On June 1, 1954 someone beat elderly couple 81-year-old Alford and Charolette Norris inside of their home on South Corona St. in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They would be transported to Penrose Hospital. Charolette survived, but unfortunately, Alford would die the next day.
SOURCES:
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Monday, May 31, 2021
End of Watch: Michael F. Doran
On May 31, 1884, 40-year-old Keeper Michael Doran was working at the Eastern Penitentiary in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania. For the last two weeks, he was in charge of the weaving department and was put in charge of a new group of men. One of the tasks was to allow the men a few minutes of exercise in the yard connected to their cells.
Among the men was Joseph Taylor. At the time he was in the penitentiary for murderous assault. He had attempted to kill a man by beating him and trying to throw him out of a second-floor window. He had a history of violence against people and animals.
On this morning Keeper Doran let Joseph Taylor out of his cell. Another prisoner Benjamin Sayers claimed he saw Joseph while he was doing his duties as a cook. Joseph had walked out of his cell and to the railroad track running from the kitchen, stop beside the bread car looked up and down the track, and returned to his cell yard. What happened next was not witnessed.
It's believed that Joseph hid in his cell and waited for Keeper Doran to return to lock him in. He would then attack and hit him about the head with a weavers spool. He would then continue to beat him about the head with an iron bar that keeper Doran had that was used to close the cells. He would then go back into his cell and sit and wait.
Another keeper noticed Keeper Doran's absence and went to look for him. When he was found he was said to be an unrecognizable mess and moaning. His face was so badly beaten, and parts of his brain were exposed from the beating. He would be brought to a bed and Dr. Robinson would see to him. Unfortunately, his wounds were too severe. He was still alive for a short time but did not become conscious. He would die by noon.
The murderer kept his mouth closed at first for the murder, but he would admit the reason. He was upset and believed that the physician and keeper Doran were conspiring against him. He had been administered drugs that caused nausea that was prescribed by the prison physician. Other articles stated that he believed that he was secretly being given medicine in his food and that he also asked to be given medicine when he was killing Keeper Doran. He stated he would have rather killed the physician than the keeper.
Joseph Taylor then would go to trial for the murder. There was an insanity plea, but he would be convicted and set to be executed for the murder. He would be hanged on July 16, 1885.
SOURCES:
The Times June 1, 1884
The Philidelphia Inquirer June 2, 1884
The Times October 29, 1884
Friday, May 28, 2021
MISSING: Mildred Louise Johnson
Sometime in 1954 31-year-old Mildred Louise Johnson was last seen Couer D'Alene, Idaho. Mildred is a white female and was 31 at the time of her disappearance. She is 5'2" to 5'3" and 120lbs. She has strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes.
SOURCES:
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Murder of Annie Geyer
In Belleville, Illinois 20-year-old Philip Mathews and 21-year-old Annie Geyer grew up together and would eventually become a couple. Annie's family seemed to have become upper class while Philip's stayed middle class. Philip seemed to have "become one of the boys" as Annie's lady friends would term it. He seemed to have spent his time at billiard halls, barrooms, and sporting resorts. The two were engaged, but Annie wasn't happy in the relationship.
In early 1882 Annie had broken off the engagement and returned the ring to him. She would then move on from Philip. Around May it was reported that Annie was to marry another. This would displease Philip. He would on more than one occasion tell her she would marry him or nobody. Philip was planning to kill her.
On May 28, 1882, Philip and his friends to a stroll in a grove in the suburbs in Belleville. He would encounter Annie and several of her friends who were teachers or scholars at the Sunday School. The ladies went there to see the condition of the groves and see if it was good enough for a picnic the next day.
Philip would then come up to Annie. The two would talk, but Annie seemed scared and wanted to avoid him. Those around did not see anything to be alarmed of from how he was acting, but Annie knew different. The two would walk a few feet from the group.
Philip would ask her if it was true she was getting married. Annie would answer and it would anger him. He would suddenly pull a revolver out of his pocket and would shoot Annie with it. Philip would run as soon as he shot and Annie would scream take two steps and die. He would soon turn himself into the police station.
Philip would be protected from a lynching mob, but his fate would be the same. He would be convicted of the murder and set to hang on Jan. 12, 1883. His last words were "I wish you all goodbye."
SOURCES:
Legal Executions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri pg 8
The Inter Ocean Jan 13 1883
The Daily Review Jan 14, 1883
Nashville Banner Jan 11, 1883
Monday, May 24, 2021
The Kidnapping and Murder of Joseph (Giuseppe) Varotta
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
MISSING: Elsie Mae Roane
16-year-old Elsie Mae Roane was last seen around 11 p.m. on May 20, 1957, by a police officer. She was walking down the road with two suitcases in West Point, Virginia. At the time she was living with her adoptive father on Fith Street.
It took her father a few days to realize she was missing. Their schedules sometimes allowed them to miss each other as he worked nights and arrived home when she was at school. He reported her missing three days after she was last seen.
At the time she was a sophomore and was an above-average student at West Point High School. She was described as shy kind and intelligent. She is considered an endangered runaway. In 2015 Authorities announced they have a suspect in the case who was the same age as Elsie and they've interviewed him several times.
Elsie is a white female and was 16 at the time. She's 5'8" to 5'9" and 115 lbs at the time. She has brown hair that was short at the time and blue eyes. She was possibly pregnant at the time. She also wears glasses.
SOURCES:
NamUs
Charley Project
Track Missing
The Bee May 31, 1957
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
MISSING: Flora "Dan" Ligon (Green, Greene, White)
During the Spring or Fall of 1956 in Washington D.C. the daughter of 41/42-year-old Flora "Dan" Ligon last saw her mother getting money from under the linoleum. Flora told her daughter she was going to the store and did not return. Flora may have traveled to Trenton, New Jersey, or Greenville, or Clemson in South Carolina. Flora has a history of alcohol abuse. Flora may have been a victim of foul play. She may be using the last names Green, Greene, or White.
Flora is an African American woman and was 41/42-years-old at the time. She's 5'6" to 5'7" and 130 lbs. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Her ears are pierced. She was wearing a blue jacket, white shirt, and grey pants at the time of her disappearance.
SOURCES:
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