioner that is the reason why the starting point was not included in this bill. If there are any questions in connection with this, I would ask that they be taken up with me instead of direct with Mr. Hover. I might state that this same arrangement is in effect with the State of New York in that his address on all vouchers is given as 354 Hunter Street, Ossining, New York, which is the official street address of Sing Sing Prison. Very truly yours, /s/ WARDEN WLD:cm att. May 11, 1953 Dear Madam: In connection with your visit to my office on Thursday, May 7, 1953, in connection with the article entitled,“The Man Who Begged to Die” written by one Russel Travers in the July issue of the magazine Vital Detective Cases, pertaining to your brother, the late Edward...