Born to Lose

by James G. Hollock

  Chapter 6

  Interviews with Carmen DeLellis, Barbara Sizemore, Bob Fescemyer, Dick Zoller, Herm Trozzi, John McCall, Joy Zelek, and Joseph Zelek; Porter, FBI report on Hoss, 31 Oct. 1969, 1, 12–13, 57; Pittsburgh Press, 6 Mar. 1970; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 18–22, 37, 71–79, 96, 128, 153, 350–56.

  Chapter 7

  Interviews with Esther Santone, John McCall, Dick Zoller, Bob Fescemyer, Carmen DeLellis, Melvin Orris, Don Simonetti, Wilbur Orris, Kathy Defino, Don Bliss, Barbara Sizemore, Milt Remmick, Herm Trozzi; police audio tapes, Zanella shooting, 19 Sept. 1969; Pittsburgh Press, 20 Sept. 1969; Advance-Leader, 20 Sept. 1969; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 23–33, 71–79, 88, 102, 153.

  Chapter 8

  Interviews with Bob Fescemyer, Joseph Start, Reed Kosmal, Carmen DeLellis, and Patti Burns; police audio tapes, Zanella shooting, 19 Sept. 1969; Valley News Dispatch, 20 Sept. 1969; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 20–22 Sept. 1969; Advance-Leader, 20–22, 29 Sept. 1969; Pittsburgh Press, 20–22 Sept. 1969; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 214–19, 225.

  Chapter 9

  Interviews with Joseph Start, Melvin Orris, Kathy Defino, Don Minahan, Edward Fagan, and Wilbur Bliss; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 22 Sept. 1969; Advance-Leader, 22–24 Sept. 1969; Pittsburgh UPI, 23 Sept. 1969; Valley News Dispatch, 22 Sept. 1969; Porter, FBI report on Hoss, 31 Oct. 1969, 64–71, 72–73, 76, 86–89, 156–58; Allegheny County, Pa., court records on Zanella case, March 1970; Inside Detective cover story, Jan. 1970; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 289–90; Porter, summary of Hoss’s travels and activities, 21 Sept.–4 Oct. 1969.

  Chapter 10

  Interviews with Harold Stewart, Gerald Peugeot, Fred Warner, Jim Knott, Shirley Clites, and Renna Grieu-Bess; Bruce High School Yearbook, 1966; Porter, FBI report on Hoss, 31 Oct. 1969, 92–95; Fred Warner papers and books; Cumberland Evening Times, 24 Sept. 1969; Porter, summary of Hoss’s travels and activities, 21 Sept.–4 Oct. 1969; Samson, report to FBI on Peugeots, 23 Sept. 1969; FBI report on interviews of Hoss, Western Penitentiary, Pa., 9–11 Oct. 1969, 129–46; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 490–93, 496–98, 499–501; FBI report on interrogations of Hoss, Waterloo, Iowa, 4–7 Oct. 1969.

  Chapter 11

  Interviews with William Baker and Joy Zelek; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 21–24 Sept. 1969; Valley News Dispatch, 21–24 Sept. 1969, and “Remembrance Issue,” 7 Dec. 1978 (“Residents Remember Hoss Hunt”); Advance-Leader, 21, 24 Sept. 1969; Porter, summary of Hoss’s travels and activities, 21 Sept.–4 Oct. 1969; FBI report on interrogations of Hoss, Waterloo, Iowa, 4–7 Oct. 1969, re: Rathmel, Pa., 98–102, re: Idlewild Motel, Franklin, Pa., 103–8, re: Idlewild Restaurant, 109–12, re: Hoss confessions, 140–45; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 504.

  Chapter 12

  Interviews with Shirley Clites, William Baker, Jodine Fawkes, Jim Knott, and Don Mason; Porter, FBI report on Hoss, 31 Oct. 1969, 21–22, 24–25, 90–128, 130–32, 139, 140–45; Cumberland News, 23–24, 26–27, 30 Sept. 1969; Samson, report to FBI on Peugeots, 23 Sept. 1969; Porter, summary of Hoss’s travels and activities, 21 Sept.–4 Oct. 1969; Pittsburgh Press, 24–27 Sept. 1969; Advance-Leader, 24–25, 29 Sept. 1969; Cumberland Evening Times, 26 Sept. 1969; Cumberland Sunday Times, 28 Sept. 1969; FBI wanted flyer on Hoss, 29 Sept. 1969; Fawkes, appeal to Hoss to free hostages, 28 Sept. 1969; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 311–13; Hoss, prison letter, 8 Apr. 1970.

  Chapter 13

  Interview with Jodine Fawkes; Porter, FBI report on Hoss, 31 Oct. 1969, 25, 34–36; Porter, summary of Hoss’s travels and activities, 21 Sept.–4 Oct. 1969; Waterloo Daily Courier, 4–10 Oct. 1969 (including AP bulletins); Cumberland Sunday Times, 5 Oct. 1969 (including AP bulletins); anonymous note to DeLellis of Hoss’s capture, 4 Oct. 1969; Valley News Dispatch, 6 Oct. 1969 (special report by staff writers Carl Tomayko and Ben Beal, from Waterloo, Iowa); Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6 Oct. 1969; “Special to the Pittsburgh Press” from Waterloo Daily Courier, Iowa, 7 Oct. 1969; AP and UPI stories from Waterloo, Iowa, 6–10 Oct. 1969; Pittsburgh Press (man-on-the-street interview), n.d.

  Chapter 14

  Interview with Joseph Start; Pittsburgh Press, 6–9 Oct. 1969; Valley News Dispatch, 6–9 Oct. 1969; Waterloo Daily Courier, 8–9 Oct. 1969; Start and Corcoran, interrogations of Hoss, 8 Oct. 1969; Porter, FBI report on Hoss, 31 Oct. 1969, 129–46; FBI report on interrogations of Hoss, Waterloo, Iowa, 4–7 Oct. 1969.

  Chapter 15

  Interview with Jodine Fawkes; Waterloo Daily Courier, 9 Oct. 1969; Pittsburgh Press, 9–10 Oct. 1969; FBI report on interrogations of Hoss, Waterloo, Iowa, 4–7 Oct. 1969; FBI report on interviews of Hoss, Western Penitentiary, Pa., 9–11 Oct. 1969.

  Chapter 16

  Interviews with William Baker, Donald Kiser, Joseph Start, Diane Hoss, Kathy Defino, Ted Fagan, Jodine Fawkes, and Billy Coe; Baker and Hart, interview of Hoss, 14 Oct. 1969; Cumberland News, 15–16 Oct., 3 Nov. 1969; Leuchter, “Execution by Hanging”; Warner, unpublished papers and photographs, photograph of Hoss effigy, ca. early Oct. 1969; Porter, FBI report on Hoss, 31 Oct. 1969, 126 (Hoss remarks to wife, mistress, victims Karen Maxwell and Kathy Defino, and their statements to media); Pittsburgh Press, 10–18, 20 Oct. 1969; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 15, 20 Oct. 1969; Valley News Dispatch, 23 Oct. 1969; Pittsburgh Sunday Press, 19 Oct. 1969; Start, supplementary report on Shute, 19 Dec. 1969.

  Chapter 17

  Interviews with Barbara Sizemore, Carmen DeLellis, Edgar Snyder, Fred Baxter, Ted Fagan, Don Minahan, Bill Massof, Joseph Start, William Robinson, and Jodine Fawkes; Inside Detective magazine, cover story, Jan. 1970; Pittsburgh Press, 2 Mar. 1970; Porter, FBI report on Hoss, 31 Oct. 1969, 156.

  Chapter 18

  Interviews with Don Minahan, Ted Fagan, Jodine Fawkes, and Edgar Snyder; Pittsburgh Press, 2–3, 5–9 Mar. 1970; Valley News Dispatch, 5–9 Mar. 1970; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7 Mar. 1970, Sunday Edition, 8 Mar. 1970; Pittsburgh Business Magazine (bio of Cyril Wecht), Sept. 1997; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 8, 16, 18, 37, 96–102, 158–236, 254, 282, 285–86, 291–92, 303–7, 311–19, 375–87, 477, 532–34.

  Chapter 19

  Interviews with Edgar Snyder, Ted Fagan, Fred Baxter, Don Minahan, Bill Massof, Mary Callendar, and William Robinson; Pittsburgh Press, Sunday Edition, 8 Mar. 1970; Cumberland News, 11 Mar. 1970; Valley News Dispatch, 10–11 Mar. 1970; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 475, 477, re: Judge Strauss’s ruling on confessions, 478–83, 488–89, re: Agent Dunn’s testimony on two outstanding kidnapping indictments, 490–93, 499–502, 504–7, 508–11, 520–40.

  Chapter 20

  Interviews with Fred Warner, Don Minahan, Diane Hoss, Edgar Snyder, Kathy Defino, Don Mason, Jim Getty, and Wendell Freeland; “The Western Penitentiary,” The Home Monthly, February 1900; Wright, A Brief History of Western Penitentiary, 1910; Cumberland News, 12 Mar., 17–20 Sept. 1970; Pittsburgh Press, 19, 24, 28 Mar., 1 Apr., 2, 25 May, 17 Sept. 1970; Hoss, prison letters, 8 Mar., 2, 6, 28, 29, 30 Apr., 12, 15, 20, 28 May, 15, 20 July, 20 Aug., 19 Sept., 27 Dec. 1970, 6, 17, 19 Feb., 25 Mar., 6, 27 Apr., 24 July 1971; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 477; Morrow, with Thompson, draft of article on Linda Peugeot, Cumberland News, 21 Sept. 1970; Hoss, court letters, 27 Aug. and 15 Sept. 1970; Mason, letter, 24 Sept. 1970; Fatkin and Robb, petition to Western Penitentiary, 24 Sept. 1970; Mayberry, letters, 2002; “Partners in Death,” Philadelphia Daily News, 28 Feb. 1993; Maryland continuance hearing, Peugeot kidnapping charges, 5 Jan. 1971; Valley News Dispatch (on Lubresky prison breach trial), 14 Jan. 1971; B. Matecka, letters to D. Hoss, 24 Jan. 1970 and 13 Dec. 1974; B. Matecka, letter to S. Hoss, 25 Sept. 1974; Maryland Court of Special Appeals, first Hoss appeal for dismissal of Peugeot indictments, 21 Sept. 1971; “Court Spares Hoss’s Life,” UPI, 13 Oct. 1971; Maryland Court of Special Appeals, decision on first Hoss appeal for dismissal of Peugeot indictments, 15 Nov. 1971; Zanella trial transcripts, Mar. 1970, 489.

  Chapter 21

  Interviews with Gary Boyd, Tom Conner, Charles Kozakie
wicz, and Jim Getty; Pittsburgh Press, 15 June, 1 Aug. 1972; Cumberland News, 15 June 1972; Symkiewicz, conversation with author, 4 May 2006; Maryland Court of Special Appeals, decision on first Hoss appeal for dismissal of Peugeot indictments, 15 Nov. 1971; Maryland Court of Appeals, decision on second Hoss appeal for dismissal of Peugeot indictments, 14 June 1972.

  Chapter 22

  Interviews with Gil Walters, Gus Mastros, Owen Rice, Jimmy Weaver, Ken Lechwar, Al Eroline, Ron Horvat, Joe Hoffman, Doug Cameron, John Keen, Mike Farris, and Cliff Grogan Jr.; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (article on prison race relations), 17 July 1972; Christie, conversation and e-mail, 15 Aug. 2007; Valley News Dispatch, 17 Aug. 1972, 16, 29 Aug. 1973; Hoss, prison letters, 28, 29 Sept., 12, 14, 16 Oct. 1972, 26 Sept. 1973; Pittsburgh Press, 22 Nov. 1972, re: Eugene Spruill, 11 Dec. 1972, 20, 25 Feb. 1975; Sizemore, letters to editor, Valley News Dispatch, 24 Aug., 10 Oct. 1973.

  Chapter 23

  Interviews with Doug Cameron, Asaline Coon Peterson, Oralee Coon, Shirley Coon, William Coon, Gil Walters, John Keen, Charles Kozakiewicz, Gary Boyd, Herb Thomas, Rayford “Georgia” Buoy, and Ron Horvat; Focus Magazine (feature story on George Butler), 6 Nov. 1977; Roddy, “We Now Know Everything about George Butler Except Why,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9 June 2001; Simonich, “Special Treatment for Killer of Guard,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1 June 2003; “Riot, Murder at Pen,” Pittsburgh Press, 11 Feb. 1924; Hollock, “Tragedy of ’24, Seventy-Nine Years Later,” (commemorative speech and event), 11 Feb. 2003; Pittsburgh Press, 9 Feb. 1972; Thomas, The Shame Response, 1997; Hoss, prison letter, 30 Nov. 1973.

  Chapter 24

  Interviews with Doug Cameron, Gary Boyd, Patrick “Bus” Reilly, Ron Hagmaier, Charles Kozakiewicz, John Keen, Jimmy Weaver, Steve Dutkowski, Don Madera, Danny Kohut, Asaline Coon Peterson, Rev. William Coon, Shirley Coon, Gus Mastros, Gil Walters, Pat Malloy, and Ron Horvat; Pittsburgh Press, 11–20 Dec. 1973; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11–20 Dec. 1973; Valley News Dispatch, 11–20 Dec. 1973; Peterson trial transcripts, June 1974; McGrogan testimony, 11 Dec. 1973; coroner’s report on Peterson, Dec. 1973.

  Chapter 25

  Interviews with William Callaway, Herb Thomas, Gus Mastros, Shirley Coon, Rev. William Coon, William Robinson, Edward Fagan, Charles Kozakiewicz, Patrick “Bus” Reilly, Steve Dutkowski, and Gary Zimmerman; Pittsburgh Press, 17–20 Dec. 1973, 5 Mar., 9, 13 May 1974; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 17–20 Dec. 1973; Valley News Dispatch, 17–20 Dec. 1973, 14 May 1974; Pittsburgh Courier, 29 Dec. 1973; coroner’s report on Peterson, Dec. 1973: case summary, 13 Dec. 1973; photographs of Peterson murder scene, 10 Dec. 1973; Callaway, Peterson eulogy, 14 Dec. 1973; Hoss, prison letters, 6 Feb., 27 Apr., and 14 May 1974.

  Chapter 26

  Interview with Gary Zimmerman; Pittsburgh Press and Valley News Dispatch, 4–13 June 1974; Peterson trial transcripts, June 1974; McGrogan testimony, 11 Dec. 1973, 7, 8 June 1974; coroner’s report on Peterson, Dec. 1973; Peterson case, Hoss motion for a new trial, 18 Aug. 1975.

  Chapter 27

  Interviews with John Dean, Gary Zimmerman, John Gergel, and William Robinson; Pittsburgh Press, 14, 18–25 July, 30 Sept. 1974, re: delay of Delker trial, 15–17 July 1974, re: replacing juror, 11 Feb., 28 July, 17 Sept., 1 Oct. 1975, 12 May, 9–10 Oct. 1976, 4–20 May 1977, 7 Dec. 1978; Valley News Dispatch, 4, 18–25 July 1974, 10 Feb., 12 May, 17 Sept. 1975, 9 Oct. 1976, 4–20 May 1977, 6, 31 Jan., 7 Dec. 1978; Hoss, prison letters, undated (ca. Oct. 1969), 16 Sept. 1974, 24 Feb., 26 Aug., 10 Sept. 1975, 30 Dec. 1977, undated (ca. Nov. 1978); B. Matecka, letters to S. Hoss, 25 Sept., 1 Oct. 1974; B. Matecka, letters to D. Hoss, 24 Jan. 1970, 13 Dec. 1974; “Bones: Could It Be Linda Peugeot?” AP, 7 Jan. 1978; Baker, letter to Adelson, 10 Jan. 1978; Beutler, sheriff report, 6 Jan. 1978.

  Epilogue

  Interviews with Tom Conner, Diane Hoss, Jodine Fawkes, Coon and Peterson family members, Stacy Lee, Nancy Stephanie, Tracey Kolar, Stanley Hoss’s children, Chief Spencer Johansen, and Marta Hidel; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7 Jan. 1978; Pittsburgh Press, 4 Oct. 1982, 26 Feb. 1986; Valley News Dispatch, 24 May 1997; Fairbury Blade, 20 Mar. 1995; dedication, Verona Police monument to Patrolman Charles McKinley, Lt. Joseph Rafay, and Patrolman Joseph Zanella, 24 May 1997; Simonich, “Special Treatment for Killer of Guard,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1 June 2003.

  Bibliography

  Primary Sources

  Titles or positions are noted at the time of the story.

  Interviews by and Conversations with Author

  Baker, William F. (lead investigator, Peugeot case, Md.). 5 Aug. 2002.

  Baxter, Fred (S. Hoss’s public defender, Zanella case). 4 Nov. 1997.

  Bliss, Wilbur (police chief, Indiana Township, Allegheny Co., Pa.). 20 Sept. 2000.

  Boyd, Gary (prison counselor). 25 May 2000.

  Buoy, Rayford “Georgia” (prisoner convicted of murder). 18 Dec. 1997.

  Burns, Patti (TV anchorwoman, KDKA, Pittsburgh, Pa.). 1 May 1997.

  Byers, Dick (detective, Allegheny Co., Pa.). 12 Apr. 1999.

  Callahan, P. A. (historian, Pittsburgh’s rivers) 10 Oct. 1998.

  Callaway, William (minister, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Clairton, Pa.). 1 July 1997.

  Callendar, Mary (juror, Hoss-Zanella trial). 8 Nov. 1998.

  Callithen, Harry (prison sergeant, Western Penitentiary). 23 Oct. 1997.

  Cameron, Doug (corrections officer, Western Penitentiary). 17 Feb. 1998.

  Children of S. Hoss. 15 Apr. 1999.

  Christie, Jim (state trooper). Conversation and e-mail. 15 Aug. 2007

  Clites, Shirley (witness, Peugeot kidnapping). 2 Oct. 2003.

  Coe, Billy (U.S. attorney, Western District, Pa.). 4 Sept. 1999.

  Conner, Tom (prison counselor, Western Penitentiary). 24 Aug. 2000.

  Coon, Alvin (brother-in-law of Lt. Walter Peterson). 26 Apr. 1997.

  Coon, Asaline (wife of Lt. Walter Peterson). 26 Apr. 1997.

  Coon, Oralee (mother-in-law of Lt. Walter Peterson). 26 Apr. 1997.

  Coon, William (brother-in-law of Lt. Walter Peterson). 26 Apr. 1997.

  Curti, Dick (police officer, Indiana Township, Pa.). 2 Feb. 1999.

  Dean, John (defense attorney for D. Delker). 18 Jan. 2007.

  Defino, Kathy (victim of S. Hoss). 25 Mar. 2000.

  DeLellis, Carmen (police chief, Verona, Pa.). 10 Dec. 1998.

  Dutkowski, Steve (corrections officer, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 7 May 1997.

  Eichledinger, Ken (police officer, Verona, Pa.). 4 Sept. 1994.

  Eroline, Al (staff member, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 1 Aug. 1999.

  Fagan, Edward (deputy DA, Hoss-Zanella trial). 10 Nov. 1998.

  Family of Louis Fatkin (S. Hoss’s attorney, Peugeot case). 29 Apr. 2005.

  Farris, Mike (medical technician, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 9 July 2000.

  Fawkes, Jodine (S. Hoss’s mistress). 7 Feb. 1998.

  Fescemyer, Bob (police officer, Oakmont, Pa.). 9 June 1999.

  Freeland, Wendell (T. Lubresky’s attorney). 20 Mar. 2006.

  Gergel, John (prisoner convicted of murder). 22 Mar. 2005.

  Getty, Jim (presiding judge, Peugeot case). 2 Oct. 2003.

  Grieu-Bess, Renna (friend of Linda Peugeot). 5 Aug. 2003.

  Grogan, Cliff, Jr. (son of corrections officer, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 24 Nov. 1997.

  Hagmaier, Ron (corrections officer, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 6 Aug. 1997.

  Hidel, Marta (librarian, Fairbury, Pa.). 1 May 2007.

  Hoffman, Joe (prison counselor, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 29 Mar. 2006.

  Horvat, Ron (corrections officer and union president, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 8 May 1998.

  Hoss, Diane (S. Hoss’s wife). 27 Mar. 1998.

  Johansen, Spencer (police chief, Lexington, Ill.) 17 Dec. 2010.

  Joseph, George (Iowa resident and background researcher). 28 Feb. 1997.

  Keen, John “Radio” (prisoner convicted of murder). 18 May 1998.

  King, Shirley Coon (sister-in-law of Lt. Walter Peterson).
26 Apr. 1997.

  Kiser, Donald (Linda Peugeot’s dentist). 15 Jan. 2005.

  Knott, Jim (classmate of Linda Peugeot). 2 Oct. 2003.

  Kohut, Danny (corrections officer, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 4 June 1997.

  Kolar, Tracey (employee, Lakewood Cemetery, Indiana Township, Pa.). 18 Sept. 2000.

  Kosmal, Reed (police witness). 1 Dec. 1998.

  Kozakiewicz, Charles (security chief, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 10 Apr. 1997.

  Lechwar, Ken (prison counselor, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 14 Apr. 1997.

  Lee, Stacy (staff writer, Daily News, McKeesport, Pa.) 9 Dec. 2010.

  Madera, Don (corrections officer, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 7 May 1997.

  Malloy, Pat (corrections officer, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 1 Aug. 1999.

  Mason, Don (state attorney, Cumberland, Md.). 4 Apr. 2004.

  Massof, Bill (juror, Hoss-Zanella trial). 1 Nov. 1998.

  Mastros, Gus (prison supervisor, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 14 Apr. 1997.

  McCall, John (fireman, Verona, Pa.). 24 Oct. 1998.

  McLafferty, Bill (police officer, Penn Hills Township, Pa.). 22 May 1998.

  Minahan, Don (prosecutor, Hoss-Zanella trial). 4 May 1998.

  Orris, Melvin “Red” (police officer, East Deer Township, Allegheny Co., Pa.). 15 June 1997.

  Parrett, Burt (police officer, Harmar Township, Allegheny Co., Pa.). 20 Feb. 1998.

  Peugeot, Gerald (husband of Linda Peugeot). 10 May 2006.

  Petika, Frank (supervisor, textile shop, Allegheny Co. Workhouse, Pa.). 21 Nov. 1997.

  Radage, Betty (wife of Police Chief Steve Radage). 28 Feb. 1999.

  Reilly, Patrick “Bus” (corrections officer, Western Penitentiary, Pa.; eyewitness to murder). 3 Mar. 1998.

  Remmick, Milt (police lieutenant, Verona, Pa.). 6 Oct. 1997.

  Rice, Owen (member, Allegheny Co. prison board; prison chaplain, Western Penitentiary, Pa.). 21 May 1997.

  Robinson, William (warden, Allegheny Co. Jail, Pa.; state commissioner of corrections, Pa.). 7 Jan. 1998.