Member-only story

Jesse Pomeroy: The Boy Murderer of 1870s Boston

Fyodor Dostoevsky

·2.4k Followers· Follow

Published in Making A Monster: Jesse Pomeroy The Boy Murderer Of 1870s Boston

4 min read · 2 weeks before

380 View Claps

33 Respond

Save

Listen

Making a Monster: Jesse Pomeroy, the Boy Murderer of 1870s Boston

by Dawn Keetley

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2649 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	270 pages

Jesse Harding Pomeroy (November 29, 1859 – September 29, 1932) was an American serial killer who terrorized the city of Boston in the 1870s. He was convicted of the murders of two young boys and is believed to have killed as many as nine others. His crimes shocked the nation and led to a public outcry for his execution.

Early Life

Jesse Pomeroy was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on November 29, 1859. His father was a shoemaker and his mother was a seamstress. The family was poor and lived in a small, run-down house. Jesse was a sickly child and was often bullied by his classmates. He was also known to be cruel to animals.

In 1872, when Jesse was 13 years old, he was arrested for molesting a younger boy. He was sentenced to two years in the House of Reformation, a juvenile detention center. After his release, he continued to molest and torture young boys. In 1874, he was arrested again for the murder of a 10-year-old boy named Horace Millen. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison.

The Murders

After his release from prison in 1880, Pomeroy resumed his murderous spree. He killed two more young boys, Robert Gould and Joseph Kennedy. He also attempted to kill a third boy, but the boy escaped. Pomeroy was arrested again and this time he was convicted of murder. He was sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life in prison.

Life in Prison

Pomeroy spent the rest of his life in solitary confinement at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Walpole. He was known to be a violent and disruptive prisoner. He often attacked guards and other inmates. He also wrote letters to young boys, threatening to kill them.

Pomeroy died in prison on September 29, 1932, at the age of 72. He was one of the most notorious serial killers in American history.

Motive

The motive for Pomeroy's crimes is not entirely clear. Some experts believe that he was a psychopath, while others believe that he was driven by sexual sadism. It is also possible that he was simply a deeply disturbed individual who enjoyed causing pain and suffering to others.

Impact

Pomeroy's crimes had a profound impact on the city of Boston. The public was outraged by his actions and demanded that he be executed. The city also passed a law that made it illegal to molest children. Pomeroy's crimes also led to a national debate about the issue of juvenile delinquency.

Pomeroy's case is a reminder of the dangers of child abuse and neglect. It is also a reminder of the importance of early intervention and treatment for troubled children.

Jesse Pomeroy, The Boy Murderer Of 1870s Boston Making A Monster: Jesse Pomeroy The Boy Murderer Of 1870s Boston

Additional Information

Pomeroy was the youngest person ever to be convicted of murder in Massachusetts.
He was also the first person in the United States to be convicted of murder based on circumstantial evidence.
Pomeroy's case was the inspiration for the novel "The Bad Seed" by William March.
In 2012, a documentary film about Pomeroy was released called "The Boy Murderer of Boston."

Making a Monster: Jesse Pomeroy, the Boy Murderer of 1870s Boston

by Dawn Keetley

5 out of 5