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42. A Hitman’s Hobby
Finding ways to pass the time.
Illustration of Tommy Gibbs by Ann Kiernan for Bellingcat
Puzzle by Peter Barth, Bellingcat. Part of the The Forgotten Files series.
The murdered alleged Texas hitman Tommy Gibbs is known mostly for his lengthy criminal record, alleged underworld dealings, and brutal demise. But a prison newspaper offers us a surprising glimpse at his reputation among his peers.
Large volumes of old newspapers and historic documents have been digitized and are available online. If you’re lucky and you look hard enough, many of these are freely available. Sometimes, they contain colorful details about your research subjects that aren't available in other forms of public records.
He had a particular skill that earned him points with his fellow inmates in the 1960s.
What was his hobby?