The Convicted Killer Who Was Given An Award For The Kindness He Showed In His Crime
In 1930s Philadelphia, a recently paroled prisoner who had been convicted of murder received a huge sum of money for the way he stood up for his pet dog years before that resulted in him killing a man
When we think of convicted killers, we usually envision scary and violent individuals who are unpredictable and capable of violating the most sacred of society’s laws. Others can see the goodness in people, no matter the dark stains they may have on their reputation. That’s what happened to William Cunningham, who was sent to prison for killing his neighbor, and upon being released more than a quarter of a century later was given a handsome monetary reward for the kindness he showed to an animal when he committed his crime.
William Cunningham was convicted of killing a neighbor named James McDevitt in Philadelphia after he found the man throwing rocks at his dog. They pair was reported to have argued and fought, with the death of the coal peddler resulting.
After being found guilty in 1911, Cunningham was sentenced to death, but that was eventually commuted. He was African American, and it’s impossible to say what role that…
