Merchandising box for Hager & Bro., Inc. Originally light blue checkerboard twill pattern with logo on the lid. Original items removed: skeins of colored thread.
Executioner's hood, or cap, of "black Albert twill serge", was made by John C. Dinan and mentioned twice in the June 29 New Era article "MURDERERS PAY PENALTY." It was worn by Lee Furman, convicted murderer, for his hanging on June 29, 1905.
Hood is form-fitted to a round head shape, with a protrusion at the middle of side (for nose?). Hood narrows at the neck and flares strongly out to shoulders and extends to mid-chest in length. Vertical flap extends from bottom to perhaps jaw line, where there is a small, circular opening, likely to accomodate the rope. Flap is secured by 3 cloth-covered buttons. Expertly sewn, likely by a local seamstress or tailor.
Also included with gift is a postal card postmarked Sept. 9, 1905 from H.S. Eckels & Co. in Philadelphia to Mr. J. Fred. Fisher at 128 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA. message is handwritten in black ink: "Hood use(d) on Lee Furman Hung Thursday June 29, 1905 for the killing of Samuel Ressler "Toll gate Keeper" July 1, 1904." See NOTES on Fisher.
Provenance
Hood was purchased by Mayor Smithgall for $100 from a woman whose father reportedly had acquired it from the mortician. Postal card is unexplained (J. Frederick Fisher was a clerk for the P.R.R. and boarded at 504 N. Queen St. according to the 1890 Directory.
