What Led Them to Fish
Detective King realized that the details of his meeting with the Budds and Grace were accurate. He also noticed that the handwriting of the letter that this person sent to Mrs. Budd was the same as the handwriting from the letter the edererlly kidnapper sent to the Wstern Union messenger six years earlier. The envelope had an important clue on it. A small hexagonal emblem had the letter N.Y.P.C.B.A which stood for the New York Private Chauffeur's Benevolent Association.
With the president of the association cooperation, an emergency meeting of the members was held. While this was going on, the police were checking the handwritten membership forms to see if any matched the letter. Detective King asked the members to report anyone had taken any envelopes.
A janitor came forward, admitting that he had taken some sheets of paper and a couple of envelopes. He said he had left them at his old rooming house. The police went to the landlady and she said that their description sounded exactly like the old man who had been living there for two months.
She said that the former tenant called himself Albert Fish. She told them that he returned every month to get his Sonia's paycheck. Fish had asked the landlady to hold it for him.
On December 13, 1934, the landlady called Detective King. She said that Albert was there looking for his letter from his son. The old man was sitting there with a teacup when Detective King opened the door. He stood up, reached in his pocket, and pulled out a razor blade. King twisted his arm arrested Albert Fish.
With the president of the association cooperation, an emergency meeting of the members was held. While this was going on, the police were checking the handwritten membership forms to see if any matched the letter. Detective King asked the members to report anyone had taken any envelopes.
A janitor came forward, admitting that he had taken some sheets of paper and a couple of envelopes. He said he had left them at his old rooming house. The police went to the landlady and she said that their description sounded exactly like the old man who had been living there for two months.
She said that the former tenant called himself Albert Fish. She told them that he returned every month to get his Sonia's paycheck. Fish had asked the landlady to hold it for him.
On December 13, 1934, the landlady called Detective King. She said that Albert was there looking for his letter from his son. The old man was sitting there with a teacup when Detective King opened the door. He stood up, reached in his pocket, and pulled out a razor blade. King twisted his arm arrested Albert Fish.
Forensic Evidence
The letter that was sent to Mrs. Budd was the main evidence that they found. They used the letter to track Fish down.
Forensic Analytical Techniques
Forensic handwriting experts: Looked at the handwriting of the letter sent to Mrs. Budd and compared it to the handwritten membership forms from the N.Y.P.C.B.A.
The End of Fish
On Monday March 11, 1935, he stood trial for the murder of Grace Budd. The defense pointed to his strange life and habits to try to convince the jury that he was insane. When Fish was asked what is his plea, he said not guilty by reason of insanity. He claimed that was was hearing voices from God and God was telling him to do all of these things. He said it was a form of sacrifice. The trial lasted for 10 days, but the jury only took one hour to decide that Albert Fish was guilty. Fish thanked the judge for his sentence of death by the electric chair. On January 16, 1936 was killed in the electric chair.