Further Reading For Carl Panzram
Panzram A Journal of Murder by Thomas Gaddis, James O. Long, and Harold Schechter
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One of American crime’s true mad dogs, Carl Panzram described himself as rage personified. He was a murderer, an arsonist, a burglar, and a hobo rapist active between 1910 and 1930 when he was finally captured, tried, and executed at the prison in Leavenworth, Texas. Though, very little of his claims could be corroborated by evidence, Panzram was unlike other killers that inflated their numbers in that at no time in his life did he ever seem to actively seek fame. So his claims that he had murdered 21 people and raped over 1,000 men and boys in the process of robbing them could, in fact, be very likely.
No prison seemed capable of holding Panzram for long. He stole anything not nailed down, including a boat, and guns belonging to United States president, William Howard Taft. It’s hotly debated where on the criminal spectrum Panzram falls since his murder spree shares few characteristics with other serial killers. He had multiple victims but the murders lack the pathology found in drifter/hobo murderers like Henry Lee Lucas. Panzram’s crimes were motivated entirely by cruelty and he didn’t seem to care if he lived or died.
When being prepped for execution, he was asked if he had any last words. He left this world with:
Yes, hurry it up, you hoosier bastard! I could kill a dozen men while you’re screwing around!
Episode(s): 271-273
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