I am referring mainly to those pre WW 2, but any will suffice- and any nationality. I was trying to think of the ones that were the most vicious- as opposed to public legend portraying them as vicious.
The one who I think comes top is Baby Face Nelson. He seems quite mad.
What’s the debate, here?
Debate is who was the most psychopathic.
How are you defining psychopathy? And how are you assessing the degree of psychopathy?
I’d prefer to use Hare’s checklist. But that of course is a difficult test to administer to people who are dead. Psychopathy Checklist - Wikipedia
Well I wish I could spell in the title- is it possible for a Mod to repair my damage?
I think I am looking at the most blood thirsty/ vicious/ nor sense of regret for harm or worry about human life. Very loose I know. As is the term gangster.
My vote is for Bugs…
-XT
Oh, please, keep it the way it is. I love the word “psychopathetic” - murderously crazy and utterly hapless is a great combination!
Then it would be Pretty Boy. Just don’t call him that to his face.
I liked his portrayal in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” A loon with a Tommy Gun.
Well, I gotta nominate Murder, Inc. member Abe “Kid Twist” Reles, as long as we’re staying pre-WW2.
Wasn’t that George “Baby Face” Nelson?
“Oh, George, not the livestock!”
Britain can claim the Kray Brothers, who were seriously messed up: Kray twins - Wikipedia
The Krays were spoofed to good effect by Monty Python as Doug and Dinsdale, the Piranha Brothers: Piranha Brothers - Wikipedia
Why yes, you are correct. He was crazy, too.
Most psychopathic killer pre-WWII - my vote would go to H.H. Holmes, a 19th century serial murderer who had an entire apartment building constructed in Chicago with features that would aid him in doing away with girlfriends and tenants. Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, armed robber/killer/kidnapper/F.B.I. Public Enemy #1 also has to garner substantial votes (he has an additional footnote in infamy for being the convict to whom Charles Manson bragged that he would become bigger than the Beatles).
Most psychopathetic killer: this is a bit post-WWII, but William Heirens, serial killer deserves recognition. He’s the one who wrote in lipstick on the bathroom mirror of one of his victims “For Heaven’s sake catch me before I kill more. I cannot control myself.”
For those interested in “notable quotes” from serial killers, here’s a good collection. Richard Ramirez seems to have some of the best ones.
This charmer is certainly in the running. I’d probably give him the nod based on his mugshot alone.
No love for Dutch Schultz?
“Dutch Schultz was ugly; he had been drinking and suddenly he had his gun out. The Dutchman wore his pistol under his vest, tucked inside his pants, right against his belly. One jerk at his vest and he had it in his hand. All in the same quick motion he swung it up, stuck it in Jules Martin’s mouth and pulled the trigger. It was as simple and undramatic as that — just one quick motion of the hand. The Dutchman did that murder just as casually as if he were picking his teeth.”
“When Davis later read a newspaper story about Martin’s murder, he was shocked to find out that the body was found on a snow bank with a dozen stab wounds to the chest. When Davis asked Schultz about this, the boss dead-panned, ‘I cut his heart out.’”
Read his last words for some real lunacy.
Not quite as disturbing as Albert Fish, though.
Still, I liked this line from your link:
“Sam DeStefano suffered from malignant narcissism.”
Huh. If “malignant narcissism” is a major indicator of psychopathy, at least half of all Dopers need emergency intervention. :eek:
I just came in here to see what a psychopathetic killer was. 
Jeez, I was going to nominate John Wesley Hardin, but all he did was kill a dozen or so people before he was out of his teens. He doesn’t quite measure up against some of the other people mentioned.
Hardin certainly would be fun to have at a dinner party.
Anaamika- if you find out what a psychopathetic killer is please let me know.
They are the only people who can commit murder by passive-aggression.
