Minisode 6: The Boston Boy Fiend
The Boston Boy Fiend
Jesse Harding Pomeroy
In 1872, young boys were lured away and attacked. The perpetrator found then sent to a reform school for boys. Soon after he was released, in 1874, it happened again. First a young girl went missing then a young boy was found murdered.
Who would do these crimes? A young teen by the name of Jesse Harding Pomeroy confessed to the murders. In this, our last Minisode of the year, we discuss his crimes and his ultimate punishment. Then we find out what happened to his family and go back into his deep Massachusetts roots.
The first time Jesse was arrested he was only 12, and he confessed.
Source: The Boston Globe, 21 Sep 1872
Death portrait of Katie Curran, one of his murder victims.
Death photo of little Horace Millen, age 4.
Jesse Harding Pomeroy was arrested at age 14 in 1874. He would spend the rest of his natural life in prison.
A reward was offered for the safe return of Katie Curran as well as the detection and conviction of the perpetrator.
Source: City of Boston - City of Boston Archives
I’m unsure how this was set up, but a formal portrait of Jesse was made in 1920. He would have been around 60 years old.
Another photograph of Jesse as an older man.
These photos were likely taken before he was moved to a different prison, one where he would no longer be in solitary confinement.
The State Prison of Charlestown, Massachusetts
Jesse was 70 the first time he left solitary confinement as his daily existence.
Source: The Montana Standard, 7 Aug 1929
Jesse Harding Pomeroy’s mother, Ruth Ann Snowman Pomeroy. She lived a hard life.
When Ruth Ann Snowman Pomeroy died, her estate inspired Jesse to file a complaint.
Source: The Boston Daily Globe, 10 February 1915
Wedding Announcement for a great-great nephew of Jesse’s, Ansel Pomeroy. The marriage was brief, but led us to learn more about the school his bride attended.
Source: Oakland Tribune, 6 Jun 1924
"History Of Alameda County, California, Volume II" by Frank Clinton Merritt; The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1928
National Register of Historic Places listings in Alameda County, California.
Anna Head School for Girls, 2538 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA. Photographed 2009-04-26 from the south side of Channing Way between Bowditch St. and Telegraph Ave.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DISCLOSURE: Murderous Roots is listener-supported. Some of the links below include Amazon affiliate links that may bring us a small commission to help support the podcast, at no additional cost to you.
The Wilderness of Ruin: A Tale of Madness, Fire, and the Hunt for America’s Youngest Serial Killer by Roseanne Montillo
The Autobiography of Jesse H. Pomeroy by Jesse H. Pomeroy (pdf file)
SOURCES
Wikipedia
We use a multitude of resources when researching a family tree up to an including census records from 1800-1940, marriage records in various states, draft registration cards, newspaper articles, and more. If you would like more specific details on where information was obtained, please email us and we’ll respond in a timely manner.