In the Wake of the Butcher : Cleveland's Torso Murders (Ohio) [Paperback]

James Jessen Badal (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ohio | Publication Date: April 1, 2001

On September 5, 1934, Frank LaGassie made a gruesome discovery. Partially buried was the lower half of a woman's torso, legs amputated at the knees. This "Lady of the Lake," as she was dubbed by the police and the press, was the first in a terrifying series of decapitation murders that haunted Cleveland for the next few years.

From 1934 to 1938, the "Torso Killer" left the corpses of a least twelve victims in and around the Kingsbury Run area of Cleveland. A frightened city turned to its safety director, the legendary Eliot Ness, who focused more energy and manpower on this investigation that any previous police action in Cleveland. But the killer was never arrested, or even officially identified.

In the Wake of the Butcher: Cleveland's Torso Murders is the first detailed, book-length examination of these horrific crimes. This compelling account is based on police reports, autopsy protocols, personal interviews with the descendants of victims and investigators, and unpublished manuscripts.

Illustrated with maps, rare crime scene and morgue photographs, and newspaper photos, this carefully researched true crime study offers a detailed account of one of the most sensational unsolved murder cases in the nation's history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

"Floating down the river, chunk by chunk by chunk/ Arms and legs and torsos, hunk by hunk by hunk!" goes the jingle that terrorized Cleveland from 1934 to 1938, when 12 known victims were found dismembered. The book's protagonist is Chief Investigator Peter Merylo, who was assigned to this case in 1936, stayed on it until he retired in 1943, and continued to maintain an interest in it until his death in 1958. Unlike today, policemen then were allowed to keep case files they worked on during their career. Hence, the files were in the possession of Merylo's daughter, who made them available to Badal (English, Cuyahoga Community Coll.). Elliot Ness, the man who put Capone and his men behind bars, was separately assigned to the case but could not crack it, which tarnished his reputation and started a downward tailspin from which he never recovered. The culprit was never apprehended, but Badal provides the readers with possible suspects without ever concluding who the real killer was. This is a well-researched book on a subject that remains a haunting mystery in Cleveland to this day. Readers should beware, however, as it contains very graphic photographs. For all true-crime collections. Michael Sawyer, Northwestern Regional Lib., Elkin, NC
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Badal adds some flesh to the bones of a case that became the personal skeleton ... of ... Eliot Ness..." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 26, 2001

"It reades like the pitch for a slasher-film, . . . and in this case history is stranger than fiction." -- Cleveland Magazine, April 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 255 pages
• Publisher: Kent State University Press (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873386892
• ISBN-13: 978-0873386890
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #568,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Account of the True Crime of the Century, July 6, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Compton "Jeffrey Compton" (Forest Hills, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In the Wake of the Butcher : Cleveland's Torso Murders (Ohio) (Paperback)

The Cleveland Torso Murders were among the first, accounted for, serial killings in America. Because of the gruesome details, not to mention that fact that the case is still open, they deserved much more attention. Criminologists, especially those interested in psychological profiling, would learn much from studying this case, than from other, more publicized murders, including the Sam Sheppard case.

Though we have not seen each other recently, I knew Jim Badal many years ago when I lived in Cleveland. His expertise in the Torso case at that time merited, at least in my opinion, a book, but Badal held back until he could bring real additional knowledge to the discussion, not just rehash and theories. His wait was worth it. Not only was Badal able to track down and interview members of the victim's families (and thus put a real face on persons previously portrayed through stereotypes), but he was the first Torso case author to read through the extensive records left by the lead police investigator. Thus we have a book of superb accuracy and detail, that reads better than a good crime novel.

The best part of the book is that Badal does not push his own theory of who was the Torso murderer. While some may find that disappointing, he instead takes the high road by giving the readers just the facts, and thus allows them to come up with their own theories. We will probably never know who did these awful crimes, and speculating for a little added notoriety would have only diminished the book's true horror.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most COMPLETE Book Written About These Murders!, May 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: In the Wake of the Butcher : Cleveland's Torso Murders (Ohio) (Paperback)

"In the Wake of the Butcher" is the most complete book I have read regarding the topic of the Torso killings in Cleveland, Ohio. Not only can you uncover new details and new information about this case but James Badal has an uncanny way of putting "faces" on the victims and people involved. From Elliot Ness to Peter Merylo to Frank Dolezal...you'll walk away from this book feeling like you have gone back to the Thirties, have your Sherlock Holmes hat on and come up with your own theories of "Who Done It"! This book will not disappoint you.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the author, James Badal - Der Drache erwacht, September 13, 2005

By 

James J. Badal (Shaker Heights, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In the Wake of the Butcher : Cleveland's Torso Murders (Ohio) (Paperback)

I appreciate Mr. Beveridge taking the time to "review" my book "In the Wake of the Butcher." I must point out, however, that his allegation that I "ultimately dismiss" Dr. Francis Edward Sweeney as the prime candidate in the series of murder-dismemberments is simply not true. No one who read my book carefully could possibly come to that conculsion. Of course, with over 1,500 online reviews to his credit, Mr. Beveridge probably has precious little time for any sort of reading, careful or otherwise.