William Milhomme and Elizabeth Bouvier of the Massachusetts State Archives gave unstintingly of their time and expertise, and I am deeply grateful to them both.
Many other people, in Boston and elsewhere, assisted me during the research and writing of this book. For their kindness and support I wish to thank: Peter Bartis, Library of Congress; Edgar Bellfontaine, Social Law Library; Anthony Carnevale, Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Mike Como, Massachusetts State Archives; Jaymie Derderian, Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Brian Greenspan; Brian Harkins, Social Law Library; James Krasnoo; John Marr; Mary McLaughlin, Bridgewater State Hospital; Professor Alan Rogers, Boston College; Henry Scannell, Boston Public Library; Evelyn Silverman, Queens College Library; Patterson Smith; Virginia Smith, Massachusetts Historical Society; David Sonnenschein; Doug Southard, Boston Historical Society; Charles E. Stearns; June Strojny, Social Law Library; Walter Walden, Library of Congress; David Warrington, Harvard Law Library; and Jim Woodman, Boston Atheneum.
An engraved portrait of Jesse Harding Pomeroy, based on a photograph taken at the time of his arrest for the Millen murder, 1874.
Illustration from the 1875 crime pamphlet The Life of Jesse H. Pomeroy, The Boy Fiend. (Rare Books Division/New York Public Library/Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations)
Jesse’s mother, Ruth Ann Pomeroy. (Corbis Images)
One of the penciled notes written by Jesse to his young jail-mate, Willie Baxter, in 1875.
After forty-one years, Pomeroy is finally released from his solitary cell in January 1917. (Corbis Images)
Pomeroy poses with one of the many modern wonders he has never seen—a motion picture camera. (The Boston Herald)
Frontispiece portrait from Pomeroy’s 1920 book of poetry, Selections from the Writings of Jesse Harding Pomeroy, Life Prisoner Since 1874.
After more than fifty years in Charlestown prison, Jesse Pomeroy (center) is transferred to the state farm at Bridgewater in July 1929. (Corbis Images)
Pocket Books by Harold Schechter
The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (with David Everitt)
Bestial
Depraved
Deranged
Deviant
Outcry
Nevermore
Fiend
We hope you enjoyed reading this Pocket Books eBook.
* * *
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
or visit us online to sign up at
eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com
An Original Publication of POCKET BOOKS
POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
Copyright © 2000 by Harold Schechter
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0-671-01448-X
ISBN 13: 978-1-4767-2913-8 (eBook)
First Pocket Books trade paperback printing October 2000
POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Cover design by Brigid Pearson
Front cover photo courtesy of the author