AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER!
6-1-20 The book is complete and will be released in early July of 2020. Thank you to all of the backers who believed in this project! The book is now available for pre-order at: store.johnborowski.com and shipping early July.
PROJECT UPDATES
9-4-18 Thank you to all of the contributors who made this findraising campaign a success! The book is currently in production.
Summary
“I’ll kill the first man that bothers me.” These were convicted criminal Carl Panzram’s words to Warden White upon entering Leavenworth Penitentiary in February of 1929. Panzram kept his word and murdered the laundry foreman who was taunting him about his past crimes. A life of torture and suffering led Panzram to hate the entire human race and himself. His only friend ever was Washington DC jail guard Henry Lesser, who Panzram continued writing to while incarcerated at Leavenworth. Eventually, Panzram is placed in solitary across from another famous criminal, Robert Stroud: The Birdman of Alcatraz, whose complete writings on Panzram are included in this book.
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Panzram's Leavenworth mugshot.
Since 1970, there has only been one book available on Carl Panzram. This existing book has numerous inaccuracies. After creating his feature documentary film Carl Panzram: The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance, John Borowski decided to make use of his research material and place it into this book, giving researchers unparalleled access to Panzram’s incarceration at America’s first federal Penitentiary.
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One of Panzram's letters to DC jail guard Henry Lesser.
This book is important as it is the first to accurately convey what exactly occurred at Leavenworth and Panzram’s mindset at the prison. Most importantly, an entire chapter is being devoted to Panzram’s last words, a subject that filmmaker Borowski did not have the screen time to explore in the documentary film. This book will be an entirely new experience for anyone familiar with the case of Carl Panzram and a fascinating new read for anyone who is not familiar with Panzram’s case.
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Panzram's fingerprints from Leavenworth.
The book will be approximately 400 pages and contain archival writings by The Birdman of Alcatraz: Robert Stroud, Henry Lesser, Dr. Karl Menninger, Charles S. Wharton, Warden Thomas B. White, and many others.
Book Cover Image
The image on the cover of the book is a combined image of Carl Panzram's first mugshot, on the left, from Fort Leavenworth, and his last mugshot, on the right, from Leavenworth Penitentiary. Strangely enough, Leavenworth, Kansas was the location of Panzram's first and last federal incarcerations.
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What is Needed & What You Get
The budget for this campaign will be applied to the costs for producing the book including interior and cover layout. This fundraiser is not only an opportunity for everyone to contribute, be listed as a donor, and receive the final book, but also to receive many unique, one of a kind perks related to Carl Panzram’s life and crimes, including some screen-used props seen in the feature documentary film.
About the Writer
John Borowski, Author/Filmmaker
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johnborowski.com
John Borowski is an award winning indie filmmaker, author, and entrepreneur. His films works: H.H. Holmes: America’s First Serial Killer, Albert Fish: In Sin He Found Salvation, Carl Panzram: The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance, Serial Killer Culture, and Bloodlines: The Art and Life of Vincent Castiglia, have garnered worldwide acclaim and are distributed internationally on DVD, television, and streaming. The first season of his most recent project, Serial Killer Culture TV, is streaming on Amazon Prime and Season 2 is currently in post-production. Borowski’s books, The Strange Case of Dr. H.H. Holmes, Albert Fish: In His Own Words, The Ed Gein File, and Dahmers Confession, are indispensable material for expert researchers and true crime fans alike.
Joel Goodman, Afterword
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At SDSU in May 1979, Goodman met Henry Lesser who left the jail and prison business in the early 1930s. Along with two professors, he taped an interview entitled, Killer’s Guard. Goodman earned a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from SDSU in 1979 and continued with the BOP in these locations: Community Corrections Office in St. Louis MO, Metropolitan Correctional Center in Tucson AZ, Community Corrections Office in San Diego CA, and spent 19 years at the BOP’s Management and Specialty Training Center in Aurora CO. After 31 years with the BOP, he retired in 2008. He does corporate and litigation consulting from his home in Colorado
Other Ways You Can Help
If you cannot contribute, please spread the word about this campaign by sharing on social media and telling others about this important historical book. Another way you can help is by purchasing DVD's and books by filmmaker/author John Borowski and by viewing Borowski's films and TV Show, Serial Killer Culture The Web Series on Amazon Prime.
Thank you for your interest and contribution!
Perks
We have some amazing perks. All Collectibles come with certificates of authenticity, even Manson's hair!
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Panzram's name was misspeled upon entering Leavenworth
