"I'm Fit As A Fiddle & Ready To Hang" Kenneth Neu chortled, seconds before the executioner's noose was slipped around his neck. The aspiring nightclub singer performed his last virtuoso performance for assembled reporters and photographers and then went to his death seemingly happier than he had been in many years. Like many other unemployed young men during the Great Economic Depression of the 1930’s, Neu dreamed of striking it big as an entertainer. However, his aspirations were coloured by a history of mental illness; Neu had been confined to the Georgia State Mental Home for a time.

Advertising himself (perhaps with more enthusiasm than accuracy) as an accomplished singer and dancer, 25-year-old Neu pestered Manhattan's top nightclub owners for a job. He claimed to be a multi-talented performer, but the few bookings he was given did not lead to fame or fortune and he barely made enough to pay for food and accomodation.

On September 2nd, 1933, Neu's fortunes were at a low ebb. He was broke and wandering Times Square when he met a middle-aged man named Lawrence Shead. The stranger listened sympathetically to the story of his thwarted career ambitions; then said that he was the owner of a string of theatres in Paterson, New Jersey and invited Neu up to his room for drinks. He implied that they were going to discuss show business - but Neu soon realised that Shead really desired to entice him into a homosexual tryst.

He knocked Shead to the floor, hit him over the head with an iron and strangled him to death. Afterwards, he cleaned himself up, took a shower, put on one of Shead's best suits and took the dead man’s wallet. It contained enough cash to get him to New Orleans.

A week later Neu was again looking for work as a singer. Always popular with women, he had used his charms to seduce a waitress named Eunice Hotte, promising to take her to New York. "We'll have a big time in the big town" he promised. Only one thing was missing - a fresh bankroll to finance the journey.

Neu pawned his watch and bought a blackjack with the proceeds. He used it on Sheffield Clark, Sr., a Nashville businessman. Earlier, Neu had attempted to blackmail Clark (presumably threatening to expose potentially embarrassing sexual activities) at the Yung Hotel. When Clark refused to give in to his demands, Neu used more direct (and lethal) methods.

After disposing of Clark’s body, Neu took his victim's car and $300. He and Eunice Hotte then set off to New York - but they never arrived because Neu made a fatal mistake. Not content to rely upon speed of relocation and the probability that nobody was looking out for Clark’s vehicle, Neu removed the license plates and pasted a handwritten sign on the back that read: "New Car In Transit." This illegal measure caught the eyes of the New Jersey Police; they pulled him over. The officers became immediately suspicious because Neu offered confusing and contradictory explanations for using the sign. They took the couple to a police station.

Detectives connected Neu with the death of Lawrence Shead and questioned him at length. To their surprise, he not only confessed to the murder, but seemed to find the entire thing amusing. "Sure I killed him" Neu said (with a grin) "This is his suit I'm wearing now." He also admitted, with equal good humour, to killing Clark. Neu was extradited to Louisiana to stand trial. Doubts were expressed about his sanity, but he was judged fit to stand trial. Deliberations began on December 12th, 1933; he was eventually convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to die on the gallows. As he was led out of the courtroom Neu sang “Sweet Rosie O'Grady”.

He was hanged on February 1st, 1935 - after singing to the journalists who were there to report on his death, Neu serenaded his executioners with a selection of personal favorites from his own musical repertoire.