Paul Crump, 72; Former Death Row Inmate Wrote Novel

Paul Crump, 72, a former death row inmate whose novel “Burn, Killer, Burn,” described a murderer who commits suicide to avoid being executed, died Oct. 11 of pneumonia and lung cancer at Chester Mental Health Center in Chicago.

Crump had been held at the center since 2000 after being convicted of harassing a family member and violating an order of protection.

Crump served 39 years in prison for shooting a security guard to death during the robbery of a Chicago meatpacking plant in 1953.

His four accomplices received prison sentences, but Crump was sentenced to die in the electric chair and escaped 15 dates with the executioner.

The sentence was later changed to 119 years by Gov. Otto Kerner, and Crump was paroled in 1993.

While in prison, Crump was inspired by a visit from writer Nelson Algren and began reading classic literature. His novel was published in 1962.

Those who backed Crump’s efforts for parole, including the Rev. Billy Graham and gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, said the book proved that Crump had been rehabilitated. Crump was also the subject of a documentary by William Friedkin, director of “The Exorcist.”