"He must have done something. They don't kill you for nothing." - Chicago Gangster Ted Newberry. Rubbed out January 7, 1933

Monday, May 21, 2012

Zap

Today marks the 112th anniversary of Constantine Steiger alias Fritz Meyer, saddling up and riding the lightning at Sing Sing. Why did Fritz sitz in the hot seat?

Three years previously Steiger was in the process of robbing the poor box in the Church of the Holy Redeemer on Third Street between aves. A & B when he set off the alarm. Two priest called for the police and two cops came to investigate. One of them, Patrolman Fred Smith walked in on him and Steiger, who was already wanted for the murder of the bell ringer (When's the last time you saw that on a resume?) for the Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Williamsburg Brooklyn, shot and killed the officer.

Officer Smith’s partner saw Steiger trying to escape through a window and yelled to some pedestrians who captured him. Some how, along the walk to the precinct house Steiger suffered many abrasions and contusions.

2 comments:

John DuMond said...

...along the walk to the precinct house Steiger suffered many abrasions and contusions.

Due, I'm sure, to the poor condition of the sidewalks back in the old days. It's a good thing the cops were there to pick him up when he fell.

Patrick Downey said...

Yeah, cobblestone can be dangerous. I suspect he fell a few times at the station too. From what I understand old shoe leather meeting a station floor/steps was a recipe for disaster.