The Six Who Were Hanged. (Cover Title)

CLEM G. HEARSEY

Publication: Privately printed by the author, 1924, N P New Orleans

First edition. 8vo. Pink printed wrappers, 29 pp. illustrated from three photographic scenes. On May 9, 1924, in Amite, Louisiana, at the Tangipahoa Parish Jail, six men were executed by hanging for the murder of a single victim, Dallas Calmes, an innkeeper in nearby Independence. All six had been convicted in connection with the killing of Calmes during a violent robbery attempt. Calmes was shot and killed when he tried to resist or interfere with the criminals. The group of six men, largely Italian immigrants or of Italian origin, were arrested, tried, and sentenced together. The execution took place on a double gallows inside the jail compound. It lasted several hours, with each man hanged in sequence. It was one of the largest multiple hangings in U.S. history, occurring during a period when hanging was being phased out in favor of electrocution. "This book contains a graphic pictorial and narrative description of the history-making execution at Amite, La., on May 9, 1924, where six men paid the extreme penalty on the gallows for the murder of one. The three scenes of the actual execution contained in this book are among the most unusual photographs in the world." The murder took place in Independence, Louisiana, where Dallas Calmes, the village inn-keeper, was gunned down at his restaurant by Joseph Bocchio and Joseph Giglio. Accused with them were Natale Deamore, Rosario Leona, Andreas Lamantia, and Joseph Rini. Covers moderately soiled, tiny nicks and chips to the extremities, foxing to the interior pages, else a good copy.