Lawrence P. Gooley

North Country / Adirondack Author

Book Tag: Dannemora

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Bullets, Booze, Bootleggers, and Beer: The Story of Prohibition in Northern New York, Volume 1

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Bullets, Booze, Bootleggers, and Beer, Volume 1-Front Cover

Prohibition was the wildest, most chaotic period in northern New York’s history. America’s so-called “Great Experiment”—banning the social and recreational use of alcohol—led to unforeseen and unfortunate consequences. Thousands of speeding bootleggers presented potentially deadly hazards to casual drivers. The number of gun-toting highwaymen (robbers) skyrocketed with the emergence of new and irresistible targets—bootleggers carrying cash north to buy alcohol, and bootleggers carrying valuable booze loads south.

Even more alarming were the almost daily wild shootouts, often on village and city streets, the air heavy with bullets as lawmen and smugglers fought it out during high-speed chases. Worse yet in the eyes of many were the extremely aggressive tactics of lawmen, who were sworn to provide enforcement (the offenses were mostly misdemeanors) and protect the public, but killed bootleggers and innocent citizens alike in the process, and were rarely held accountable. They falsified charges, lied, stonewalled, withheld evidence, and did whatever it took to avoid prosecution. » More Details

Dannemora’s Death House: The Crimes and Fates of 41 Killers Sentenced to Die in Clinton Prison’s Electric Chair

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Dannemora's Death House-Front Cover

In 1890, when electrocution replaced hanging in New York State, Clinton Prison became a house of execution for the next 24 years. But not every killer who was sentenced to death died in the electric chair. Some were saved by fate, mercy, legal action, or last-minute reprieves. While some ultimately survived, most did not. By 1914, when all executions were moved to Sing Sing, 26 inmates had been electrocuted at Clinton.

Inside are the stories of 41 murderers who were sentenced to die in Dannemora’s electric chair. Graphic details of many brutal attacks are covered, including victims’ injuries as provided in coroner and autopsy reports, so this is not a book for the squeamish—but it is a book for fans of true-crime stories. There’s plenty of drama, passion, and angst throughout in stories ranging from shocking to frightening to just plain remarkable. » More Details

Escape from Dannemora: 170 Years of Escapes, Tortures, and Infamous Inmates at New York’s Most Notorious Prison

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Escape from Dannemora-Front Cover

Clinton Prison has hosted the best and worst criminals in the country, from gentleman scam artists and bank robbers to vicious serial killers who murdered on a whim and dismembered their victims. Included within these pages are those stories and much more—ingenious breakout artists and how they escaped, details on severe punishments and tortures imposed at Clinton for a half century, and profiles of dozens of the most famous, infamous, and unusual prisoners ever confined within Dannemora’s walls.

This book was already in progress when the stunning escape from Dannemora occurred in June 2015. Since the plan included extensive coverage of Clinton’s violent past and dozens of escape stories, the recent escape that gripped the nation for nearly a month provided the perfect opening chapter.

It was a spectacular breakout, but contrary to what was widely stated in the media, hardly unprecedented. Men went over and under the wall on many occasions prior to 1929, which is the line of demarcation that separates the old from the new. During the eighty-five years following 1929, no one escaped from inside the high wall until Richard Matt and David Sweat did it. But during the eighty-five years prior to 1929, it was done many times in exciting, ingenious, and spectacular fashion. » More Details