Pam Ferguson's transcribed variant of the Bloody Mary urban legend as collected by Lee Robinson. In this account, Ferguson describes the life, crimes, and death of Bloody Mary and goes on to offer the ritual that enables one to see Mary in a mirror.
Peggy Arnett's transcribed interview of Don Arnett about Paul Lindsey Island. According to Arnett, an outlaw stopped on that island and built a house. People in Merom, Indiana, heard that he'd been stealing horses and committing crimes, so they...
Letter to Theodore Debs, 04/15/1927. Says that it is a consolation to both him and Nicola Sacco that Theodore Debs is still alive and supporting them. Expresses the hope that Theodore Debs' optimistic attitude will prove right. Informs Theodore...
Westenhaver, D. C. (David Courtney), 1865-1928; Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926 -- Trials, litigation, etc.;
Letter to Unknown from Unknown, 08/26/1921. Writes that when D. C. Westenhaver confirmed Eugene V. Debs' conviction he acted on the assumption that "American citizens can be prosecuted for freely expressing their views on certain matters." Says...
Darrow, Clarence, 1857-1938; Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926; Haywood, Big Bill, 1869-1928; Western Federation of Miners;
Letter to Theodore Debs, 6/19/28. Says that he appreciated the articles Theodore Debs sent about William Haywood. Writes that Theodore Debs' impression of Haywood coincides with his own. Tells Theodore Debs that he knew Haywood well because while...
Letter to Eugene V. Debs, 3/26/1921. Asks that Eugene V. Debs consider taking up his case if he is released in the near future. Writes that he knows he will not be paroled unless he has help in convincing the board that he really does want to "make...
Jeff Skaggs's transcribed interview of James Skaggs about Jesse James. According to Skaggs, Jesse James went on a hunting trip and all of the men knew he was innocent of most of the crimes he was accused of.
Tom Telgemeyer's transcribed interview of June Clevenger about a jail legend from Clay County, Indiana. According to Clevenger, the old jail in Clay County was made of logs, and when people got arrested on Saturday nights for drinking and fighting,...
Dorothy Goldschmidt's transcribed interview of Mrs. John Goldschmidt about a prison legend. According to Goldschmidt, there was a prison where the prisoners were going missing. Officials said they were escaping, but when the prison yard was dug up...
Amy Meadlo's transcribed interview of Cecil Vaughn about Richar Speck's moonshine enterprise. According to Vaughn, Richard Speck made and sold his own moonshine while he was in prison. No one ever found his still.
Amy Meadlo's transcribed interview of Cecil Vaughn about John Wayne Gacy's art production line. According to Vaughn, Gacy would have other prisoners fill in spaces on paint-by-munber pictures. Gacy only signed his name to the pictures and then sold...
Amy Meadlo's transcribed interview of Harry Marsh about the Michigan City Electric Chair. According to Marsh, the inmate who built the electric chair ended up being the first sentenced to death in it.
Amy Meadlo's transcribed interview of Harry Marsh about "Poetic Justice." According to Marsh, in Texas many years ago sentences had to be delivered as poems and one judge made up interesting ones for death sentences.
Amy Meadlo's transcribed interview of Harry Marsh about the "three strikes" it took to kill a man. According to Marsh, there was an inmate somewhere who had to be electrocuted three times before he was pronounced dead.
Amy Meadlo's transcribed interview of an anonymous source about a drug raid in prison. According to this source, inmates would use anything to get high on in prison. Once several inmates had to be rushed to a hospital because they were on jimson...
Amy Meadlo's transcribed interview of Troy Allen Cobb about the Michigan City Electric Chair. According to Cobb, the electric chair in Michigan City is made from the tree that was used to hang prisoners.
Amy Meadlo's transcribed interview of an anonymous source about prison suicides. According to this source, inmate will find any way they can to commit suicide if they want to die badly enough.
Amy Meadlo's transcribed interview of an anonymous source about inmate murders in prisons. According to the source, one inmate killed another while they were working. The inmates didn't get along well, so one just killed the other and went on...
