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 · 5,817 words
First lines
What is it the Good Book says? I read it last night--it said: That he who sheddeth another man's blood by man shall his blood be shed! That's as fair as a man could ask it, who lives by the gun and knife--But the Law don't give him an even break when it's taking away his life.
Ho, the Law's unfair when it uses a chair, and a jolt from an unseen Death; Or it makes him flop to a six-foot drop and a rope shuts off his breath; If he's got to die let him die by the Book, with a Death that he can see. By a gun or knife, as he went through life, and both legs kicking free!--Songs of the "Shut-Ins"
What this Textopian page supports
The Informal Execution of Soupbone Pew is listed on Textopian as a short story by Damon Runyon, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Damon Runyon
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Noir
- Length: 5,817 words
- Structure: 1 section, 132 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Informal Execution of Soupbone Pew by Damon Runyon
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Humor — The title of the book implies a humorous story, and Damon Runyon is known for his humorous writing style.
- Crime Fiction — The title of the book implies a crime story, and Damon Runyon is known for his crime fiction writing.
- Mystery — The title of the book implies a mystery story, and Damon Runyon is known for his mystery writing.
- Noir — The title of the book implies a noir story, and Damon Runyon is known for his noir writing.
Tags
Damon Runyon · short stories · humor · New York City · gangsters · prohibition · crime · fiction · character study · dialogue · American literature · satire