Frederick Edel

Murderer

3known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Connecticut / New York, USA
Date of birth: ???
Characteristics: robbery, fugitive
Victim profile: John Mastriano (innkeeper) / David Dudley (male acquaintance ) / Emeline Harrington (a wealthy divorcée)
Method of murder: Shooting / Beating
Date(s) of murder: 1926 - 1927
Years active: 1926–1927
Date of arrest: March 27, 1928
Status: Life imprisonment
Sentenced to death in 1930; sentence commuted to life imprisonment in 1931; deported to Germany on parole; died there at age 72

Case Summary

Background

Frederick W. Edel was an ex-convict and habitual criminal.

The offence

Edel was charged with the gunshot murder of innkeeper John Mastriano at Meriden, Connecticut, on December 24, 1926. He was also a prime suspect in the murder of his friend, David Dudley, found shot to death near Meriden on March 23, 1927.

After police were still looking for leads in Dudley’s case, Edel claimed his next victim on December 27, when he invaded the New York apartment of Emeline Harrington. He beat Harrington to death and dumped her body in the bathroom before looting the flat.

On December 29, Harrington’s body was discovered, and her ex-husband identified the body two days later.

Investigation

Edel’s downfall began on January 2, when he absconded from a hotel in New Haven, Connecticut, leaving his bill unpaid. A search of the room turned up Harrington’s coat, some stolen letters addressed to Harrington, and an iron bar identified as the murder weapon.

An all-points bulletin was issued for Edel.

Arrest

Frederick Edel was arrested on March 27 in Hopkins, Minnesota, charged with forging postal money orders. Two days later, the 38-year-old fugitive admitted possession of Harrington’s clothing but denied her murder, insisting that the dead woman "sent" her jewels and clothing to him as a "gift."

Trial

Frederick Edel came to trial in March 1929.

He was convicted of first-degree murder on March 7, and he was sentenced to die in the electric chair at Sing Sing.

On the 1926 gunshot murder charge involving innkeeper John Mastriano, Edel was tried and acquitted. Prosecutors still maintained his guilt despite the acquittal.

Sentencing

Edel was condemned to death in 1930, but appeals delayed his scheduled execution for eleven months. On March 29, 1930, Governor Franklin Roosevelt commuted Edel’s sentence to a term of life imprisonment.

Appeals

Appeals delayed Edel’s scheduled execution for eleven months.

Outcome

Frederick Edel’s sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1931. Upon parole, he was deported to Germany, where he died at age 72.

Other details

Michael Newton - An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: N MOTIVE: CE
MO: Petty criminal; shot an innkeeper and a male acquaintance; bludgeoned/robbed a wealthy divorcée.
DISPOSITION: Acquitted on one count, 1926; condemned 1930 (commuted to life, 1931); deported to Germany on parole; died there at age 72.

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