On January 16, 1936, Albert Fish was executed at Sing Sing
prison in New York. The "Moon Maniac" was one of America's most
notorious and disturbed killers. Authorities believe that Fish killed as many
as 10 children and then ate their remains. Fish went to the electric chair with
great anticipation, telling guards, "It will be the supreme thrill, the
only one I haven't tried." In 1928, at his Wisteria Cottage in Westchester County,
New York, Fish strangled 10-year old Grace Budd and then carved up her body
with a saw. Six years later, Fish wrote Budd's mother a letter in which he
described in detail killing the girl and then preparing a stew with her flesh
that he ate over the next nine days. The letter was traced back to the Albert
Fish. A psychiatrist who examined Fish stated, "There was no known
perversion that he did not practice and practice frequently." Albert Fish
was obsessed with sadomasochism. Most disturbingly, Fish was obsessed with
cannibalism. He carried writings about the practice in his pockets. When he was
arrested, Fish confessed to the murders of other young children whom he claimed
to have eaten. Although nearly everyone agreed that he was insane, including
the jury deciding his fate, he was nevertheless sentenced to die. Reportedly,
his last statement was a handwritten note filled with filthy obscenities.
Michael Thomas Barry is a columnist for CrimeMagazine.com
and is the author of numerous books that include Murder and Mayhem 52
Crimes that Shocked Early California, 1849-1949. The book can be purchased
at Amazon through the following link:
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