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Posts about Crime
July 11, 1907: A baffling gender switch
Posted by: Ben Welter Updated: December 28, 2012 - 11:46 PM
Here’s a century-old mystery that remains unsolved – unless you count the fanciful and self-serving explanation that appeared in the Minneapolis Tribune over the next two days.
BAFFLING MYSTERY
CAUSES COMMOTION
UGLY MAN TRANSFORMED INTO HANDSOME WOMAN.
“Was It a Dream?” Asks Hack Driver, Sorely Puzzled.
ANOTHER PAWN ENTERS INTO GAME IN SHAPE OF STRANGER WHO DISAPPEARS.
The “Mystery of the Hack, or, How Bold is Ann,” is the appropriate title of a strange story dealing with the experiences of two most unusual individuals in Minneapolis early Tuesday evening.
Who they were, where they were going, what crime they had committed, how long they have been crazy and what became of them are questions that remain unanswered.
It was several minutes after 7 o’clock when a very ordinary appearing man approached Wilman Franzo, a hack driver at the West hotel, and asked to be driven rapidly to the Milwaukee depot. The next train out was the Pioneer Limited and the cabbie couldn’t see just why he should tire his horses when there was plenty of time to catch the train. Nevertheless, he hustled along, and arriving at the station, jumped down and opened the door of his vehicle, and was astonished to see a smartly dressed young woman step out.
SMILES SWEETLY.
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| The Milwaukee Road Depot in Minneapolis in about 1901: Which "toilet room" did the passenger slip into, men's or women's? (Photo courtesy of the Hennepin County Library's Minneapolis Collection) |
Greatly mystified, he slowly returned to his stand at the hotel, still positive, however, that it was a man whom he had picked up and as he had made no other stop, his deduction was that Mr. Plainlooking Man had changed himself into Miss Charming Woman.
At the hotel he was still further perturbed to learn that Carriage Agent George W. Shipton had just been approached by a peculiar looking black whiskered, nervous individual who wanted to know if a certain woman had taken a hack. He then proceeded to describe the woman whom the hack driver had left at the Milwaukee depot.
She was good looking; had auburn hair; her gown was well tailored, of a fluffy leather colored material. She wore long gloves and a sailor hat with green parrot colored feathers, which was draped with an automobile veil.
MAN HURRIES AWAY.
The man who inquired about her, upon receiving an unfavorable reply from the carriage agent, approached Chief Clerk Conry, who, of course, was likewise unable to give the desired information. The man then wanted to know what time the next train left on the Minneapolis and St. Louis road, and being told that it left at 3 o’clock made a hurried exit, and was not again seen.
Whether or not the uncanny passenger whom he handed into his hack carried a grip or not, the hackman is unable to say. He is under the impression that there was a grip, but he does not remember having handled it. If there was no grip, how the man disguised himself as a woman added to the already complicated episode.
Whether the person in the hack and the man, who later called, were partners in crime no one can say. One Sherlock Holmes, more brave than the rest, has it figured out that the person who got into the hack was really and man and that he changed his clothing on the way to the depot to escape detection while on board the train. The second man is thought to have missed his appointment with his pal, thus accounting for his nervous haste.
At any rate, the mystery remains as baffling as ever, and the more the hackman thinks about it the more troubled are his dreams.
The next day, with no fact-based explanation in reach, the Tribune identified the cab passenger as the fictional newspaper heroine “Fluffy Ruffles,” an attractive and well-attired young woman who couldn’t hold a job because she was such a distraction to men.
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| Miss Ruffles, the creation of Carolyn Wells and Wallace Morgan, inspired a line of paper dolls and a Broadway musical. |
Hack Mystery Is
Solved; it Was
Fluffy Ruffles?
The strange young woman who shocked a hackman by stepping from his vehicle at the Milwaukee depot Tuesday evening, when the driver believed he had a man, was probably Fluffy Ruffles, the stunning young woman whose marvelous feats have been watched with absorbing interest by readers of The Tribune.
Of course, there is no proof that it was really Fluffy, but it is known that the young woman contemplated taking a run out in the country for a breath of fresh air, and with her magical accomplishments she could easily have deceived the hackman.
If, however, it was not Miss Ruffles, the mystery is as deep as ever, for nothing more has been heard of the principals in the strange episode.
On July 13, the Tribune took the joke a step further, quoting the indefatigable Miss Ruffles in a story that listed the uncanny likenesses between the comic strip character and the gender-switching passenger.
DID IT WITH MY SMILE
REALLY NO CAB MYSTERY – FLUFFY RUFFLES ADMITS.
Deductions of Amateur Sleuths Are Spoiled When Pretty Sunday Tribune Heroine Blushes When Asked Point Blank if She Is the “Guilty Party.”
Fluffy Ruffles admits having taken the ride and the mystery of the hack is cleared.
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| Miss Ruffles opened a chocolate shop in an episode that filled an entire page of the Tribune on July 21, 1907. Click on the image to see the full page, which probably appeared in color in the newspaper. |
To add to the tangle an excited individual rushed up to the carriage agent shortly after the hack had gone and wanted to know if a young woman had been there and then described the young woman who got out at the station.
Since then there has been frantic efforts by “near” detectives and other amateur sleuths to solve the problem, but only The Tribune has made the proper deductions.
First – It was reasoned that whoever did the transformation stunt must have been an unusually clever woman.
Notation number one, in favor of Fluffy.
Second – The strange passenger smiled sweetly and gave the driver a dollar bill, with one corner missing.
Fluffy always smiles, and to know the money if she ever sees it again cuts the corners off her bills.
Third – The individual who chartered the cab was possessed of a rare power, pleasing, it is true, but none the less effective, by which she made the open-mouthed hack driver imagine she was a man. Fluffy Ruffles again.
Fourth – The excited man who inquired after the young woman had a milk pan which he wished converted to a Paris hat. It was easy to deduct that he was after The Tribune’s heroine, Fluffy Ruffles.
When point blank accused of the little escapades yesterday, Fluffy blushed prettily. “I did it with my little smile,” was all that she would say.
Oct. 31, 1912: A dinkey man’s sad story
Posted by: Ben Welter Updated: November 1, 2012 - 3:10 PMAlas, the Minneapolis Tribune did not provide readers with a translation of the century-old slang in this piece. Perhaps you'd like to take a shot.
He Lost His “Buddy Boy”
But the Police Found Him
Something New in the Line of Slang is Uncorked at Headquarters.
Dinkey Man Tells Sad Story and Interpreter is Necessary.
He swaggered into police headquarters last night and edged up to the desk sergeant.
“I have lost me buddy,” he said. “Me buddy has been kidnaped. He’s been doped, I say. They just shot the hypo into him. Maybe he’s been croaked by now,” and he shed a silent tear.
“Who’s Buddy?” was the gruff inquiry.
“Buddy’s me pal, cul; him and me’re both dinkey men. We worked to’gether for weeks. Say, tell me, can you find him for me?”
“What’s ‘dinkey men’?” asked the desk sergeant, now thoroughly interested.
Been Running Dinkeys
“Aw, we’ve been running dinkey cars out to Hopkins,” was the impatient answer. “I know dey got him. Dey sifted him, that’s what dey done,” and he shook his head ominously.
“Sifted him?” There was a rising inflection in the sergeant’s voice.
“Yep, sifted him, strained him, cleaned him, don’t you know; put him through the cleaner and ribbed him for his cush. He had a rock on him, too, and dey maybe copped it. It was a swell piece of glass, I’m telling you.”
“Where’d all this happen?” snapped the desk sergeant.
“Aw, I dunno. I ain’t wise to the stems here yet. We meets a elegant piece of lace and she kind of cottons to me buddy and he falls for it, see, and dey goes away together. One of the hobbles lamps me, too, but I sidesteps and claps me hand over me roll, knowing it meant only highway robbery; but when I had made me getaway and has a look round, me buddy has vamoosed with the bundle of langsherie.” He dwelt lovingly on the last word, giving the “a” the full, broad sound.
His Buddy’s Picture.
“Now, I ain’t no piker,” he continued. “Here’s me buddy’s picture. Find him for me. I’m willin’ to spend a hunderd bones on de job,” and he flashed a respectable roll under the sergeant’s fascinated gaze, who silently motioned him into the office of Louis Hansen, captain of detectives.
Captain Hansen hurriedly requisitioned a newsboy to act as interpreter and then sent out two of his men to find “Buddy.” The recreant one was soon discovered and taken to headquarters.
The pair walked out of city hall arm in arm.
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| No dinkey men here: Minneapolis police and jail guards showed off their new riot shotguns in about 1910. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society)
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Oct. 5, 1882: A ‘family quarrel’ in Blaine
Posted by: Ben Welter Updated: October 10, 2012 - 11:16 AMSadly, domestic violence hasn't changed much in the past 130 years. This alcohol-fueled nightmare was reported in the Minneapolis Tribune.
A FAMILY QUARREL.
ANOKA, Oct. 4. – Last Monday night, Joseph Matzek and wife, Bohemians, living on a farm in the town of Blaine, owned by Dr. Bowers of Minneapolis, went home from Anoka, taking with them a bottle of liquor. Soon after getting home they quarreled, scaring the children, who ran to the nearest neighbors, Gilmore, one and a half miles distant, and said their father was killing their mother.
Two men went back and listened outside and heard him demolishing the furniture, stove, sewing machine, etc., with an axe, and threatening to kill his wife and then himself. The men demanded admittance. Matzek came to the door and warned them away, firing a shot at them. Later they whistled outside and Mrs. Matzek, who was in bed, put a quilt about her and went out, thinking that the children were there and afraid to come in.
The men took her over to Gilmore’s where they stopped all night, sending for the constable, a Mr. Lyons, for fear that Matzek would come and make trouble. Yesterday morning the constable and four men went over to the house. Matzek was out in the yard and ordered them off the premises. The officer then went toward him to arrest him when Matzek drew a revolver. The constable then took a shot gun from one of the other men and Matzek started for a hay stack near by. Not obeying the constable’s demand to halt the officer fired, the whole charge of duck shot taking effect in the left side of his face. Matzek sunk onto his knees and took out a knife and revolver but could not use them. He was taken over to Gilmore’s and the party sent to Anoka for the sheriff.
Deputy Sheriff Pride went over and arrested Matzek yesterday afternoon and brought him here last night. His wife did not want him arrested and tried to resist when they were taking him from bed, but she finally came with them and is now nursing him.
Sept. 18, 1920: A cranial cure for ‘criminal tendencies’
Posted by: Ben Welter Updated: September 19, 2012 - 5:31 PMA link between brain damage and anti-social behavior has been well-documented. It’s unclear how well-documented the link was in 1920, when a court sent a robbery suspect to a St. Paul hospital for a bit of cranial surgery to cure his “criminal tendencies.” Did it work? That's also unclear. There’s no mention of the scofflaw in subsequent issues of the Minneapolis Tribune, and no record of a Nobel prize for the surgeon.
Veteran of World War,
Bent on Crime, May Be
Cured by Operation
Francis J. Poole, 19 years old, veteran of the World war, underwent an operation at St. Joseph’s hospital in St. Paul yesterday for removal of pressure of the skull on the brain, which physicians believe has led the young man into criminal ways. Poole was taken from the Ramsey county jail and given under custody of Dr. A.E. Comstock by order of the court. He is held on a charge of attempted highway robbery.
The young soldier was shot in the head while in the state militia in 1917, accidentally, and the skull on the top of his head was badly broken and splintered. An operation at that time was difficult because of the serious damage to the skull but surgeons hoped it would properly heal. It apparently did for young Poole went to France and served in the World war, where he was gassed.
On his return home no indications of the pressure on the brain was evidenced until a month ago when he assaulted and attempted to rob Thomas J. Brickley, a taxicab driver, at Sauers Park on a trip to Gladstone. Poole was overpowered and locked up.
Dr. Comstock and other physicians made an examination of the wound and declared that pressure of the tissue on the brain caused the criminal tendencies. Young Poole stood the operation well and is expected to recover shortly.
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| St. Joseph's Hospital, Ninth and Exchange, St. Paul, in 1912. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society)
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Aug. 8, 1915: The naked wood nymph of Sparta
Posted by: Ben Welter Updated: June 9, 2012 - 5:01 PMNewspaper reporters of the early 1900s offered readers a fanciful phrase or two in almost every quirky story. In this Minneapolis Sunday Tribune piece, an obviously unhinged and possibly fictional young woman wandering around naked and startling farmers near Sparta, Wis., is described a “mysterious wood nymph.” What other kind is there?
Mysterious Wood Nymph
Seen Near Sparta, Wis.,
By Astonished Farmer
(Special to The Sunday Tribune.)
La Crosse, Wis., Aug. 8 – The mysterious wood nymph of Sparta, Wis., who appears clad only in a dainty lace night-cap, was seen again today at close range by Valentine Busby, a farmer, three miles east of Sparta. The fair apparition appeared within 100 feet of Busby, but fled into the woods upon sight of him. Busby says the woman, whoever she is, has the form of a Venus. She was also seen by passengers on an eastbound Milwaukee train in the same neighborhood.
Sheriff George Poss and Humane Officer Manuel of Sparta have started in quest of the mysterious creature, and are hunting through the woods where she was seen yesterday.
Two days later, the nymph was “captured,” but her identity remained a mystery. The Tribune ran this piece on Aug. 11:
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| If you're the straitlaced sort, don't type "wood nymph" into a Google image search box, even with "safe search" in strict mode. This detail of a 1900 photogravure by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones is one of the few "safe" images that turn up. |
Mysterious Sparta Nymph
Is Captured By Sheriff
Nude Woman, Clad Only in Night Cap, Invaded Wisconsin Woods Two Weeks.
Now in La Crosse Jail, but Her Identity Is Not Yet Known.
La Crosse, Wis., Aug. 11. – (Special.) – After a week’s search Sheriff George Poss and Humane Officer George Manuel drove into Sparta late yesterday afternoon with Sparta’s mysterious wood nymph securely wrapped in a horse blanket. Excitement ran high in Sparta when it became known the mysterious woman had been captured and crowds followed the sheriff’s buggy to the jail, where the nymph is now being cared for by the sheriff’s wife.
Meets Questions With Laugh.
The identity of the girl is still a mystery, and she refuses to talk. She meets all questions with a laugh and seems to care not at all that she has been cavorting about through Monroe county woods for nearly a fortnight clad only in a lace nightcap trimmed with blue ribbon.
The girl is a decided blonde and appears to be about 25 years old.
Beyond admitting that she had been in La Crosse and that this city might be her home, she refuses to answer any questions. The sheriff’s wife is endeavoring to ascertain her identity.
A story on the front page of the La Crosse Tribune on Aug. 11 offered more details. But the details cast doubt on the entire story – and on the Wisconsin newspaper’s commitment to accuracy:
“EVE” GONE HOME
IS SHERIFF YARN
AFTER “CAPTURE”
Sparta Official Says Parents Came and Took the Greek Goddess Away
THRILLING STORY OF CAPTURE
Undersheriff Relates Interesting Events Surrounding Taking of the Wood Nymph
SPARTA, Wis., Aug. 11 – “Eve” has disappeared from the county jail at Sparta. Sheriff George Poss, who claims he snared her in a horse blanket late yesterday, perspired freely when relaying the circumstances of her departure.
“We parted – friends,” he said, sentimentally. It was evident that the romance was too deep and sacred a thing to be so soon [routed from] that manly bosom.
Pressed for details of the capture, Poss said:
“I found that she came from a good family in La Crosse. I permitted her to call them on the telephone last night. They came and took her away. I doubt if I shall ever see her again. I can’t divulge her name, but she was a perfect lady.”
The sheriff was visibly affected.
Sparta people do not readily accept Sheriff Poss’ official report. In preference they are inclined to credit a widespread story that “Eve” slipped through the sheriff’s fingers at an early hour this morning.
“What right had you to let her go?” a reporter asked.
“We didn’t have a thing on her,” explained Mr. Poss.
“T.P. Abel, the district attorney, advised me to release her,” he added.
The reporter [pressed] on that this was a question of law. “By what authority did you act?” he insisted.
“We were ably advised,” he said, catching the point. “Following his custom, Mr. Abel consulted a lawyer.”
Inquiry developed the fact that attorney Graves had been called and asked whether it would be legal to let “Eve” go.
“I shall have to examine the witness,” said Graves.
Poss fixed him with a suspicious stare.
Following the examination Mr. Graves said:
“You asked me whether it would be legal to let this woman go. Upon thorough investigation I advise you that it would be legal, but foolish.”
The reporter learns that Mr. Graves is regarded as an expert in these cases.
Mr. Abel verified the story of “Eve’s” release. “The bare facts were sufficient to justify it,” he said.
Sheriff Poss is a neat little man at the susceptible age of fifty. Asked to describe the capture of “Eve,” he blushed furiously. “The credit belongs to Vieth,” he said.
George Vieth is the undersheriff. He told a straight story.
“It was very simple,” he said. “Women can’t resist Poss. I used him for bait. I stood him up in an open place and told him to make a noise like Adam. Then I secreted myself nearby.
“Hardly was I under cover before ‘Eve’ appeared. She looked out timidly from a [shrub] of hazel. Fear and fascination struggled for the mastery. Quickly the charm of Poss’ personality won her confidence, and with a twitter of bird music she danced lightly toward the sheriff. She was wonderful – wonderful. The cigarette the sheriff was smoking went right out. ‘Eve’ approached him with rhythmic movements through which her lithe body flowed in [tropical] undulations. Circling about him for a moment, she suddenly swooped down upon him with the delightful abandon of the latest tango step.
“It was at this moment that I rushed forward and snared “Eve” in a horse blanket. Poss [complained] that I was premature.
“I turned the prisoner over to Poss and resumed my place in the driver’s seat. ‘Drive slowly,’ ordered the sheriff, over my shoulder. We then proceeded leisurely back to the city.”
As proof that he had really captured “Eve,” Sheriff Poss produced a horse blanket.
“I shall keep it as a souvenir,” said Mr. Poss said tenderly. “It is the only thing by which I shall be Abel to recall Eve. I shall treasure it until we are all lying in our Graves.”
The reporter extended his hand in farewell.
“You’ll all be lying in your graves as a matter of habit, Mr. Poss,” he said.
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| The Pittsburgh Gazette Times, of all papers, reported that an appearance by the nymph "demoralized" soldiers on maneuvers at a nearby military encampment. These members of Company B of the Minnesota National Guard arrived at Camp Sparta three years too early to be demoralized. (Image courtesy of mnhs.org)
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