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Antonio's Will
Within a historical and cultural framework spanning three countries and over one hundred years, Antonio's Will tells the story of the rise of a Puerto Rico tobacco planter and the fall of his son Antonio Pontón, the first Hispanic executed on the electric chair in the United States. In this story of sacrifice, love, tragedy and injustice, the author exposes trial errors and highlights the importance of cultural and racial tolerance, respect for constitutional protections and equal justice under the law.
SUMMARY
In 1870, fourteen-year-old Manuel Pontón Fernández migrated from Spain to Puerto Rico seeking a better life. Mentored by a nobleman, Manuel quickly adapted to a new culture infused with Spanish, African and Taíno Indian influences. He lived through hurricanes, rampant disease, and the Spanish-American War of 1898, becoming one of the top tobacco planters in the island. He married into the family of Luis Muñoz Rivera, Puerto Rico's First Delegate to the United States Congress and the force behind United States citizenship for Puerto Ricans. After much sacrifice, Manuel achieved his dream: A successful business, a beautiful family, money and powerful relationships.
All the power and influence in the world could not prepare Manuel for the dreadful fate of his troubled son Antonio, who in 1911 he sent away to study at the prestigious Albany Law School in New York.
On January 7, 1916, Antonio Pontón became the first Puerto Rican and Hispanic person executed on the electric chair in the United States.
But he was wrongfully executed.
READER'S VALUE
Antonio's Will is a valuable reading for those interested in learning about Puerto Rico's history, as well as the subjects of law, justice and death penalty at the turn of the 20th Century in the United States.
Antonio's Will is the result of many years of research that began with the study of one of the author's paternal ancestors. The century-old events of Antonio's crime and his execution were not passed down to the author's family, although the event made front page and newspaper headlines in the early 1900's, both in the United States and in Puerto Rico.
The book walks the reader through the historical and cultural journey of the making of one of the most prominent Puerto Rican families at the turn of the 20th century. The reader will learn historical details about Manuel Pontón, his tobacco business, his family, as well as details about his son Antonio's life in New York, his crime, the trial injustices, his life at the Sing Sing Prison and the legal and social environment leading to Antonio Ponton's wrongful execution. The novel also brings to light the unprecedented call by the Puerto Rican people, community leaders, U.S. and Puerto Rican government officials and even prison wardens who tried to persuade New York's Governor Charles S. Whitman to commute Antonio Pontón's sentence.
SUMMARY
In 1870, fourteen-year-old Manuel Pontón Fernández migrated from Spain to Puerto Rico seeking a better life. Mentored by a nobleman, Manuel quickly adapted to a new culture infused with Spanish, African and Taíno Indian influences. He lived through hurricanes, rampant disease, and the Spanish-American War of 1898, becoming one of the top tobacco planters in the island. He married into the family of Luis Muñoz Rivera, Puerto Rico's First Delegate to the United States Congress and the force behind United States citizenship for Puerto Ricans. After much sacrifice, Manuel achieved his dream: A successful business, a beautiful family, money and powerful relationships.
All the power and influence in the world could not prepare Manuel for the dreadful fate of his troubled son Antonio, who in 1911 he sent away to study at the prestigious Albany Law School in New York.
On January 7, 1916, Antonio Pontón became the first Puerto Rican and Hispanic person executed on the electric chair in the United States.
But he was wrongfully executed.
READER'S VALUE
Antonio's Will is a valuable reading for those interested in learning about Puerto Rico's history, as well as the subjects of law, justice and death penalty at the turn of the 20th Century in the United States.
Antonio's Will is the result of many years of research that began with the study of one of the author's paternal ancestors. The century-old events of Antonio's crime and his execution were not passed down to the author's family, although the event made front page and newspaper headlines in the early 1900's, both in the United States and in Puerto Rico.
The book walks the reader through the historical and cultural journey of the making of one of the most prominent Puerto Rican families at the turn of the 20th century. The reader will learn historical details about Manuel Pontón, his tobacco business, his family, as well as details about his son Antonio's life in New York, his crime, the trial injustices, his life at the Sing Sing Prison and the legal and social environment leading to Antonio Ponton's wrongful execution. The novel also brings to light the unprecedented call by the Puerto Rican people, community leaders, U.S. and Puerto Rican government officials and even prison wardens who tried to persuade New York's Governor Charles S. Whitman to commute Antonio Pontón's sentence.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2014
About the author
Yasmin Tirado-Chiodini
8 books38 followersYasmin Tirado-Chiodini is an attorney and family historian. She is a former U.S. Space Shuttle engineer and adjunct professor of legal ethics and negotiations for the Executive M.B.A. program at Rollins College, Crummer Graduate School of Business in Winter Park, Florida.
She is the author of "ANTONIO'S WILL, A Story of Sacrifice, Love, Tragedy and Injustice" (Book 1 of The Antonio's Series), a historical novel telling the story of injustice of the first Hispanic executed in the electric chair in the United States, and the non-fiction companion book, "ANTONIO'S GRACE, An Island's Plea for a Native Son" (Book 2 of the series), presenting a selection of historical documents and photographs in the Antonio Pontón case, uncovering new findings from her research, detailing the unprecedented clemency effort, and analyzing the case 100 years later. She has also authored the non-fiction book "Does Your Compass Work? A Legal Guide for Florida Businesses."
She practices business law, is a speaker, blogger, and frequently publishes in various media. She lives in Florida with her husband, daughter and their rescued Labradors. For more information, and to join her reader's group, visit www.tirado-chiodini.com.
She is the author of "ANTONIO'S WILL, A Story of Sacrifice, Love, Tragedy and Injustice" (Book 1 of The Antonio's Series), a historical novel telling the story of injustice of the first Hispanic executed in the electric chair in the United States, and the non-fiction companion book, "ANTONIO'S GRACE, An Island's Plea for a Native Son" (Book 2 of the series), presenting a selection of historical documents and photographs in the Antonio Pontón case, uncovering new findings from her research, detailing the unprecedented clemency effort, and analyzing the case 100 years later. She has also authored the non-fiction book "Does Your Compass Work? A Legal Guide for Florida Businesses."
She practices business law, is a speaker, blogger, and frequently publishes in various media. She lives in Florida with her husband, daughter and their rescued Labradors. For more information, and to join her reader's group, visit www.tirado-chiodini.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 26, 2014
If you are to read “Antonio’s Will”, by Yasmin Tirado-Chiodini, may I recommend the following:
Look at the cover. Closely. It tells you the story, graphically, in a single photo and a few words.
Flip to the back of the book. Read “About the Author.” That will tell you she is an attorney, a former NASA bioengineer, college professor and a published nonfiction author. In other words, a smart cookie. It gives you an inkling of her capacity for the difficult and tedious work of genealogy and a love for research that only someone who’s spent years poring over dusty law books and microfilm can enjoy.
Then go back to the front and read the Foreword. That’s who the book’s about, speaking through down through the generations to the one member of his family who has the expertise and the will (if you will allow me a terrible faux pas) to tell his story.
Soak that part up. Put yourself in Antonio’s shoes, and in Yasmin’s shoes. You’ll see why it was important for Antonio to have his story told; the injustice that – even acknowledging the horror of his crime – it took a century to even come to light again, much less correct an injustice that was done to a man who was not evil, but sick.
And you will see how important it was for the author to be the one to tell it.
Now. Sit back and enjoy the book.
Mrs. Tirado—Chiodini didn’t write the book to clear her family name. Even though the crime achieved a measure of notoriety at the time it was committed, it was soon lost in the mists of history. She wrote it to right a wrong. She wrote it to call attention to crimes society sometimes commits against its own.
Sure, it bogs down occasionally. With her attorney’s penchant for thoroughness, she sometimes tells us more about a minor character than is necessary for the story. But each tidbit becomes a part of the story that enriches, rather than encumbers it.
You read how she meticulously builds her case, and by the end of the book, you realize that you should have expected no less.
I really enjoyed this book.
Look at the cover. Closely. It tells you the story, graphically, in a single photo and a few words.
Flip to the back of the book. Read “About the Author.” That will tell you she is an attorney, a former NASA bioengineer, college professor and a published nonfiction author. In other words, a smart cookie. It gives you an inkling of her capacity for the difficult and tedious work of genealogy and a love for research that only someone who’s spent years poring over dusty law books and microfilm can enjoy.
Then go back to the front and read the Foreword. That’s who the book’s about, speaking through down through the generations to the one member of his family who has the expertise and the will (if you will allow me a terrible faux pas) to tell his story.
Soak that part up. Put yourself in Antonio’s shoes, and in Yasmin’s shoes. You’ll see why it was important for Antonio to have his story told; the injustice that – even acknowledging the horror of his crime – it took a century to even come to light again, much less correct an injustice that was done to a man who was not evil, but sick.
And you will see how important it was for the author to be the one to tell it.
Now. Sit back and enjoy the book.
Mrs. Tirado—Chiodini didn’t write the book to clear her family name. Even though the crime achieved a measure of notoriety at the time it was committed, it was soon lost in the mists of history. She wrote it to right a wrong. She wrote it to call attention to crimes society sometimes commits against its own.
Sure, it bogs down occasionally. With her attorney’s penchant for thoroughness, she sometimes tells us more about a minor character than is necessary for the story. But each tidbit becomes a part of the story that enriches, rather than encumbers it.
You read how she meticulously builds her case, and by the end of the book, you realize that you should have expected no less.
I really enjoyed this book.
March 26, 2015
Excelente!
Esta historia de la manera que está narrada y por su contenido hístorico nos lleva a identificarnos con su protagonista hasta el punto de sentir en carne propia su desgracia. La recomiendo para todos aquellos que como yo nos manifestamos en contra de la pena de muerte y para los que aún piensan que es correcto que el estado decida sobre si una persona merece morir como castigo.
Esta historia de la manera que está narrada y por su contenido hístorico nos lleva a identificarnos con su protagonista hasta el punto de sentir en carne propia su desgracia. La recomiendo para todos aquellos que como yo nos manifestamos en contra de la pena de muerte y para los que aún piensan que es correcto que el estado decida sobre si una persona merece morir como castigo.
October 26, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book. I like reading legal stories and I learned a lot about of Puerto Rico in the process. The author did an incredible amount of research for this book and it shows in the detail of the story.
August 29, 2016
Antonio's Will, A Story of Sacrifice, Love, Tragedy and Injustice, is a real life historical novel based on the first Hispanic to be executed in the United States by electric chair.
Dated around 100 years ago, a young man named Antonio Ponton left Puerto Rico to go to United States to be educated and have a profession worthy of pride for his parents. Unfortunately, his love for a woman brought a setback in his life and his destiny was changed drastically. His mental illness, the unfairness of a judicial system for a minority person living in the United States and the imposition of a death penalty system, returned him in a coffin to his grieving parents in Puerto Rico.
Throughout Antonio’s Will, we can perceive that not all prisoners serving a sentence are guilty. Injustice can be done when giving a death sentence to an innocent person or one who has a mental illness. There are also times where money, a name, a political or social position can influence a verdict.
I truly believe this book applies to anyone regardless of their sex, color, race or religion. What happened to Antonio could be the past history, present or future story of a son, brother, cousin, nephew, uncle or anyone else you may know.
Author Yasmin Tirado-Chiodini took her time in describing Antonio Ponton by reading and documenting his case, presenting arguments, evidence, witnesses and presenting his trial to the world to uncover his wrongful execution. Although I do feel that some of the historical, cultural background and specific information defining some characters that were irrelevant could have been left out, this never made me lose interest in my reading. The author skillfully maintains the pace, leading you to want to go more in-depth with the story.
After reading this fascinating book, I feel it is worthy of a making of a movie. Definitely, the book is an excellent read and I highly recommend it. I give it a 5 star!
Dated around 100 years ago, a young man named Antonio Ponton left Puerto Rico to go to United States to be educated and have a profession worthy of pride for his parents. Unfortunately, his love for a woman brought a setback in his life and his destiny was changed drastically. His mental illness, the unfairness of a judicial system for a minority person living in the United States and the imposition of a death penalty system, returned him in a coffin to his grieving parents in Puerto Rico.
Throughout Antonio’s Will, we can perceive that not all prisoners serving a sentence are guilty. Injustice can be done when giving a death sentence to an innocent person or one who has a mental illness. There are also times where money, a name, a political or social position can influence a verdict.
I truly believe this book applies to anyone regardless of their sex, color, race or religion. What happened to Antonio could be the past history, present or future story of a son, brother, cousin, nephew, uncle or anyone else you may know.
Author Yasmin Tirado-Chiodini took her time in describing Antonio Ponton by reading and documenting his case, presenting arguments, evidence, witnesses and presenting his trial to the world to uncover his wrongful execution. Although I do feel that some of the historical, cultural background and specific information defining some characters that were irrelevant could have been left out, this never made me lose interest in my reading. The author skillfully maintains the pace, leading you to want to go more in-depth with the story.
After reading this fascinating book, I feel it is worthy of a making of a movie. Definitely, the book is an excellent read and I highly recommend it. I give it a 5 star!
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January 19, 2016I am the author of this novel. This is not a review.
Antonio's Will is the result of many years of study that began with family history research. For those drawn to history, anthropology and mystery, genealogy can be a rewarding experience. It is a never-ending journey that can easily rescue a person from the typical routines of life, transporting him or her to the intriguing world of their ancestors. What seems like an "extended hobby" for many can absorb a great deal of our time, even years, as it has with me. We become investigators, history detectives; endlessly thirsty for the next clue, putting the pieces of many puzzles together, often at once. And sometimes we may not be prepared for what we uncover...
Antonio's Will is the result of many years of study that began with family history research. For those drawn to history, anthropology and mystery, genealogy can be a rewarding experience. It is a never-ending journey that can easily rescue a person from the typical routines of life, transporting him or her to the intriguing world of their ancestors. What seems like an "extended hobby" for many can absorb a great deal of our time, even years, as it has with me. We become investigators, history detectives; endlessly thirsty for the next clue, putting the pieces of many puzzles together, often at once. And sometimes we may not be prepared for what we uncover...
November 26, 2015
Very interesting book
Excellent for those who like history and non fiction books. Although probably necessary, the only thing I disliked is the extended details in some parts specifically when mentioning all people and entities supporting Antonio's pleads for mercy and detention of execution. Otherwise I enjoyed it very much.
Excellent for those who like history and non fiction books. Although probably necessary, the only thing I disliked is the extended details in some parts specifically when mentioning all people and entities supporting Antonio's pleads for mercy and detention of execution. Otherwise I enjoyed it very much.
Read
January 19, 2016I am the author of this novel. This is not a review.
Antonio's Will is the result of many years of study that began with family history research. For those drawn to history, anthropology and mystery, genealogy can be a rewarding experience. It is a never-ending journey that can easily rescue a person from the typical routines of life, transporting him or her to the intriguing world of their ancestors. What seems like an "extended hobby" for many can absorb a great deal of our time, even years, as it has with me. We become investigators, history detectives; endlessly thirsty for the next clue, putting the pieces of many puzzles together, often at once. And sometimes we may not be prepared for what we uncover...
Antonio's Will is the result of many years of study that began with family history research. For those drawn to history, anthropology and mystery, genealogy can be a rewarding experience. It is a never-ending journey that can easily rescue a person from the typical routines of life, transporting him or her to the intriguing world of their ancestors. What seems like an "extended hobby" for many can absorb a great deal of our time, even years, as it has with me. We become investigators, history detectives; endlessly thirsty for the next clue, putting the pieces of many puzzles together, often at once. And sometimes we may not be prepared for what we uncover...
August 19, 2022
A historical and emotional journey:
A friend of the author recommended the book and I am glad I decided to read it. A lot of historical detail, but it did not affected my experience.
A friend of the author recommended the book and I am glad I decided to read it. A lot of historical detail, but it did not affected my experience.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews