Folsom's 93

The Lives and Crimes of Folsom Prison's Executed Men

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Folsom’s 93 is Now a Podcast! 

Falling Through the Trap is a new podcast about an old prison, and the 93 men who met their fate at the end of a rope, behind its thick gray walls. After five years of trying to wrangle a revised edition of Folsom’s 93, it became apparent that I simply had too much material to cram into a book. Falling Through the Trap, isn’t just true crime, but also an exploration into the history of our criminal justice system, how it interacts with society and culture, and what that reveals about humanity—both past and present. 

While these ninety-three deaths occurred 88-130 years ago (1895-1937) each of their stories remain relevant and speak for the thousands who have stood on the gallows, faced a firing squad, sat in an electric chair or gas chamber, or lain strapped to a gurney. Many of these cases have staked their place in legal history, informing laws, setting precedence; both good and bad. But remembered or recognized for their human element? For their nuances? Certainly not. Arguably, many of these cases would be tried differently today.

Plus . . . these stories are just really fascinating, so even if you just tune in for your historical true crime fix, I’ll be thrilled to have you along.

You can listen on Substack, Spotify, Apple, and YouTube (where I provide photos). New episodes every third Friday of the month and I even provide bonus episodes on Patreon. Several episodes are now available.

41 thoughts on “Home

  1. Amy's avatar

    very cool, cant wait to read more!

  2. Chuck's avatar

    Fascinating. Can’t wait to see more!

  3. Lafemmeroar's avatar

    Just your exploration on this would make a good movie 🙂

  4. Dale Bridges's avatar

    This is a very cool idea for a book, April. Let me know when it is published.

  5. Mike is Happy's avatar

    Beautiful. Proud to say I know you. Kinda. In a weird typing way.

  6. Pamela Skjolsvik (@pamelaskjolsvik)'s avatar

    Hey April:
    I’ve been to Folsom prison a couple of times in the 90’s. My brother was incarcerated there for 13 years. This sounds like a fascinating project. Can’t wait to read more!

  7. Pamela Skjolsvik (@pamelaskjolsvik)'s avatar

    My brother was housed at Old Folsom initially, but I don’t think I visited him there. I just remember that the guards were kind of rude every time I went. When I went to interview someone at the Pollunsky unit in Texas, I was taken aback by how polite everyone was. Granted, Texas kills a lot more people than California, but at least the guards (or at least my experience with them) have been pleasant.

  8. Pamela Skjolsvik (@pamelaskjolsvik)'s avatar

    I worked in a jail for four months and it was horrible.

  9. Pamela Skjolsvik (@pamelaskjolsvik)'s avatar

    Well, now that you mention it, I am writing a book about my “death trip.” It began as my master’s thesis about people who worked with death in their professions. Now it’s more of a memoir of my experience.

    An essay I wrote about my brother was published in Creative Nonfiction and a book called “Silence Kills.”

    Prison and death are the two topics that I’m drawn to, so that’s why I’m very interested in your project.

    • April Moore's avatar

      I don’t know how people deal with death on a daily basis, so your book sounds like a very intriguing read. I guess now I know more about executions and prisons than I ever thought I would! And I find the prison industry and prison life incredibly fascinating, especially during the turn of the 20th century. Keep me posted on your progress with your book–I’d love to know more about it.

  10. J'aime Rubio's avatar

    April, Since talking to you via email this week, I have to tell you that your blog is absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to read your new book, too. From one writer to another I truly wish you all the best in your career and I will continue to read your work!! – J’aime Rubio

  11. John Craig IV's avatar

    Looking forward to book in 2013.

    A bit of a personal interest.

  12. Bill Van Eron's avatar

    Very creative, insightful, meaningful, cool undertaking April
    I want to see the movie. Bill

  13. Cail Brown's avatar

    My dad worked at Folsom for many years. I remember going there as a child and eating in the mess hall….one inmate in particular made the best cherry pie in this world. We used to visit the guards that lived on the prison grounds, in Represa. When they built the ‘new folsom’, I got to tour it and go into the cells. It was all pretty neat. I also remember that one of my favorite books to read growing up was the execution records of the hung. My dad had turned negatives of the original records into books, and I would look at those all the time. I was fascinated by who they were and their crimes, and even the physical records that showed a minute by minute exam of the men as they hung was strangely neat to me. I often wondered if they really did do the crimes. I look forward to reading your book 🙂

    • April Moore's avatar

      Oh, wow. Is Jim your dad? I can only imagine the stories you have about Folsom. The fact that the best cherry pie you ever had was made by an inmate, is a story in of itself. We certainly shared the same fascination with Folsom’s executed men while growing up. My great-great- aunt had those mug shots and we used to love going through them and getting creeped out by their appearances. I always wanted to find out the stories behind the faces, but never imagined I’d be the one to research them and write a book about them! I also think that a few of them were innocent. I’ll be at the prison on July 20th for the initial book launch. I’m looking forward to being at the museum and hearing stories about Folsom.

      • Cail Brown's avatar

        I will try to be there for sure to meet you. My dad was Gil, and he used to do several things. At one point while growing up, he was the one (of several maybe) that took pics of when the inmates rioted or were killed. He had a distaste for Johnny Cash because he basically caused and encouraged rioting when he was there, and he met several of the movie stars during various filming. Of course this was either before I was born, or shortly after, so I don’t know these things personally. I guess if I were to think about it, it was weird being a child…running, skipping, and playing on the grounds ‘right next to’ convicted murderers and rapists, and all sorts of very violent gangs. Of course there was a huge wall and armed guards protecting us. My dad’s life has been threatened, my life has been threatened. You do grow up with a small realization of what people can really be capable of.
        I haven’t been there in decades…since the new prison really. It will be nice to see the museum again. Sheesh, we used to buy the most amazing things from there..I wonder if you still can? Probably not…they don’t have the same tools and materials they used to have decades ago. Guess I’ll find out when I go there to meet you 🙂

      • April Moore's avatar

        I would love to get a chance to meet you—I hope you can make it. I think you and the retired guards who run the museum will have a great time swapping stories. That’s funny about Johnny Cash—I can see where your dad (and other guards) wouldn’t be thrilled with him. I’m looking forward to meeting you!

  14. Rick Hill, Warden Folsom State Prison's avatar

    Ms Moore,
    I was out of town last Saturday when you visited the Folsom Prison Museum. However, I see that you will be at Time Tested Books tomorrow. I plan on attending and hopefully meeting you.

  15. David Ladd's avatar

    @Amy Moore – Are you local to Sacramento/Folsom? I can’t wait to read this book. Also, where’d you do your research? If you don’t mind me asking.

    • April Moore's avatar

      Hi, David. Thanks! No, I live in CO, but I spent a lot of time at the archives and state library in Sacramento, as well as the the Folsom Prison museum in order to gather research.

      • David Ladd's avatar

        Thanks for the information. I love the state library and as a history major, life long resident of Sacramento and grandson of a former Folsom Prison inmate I have to say thank you for preserving a little nugget of our history.

  16. randallsinner's avatar

    ms moore
    are you speaking about ur book soon here in northern colorado? I just hear a blurb on the radio.
    thanks
    rs

  17. Russ Kajune's avatar

    this book was very cool; a brilliant idea. there should be such a book for every prison where executions were conducted.

  18. Eric Van Blaricom's avatar

    I had a nice two years as free staff at FSP. I would love to read your book to add to my knowledge of the prison

  19. Rod Munch's avatar

    Hoping for the update 2022.

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