No. 712
Crime, Eccentricity, and the Sporting Life in 19th Century America.
August 15, 2025
alias: BAKER, BILLY BURKE
SNEAK, BURGLAR
On the morning of March 22, 1881, 60-year-old Alby C. Thompson was found in the Thames Hotel on Market Street in Norwich, Connecticut, suffering from a “paralytic fit.” It was a bad part of town, known for crime and prostitution, and it was assumed that Thompson was the victim of a robbery. He was taken to his home.Three days later, blood oozed from his ears, and doctors discovered that Thompson
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Murder By Gaslight - 8/9/2025
Why the Greek goddess of sacred poetry and music stands tucked behind a fence on the Upper East Side
As anyone who has ever taken a walk through a city park knows, New York is rich with beautiful bronze statues. Typically they grace a public space, often on a decorative pedestal or base and in a setting that underscores their importance (or their importance at the time the statue was completed). Then there are […]
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Ephemeral New York - 8/11/2025
Stop by this week as we explore what happened the week before the murders, Emma and Lizzie’s getaway to Fairhaven and New Bedford, and new imagery which will help to tell the story. The pears are almost ripe, August 4th is coming fast, and thoughts begin to turn to that house on Second Street once again. Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/lizziebordenwarpsandwefts/ !
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Lizzie Borden: Warps and Wefts - 7/26/2025
Welcome!It seems appropriate for this week's Link Dump to be hosted by an authentic 16th century witch's cat.Just be careful how you pet him. You don't want to turn into a frog.What the hell is 31/Atlas? And do we really want to know?One of the first celebrity dogs.A pitchfork murder.Paging Graham Hancock!A visit to Christ Church, Spitalfields.There's really nothing like morgue
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Strange Company - 8/15/2025
Why the Greek goddess of sacred poetry and music stands tucked behind a fence on the Upper East Side
As anyone who has ever taken a walk through a city park knows, New York is rich with beautiful bronze statues. Typically they grace a public space, often on a decorative pedestal or base and in a setting that underscores their importance (or their importance at the time the statue was completed). Then there are […]
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Ephemeral New York - 8/11/2025
Soapy Smith STAR NotebookPage 20 - Original copy1884Courtesy of Geri Murphy(Click image to enlarge)
oapy Smith's early empire growth in Denver.Operating the prize package soap sell racket in 1884.
This is page 20, the continuation of page 19, and dated May 6 - May 29, 1884, as well as the continuation of pages 18-19, the beginning of Soapy Smith's criminal empire building in Denver, Colorado.&
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Soapy Smith's Soap Box - 6/1/2025
On the morning of March 22, 1881, 60-year-old Alby C. Thompson was found in the Thames Hotel on Market Street in Norwich, Connecticut, suffering from a “paralytic fit.” It was a bad part of town, known for crime and prostitution, and it was assumed that Thompson was the victim of a robbery. He was taken to his home.Three days later, blood oozed from his ears, and doctors discovered that Thompson
More...
Murder By Gaslight - 8/9/2025
Welcome!It seems appropriate for this week's Link Dump to be hosted by an authentic 16th century witch's cat.Just be careful how you pet him. You don't want to turn into a frog.What the hell is 31/Atlas? And do we really want to know?One of the first celebrity dogs.A pitchfork murder.Paging Graham Hancock!A visit to Christ Church, Spitalfields.There's really nothing like morgue
More...
Strange Company - 8/15/2025
Stop by this week as we explore what happened the week before the murders, Emma and Lizzie’s getaway to Fairhaven and New Bedford, and new imagery which will help to tell the story. The pears are almost ripe, August 4th is coming fast, and thoughts begin to turn to that house on Second Street once again. Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/lizziebordenwarpsandwefts/ !
More...
Lizzie Borden: Warps and Wefts - 7/26/2025
The Bloody Century 2
Takes the reader back to 19th-century America in all its gory glory.
