Online Reporter
CONNECTICUT. – Francis Clifford Smith was given his last meal eight times.
But after being spared execution each time, he went on to be regarded as the longest serving prisoner in the US before dying in June at 101 years old.
Convicted of murder in 1950 when he was 25, he always maintained his innocence, those who knew him told the BBC.
Andrius Banevicius, the public information officer for Connecticut’s Department of Correction, recounted how Smith used to feed the birds while in Osborn prison, earning him the nickname The Birdman of Osborn.
“He would stuff as much bread as he could . . . in his clothing,” Banevicius said, adding: “Everyone kind of turned a blind eye to it because they knew he was just feeding the birds.”
Smith was a young petty criminal when he was accused in 1949 of the murder of Grover Hart, a night watchman at a Connecticut yacht club. He was one of two men who were arrested over the killing but the other took a plea deal and gave evidence against Smith, who was later found guilty of first-degree murder.
Smith’s guilt and the evidence on which he was convicted have been questioned over the years – namely after witnesses recanted their statements and another inmate later confessed to the murder. – BBC
