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Killing the Poormaster: The Depression-Era Murder That Put America's Welfare System on Trial
2013 NJCH Award Winner
On February 25, 1938, Hoboken’s reviled poormaster, Harry Barck—wielding power over who received public aid—died. Barck was murdered, the prosecution would assert, by an unemployed mason named Joe Scutellaro. In denying Scutellaro money, Barck had suggested that the man’s wife prostitute herself rather than ask the city for aid. The men scuffled. Scutellaro insisted Barck fell on his own paper spike; the police claimed he grabbed the spike and stabbed Barck in the heart. A team led by celebrated attorney Samuel Leibowitz of “Scottsboro Boys” fame argued that Scutellaro’s struggle with the poormaster was a symbol of larger social ills. The issues examined in Killing the Poormaster —massive unemployment, endemic poverty, and the inadequacy of public assistance—remain vital today.
On February 25, 1938, Hoboken’s reviled poormaster, Harry Barck—wielding power over who received public aid—died. Barck was murdered, the prosecution would assert, by an unemployed mason named Joe Scutellaro. In denying Scutellaro money, Barck had suggested that the man’s wife prostitute herself rather than ask the city for aid. The men scuffled. Scutellaro insisted Barck fell on his own paper spike; the police claimed he grabbed the spike and stabbed Barck in the heart. A team led by celebrated attorney Samuel Leibowitz of “Scottsboro Boys” fame argued that Scutellaro’s struggle with the poormaster was a symbol of larger social ills. The issues examined in Killing the Poormaster —massive unemployment, endemic poverty, and the inadequacy of public assistance—remain vital today.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 13, 2014
Great local history vividly demonstrates just how a patronage system evolves, becomes established, and motivates entire populations through fear rather than principle. The fact that it is the history of my small city (Hoboken in the 1930s focusing on 1 murder trial) and many of the targets are Italian immigrants and/or those guarantors of feee speech makes this daughter of Italy and ex publishing person squirm throughout the entire read. I seriously had to work to calm down before going to sleep.
This may be a familiar (local as in Hoboken) subject for me, but it just shows how the same nasty tactics (let's keep the population afraid and better yet, unemployed and uneducated) work everywhere, time and time again.
June 22, 2013
Thanks to goodreads and the publisher for this First Reads giveaway!
I enjoyed reading this account "Poormaster" Barck's death, but it was one-sided (even though I agree with the side taken). It's worth a read!
I enjoyed reading this account "Poormaster" Barck's death, but it was one-sided (even though I agree with the side taken). It's worth a read!
October 16, 2014
While this book was not a page turner it was very interesting. The author does a great job portraying Hoboken, NJ during and after the depression.
July 27, 2018
Interesting true story about life during the depression. Particularly interesting to be as I live in the area (hoboken/jersey city) where the story takes place, so it might be less captivating for those unfamiliar with the place. But still a good glimpse into the era.
April 4, 2018
It's a true story about a murder in Hoboken from 1938. It's like if Making a Murderer was set in Hoboken.
March 25, 2017
Learned a lot about the welfare system in the 1930s. And it is always saddening to read about injustice. So much about injustice in the political arena especially, this time in New Jersey.
February 22, 2017
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting story about the death/murder of a poormaster in Hoboken, New Jersey during the height of the Depression. But at its heart the book isn't so much about the death as it is about the political and societal landscape that directly impacted the lives of people suffering through the Great Depression and the corruption that existed during that time.
At times the book did jump around a bit in focus, changing to different timelines and focusing on different people. But the author's meticulous research merited a four star review rather than the three star review I would have otherwise given it (three stars for me being middle of the road - a good read). I would recommend this book to anybody who likes to read about the circumstances surrounding the lives of people during the Great Depression, or is interested in 20th century history.
This was an interesting story about the death/murder of a poormaster in Hoboken, New Jersey during the height of the Depression. But at its heart the book isn't so much about the death as it is about the political and societal landscape that directly impacted the lives of people suffering through the Great Depression and the corruption that existed during that time.
At times the book did jump around a bit in focus, changing to different timelines and focusing on different people. But the author's meticulous research merited a four star review rather than the three star review I would have otherwise given it (three stars for me being middle of the road - a good read). I would recommend this book to anybody who likes to read about the circumstances surrounding the lives of people during the Great Depression, or is interested in 20th century history.
October 7, 2014
Certainly recommended for anyone with an interest in Hoboken history, but should also appeal to fans of vintage true crime, courtroom dramas and students of the old city-boss system and the struggles of immigrants trying to get by. In 1938, Hoboken poormaster (then the title for the person in charge of relief efforts) Harry Barck died in his office, after a struggle with resident Joe Scutellaro. Was it an accident... or was it murder? Using a variety of primary sources, Holly Metz meticulously walks us through the case, painting a detailed portrait of a corrupt Depression-era town and a working-class family suddenly thrust into the headlines. Especially compelling are court transcripts of Samuel Leibowitz, the famed New York lawyer who crosses the Hudson to defend Scutellaro.
In a break in the trial, Metz introduces us to Herman Matson, a local activist who tried to organize the unemployed -- and was harshly beaten for his efforts. In a work of fiction, Scutellaro and Matson's tales would eventually overlap (adjoining cells or the like). But here, Matson's story just gives us a fuller understanding of the mood of the day, and the us vs. them dynamic of the law and those desperately in need of food, money, and work.
All in all, Killing the Poormaster is a book that very much still resonates today. People continuing to struggle after an economic collapse is obviously a fresh concern. Union-busting is unfortunately more true now than in many decades. And as for corruption: same as it ever was. More than 75 years later, the trial of Joe Scutellaro reminds us to look out for each other when hard times bring things to a boil.
In a break in the trial, Metz introduces us to Herman Matson, a local activist who tried to organize the unemployed -- and was harshly beaten for his efforts. In a work of fiction, Scutellaro and Matson's tales would eventually overlap (adjoining cells or the like). But here, Matson's story just gives us a fuller understanding of the mood of the day, and the us vs. them dynamic of the law and those desperately in need of food, money, and work.
All in all, Killing the Poormaster is a book that very much still resonates today. People continuing to struggle after an economic collapse is obviously a fresh concern. Union-busting is unfortunately more true now than in many decades. And as for corruption: same as it ever was. More than 75 years later, the trial of Joe Scutellaro reminds us to look out for each other when hard times bring things to a boil.
June 4, 2013
An excellent and AMAZINGLY depressing book on the hardships and injustices inflicted upon the poor and unemployed during the Great Depression, and specifically how it drove an otherwise good man to kill a corrupt government worker.
A lot of books focus on the hardship itself, but history often forgets the corruption within city politics, and the hardships suffered not only by the poorest of the poor, but also by skilled professionals, who simply didn't have the connections needed to find steady work.
It's a sad section of American History that hopefully we'll never repeat, but what's truly scary is how willing both the municipal and federal government were to allow them to happen.
All that said, read at your own risk. You will NOT be in a good mood afterwards.
A lot of books focus on the hardship itself, but history often forgets the corruption within city politics, and the hardships suffered not only by the poorest of the poor, but also by skilled professionals, who simply didn't have the connections needed to find steady work.
It's a sad section of American History that hopefully we'll never repeat, but what's truly scary is how willing both the municipal and federal government were to allow them to happen.
All that said, read at your own risk. You will NOT be in a good mood afterwards.
December 24, 2014
An accidental death by an unfortunate of society? A depraved murder by a desperate man? In the grips of the Great Depression this tale of a court case is a real as the events of America in 2014. Laying bare the true destitute state that american society is in at the time the author details a tale of a court case tried in a corrupt system, in the press, & on the streets simultaneously. Is justice served? It is per those who get something from it, but perhaps not by the system itself. "Boardwalk Empire" meets the modern press in this tale of murder, those deemed "unimportant by society", & corrupt political machines.
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December 24, 201480 years old & as current as ever
An accidental death by an unfortunate of society? A depraved murder by a desperate man? In the grips of the Great Depression this tale of a court case is a real as the events of America in 2014. Laying bare the true destitute state that american society is in at the time the author details a tale of a court case tried in a corrupt system, in the press, & on the streets simultaneously. Is justice served? It is per those who get something from it, but perhaps not by the system itself. "Boardwalk Empire" meets the modern press in this tale of murder, those deemed "unimportant by society", & corrupt political machines.
An accidental death by an unfortunate of society? A depraved murder by a desperate man? In the grips of the Great Depression this tale of a court case is a real as the events of America in 2014. Laying bare the true destitute state that american society is in at the time the author details a tale of a court case tried in a corrupt system, in the press, & on the streets simultaneously. Is justice served? It is per those who get something from it, but perhaps not by the system itself. "Boardwalk Empire" meets the modern press in this tale of murder, those deemed "unimportant by society", & corrupt political machines.
March 4, 2014
The more things change the more they stay the same. Hoboken, NJ in the 1930's. An economic recession, a political machine more concerned with consolidating power than helping its downtrodden citizens, and derision for the able-bodied poor. All of this is told around the story of a desperate man, whose children are starving, stands accused of killing the Poormaster (the job title alone is disturbing. It is not an easy read, but well worth the effort.
February 1, 2013
I thought this was well done. It was nice to read a history book that was very narrow in its focus and stayed true to that focus. I think the author did a nice job of conveying a snapshot of a particular part of the 1930s. And there was legal stuff, which is always my bag.
June 1, 2013
Set in 1938-9 in Hoboken NJ, a downtrodden immigrant is put on trial for the death of the machine connected man in charge of distributing aid to the poor. This fascinating little book is an indictment of those politicians who seem to think that the poor are poor because they choose to be.
April 6, 2013
This book was well written; some authors have trouble understanding the views of different groups but Metz was able to relate the struggles of all types of people. I found the inner struggles of the key players to be believable and drew me more into the story. The book was hard to put down.
December 20, 2014
What I really liked about this book and the way that I judge crime books in general was the fact that I was not sure which way the verdict was going to go and I really interested in the outcome. This book hit on all cylinders. A really nice read.
September 5, 2015
A true crime and history page-turner. Killing the Poormaster has one of the most riveting opening scenes of any nonfiction book. Meticulous research throughout gives one sense of what it was like to live in the nearly insular city of Hoboken during hard times.
July 17, 2013
A good and well researched look at corruption and how it affected the lives of Italian-Americans in the great depression in Hoboken.
November 28, 2014
Fascinating glimpse into my family history...my grandfather was the juror who held out for the manslaughter verdict.
March 18, 2014
A eye opening book about how "welfare" was doled out in Hoboken, NJ in the early part of the 20th century. Book is a highly factual account of the major political factions of the time.
June 5, 2014
An excellent story of what it meant to be poor in urban America during the depression and the greed and corruption at so many levels of society that went along with it!
April 29, 2015
started out strong, but drops off 1/3 way through. got bored and did not finish.
July 10, 2015
Interesting story full of injustice and political backscratching of the 1930's. It got a little slow for me in some parts but when Joe's trial starts I couldn't put it down.
December 9, 2015
Amazing story of the corruption in Hoboken (and more generally New Jersey) during the depression. Well written and very well researched.
November 26, 2016
We sure do not call these people "Poormasters" anymore. Could have used some more pictures, but the juiciness was over after the first page. The rest was filler.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews