Circus, Sideshow & Oddities

[Capital Punishment—Serial Killers] Fish, Albert. Western Union Telegram Sent on the Eve of Albert Fish’s Execution from Sing Sing Prison’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Charles C. Sweet. Ossining, NY: Jan. 15, 1936. Telegram to Dr. Albert P. Leighton Jr., at the Portland, Me. private hospital, reading: “Electrocution tomorrow night eleven be at my office ten pm/CC Sweet.” 6 ½ x 8”. Old folds, small tears to edges. Dr. Sweet became Sing Sing’s chief of staff in 1926 and worked at the prison until his retirement in 1951, also serving as chief physician and surgeon during his tenure. Over that time he attended over 300 executions at the prison. Perhaps none were more famous than the execution of Albert Fish, whose heinous crimes included serial killing, child rape, and cannibalism, estimated at over 100 victims. In this telegram to Dr. Leighton, a prominent Portland doctor and son of the city’s mayor, Sweet instructs Leighton to be at his office one hour before Fish was scheduled to be executed.