The Informal Execution of Soupbone Pew
In Damon Runyon's short story, "The Informal Execution of Soupbone Pew," a group of gangsters in New York City's underworld are tasked with carrying out the execution of a man named Soupbone Pew. The gangsters, led by Big Nig, are determined to carry out the execution in a professional manner, but they soon find that Soupbone is not the typical criminal they are used to dealing with. He is a gentle, kind-hearted man who has been wronged by the criminal justice system. Despite their initial reluctance, the gangsters are eventually won over by Soupbone's charm and agree to let him go free. However, they still must carry out the execution, and so they devise a plan to make it look like Soupbone has been killed in a gangland shootout. In the end, Soupbone is able to escape and live a long and happy life, while the gangsters are left to ponder the morality of their actions.
By Damon Runyon · First published 1920 · Genre: Humor, Crime Fiction, Mystery