FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Several years after being abandoned by his first wife, who left with a feeble-minded handyman she had hid in the couple's attic, Albert Fish was raising his children alone. Although his occupation usually caused him to travel often, he seems to have stayed in theNew York area at this time. His behavior did not escape the notice of his offspring.

Once he climbed a hill, and was heard to shout blasphemies to the sky. Whenever a full moon was near, he would eat shocking quantities of raw meat, and insisted his children also consume the uncooked flesh. Stuffed in his pockets at all times were newsclippings of murders and other grisly curios, which the old man seemed to carry with him at all times.

Up to this time Fish had murdered and tortured before, but never to his full satisfaction. As seen in the case of his sparing the life of Kedden, and that of another murder where he stated he was interrupted by the approach of people in the woods where he had to leave the body, he had not yet indulged in a murder uninterrupted by intrusion or fear of capture. He combed news ads for potential victims, he later said of these sources that he "Got a lot of leads that way". For a pederast such as Fish, he pinned his efforts on a surprising person- an 18 year old young man, Edward Budd, looking for work in the countryside.

On May 28th, Fish visited the Budd family at their crowded basement home in Manhattan. Introducing himself as a Mr. Frank Howard, he said he had come to hire Edward to work on his farm in Long Island. Edward had a friend, Willie, who was also looking for country employ. But when Fish saw the two powerfully built young men, he knew they would easily overpower him. Although his plan was clearly not possible, Fish kept his cool. He said he had enough work for each boy on his farm, and would gladly hire them both. He gave a beautiful description of the land, but what really amazed the family was the pay he was offering-$15 a week, a remarkable amount of money in those days for unskilled labor.

Perhaps fearing his plan was now lost, the farmer promised to return on June 2nd, a date he did not keep. After sending an apology via telegram, he showed up two days later carrying a crock of cheese and a basket of strawberries. The family had lunch with him. The grandfatherly Fish wowed the family with his money flashing, giving several bills to all the children. He promised to return that evening to pick up Edward and Willie and take them to his farm, but he had a proposition for the family. He offered to take their 10 year old daughter, Grace, to a party being held for his niece that very evening. He had given them the address of the house, and the Budd's were of the opinion that Grace hardly ever got to have a good time, and agreed to let the farmer take her to the party. Wearing the confirmation dress she had on at church that morning, the man held Grace's hand, resembling her own shabby grandfather. The address Fish gave them did not exist. After riding a trolley part of the way, Fish made towards Westchester, and took Grace Budd to her doom.

Six years later, a letter arrived at the Budd residence. There was no name. Mrs. Delia Budd got about halfway through the message before she began weeping hysterically. Presented here is the unaltered letter, complete with original misspellings and various other linguistic errors. This message has gone down in history as the most vile and shameless confession letter ever written.

Dear Ms. Budd. In 1894 a friend of mine shipped as a deck hand on the Steamer Tacoma, Capt. John Davis. They sailed from San Francisco for Hong Kong, China. On arriving there he and two others went ashore and got drunk. When they returned the boat was gone. At that time there was a famine in China. Meat of any kind was from $1-3 per pound. So great was the suffering among the very poor that all children under 12 were sold for food in order to keep others from starving. A boy or girl under 14 was not safe in the street. You could go in any shop and ask for steak-chops-or stew meat. Part of the naked body of a boy or girl would be brought out and just what you wanted cut from it. A boy or girl's behind which is the sweetest part of the body and sold as veal cutlet brought the highest price. John stayed there so long he acquired a taste for human flesh. On his return to N.Y. he stole two boys, one 7 and one 11. Took them to his home stripped them naked tied them in a closet. Then burned everything they had on. Several times every day and night he spanked them-tortured them- to make their meat good and tender. First he killed the 11 year old boy, because he had the fattest ass and of course the most meat on it. Every part of his body was cooked and eaten except the head- bones and guts. He was roasted in the oven (all of his ass), boiled, broiled, fried and stewed. The little boy was next, went the same way. At that time, I was living at 409 E 100 St. near-right side. He told me so often how good human flesh was I made up my mind to taste it. On Sunday June the 3, 1928 I called on you at 406 W 15 St.Brought you pot cheese- strawberries. We had lunch. Grace sat in my lap and kissed me. I made up my mind to eat her. On the pretense of taking her to a party. You said yes she could go. I took her to an empty house in Westchester I had already picked out. When we got there, I told her to remain outside. She picked wildflowers. I went upstairs and stripped all my clothes off. I knew if I did not I would get her blood on them. When all was ready I went to the window and called her. Then I hid in a closet until she was in the room. When she saw me all naked she began to cry and tried to run down the stairs. I grabbed her and she said she would tell her mamma. First I stripped her naked. How she did kick- bite and scratch. I choked her to death, then cut her in small pieces so I could take my meat to my rooms. Cook and eat it. How sweet and tender her little ass was roasted in the oven. It took me 9 days to eat her entire body. I did not fuck her tho I could of had I wished. She died a virgin.

To one man, the letter was some small measure of good news. Detective William F. King had been one of the only people following the Grace Budd case who had not given up hope in 6 years. After examining the letter, he found a cryptic series of letters that the author had attempted to mark through. This led King to a New York City chauffeurs group, where he interviewed the employees. The janitor admitted to having stolen letterheads and directed King to a cheap flop-house where he had dropped them off some time ago. At the stated address, the landlady told King that the janitor's old room was now occupied by an elderly man who always received mail from his children there. When pressed further about this individual, she gave a description that matched the suspect. She said his name was not Frank Howard, but Albert Fish. After checking the man's signature in the register, he saw that the handwriting was the same as the grisly letter sent to Delia Budd. Detective King took a room on the top floor, which gave him a view of the street entrance and also the stairs to the main floor.

On December 13th, 1934 the landlady called and told King that his tenant was back. He rushed from the station back to the flop house where the landlady was stalling Fish by giving him some tea. King entered the room with his gun ready, and saw the decrepit looking old man sipping his drink. King revealed his identity, and Fish made no attempt to conceal his own. The policeman asked him to come to the station for questioning. Fish agreed and stood up, before reaching into his pocket and lunging at King with a straight razor. The experienced and stocky Detective grabbed Fish's wrist and twisted until he dropped the blade. After cuffing him King turned to look into the old man's wizened face and said, "I've got you now."