by Savage Grace- The True Story of Fatal Relations in a Rich
In 1900, a wood-frame construction suitable for one hundred prisoners was completed; soon afterward, wooden barracks capable of housing up to four hundred were added. By 1918, there were eight barracks on the island, as well as a stable, a guardhouse, a mess hall, and several employee buildings. Inmates labored on coal barges, iceboats, and garbage dumps, and on a hog farm located on the premises.
Eventually the workhouse aspect of Rikers Island was abandoned and in 1955 the island became known officially as the Penitentiary of the City of New York. Landfill increased its size to over four hundred acres and by the 1980s it was home to six major prison facilities—three for adult male inmates, one for females, one for adolescent boys, and a hospital. It also now contains a power plant, maintenance garage, firehouse, print shop, shoe-repair shop, tailor shop, laundry, and bakery. Eight days after his return from England, Tony Baekeland was entering a community not unlike Broadmoor.
Property Envelope, Department of Correction, City of New York
LIST OF PROPERTY
None
I Acknowledge The Surrender Of My Property As Listed Above
Date: July 28, 1980
Signature of inmate: Antony Baekeland
Floor and Cell Location Form, Department of Correction, City of New York
Date: July 29, 1980
Floor: Mental Observation
Cell: Lower 6-8
Letter from Antony Baekeland to Shirley Cox, July 30, 1980
Rikers Island
Dear Shirley,
More Horror. In case you don’t know what happened, this is it—by Tuesday I realized that it was no good. I had been up several nights reading in the Bible and was feeling very nervous. I began to hear Nini’s voice, clear as day coming from her room. (It felt just like a wolf gnawing at my entrails.) When I would go and ask her what she was saying, she said she had said nothing. I had no one to talk to—I had tried to give myself to Nini in various ways but it was no go. It was like having someone you loved right in the next room and thousands of miles away. Once in the middle of the night I had a very clear vision or memory of us (Nini and I) a long long time ago in our house in Italy, how we used to go hunting for pretty stones and leaves and things, and how we used to hold hands. I also remembered how my family sheds its blood (and each other’s blood) for one another. Anyway, I was in tears and I got up and quietly went into her room. She was asleep and I held her hand but she didn’t wake up.
Anyway, I finally realized I couldn’t stay, that it wouldn’t be right for either of us, and Sunday morning I went to her room and began telephoning for reservations for England. Please realize that I was in a desperate state of mind—many beautiful and terrifying spiritual things had been happening and I hadn’t slept properly for a week. N kept on at me and I warned her three times that if she wouldn’t be quiet I would throw the telephone at her. Anyway, finally my nerves broke and I threw the phone at her. She fell down and began to moan and I realized what I had done and that she had probably broken more bones. Then I felt that all her suffering in the past (hip, etc.) had been for my sake and that was too much to bear. I knew that if I gave her the Coup de Grâce God would take her Home and there would be no more misery. I tore into the kitchen, found a knife, rushed back, and tried to kill her but wasn’t strong enough and/or didn’t know how. Then I started screaming and praying and pleading with God to take her Home. I tried ringing the ambulance for 1/2 hour without realizing that the phone was kaput. The poor darling asked me to straighten her legs which I did. Then Lena came and I told her to get an ambulance. The police came as well and took me away.
Shirley, if you do not want to speak to me or see me again I understand perfectly but I want you to know that I am as horrified as you are—believe me please. I am sure if I hadn’t been so alone it wouldn’t have happened, but it’s no use saying “if,” ever.
If you would like to help me could you get me my Bible, Shakespeare, & Spiritual Canticle by St. John of the Cross. They are on the table in the drawing room.
If you would like to visit I would like to hear how N is. Do ring up the place beforehand as I may be in court that day. My number: 349-80-4228. Could you send or bring any letters which may have come for me?
After it happened, at the police station and here, I continued to hear her voice, saying, “Honi soit qui mal y pense,” and other things.
I am better off here than I was at Nini’s. At least there is company. (Blacks and Puerto Ricans mainly.)
I am on Legal Aid but am hoping my lawyer will let me have him on a money basis as I feel unable to accept government help since I have money.
Please understand that I understand what a terrible thing this is for you, me, and any friends we may have.
Yours,
Tony (and of course, Nini)
Dr. Helene Weiss
I saw Tony Baekeland on July 29, 1980. At first he was generally cooperative, and then he just started to decompensate after a while. But he wasn’t what I would call crazy. Even though he was here on attempted murder, he was not basically a criminal personality per se. His acts had been done more out of passion than out of criminal pathology.
Letter from Brooks Baekeland to Nina Daly, July 29, 1980
Block Island
Dear Nini,
I have heard of your new adventure with a heavy heart. That so much bravery and goodwill should be repaid that way! But I am very glad that you are out of danger. How you were able to defend yourself, only you and God know, but somehow you did.
I must tell you that I did not expect this. I knew of course that
Tony had not changed basically. His irrationality (and arrogance) continued to make a very bad impression on me, but I worried more about his ability to understand what the world was like and what he had to do to survive (or thrive) in it than I did about his acting out the violence of his nature again. It came to me as a surprise, although not apparently to Fred. I did however warn Maguire that Tony was dangerous when crossed. I received some very ugly letters from Tony whenever I seemed to frustrate what he deemed I owed him or he deserved—exceedingly mandatory, abusive, even scatological. I pointed out these things to Maguire, but Broadmoor simply wished to get him off their hands—and the Bleeding Hearts Club never stopped pounding their drum, either. You are lucky to be alive. The road to hell…
Poor Tony—what an enormous failure of intelligence. And what a pity that you did not warn someone of the danger that you felt growing, or ask for help once you realized that he should not have been discharged.
I’m going North for a while—plans still very uncertain. I bought a secondhand car yesterday and will just see a little of America for a while. It’s been a long time—14 years. I have come back as a foreigner.
Well, dear, get well soon, and if you need anything let me know through my lawyer in New York. One day I will settle down somewhere or be in one place long enough to receive mail. I will then call him and ask him to forward any messages that have come for me.
Love,
Brooks
Note from File on Antony Baekeland
Tony called his family lawyer Wed. July 30. T was cordial, rational.
Miwa Svinka-Zielinski
There was nobody who was absolutely interested in Tony’s case now. I suppose I could have visited him on Rikers Island, but I didn’t have any authority to go to his lawyer and ask what the situation was. Why wasn’t he being acquitted as schizophrenic? Why was he sitting in a prison which is a regular prison for criminals?
Edward Hershey
Of the ninety-two hundred inmates in our system today, sixty percent will be out after seven days. With that kind of turnover, the Department of Correction, and I’m assistant commissioner for public affairs there, has a very challenging but in some cases not very fulfilling mission. Our major mission is to provide pretrial services, get the inmates to court and so on. We don’t have an opportunity for long-term relationships. We have to look out for red lights, and when they flash we take ac
tion, because there’s not a lot of time.
Sandra Lewis Smith
On a typical day in prison the inmates get up at five in the morning if they’re going to court. Even if they’re not going to court, there’s so much noise in the cell block they probably get up about five anyway. The wagon delivers the breakfast—hot cereal, scrambled eggs, toast, juice, sometimes fresh fruit—apples, oranges—coffee, or hot water and makings for coffee—or tea. Then the people going to court are taken to court. The rest of the inmates simply hang out. They might read, they might put in an interview slip to go to the legal library and do some research on their case, they might go to the clinic for medication or to be examined for whatever ailment they might have, they might just stay in the area and watch television or play cards or checkers, or they might be called down to receive a visit from their attorney.
Martin J. Siegel
I was asked by the court to represent Tony Baekeland at his first arraignment. Later he said to me, “I’d like to hire you privately.” So I advised Judge Haft that I had been assigned by the court but that the client now wanted to retain me privately and do I have permission. Judge Haft asked Tony if he had the funds and he said yes and the judge said okay.
Tony was always pleasant in all my dealings with him, but he was a very troubled person. He told me once about being in a café with a girl he was in love with and his father was sitting next to her and started to come on to her. He was very bitter about that.
He struck me as the type of person who could be manipulated very easily. I guess you know he was a homosexual. I felt that he wanted to be dominated by someone who played the male role and that any strong individual that came by could readily dominate him.
Our defense was going to be insanity. I hoped to have him institutionalized in a hospital-type setting, where he could really be helped, as opposed to a penal-type setting.
From Psychiatric Examination Reports on Antony Baekeland ordered by the Criminal Court of New York, August 27 and September 2, 1980
KNOWLEDGE OF CHARGES:
What is the charge against you?
“Either murder or attempted murder of my grandmother.”
KNOWLEDGE OF COURT PROCEEDINGS:
Have you entered a plea? What plea have you entered?
“No, I haven’t.”
What is the name of the Defendant’s Attorney?
“Mr. Siegel.”
What is the function of a Defense Attorney?
“To help me.”
What is the function of a District Attorney?
“He represents the borough and I’ll be up against him.”
What is the function of a Judge?
“Evaluates whether you can be punished or not, then sentences.”
What is the function of a Jury?
“Twelve ladies and gentlemen who decide whether you’re guilty or not guilty.”
What are the consequences of being found Guilty?
“Depending on seriousness, they are given various penalties.”
SUMMARY OF PSYCHIATRIC FINDINGS:
The defendant was alert, cooperative, articulate. Although he stuttered, speech was coherent and relevant. Delusions and hallucinations were denied. The defendant became intermittently tearful in discussing his alleged offense and his father’s reaction to it. He stated he felt “chastened” by his experience in jail. Memory is intact. Defendant understands court procedure and is deemed able to assist counsel. He is fit to proceed.
From the Transcript, The People of the State of New York Against Antony Baekeland, Defendant, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, September 19, 1980
The Court Clerk: Mr. Baekeland, you have been indicted by the Grand Jury of the County of New York, charging you with attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the first degree. How do you plead to the charges, guilty or not guilty?
Defendant: I plead not guilty.
Mr. Siegel: Your Honor, I would like to have the matter adjourned for a few weeks for motions on the issue of bail. I would ask some bail be set.
Letter from Shirley Cox to Assistant District Attorney Sarah Hines, Undated
New York
Dear Ms. Hines:
As a close friend of Mrs. Nina Daly (the victim) for many years, and her business affairs manager for the past five years, this letter is to earnestly request that in the event of Antony Baekeland’s release, Mrs. Daly be accorded 24-hour-a-day police protection.
I feel this would be absolutely essential to the safety of her life.
I hope you will give this request your serious consideration and support.
Sincerely, Shirley Cox (Mrs.)
Judge Robert M. Haft
There was no serious bail application. It would not have been appropriate. Anyway, Tony Baekeland had no place to go.
He was always very pleasant and smiled a lot. He was never agitated. I would say he had a sort of inappropriate affect, considering what was happening to him.
From the Transcript, The People of the State of New York Against Antony Baekeland, Defendant, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, October 22, 1980
The Court: Was the defendant examined by a psychiatrist of your choice?
Mr. Siegel: Yes, he was. I’m awaiting the report. The examination has taken place.
The Court: Adjourned to November 7th.
From a Psychiatric Interview with Antony Baekeland, New York City, 1980
The purpose of this evaluation was to determine Mr. Baekeland’s mental status at the time of the alleged crime. When asked where he was born, Mr. Baekeland replied, “I don’t know. I was told that I was born in Manhattan. That’s what my mother told me, but I have no siblings. In fact, as far as I know, she told me that her friend is the Son of Sam and he is also my brother because he is my age.” When asked who raised him, he answered, “I think I was raised by my mother, father, and grandmother, but it was all very confusing. Our family is spiritually everywhere, so my mother’s death would not bother her. We all lived together—a few people but we are all the same person. A close friend of mine is a very powerful magician and he made such magic that I could kill my mother with the same knife that he made the magic with.” At this point, the patient started talking quite irrelevantly about his father, stating, “I don’t remember him loving me terribly. I didn’t know what exactly he wanted me to do. He is a physicist and writes many books. We are very rich people from his family. They sell stocks and real estate and I have a lot of money which is not bad but I never worked for it.”
PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS: SCHIZOPHRENIA, PARANOID TYPE.
Sarah Hines
We wanted to prove that he was responsible for his crime. We wanted to have as much control over him as possible, in order to give the People and his family security, and there’s not much control available when the insanity plea is used—he might have walked.
Letter from Shirley Cox to Assistant District Attorney Sarah Hines, Undated
New York
Dear Ms. Hines:
Further to our recent telephone conversation, this will confirm that the personal belongings of Antony Baekeland, left behind in his grandmother’s apartment in New York at the time of his arrest, were stolen from the basement storage room. Four of the tenants in the building also lost a variety of personal possessions in trunks and suitcases, and one had her bicycle stolen.
As you will remember, I had tried very early on to have Mr.
Baekeland’s possessions transferred to him in Rikers Island or to his lawyer (if it could be determined who that would be on a continuing basis). But I was told that the suitcases and cartons (containing clothes, shoes, tape recorder, tapes, books, etc.) would not be accepted, and that they should be stored somewhere for the interim until a Court decision had been reached. It was considered important by those concerned about Mrs. Daly’s welfare to clean up her apartment and remove the remnants of the traumatic incident before she was released from Lenox Hill Hospital. Conseq
uently, for lack of choice the items were placed in the basement storage room (which was equipped with a lock) until further notice. Whoever committed the robbery had used a key to effect entrance.
Once the robbery was discovered, the 19th Precinct was advised but despite three phone calls over a three-hour period, while the tenants involved waited in the basement, no officer arrived to inspect the premises or to make a report of the incident.
I merely wish to report the fact of the robbery of Mr. Baekeland’s possessions to someone in an official capacity relating to his situation. I do believe that, had some official help been extended, Mr. Baekeland’s belongings might still be intact.
Sincerely,
Shirley Cox (Mrs.)
2
NOVEMBER 1–DECEMBER 16, 1980
John Murray
I met Tony in the bull pen, which is where they hold you before you go to court. I was in for burglary. Coincidentally, he was in the same quad as me, too—I was about eight cells away. We were together about six or seven months. I was his closest friend at that time. I definitely was, yes. He said he’d been staying at his grandmother’s and he felt all right and then all of a sudden he just heard her saying things like he couldn’t go out to see anybody or somebody couldn’t come over to the house, and she was next to the phone and he just hit her a few times. I told him that was a lie. I said, “Why don’t you tell me the truth?” And he said, “Oh, yeah, well, the truth of the matter is that she was almost killed.”
Then he told me that he had spent time in London, England, for psychiatric reasons for killing his mother. He was sorry about it, because he loved his mother. No one knows why people do things like that. They just do them, and after that, it’s over and done with, and you have to live with that—without that person—for the rest of your life.
On good days Tony would keep himself confined to where he was and what he was doing. On days when he was restless and reckless he’d talk about how he killed his mother. He’d whisper, like someone mortified. He’d either whisper or his lips would move and he wouldn’t be speaking. That’s how he’d say how sorry he was.