The man from the train : the solving of a century-old serial killer mystery Cover Image

The man from the train : the solving of a century-old serial killer mystery / Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James.

James, Bill, 1949- (author.). James, Rachel McCarthy, (author.).

Summary:

"From legendary writer Bill James, in collaboration with his daughter, Rachel, a compelling, dramatic, and meticulously researched narrative about a century-old series of unsolved axe murders across America, and how the authors came to solve them"--Jacket.

"Between 1898 and 1912, families across the country were bludgeoned in their sleep with the blunt side of an axe. Jewelry and valuables were left in plain sight, bodies were piled together, faces covered with cloth. Some of these cases, like the infamous Villisca, Iowa murders, received national attention. But few people believed the crimes were related. And fewer still would realize that all of these families lived within walking distance to a train station. When celebrated baseball statistician and true crime expert Bill James first learned about these crimes, he began to investigate others that might fit the same pattern. Applying the analytical acumen he brings to baseball analysis, he empirically determined which crimes were committed by the same person. Then after sifting through thousands of local newspapers, court transcripts and public records, he and his daughter Rachel made an astonishing discovery. They learned the true identity of this monstrous criminal, and in turn, uncovered one of the deadliest serial killers in American history"-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

ISBN: 9781476796253
ISBN: 1476796254
ISBN: 9781476796260
ISBN: 1476796262
Physical Description: xi, 464 pages ; 24 cm
Edition: First Scribner edition
Publisher: New York : Scribner, 2017.
Copyright: ©2017

Content descriptions

Formatted Contents Note:

Villisca -- Section I: 1909 to 1912. The bloody penny ; Logan's turnpike ; The scandalous Schultzes ; Marshalltown ; The New Orleans axeman ; Which is not really a chapter ; Martin City ; The Casaways ; Oregon ; The double event ; Monmouth ; Ellsworth ; Paola -- Section II: Summer 1912. Villisca 2 ; Villisca 3 ; Villisca 4 ; Villisca 5 ; Dynamite Pfanschmidt -- Section III: 1900 to 1906. Stepping backward ; Trenton Corners ; Standing by Henry ; An uncertain set of names ; Just when you thought this story couldn't possibly get any uglier ; Hughes ; The Christmas Day murders ; West Memphis ; Jacksonville ; Cottonwood, Alabama ; Murder in the cold ; The worst one ever ; The Lyerly family -- Section IV: Hiatus. The crimes of 1908 -- Section V. Conversation with the reader ; Hurley ; Beckley and beyond ; The Zoos and the Hubbells ; Clementine Barnabet ; Harry Ryan ; The first crime ; Brookfield and Villisca ; Where the evening is spread out against the sky ; Hinterkaifeck.