109 - The Champion Jail-Breaker
04/04/23 • 50 min
1 Listener
John Frankford was a notorious thief of pretty much anything that wasn't nailed down. His 30 year career in Pennsylvania and elsewhere is a series of crimes, arrests, and jailbreaks, punctuated with the occasional jail sentence that's actually served.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PodcastDarkness
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Part of the Straight Up Strange Network: https://www.straightupstrange.com/
Opening music from https://filmmusic.io. "Dark Child" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Closing music by Soma.
SOURCES
Lancaster Saturday Express, June 14, 1856, p. 4.
“A Plucky Escape.” The Landmark (White River Junction, Vermont), July 14, 1883.
“All Asked to Give Evidence.” Philadelphia Times, June 12, 1897.
“Arrest of an Accomplished Horse-Thief.” Baltimore County Union (Towsontown, Maryland), May 26, 1883.
“Arrest of a Noted Burglar.” Lancaster Intelligencer, May 25, 1874.
“Arrest of a Noted Horse Thief.” Lancaster Intelligencer, June 19, 1877.
“Arrested.” Lancaster Intelligencer, December 20, 1869.
“At His Old Tricks.” Lancaster Examiner, May 19, 1880.
“Attempted Escape from Prison.” Lancaster Examiner, March 15, 1854.
“August Term of Quarter Sessions.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, August 25, 1877.
“Caged Again.” Lancaster Intelligencer, September 8, 1880.
“Catching One of the Escaped Convicts.” Philadelphia Times, May 26, 1882.
“Caught Again.” Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, September 7, 1878.
“Caught in the Act.” Lancaster Intelligencer, May 14, 1880.
“City and County Affairs – Court of Quarter Sessions – August Term.” Lancaster Intelligencer, August 25, 1857.
“City and County Items – John Frankford.” Lancaster Intelligencer, April 25, 1854.
“Committee Probes Frankford's Case.” Philadelphia Inquirer, June 12, 1897.
“Court of Quarter Sessions.” Lancaster Daily Evening Express, August 18, 1874.
―. Lancaster Intelligencer, August 23, 1877.
―. Lancaster Intelligencer, August 24, 1877.
“Court Proceedings.” Lancaster Examiner, November 27, 1861.
“Crime and Casualty.” Carlisle Valley Sentinel, December 9, 1881.
“Death Ends His Term in Prison.” Philadelphia Times, January 22, 1896.
“Divorced.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, September 8, 1883.
“Escape from Prison.” Lancaster Examiner, September 30, 1863.
“Escape of Prisoners from Lancaster Jail.” Baltimore Sun, May 25, 1882.
“Escape of Two Noted Criminals.” Lancaster Intelligencer, July 25, 1878.
“Escaped Convicts.” Lancaster Intelligencer, October 17, 1883.
“Escaped from Prison.” Lancaster Intelligencer, July 14, 1879.
“Frankford's Case.” Lancaster Intelligencer, May 28, 1874.
“Frankford in Limbo.” Lancaster Weekly Intelligencer, May 16, 1883.
“Frankford the Jail Breaker, Burglar and Horse Thief.” Lancaster Intelligencer, June 25, 1877.
“Frankford's Return.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, November 24, 1885.
“Frankford's Whereabouts.” Lancaster Intelligencer, October 31, 1883.
“Frankfort and Hambright in the Allegheny Court of Quarter Sessions.” Lancaster Daily Evening Express, June 15, 1870.
“Frankfort, the Jail Breaker.” Lancaster Intelligencer, May 9, 1870.
“G.C. Kennedy Disbarred.” Lancaster Examiner, June 26, 1895.
“General Jail Delivery.” Lancaster Examiner, May 31, 1882.
“Gordon Still Wants His Way.” Philadelphia Times, June 11, 1897.
“Is It Frankford?” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, March 12, 1884.
“Jail Breakers.” Lancaster Intelligencer, August 8, 1881.
“John Frankford – Back Again In His Old Quarters.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, September 1, 1883.
“John Frankford – His Daughter Reaffirms His Death.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, January 10, 1885.
“John Frankford – Judge Futhey ...
John Frankford was a notorious thief of pretty much anything that wasn't nailed down. His 30 year career in Pennsylvania and elsewhere is a series of crimes, arrests, and jailbreaks, punctuated with the occasional jail sentence that's actually served.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PodcastDarkness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agable_fd/
Forgotten Darkness Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1NsgqAha9Z3bMhBxg8FuM2tRLqwjH5-_F&usp=sharing
Part of the Straight Up Strange Network: https://www.straightupstrange.com/
Opening music from https://filmmusic.io. "Dark Child" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Closing music by Soma.
SOURCES
Lancaster Saturday Express, June 14, 1856, p. 4.
“A Plucky Escape.” The Landmark (White River Junction, Vermont), July 14, 1883.
“All Asked to Give Evidence.” Philadelphia Times, June 12, 1897.
“Arrest of an Accomplished Horse-Thief.” Baltimore County Union (Towsontown, Maryland), May 26, 1883.
“Arrest of a Noted Burglar.” Lancaster Intelligencer, May 25, 1874.
“Arrest of a Noted Horse Thief.” Lancaster Intelligencer, June 19, 1877.
“Arrested.” Lancaster Intelligencer, December 20, 1869.
“At His Old Tricks.” Lancaster Examiner, May 19, 1880.
“Attempted Escape from Prison.” Lancaster Examiner, March 15, 1854.
“August Term of Quarter Sessions.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, August 25, 1877.
“Caged Again.” Lancaster Intelligencer, September 8, 1880.
“Catching One of the Escaped Convicts.” Philadelphia Times, May 26, 1882.
“Caught Again.” Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, September 7, 1878.
“Caught in the Act.” Lancaster Intelligencer, May 14, 1880.
“City and County Affairs – Court of Quarter Sessions – August Term.” Lancaster Intelligencer, August 25, 1857.
“City and County Items – John Frankford.” Lancaster Intelligencer, April 25, 1854.
“Committee Probes Frankford's Case.” Philadelphia Inquirer, June 12, 1897.
“Court of Quarter Sessions.” Lancaster Daily Evening Express, August 18, 1874.
―. Lancaster Intelligencer, August 23, 1877.
―. Lancaster Intelligencer, August 24, 1877.
“Court Proceedings.” Lancaster Examiner, November 27, 1861.
“Crime and Casualty.” Carlisle Valley Sentinel, December 9, 1881.
“Death Ends His Term in Prison.” Philadelphia Times, January 22, 1896.
“Divorced.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, September 8, 1883.
“Escape from Prison.” Lancaster Examiner, September 30, 1863.
“Escape of Prisoners from Lancaster Jail.” Baltimore Sun, May 25, 1882.
“Escape of Two Noted Criminals.” Lancaster Intelligencer, July 25, 1878.
“Escaped Convicts.” Lancaster Intelligencer, October 17, 1883.
“Escaped from Prison.” Lancaster Intelligencer, July 14, 1879.
“Frankford's Case.” Lancaster Intelligencer, May 28, 1874.
“Frankford in Limbo.” Lancaster Weekly Intelligencer, May 16, 1883.
“Frankford the Jail Breaker, Burglar and Horse Thief.” Lancaster Intelligencer, June 25, 1877.
“Frankford's Return.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, November 24, 1885.
“Frankford's Whereabouts.” Lancaster Intelligencer, October 31, 1883.
“Frankfort and Hambright in the Allegheny Court of Quarter Sessions.” Lancaster Daily Evening Express, June 15, 1870.
“Frankfort, the Jail Breaker.” Lancaster Intelligencer, May 9, 1870.
“G.C. Kennedy Disbarred.” Lancaster Examiner, June 26, 1895.
“General Jail Delivery.” Lancaster Examiner, May 31, 1882.
“Gordon Still Wants His Way.” Philadelphia Times, June 11, 1897.
“Is It Frankford?” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, March 12, 1884.
“Jail Breakers.” Lancaster Intelligencer, August 8, 1881.
“John Frankford – Back Again In His Old Quarters.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, September 1, 1883.
“John Frankford – His Daughter Reaffirms His Death.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, January 10, 1885.
“John Frankford – Judge Futhey ...
Previous Episode
108 - The Morner Family Murders
On December 12, 1911, a missed milk delivery led to the discovery of four dead bodies on a farm near Albany, New York. The possible murderer can't be found.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PodcastDarkness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agable_fd/
Forgotten Darkness Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1NsgqAha9Z3bMhBxg8FuM2tRLqwjH5-_F&usp=sharing
Part of the Straight Up Strange Network: https://www.straightupstrange.com/
Opening music from https://filmmusic.io. "Dark Child" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Closing music by Soma.
SOURCES
“$1000 Reward For Murderer.” Rutland Daily Herald, December 16, 1911.
“1911 Shocking Defreestville Murders Still Unsolved.” Albany Times-Union, April 10, 1966.
“Another Morner Tragedy Reported.” Buffalo Enquirer, February 2, 1912.
“Arrest Man at Williamstown.” Boston Globe, December 18, 1911.
“Bloodhounds on Murderer's Trail.” Warren Times-Mirror , December 15, 1911.
“Bloodhounds Trail Slayer of Family.” New York Times, December 15, 1911.
“Caught As Slayer of Whole Family on Morner Farm.” New York Evening World, March 1, 1912.
“Detectives Assert Murder Suspect is Guilty of Lesser Crime.” Meriden Record-Journal, August 29, 1912.
“Dogs Lose Trail of Suspected Man.” Buffalo News, December 15, 1911.
“Donato Has Not Been Caught.” Rutland Daily Herald, December 20, 1911.
“Edward Donato a Man of Mystery.” Albany Evening Journal, December 22, 1911.
“Funeral Resembles a Picnic.” Rutland Daily Herald , December 18, 1911.
“Governor May Offer Reward For Murderer.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, December 17, 1911.
“Family of Four Brutally Slain.” Buffalo Commercial, December 14, 1911.
“Foully Slays Whole Family; Find Bodies in Manure Pit.” Elmira Star-Gazette, December 14, 1911.
“Held For Morner Murders.” New York Times, December 16, 1911.
“Jesse Morner Has Narrow Escape.” Glens Falls Post Star, August 21, 1912.
“Link Morner Case With Dorp Suicide.” Glens Falls Post-Star, November 11, 1912.
“Massena Italian May Be Donato.” Ogdensburg Journal, May 17, 1912.
“Morgan Williams Back Home.” Scranton Times, December 22, 1911.
“Morner Estates.” Berkshire Eagle , October 24, 1914.
“Morner Murder Suspect Freed.” Albany Argus, May 19, 1912.
“Morner Suspect is Released.” Buffalo News, December 20, 1911.
“Mrs. Williams Says Her Son is Innocent.” Scranton Tribune-Republican, December 20, 1911.
“Murder Suspect Held, Albany Police Notified.” Buffalo News, December 15, 1911.
“Police File Still Remains Open in Morner Murders, 35-Year-Old Mystery.” Albany Times-Union, December 29, 1946.
“Police Think They Have Slayer of Morner Family.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 1, 1912.
“Sheriff Says Donato is Man.” Rutland Daily Herald, December 19, 1911.
“Sleuthing Isn't Profitable.” Rutland Daily Herald, February 10, 1912.
“Spurned Love Caused Hatchet-Fiend to Murder Entire Morner Family.” Pittsburgh Press , December 16, 1911.
“State May Offer Reward For Slayer.” New York Times, December 17, 1911.
“State Offers $2000 Reward.” Rutland Daily Herald, December 19, 1911.
“Still in Doubt as to Suspect.” Ogdensburg Journal, May 18, 1912.
“Suspect Denies Bomb Threat in Extortion Case.” New York Daily News, July 2, 1933.
“Suspect Released on Word of a Girl.” Buffalo Commercial, December 16, 1911.
“Tatasciore Released By Authorities.” Meriden Record-Journal, September 7, 1912.
“Think Morner Family Slayer is in Custody.” Elmira Star-Gazette, May 17, 1912.
“Three Women and Man Murdered; Hunt Farmhand as Insane Slayer.” Syracuse Herald, December 14, 1911.
“Tony Tash Agrees to Settle With Henry Wyman.” Bennington Banner, December 5, 1913.
“Verdict For $900 Was Given To Tony Tash.” Bennington Evening Banner, June 14, 1913.
Next Episode
110 - The Real Stories of L.A. Noire, Part One
These are three of the stories that inspired cases in the 2011 video game L.A. Noire. Here are the stories of overstressed engineer Eugene White ("The Driver's Seat"), the accidental death of Jay Dee Chitwood and his wife's drunken confession ("A Marriage Made in Heaven"), and the avoidable disaster of O'Connor Electroplating ("Nicholson Electroplating").
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PodcastDarkness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agable_fd/
Forgotten Darkness Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1NsgqAha9Z3bMhBxg8FuM2tRLqwjH5-_F&usp=sharing
Part of the Straight Up Strange Network: https://www.straightupstrange.com/
Opening music from https://filmmusic.io. "Dark Child" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Closing music by Soma.
SOURCES
“15 Identified Dead in Blast; One Missing.” Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, February 21, 1947.
“Alleged Murder Victim Admits Burning House.” Hanford Morning Journal, August 5, 1947.
“Chemist Cited Blast Peril, Inquest Hears.” Salt Lake Tribune, March 12, 1947.
“Chitwood to Be Sentenced to Death.” Hope (Arkansas) Star, February 20, 1946.
“Dead Chemist's Premonition of L.A. Blast Told At Hearing.” Los Angeles Daily News, March 11, 1947.
“Driver Absolved in Pedestrian Death.” San Pedro News-Pilot, August 15, 1944.
“Engineer Arrested in Arson.” Valley Times, August 4, 1947.
“Executive Feared Slaying Victim in St. Valentine's Day Car Mystery.” Los Angeles Times, February 16, 1947.
“It Mushroomed Like Atom Blast.” Los Angeles Daily News, February 21, 1947.
“Missing Businessman Confesses It Was Fake.” Los Angeles Times, February 27, 1947.
“Murdered One Mate Just to Scare Present One, Wife Says.” Los Angeles Daily News, January 22, 1947.
“Obituaries – White, Eugene Hamilton.” Los Angeles Times, June 13, 1995.
“Only Kidding, Woman Says of Confession.” Metropolitan Pasadena News, January 23, 1947.
“Pedestrian Death Inquest Set.” San Pedro News-Pilot, August 11, 1944.
“Plant Cleared of Negligence in Faital Blast.” Wilmington Daily Press Journal, March 13, 1947.
“Police Discount Murder Story.” San Pedro News-Pilot, January 22, 1947.
“Prosecutor Seeks Blast Facts Prior to Inquest.” Los Angeles Times, February 25, 1947.
“Psychiatrist to Examine Woodland Hills Arsonist.” Topanga Journal, August 29, 1947.
“Reasons For Flight Told By Missing Angeleno.” Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1947.
“Secret War Work Blast Cause Denied.” Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, February 21, 1947.
“Some Compare Blast to Quake, A-Bombing.” Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, February 21, 1947.
“Television Used at Blast Scene First for Coast.” Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, February 21, 1947.
“Tool Plant Executive's Arson Case Arraignment Set Aug. 25.” Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, August 9, 1947.
“Torrance Orders Sidewalk Built.” San Pedro News-Pilot, August 25, 1944.
“Traffic Death Turns Into Murder Mystery.” Los Angeles Times, January 22, 1947.
“Woman Admits Spouse Murder Two Years Ago.” Pomona Progress Bulletin, January 22, 1947.
“Woman Released After Confession Discounted.” Long Beach Independent, January 24, 1947.
“Woman's Murder Story Proves False.” San Pedro News-Pilot, January 24, 1947.
“Woodland Hills Arsonist Sane; Held For Trial.” Topanga Journal, September 5, 1947.
“Woodland Hills Man Charged With Arson.” Topanga Journal, August 8, 1947.
Newsreel footage of aftermath of O'Connor Electroplating: (230) Deadly explosion, 1947, O'Connor Electroplating Co. Los Angeles - YouTube
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