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In The Wake Of The Butcher: Cleveland's Torso Murders

James Jessen Badal

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Jul 26, 2008 Lori rated it really liked it

Shelves: cleveland, true-crime

How many people outside of NE Ohio are aware that a wave of horrific unsolved crimes, rivaling -- if not exceeding -- the wave of terror committed by Jack The Ripper in Victorian London plagued Cleveland in the 1930s? The Torso Murders are up there in "unsolved crimes of the century" standing and are unresolved to this day.

An unknown killer, given the sobriquet "Butcher of Kingsbury Run" ran amok in a frenzy of violence between 1935 and 1938, when the killings stopped abruptly. The Butcher's wor How many people outside of NE Ohio are aware that a wave of horrific unsolved crimes, rivaling -- if not exceeding -- the wave of terror committed by Jack The Ripper in Victorian London plagued Cleveland in the 1930s? The Torso Murders are up there in "unsolved crimes of the century" standing and are unresolved to this day.

An unknown killer, given the sobriquet "Butcher of Kingsbury Run" ran amok in a frenzy of violence between 1935 and 1938, when the killings stopped abruptly. The Butcher's work may have begun in 1934 or even earlier and some researchers now include "The Lady of the Lake" whose remains washed ashore near Euclid Beach in autumn of that year as one of the Torso Murderer's first victims. Other evidence suggests similar murders were committed as far away as Erie, PA. Many theorize that the Butcher rode the rails during the lingering depression years and selected his victims because many were indigent and would not be quickly missed.

The photos in this book are horrific...and too much for me. However, I have always had a grim fascination with this case and have wondered why it does not receive more attention. Besides a compelling tale of unsolved murder this case also brings in a legendary crime fighter...none other than Elliot Ness. Ness was brought to Cleveland from Chicago after his success with nailing Al Capone, to serve as Safety Director. It was felt that someone of Ness's stature would show serious intent to solve these horrors as an anxious population waited in vain for answers.

The Butcher proved to be an arch nemesis for Ness. Ness received taunting correspondence as Safety Director from a person who claimed to be the killer (shades of the evil trickster, Jack the Ripper taunting Scotland Yard). Although Ness claimed knowlege of the Torso Killer's identity, he never had enough evidence to name names. This case would start a period of downward spiralling for Ness, whose star began to fade. Ness would eventually die in anonymity after descending into alcoholism.

If unsolved crime is your forte, it is hard to think of a more fascinating case. ...more

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