You may remember James Willett from episode 6. If you haven’t had a chance to listen that episode, you may want to before listening to this little bonus.

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. One to two new episodes a month (and always on Fridays).

Music:

“Horseshoe Bend,” by Heartland Nights“Swamp Tale,” by Dario Benedetti“Out West,” by Alsever Lake“A World Suspended,” by Brent Wood

Charles Aull became Folsom Prison’s third warden in 1887. (Some sources refer to him as the prison’s first official warden while Thomas Pockman and John McComb were merely “temporary.” However, my research revealed that both Pockman and McComb were very much considered official wardens of the prison.) While Pockman and McComb were accused of cruelty toward prisoners, it was Aull who really leaned into it. Aull was proud to be known as a ruler with an iron fist; and together, with his right-hand-man, Guard R.J. Murphy, terrorized the inmates of Folsom Prison using various forms of corporal punishment.

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. One to two new episodes a month (and always on Fridays).

Links:

Sontag-Evans Gang

Music:

Intro: “Left for Dead” by Wastelander“Untethering,” by Hearland Nights“Grim History,” by Lost Ghosts“Veil of Secrets” by Wicked Cinema“The Enemy Within” by Moments“Fleet Street,” by Stephen Keetch“Not as they Seem,” by Wicked Cinema“Web of Lies,” by Moments“Reverence,” by Marie“Humid Blues,” by Desert Dive“Out West,” by Alsever Lake“Woven,” by Alice in Winter“Boo!” by Dresden The Flamingo“Coat of Arms,” by Wicked CinemaOutro: “Lamentation,” by Wastelander

Did the state learn from their many blunders while establishing San Quentin? Well . . . yes and no.

A note: some sources list Charles Aull as Folsom’s first official warden and that Pockman and McComb were merely “temporary” wardens, however, my research clearly showed that both Pockman and McComb were very much considered official wardens of Folsom. Pockman served from July 15, 1880 to November 1, 1881 and John McComb served six years, from November of 1881 to December of 1887.

To see more photographs, check out Unlocking History, the historical blog on California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website.

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. One to two new episodes a month (and always on Fridays).

Music:

Intro: “Left for Dead” by Wastelander“Humid Blues” by Desert Dive“Shifting Sands” by Wicked Cinema“Horseshoe Bed” by Heartland Nights“The Lantern” by Wicked Cinema“Judgment Day Outside My Door” by Lost Ghosts“St. Mary” by Chelsea McGough“The Untethering” by Heartland NightsOutro: “Lamentation” by Wastelander

Most of us are familiar with the old joke (although maybe not a joke in some families) of a dad greeting his teenaged daughter’s boyfriend at the door while holding a shotgun—the classic intimidation tactic to ensure his precious little girl arrives home from their date on time and unharmed.

But what if it’s the other way around?

William Glover wasn’t about to take heat from his ex-fiancée’s father, so he brought the heat instead.

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. One to two new episodes a month (and always on Fridays). Episode extras and bonus episodes available on Patreon!

Music:

Intro: “Left for Dead” by Wastelander“As I Dream” by Moments“Unexpected Turn” by Moments“Things Gone Wrong” by Moments“Beyond All Time” by Moments“Ephemeral Colors” by Moments“Center of Gravity” by Yerself“Concrete Fjords of Oslo” by Atlas“Meridian Moon” by Moments“The Recovery” by CJ-O“Outlaw” by Brent Wood“A World Suspended” by Brent WoodOutro: “Lamentation” by Wastelander

There wouldn’t be a Folsom State Prison without a San Quentin State Prison. Like with the first born, it could be a lot of trial and error, so when the second one arrives, it’s smooth sailing, right? Well, that’s sort of true in this case. San Quentin’s beginnings were certainly a cautionary tale; a lesson in how not to do it. For one, don’t let a slave-owning con-artist have control of it all.

In 1858, four years after San Quentin was (somewhat) built, the California legislature approved funding to build Folsom. Construction began twenty years later. Did Folsom learn any valuable lessons? Find out in Part II on Patreon.

YOUTUBEINSTAGRAMPATREON

ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. One to two new episodes a month (and always on Fridays). Episode extras and bonus episodes available on Patreon

LINKS:

Article: California’s Legislature Has Roots in Slavery. Are Lawmakers Ready to Confront That?

California Supreme Court Historical Review, Fall/Winter 2024

Music:

“Left for Dead” by Wastelander“Tuatha De Danann” by Third Age“Lord of the Dead” by CJ-O“The Skeptic” by CJ-O“Cat and Mouse,” by Wicked Cinema“A Swell Carousel” by Dresden The Flamingo“Shifter” by Wicked Cinema“Let the Games Begin” by CJ-O“The Scent of a Rose” by Dresden The Flamingo“The Bookshop” by CJ-O“Disappearance” by Wicked Cinema“Veil of Secrets” by Wicked Cinema“New in Town” by CJ-O“Our Web of Lies” by Moments“I Will Never Forget You” by Joshua Spacht“Winter in Fargo” by Alice in Winter“Aftermath” by Wastelander“Lamentation” by Wastelander

Frank Haines, a man of mystery, which was exactly how he liked it—keep ‘em guessing. He would certainly be a curiosity to the people and the courts of California, in that, he refused legal counsel, something rarely seen in the courts then. One thing was for certain (well, quite possibly . . . maybe . . . there’s a chance) if he hadn’t of committed his crime in 1898, the legendary jazz pianist and composer, Dave Brubeck, might not have been born. (If anything, it had some influence on the Brubeck family’s plans.)

YOUTUBEINSTAGRAMPATREON

ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. One to two new episodes a month (and always on Fridays). Episode extras and bonus episodes available on Patreon!

Music:

“Left for Dead” by Wastelander“Long Walk Home” by Crack Skippy“A Silent Request” by Lost Ghosts“Standoff” by Wastelander“Swamp Tale,” by Dario Benedetti“Judgment Day Outside My Door” by Lost Ghosts“Whisky Hills” by Rest and Settle“Into the Unknown” by The Realist“Lamentation” by Wastelander

The sins of Lloyd Majors in 1883 would reverberate for decades; most affected were his wife and children, but even those who never knew him could point to his crime as the origin of their own demise. When George Puttman committed a robbery on his 20th birthday in 1895, and was sent to Folsom, he had no idea that it was the last birthday he’d celebrate outside the prison walls. Nor did he realize that a friendship with a fellow inmate would take him to the gallows five years later.

YOUTUBEINSTAGRAMPATREON

ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. One to two new episodes every month (always on Fridays). Episode extras and bonus episodes available on Patreon!

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

Robert Edwards Why Grandma Never Got Her FortuneThis Land is My LandIncarcerated Women and GirlsWomen’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2024The Situation of Incarcerated WomenWhy it Matters that Women are Disproportionately Locked Up in America’s JailsBlack Disparities in Youth Incarceration

Music:

Intro: “Lamentation” by Wastelander“Invisible Line” by Stephen Keech“Whiskey Hills” by Rest and Settle“Out West” by Alsever Lake“Stranded” by Wastelander“Humid Blues” by Desert Dive“Holy Wait” by Chelsea McGough“Judgment Day Outside My Door” by Lost Ghosts“Niagara” by The Realist“A World Suspended” by Brent Wood“Swamp Tale” by Dario Benedetti“The Lantern” by Wicked Cinema“The Untethering” by Heartland Nights“Reverence,” by Marie“Manitoba” by Shimmer“O’Brother” by WastelanderOutro: “Lamentation” by Wastelander

Frank Belew had it out for his siblings. He was the third of five children and when he was left out of his parents’ estate—the money being divided among the other four—he plotted revenge. His case would make history, prompting the question, Can a person inherit the estates of those he murdered? At the time, in 1897, no laws existed in California preventing one from doing so, which meant . . . yes, they sure can. Frank might have gotten away with it, too, if it hadn’t been for his meddling brother-in-law.

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. New episode every 3rd Friday of the month. Episode extras and bonus episodes available on Patreon!

Music:

Intro: “Lamentation,” by Wastelander“Dear Frederic,” by Elise Solberg“Fight or Flight,” byYerself“Center of Gravity,” by Yerself“Distant Water,” by Chelsea McGough“The Bookshop,” by CJ-O“Evelyn,” by CJ-O“The Search,” by CJ-O“Coo-Coos,” by Dresden The Flamingo“The Open Steppe,” by Wicked Cinema“Tippy Toe,” by VOLK“All That Remains,” by Wicked Cinema“Alone in this World,” by Moments“Night Music,” by JCar“Druid,” by Wicked Cinema“Departure,” by Alice in WinterAftermath,” by WastelanderOutro: “Left for Dead,” by Wastelander

What happens when you’re provoked? Do you have a moment of temporary insanity? And, therefore, excused from any responsibility? What if it’s your former spouse who “provoked” you? Well, John was apparently having such a moment—the same moment he happened to have a gun. This case was likely the first in the Los Angeles courts (if not all of California), to debate the temporary insanity (in a heat of passion) plea. It was a certainly a novel defense in the mid-1890s and for those packing courtroom, the topic of mental illness turned the case from a tragedy to a comedy.

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Links:William Radam’s Microbe Killer

ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. New episode every 3rd Friday of the month. Episode extras and bonus episodes available on Patreon!

Music:

Intro: “Left for Dead,” by Wastelander“St. Mary,” by Chelsea McGough and Stephen Keech“As I Dream,” by Moments“Not As They Seem,” by Wicked Cinema“Our Web of Lies,” by Moments“Cat and Mouse,” by Wicked Cinema“I Will Never Forget You,” by Joshua Spacht“A Love Story,” by Wicked Cinema“Boo!” by Dresden the Flamingo“Shifter,” by Wicked Cinema“Ballroom Haunt,” by Dresden the Flamingo“Reverence,” by Marie“Molokai,” by Ian Kelosky“Curiosity,” by Shimmer“Grit,” by WastelanderOutro: “Lamentation” by Wastelander

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: What happens when a case is mishandled, witnesses change their stories, and societal bias and ignorance dictate what justice ought to be? You get a case for innocence. But seldom was guilt questioned during the lawless days of the wild west, and for some, that meant the end of the road—or in this case, at the end of the rope.

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Special thanks for Julie Chimenti at the Historical Society of South San Francisco for providing me with great historical information about Baden, and for indulging me in my long-winded emails.

The Innocence ProjectWhy is Eye-Witness Testimony an Important Area of Psychological Research?Why Eyewitnesses FailFelony Murder Rule

ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. New episode every 3rd Friday of the month.

Music: Intro: “Lamentation,” by Wastelander“Virtue,” by Featherland“Niagara,” by The Realist“Mindful,” by Featherland“Growing Pains,” by Featherland“Hidden Places,” by Featherland“Dead Ends,” by Wicked Cinema“Aurora,” by Featherland“Evidence Board,” by CJ-O“Serial Minds,” by CJ-O“Winter Train Home,” by Featherland“Dystopia,” by Ian Kelosky“Gentle Moon,” by The Realist“Heartbeat,” by The Realist“Bats in the Foundry,” by Material Gurl“The Diary,” by CJ-O“Endless,” by The Realist“Giving Up Your Ghost,” by CJ-O“Devil’s Doorstep,” by WastelanderOutro: “Left for Dead,” by Wastelander