Night of the Devil: The Untold Story of Thomas Trantino and the Angel Lounge Killings

by Former Director Center for Business Strategy David Stout

On a summer night in 1963, in the town of Lodi, New Jersey, two policemen were shot to death in the Angel Lounge, a local bar, by two bar patrons. One of the killers was shot by police in New York City two days later; the other, Thomas Trantino, turned himself in and was imprisoned. He remained incarcerated for almost 40 years--the longest-serving prisoner in the New Jersey penal system--until his release early in 2002. The murder of the policemen in the Angel Lounge remains one of the most notorious crimes in New Jersey history, yet there has never been an in-depth examination of the case--until now. New York Times reporter David Stout takes readers inside the from the close-knit community that was shattered by the killings--and will never forget them--to the courtroom where Thomas Trantino presented evidence that would keep him locked up for decades. Stout introduces us to the victims and to their families, who were determined that Trantino should never go free. And he allows us to hear Trantino explain why he felt he deserved to be paroled, despite the enormity of his crime. As they trace Trantino's tortuous path from death row to freedom, readers will be forced to confront their own attitudes about crime, punishment, and America's criminal justice system.

228 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an informative book about a pretty prolific crime that took place in Lodi, New Jersey several decades ago. Even though I live in the area, I never heard of the case till picking up this book. This book is fairly comprehensive in regards to detailing the crime, trial, and proceeding legal back-and-forths in regards to parole. In particular, I think the author did a commendable job in detailing just how arbitrary and truly ridiculous the parole process became in the state. Essentially, it turned into a circus in order to detain one person. That said, I think the author did a good job detailing the personal impact this crime had on the families and the Lodi community. It’s hard to and unnecessary to censure the families for their hate even if I ultimately disagree their legal stances.

Also, while I don’t think it’s intentional, I do believe this book speaks to the punitive overtone criminal justice and the legal system in the US has taken. It’s become more about punishment than rehabilitation. Even though the system is being promoted as “correctional”, I.e rehabilitative.

That’s simply not true in practice.

Far too many people become subjected to punishments that exceed their crimes. I firmly believe that Trantino would not have been subjected to the miscarriages of justice he was had he been involved in the murders of any other people who were not cops. Murderers of sex workers who commit far more heinous acts for longer periods of time rarely see this level of vindictive justice or public outrage. Aren’t sex workers people too? Involved in high risk work?

These murders were horrible but not so bad that they should receive extra-judicial punishment. The law is clear that parole is a constitutional right that should be afforded to those who meet its terms. We are entitle to fair trials and assessments. We all should be. Or else, what is the law for? What does justice mean? Who is the system supposed to protect?

Regardless of other opinions on some of the comparisons I’ve drawn, I do believe this book and the author who wrote it would agree with that latter statement. Though certainly dry and certainly forwarding controversial ideals about policing practice at times, this book does beg important questions about the purposes and intents of our justice system. This is one local case, too. I wonder how many other cases would raise similar questions if put under a microscope?

This is a local true crime book I feel comfortable recommending so long as people going into understand that there is certainly a degree of bias (that the author disclosed in the introduction).

*I have read this book for a local library book club.

[Florence Ruhl]

This happened in 1963.....I knew some of the people in this book. There was much more to this story then what was written. Read what the author wrote about Pat Falco......it was true then and is still true today....she'll never change.