Drinking with his mates, Paul Misik, 33, a Hungarian immigrant, accidentally dropped some coins on the bar floor. Everyone bent down to pick them up. When all had been found Misik said, Theres 30 cents missing. He turned accusingly to Charlie OBrien and said, Youve got them!
The rest of the evening simmered in denials and hostility. Next morning Misik confronted OBrien at the stone quarry in Newington, Connecticut, where they both worked. OBrien, needled, said, Lay off it, or Ill punch you in the mouth.
Misik pulled out a handgun, shot OBrien dead and fled for the woods, hiding out for three days before hunger induced him to give himself up. He was hanged at Connecticut State Prison on Thursday, February 11th, 1904.