Errors, Conflicts, and Inconsistencies in In the Wake of the Butcher
General
- The 'Scientific Investigation Bureau' mentioned throughout the book was actually named 'Scientific Identification Bureau', and David L. Cowles was its Superintendent. He is never so identified in the book except in a quote. NOTE: In the author's sequel, Hell's Wasteland, this bureau is stated to be both the 'Scientific Identification Bureau' and the 'Criminal Investigation Bureau', but 'Scientific Investigation Bureau' never appears in the book.
- The author sometimes describes a certain race as 'African-American' and other times as 'black'
- In discussion of victim no. 6 in the chapter, 'Circus at a Stagnant Pool', the author intermittently confuses the 'creek' with the adjacent 'pool'
- In the chapter, 'Circus at a Stagnant Pool', the author commits an Error of Omission by not relating that the 'creek' and 'stagnant pool' were both at the east end of property belonging to the Standard Oil Refinery that was located between E. 37th St. and the Cuyahoga River. As such, the 'creek', which was a remnant of Kingsbury Creek, was then actually a wastewater collection ditch for the refinery, routing oily water drainage from the refinery to the 'stagnant pool', which was actually a wastewater retention and settling pond in which oil was separated from the water and recovered. The 'pool', really a pond, was also not stagnant; it was slow-draining to allow time for oil to separate and was level-controlled to accommodate fluctuation in influent flow rate
- The surname of coroner A.J. Pearce is actually spelled 'Pearse'
- The street identified as 'Lake Shore Drive' was actually named 'Lakefront Road' as per a 1937 Fire Insurance Map and another period document
- Names are stated inconsistently; often the middle initial is listed for an individual, e.g., David L. Cowles and James T. Hogan, but sometimes not
Page xiv - it is stated, "Part of the Raus Funeral Home that occupied the land directly east of the one-time residence at 5040 Broadway...". The funeral home was located southeast of 5040 Broadway.
Page xiv - it is stated, "...a small delicatessen to the west of the "office" ...". The delicatessen was located northeast of 5040 Broadway.
Page xiv -it is stated, "It was now clear where and how the killer incapacitated his victims". This statement would be true only if the author proved beyond any doubt that Frank Sweeney was the Butcher, which, by his own admission, he fails to do
Page 2 - 'Eddows' should really be 'Eddowes', as that is the accepted Ripperological spelling. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitechapel_murders and https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1844/catherine-eddowes
Page 6 - 'Work Projects Administration' should be 'Works Progress Administration'
Page 8 - 'David L. Cowles' is closely followed by 'David Cowles'. See General comments
Page 11 - it is stated, "Of the twelve official victims, only two were ever positively identified". This statement seems to imply that Robert Robertson was not an 'official' victim, but on page 173 it is stated, "History now recognizes two endings to the Kingsbury Run murders - one in August 1938, the other in July 1950", thus indicating that Robert Robertson is considered to be an 'official' victim, making a total of thirteen. But there really should be fourteen victims - 0-12, and 13. Is the author discounting victim no. 11 due to its allegedly having been embalmed?
Page 7 - 'allies' should be 'alleys'
Page 13 - 'Sudgen' should be 'Sugden'
Page 15 - the document name 'Frank Otwell-Peter Merylo manuscript' has numerous variations and forms throughout the book. See comments pages 37, 48, and 107
Page 19 - 'Edward W. Andrassy' should really be 'Edward A. Andrassy' as had first been reported in the Plain Dealer story (corrected from Andrasy). See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6938150/edward-anthony-andrassy and https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/edward-anthony-andrassy-24-9zq5r5
Page 19 - 'Polillo' is offered as the correct and definitive spelling of several alternate versions, but the individual's grave headstone indicates 'Polillia', which is one of the alternate spellings listed. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34092495/florence-genevieve-polillia
Page 23 - 'hypochloride' should be 'hypochlorite'
Page 24 - 'breakwall' should be 'breakwater'
Page 26 - the murderer is identified as the 'Butcher' but this nickname is quite premature at this time and it would be much later before the nickname would be formally applied
Page 27 - 'slacked' should be 'slaked'
Page 27 - 'waiting extradition' should be 'awaiting extradition'
Page 30 - it is stated, "Part of Jackass Hill has been cut away...". Per Google Maps and Google Satellite, about 200' of it has been cut away on its north side, essentially rendering it extinct
Page 30 - it is stated, "...only one lone house remains on the small stretch of East 49th just off Praha Avenue". The house in question is actually two adjacent houses, with separate addresses, and they are both located on E. 50th St., not E. 49th St., which no longer exists in this vicinity
Page 33 - the autopsies were begun at 9:00 P.M., not 9:00 A.M.
Page 33 - see comment Page 19 for proper name of Edward Andrassy
Page 33 - '1744 Fulton Road' is referred to as '1744 Fulton Avenue' on Page 66. There is no 'Fulton Avenue' in Cleveland
Page 34 - see comment Page 19 for proper name of Edward Andrassy
Page 35 - it is stated, concerning Coroner Pearce's (Pearse's) official verdict in regards to Edward Andrassy's autopsy, "Murder and mutilation. Death due to decapitation and shock - Homicide". Yet Andrassy's death certificate, signed by Pearse, states the following: "Decapitation: Hemorrhage and Shock. Homicide". The verbiage differs and the word 'mutilation' does not appear anywhere on the death certificate
Page 36 - Concerning victim #2, it is stated, "Curiously, the left testicle was missing". This victim had been emasculated and had been dead for at least a month when his body was found. His genitals had been tossed aside in a brushy area. If a testicle were missing, it most likely was left lying loose and wasn't recovered with the other remains, or was taken by an animal
Page 37 - 'bodies where ultimately found' should be 'bodies were ultimately found'
Page 37 - it is stated, "Wagner and Kostura had discovered the bodies." Only one body had been discovered by these boys, this being Edward Andrassy's
Page 37 - a man is identified as 'Spalet' and in the next sentence as 'Spalek'
Page 37 - the document identified as the 'Otwell manuscript' here and elsewhere is identified as the 'Otwell/Merylo manuscript' on Page 107. 'Otwell manuscript' seems to be the most common name used. See comments pages 15 and 48
Page 40 - 'Andrasasy' should be 'Andrassy'
Page 40 - it is stated that the foot of Jackass Hill, where victim nos. 1 and 2 were found, was "a spot virtually inaccessible by car". There were two ways that a car could easily access that location, the first being a vehicle entrance to the west side of Jackass Hill from nearby Martin Avenue, and the second being an access road descending on the west side from Beraun Avenue to the Run below.
Page 40 - it is stated that Edward Andrassy's older brother had been murdered, but he had actually been killed during a brawl
Page 40 - 'St. Mary's Cemetery' should be 'St. Mary Cemetery'. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6938150/edward-anthony-andrassy and https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/43185/saint-mary-cemetery
Page 41 - it is stated, "Edward Andrassy would remain one of only two victims to be positively identified...". This statement excludes victim Robert Robertson, killed in 1950. See comments page 11
Page 43 - Referring to the murder of Edward Andrassy, it is stated, "Even in the 1950s, the official investigation was still going on". While investigation of an unsolved murder case never closes, it does become a 'cold case' after some length of time, at which point the investigation is no longer actively pursued. By the 1950s, it was a certainty that the murder of Edward Andrassy was a cold case and that there was no active ongoing official investigation. NOTE: on page 164 it is stated, "...Merylo worked with whoever his superiors assigned to him until the official investigation ended", and on page 167, it is stated, "Finally, Chief Matowitz took him off the case entirely on October 1, 1942". Taken together, these two statements make it clear that the 'official' investigation into the Torso Murders ended on October 1, 1942, over four years after the last victims had been discovered
Page 44 - 'High Level Bridge' might have been the nickname of the bridge, but its proper name was 'Detroit-Superior High Level Bridge'
Page 44 - see comment Page 19 for proper name of Edward Andrassy
Page 46 - concerning Edward Andrassy, it is stated, "...he had to cope with the senseless murder of his older brother...". See comments page 40.
Page 48 - see comment Page 19 for proper name of Edward Andrassy
Page 48 - the document referred to as the 'Frank Otwell/Peter Merylo manuscript' is identified elsewhere by other names. See comments pages 15, 37, and 107
Page 51 - it is stated, "...2100 Charity Avenue, directly across Cedar, north of Hart Manufacturing". 2100 Charity Avenue, aka Judd, aka Marion, aka Spruce, aka Judd Ct,. lay directly southeast of Hart Manufacturing. Cedar was to the northeast and did not cross to the north of Hart Manufacturing. Cedar and Charity were two blocks apart, and thus 2100 Charity was definitely not 'directly across Cedar'.
Page 51 - it is stated that the baskets containing the pieces of Flo Polillo's body were found "against the back well of the building". This building, Hart Manufacturing, was located at 2315 E. 20th St., so the 'back wall' would be opposite E. 20th St., on E. 21st St. The baskets were found on the north wall of the building, this being a 'side wall'.
Page 52 - it is stated, "Page rushed up the alley to the back of the Hart building...". Page actually rushed down the alley to the north side of the Hart building.
Page 55 - 'address' should be 'addresses'
Page 55 - '8:30 A.M.' should be '8:30 P.M.'
Page 58 - '5:45 A.M.' should be '5:45 P.M.'
Page 58 - it is stated, "at the corner of Orange and Broadway...". Orange Avenue intersects Broadway Avenue, at which point Orange Avenue becomes Broadway. There is no corner. See later this page, where this 'intersection' is identified
Page 58 - '6:00 A.M.' should be '6:00 P.M.'
Page 60 - it is stated, "...he dumped the additional parts in the vacant lot on Orange Avenue". There was no vacant lot involved here; the body parts were dumped in the back yard of a vacant house at 1419 Orange Avenue, as stated on page 58.
Page 63 - the head is described as having been found beneath a 'willow tree' but on Page 179 it is described as having been found beneath a 'bush'
Page 64 - concerning the discovery of the head of the Tattooed Man, it is stated, "He had last checked the area at 3:00 A.M. on June 4, about eighteen hours before...discovery". The head was discovered about 8:30 A.M. on June 5, which was over twenty-nine hours after 3:00 A.M. on June 4
Page 65 - it is stated that Jackass Hill was about a mile away from where the head of the Tattooed Man was found. The actual distance was only about one-half mile
Page 65 - it is stated, "...two...boys had found the...bodies of Edward Andrassy and his still unidentified companion". Technically, only one boy found Andrassy's body; he then told his companion about it. The second body was found by two other boys.
Page 65 - it is stated that the first set of Flo Polillo's body parts had been found six months before the head of the Tattooed Man was found. The time differential was actually less than four and one-half months.
Page 65 - the head is described as having arrived at the morgue about '7:30 A.M.', yet police responded to the call at 5:40 P.M. The correct time for arrival at the morgue must have been '7:30 P.M.'
Page 66 - see comment Page 33 regarding '1744 Fulton Avenue'
Page 66 - it is stated that the Tattooed Man's body was found "between the New York Central and Nickel Plate railroad track...". The body was actually found between the 'New York, Chicago and St. Louis' and Nickel Plate railroad tracks, "in front of" the Nickel Plate Railroad Police office. Although the author does not mention the latter location, he does so in his sequel, Hell's Wasteland
Page 66 - it is stated that the Tattooed Man's body was found eight hundred feet from where Edward Andrassy's body had been found. The actual distance was about sixteen hundred feet
Page 66 - '2:00 A.M.' should be '2:00 P.M.'
Page 66 - it is stated that police reported pools of blood where the Tattooed Man's body was found, and that location was said to be the murder site. No other source reports this statement of fact, and in the author's sequel, Hell's Wasteland, he states that none of the victims found in Kingsbury Run had actually been killed there
Page 67 - Descriptions of the Tattooed Man's tattoos generally do not agree with the diagram of them prepared especially for public viewing at the 1936-1937 Great Lakes Exposition. For example, the butterfly tattoo stated to have been on the left shoulder is shown on this diagram to have been on the right shoulder. There are numerous other conflicts.
Page 71 - it is stated that, after crossing Denison, Winifred (Marie) Barkley crossed the Baltimore & Ohio railroad tracks. The tracks she crossed were actually those of the New York Central and Wheeling & Lake Erie railroads
Page 71 - it is stated, "a trek that took her outside Cleveland proper to Brooklyn". While 'Brooklyn' may have been its nickname, the proper name of the suburban municipality was 'Brooklyn Village" (three times this page)
Page 71 - it is stated that Winifred (Marie) Barkley discovered the corpse of victim no. 5 "in a gully near West 98th and the Rayon Plant". This statement conflicts with the author's description of the site found on the map on page 270, and it is highly unlikely that the body was found at the location described on this page, which was in a heavily-trafficked residential area. All other sources state that the body was found south of Clinton Road, and this is much more likely than it being found in the residential area described. NOTE - a map of the victim murder/dump sites prepared by the coroner's office shows the murder site for victim no. 5 to have been south of Clinton Road, and even south of Big Creek
Page 76 - there is another reference to the Tattooed Man having been killed where his body was found. See comments page 66
Page 76 - 'Eddows' should really be 'Eddowes', as that is the accepted Ripperological spelling. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitechapel_murders and https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1844/catherine-eddowes
Page 76 - it is stated that Catherine Eddows [sic] was 'the only Ripper victim to be killed outside Whitechapel in London proper'. Of the Canonical Five victims of Jack the Ripper, two (Mary Ann Nichols and Elizabeth Stride) were killed in Whitechapel, two (Annie Chapman and Mary Kelly) were killed in Spitalfields, and only one (Eddowes) was killed in Aldgate, in the City of London proper. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitechapel_murders
Page 76 - there is yet another reference to the Tattooed Man having been killed where his body was found - 'isolated spot'. See comments page 66
Page 77 - elsewhere throughout the book, Sergeant James T. Hogan is described as the head of homicide, but on this page he is twice described as the chief of homicide
Page 77 - see comments page 71 regarding Brooklyn
Page 78 - it is stated, "...a foul, virtually stagnant waterway optimistically referred to as a creek...". What is not said is that this is THE creek, all that remained of Kingsbury Creek in that area of the Run. See General comments
Page 78 - it is stated that police hauled the two torso pieces out of the creek and "immediately" sent them to the morgue. But then it is stated that James Hogan gave the torso pieces a cursory examination. If indeed he did examine the torso pieces, then they were not sent to the morgue "immediately" after they were hauled out of the creek.
Page 78 - it is stated, "At a point where the water emerged from a large tunnel into a twenty-foot deep pool, the police found some small bits of human flesh adhering to a ledge, apparently where the killer had thrown the pieces over the edge into the creek". 1) The author never does state that the creek emptied into the pool, which it did. 2) Inspection of period photographs of the pool indicate that it was only about ten feet deep. 3) The author clearly states that the torso pieces were thrown into the creek, but the location described was at the entrance to the pool, not the creek
Page 78 - it is stated that James Hogan examined the torso pieces "by the pool". The pool was on the other side of a large berm that separated it from the creek, and it makes no sense for Hogan to have taken the torso pieces to the pool for examination. Said examination must have taken place by the creek, from which the pieces were retrieved. See General comments and other comments this page
Page 78 - it is stated, "...began dragging the foul waters with grappling hooks in a fruitless attempt to locate the rest of the body". The author does not say whether it is the creek or pool being discussed here, and this vague passage contributes greatly to the confusion that permeates this chapter. Later on, it is stated that a small boat was used to facilitate the dragging operation, and so one might conclude that it was 'probably' the pool being searched, given its apparent size, but it could also have been the creek, given its length. See comments pages 79-81. The probable event is that the victim's calves were found in the pool instead of the creek
Page 79 - it is stated, "...along the bank of the waterway at the point where authorities assumed the pieces of the body had been dumped". This statement makes no sense since on page 78, it is stated that the torso pieces had been thrown into the creek. This would have taken place from the ledge mentioned on page 78, just off of E 37th St., and thus would not have been "along the bank of the waterway", nor would it have applied to the pool, as both creek and pool were inside of a fence since they were located on Standard Oil Company property
Page 79 - it is stated, "...they assured police the torso pieces had not been in the pool then". The torso pieces had been found in the creek and had never been in the pool, contradictory verbiage on pages 78 and 79 notwithstanding. See General comments
Page 79 - it is stated, "...where police theorized the pieces had been tossed into the pool". Again, the torso pieces had been tossed into the creek as per the verbiage on page 78. To which pieces is the author referring? See General comments
Page 79 - it is stated, "Authorities even drafted onlookers to canvass the area surrounding the pool...". Up to this point, no body parts had been specifically said to have been found in the pool, confusion on page 78 and this page notwithstanding, so there was at the time no reason to search around the pool, if that is what the author really meant
Page 79 - '1:00 A.M.' should be '1:00 P.M.'
Page 81 - it is stated, "Without arms and head, identification would be impossible...". The 'and' should be 'or', as only one or the other would technically be necessary to identify the victim, either through fingerprints or dental records
Page 81 - it is stated, " ...in hopes of stirring up whatever pieces of the body might remain at the bottom of the pool". Up to this point, no body parts have specifically been said to have been found in the pool, confusion on pages 78 and 79 notwithstanding. The only body part ultimately said to have been found in the pool is the right thigh, although the left thigh is said to have been found in the creek
Page 82 - the photograph of the 'stagnant pool' found on this page has been flipped horizontally from its correct position
Page 84 - the photograph of the 'stagnant pool' found on this page has been flipped horizontally from its correct position
Page 85 - it is stated that Orley May found the hat near the pool, but on page 79, it is stated that he found the hat 175 feet northwest of the creek. This location was nowhere near the pool, which was south of the creek
Page 89 - Per official documents, Peter Merylo was born in Austria, not Ukraine
Page 93 - Per official documents, Peter Merylo's wife was named 'Sylvia', not 'Sophie'
Page 98 - it is stated, "a remote, desolate, swampy area close to the city". If the area was 'remote', then it couldn't also be 'close to the city'
Page 99 - 'George P. Kennedy' is identified as 'George S. Kennedy' on Page 100
Page 100 - 'George S. Kennedy' is identified as 'George P. Kennedy' on Page 99
Page 100 - 'Western Reserve Medical School' should be 'Western Reserve University Medical School'
Page 103 - 'publicly' is spelled 'publically' on Page 207. Both are correct but the latter is considered obsolete and is inconsistent
Page 103 - 'indicaton' should be 'indication'
Page 105 - in discussion of Detective Peter Merylo's trial run as a vagrant in Kingsbury Run, it is stated, "He moved carefully through a long, dark tunnel that led to the rapid transit repair shops in a side gully". This was no side gully; it was THE gully. East of E. 64th St., Kingsbury Run turned southeast and the rapid transit repair shop was located in that southeastern section
Page 105 - it is stated, "...in the yard in front of the shop's huge doors Illuminated by a foundry at the rim of the Run". The 1937 Cleveland fire insurance map does not indicate any foundry at the location stated, although many foundries are seen elsewhere on this map. NOTE: In the author's sequel, Hell's Wasteland, he states that Peter Merylo might have stationed himself in the 'Kingsbury Shops', the railroad maintenance and repair depot, instead of the rapid transit repair shop he describes
Page 106 - concerning Peter Merylo's thoughts while sitting in the darkened rapid transit repair shop, it is stated, "A strong man could have carried those headless bodies to the place they were found only a few hundred yards away". The distance from this repair shop to the dumping spot at the foot of Jackass Hill was about 1500 yards, far too great a distance to have carried the bodies
Page 107 - Both 'Otwell manuscript' and 'Otwell/Merylo manuscript' are found in the same sentence, the latter repeatedly on this page. See comments pages 15, 37, and 48.
Page 109 - it is stated that victim no. 7 had light brown hair. All there was to examine at the time was a headless and armless upper torso, so how could it have been established that the victim had light brown hair?
Page 110 - 'Feburary' should be 'February'
Page 116 - it is stated, "...Stone's Levee, a barren field west of the river...". Stone's Levee is actually east of the river.
Page 124 - '2:00A.M.' should be '2:00 P.M.'
Page 126 - 'preperations' should be 'preparations'
Page 135 - 'High Level Bridge' might have been the nickname of the bridge, but its proper name was 'Detroit-Superior High Level Bridge'
Page 136 - '...to protect his domain as personally guarding the door...' should be '...to protect his domain by personally guarding the door...'
Page 136 - '2:00 A.M.' should most likely be '2:00 P.M.'
Page 140 - George Zicarelli is referred to as a 'Sergeant' but in all other instances he is identified as a 'Detective'. This Page is not identified in the Index as a reference for this individual. See comments Page 289
Page 141 - The dump being searched by the scavengers is said to have been located in the southwest corner of an intersection. It was actually located in the southeast corner
Page 142 - Throughout the book, Charles O. Nevel is referred to as 'Acting Detective Inspector', except here he is simply termed 'Inspector'
Page 143 - it is stated, "Patrolman Barret of the Identification Bureau...". It is unclear if this is the Scientific Identification Bureau, the Bertillon unit, or some other entity hitherto unmentioned. See General comments
Page 143 - '6:00 A.M.' should be '6:00 P.M.'
Page 144 - The text accompanying the photograph states that the body parts shown are from victim no. 11, but their condition seen in the photograph does not seem to match the description given for this victim's body parts on Page 143, 'the enclosed limbs...were in such an advanced state of decay...'
Page 145 - Throughout the book, Charles O. Nevel is referred to as 'Acting Detective Inspector', except here he is simply termed 'Inspector'
Page 146 - The 'skull of victim no. 12' shown being examined by Coroner Gerber is actually the decomposing head of victim no. 11
Page 147 - the sentence containing "Merylo and Zalewski to the the Weideman Company" contains an extra 'the' before 'Weideman'
Page 153 - it is implied that Eliot Ness's shantytown raid took place in Kingsbury Run, when it was actually nearly half a mile to the north of the west end of the Run
Page 154 - it is stated, "Northeast of the bridge, the police lined up on the rim of the hill at East 34th". The hill in question was to the southeast of the bridge, not to the northeast
Page 160 - it is stated, "The victims had been using newspapers as mattresses, and the killer apparently tried to burn the bodies by setting the papers on fire". This discussion concerns the three mutilated corpses found on May 3, 1940, but in the author's sequel, Hell's Wasteland, he states that only the third body had been burned
Page 160 - it is stated that victim James Nicholson was twenty-nine years old but in the author's sequel, Hell's Wasteland, he states that the victim was thirty years old
Page 160 - it is stated that victim James Nicholson, among other criminal activities, was a homosexual. In the author's sequel, Hell's Wasteland, he mentions the other criminal activities but not the homosexuality
Page 161 - it is stated that the Butcher "had not killed in the city since August 1938", but that is erroneous. August 1938 was when the remains of victim nos. 11 and 12 were found, but the killings had taken place some months earlier
Page 170 - it is stated, "...the man had been dead...for between six and eight weeks...close to the time the mysterious sunbather began his ritualistic appearances". On page 169, it is stated, "...the...man...came to Norris Brothers Company...every day for six weeks...Then, one day he stopped coming - just about the time...employees began to notice sickening odors". The verbiage on page 170 means that the mysterious sunbather would have been sunbathing atop a dismembered corpse, an unlikely circumstance. The verbiage on page 169 certainly could be correct in the fact that a human corpse in warm weather begins to emit noticeable odor of decomposition within 24 hours of death. The time between the mysterious sunbather disappearing and the discovery of the decomposing remains is stated to have been two weeks. If the 'began' on page 170 were to be replaced with 'ended', it would make sense - except for the fact that the man had been judged to have been dead for six to eight weeks when the remains were found two weeks after the sunbather had disappeared. Yet, if the remains had indeed been there for six weeks, the odors should have been noticed much earlier than they were. There is some discontinuity in the author's narrative that has yet to be resolved. Did the perpetrator simply dump pieces of a rotting corpse that had been kept elsewhere for some length of time?
Page 172 - 'Kingsbury murders' should be 'Kingsbury Run murders'
Page 176 - 'Western Reserve Medical School' should be 'Western Reserve University Medical School'
Page 178 - it is stated, "He tended to leave his male prey intact, however, except for decapitation and emasculation: Edward Andrassy, as well as victims no. 2, no. 4, and no. 5". Neither victim no. 4 nor no. 5 had been emasculated
Page 179 - it is stated, "In the early summer of 1936, he killed victim no. 4 and no. 5...". Both victims had been killed in late spring of 1936, not early summer
Page 179 - there is another reference to the Tattooed Man, victim no. 4, having been killed where his body was found. See comments page 66
Page 179 - see comment Page 63 regarding 'bush'
Page 179 - it is stated, "...in the case of Rose Wallace, under a bridge". 'Rose Wallace' is a probable yet tentative identification; victim no. 8 technically remains unidentified
Page 181 - there is another reference to the Tattooed Man, victim no. 4, having been killed where his body was found. See comments page 66. Also, the site for no. 4 is said to be a "lonely spot" and it was not, being adjacent to a railroad police office
Page 183 - 'Robert H. Ressler' should be 'Robert K. Ressler'
Page 183 - 'Schachtman' should be 'Shachtman'
Page 183 - 'Whoever Hunts Monsters' should be 'Whoever Fights Monsters'
Page 183 - 'Dishaker' should be 'Olshaker'
Page 184 - it is stated that victim nos. 11 and 12 were "found in the same location at the same time". These two victims were found about two hundred feet apart, with no. 11 being found around 4 pm and no. 12 being found about three hours later.
Page 190 - 'a ominous' should be 'an ominous'
Page 190 - 'aparartment' should be 'apartment'
Page 205 - 'Doelzal' (twice on this page) should be 'Dolezal'
Page 205 - 'Shug' should be 'Schug'
Page 206 - 'Geber's' should be 'Gerber's'
Page 207 - see comment regarding 'publically' Page 103
Page 207 - it is stated, "...as any of the individuals that fiend killed, decapitated, and dismembered outright". In nearly all cases, it had been determined that the Butcher killed his victims by decapitation; these were not two separate acts
Page 208 - it is stated, "...there had been no torso killings since August 1938...". The last victims had been found in August 1938, but the actual killings had taken place some months earlier. See comments page 161
Page 213 - 'Wampum' is stated as 'Wampun' on Page 283
Page 216 - it is stated, "...to the identified victims - Edward Andrassy, Flo Polillo, and Rose Wallace". See comment re Rose Wallace page 179
Page 220 - 'Elizabeth' should be 'Elisabeth'. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10813285/elisabeth-lee-ness
Page 222 - 'Elizabeth Ness' should be 'Elisabeth Ness'. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10813285/elisabeth-lee-ness
Page 223 - see comment page 222
Page 224 - Sweeney Todd was a fictitious serial killer, not a mass murderer
Page 228 - it is stated, "...the family lived on Jessie Avenue, now East 79th". Antique maps all show that E. 79th St. used to be named 'Madison Avenue'. 'Jessie Avenue' is the former name of E. 69th St.
Page 232 - see comment page 228 regarding Jessie Avenue
Page 232 - it is stated, "He was born and raised as a boy on the edge of the run...". The family address on what is now E. 69th St. was due north and about 3/4 mile from the Run, hardly on the edge of it
Page 234 - see comment page 222
Page 236 - the narrative for Emil Fronek relates his journey southeast on Broadway Avenue and identifies landmarks that he passes en route to E 55th St. He is said to have passed Fowler and then found himself standing in front of a business at Broadway and Pershing. However, Fronek would have already passed by Pershing before reaching Fowler, and no reason is stated for his doubling back
Page 237 - it is stated that Emil Fronek slept in an empty boxcar for three days before being roused. Humans who go without water for three days invariably fall into a coma, or die, and so one must question the three-day duration of his sleep
Page 237 - it is stated that Orley May and Robert Carter accompanied Emil Fronek, but on Page 239, it is stated that 'Musil and Carter' accompanied him.
Page 237 - it is stated that Emil Fronek and the detectives, while cruising Broadway, headed east toward E 55th. Broadway runs NW-SE, more south than east
Page 238 - it is stated, concerning possible location of the Butcher's lair, "The intersection of Broadway and East 55th was just too far east and too far south". This intersection might have been too far south, but its E-W alignment was perfectly acceptable, considering that victim nos. 1, 2, and 4 flanked East 55th
Page 239 - 'that would see a likely possibility' should probably either be 'that would seem a likely possibility' or 'that would be a likely possibility'
Page 239 - see comments page 207 regarding murder and decapitation
Page 239 - see comment Page 237 regarding 'Orley May and Robert Carter'
Page 240 - it is stated that the door through which Emil Fronek entered the building at 5026 Broadway was on the northeast side. The door was actually on the southwest corner
Page 241 - see comments page 240 concerning the northeast orientation of the door
Page 242 - it is stated that several of the Butcher's victims frequented a bar at East 21st and Central. On page 187, this bar was said to be located at East 20th and Central
Page 243 - see comments page 207 regarding murder and decapitation
Page 245 - the orientation shown for the stable at 5026 Broadway is 90 degrees off according to the 1937 fire insurance map
Page 245 - in the bottom illustration, 'dinning' should be 'dining'
Page 246 - it is stated, "...on Mead Avenue, a very short street running north off of Broadway slightly west of the main Raus funeral parlor". 1) Mead Avenue is not a short street; it connects Broadway with Track Road. The author has possibly confused Mead with the first street to its north, Wendell, which is a very short street. 2) Mead runs northeast off of Broadway, more east than north 3) The Broadway-Mead intersection was down Broadway, northwest of the Raus funeral parlor
Page 246 - 'Western Reserve Medical School' is identified later on this Page as 'Western Reserve University Medical School'
Page 248 - 'In Otwell' should be 'In the Otwell manuscript'
Page 249 - see comment Page 33 regarding 'Fulton Avenue'
Page 252 - it is stated that Frank Sweeney's sister lived on East 65th. On page 261, it is stated that his sister lived on East 64th
Page 252 - see General comments regarding Superintendent Cowles and the Scientific Bureau of Identification. NOTE - the 1940 Census indicates that David Cowles was by then an Inspector-Detective
Page 253 - 'converstations' should be 'conversations'
Page 255 - it is stated, "...the very day Jerry Harris saw the first pieces of no. 6 floating in the stagnant waterway". Hitherto, only the pool near E. 37th St. has been referred to as 'stagnant', but the body parts referenced were found in the adjacent creek. See comments pages 78-85
Page 257 - see comment page 93 concerning 'Sophie'
Page 258 - see comment regarding 'publically' Page 103
Page 259- 'evidnece' should be 'evidence'
Page 260 - the illustration on this Page does not match the comparable illustration on Page 268 very well; numerous details differ. The street identified as East 65 is maybe identified as E 64 on Page 268.
Page 260 - on the map, 'Track Ave.' should be Track Rd.'
Page 260 - Mead Ave. connects Broadway and Track Rd.
Page 261 - it is stated that Frank Sweeney's sister lived on East 64th. On page 252, it is stated that his sister lived on East 65th
Page 262 - 'Martin's Zalewski's' should be 'Martin Zalewski's'
Page 265 - see comment page 234
Page 265 - see comment page 220 concerning 'Elizabeth'
Page 266 - see comment page 220 concerning 'Elizabeth'
Page 268 - see comment Page 19 for proper name of Edward Andrassy
Page 268 - the illustration on this Page does not match the comparable illustration on Page 260 very well; numerous details differ. The street identified as E 64 is identified as East 65 on Page 260
Page 269 - E. 20th St. did not extend north of Central Avenue as is shown on Map 3
Page 269 - see comments pages 44 and 135 concerning 'High Level Bridge'
Page 269 - it is stated that Hart Manufacturing was on the east side of Central Avenue, but it was actually on the south side
Page 269 - it is stated that the second set of Flo Polillo's remains "turned up on the north side of the Orange Avenue-Broadway intersection...". Their actual location was near the northeast corner of E. 14th St. and Broadway Avenue
Page 269 - the remains of victim no. 8 were found under the Loraine-Carnegie Bridge east of the river, not west. See comments page 116
Page 269 - "Lyon's" should be "Lyons' "; i.e., the actual name is 'Lyons', not 'Lyon'
Page 270 - the description of the site where #5 was found does not match the description found in the text on page 71.
Page 270 - Maps are traditionally drawn with North at the top. On map 4, West is at the top
Page 271 - see General comments concerning 'Lake Shore Drive'
Page 271 - on the map, 'Muncipal' should be 'Municipal'
Page 272 - the maiden name of Edward Andrassy's wife is reported throughout the book as 'Kardotska' but is apparently 'Kardotzke' instead. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106993279/lillian-mary/may-hissong
Page 273 - here we find mention of the 'Bureau of Criminal Investigation'. Is this a never-before-mentioned department or is it the same as the 'Criminal Investigation Bureau' mentioned in the author's sequel, Hell's Wasteland? See General comments
Page 273 - 'offical' should be 'official'
Page 273 - 'Mansuscript' should be 'Manuscript'
Page 274 - 'Robert H. Ressler' should be 'Robert K. Ressler'
Page 274 - 'Whoever Hunts Monsters' should be 'Whoever Fights Monsters'
Page 275 - see comment Page 19 for proper name of Edward Andrassy
Page 275 - the maiden name of Edward Andrassy's wife is reported throughout the book as 'Kardotska' but is apparently 'Kardotzke' instead. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106993279/lillian-mary/may-hissong
Page 277 - 'Sudgen' should be 'Sugden'
Page 283 - see comment Page 234
Page 283 - see comment Page 213
Page 283 - see comment page 222
Page 286 - 'Sudgen' should be 'Sugden'
Page 286 - 'Gardner' should be 'Gardener'
Page 287 - Regarding Joseph M. Sweeney:
- Page 81 - Detective Inspector
- Pages 91, 123 - Inspector
- Page 113 - Chief of Detectives
- Page 134 - Detective
Page 288 - see comment Page 19 for proper name of Edward Andrassy
Page 289 - see comment Page 213
Page 289 - 'Geroge' should be 'George'
Page 289 - Separate entries are included for 'Detective Zicarelli' (Page 147), 'Geroge [sic] Zicarelli' (Pages 52-54 and 89), and Carl Zicarelli (Page 126). The 'Detective' Zicarelli should be either Carl or George; is 'Detective' used because it is unclear as to which Zicarelli is being discussed, or were there really three different Zicarellis who were all detectives? See comment Page 140
Back Cover - it is stated, "Was Eliot Ness's secret suspect really the Mad Butcher? In this new authoritative edition, Badal is finally able to answer that question with certainty". However, on Page 235, the author states that, "...the case against Francis Sweeney is even more circumstantial today than it was seventy-five years ago...and, short of sworn testimony about a deathbed confession or some yet-to-be-discovered personal diary or letter, there is no way to tie Francis Sweeney... directly to the crimes." The lengthy but purely circumstantial evidence presented against Dr. Frank E. Sweeney is indeed very compelling, but there is nothing 'certain' that would secure his murder conviction in a court trial, guilty as he may now appear to be 80 years after the Torso Murders ceased.
] [