On August 6, 1896, 56-year-old Frank Howard would leave his home at 1043 South Hill St. in Los Angeles, California. He told his family that he was going on a business trip to San Bernardino and the desert. He was last seen by a friend standing on a street corner waiting for a street car, He was not seen since.
On October 9, 1893, skeletal remains were found in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania near Wildwood. Two men hunting hops in a wooded area overgrown with brush would find the remains. That area was rarely used because of the brush. It was obvious that the man's body had been left there. He was lying straight with his arms by his sides. It was believed that he had been murdered around 6 months before.
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| small typo on image it's 1814 not 1914 |
On May 31, 1994, a skull (no mandible) was found by investigators during a drug search in Baldy Mesa, California. The skull was found in a cardboard box beneath a bed. It's suspected that the skull is a souvenir skull or possibly a museum or teaching specimen. There seemed to be a bullet hole on the right posterior parietal with a possible exit through the left orbit. Meaning it's possible that they are a murder victim, suicide victim, or casualty of war. Victim could have been dead for up to a 100 years.
On August 20, 1997, a canoeist found a human skull on the Moose Jaw River just south of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. The skull was exposed to the elements between 50 to 100 years. Meaning she may have died between 1890s to the 1940s.
The skull belonged to a preteen girl around 12-years-old. She may have possibly been white.On August 5, 1898, a woman was found washed up on the shore of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. She had a hitching weight such as what a drayman would use to fasten a horse's brittle. It was placed together with the body with a light chain wrapped around the body twice and fastened by prying a link open. She was partial as she was wearing a top and her underclothing it's not stated whether or not the water may have caused it to come off. She was dead for around a month. Her cause of death was undetermined, but it was believed that she was hit over the head and placed in the water alive where she drowned.
In 1896 New Castle, Delaware 19-year-old Edward Wright (colored) and 23-year-old Ida Crummell (colored) were sweethearts. It was said that the two were practically married and even got furniture together, but the relationship would sour by July. It's not stated why Ida wanted to separate from Edward, but Edward was furious. He confronted Ida when she was with Mrs. Boyer and told her along the lines if he can't go with her that he would kill her. Ida did not want anything to do with him. After this altercation, he went and bought a revolver to kill her with.
On July 30th Ida and Mrs. Boyer would go to the Wilmington and Northern Railroad Station on Water and French St. They had gone to see the colored excursion from Reading. While waiting for the train the two would walk to the P W & B station. This was when Edward would try to speak to Ida, but she would turn away and ignore him. The two would return to W&N.
Edward would leave and see Mr. Boyer and talk to him. He told him that he had a present for Ida and if he saw her tell her. He also told him that if he caught her with another man he would fix her.
After the excursion train arrived Ida, Mary Thomas, and Joe Welch would walk along the railroad to Market St. Mrs. Boyer was not with them because she went to look for her husband. Mrs. Boyer would pass by Edward who walking the same way Ida and her group was.
Edward would approach the group and call out to her. While Ida turned to her name being called Edward would shoot. The first bullet would hit her behind the ear and then the second would hit her in the forehead. She would fall down face first and as she lay there he would shoot her for the third time hitting her at the base of the brain. Edward would then walk away.
Captain Champers was in the vicinity and had her carried to Front and Market Streets. She would then be taken to Delaware Hospital where she would pass away as she passed through the doors.
Officers were quick to respond and found Edward near Water and Shipley Streets. He would be arrested for the murder. He had no remorse for the murder. After he was locked up he stated that he had killed her and planned on doing so since Saturday. He was extremely jealous and did not care to live without her. He was satisfied when he heard that she had died.
In September Edward would go to trial. He would plead guilty due to insanity. Witnesses would come forward saying in 1895 he became ill and afterward complained of pain in the head. On October 2nd he would be found guilty of first-degree murder and would be set to hang.
On January 1, 1897, Edward would hang at 10:30 a.m. He was welcoming to the execution as he wanted to be with Ida.
SOURCES:
The News Journal July 31, 1896
Delaware Gazette and State Journal January 7, 1897
In 1892 the body of a baby girl was found in a canal in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. They were buried in Opitz Cemetary in Mequon and it was paid by T. of Mequon on Mach 29, 1892.
On March 15, 1891, the body of an adult male was found on the beach of Bolinas Bay in Bolinas, California. The body was found by James Wilson and was badly decomposed. His cause of death is undetermined.
His race is unknown or unstated, but it was believed he was in his 40's. He was 5'10" with a stoat build. He had a purse contains $1.25 and several foreign coins (Unstated from where). He had papers with him, but they were unintelligible.
SOURCES:
On December 31, 1898 5-year-old Mary Jane Voller was sent to get a penny worth of linseed oil at a shop only across the street from her home in Barking, London, England. She left the home around 5:10 p.m. with a threepenny and was never seen alive again after that.
After 10 to 15 minutes Mrs. Voller who sent Mary on the errand got worried. The errand should have been quick and it shouldn't have taken this long. Mrs. Voller would ask Mr. Voller, but he believed she was overreacting. He didn't search for her and was trying to finish fixing Mary's shoes.
Mrs. Voller went and looked for her herself. She asked neighbors and went to the shop to ask if they'd seen the 5-year-old. The shopkeeper could not remember the girl as the family had only moved to the area weeks before. But when Mrs. Voller asked if a young girl buying linseed came in the answer was that no one had bought any since 2 that afternoon. This meant that no one had seen Mary, she never made it to the shop and had been taken young Mary within the 10 to 15 minutes she'd been gone. The family did a search was soon done on the streets for Mary.
Mr. Voller searched the streets with his father, and after finding no sign of his daughter they went to the police station. They hoped the girl had wandered off and was lost and reported that she was a lost child. A description of her was sent out across the country.
Mr. Voller would continue to search unfrequented places for his daughter. They would search abandoned houses and such. Going down Barking-Lane Mr. Voller went over to inspect a shed. Near the shed was a brook and his heart dropped when he saw something floating inside of it.
When they got close to the water the lantern blew out. Knowing there was something floating in the water Mr. Voller went into the water and searched the area blind on his hands and knees where he saw something floating. In his arms was the lifeless body of his daughter.
News soon spread of the discovery. Mr. Voller initially refused to move the body until the police came, but his wife convinced him to bring her home. The police and coroner met them at their home and it was obvious that the girl was brutally murdered.
Mary had been raped she had 2 punctures in her neck, one near her groin, and one on the inside of her left thigh. the wounds were accompanied by scratches and were believed to be done by a blunt object. These did not kill her and it was believed she drowned in the 3 feet. She did not have mud or such in her throat so it's believed she was unconscious or in shock when put in the water.
It's unknown who did this horrific murder to the young girl and will remain unsolved.
SOURCES:
The Standard January 4, 1899
The Essex County Standard Ect. January 7, 1899
The Weekly Standard and Express January 7, 1899
Lloyds Weekley Newspaper January 8, 1899
In 1894 Horace Cooper and Maggie Pitt were living together. He would ask her to marry him. She did not want to and would reject him. By November of 1894, Maggie would move out and would be living with a Perry Gibson in Cokesbury, Maryland. Horace would get angry at her thinking if she didn't choose him no one would have her. He would threaten to kill her several times.
On the night of November 17, 1894 Horrace would sneak into Perry's home in He would climb through a second-story window and would sneak into Maggie's room. She would wake up to Horrace and Perry would catch Horace with a gun pointed at Maggie. Perry would force Horace out of the home.
The next morning Horace would return wanting to finish what he wasn't able to do the night before. He would shoot Maggie three times. She was shot in the chest, abdomen, and thigh. Maggie would only live a few days.
After the shooting Horace would parade up and downtown threatening to kill anyone who dared arrest him. He would flee town and he would be caught in Columbia Pennsylvania by Harvey H. Mackey of Elkton. Horace would be tried for Maggie's murder. He would be found guilty and would be set to hang. On June 21, 1895, Horace would hang at the Elkton jail yard.
SOURCES:
The Baltimore Sun November 20, 1894
The Baltimore Sun November 21, 1894
The Cecil Whig November 24, 1894
The Baltimore Sun December 10, 1894
The Midland Journal December 14, 1894
The Cecil Whig December 15, 1894
The Cecil Whig May 4, 1895
The Baltimore Sun June 22, 1895
On August 2, 1891, 10-year-old Florence Sutton was home with her mother in Lake Creek Township, Carolina. His mother would send Florence to a neighbor to get a gallon of cider. James Johnson would visit their home.
Florence would come across John on the road and he would attack her. He would sexually assault the girl and strangled her to death. She would be reported missing that night. A search would be done for Florence and James, knowing they wouldn't find her, joined the search.
James was suspected (I couldn't find a reason why) so he was being carefully watched. He would quickly bury Florence in the woods. He would place the young girl face down in her grave. He buried her in such a shallow grave her foot stuck out.
On August 4th John would flee. He would be soon caught in Parkersburg about 10 miles from where Florence was murdered. A Mr. Parker saw John pass his place. He recognized him as being a wanted man and pursued and caught him. John would first deny that it was him and then he would confess that it was and allegedly confessed to the crime and indicated that Florence's father Albert and another man Lawson Bryant was involved.
There were talks of lynching him in Parkersburg, but it did not happen. He would be handed over to Balden and placed under a strong guard. It was found and believed that Albert and Lawson were not involved in the murder, so John was the only one put to trial.
James would plea guilty and was sentenced to death. He would be executed on December 11, 1891, in Elizabethtown.
SOURCES:
Legal Executions in North Carolina and South Carolina pg 38
Wilmington Morning Star August 4, 1891
The Wilmington Morning Star August 5, 1891
Fayetteville Weekly Observer August 6, 1891
The Ashville Weekly Citizen August 13, 1891
Greensboro North State August 13, 1891
The Weekly Star August 14, 1891
The Roxboro Courier November 12, 1891
In 1894 William Owens and his wife Mrs. Owens would fight. William would leave the neighborhood and come back on May 30th. He would then search for his wife and found her around 3p.m. working in a field with around 30 other African Americans in Nobel Lake, Arkansas.
William asked his wife to move back in with him again. She would refuse him and this angered him. He would point the gun at her and shot her once in the chest and once in the back. She would fall and he would pick up the hoe she was using and hit her twice in the head before breaking it. She was still alive and in agony and he would pick up a second hoe and would beat her head in with it. He would then escape.
He would then try to kill Grandville Simms, someone he had a grudge against. Grandville would take off his shoes and outrun William. William would then exhausted fall on a log. This allowed him to be caught.
William would be convicted and found guilty. He would be executed in 1895. He was likely executed on May 30th as an article from May 29th stated his execution the next day.
Note:
I could not find Mrs. Owens' first name none of the articles I could find stated her first name.
SOURCES:
Death Penalty USA Pine Bluff Daily Graphic May 29, 1894
Pine Bluff Daily Graphic May 31, 1894
The Osceola Times June 4, 1894
The Southern Standard June 8, 1894
Pine Bluff Daily Graphic May 29, 1894
On May 24, 1893, the body of a man was found in Afton Doffings Granary in Hampton, Minnesota. It was believed that he was a tramp who went into the building for shelter but ended up getting sick and dying. He was buried in the Potters Field of Lakeside Cemetary in Hastings, Minnesota.
SOURCES:
Alice Sterling was the 5th of 6 children of George and Alice Sterling. She was named after her mother and went by Mamie. Their home was on 47 Savin Hill in Boston, Massachusetts. Around the corner on Dorchester George ran a barbershop and a laundry agency. Little Alice was known as popular inside and outside of her home.
April 10, 1895, it started out like any other day for the Sterlings.No one was home, The two oldest daughters (20, 17) were in Boston, their oldest boy (14) was selling newspaper and the other son (9) was in school and Mrs. Sterling went to Everett to spend time with her mother and took the youngest with her. Which left Alice with her father. That day like many days his daughter, 8-year-old Alice, was playing outside the barbershop while he worked. Around 1 pm Alice's brothers came by the shop picked up Alice and the house key. The three would eat lunch and then drop her back off at the shop.
On this day Angus Gilbert, a close friend of Mr. Sterlings, came by the shop like he had done many times before.
28-year-old Angus Gilbert was a native of Nova Scotia, in 1895 he was working as a chore man on the Emmons Estate of Dorchester. He would do things like chopping wood and carrying water in exchange for lodging in their barn that no longer had animals. At night he was an assistant station agent at the railroad depot.
Angus had been friends with George for the last 5 years and was very fond of little Alice. When he would see young Alice he would often hold her on his knee and kiss her. He told Mr. Sterling he was fond of the young girl. Sometimes he would joke saying she would be his bride when she grew up. He would talk and visit with George and leave.
Alice was playing in front of the shop up until 3, and then she went to the corner to play. People had seen her around 4. No one had realized that Alice was missing. A search was done, and at 5 police were notified of her disappearance. When Alice didn't return back home by the next morning, the police were notified again. Officer Perkins would begin to investigate and found that Alice was taken.
Police knew that a man dressed in dark clothing was seen walking with Alice at the time of her disappearance. A woman would soon come forward stating she saw Angus with the girl and had even greeted the two when she saw them. Another woman stated that she saw Angus with a young girl that day. He would soon be arrested.
On April 13th Angus was sleeping in his room he was arrested. The dirt cellar that was right beneath his room was searched and within hours a gruesome crime was discovered. There was a patch of loose dirt and when police officers stumbled upon a small foot. Alice's body was found and it was obvious she met a brutal end. She what seemed to be two wounds on her head one of which was from an Axe and they believed that she was sexually assaulted.
Nearby they found an Axe with a bloodstain and a piece of wood that was believed to have been used to hurt the girl. It was believed that when Alice was abducted that Angus brought him to the home the long way.
Angus would claim he had no knowledge of the crime. He stated that he was drunk on that Wednesday and had little knowledge of what he had done that day. He said he had remembered moments of the day and continued on like normal. He stated that he was the type of drunk to act normal, but have no idea what was going on. Like for example, he'd walk like he knew where he was going, but have no clue where he was. He was adamant that he did not walk away with the girl and he did not murder her that he would have remembered that if he did.
Angus would profess innocence till the end. It was suspected that even though there was so much evidence against him that he never admitted guilt for his sister's sake. Being prosecuted is one thing but admitting to it might have caused her even more grief.
On February 21, 1896, Angus would be executed for the murder. It would seem that he slept well, dressed, and ate a heavy breakfast. Shortly after 9 a.m., he would be taken from his cell. Religious services would be done to prepare him for the execution. At 10:49 he was hung until dead.
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| Angus D. Gilbert |
SOURCES:
Boston Globe April 14, 1895
Boston Post April 14, 1895
Boston Post April 15, 1895
Fall River Evening Daily News Feb. 6, 1896
The Boston Globe Feb. 20, 1896
The Saint Paul Globe Feb. 22, 1896
In February of 1894, there was to be a wedding in Alleghany County, North Carolina. At the end of the ceremony, a Virginian named Daniel Slaughter would talk to an old man. The old man would slap him in good fun and ask Daniel "if he was much a man". This would anger Daniel and he would curse at the old man.
He would be told to leave and he did, but he returned a few minutes later. His return was not a peaceful welcoming. The old man and several of his friends were angry with Daniel and argued. There was an attempt to calm the crown, but it would not happen.
He would lunge at John Bare stabbing him in the heart killing him. When John initially fell to the ground Daniel went to stab him again, but the bride would prevent him by grabbing his hand. Her arms and hand were cut from the knife. Daniel would flee and Ed Long would try to stop him but would be stabbed also (possibly disemboweled). He would be caught 2 miles away. He claimed that people in the crowd were hitting his face.
He would be sent to a Sparta jail. There were talks of him being lynched. On the night of Feb. 23rd Daniel was taken from the jail and lynched on Laural Branch Spring Rd near Sparta. In the process of the lynch mob taking Daniel from the jail two were shot one of which was Alexander Rose. There were around 20 lynchers 15 of which were from Ashe County.
The day of the murder is unknown many of the articles stated that it was on the 18-20, but the earliest article I found was on the 17th. It's never mentioned whose wedding it was even though the bride was also injured at the wedding. It doesn't state Daniel's or his victim's relations to the wedding. I didn't exactly understand why Daniel got mad or why he was asked: "if he was much a man." It's likely that further information on the crime wasn't done in newspapers was due to Daniel being lynched soon after the murder.
SOURCES:
Richmond Dispatch Feb 17, 1894
The Spokesman-Review Feb 22, 1894
People's Voice Feb 23 1894
The Staunton Spector Feb 28, 1894
The Union Republic March 1, 1894
The Western Senteniel Marhc 1, 1894
The Yadkin Valley News March 8, 1894
