Old Joliet Prison: When Convicts Wore Stripes
In 1857, convicts began breaking rock to build the walls of the Illinois State penitentiary at Joliet, the prison that would later confine them. For a century and a half, thousands of men and women were sentenced to do time in this historic, castle-like fortress on Collins Street. Its bakery fed victims of the Great Chicago Fire, and its locks frustrated pickpockets from the world's fair. Even newspaper-selling sensations like the Lambeth Poisoner, the Haymarket Anarchists, the Marcus Train Robbers and Fainting Bertha became numbers once they passed through the gates. Author Amy Steidinger recovers stories of lunatics and lawmen, counterfeiters and call girls, grave robbers and politicians.
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Old Joliet Prison: When Convicts Wore Stripes
In 1857, convicts began breaking rock to build the walls of the Illinois State penitentiary at Joliet, the prison that would later confine them. For a century and a half, thousands of men and women were sentenced to do time in this historic, castle-like fortress on Collins Street. Its bakery fed victims of the Great Chicago Fire, and its locks frustrated pickpockets from the world's fair. Even newspaper-selling sensations like the Lambeth Poisoner, the Haymarket Anarchists, the Marcus Train Robbers and Fainting Bertha became numbers once they passed through the gates. Author Amy Steidinger recovers stories of lunatics and lawmen, counterfeiters and call girls, grave robbers and politicians.
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Old Joliet Prison: When Convicts Wore Stripes

Old Joliet Prison: When Convicts Wore Stripes

by Amy Kinzer Steidinger
Old Joliet Prison: When Convicts Wore Stripes

Old Joliet Prison: When Convicts Wore Stripes

by Amy Kinzer Steidinger

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Overview

In 1857, convicts began breaking rock to build the walls of the Illinois State penitentiary at Joliet, the prison that would later confine them. For a century and a half, thousands of men and women were sentenced to do time in this historic, castle-like fortress on Collins Street. Its bakery fed victims of the Great Chicago Fire, and its locks frustrated pickpockets from the world's fair. Even newspaper-selling sensations like the Lambeth Poisoner, the Haymarket Anarchists, the Marcus Train Robbers and Fainting Bertha became numbers once they passed through the gates. Author Amy Steidinger recovers stories of lunatics and lawmen, counterfeiters and call girls, grave robbers and politicians.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781439671726
Publisher: The History Press
Publication date: 11/09/2020
Series: Landmarks
Sold by: Bookwire
Format: eBook
Pages: 128
File size: 4 MB

About the Author

Amy has spent the last twenty-five years as a teacher and a genealogist. Many of her years teaching were spent working in juvenile justice. She went back to school and earned a master's degree in history from Illinois State University. She loves to travel and is always planning the next adventure. Her greatest joy is her family--her husband, Jay, and their four children, who have grown up to be amazing adults.

Table of Contents

Preface 9

Acknowledgements 11

Introduction 13

1 Joliet Prison in the News, 1850-80 15

2 Dr. Thomas Neill Cream: "The Lambeth Poisoner" 56

3 Joliet Prison in the News, 1880-85 60

4 The Haymarket Anarchists 81

5 Joliet Prison in the News, 1885-97 83

6 Adolph Luetgert: "The Sausage Vat Murderer" 114

7 Joliet Prison in the News, 1897-1903 117

8 Fainting Bertha 124

9 Joliet Prison in the News, 1903-13 132

Bibliography 155

Index 157

About the Author 159

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