NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Alferd Packer

Alferd Packer (January 21, 1842 – April 23, 1907) ^[1] is popularly known as one of only two Americans ever imprisoned for cannibalism, alongside Albert Fish. First tried for murder, Packer was eventually sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter.^[2] Alferd Packer (19th century photograph) This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic - President George Walker Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... Moraine Lake, and the Valley of the Ten Peaks, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a broad mountain range in western North America. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (114th in leap years). ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... Albert Fish around the time of his last arrest For the Canadian politician see Albert Fish Albert Hamilton Fish (May 19, 1870 â€“ January 16, 1936) was an American serial killer and cannibal. ...

Packer's life

Packer was born (as Alfred G. Packer) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He served in the American Civil War, on the Union side presumably in an Iowa regiment, but was mustered out due to epilepsy. Location in the state of Pennsylvania Formed January 22, 1800 Seat Pittsburgh Area - Total - Water 1,929 kmÂ² (745 miÂ²) 38 kmÂ² (15 miÂ²) 1. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area Ranked 33rd - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 kmÂ²) - Width 160 miles (255 km) - Length 280 miles (455 km) - % water 2. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Lincoln, President Ulysses S. Grant, General Jefferson Davis, President Robert E. Lee, General Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action... In this map: Union states prohibiting slavery Union territories Border states on the Union side which allowed slavery Kansas, which entered and fought with the Union as a free state after the Bleeding Kansas crisis The Confederacy Confederate claimed and sometimes held territories During the American Civil War, the Union... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A regiment is a military unit, consisting of a group of battalions, usually four and commanded by a colonel. ...

In November, 1873, Packer was with a party of 21 who left Provo, Utah, bound for the Colorado gold country in Breckenridge. On 1874-01-21, he met with Chief Ouray (known as the White Man's Friend) near Montrose, Colorado. Chief Ouray recommended they postpone their expedition until spring, as they were likely to encounter dangerous winter weather in the mountains. 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Map showing Provo, Utah Provo is a city in Utah and the county seat of Utah County, located about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area Ranked 8th - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (451 km) - Length 380 miles (612 km) - % water 0. ... Breckenridge is a town in Summit County, Colorado, United States. ... 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Chief Ouray Chief Ouray (circa 1833 - August 24, 1880) was a Native American leader of the Uncompahgre band of the Ute tribe of modern-day Utah and Colorado. ... Montrose is a city located in Montrose County, Colorado. ... Spring is one of the four seasons of temperate zones, the transition from winter into summer. ...

In spite of Ouray's advice, a party of six that included Packer left for Gunnison, Colorado on February 9. The other five men were Shannon Wilson Bell, James Humphrey, Frank Miller, George Noon and Israel Swan. Gunnison is a city located in Gunnison County, Colorado. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

At an unknown date, the party got hopelessly lost, ran out of provisions, and became snowbound in the Rocky Mountains. Packer allegedly went scouting and came back to discover Bell roasting human meat. According to Packer, Bell rushed him with a hatchet; Packer shot and killed him. Moraine Lake, and the Valley of the Ten Peaks, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a broad mountain range in western North America. ...

On April 16, 1874, Packer arrived alone at Los Pinos Indian Agency near Gunnison. He spent some time in a Saguache, Colorado bar, meeting several of his previous party. He initially claimed self-defense, but his story did not pass in court. During the trial, the judge supposedly said: April 16 is the 106th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (107th in leap years). ... 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Saguache is a town located in Saguache County, Colorado. ... Self defense refers to actions taken by a person to defend onself, ones property or ones home. ... A judge or justice is an official who presides over a court. ...

An alternate version of the judge's outburst is The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Hinsdale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. ...

The actual sentencing statement, of course, was a little more in character for an educated state judge: GOP redirects here. ...

Packer signed a confession on August 5, 1874. He was jailed in Saguache, but escaped soon after, vanishing for several years. Confession of sins is an integral part of the Christian faith and practice. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

On March 11, 1883, Packer was discovered in Cheyenne, Wyoming living under the alias of "John Schwartze." On March 16, he signed another confession. On April 6, a trial began in Lake City, Colorado. On April 13, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. Packer managed to temporarily avoid punishment again: in October 1885, the sentence was reversed by the Colorado Supreme Court as being based on an ex post facto law. However, on June 8, 1886, Packer was sentenced to 40 years at a trial in Gunnison. March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (71st in Leap year). ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Location in Wyoming Coordinates: County Laramie County Founded 1867 Mayor Jack R. Spiker Area - City 57. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area Ranked 10th - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (450 km) - Length 360 miles (580 km) - % water 0. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in leap years). ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... For the 1980s television show, see Trial by Jury (TV). ... Lake City is a town located in Hinsdale County, Colorado. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the execution of a convicted criminal by the state as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offences. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Colorado Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... An ex post facto law (from the Latin for from something done afterward) or retroactive law, is a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of acts committed or the legal status of facts and relationships that existed prior to the enactment of the law. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ...

On June 19, 1899, Packer's sentence was upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court. However, he was paroled on February 8, 1901 and moved to Deer Creek, in Jefferson County, Colorado. He is widely rumored to have become a vegetarian before his death, reputedly of "Senility - trouble & worry" at the age of 65. He was buried in Littleton, Colorado and was formally pardoned of his crimes on March 5, 1981. June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 195 days remaining. ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Parole can have different meanings depending on the context. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... For animals adapted to eat primarily plants, sometimes referred to as vegetarian animals, see Herbivore. ... Littleton is a city located in the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Not guilty?

Recent evidence suggests that Packer was a cannibal, but not a murderer. On July 17, 1989, 115 years after Packer consumed his companions, an exhumation of the five bodies was undertaken by James E. Starrs, then Professor of Law specializing in forensic science at George Washington University. Following an exhaustive search for the precise location of the remains at Cannibal Plateau in Lake City, Colorado, Starrs and his colleague Walter H. Birkby concluded "I don't think there will ever be any way to scientifically demonstrate cannibalism. Cannibalism per se is the ingestion of human flesh. So you'd have to have a picture of the guy actually eating."^[4] Evidence has several meanings as indicated below. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Forensics or forensic science is the application of science to questions which are of interest to the legal system. ... See Washington University (disambiguation) for institutions with similar names. ... Lake City is a town located in Hinsdale County, Colorado. ...

In 1994, David P. Bailey, Curator of History at the Museum of Western Colorado, undertook an investigation to turn up more conclusive results than Starrs's. In the Audrey Thrailkill collection of firearms owned by the museum was a Colt pistol that had reportedly been found at the site of Packer's alleged crime. Exhaustive investigation into the pistol's background turned up illuminating documents from the time of the trial: "A Civil War veteran that visited the crime scene stated that Shannon Bell had been shot twice and the other victims were killed with a hatchet. Upon careful study of Bell, he noticed a severe bullet wound to the pelvic area and that Bell's wallet had a bullet hole through it." This corroborates Packer's statement that Bell killed the other victims and Packer shot Bell in self-defense.

By 2000, Bailey had not yet proven a link between the antique pistol and Alferd Packer, but he discovered that forensic samples from the 1989 exhumation had been archived, and analysis in 2001 with an electron microscope by Dr. Richard Dujay at Mesa State College turned up microscopic lead fragments in the soil taken from under Shannon Bell's remains that were matched by spectrograph with the bullets remaining in what was indeed Packer's pistol. So Alferd Packer was indeed not a murderer.^[5]

Through some unexplained process, Packer's head, dissected and carefully preserved, has come to be in the possession of Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where it is on permanent display. Ripleys Believe It or Not! deals in the bizarre—events and items so strange and unusual that it is often hard to believe that they actually exist--but they do: believe it. ... French Quarter: upper Chartres street looking down towards Jackson Square and the spires of St. ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ...

Popular culture

Packer is a legend in popular culture. He has been quoted as having said, in jest, "the breasts of man...are the sweetest meat I ever tasted." In 1968, students at the University of Colorado at Boulder named their new cafeteria grill the Alferd G. Packer Memorial Grill with the slogan "Have a friend for lunch!" Even today students can enjoy the meat-filled "El Canibal" underneath a giant wall map outlining his travels through Colorado. In 1982 the university dedicated a statue to Packer. Also in 1982, Jim Roberson made The Legend of Alfred Packer, a film that took many liberties with the story, including having Bell fall on a knife, exonerating Packer of any wrongdoing. Popular culture, or pop culture, (literally: the culture of the people) consists of widespread cultural elements in any given society. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... The University of Colorado at Boulder (CU-Boulder, UCB officially[2]; Colorado, CU colloquially) is the flagship university of the University of Colorado system. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

An urban legend has it that the Department of Agriculture's cafeteria was officially named for Packer. While untrue, the legend has a factual basis. Prankster employees of the Department, characterizing themselves as members of the Alferd Packer Society, surreptitiously placed a plaque on the cafeteria wall honoring Packer in ironic terms. It was displayed there until its discovery in 1977 by a low-level bureaucrat in another agency, who complained to Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland. Wishing to avoid trouble, he asked the pranksters to take it down. Members of the National Press Club, ever happy to preserve memorabilia of national significance, today display it with pride on the wall of The Reliable Source, a members-only bar. It doubles as a memorial to the late Stanley Weston, an extraordinary and gentle soul who left his home in Colorado to work at the USDA. Robert Selmer Bergland was born in Roseau, Minnesota, on July 22, 1928. ... The National Press Club is an association of journalists based in Washington, DC. It is well-known for its gatherings with invited speakers, including many presidential candidates and other influential politicians. ...

In 1993, UC Boulder graduate Trey Parker, creator of South Park, made a film Alferd Packer: The Musical, based loosely on Packer's life. It was released commercially in 1996 by Troma Entertainment as Cannibal! The Musical and subsequently produced by various companies as a stage play. Trey Parker Randolph Severn Trey Parker III (born October 19, 1969 in Conifer, Colorado) is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning American animator, screenwriter, film director, voice actor, actor and musician. ... South Park is a Peabody- and Emmy Award-winning American animated television series about four fourth grade school boys who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. ... Troma is a film production and distribution company, founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in 1974. ... Cannibal! The Musical is a student film directed by the future creator of South Park, Trey Parker, while studying at the University of Colorado at Boulder. ...

Folksinger Phil Ochs composed a song about Packer's life, included on "The Broadside Tapes 1". Singer C.W. McCall wrote (with Chip Davis) and sang a song about Packer called "Comin' Back for More." It was included on his 1999 release The Real McCall: An American Storyteller. Philip David Ochs (December 19, 1940 â€“ April 9, 1976) was a U.S. protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer), songwriter, musician and recording artist who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice. ... The Broadside Tapes 1, alternatively known as , was a compilation of demonstration recordings done by Phil Ochs for Broadside Magazine in the early-to-late 1960s. ... C.W. McCall is the pseudonym of William Dale Fries (born November 15, 1928) in Audubon, Iowa, USA. In 1972, while working for an Omaha, Nebraska advertising firm, Bozell Jacobs, Fries created a television campaign for the Metz Baking Company. ... Louis F. Chip Davis, Jr. ...

Death metal band Cannibal Corpse's 1990 debut, Eaten Back To Life is dedicated to Packer with the inscription "This Album is dedicated to the memory of Alfred Packer, The First American Cannibal (R.I.P.)" This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... This article is about the year. ... Eaten Back to Life is Cannibal Corpses first album. ...

A 1999 movie, Ravenous, was loosely based on aspects of the Alferd Packer story, which screenwriter Ted Griffin says he first encountered when reading The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett, wherein the entire story is printed as it appears in Thomas Duke's "Celebrated Criminal Cases." 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... DVD cover Ravenous is a horror movie released in 1999, directed by Antonia Bird, written by Ted Griffin, and starring Guy Pearce. ... Screenwriters, scenarists or script writers, are authors who write the screenplays from which movies and television programs are made. ... Ted Griffin (born in Pasadena, California) is a screenwriter, having written the film Rumor Has It and cowritten the 2001 remake of Oceans Eleven. ... The Thin Man is a 1933 mystery novel by Dashiell Hammett. ... Samuel Dashiell Hammett (May 27, 1894 â€“ January 10, 1961) was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories. ...

Notes and references

2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ...

Resources

External links

Categories: 1842 births | 1907 deaths | People from Pennsylvania | Union Army soldiers | Cannibals | History of Colorado | Escapees 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ...

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