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Book

Murder & mayhem in Grand Rapids

Call Numbers

  • 364.1523 B9315 (CEN)
  • H 364.1523 B9315 (CEN)

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Publication Information

Charleston, South Carolina : The History Press, 2015.

Physical Description

159 pages : illustrations, maps, ; 23 cm

Summary

Overview: While the River City is known for its history of furniture making, it also has a sinister side. Jennie Flood was a widow with a get-rich scheme that involved a shotgun and an insurance application. Reverend Ferris went undercover in his war against the city's purveyors of vice. The police rounded up the usual suspects in an attempt to solve the infamous 1921 bank heist that led to the slaying of two detectives. And the death of a teenager exposed "Aunty" Smith and her dangerous side business conducted in the shadows. Author Tobin T. Buhk delves into the colorful characters of Grand Rapids' past and the heinous crimes they committed.

Contents

  • Introduction: Cell
  • Midnight express, 1885
  • Full throttle: the murder of Mrs Mary McKendrick, 1894
  • Murder of detective George Powers, 1895
  • Not-so-masked crusader: Reverend Ferris's war on vice, 1902
  • Auntie Smith, the abortionist, 1902
  • Ghastly exhibit: murder trial of Mrs Nancy Jeanette Flood, 1903
  • In the bag, 1907
  • Usual suspects, 1921
  • Bibliography
  • About the author.

Subjects