Crime

Willett’s Bewitched Cat The spirit of executed murdered Louis WIllett was said to possess his beloved cat.

The Broom Corn Seed Funeral Swindle Who among us has not fantasized wistfully about faking their own death and disappearing? Some amusing and instructive stories of vintage insurance fraud from my files.

Lizzie Seems Lonesome Tonight Lizzie Borden–or an unknown suspect–took an axe to her father and stepmother on this day in 1892. Immediately afterwards Andrew Borden returned via spirit medium, with a detailed description of the murderer.

Monsieur de Paris’s Orchid Buttonhole A profile of the next-to-last public execution of France, Louis Deibler.

Enough Rope: The Hangman’s Rope in the Press The hangman’s rope was a subject of absorbing interest to the 19th century reading public, judging by the loving details about material, quality, and pedigree of rope as reported in the papers.

Poisoned by a Blotter A young woman is nearly killed by a blotter soaked in poisonous perfume.

The Goblin Jacket A strange, but pointless manifestation of a murdered fisherman: his jacket floating in a pond in Barbados.

Dr. Armstrong and the Assassin The strange link between Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth and an Episcopalian priest

Ordering a Funeral for Mother A devoted son orders a lavish funeral for his mother–who is not dead and declines the festivities.