Ruth Snyder's 1928 execution in the electric chair...a masterpiece in candid photography by Thomas James Howard Jr.

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

Internet Photo

...possibly a contact print? 

Thomas James Howard Jr. used an ankle camera to shoot the candid photo of Ruth Snyder's execution in the electric chair on 1.12.1928 at Sing Sing Prison.

Thomas James Howard Jr. being fitted with ankle camera - Wikipedia

I have no idea how much the famous newspaper DEAD! cost. But a later edition with the same execution photo was listed on eBay for $1000. A dentist I had met collected and dealt in old newspapers. He owned a copy of DEAD! and licensed the image. He said it took him 50 years to find a copy of the newspaper. 

I don't know if 50 years is an exaggeration, but I've never seen a copy of it come up for sale in 8 or 9 years. This was the only related copy I've ever seen for sale and that was only one time.

Photo: eBay

Whether they used a Speed Graphic or an ankle camera, the press photographer generally had one chance to get the shot. Thomas James Howard Jr.'s photo is the hallmark of a great documentary photographer. They produce under any circumstances and lighting condition to bring home the goods.

For 2022 I'm honoring Thomas James Howard Jr. along with Nellie Bly in my work that I produce. Nellie Bly was a famous reporter of her day, when women generally didn't do such things.

Nellie Bly

Edited January 25, 2022 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr.

[Frank Wylie]

It "might" be a contact print.  The camera was a single glass plate camera, probably no larger than 2 x 3 or in that vicinity.  The camera is now in the Smithsonian, as I recall.

We restored a film based on the "ankle-camera" incident called, "The Picture Snatcher" with James Cagney about 10 years ago from the original camera negative. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024450/

Looked pretty good if I don't say so myself...

Edited January 25, 2022 by Frank Wylie