Oscar Eugene Brewster

Traci George“I hate stupidity in myself and others.” -Brewster

Life Factso Had 5 daughters (4 before crime, 1 after)o Was the youngest of 5o Mother died in childbirtho Was raised by his widowed aunt and bachelor uncleo Went to school in a one room school houseo Father forbid him from attending high schoolo Had a genius iqo Read the dictionary and encyclopedia for funo Contracted Rheumatic fever before attempting to leave to

serve in the Army during WW2o Raised fighting chickens and fought them in all

50 stateso Got a high school diploma in jailo Worked as a law clerk after paroleo Was a well known Union Representative

All Crimes Convicted Of:Crime Date(s) Location Victim(s) Punishmen

t

2nd Degree Murder*

Nov. 19, 1953

Sewickley, PA

John Dziekonski

8-16 years

Multiple Misdemeanors**(Considered Parole Violations)

Multiple PA/WV/OH/VA

N/A ~ 10 years(Off of original 8-16 year sentence)

*2nd Degree Murder- “1) an intentional killing that is not premeditated or planned, nor committed in a reasonable "heat of passion"; or 2) a killing caused by dangerous conduct and the offender's obvious lack of concern for human life”

**Misdemeanors- “a minor wrongdoing”

Most Recent Crime: 2nd Degree Murder (1953)

The murder was played off as a “robbery gone wrong”

Was supposedly “filling in” for the original collector of money

Was doing a “favor” for the mafia No one would admit to police their

ties to organized crime, hence his short prison sentence

“The Untold Story”

Other guy (Eugene Walls) was convicted of 1st degree murder* and was sentenced to life in prison!

*1st degree Murder- “the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arson”

Evidence of Most Recent Crime:

Stolen car used as a get away in murder was found

Witness named him Confesses to being there- but claims

he was drunk on wine Gun used was in his name Spotted buying gas in stolen car

Sentencing 8-16 years (1955) Served in Allegheny County Workhouse Was given parole after 1/3rd of sentence was

served

Anomie Theory I believe that my criminal falls under the anomie theory. I think this because he was trying to raise a healthy family, 4 kids and a wife, at the time and could simply just not make ends meet. He had suffered many downfalls in his childhood- his mother dying, and his father disliking him. I believe those childhood problems pushed him into the wrong crowd: the mafia. He was trying to raise his family and make money through legitament means and was offered an easier way in a time of struggle. Even though he knew the crime was wrong, and even later admits to the crime, he took the opportunity in a time of weakness. Claiming he was drunk when he accepted the offer and simply not admitting to his mafia ties was what got him a light sentence in his struggle. His “norms” would be considered weak because of his broken childhood and alcoholism. He directly fits the anomie theory by being exactly like our example of blue hoodie guy; he tried to meet his goals in legal manners but when he could not he accept an illegal offer.

Cultural References

Books:Crimetown U.S.A.: The History of the Mahoning Valley Mafia: Organized Crime Activity in Ohio's Steel Valley 1933-1963 TV shows and Movies: None