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 [log in to unmask]