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Alfred Packer's Original Prison Record

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,500.00 USD
Alfred Packer's Original Prison Record
This piece is the one-and-only "Prison Record of Alfred Packer" completed at the
Canon City State Penitentiary in 1886 when Packer was incarcerated. He was known as
"The Colorado Cannibal" and is well publicized in historical accounts of territorial Colorado. The single page document includes Packer's photograph and personal characteristics. It also includes infractions made by him prior to his parole of 1907.

Alfred G. Packer (1842-1907)

Alfred Packer was an American prospector who was accused of cannibalism during the winter of 1873-1874. First tried for murder, Packer was eventually sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter. Packer is popularly known as one of only two Americans ever imprisoned for cannibalism, alongside Albert Fish.
In November, 1873, Packer was with a party of 21 who left Provo, Utah, to seek wealth mining the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. On January 21st 1874, near Montrose, Colorado, Chief Ouray recommended they postpone their expedition until spring, as they were likely to encounter dangerous winter weather in the mountains. In spite of Ouray's advice, a party of six that included Packer left for Gunnison, Colorado on February 9th. The 1 five men were Shannon Wilson Bell, James Humphrey, Frank Miller, George Noon and Israel Swan.
The prospectors became hopelessly lost and ran out of provisions. They were snowbound in the Rocky Mountains. Packer later made three confessions which differed considerably in their description of what happened. In the last, he claimed he went scouting and came back to find Shannon Bell roasting human flesh. When Bell rushed him with a hatchet, Packer shot him. Packer claimed Bell had gone mad and murdered the 1s.
Packer died April 23rd, 1907 and is buried in Littleton, Colorado.