Today’s guest is author Jeffrey D. Simon, author of several books about terrorism and a former RAND analyst who also taught at UCLA. As a guest on Fact or Fiction, Jeff has agreed to share some of the highlights from his most recent book, The Bulldog Detective: William J. Flynn and America’s First War Against the Mafia, Spies, and Terrorists. Flynn’s career provides a fascinating glimpse into early 20th century crimes and detective methods, and his character is one of the most interesting of the era.
As always, Jeff will infuse one fictional detail into this unbelievable but factual story. Will I guess the fiction? Will you? Listen carefully, because it’stricky to know if something is fact or fiction. Ready to play?
The Bulldog Detective by Jeffrey D. SimonAdvertisement for series of short films described as being incidents in the career of William J. Flynn, who at the time was the director of the U.S. Bureau of Investigation, on page 13 of the January 3, 1920 Exhibitors Herald. Wikimedia Commons.Attorney-General Alexander Mitchell Palmer (left) with William J “Chief” Flynn (right) is head of the Bureau of investigation of the Department of Justice and Francis P. Garvan (center). Wikimedia Commons.
St. Louis was a rapidly growing frontier town in 1849. That year, the city experienced a great fire that destroyed the city’s business district, an epidemic of cholera that decimated the population, and a steady influx of would-be miners on their way to the California hills. Also, there was a sensational murder and an equally sensational trial.
Christopher Allen Gorden, author of Fire, Pestilence, and Death: St. Louis 1849, is this episode’s special guest. Listen and learn more about St. Louis in the pivotal year of 1849. Of course, since the show is called Fact or Fiction, Christopher will include one fictional detail in the story. Will I guess the fiction? Will you?
Listen carefully because it’s tricky to know if something is fact or fiction. Ready to play?
Satirical image of an independent gold hunter on his way to California. Wikimedia Commons.This daguerreotype created by Thomas Easterly in 1849 shows the devastation of the St. Louis riverfront after the Great Fire of 1849. Image courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society Collections.This 1960 watercolor by George Conroy depicts John Finn digging graves on Arsenol Island during the cholera pandemic of 1849. Image courtesy of Missouri Historical Society Collections.1940 image of the National Hotel in St. Louis where the Montesque brothers shot multiple people. Image courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society Collections.Select the image to purchase your own copy of the book and learn about St. Louis in the pivotal year of 1849.
Nicknamed “Liquor Island,” Long Island was a center for bootlegging and rumrunning for the New York metropolitan area during Prohibition. Amy Kasuga Folk’s book Rumrunners of Suffolk County: Tales from Liquor Island shares highlights from her book and inserts a fictional detail in her four choices at the end of the episode. Will you identify the fiction? Will I?
Listeners will be astonished by what they learn, and it’s mostly true!
Click on the image above to purchase Amy’s book.Illustration of Rumrunners from the Asbury Park Press, 14 Jan 1980, Mon · Page 11. Newspapers.com.
In the late nineteenth century, West was wild all the way back to the Mississippi River. Only a day’s walk from the progressive big city of St. Louis, rural Jefferson County citizens were struggling with an outbreak of thefts, arson, and more. Mack Marsden, successful livestock trader and family man, was accused of being involved. After Mack was shot and killed, there remained lingering doubts. Was he a criminal, or was he wrongly accused?
Author Joe Johnston tells the fascinating story he uncovered while researching The Mack Marsden Murder Mystery. Of course, he inserts one fiction into this unbelievable but true story.
The following images are courtesy of Joe Johnston.
Covered Bridge over Sandy CreekA side view of the Sandy Creek covered bridgeMack MarsdenSheriff WeaverRichard and Elizabeth MarsdenR. W. McMullin, the editor and publisher of the DemocratDrawing of the Hillsboro jail
Click on the title to purchase The Mack Marsden Murder Mystery.Author Joe Johnston
From 1848 to 1881, a small utopian colony in upstate New York—the Oneida Community—was known for its shocking sexual practices, from open marriage and free love to the sexual training of young boys by older women. And in 1881, a one-time member of the Oneida Community—Charles Julius Guiteau—assassinated President James Garfield in a brutal crime that shook America to its core.
Susan Wels, author of An Assassin in Utopia, shares this interwoven tale. Of course, she inserts one fiction into this unbelievable but true story. Will I recognize the fiction within the facts? Will you?
The Oneida community members lived and worked together in ways we might find shocking by today’s standards. Wikimedia CommonsJohn Humphrey Noyes was the founder of the Oneida Community. Wikimedia CommonsImage shows Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated President James Garfield. Wikimedia CommonsThis poster advertises Horace Greeley for President. Wikimedia CommonsNewspaper owner and editor Horace Greeley sponsored Utopian communities. Wikimedia CommonsPresident James Garfield was the 20th president of the United States of America. Wikimedia CommonsThis image shows Major Pauline Cushman, Union spy and friend of future president Jame Garfield. Wikimedia CommonsThis drawing illustrates the aftermath of the assassination of President James Garfield. Wikimedia CommonsIn addition to writing An Assassin in Utopia, Susan Wels has developed a discussion guide for book clubs wishing to study An Assassin in Utopia. Click on her picture to learn more.You can click on the book cover here to learn how to purchase your own copy of An Assassin in Utopia.
James Brockman rose from shady character to preeminent defense attorney in Houston, Texas representing clients including gang leaders, jilted spouses, wealthy storekeepers and drunken on-duty policemen. His career gained national recognition, including his involvement in the most famous American murder case of the young twentieth century, when he himself was murdered leaving a dubious legacy.
Houston historian Mike Vance’s book Getting Away with Bloody Murder examines Brockman, the criminals he defended, and the crimes they allegedly committed. In this episode, Vance shares several riveting stories from his book. As always on the show, he inserts one fictional detail. Try to identify what he made up, but be warned: it’s not easy to know if something is fact or fiction.
All images courtesy of Mike Vance.
J. B. Brockman was a successful defense attorney in Houston until he himself was murdered.Henry Kahn and J. B. Brockman were law partners in Houston, Texas in the early 1900s.Lawyer Albert Patrick, shown here after his release from prison, was convicted of murdering William Marsh Rice.Click on the book cover to purchase your copy of Mike’s book, learn more about Mike and his other projects, and check out the merchandise on his store.
In this episode, authors Victoria Cosner and Lorelie Shannon share a mostly-true story from their book Missouri’s Murderous Matrons. Emma Heppermann, a black widow killer, and Bertha Gifford, an angel of mercy killer, used arsenic to murder unsuspecting family and friends for decades. The story of how they managed to evade discovery is unbelievable. As always, these authors insert one fiction into our discussion. Try to identify what they made up, but be warned: it’s not easy to know if something is fact or fiction.
All images below are courtesy of Victoria Cosner.
Lorelei and Victoria at a book signing eventClick on the image to purchase this book.Tony Heppermann’s grave–he was not buried with Emma.Emma Heppermann, potato soup maker and poisonerCo-authors and friends Victoria Cosner and Lorelei ShannonRenz Farm prison was a working farm. Emma was incarcerated here before she was transferred to a facility in Fulton, MOClose view of the unmarked grave of Emma Hepperman in Fulton, MO.Grave next to unmarked grave of Emma Heppermann in Fulton, MO.
On Christmas Eve of 1900, someone got away with murder. Frank Richardson, wealthy business owner and family man, was shot as he entered his home. Although many people may have wanted him dead, the crime has remained unsolved to this day. Kimberly Tilley, author of Has it Come to This? The Mysterious, Unsolved Murder of Frank Richardson tells us the mostly-true story about Frank Richardson and his murder. She inserts one fiction into this unbelievable story. Try to identify what she made up, but be warned: it’s not easy to know if something is fact or fiction.
Frank Richardson was trying to turn his life around when he was murdered on Christmas Eve.Addie Richardson was an attractive woman.
Bessie worked for the Richardsons and lived in their home.Young Stewart Fife was the attractive son of Frank’s business partner.
The Richardson’s home and the scene of Frank’s murder.
Note: All of the above images are taken from Has It Come to This? by Kimberly Tilley.
Litigator and author Cecil Kuhne shares a mostly-true story about Rudolph Ivanovich Abel, the subject of his book KGB Man: The Cold War’s Most Notorious Soviet Agent and the First to be Exchanged at the Bridge of Spies. Abel was captured by the FBI in 1957 after an inept colleague betrayed him to the US. Abel’s trial, his conviction, and his eventual exchange across the Glienicker Brücke (the “Bridge of Spies”) for US pilot Frances Gary Powers is a riveting story that will leave listeners questioning what is fact and what is fiction.
Click on the book cover for a link to purchase KGB Man.
The London Evening Standard, 1962, Feb 10, p. 1.Frankel, Max. (1962, February 11). Analysts Seek Meaning In Exchange of Spies. The Decator Daily Review, p. 1.Photo of Rudolph Abel. Axelbank, Jay. (1965, May 5). Russ Admit Abel Spying But Do Not Mention US. The Sacramento Bee, p. 14.
A map of the location of the Bridge of Spies. The London Evening Standard, 1962, Feb 10, p. 1.
Today’s guest, Connie Yen, is the author of Sinner and Savior: Emma Molloy and the Graham Murder, the true story of an 1886 murder in Greene County known as “The Graham Tragedy.” In 1886, the nude body of Sarah Graham was found in a well on the Molloy property. Subsequent investigations uncovered a bigamous marriage and other allegedly scandalous happenings in the home of temperance advocate Emma Molloy. Connie shares the (mostly-true)
details of this fascinating story. Listen carefully because it’s not easy to know what’s fact and what’s fiction!
Evangelist and temperance advocate Emma MolloyThe Molloy farm in Greene County, MissouriLetter written by Emma Molloy to George Graham after she discovered proof he was a bigamist
Author and Historian Connie Yen
References
Emma’s Escapes. (1886, March 25). The Leavenworth Weekly Times, p. 5.
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