A NYS DOCS researcher has asked the New York Correction History Society to
publicize his search for, in effect, the first Sing Sing Prison guard,
keeper or other staffer killed in the line of duty.

The earliest line-of-duty death there that he has documented happened in
1869. Our www.correctionhistory.org site has the following entry for that
on its "In Memoriam" page: "March 18, 1869 -- Sing Sing State Prison Keeper
Edwin A. Craft, escorting five inmates to work in the mess hall, is
overpowered and strangled during an escape attack."

In researching the NY Times on-line archives, the NYS DOCS researcher
found, in a March 19, 1869 story about the Craft killing, a very vague
reference to an earlier line-of-duty death. No name, year, or details
useful in tracking down the incident were given in the 1869 article; only
that the earlier keeper killing had caused certain changes in procedures
involving the ratio of inmates to guards.

The Sing Sing Prison site has been occupied by inmates and their keepers
since May 14, 1825, so one or more line-of-duty deaths among the staff in
the 44 years prior to the Craft killing is a distinct possibility, if not
probability.

Any information or ideas on this will be appreciated and passed along to
the NYS DOCS researcher.

Merry Christmas and other holiday greetings to list subscribers and
managers. BTW You may find interesting the image and text excerpts from the
1914-15 "Christmas - New Year" issue of the Sing Sing Prison inmate bi-
weekly publication "Star of Hope" that can be accessed from the top of the
www.correctionhistory.org home page.

Thomas C. McCarthy
general secretary - webmaster
New York Correction History Society
www.correctionhistory.org
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