Samuel Green

Serial Killer

Samuel Green: America's First Public Enemy

Early Life

Samuel Green was born in 1796 in Meredith, New Hampshire. From a young age, he exhibited troubling behavior, frequently skipping school, which led his parents to believe he was possessed. This resulted in frequent whippings. During his apprenticeship with a blacksmith, he was punished for stealing and vandalizing the blacksmith's garden. In retaliation for these punishments, Green threw the family dog into a well, contaminating their water supply, and later killed the family pig. These actions led his family to send him to live with a family friend, Albert Dunne, in New Hampton, New Hampshire. However, his behavior did not improve; he continued to skip school and engaged in theft and vandalism. In one instance, he attempted to kill Dunne by setting up a trap in the barn, which failed. This pattern of behavior set the stage for his later criminal activities.

Criminal Career

Green's criminal career escalated when he met William Ash. Together, under the mentorship of a traveling salesman named Franklin Loomis, they learned to forge bank notes and burglarize homes, businesses, and banks. Their crimes spanned several states, including New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Maine, and Massachusetts. Notable incidents during this period include:

• Ambushing and killing a jewelry salesman in Bath, New Hampshire, to steal his goods.
• Robbing a store of jewels in Montreal and, during the ensuing pursuit, killing several posse members.
• Committing numerous burglaries and engaging in violent acts across New England, leading to his notoriety as "public enemy number one."

Final Capture and Execution

Green's criminal activities came to an end when he was arrested for robbing a store in Danvers, Massachusetts, while intoxicated. He was convicted of burglary and sentenced to four years in prison in Boston. During his incarceration, he made multiple escape attempts, leading to increased security measures. He also attacked a fellow inmate, Billy Williams, resulting in Williams' death. Consequently, Green was convicted of murder and sentenced to execution. On April 25, 1822, he was hanged in Boston. At the gallows, he refused to address the spectators, stating, "They shall not know my fate. I have written out my confession in full." When asked by the priest if he was penitent, he responded with a thin smile, "If you wish it." ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (3)

Jewelry Salesman

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Samuel Green (criminal) - Wikipedia

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