Deranged (40 page)

I owe a very large debt of thanks to James Dempsey, Albert Fish’s defense lawyer. Still active at eighty-nine, this remarkable gentleman shared his memories of Fish with me and gave me access to documents which proved invaluable in my reconstruction of the case. Without his help, this project would have been infinitely more difficult to complete.

Many other people helped along the way. For various forms of assistance I am grateful to: Greg Albanese, Jim Donna, Fred Ellwick, Dr. John Frosch, Una Vavasour Grazelski, Sergeant Donald J. Haberski, Andrew Hill, Jay Klinik, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Marks, Eneta McAlister, Joe McCormack, Catherine Ostlind, John Padraki, Jerry Perles, Faigi Rosenthal, Len Rubin, John Sheridan, Charles Sullivan, Mark Tulis, and Mike Wilk.

I would also like to thank all the people who were kind enough to answer my call for information concerning Fredric Wertham: Christopher Beall, Monte Beauchamp, Thomas Cole, Emily Essex, Dana Gabbard, Edith Goodman, Ian Gordon, William Kaplan, Sylvia Pollack, Richard Roffman, Natalie Shainess, Ralph Slovenko, Herman Steinberg, Arthur Stern, Jane Strompf, Miriam Wallace, and Bill Zavatsky.

Linda Marrow has been a wonderful editor and an even better friend. For those reasons, this book is dedicated to her.

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About the Author

HAROLD SCHECHTER is professor of American literature and culture. Renowned for his true-crime writing, he is the author of the nonfiction books Fatal, Fiend, Bestial, Deviant, Deranged, Depraved, and, with David Everitt, The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. He is also the author os several acclaimed historical novels featuring Edgar Allan Poe: Nevermore, The Hum Bug, and, most recently, The Mask of Red Death. He lives in New York State.

Grace Budd. (Bettmann Archives)

Thousands of these circulars were distributed throughout the United States and Canada in the weeks following Grace Budd’s abduction. (New York Dialy News)

Delia Budd poses for news photographers with a portrait of her missing daughter. (New York Daily News)

Charles Edward Pope (left) under arrest. (Bettmann Archives)

The Daily Mirror “fleet photograph” that led, indirectly, to the capture of Albert Fish. The arrow points to sixteen-year-old Florence Swinney, mistakenly identified as the grown-up Grace Budd. (Bettmann Archives)

Albert Fish being booked, early Friday morning, December 14, 1934. Detective King is on the left. (Bettmann Archives)

Albert Fish and his nemesis, Detective William King. (New York Daily News)

Night view of Wisteria Cottage.