This Day in History : [ 16 / Jan ]

The Moon Maniac

Albert Fish is executed at Sing Sing prison in New York.The Moon Maniac was one of Americas most notorious and disturbed killers.Authorities believe that Fish killed as many as 10 children and then ate their remains.

Fish went to the electric chair with great anticipation telling guards It will be the supreme thrill the only one I havent tried.Fish was executed for the murder of 10-year-old Grace Budd.In 1928 at his Wisteria Cottage in Westchester County New York Fish strangled the girl and then carved up her body with a saw.Six years later Fish wrote Budds mother a letter in which he described in detail killing the girl and then preparing a stew with her flesh that he ate over the next nine days.

The letter was traced back to the 66-year-old man.A psychiatrist who examined Fish stated There was no known perversion that he did not practice and practice frequently.Albert Fish was obsessed with sadomasochism.He had his own children hit him with a paint-stirrer and a hairbrush they also witnessed him hitting himself with a paddle studded with nails.

He inserted sewing needles into his body.Nearly 30 needles were found in his groin area after he told a psychiatrist they were there.Fish also ate his own excrement and burned himself with hot irons and pokers.Most disturbingly Fish was obsessed with cannibalism.

He carried writings about the practice in his pockets.When he was arrested Fish confessed to the murders of other young children whom he claimed to have eaten.Although nearly everyone agreed that he was insane including the jury deciding his fate he was nevertheless sentenced to die.

Reportedly his last statement was a handwritten note filled with filthy obscenities.