Perry smith last words in cold blood

Biographies of Key Figures


Perry Smith

Perry Edward Smith (October 27, 1928 - April 14, 1965) was one of two ex-convicts who murdered four members of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, United States on November 15, 1959, a crime made infamous by Truman Capote in his 1966 non-fiction novel In Cold Blood.

Perry Smith was born in Huntington, Nevada, a now-abandoned community in Elko County.  His parents, Florence Julia "Flo" Buckskin and John "Tex" Smith, were rodeo performers.  Smith was of mixed Irish and Cherokee ancestry (from his father's and mother's side, respectively).

The family moved to Juneau, Alaska, in 1929, where the elder Smith distilled bootleg whisky for a living.  Smith's father abused his wife and four children, and in 1935 his wife left him, taking the children with her to San Francisco.  Smith and his siblings were raised initially with their alcoholic mother.  After Smith's mother died when he was thirteen, he and his siblings were placed in a Catholic orphanage, where nuns allegedly abused

Perry M. Smith is a teacher, speaker, TV and radio commentator and best-selling author. Hundred of millions of television viewers world-wide came to know him during the 1991 Persian Gulf War for his more than 100 appearances as a military analyst for the Cable News Network, the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour and NBC news. A retired major general, Smith served for 30 years in the U. S. Air Force. During his career he had a number of leadership experiences, including command of the F-15 fighter wing at Bitburg, Germany where he provided leadership to 4000 personnel. Later, he served as the top Air Force planner and as the commandant of the National War College.
Smith’s total number of flying hours as a pilot (mostly in fighter aircraft: F-84, F-100, F-4 and F-15). is 3400 He flew 180 combat missions in the F-4D aircraft over North Vietnam and Laos during the Vietnam War. 
A graduate of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, he later earned his Ph.D. in International Relations from Columbia University. His dissertation earned the Helen Dwight Reid award from the American Political Scienc

Perry Edward Smith

Executed American mass murderer

Perry Edward Smith

Kansas State Penitentiary, March 1960

Born(1928-10-27)October 27, 1928

Huntington, Nevada, U.S.

DiedApril 14, 1965(1965-04-14) (aged 36)

Kansas State Penitentiary, Lansing, Kansas, U.S.

Cause of deathExecution by hanging
Occupation(s)Criminal, seaman, soldier
Criminal statusExecuted
Parent(s)Florence Julia Buckskin and "Tex" John Smith
MotiveRobbery
Eliminating witnesses
Conviction(s)First degree murder (4 counts)
Criminal penaltyDeath
DateNovember 15, 1959
CountryUnited States
Location(s)Holcomb, Kansas
Target(s)Clutter family
Killed4
WeaponsShotgun
Knife

Date apprehended

December 30, 1959
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1948–1952
RankPrivate
Battles / warsKorean War

Perry Edward Smith (October 27, 1928 – April 14, 1965) was one of two career criminals convicted of murdering the four members of the Clutter

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