UNIDENTIFIED: September 17, 1849 Manhattan, New York John Doe

 On September 17, 1849, a man died in a hospital in Manhattan, New York.

John Doe was a male around 35-years-old.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave

UNIDENTIFIED: August 8, 1838 Manhattan, New York John Doe

On August 1838 an unknown man would die at the City Hospital in Manhattan, New York. He would be buried at Potter's Field Fiftieth Street. There is little information in this case.

John Doe was a man around 45-years-old.

SOURCES:

Find A Grave

UNIDENTIFIED: July 29, 1818 New York, New York John Doe

On July 29, 1818, an unknown man drowned in the East River in New York City, New York.

John Doe was around 35 years old.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave

Murder of Catherine Mary Richards

In 1878 20-year-old Myron Buel worked on William Richard's farm in Plainfield, New York. Myron would supposedly fall in love with William's daughter, 14-year-old Catherine. He would even ask Catherine to marry him and she refused him. This would change his motivation he would then begin to make improper lewd suggestions and comments toward her. He had also begun to grope the girl.

This would stress and scare Catherine out so much that he would drive her to tears. She did not appreciate or want his advances. Catherine did not tell her parents but eventually threatened Myron that she would if he didn't stop. She however did tell her aunt who had informed her father. This led to his discharge, but he was allowed back after making a promise to not bother Catherine. 

On June 25, 1878, Myron and another worker, Daniel Bowen, were working in the hops field. At one point Myron would tell Daniel that his rubber boots were getting too hot and wanted to change them. Instead of changing his boots he would go and find Catherine.

Catherine was in the cheese house playing with her kittens. Knowing this he let out a calf planning to ask her to help him. He knew she would help him and he was going to trap her in the barn. When they were both inside he shut the door quickly and wrapped a rope around the girl's throat. He would then take a milking stool and hit her in the face with it. 

She was dead and he would sexually assault her. He would later describe it as "I then ravished her. She was dead but warm when I committed the crime.” He also stated that the motive was because he was in love with her and was mad and jealous she did not love him back. 

Myron would come back after 45 minutes. Daniel wondered about what took so long and asked him why. Myron would tell him that he had to put away a loose horse. 

At 5 pm 8-year-old Maggie, Catherine's younger sister, came home from school. Maggie would help prepare dinner and when it was done she would go to the hop field and blow the supper horn. Maggie would ask them where Catherine was. The men would tell her that they did not see her. They headed towards the barn to put their tools up.

They would find a bull that was loose behind the cheese house. The plan was that Daniel would hold the barn door open and Myron chase the bull in. However, when Daniel opened the door inside the bull's stall was Catherine's body. 

She had a large wound on her right cheek and her face was bruised. Daniel would stop the plan and show Myron the body.

When Myron went in he would exclaim “Oh, my stars! Oh, my Stars!”. 

At the time Catherine's sister, Maggie, and a housekeeper were the only two other people on the farm. Their parents and 13-year-old brother were not home and they were 14 miles away. The two would inform them of Catherine's death. When Maggie asked why and how Myron would respond that the bull must have gotten her. 

Myron would be the one to bring his victim into the house. All while repeatedly saying that it must have been a bull. It made sense she had a bruise on her face and bulls are not known to be the most gentle of animals. 

Maynor would then travel to where the mother and brother were. He would give them the news that Catherine had been killed by a bull. This tragedy would devastate her family. 

The coroner started with this in thought until he took a look at the body. A bull had not killed the young teenager. She had been sexually assaulted, strangled, and hit in the face with a blunt object. Myron would become suspect number one and charged with murder.  On one of her shoulders was a bruise from a thumbnail digging in, a bruise on her left groin, and her throat was bruised from the rope. No bull could have created these wounds.

On February 17, 1879, the trial would begin and lasted 10 days. The courtroom was crowded with spectators every day. He was referred to as the Boy Murderer despite him being an adult. He would maintain his innocence throughout the trial. During the trial, the unwanted advances on Cathrine and a disturbing conversation with Daniel would be brought up. Daniel would state that Myron had told him that the best way to outrage a girl is by using a strap and strangling her to keep her from screaming. Which was what happened in this case. 

 Following the arguments, the judge would inform the jury for an hour and a half. After four hours the jury came back with a guilty verdict. Myron's lawyer tried to move for a new trial because the jury was not informed of the several degrees of manslaughter. This was denied and he was set to be executed. 

Myron's lawyer argued with the Court of Appeals. This did not grant a new trial, but instead of being executed in April, he was set to be executed on November 14th. They would also petition the Governor for a reprieve, but it was rejected. 

Three days before his execution Myron got a conscious and admitted to what he did to the girl. That he loved her and that was why he killed her. He would confess this to his spiritual advisors and counsel. The scaffold that would bring him death was built under his window. He was asked if he wanted to move places, but he told them "Do as you like; I don't care". 

On November 14th Myron would go to sleep at 1 am. He would then wake up at 6 am. It was said that he seemed well-rested. He would then get visited by his parents and siblings and they said their goodbyes. He would ask his mother to look to the Savior. He seemed to be acting strong for his family. Around 10:36 he was brought to the scaffold. He gave no last words and was hanged around 10:40. He would die and stay hanged for 23 minutes. 

His body was handed over to his family. He would be buried with his brother who died right after the trial. 

SOURCES:

Murdered by Gaslight

Boston Post February 28, 1879

The Boston Globe November 14, 1879

New York Daily Herald November 15, 1879

UNIDENTIFIED: June 1, 1924 Bronx, New York John Doe

 On June 1, 1924, a deckhand fell overboard a boat and drowned in or near Bronx, New York. The location is unknown or unstated. He is buried at Hart Island in the Bronx, New York.

John Doe is a man around 32-years-old.

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Unidentified Wiki

UNIDENTIFIED: April 13, 1989 New York City, New York John Doe

 On April 13, 1989, the Synagogue on 12 Eldridge St in New York City, New York was undergoing renovations. A worker was shoveling a pile of coal ash in the basement when a skull would be found. Police were called and the rest of the skeletal remains of a teenage boy were found. It's believed that the remains may have been there for a long time. There was a bottle from the 1930s was found in the same area. It's not clear how it may be forensically significant to this case. Also, the building did not have a coal burner for the last 50 years. So it's believed the young man had died between 1930 to 1960. 

John Doe was a black male between 14 to 17 years old. He was around 5'2".

SOURCES:

NamUs

Unidentified Wiki

Daily News April 14, 1989

Daily News April 15, 1989

GHOSTS: Charley The Doll

 

Photo by Cauer an Atlas Obscura User

In 1968 a doll would be discovered in the attack of a Victorian home in Upstate New York. It was inside a forgotten trunk. It had laid among tattered newspapers from the early 1930s and a yellow piece of paper containing the Lord's Prayer. The doll however could not be dated. 

The doll would be given the name Charley and added to other antiques in the home. He would blend in well with the rest of the dolls in the collection. There was little attention given to him until he began moving from his place on the bench of dolls. 

The parents would blame their five children because if it wasn't the parents it had to be the children. The children never fessed up to moving the doll, however. The parents never witnessed anything, but the children began to act weird around the doll. 

The youngest daughter (4) had at one point claimed that Charley spoke to her when she got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. The parents believed it to be her wild imagination. Then the other four children refused to use the bathroom at night or go near the bench within 5 feet. One day the youngest was covered in scratches with the blame placed on Charley instead of their cat. 

The parents wanting to end the children's antics removed Charley from his place. They would lock him back up in the attic in the trunk he was originally found in. Everything would go back to normal and Charley wasn't being blamed for anything. He would lay there for years forgotten. 

Years later after the children were grown the house was sold. The trunk was found in the attic and sold in a garage sale. Charley was one of the last things to go and went to a woman wanting him for her own antique doll collection. She was warned of Charley's antics. 

Charley would switch hands several times with stories of moving from time to time. It was made sure his story of the family in 1968 was told to each owner. It's said that he is more active around children.

In Salem, Massachusetts a shop called the "Local Artisan". The shop beholds odd things suck as taxidermied animals, unusual art, and oddities. He can now be seen by the public. 

SOURCES:

Atlas Obscura

From Tiny Pennies

The Ghost in My Machine

Death of George Spencer Millet

February 15, 1909, was George Millet's 15th birthday. The boy worked at a well-known insurance company in the NY Metropolitan Life Building in Manhattan, New York. On this day he would show up to work. The boy was well-known in the office. All throughout the day his female coworkers teased that they would give him a kissing spree after work.

At 4:30 pm the six stenographers would chase the shy teenager playfully. Before the chase he had apparently just placed it in his pocket and which was a 6-inch metal tool in the shape of a knife. In the chase, he would slip and fall. He would scream "I'm stabbed" before going unconscious in a pool of his own blood. When he had fell the ink eraser in his shirt pocket pierced his heart stabbing him.

 

One of the girls went to help him automattically,but passed out from the sight of blood coming from his chest. On the way to the hospital, George would pass away. 

His grave says: 

LOST LIFE BY STAB IN FALLING ON INK ERASER EVADING SIX YOUNG WOMEN TRYING TO GIVE HIM BIRTHDAY KISSES IN OFFICE METROPOLITAN LIFE BUILDING.

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Wikipedia

Atlas Obscura

Slate

UNIDENTIFIED: November 1, 1872 Kings County, New York

On November 1, 1872, the body of a woman was found at the Navy Yard in Kings County, New York. He cause of death was drowning. There is little information in this case.

Jane Doe was around 35-years-old. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

UNIDENTIFIED: April 13, 1989 New York City, New York, John Doe

 On April 13, 1989, the skeletal remains of a teenage boy were found in the basement at 12 Eldridge St. in New York City, New York. The remains were found during construction and renovation. A bottle dated from the 1930's was found in the same area. It's not stated what respect to the body the bottle was found. It's believed that he died from 1930 to 1960. 

John Doe was an African American male between 14 to 17-years-old. He was 5'2".

SOURCES:

NamUs

Unidentified Wiki

UNIDENTIFIED: September 21, 1914 Bronx, New York "German" John Doe

 On September 21, 1914, a man had committed suicide. He was found hanging at the Maple Grove Cemetary in Hart Island, Bronx, New York. It's believed that the John Doe may have been a German laborer. He was a white male between 39 to 45-years-old. he had a newspaper, a pair of spectacles, and a red handkerchief. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Unidentified Wiki

UNIDENTIFIED: September 17, 1849 Manhattan, New York, Unknown Man

 On September 17, 1849, an Unknown Man around 35-years-old died in a Manhattan, New York Hospital. It is unstated his cause of death, but he was buried at a potters field on forty-fifth street in Manhattan.  

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Unidentified Wiki

UNIDENTIFIED: September 1, 1876 Oyster Beach, New York John Doe

 In early September of 1876, a body was found washed up on High Hill Beach in Oyster Bay, New York. The man had been in the water for two or three days and had been murdered. His head and right arm had been cut off roughly. He was found wearing good quality clothing, but there was nothing to identify him. He was buried on the beach where he washed up. His death date is labeled as September 1st. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

UNIDENTIFIED: Who was the well loved Leather Man?

 

In the 1860s there was a man who would make a round of every 34 days to visit the same homes. He would travel around 365-mile walk from Connecticut to New York. He went through towns like Danbury, New Fairfield, Watertown, Middletown, and Canaan into Westchester, New York then back to Danbury. Typically this trip would take around 34 days. He would stay in caves and visit homes he was welcomed to for food. Some of these homes he would visit for more than 25 years.

Now, what was the name of this mysterious traveler?

No one knows. People had noted him for his unique fashion and called him Leather Man since he wouldn't say his name. He wore clothes that were stitched together pieces of leather made from old boot tops. He would wear this outfit all year round even during the summer. It was estimated that his jacket alone weighed 60 lbs.

He would not hunt or fish on someone's land without permission. He also kept the caves on his path neat with a pine bough or leaf bed. He would have wood stocked up for the next visit. He preferred to sleep in the caves rather than in people's homes. People were generous and would give the man tobacco, food, and pennies. In some towns, school was let out for Leather Man day so that the children could visit with him and give him pennies.

It seemed that he was fluent in French and spoke broken English. He would mostly talk in grunts and movement. When people were to ask him personal questions it seemed that he would avoid questions and leave the conversation. He carried around with him a bible written in French. It could be possible he was French Canadian or just French.

After a bad winter in 1888, the Leather Man began to have a growth on his lip. Which turned out to have been cancer. He didn't get treated or help with the growth and in 1889 the Leather Man was found dead in one of the caves in Ossining New York.

There have been many theories on who he was. But for the most part, the theories are tales spun to give him some sort of background. None of them have been proven to be true.

Another mystery appeared in 2011 when the grave of Leather Man had been dug up. Other than a few nails there was nothing in the coffin. Leather Man's body wasn't in the grave and no one knows where it had gone.
 
SOURCES:

Historic Mysteries

The Leather Mans Loop

New England Today

Murder of Lenore Anna Cohen and Charles "Charlie" Murray

   

On March 19, 1915, little 5-year-old Lenore Cohen was seen in the Tenement building she lived on 3rd Ave. in Manhattan, New York by a neighbor. She smiled and showed the milk and candy she had. Her Aunt Mrs. Eckers asked the young girl to go on an errand to get milk for her. Leonore was excited as a penny was usually a reward.

 Ms. Augusta Johnson lived on the second floor. She heard a small cry outside her door 15 minutes after the other neighbor saw her. She opened the door and saw nothing, but stumbled over Leonore when she stepped out the door. The murderer probably heard Augusta's screams as it had aroused everyone in the Tenement. Leonore was still alive at this point. and was carried up to the third floor where her aunt lived. Her cousin tried to resuscitate her as she was foaming from the mouth, but she did not survive.

She had been hacked at with a knife. She had also been "criminally assaulted" possibly meaning molested. A later article states that her clothes were unbuttoned. There were finger marks on her throat. There were two sets of stairs in the building and Leonore didn't typically use the ones she was found on. Police believed that the murderer forced her to the area she was found. There was a cord found with grey hairs and is unknown if it was a part of the case.

It was brought to the police's attention that girls on 3rd Avenue have been harassed by an oldish guy who offered to buy them candy if they go with them.

Less than two months later on the night of May 3, 1915, 4-year-old Charles Murray was playing in behind the Tenement building he lived in on First Ave. in the East side of Manhattan, in New York. He was last seen alive 20 minutes before he was discovered. His 6-year-old sister walked into the hallway and saw a "foreign man" leaving it in a hurry. Shortly after she found her brother.

There are two gruesome crime scene photos. I will not post it as it shows the boy's intestines, but it's obvious whoever murdered him gutted him. It's described that the perpetrator hacked at the boy. His clothes were left unscathed from knife marks as the perpetrator unbuttoned his shirt before killing him. Just like the murderer of Lenora had. One article notes that a piece of the body was taken.

Several letters were sent to the mother of Leonore. The writer claimed to be the killer and boasted of his crimes stating the Eckard's (relatives of theirs) knew of the murders. The letters were signed with H.B. Richmond, Jack the Ripper. It was later found that a man named Edward Richmond had written the letters. 

A letter was also sent to Mrs. Murray, but it seems to have been written by another person. This letter claimed they were going to continue their crimes. 

There were several suspects, but none of them were convicted of the crime.


SOURCES:

Find a Grave (Lenore)
Find a Grave (Charles)

Case Book

New York Tribune March 20 1915

Chronicling America March 20, 1915

The Brooklyn Citizen March 21, 1915
Buffalo Courier March 22, 1915
New York Tribune March 20, 1915
Wilkes-Barre Semi-Weekly Record May 7, 1915
Evening Public Ledger May 6, 1915
The Washington Post May 9, 1915
Daily News May 16, 1915

MISSING: Charles Hurd

 

On February 18, 1937, 32-year-old Charles Hurd was last seen in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York. He went to work as usual and left at closing time. He was working as a manager of a real estate and mortgage department at Dows Estates Inc. at the 10 block of Williams Street. After he left he had dinner at a restaurant and night club on east 54th Street, he cashed and small check and had left.

At 9 p.m. he crashed his Ford Convertible Coupe that had the New Jersey License plate number I-E65231 into the pillar of an elevated railway structure at 3rd Ave. and 37th St. It was believed he only suffered from minor injuries and drove away. He was never seen again after this.

 He may have driven towards where he was staying at the Kenmore Hall Hotel. At the time he was separated from his wife and was staying there. He was a member of a well-known family in New York. 

Charles was a 32-year-old white male at the time. He was 5'10" and 180 lbs. He has brown hair and blue/grey eyes. He was wearing a grey overcoat, tan shoes, and grey fedora. 

SOURCES:

Doe Network

Charley Project

Murder of Ruth Whitman

  

On December 8, 1959, 18-year-old Ruth Whitman was attacked soon after eating oranges. She was driven to Sand Creek Road in Colonie, New York. Her killer then would beat her and drag her through the bushed and dump her into a water-filled ditch. This would be where the poor girl would drown around 3 a.m. A school bus driver then would soon find her body at 8:20 a.m. 

At the time her family was not alarmed that she did not return home that night. She would often stay with her fiance's mother at night. Her fiance at the time was not suspected and was working at the time of her murder. It was believed at the time that murderer had known Ruth. 

SOURCES: 

New York Troopers

The Kingston Daily Freeman December 9, 1959

MISSING: Joseph Rodriguez

4-year-old Joseph "Joe"  Rodriguez was raised by his aunt, Pauline Rodriguez. In 1936 they lived on the 1600 block of Park Ave. in Manhattan borough of New York City, New York. At the time his mother, Dora Olivo, lived within walking distance of them. His father was deported back to Ecuador when Jospeh was an infant. The area they lived at was called "Little Spain" at the time. 

On September 6, 1936, Pauline left young Joseph with a neighbor. The neighbor took him down the street early that afternoon to play with other children. They left Joseph with children. When the neighbor returned they couldn't find Joseph. 

He wasn't reported missing until the next day at 11 a.m. His aunt believed that he would return on his own. A search ensued in the area. Even basements were searched through to try to find the young boy. 

Six days later Pauline received a telegram with a name she didn't recognize. It stated "Joseph will be back on Wednesday. Doctor will not let me move him." Pauline didn't know who sent it and the name on the Telegram was never released. There was no more communication after this. 

Joseph is a Hispanic male and was 4 at the time. he was 3'0" and 35lbs  He has black hair and brown eyes. He has a mole on his right wrist and a scar above his right eye. He was wearing a navy blue sweater with a red striped collar, a yellow sweater underneath, white knickers with blue dots, and blue sandals.

SOURCES:

Charley Project

Times Union

Daily News

Unsolved Murder of Beatrice Dain

 

On the night of August 15, 1952, 50-year-old Beatrice Dain went to the Regal Tavern in Syracuse, New York. She stayed until 1 a.m. the next morning. She was last seen talking to two men a short distance from the alley behind 141 James St. where her body was found. She had been beaten to death sometime the morning of August 16. It's unknown if these two men are involved in her death.

SOURCES:
Democrat and Chronical
Syracuse Police 

The Kidnapping and Murder of Joseph (Giuseppe) Varotta

On May 24, 1921, 5-year-old Joseph (Giuseppe) Varotta was given a penny from his mother. He was last seen in the Italian community his family lived in Manhattan, New York. He disappeared this day and soon after a ransom letter showed up in the mail.

It was soon found that the boy was kidnapped by the Black Hand gang. The group was known for the extortion. They wanted $2,500 in exchange for the boy. The community could not raise the money though and unfortunately, Joseph was never seen alive again.

On June 11, 1921, the body of the young boy was found by a paper-mill worker. His body had washed ashore the Hudson River at Piermont, New York. It was just south of where the Tappan Zee Bridge is now.  It was found that he was thrown in the river and drowned. His father identified him through his clothes and teeth.

Three members of the Blackhand gang were tried and sentenced to death. Later Governor Alfred E. Smith sentenced them to life in prison instead.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave                              
News Day
The New York Herald
Daily News