On September 22, 1924, a 30-year-old Italian Immigrant, Peter Vergolini spotted 10-year-old Annie Tomicik in Gary, Indiana. He asked the young girl if she would ride around in his vehicle. She would get into the car and never be seen alive again.
Peter would drive her to the woods and attack the girl. He would sexually assault the girl and strip her of her clothes. Use them to tie her arms to her side. He would then strangle the poor girl to death. He would dig out a grave by hand in the sand dunes and bury her.
After hearing that the girl was missing a witness stated that the girl had gotten into Peter's car. This lead police to look for him. He was then caught in Chicago, Illinois a few days later. They would grill Peter for Annie's location. He would bring them to her body.
He was sentenced the death penalty. He would be set to die on Jan. 30, 1925 by electric chair.
When newspaper reporters went down to see Peter before his execution he seemed unbothered by it. He was leaned back in his chair with his feet propped up smoking a corncob pipe. He greeted the reporters and asked if they brought him some moonshine. He would state that he would leave for the old world and have women, moonshine, a big car and no fare to pay. When they started shaving his hair he made a joke that it would just mean he can see the smoke better.
When he went to the chair he was still indifferent to his fate. At 12:02 a.m. the electricity was turned on and was pronounced dead at 12:06 a.m.
SOURCES:
Legal Execution in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri
Horror History
The Huntsville Times Sep 25, 1924
Green Bay Press-Gazette Sep 25, 1924
Middlesboro Daily News Sep. 25, 1924
The Billings Weekley Gazette Sep. 30, 1924
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jan 30, 1925
The Morning Call Jan 31, 1925
Journal and Courier Jan 31, 1925
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