Old Fashioned Murder and Mayhem

The Jaded Love Murders: Meloy/Greenhill-Uren (1901)

Mrs. Sadie Greenhill Uren was a pretty, young divorcee' whose newfound freedom also brought the attention of several eligible young men to her door.  Her delight about this turn of events was not shared by her brothers, Will and Dan Greenhill, who would rather have seen her dead than to be living so scandalously. On the night of September 28, 1901, a visit from suitor John Meloy ended in a bizarre tragedy that made that wish come true. And the only man who may have known what really happened wasn't talking. Resources used: Ancestry.com Findagrave.com Newspapers.com sos.mo.gov Social media: Facebook - Old Fashioned Murder and Mayhem Instagram - mindys_murder_and_mayhem Email - melindamaloo@gmail.com YouTube: Old-fashioned murder and mayhem@mindylou322 New content available for Assistant Sleuth and Genealogy Sleuth Members. About me: Retired as head of genealogy from Jefferson County Library, Missouri. Storyteller at heart. Be sure to visit our sister site Murder and Mayhem in Jefferson County, Missouri for more tales of historical local true crime.

First, Do No Harm: The Murder of James Lebeouf (1927)

The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 brought more than destructive high water to the South Louisiana town of Morgan City--it also brought the tangled web of a love triangle turned murder!  Resources used: Ancestry.com Findagrave.com Newspapers.com Social media: Facebook - Old Fashioned Murder and Mayhem Instagram - mindys_murder_and_mayhem Email - melindamaloo@gmail.com YouTube: Old-fashioned murder and mayhem@mindylou322 New content available for Assistant Sleuth and Genealogy Sleuth Members. About me: Retired as head of genealogy from Jefferson County Library, Missouri. Storyteller at heart. Be sure to visit our sister site Murder and Mayhem in Jefferson County, Missouri for more tales of historical local true crime.

Desperate Desire: The Kidnapping of Corinne Modell (1924)

On a sunny afternoon in 1924, Eva Modell wheeled her 10-week-old baby girl outside the family's Philadelphia shop to get a little sun while she napped. It only took a moment of distraction and the baby was gone! Who stole little Corinne and why? Would the family ever find their precious daughter alive? Be sure to visit our sister site Murder and Mayhem in Jefferson County, Missouri for more tales of historical local true crime.

The Mummified Lord: The Astonishing Story of Sidney Lascelles (alias Lord Walter Beresford)

For six years the mysterious mummy dubbed "The Lord" was housed at the Noland Brown Company Undertakers in Asheville, North Carolina. When his identity was finally revealed, he turned out to be one of the most notorious con artists of all time! Resources used: Ancestry.com Findagrave.com Newspapers. com Social media: Facebook - Old Fashioned Murder and Mayhem Instagram - mindys_murder_and_mayhem Email - melindamaloo@gmail.com About me: Retired as head of genealogy from Jefferson County Library, Missouri. Storyteller at heart. Be sure to visit our sister site Murder and Mayhem in Jefferson County, Missouri for more tales of historical local true crime.

Die with it in you: The Legend of Frankie Silver (1831)

For over two centuries, the mountain folks of North Carolina have been intrigued by the legend of Frankie Silver a young woman sentenced to hang for the axe murder and burning of her husband Charley Silver. What was the secret she took with her to her grave? And why has the story captured the imagination of so many generations of poets, storytellers, and musicians? Listener discretion is advised. Included in the episode is the original song "Frankie Silver (Take it to the Grave)" performed by Couldn't Be Happiers (featuring Brown Mountain Lightening Bugs on banjo and backup vocals). Used by permission. Songwriters: Jodi Hildebran (BMI) and Jordan Crosby Lee (ASCAP) Publishers: BMI- Eddie C Life Music ASCAP- Mediterranean Sun Sync rights: Music of the Sea https://couldntbehappiers.com/ * "Francis Silvers' Confession" The Lenoir Topic North Carolina Wednesday, March 24, 1886 This dreadful, dark and dismal day Has swept my glories all away. My sun goes down, my days are past, And I must leave this world at last. Oh! Lord, what will become of me? I am condemned you all now see, To heaven or hell my soul must fly All in a moment when I die. Judge Daniel has my sentence pass'd Those prison walls I leave at last, Nothing to cheer my drooping head Until I'm numbered with the dead. But oh! that Dreadful Judge I fear; Shall I that awful sentence hear: "Depart ye cursed down to hell And forever there to dwell"? I know that frightful ghosts I'll see Gnawing their flesh in misery, And then and there attended be For murder in the first degree. There shall I meet that mournful face Whose blood I spilled upon this place; With flaming eyes to me he'll say, "Why did you take my life away?" His feeble hands fell gently down, His chattering tongue soon lost its sound, To see his soul and body part It strikes with terror to my heart. I took his blooming days away, Left him no time to God to pray, And if his sins fall on his head Must I not bear them in his stead? The jealous thought that first gave strife To make me take my husband's life, For months and days I spent my time Thinking how to commit this crime. And on a dark and doleful night I put his body out of sight, With flames I tried him to consume,  But time would not admit it done. You all see me and on me gaze, Be careful how you spend your days, And never commit this awful crime, But try to serve your God in time. My mind on solemn subjects roll;  My little child, God bless its soul! All you that are of Adams race, Let not my faults this child disgrace. Farewell good people, you all now see What my bad conduct's brought on me-- To die of shame and disgrace Before this world of human race. * Social media: Facebook - Old Fashioned Murder and Mayhem Instagram - mindys_murder_and_mayhem Email - melindamaloo@gmail.com About me: Retired as head of genealogy from Jefferson County Library, Missouri. Storyteller at heart. Be sure to visit our sister site Murder and Mayhem in Jefferson County, Missouri for more tales of historical local true crime.