Robert Franklin Stroud: The Story of a Famous Culprit USA

Robert Franklin Stroud was born in 1890 in a dysfunctional family. Known in the world under the name Ptichnik from Alcatraz. He became popular after writing about him a book by Thomas Gaddis, as well as a film shot on it. There are many stories connected with his personality, he was a man for whom many people fought. But even his intentions do not abolish the fact that he became a murderer. Therefore, he ended his life, as is due to all especially dangerous criminals, in prison.

Childhood and the first term

In his homeland, Alaska, Robert Franklin Stroud did not have an exemplary behavior, he was a so-called difficult teenager with all the ensuing consequences. However, there was no one to fight for him, everything that happened in the family was reduced to alcohol and beatings.

As a teenager, he tried to make a living by any means. Needless to say, almost all of them were illegal. Until the age of 18, Robert was repeatedly involved, but in 1909 he was first awarded for his actions.

It all happened because Stroud was working as a pimper. Among his "commodity" girls was a kind of Kitty O'Brien. She provided services to a barman named Charlie von Dahmer. Either the girl tried hard, or she got a greedy client, but refused to pay for the service. In addition, he beat Kitty. As a good boss, Robert stood up for the girl, but overdid it. In the fight, he killed his opponent. For this he received his first term of 12 years.

"Approximate" behavior

Robert Franklin Stroud, while in prison, did not take the path of correction at all. His behavior left much to be desired. Therefore, in 1911, the criminal was transferred to Leavenworth prison with a toughened regime. But nothing useful comes out of it either. His time to sit out until the end of Robert did not, but he decided to add a few dozen years ...

In 1916 Stroud commits a new crime. His relations with local guards and superiors do not add up initially. But he behaves relatively calm until some time. One day, one of his visits, which, by the way, is very rare for dangerous criminals, was canceled. Because of this, he kills the guard in the dining room with his own sharpening done. The partners of the victim did not have time to orient themselves from such insolence. Therefore, the guard died before reaching the medical center.

For such a trick Robert, of course, was sentenced to the highest penalty - the death penalty. But the American president of that time, Woodrow Wilson, abolished it. Because of this, Stroud received a life sentence.

How did the nickname come about?

Twenty years after the murder of the guard, Robert is transferred to Alcatraz. But while still in Livernaut, he gets a non-standard hobby. During the walk, Stroud finds a sick sparrow. He decides to hide it, sneak into the camera. There he nurses a sick bird, while taming it. After that new sparrows appear, each of which feeds an inexplicable love for a psychopath, an outcast among people.

Overseers and local authorities decide to take advantage of the unusual passion of the criminal. They let him get canaries. Later he was transferred to Alcatraz, and the pets moved with him.

In the new prison, Robert continues to do what he likes. The number of cells and birds increases, so prison officials are engaged in their implementation. Robert also corresponded with some scientists, is engaged in the creation of vaccines and drugs for canaries. Later he wrote several books with advice and recommendations on the breeding and keeping of birds, becoming respected among scientists and amateurs.

So a psychopath and a murderer acquires his nickname - the Ptitselov of Alcatraz. Although later he does nothing to support him, the name remains permanently attached to him.

What was hidden under good deeds?

Robert Franklin Stroud decided to make of his passion a new opportunity to show the nature of a psychopath and criminal. Initially, prison officials do not forbid him to engage in poultry farming. On the contrary, they lead officials and noble personalities to familiarize themselves with Robert's enthusiasm. They say that it is under their command that such a malicious violator of rules and the criminal discovers in himself a pretty and conscientious feature.

Then, when Stroud becomes popular in the scientific community, he is engaged in the manufacture of medicines for canaries. In 1931 they are officially registered and go on sale throughout America. To handle the mail of the criminal, the prison authorities are forced to hire a secretary. Moreover, they write off thousands of dollars for a hobby, which seemed to be the meaning of Robert's life. However, the profit is many times greater.

And only 11 years later we managed to find out that Stroud did not at all feel affection for his birds. Under the guise of producing drugs, he makes drugs and alcohol, spreading them both inside Alkartas, and far beyond. Naturally, after exposure Ptichnik was no longer able to spend time with his canaries.

last years of life

The American criminal becomes popular with the public. When his conveyor for the production of drugs is interrupted, she turns her attention to him. The US public has always had a craving to protect someone. And now they looked at Robert. They performed in the squares, assembled rallies, and rebelled.

One of the public figures helped Robert obtain a legal education. Subsequently, he appeals, tries to appeal his sentence. But the attempts were futile.

In 1963, Stroud died in a medical center in prison. He lives to 73 years of age, spend most of his life in captivity.

Conclusion

The reasons for the behavior of the popular killer of the United States, perhaps, are based on childish grievances. In all his sins Robert blames his father, who was an alcoholic, often got into fights, beat him and his mother. This he explained his hostility to any authority.

The share of truth in Stroud's words is present. As a child, the future psychopath did not have the opportunity to form abilities to build normal relations with his environment.