Benny Quinn McEntyre a.k.a. Benny Mack

file photo of a bank robber/murderer

In 1929, Featherweight boxer Benny Quinn McEntyre aka Benny Mack was convicted of the murder of landscape architect W. R. Moore. Mack shot and killed Moore as the two argued over a bulldog that Moore purchased but still had not paid for 2 weeks earlier.

Mack was sentenced to 22-30 years but was pardoned by the governor. He returned to boxing and a life of crime. At one time Mack was working as a Hollywood stunt double. In 1936, he was charged with car theft. In 1961 at the age of 57, Mack was sentenced to 15 years for bank robbery

Mack eventually landed in an insane asylum.

links

Border Cities Star 02.04.29

Boxrec.com

Barnes and Noble

William Faversham

February 12, 1868 - April 7, 1940

Legendary british film and stage actor William Faversham had a passion for fighting dogs and when he came to America, he brought them with him. Faversham was a significant player among bull terrier breeders. He was a breeder and judge of bull terrier show dogs.

During his early years in the America, Faversham was at times homeless and spent his sundays pitting his bull terrier against laborers' dogs in Harlem. Faversham's pit dog was a champion.

On August 3, 1891, two of Faversham's 30+ bull terriers SOMEHOW managed to escape their kennels and go on a mauling spree. The bull terriers attacked 2 women and 3 kids and when William Truss came to their aid, they mauled him. Faversham responded and called the dogs off. Truss' flesh was tore from both arms and the back of his legs.

Mayor Thomas H Leonard ordered the man biters removed from the town within 24 hours, not culled.

In September 1897 when he was starring in a Chicago play, he found being apart from one of his dogs unbearable so he wired his friends in New York and asked them to ship one of his dogs. It died en route and Faversham wept and stated he was heart broken.

Faversham died in poverty at the age of 72 in a New York rooming house.

Links

New York Times September 20, 1897

New York Times August 4, 1891

The Outing Magazine 1912

New York Times April 5, 1914

New York Times May 6, 1917

http://www.wayneturney.20m.com/favershamwilliam.htm

Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson, wife and gripping dog in Chicago

Jack Johnson nee John Authur Johnson

March 31, 1878 - June 10, 1946

One of Johnson's "prize bulldogs" attacked one of Johnson's fans in Detroit and "nearly chewed his arm off". "...after considerable trouble [Johnson] succeeded in releasing the dog's hold..." The victim, Sam Lewis pressed charges. The outcome is unknown.

interesting factoids

Johnson's first wife killed herself in September 1912. Johnson beat her many times during their turbulent relationship.

Three months later, he married 18 yr old prostitute, Lucille Cameron. She divorced him in 1924 citing his infidelity.

Johnson had a penchant for young white hookers. He even married one to avoid prison but later was found guilty after another prostitute testified against him. Johnson was convicted under the Mann Act and served 2 years in Leavenworth after living in exile for 7 years in Europe.

Johnson was killed in a car accident in North Carolina. Angry at being denied service in a diner, he took his aggression out on the road. Johnson was 68.

links

new york times 02.09.11

theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com

wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson

www.dailymail.co.uk


John Colby and Jack Johnson

Adele Rowland and Conway Tearle

Adele Rowland

July 10, 1883 - August 8, 1971

Conway Tearle née Frederick Levy

May 17, 1878 - October 1, 1938 (heart attack)

Four year old Jacques Weinberg was walking past the Chappaqua, New York home of Hollywood's dashing leading man Conway Tearle and his actress wife, Adele Rowland when their cook called to the boy to give him an orange. The four year old was promptly greeted by their gripping dog which resulted in a trip to the Babies' Hospital in New York. Jacques' scalp was so badly torn, he was listed in critical condition. Max Weinberg fought to have the dog shot. Tearle and Rowland fought the Weinberg's demands for destruction but it is not clear if the gripping dog was eventually destroyed. The Tearles japanese cook committed hara kari and 4 years after the attack, the Weinbergs were awarded $20,000.

To my knowledge, this is the earliest documention of a pit bull scalping.

links

new york times 12.22.1921

new york times 05.12.1925

www.digitaldeliftp.com