Ellen E. Peck

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Ellen Peck circa 1885 from Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Ellen Eliza Knight Peck (born c. 1830s – after 1925?) was a "notorious"[1] American criminal sometimes called "Confidence Queen."[2]

When she was arrested in 1908 in New York City supposedly at the age of 70, the New York Times called her the "Confidence Queen" and said she had been "arrested many times."[3]

Described by Thomas F. Byrnes as a "dangerous confidence woman" in Professional Criminals of America in 1886, she was estimated to be about 50 years old.[4]

In 1897 she was in the Tombs for an alleged theft of jewelry.[2]

She was pardoned by New York Governor Dix and released from prison in 1911 at age 82 (allegedly) on account of being "too old" to be a menace to society.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The North Platte tribune. (North Platte, Neb.), 16 Sept. 1891. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/2010270503/1891-09-16/ed-1/seq-4/
  2. ^ a b New York journal and advertiser. (New York, NY) 21 Sep. 1897, p. 9. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/sn83030180/1897-09-21/ed-1/.
  3. ^ "CONFIDENCE QUEEN" IN THE TOILS AGAIN; Mrs. E.E. Peck, Over 70 Years Old, Held for Selling a Fake Deed. ARRESTED MANY TIMES Prisoner Got Real Estate Firm to Give Her $2,400 on Forged Title to Kentucky Land". timesmachine.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  4. ^ Byrnes, Thomas F. (1886). Professional criminals of America. Georgetown University Law Library. New York, Cassell & company, limited.
  5. ^ "The Saturday Blade 16 December 1911 — Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections". idnc.library.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-30.

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