The Twisted Case of Albert Fish Quiz

Answer: Grace Budd

Fish befriended the Budd family on the pretext of wishing to hire their eldest son, Edward, to work on his farm on Long Island. There was no farm, only Fish's desire to kill the boy. When he met Grace, Edward's 10-year old sister, he decided to kill her instead.

He tricked her parents into allowing her to accompany him to a fictitious birthday party at a non-existant address. He then took her by train to Westchester County, just north of NY City. Once there, Fish murdered Grace and dismembered her body.

He used parts of her flesh in a stew, which he ate and, by his own admission, 'enjoyed very much.'

Answer: Frank Howard

He chose his middle name, Frank, and Howard because it 'just seemed to come into his mind at the time.' Using this false identity, Fish gained the trust of Albert and Delia Budd, simple people who could not imagine that such a 'kindly gentleman farmer' would bring any harm to their daughter.

Answer: Wisteria

Wisteria Cottage was an isolated house in rural Westchester. Fish had rented the house on occasion in the past and had brought his children their to enjoy the country while he worked as a painter in town. He took Grace to Wisteria by train, with his intentions far beyond enjoying the countryside. Once there, he left her outside to pick flowers in the front yard.

He lured her into the house, where he killed her.

Answer: William King

NY Detective William King relentlessly pursued Fish for 6 long years. In November 1934, Fish had the audacity to write Mrs. Budd to tell her what happened to her daughter. He described in graphic detail the terrible things he did to her. However, Fish wrote the letter on stationery that was easily traced. Just a few weeks later, King personally arrested Fish.

The manhunt was over, but the nightmarish look into Fish's twisted mind was just beginning.

Answer: Implements of Hell

Strangely, Fish was fanatically religious. He viewed the murder as a quasi-sacrifice to God to atone for his sins and perverse behavior. He likened the experience to the Biblical tale of God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Albert Fish was a sadist that reveled in inflicting pain not only on others, but on himself as well.

He was fascinated by the Bible verses referring to self-flagellation and punishment for one's sins. Among his favorite forms of self-abuse was beating himself with nail-studded paddles and inserting needles into his groin.

Answer: True

Fish openly admitted to eating the flesh of his victims. He described in detail how he had murdered his victims and used their 'meat.' His older brother had served in the Navy and had brought back tales of cannibalism from Asia. Albert Fish was intrigued by the stories and became obsessed with the idea of eating human flesh.

After he was arrested, he confessed to using Grace Budd's body in such a manner. A few years prior to the Budd murder, he had also killed a three year-old boy named Billy Gaffney and cannibalized his corpse as well. Just one of his many perverse interests.

Answer: Francis McDonnell

Fish lured the 8 year-old boy into some woods on Staten Island and strangled him with his own suspenders. This crime had remained unsolved until Fish confessed under questioning.

Answer: Guilty

Although many would consider him insane by many standards,Fish was easily convicted of murdering Grace Budd. After his arrest, he confessed to torturing and molesting hundreds of children throughout his adult life. He was sentenced to death in the electric chair for the Budd murder. Strangely, he looked forward to being executed, referring to his electrocution as 'the supreme thrill.'

Answer: Hamilton

He was named Hamilton Frank Fish when he was born in 1870. His schoolmates called him 'Ham and Eggs,' so he changed his name to Albert, after a deceased brother.

Answer: False

Legends say that when Fish was electrocuted at Sing Sing Prison in 1936, the electric chair shorted out. Over the years, Fish had inserted dozens of needles into his body, particulary in his groin region. Supposedly, the metal caused the chair to malfunction and it was necessary to give him a second jolt of electricity.

While this sounds like something that Fish's sadistic yearnings would hope for, it just is not true. Many thanks to Harold Schechter's book, 'Deranged', for much of the information in this quiz.