True Crime Stories

I mentioned this case in my last blog. In fact, I had just learned of this case when I was doing research for the last. I love these sorts of cases but they prove very difficult to research. This case took place in 1901, execution were conducted in 1903 but the story started many, many years before that in the 1800's which makes things harder to confirm and separate fact from fiction. The core story, the execution of three brothers within just a few minutes of each other, is the one thing that cannot be disputed so please bare with me as I attempt to tell you the story that led up to this event. I can tell you that these events all occurred in the state of New York but I cannot necessarily tell you exactly where as nothing seemed to be consistent. The three brothers were named Willis, Burton and Frederick Van Wormer. The first dispute not just how old they were but in what order they were born. The one thing that does seem to remain consistent is that Burton was the mi...

I love reading about very old cases.... especially those in the late 1800's or early 1900's.  There is just a few very large problems with them.  Getting accurate information is often a huge challenge.  Of course ways of communication and keeping stories straight in those days often seems like playing a game of telephone.  Then as we get into the 1900's and even a few decades in you enter the time of "yellow journalism."  I have spoke of this era many times because it often frustrates me.  I liken it to The National Enquirer, but The National Enquirer of like the 80's.  Those of you who remember those days will remember how light on facts and big on exaggeration they were.  That was how the every day newspaper was in the early 1900's.  It was all about the headline to draw you in and then stories read more like novels than news stories.  Drama was added, usually falsely, to excite the reader.  It was not a time where facts mattered,...