La
construcción de la Penitenciaría Estatal de Pensilvania comenzó en 1822
y abrió sus puertas en 1829, sirviendo a los reclusos hasta 1971. Con
los años, este ejemplo de encarcelamiento ha
albergado a muchos presos notorios e incluso famosos. Entre
los que llamaron a Eastern State Penitentiary su hogar se encuentran el
famoso ladrón de bancos William Francis Sutton, el infame mafioso Al
Capone y la estrella de nuestra historia, Pep the Dog.
Según
la leyenda, un labrador negro llamado Pep fue sentenciado a cadena
perpetua sin libertad condicional el 12 de agosto de 1924. ¿Su crimen? Supuestamente Pep mató al gato favorito de la esposa del gobernador Gifford Pinchot. El gobernador usó sus poderes ejecutivos para encarcelar a Pep por el
asesinato y someterlo al mismo proceso arresto policial que todos los
reclusos humanos, incluso recibiendo el número de prisión de C-2559.Es una historia asombrosa, pero como tantos cuentos fantásticos, no es exactamente cierto. La verdad es ... Pep era un perro travieso, pero no era un asesino de gatos.
Durante
el primer mandato del gobernador Pinchot como gobernador, un cachorro de nombre Pep le fue regalado del sobrino de su esposa, Cornelia Bryce Pinchot. El sobrino era criador de labradores y, por un tiempo, Pep era un miembro apreciado de la familia. Pero, como muchos de su raza, Pep tenía la desagradable costumbre de masticar muebles. Ninguna cantidad de castigo podría evitar que Pep mastique los cojines en el sofá al aire libre del gobernador. Incapaz de lidiar con el mal comportamiento de Pep, la familia decidió
que Pep tenía que irse, pero parecía demasiado cruel para eutanasiarlo.
Afortunadamente, un viaje a Maine inspiró al Gobernador. Según
el hijo del gobernador, Pinchot observó que los perros de terapia
utilizados en las cárceles aumentan la moral de los reclusos. Al
regresar a casa, Pinchot discutió la idea con su amigo Herbert Smith,
quien resultó ser el guardián de la Penitenciaría del Estado Oriental. Luego, Pep fue entregado a la prisión como un obsequio y la famosa
foto policial fue tomada como un truco publicitario o una broma.
Pep vivió en Eastern State por el resto de su vida. Según algunos, fue "transferido" a la prisión de Graterford cuando fue construido en 1929, pero otras fuentes creen que simplemente acompañó al equipo de trabajo de la prisión durante su construcción y que murió a principios de la década de 1930 en ESP, donde Fue enterrado en algún lugar de los terrenos.
Entonces, ¿cómo se difundió la historia sobre los crímenes de Pep? De los documentos archivados en el sitio histórico nacional de Gray Towers, el antiguo hogar del gobernador, el hijo del gobernador sugiere en gran parte que las historias fueron compuestas por un periodista con sentido del humor que busca una historia interesante para aumentar el número de lectores. Y donde hay una leyenda, seguramente habrá más.
En el campo paranormal, la penitenciaría del este del estado es ampliamente reconocida como una de las ubicaciones más embrujadas en los Estados Unidos. Muchos grupos, incluidos los de series de televisión populares, han captado evidencia y tenido experiencias personales que involucraban a los ex prisioneros de la prisión. Dado que Pep es una parte tan integral de la historia de la prisión, algunos creen que su espíritu todavía vaga por los pasillos del lugar donde fue amado y apreciado por los guardias y los reclusos por igual. Los visitantes han afirmado haber escuchado el tintineo de las placas de identificación e incluso el aullido de un perro haciendo eco a través de las células metálicas.
Construction of Pennsylvania's Eastern State Penitentiary began in 1822
and opened in 1829, serving inmates up until 1971. Over the years, this
literal textbook example of incarceration has housed many notorious and
even famous inmates. Among those who called Eastern State Penitentiary
their home are famous bank robber William Francis Sutton, infamous
mobster Al Capone and the star of our story, Pep the Dog.
According to legend, a black labrador retriever named Pep was sentenced to life without parole on August 12, 1924. His crime? Pep allegedly killed then Governor Gifford Pinchot's wife's favorite cat. The governor used his executive powers to have Pep incarcerated for the murder and subjected to the same mugshot process as all the human inmates, even being given the prison number of C-2559.
According to legend, a black labrador retriever named Pep was sentenced to life without parole on August 12, 1924. His crime? Pep allegedly killed then Governor Gifford Pinchot's wife's favorite cat. The governor used his executive powers to have Pep incarcerated for the murder and subjected to the same mugshot process as all the human inmates, even being given the prison number of C-2559.
It's an awesome story, but as many such fantastic tales, isn't exactly
true. The truth is... Pep WAS a bad dog, but he wasn't a cat murderer.
During Governor Pinchot's first term as governor, he received Pep the puppy from the nephew of his wife, Cornelia Bryce Pinchot. The nephew was a breeder of labradors and for awhile, Pep was a cherished member of the family. But, like many of his breed, Pep had a nasty habit of chewing up furniture. No amount of punishment could stop Pep from chewing up the cushions on the governor's outdoor sofa. Unable to deal with Pep's bad behavior, the family decided that Pep had to go, but it seemed too cruel to euthanize him.
Luckily a trip to Maine inspired the Governor. According the the governor's son, Pinchot observed therapy dogs used in prisons to boost the morale of the inmates. Upon returning home, Pinchot discussed the idea with his friend Herbert Smith, who happened to be the warden of Eastern State Penitentiary. Pep was then given to the prison as a gift and the famous mugshot was taken as either a publicity stunt, or a joke.
Pep lived at Eastern State for the rest of his life. By some accounts, he was "transferred" to Graterford Prison when it was built in 1929, but other sources believe that he simply accompanied the prison work crew back and forth during its construction and that he died in the early 1930s at ESP, where he was buried somewhere on the grounds.
So how did the story spread about Pep's crimes? From papers archived at Grey Towers National Historic site, the governor's former home, it is largely implied from the governor's son that the stories were made up by a newspaper reporter with a sense of humor looking for an interesting story to boost readership. And where there's one legend, there's bound to be more.
In the paranormal field, Eastern State Penitentiary is largely noted as being one of the most haunted locations in the United States. Many groups, including those from popular television series, have caught evidence and had personal experiences involving the former inmates of the prison. Since Pep is such an integral part of the prison's history, some believe HIS spirit is still roaming the halls of the place where he was loved and cherished by guards and inmates alike. Visitors have claimed to have heard the jangling of dog tags and even the howl of a dog echoing through the metal cells.
During Governor Pinchot's first term as governor, he received Pep the puppy from the nephew of his wife, Cornelia Bryce Pinchot. The nephew was a breeder of labradors and for awhile, Pep was a cherished member of the family. But, like many of his breed, Pep had a nasty habit of chewing up furniture. No amount of punishment could stop Pep from chewing up the cushions on the governor's outdoor sofa. Unable to deal with Pep's bad behavior, the family decided that Pep had to go, but it seemed too cruel to euthanize him.
Luckily a trip to Maine inspired the Governor. According the the governor's son, Pinchot observed therapy dogs used in prisons to boost the morale of the inmates. Upon returning home, Pinchot discussed the idea with his friend Herbert Smith, who happened to be the warden of Eastern State Penitentiary. Pep was then given to the prison as a gift and the famous mugshot was taken as either a publicity stunt, or a joke.
Pep lived at Eastern State for the rest of his life. By some accounts, he was "transferred" to Graterford Prison when it was built in 1929, but other sources believe that he simply accompanied the prison work crew back and forth during its construction and that he died in the early 1930s at ESP, where he was buried somewhere on the grounds.
So how did the story spread about Pep's crimes? From papers archived at Grey Towers National Historic site, the governor's former home, it is largely implied from the governor's son that the stories were made up by a newspaper reporter with a sense of humor looking for an interesting story to boost readership. And where there's one legend, there's bound to be more.
In the paranormal field, Eastern State Penitentiary is largely noted as being one of the most haunted locations in the United States. Many groups, including those from popular television series, have caught evidence and had personal experiences involving the former inmates of the prison. Since Pep is such an integral part of the prison's history, some believe HIS spirit is still roaming the halls of the place where he was loved and cherished by guards and inmates alike. Visitors have claimed to have heard the jangling of dog tags and even the howl of a dog echoing through the metal cells.
Publicado en Vintage
