Added Note: Patricia, once you find more about the person you are researching, you can check old city directories. Grasping at straws here ... That is the Wikipedia website I was referring to, I tend to misspell it. They also have a story about Elyria, OH. The fact that the story appeared in that particular OH newspaper might indicate that DALY had a connection to Chicago, Cleveland or even that particular area in Lorain County. Read newspaper articles from that date to see what was going on. Read about Chicago in the 1920s. Might have been in other prisons before Sing Sing. Are you interested in that location? The Lorain OH library website has a very interesting timeline of historical events in that area near Elyria on line including deaths from the Spanish flu, returning Lorain servicemen, influx of immigrants, etc. Gangsters and Prohibition: On January 8, 1925 a Lorain Prohibition Era court case sets precedent; the smell of alcohol is enough to convict a man! Perhaps you can locate a dedicated on-line OH railroad buff with some insight into street railroads and violent incidents.. Might give insight into worker's right, unions, local government, corruption. In 1897 a traction line (street railway) was opened between Elyria and Oberlin-a round-trip ticket cost 25 cents. If the murdered employees were black, it might even have been an incident fueled by the resurgence of the KKK. Around that time in America, a film director, D. W. Griffith began work on "Birth of a Nation" movie(1915). The film created a sensation. Griffith's use of intricate editing and film techniques such as alternating close-ups and long-shots from varying camera angles, were revolutionary and inspired a generation of directors. The film's portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan and African Americans, resulted in Griffith being accused of racism. Despite attempts by the NAACP to have the film banned, it was highly successful at the box office. Deeply hurt by the accusations of racism, Griffith's next film, "Intolerance" (1916), was a quartet of stories of man's inhumanity to man. Griffith's attempt to compensate for the politics of the "Birth of a Nation: was a commercial flop. Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean R." <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 3:40 PM Subject: Re: [IRISH-AMER] How to find person executed in Sing Sing > Hi Patricia, Note that the location is Ossining, NY. There is a very > interesting Wilkipedia website article on the history of the town and on > Sing Sing prison. If you feel strongly that the (gangster) DALY > individual > is someone in your family, try contacting the Ossining Historical Society > website. I believe that is where I saw them list newspapers that carried > news about the prison in various years and a volunteer might check > microfilms or have a card file, newspaper file, or book about gangland to > draw on. There is a very interesting on-line "Time" magazine archived > article on Sing Sing, dated Monday January 7, 1929, which gives details of > life in prison and execution of prisoners. One of several books available > for background: "LIFE AND DEATH IN SING SING" - Lewis E. LAWES-Doubleday, > Doran. He was a warden there in the 1920s. > > If you determined date of birth and death, how long he had been in prison, > found where he resided in early life, or as a member of a gang, you might > be > able to find him on a USA Federal Census. I should think that old prison > ledgers would exist with details on prisoners. > > Although the fact that DALY is identified as a "gangster" makes it likely > he > was Irish, one should keep in mind that many blacks have Irish surnames > going back to the days of slavery and plantation owners. > > Rootsweb at Ancestry.com has, I believe, an interesting board for > researchers with "Black Sheep" ancestors. > > Jean > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Patricia" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 9:06 AM > Subject: [IRISH-AMER] How to find person executed in Sing Sing > > >> The following was printed in an Elyria, OH paper, the The >> Chronicle-Telegram," 1926 June 25: >> >> "Ossing. N.Y., June 25---Frank Daly, gangster, paid the penalty in the >> electric chair at sing sing shortly before midnight for the murder of two >> street railroad emplyoyes[sic]." >> >> I'd like to know what records I need to locate in order to determine >> this >> man's ancestry. >> Thank you, >> Patricia