lookingland | just a picture and somesuch ~

the caption on these mugshots reads: "In 1904 Claude Hankins , aged 14, was convicted of murder and paroled after serving four years." it's always shocking to me, how little 14 really is. this boy is clearly still a child and you can't help wonder at who he killed and why ~ and the circumstances in which he lived that made it possible for someone so young to commit such a serious crime. of course, this is new york, where they start down a bad path pretty young in the slums and life expectancy is pretty low ~ so on the other hand, i guess it shouldn't surprise me. but it still does.

child murderers especially disturb me for some reason. maybe because when i was a child i knew what the impulse to kill was like. maybe because all that really separated me from them is social class and a paper and pencil with which to vent my frustrations. that might be too telling ~ hahahahahaha.

meanwhile, i'm working. very slowly it appears. trying to get my brain wrapped around where to go after the Prologue with the capital P. i feel the need to post something as evidence that i am actually working and not just dwibbling in the myre. so here's a lamp. you know you love it. i made it especially for you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

14? Wow, he looks far younger.

Still there's something deeply disturbing about those two shots.

the reductions don't do the shots justice. the kid's face (especially in the profile shot) is so expressive when you can see the close-up. he seems so utterly incapable of a wicked thought. and weirdly unafraid ~ like whatever happens to him at the hands of the law can't be any worse than he already knows.

: o p

It'd be neat to look Claude up in the 1900 census. Sadly, I don't have a resource any more.

I like your sketch...what's included in it.

moo

thankie moo!

: D

I had a friend help me with the lookup.

She found a Claude F. Hankins born in Alameda Calif. about 1890 who served time at 14 in San Quentin (nothing of this is NEW YORK) was paroled in 1914 (which means he served TEN years) married and had children by the 1920 census and died in Seattle Washington in 1965. I haven't received the copies of the info. so I can't check for more details yet but it's nice to know he went on to have a family and live a fairly long life.

moo--researchaholic

well this is interesting ~ clearly the book this came from doesn't quite know what it's talking about. apparently the glass negative was found in new york, but the dates appear wrong, etc.

anyway, as you said, it's nice to hope that hankins got out of prison and had a semi-nice life thereafter, whatever may have been the cause of his crime (i'm going to dream up for him an abusive stepfather who beat his mother and who he stuck like a pig ~ just because).

: D

Actually, that lamp is pretty cool. Especially the glass parts. :)

thanks! i'm not very good with inanimate objects, so it's always exciting when a lamp actually looks something like a lamp!

: D

I've just come across this image in a book and googled the boy's name to find out more and came across your post - albeit a bit late to join the discussion! According to the book he 'shot and kiled an older man whom he claimed tried to commit "a crime against nature" with him'. He was sentenced to early parole in 1914 after being sentenced to 16 years. He was 14.

thanks ~ !

i had since done some investigating and currently have a friend who's actually pulled the trial transcripts, etc. just to see what the story is. very interesting stuff! and sadder still for knowing more of the facts. the good news is, he seems to have been a productive citizen after his stint in the can ~ married, had children, held a long-term job, etc.

thanks again for your comment!

: D

just a picture and somesuch ~

no subject

no subject

definitely disturbing

Re: definitely disturbing

I couldn't resist ...

Re: I couldn't resist ...

no subject

no subject

The photograph

Re: The photograph