Paul Geidel

Case record: Paul Geidel

Paul Geidel (April 21, 1894 - May, 1987) was an American prison inmate whose sentence ended with his release.

Characteristics

Geidel was described as having been legally insane in 1926 and as being an alcoholic saloon keeper’s son.

Timeline

• 7 May 1980 — Geidel left Fishkill after serving his sentence.
• May 1987 — Geidel died.
• 1911 — Geidel was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
• 26 July 1911 — Geidel decided to rob William H. Jackson.
• Two days later — Geidel was arrested following the killing of William H. Jackson.
• 1926 — Doctors found Geidel to be legally insane and he was moved to the Dannemora State Hospital for the Criminal Insane.
• 1972 — Geidel was moved from the Dannemora State Hospital for the Criminal Insane to the Fishkill Correctional Facility.
• August 1974 — Geidel was granted parole.
• 63 years into prison — Geidel had lived in prison for 63 years and chose to remain for almost six more years.

Background

Geidel was born in Hartford, Connecticut to an alcoholic saloon keeper who died when Geidel was 5. He spent much of his childhood in an orphanage. He dropped out of school at the age of 14 and worked in a series of menial jobs in Hartford and New York City hotels.

The offence

On July 26, 1911, Geidel decided to rob William H. Jackson, a wealthy broker. Jackson was a guest at the Iroquois Hotel on West 44th Street in New York City, where Geidel was working at the Iroquois as a bellhop. Geidel sneaked into Jackson's room and suffocated him to death with a rag filled with chloroform. Geidel only made off with a few dollars.

Arrest

Two days later, Geidel was arrested.

Trial

Geidel was convicted of second-degree murder.

Sentencing

Geidel was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in 1911.

Imprisonment

Geidel began his sentence at the Sing Sing prison. His sentence was shortened due to good behavior, and he was nearing a possible parole hearing, but doctors then found Geidel to be legally insane in 1926. He was moved to the Dannemora State Hospital for the Criminal Insane, where he was confined until 1972. He was then moved to the Fishkill Correctional Facility.

At Fishkill, Geidel lived in a unit designed for elderly inmates that more resembled a dormitory, rather than a prison. As Geidel's tenure in prison went by, he developed a rapport with prison officials, who sometimes took the old man out to a baseball game, or other outing.

Geidel was granted parole in August 1974, but the now 80 year old inmate did not want to leave. Having lived in prison for 63 years—his entire adult life—and having no family, he believed that he would not make it on the outside. He chose to remain in prison for almost six more years.

Release

On May 7, 1980, Geidel left Fishkill after serving 68 years and 245 days in various New York state prisons. Geidel was released on May 7, 1980, at the age of 86. Geidel said with a smile to reporters: "No publicity please,".

Aftermath

He is believed to have lived out the remainder of his days in a Dutchess County nursing home. Geidel died in May 1987.