- Gerald Chapman
Gerald Chapman (1891 -
April 6 ,1926 ), called the "Count ofGramercy Park ", was an American criminal who co-led aProhibition -era gang with George "Dutch" Anderson during the late 1910s until the mid-1920s.Criminal career
Chapman became acquainted with Anderson while imprisoned in
Auburn State Prison on abank robbery charge. Following both men'sparole s in 1919, they beganbootlegging operations inToledo, Ohio ;Miami, Florida andNew York City over the next two years.In late 1921, along with former Auburn inmate Charles Loeber, he and Anderson began committing armed robbery when, on October 21, the three men forced a
U.S. Mail truck to stop at gunpoint on Leonard Street, successfully taking $2.4 million in cash, bonds and jewelry. Eluding capture for more than eight months, the three were eventually arrested by New York police onJuly 3 ,1922 , after being betrayed by a police informant. Chapman and Anderson were both sentenced to 25 years imprisonment and ordered to serve their time at theAtlanta Federal Prison . Chapman escaped from prison onApril 5 ,1923 , and Anderson escaped onDecember 30 ,1923 . They reunited, and were suspected by authorities to have committed several hold-ups.Capture
On
October 12 ,1924 , while on a crime spree in Connecticut, Chapman murdered Police Officer James Skelly of the New Britain Police Department. He was then recaptured onJanuary 18 ,1925 , inMuncie, Indiana , based on authorities being tipped off by informant Ben Hance. During his apprehension, Chapman fired at a police officer but missed. Both Hance and his wife were found dead eight months later onAugust 11 ,1925 . Authorities suspected their deaths may have been attributed to Anderson in revenge for betraying Chapman to the police.Trial and execution
During the six-day murder trial in
Hartford, Connecticut , crowds gathered due to his status as one of the "top 10" criminals in America. The jury deliberated for 11 hours, after which Chapman was found guilty and eventually sentenced to hang. Although he proclaimed his innocence to the end, he was executed by theupright jerker onApril 6 ,1926 .Further reading
*Downey, Patrick, "Bad Seeds in the Big Apple", Cumberland House Publishing, 2008
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