Thursday, November 24, 2022

Grave Tales #33: Norman Myers "Chubby" Chaney

I am an avid genealogist. The past is very important to me. I spend a lot of time in cemeteries photographing tombstones to upload on website the FindAGrave.

I enjoy recognizing long dead people by putting memorials to them online. However, every once and a while something grabs me about a specific grave. It could be the name, or the dates or a ceramic photo. In those cases, I feel compelled to dig a little deeper. That's what this series of blogs is about: The tales behind those graves. Some of my subjects will be heroes. Some will be villains. Some will be victims. And some will linger in between, like most of us. However, don't be surprised if the tales are inherently tragic. These are grave tales. They all end in death.

In this blog, I return to Baltimore Cemetery to tell the story of Norman Myers "Chubby" Chaney, who won a nationwide talent contest in 1929 to become a member of Hal Roach's Little Rascals. When I was growing up you could watch short films by comedy teams like Laurel & Hardy, The Three Stooges and The Little Rascals* every morning before school. I always enjoyed The Little Rascals, especially the early talkies when Chubby was a member of the troupe. I particularly enjoyed the films where happy-faced Chubby competed with Jackie Cooper for affection of their teacher Miss Crabtree. 

Norman "Chubby" Chaney

I normally avoid writing about famous people. I prefer to dig into unsung lives. However, since my last few blogs have been pretty grim, I wanted to shine a light on someone who brought joy into the lives of millions of people, myself included. Okay, I'll confess. I was mainly planning to use this blog as an opportunity to embed a bunch of old short films I enjoyed. Sadly, since the newly restored remasters were released, most the unauthorized postings of Little Rascals material has been removed from YouTube. But don't worry, I'll still include a couple clips of Chubby in all of his rotund glory.

Here's a story from Doris Denbo's Hollywood gossip column:

Los Angeles Evening Citizen News (Los Angeles, California), 5 August 1929, Mon:

Little by little the famous old "Gang" is breaking and growing up. Joe Cobb, the famous fatty of Hal Roach's Rascals is leaving the gang forever and going freelancing. Another "fatty" has been signed by Robert McGowan, "Gang" director. He is Norman "Chubby" Chaney. (No, it's not Lon Chaney in another disguise -- nor any relation to him), but he is a young fellow who made good on the recent nation-wide contest conducted by Loew's Theaters, Inc., to find child personalities for "Our Gang." He was signed today on a long term contract. Chubby, but nine years old, weighs 106 pounds and measures 47 inches in height, almost the exact measurements of Joe. The Hal Roach Gang now consists of "Wheezer," Mary Ann Jackson, Farina, Harry Spear, Chubby Chaney and Pete, the dog. They will start work again August 26 when Hal Roach opens his studio once more.

Hal Roach's Little Rascals, circa 1929. Farina,
Pete, Chubby, Wheezer, Mary Ann, Jackie Cooper.

Here's another short story:

The Knoxville News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tenn), 21 August 1929, Weds:

Replacement....

Norman "Chubby" Chaney, 8, has replaced Joe Cobb in Hal Roach's "Our Gang" comedies. The little roly-poly favorite was getting $500 a week and "Chubby" is working cheaper. Farina, the negro youngster, is said to be slated to go soon, also. "Chubby" got his job as the result of a contest staged thruout the country in Loew theaters.

If you noticed, two different ages were given for Chubby in the newspaper stories. Apparently Chubby's mother lied about his age -- making him younger -- when he entered the contest. If Chubby was really eight-years-old in 1929, that meant he was born in 1921. According to his tombstone, Chubby was born in 1914. That meant he was fifteen-years-old when he joined the troupe, and that was around the age when members were replaced! I would like to see the documentation for the 1914 birthdate. He certainly doesn't look like he is fifteen or sixteen in the films.** 

Regardless of his age, Chubby soon became a fan favorite. Here's some of the publicity photos the studio put out periodically.

In the earliest days of talkies, producer Hal Roach had his biggest stars make Spanish, French and German language versions of their films. The stars, who couldn't speak the languages, had to learn the dialogue phonetically. Here's a publicity shot of Chubby and the rest of the Little Rascals learning to speak Spanish from January 1930:


Here's a shot of Chubby and Mary Ann Jackson having fun on the golf course from December 1930:


Here's a photo of Chubby being fed a banana by Dorothy De Borba from July of 1931:


Chubby was so popular that he became merchandized. You could buy "novelty" soap shaped like him. Here's an ad:

I wonder if anyone still has one of those....

Sadly, by 1932 Chubby's time with the Little Rascals was over. When Hal Roach produced the series, they were strict about the kids being kids. The performers aged out of the troupe relatively quickly. Chubby replaced the original fat kid Joe Cobb. Now he found himself being replaced by a four-year-old fat child named Bouncy Wertz.

The Long Beach Sun (Long Beach, CA), 23 March 1932, Wed:


Long Beach Lad Gets Berth
With 'Our Gang' Company

     Harold E. Wertz, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold E. Wertz, 6542 Falcon Avenue, had no idea of being the new little fat boy to succeed Chubby Chaney in Hal Roach's Our Gang motion picture comedies. But two months ago, when Chubby grew too tall for the part and the studio advertised for a new fat boy, a neighbor woman saw the notice and sent it over to Harold's mother. So, now he is Bouncy Wertz and has already completed two pictures.
     Bouncy is four years old and weighs sixty-seven pounds, a great deal of his weight having been added during the past year. His mother says Bouncy has increased his circumference without adding much to his stature.

Bouncy Wertz

Chubby's movie career only last three years and consisted of twenty-two short films. In comparison, Bouncy had a much shorter tenure with the Little Rascals. Only three films.... I have no memory of him at all.

There were stories in the papers of other film projects with Chubby, but none of them materialized. Chubby was forced to capitalize on live appearances to make money and maintain his fame. Here are some advertisements for a few of them:







I can't help but think it must have been devastating for Chubby's ego to go from being a successful, beloved movie star to showing up at department stores to shake hands in the radio department. Nowadays, the psychological problems many child stars experience after their careers end are better known. Sadly, I couldn't find any interviews with him that expressed his thoughts.

Chubby and his mother returned to Baltimore to live with her parents, but his days were numbered. He would be the first member of the Little Rascals to die.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 30 May 1936, Sat:


MOVIE "FAT BOY"
DIES SUDDENLY HERE
-----
Norman Myers Chaney Had
Four-Year Career in "Our
Gang" Comedies
-----

     Norman Myers Chaney, who had a four-year-career in moving pictures as the fat boy in Hal Roach's "Our Gang" comedies, is dead.
     His death occurred suddenly early yesterday at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Myers, with whom he lived, at 2565 West Lombard street.
     As late as Thursday evening, the grandparents said, Norman, apparently in usual health and spirits, had been playing with neighborhood companions.

Effect On Heart

     Physicians attributed his death to the effect on his heart of a glandular condition -- the same condition, it is believed, that qualified him by his weight for his motion-picture role.
     Recently, however, his weight was only 136 pounds, Mr. and Mrs. Myers said. On his return to Baltimore from Hollywood in 1934, it was 143.
     The son of William T. and Carolyn Myers Chaney, Norman was chosen the local winner at Carlin's Park in September 1929, of a nation-wide contest to choose a successor to Joe Cobb. The original fat boy of the Our gang films, Cobb had grown too old for the role.

In 72 Cities

     In the finals Norman eliminated other local competitors in the contest, which was held in seventy-two major cities and attracted more than 2,000 entrants.
     In Hollywood the winner made two contracts of two years each and became a favorite, it was said, in the film colony. One of his best friends was Tom Mix.
     At the termination of his second contract he made a personal appearance tour of the United States, then returned to his home here. Becoming ill last year, he went to the Johns Hopkins Hospital for treatment of the glandular ailment and apparently, said his grandparents, had overcome it, in part, at least.
     Funeral services for him will be conducted at the Myers home Monday at 2 P.M. by the Rev. L.O. Forqueran, of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church. Burial will be in the Baltimore Cemetery.

At the time of his death, Chubby's family did not have the money to place a marker on his grave. Many decades later, in 2012, fans, led by musician Mikal C.G., rectified the situation. They put markers on the adjacent graves of Chubby and his mother. I wish I had heard about the crowd-funded project in time to contribute.... 

As I said earlier, most of the Little Rascals/Our Gang material has been removed from YouTube, but here are a few clips you might enjoy. I recommend checking out the films themselves. They are delightful.

 

 

If you would like to visit Chubby's grave, do not use the GPS function on the Findagrave app. Someone put in the wrong position. The grave, however, is easy to find. When you enter the cemetery make a right and follow the road down. The grave will be on the right about a third of way down. It is about five rows back, but it is clearly visible from the road if you know what it looks like.


Remember, there is a story behind every grave. You never know what you're missing when you walk past one....

*The film series was always called Our Gang. The stars were Hal Roach's Little Rascals. However, when the films were licensed for television, the Hal Roach produced films were called The Little Rascals. The later films, produced by MGM, were called Our Gang.

**Facebooker Cindy Shugars Kohl checked Chubby in the census. Here's what she found out: In the 1920 Census he is 5 1/12 years old. The data is recorded as the 9th of January 1920. I would estimate his birthdate to be December 1914. The 1930 Census dated 26th March 1930 shows his age as 11, estimated birth year 1915.

Grave Tales:

My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & NobleChapel Street is the tale of a young man battling a demonic entity that has driven members of his family to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting. 


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Listen to me read some chapters here:


Read about the true haunting that inspired the novel here:

The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 1, An Introduction
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 2, The House
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 3, This Is Us
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 4, Arrival
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 5, Methodology
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 6, Clara's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 7, Clara's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 8, My Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 9, My Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 10, My Tale, Pt. 3
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 11, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 12, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 13, John's Tale, Pt. 1 
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 14, John's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 15, Come Inside!
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 16, Marion's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 17, Marion's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 18, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 19, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 20, Lisa's Tale
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 21, Recap, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 22, Recap, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 23, Recap, Pt. 3

Let's stay in touch:

Follow me on Twitter: SeanPaulMurphy
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Thursday, November 17, 2022

Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast #128: Kantara

Here's another exciting ZOOM edition of the Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast, a lively discussion of the movies that sometimes devolves into a group therapy session. 

In a rare departure from our normal format, Ralph, Deborah and myself review a film currently playing in the theaters. Our fans in India requested that we check out the film Kantara starring Rishab Shetty, who also wrote and directed it. The movie was another wild ride of the sort we have come to expect from Indian cinema. Check it out.

BTW, don't worry. Although they hadn't seen the film, the other Mother Podcasters show up to tell us what they've been watching.

Here's the trailer for film:

          

Here's the podcast on YouTube:

    

Our Podcast is available on iTunes: Yippee Ki Yay Mother Podcast
Subscribe to our YouTube page: Yippee Ki Yay Mother Podcast
Check out our webpage: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast
Like us on Facebook: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast.
Follow us on Twitter: YKYPodcast

Check out our other episodes here:


My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can currently buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Watch the book trailer:

  

Listen to me read some chapters here:

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

John Quattrucci wants to read your book!



My Yippee Ki Yay Mother Podcast co-star John Quattrucci has always been an actor and decided he'd like to read some audio books. He asked if he could read a chapter of each of my books as a sample. How could I refuse? I think he did a better job than I did reading it.  Check it out....

   

The sample must be working because he's already been getting assignments. If you're an author, check out his ACX page here: John Quattrucci.

He might be just the voice for you!

My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & NobleChapel Street is the tale of a young man battling a demonic entity that has driven members of his family to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting. 


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Listen to me read some chapters here:


Read about the true haunting that inspired the novel here:

The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 1, An Introduction
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 2, The House
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 3, This Is Us
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 4, Arrival
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 5, Methodology
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 6, Clara's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 7, Clara's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 8, My Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 9, My Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 10, My Tale, Pt. 3
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 11, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 12, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 13, John's Tale, Pt. 1 
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 14, John's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 15, Come Inside!
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 16, Marion's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 17, Marion's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 18, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 19, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 20, Lisa's Tale
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 21, Recap, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 22, Recap, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 23, Recap, Pt. 3

Let's stay in touch:

Follow me on Twitter: SeanPaulMurphy
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Friday, November 11, 2022

Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast #127: Andhadhun

Here's another exciting ZOOM edition of the Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast, a lively discussion of the movies that sometimes devolves into a group therapy session. 

We polled our YouTube subscribers about what film they wanted us to review next. They chose the 2018 Indian black comedy Andhaddun. It was an excellent choice! This might be my favorite Indian film to date. The film, about a blind piano player who witnesses a number of murders, features an excellent script that keeps upping the ante with surprising left turns and great performances, particularly by Tabu as the film fatale. This film screams American remake, please! Check it out.

Here's the trailer for film:

        

Here's the podcast on YouTube:

 

Our Podcast is available on iTunes: Yippee Ki Yay Mother Podcast
Subscribe to our YouTube page: Yippee Ki Yay Mother Podcast
Check out our webpage: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast
Like us on Facebook: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast.
Follow us on Twitter: YKYPodcast

Check out our other episodes here:


My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can currently buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Watch the book trailer:

  

Listen to me read some chapters here:

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Writer Tip #37: Non-Disclosure/Non-Disparagement Agreements

Remember the #MeToo Movement? Kinda made a big splash in Hollywood a few years back. Elsewhere, too.

As the press, legal commentators and social justice warriors everywhere processed the true revolting scope of the scandal, one thing became abundantly clear to everyone: The monsters in Hollywood, sexual or otherwise, only managed to avoid the repercussions of their actions for as long as they did because of the ruthless use of Non-Disclosure Agreements.

NDAs were declared unethical tools of repression. It was agreed no just person should use them. Everyone in Hollywood cheered. Justice had come at last....

Well, not everyone cheered. Some folks began thinking: Those Non-Disclosure Agreements sound like a pretty good deal. What worked for Harvey Weinstein  -- for a while anyway -- could work for me too.

I don't know what the official criterion is for "entering" the film business. My first feature was produced in 2003. However, I personally put my entry in 1992 when I got my first real agent. That's thirty years. Prior to the #MeToo movement, I had only been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement once. Here's the story.

Around the time my third film was being shot, my former partner and I were approached by a director about writing a script for him. We were familiar with him and we were delighted to have a chance to work with him. He said he could tell us all about the story, which was based on a life-story he had already acquired, after we signed a non-disclosure agreement.

He emailed us the agreement. We were aghast. The document was quite onerous. If I remember correctly, it even mentioned a penalty amount ($100,000) if we discussed the project in an unauthorized manner. My partner and I weren't inclined to sign the agreement, and I called the director and said so.

I asked why he even thought such an agreement was necessary. It was a life story and he had already secured the rights. It isn't like we could steal it. He was apologetic. He said he had hired a lawyer to set up the paperwork for the project and this was one of the many documents he provided. I told him the agreement was outrageous. The terms were so vague that I could lose my house if I accidently talked in my sleep and my wife heard it. The director said he would redo the agreement and send it back to us. He never did. 

My partner and I didn't get the assignment. And we never lost a minute of sleep over it.

That was the last non-disclosure agreement I saw until recently. Now, every document that crosses my desk has one. And it's not just me. Other screenwriters seek my advice periodically. Non-disclosure agreements have been showing up in their contracts as well. It's a thing now.

I don't like it.

First, if they include a non-disclosure agreement in an option or a purchase agreement, they are not treating you like a professional. They'd get laughed in their faces if they sent an NDA to a member of the WGA. As a union member, you are required to submit all employment contracts to the union. Therefore, a non-disclosure agreement is a non-starter. This is one of the reasons why, after fourteen produced features, I am WGA or Bust on all projects from here on out. I'm tired of having to deal with BS like this. 

Secondly, I doubt the producer or production company adds a NDA because the contract is good. Trust me, if they were sending you a good, generous deal, they'd want you to go around bragging about it.  They'd send out a press release to the trades. No. To me, a non-disclosure agreement is a definite warning sign. Sometimes they even tell you what they're afraid of. Check out this non-disclosure agreement on a contract I recently rejected:

"Each of the Parties hereto do agree to maintain as private and confidential the terms of this Agreement. If any inquiry is made by a third party concerning this Agreement, each Party hereto shall disclose no more than that the matter has been amicably resolved to its satisfaction pursuant to a confidential termination and release agreement. In the event that any Party hereto is served with process to compel the production of any documents concerning either this Agreement, each Party hereto agrees to immediately notify the other Party of the service, so that said Party may object and resist the production of this Agreement as a confidential and privileged document. Each Party further agrees to give notice to the other Party in the event it is served with applicable process."

In other words, if I receive a summons in a criminal or civil case regarding something pertinent to the agreement, I have to share it with the company -- perhaps tipping them off to potential legal action -- and they still get to determine whether I can speak in the matter. As someone who had to testify for seven brutal hours in a lawsuit simply as a witness, I find that clause unethical. It would have been ridiculous -- and patently unjust -- if I had been unable to say anything but "I am legally unable to answer that question." When I see a clause like that, it makes me wonder how many times they've been sued.

Another non disclosure agreement a friend of mine recently shared with me in a script option allowed him to speak freely if they were summoned to speak in a legal proceeding. That, at least, was a nod in the direction of ethics.

Then there's the Non-Disparagement Clauses. What's up with them?

They're even more insane.

They're not included to protect the producers or production companies from libel. Libel is against the law. The legal system has already provided remedies to libel. They're not included to protect the producers or production companies from slander either. Once again, there are existing laws against slander and proscribed penalties.

Non-Disparagement Clauses exist instead to prevent you from telling THE TRUTH about the producers and production companies. That's right. Why else include one? The people who include these clauses must know from past experience that left to their own devices, their business associates would say bad things about them. The natural human response to disparagement would be to treat people well so that such clauses are unnecessary. However, if you want to treat people like garbage without having to worry about your reputation, non disparagement clauses were made for you.

Count me out.

I have been offered a few contracts with non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements and I have said no. I left money on the table, and I do not regret it. I can't say I will never sign a contract again with a non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses. I might, but I will be suspicious of the deal. I'm no lawyer, but to me those clauses are a red flag that I'm about to get screwed.

Your experiences might be different than mine. Leave a comment below and tell me if you signed a contract with those clauses and everything worked out well. Be sure to leave all of the details....

Ooops. That's right.

You can't.

Beware.

Other Writing Tips:


Check out my novel Chapel Street on Amazon now:


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Watch the book trailer here:

  

Follow me on Twitter: SeanPaulMurphy
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Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast #126: This Is Spinal Tap with Joe Macre of Crack The Sky



Here's another exciting ZOOM edition of the Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast, a lively discussion of the movies that sometimes devolves into a group therapy session. 

This was a very exciting episode for me. I have always been a huge fan of the band Crack The Sky and we had the opportunity to have its original bass player Joe Macre as a guest to discuss the film he feels most accurately resembles life in the world of rock & roll: This Is Spinal Tap. We had reviewed the film previously as a film in Episode 42. We do not cover a lot of same territory here and concentrate instead on Joe's career and the early days of Crack The Sky.  Check it out.

Joe Macre, right, after being inducted into
the Maryland Musician Hall of Fame.

Here's the trailer for film:

      

Here's the podcast on YouTube:

 

Here's Joe playing with Crack The Sky:

 

Here's a video I edited for Crack The Sky:

 

Check out Joe's webpage here: joemacre.com
Check out Joe's music here: Joe Macre Sound Cloud

Our Podcast is available on iTunes: Yippee Ki Yay Mother Podcast
Subscribe to our YouTube page: Yippee Ki Yay Mother Podcast
Check out our webpage: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast
Like us on Facebook: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast.
Follow us on Twitter: YKYPodcast

Check out our other episodes here:


My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can currently buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Watch the book trailer:

  

Listen to me read some chapters here:

Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast #125: Tumbbad

Here's another exciting ZOOM edition of the Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast, a lively discussion of the movies that sometimes devolves into a group therapy session. 

We close out the Halloween season with the Indian horror film Tumbbad, which had been highly recommended by our fans. We have already reviewed Indian historical, fantasy and dramatic films. This is our first Indian horror film, and it is a doozy. Check it out!

Here's the trailer for film:

      

Here's the podcast on YouTube:

     

Our Podcast is available on iTunes: Yippee Ki Yay Mother Podcast
Subscribe to our YouTube page: Yippee Ki Yay Mother Podcast
Check out our webpage: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast
Like us on Facebook: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast.
Follow us on Twitter: YKYPodcast

Check out our other episodes here:


My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can currently buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Watch the book trailer:

  

Listen to me read some chapters here:

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Grave Tales #32: John P. Brandau

I am an avid genealogist. The past is very important to me. I spend a lot of time in cemeteries photographing tombstones to upload on website the FindAGrave.

I enjoy recognizing long dead people by putting memorials to them online. However, every once and a while something grabs me about a specific grave. It could be the name, or the dates or a ceramic photo. In those cases, I feel compelled to dig a little deeper. That's what this series of blogs is about: The tales behind those graves. Some of my subjects will be heroes. Some will be villains. Some will be victims. And some will linger in between, like most of us. However, don't be surprised if the tales are inherently tragic. These are grave tales. They all end in death.

There's a place in Japan called Aokigahara forest. They call it the suicide forest. People come from all over the country to commit suicide within its dark confines. Until I stumbled upon the grave of John P. Brandau in Baltimore Cemetery, I didn't realize Baltimore possessed a similar place. Mr. Brandau took his own life in Druid Hill Park. He was not the first and not the last. In the late 19th and early 20th century, many Baltimoreans ventured into the park to take their lives. Here's the story of Mr. Brandau and many of the others who walked the same path.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 1 June 1900, Fri:


SUICIDE IN THE PARK
-----
John P. Brandau, A Painter, Shoots Himself

     John P. Brandau, a painter, aged 44 years, 301 South Ann street, committed suicide yesterday in Druid Hill Park by shooting himself through the temple.
     Captain Cassell, having returned from his morning rounds, was sitting in his house, when about 9.25 o'clock he heard the report of a pistol, which seemed to come from the music pavilion. Starting out in that direction he met Patrolman Nauman who, with Patrolman Morgan, Hallman and Hayden, was coming to tell him of the shooting.
     Patrolman Morgan was the first person to arrive at the place where the pistol was fired -- the first bench on the west side of the promenade approaching the music pavilion, more than 200 yards from where Eben Strahan shot himself little over a month ago. Patrolman Morgan arrived just as Mr. Brandau expired, the blood pouring out of the hole in his temple. The smoking five-shooter was lying on the bench. It still contained four bullets.
     Captain Cassell had the body stretched out on the bench. It was identified by a slip of paper which read, "John P. Brandau, a painter, 301 South Ann street."
     Captain Cassell telephoned immediately to the Eastern Police Station to notify the family.
     At the time of the suicide there were very few persons in the park and Captain Cassell says that there were no actual witnesses of the shooting.
     Mr. Brandau's suicide is the thirty-fifth that has occurred in Druid Hill Park since the part was opened in 1862. He leaves a widow and several children. It is thought that he became despondent on account of failure to procure work. He was a son of Mr. Frederick Brandau, 1202 Gough street.

The thirty-fifth suicide in the park? That meant there was slightly less than one suicide per year since 1862. However, the editors obviously thought the number was noteworthy. It must have been disturbingly disproportionate to the number of suicides taking place in other parks and locations in the city where people gathered. I felt compelled to take a look into some of the other deaths, but first a little history of the park.

Druid Hill Park was formerly the estate of Lloyd Rogers, who sold it to Baltimore City in 1860. At seven-hundred-and-forty-six acres, it rivals New York's Central Park and Philadelphia's Fairmount Park as one of the oldest large public parks in the United States. It was financed by a tax on the privately run streetcar lines. The Baltimore Zoo, which is still located on its ground, was created by an act of the Maryland State Legislature in 1876. However, its collection of animals began in the 1860s. Druid Hill Park provided the average Baltimorean a happy place of recreation. They could have picnics, play sports or simply enjoy the greenery away from the noise and grime of the city.

As John Brandau's obituary indicated, it was also a place of self-destruction. Here's the first story I could find about a suicide in Druid Hill Park:

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 10 July 1877, Tue:

Attempted Suicide in Druid Hill Park. -- Henry D. Gibson, attempted to commit suicide yesterday afternoon in Druid Hill Park by shooting himself in the head with a pistol. In the afternoon, at three o'clock, as Captain Cassell, superintendent of the park police, was making his rounds he saw a man sitting under a tree to the right of the main entrance, but noticed nothing particular in his actions. In passing the same place again at 20 minutes to five o'clock he saw the same man lying on the grass as if in great pain. On going up to him Captain Cassell found his head and face was covered with blood, which was also flowing from a wound in the right side of the head. A six barreled revolver was found on the grass near by, having one chamber discharged. Captain Cassell took the man to his house and had the wound dressed by Dr. Clemmens. Mr. Gibson said he lived at No. 99 Argyle avenue, but when he was conveyed thither the residents of the house said they did not know him. He was then taken to the northwestern station-house, and thence to Maryland University Hospital, corner of Lombard and Greene streets, for treatment.
     Dr. Ashby, the resident physician, probed for the ball, and is of the opinion that it entered the brain. He regards the injury as a very serious one. Gibson rallied at intervals, and stated he had shot himself and afterwards added it was accidental. He was employed as the bookkeeper for E. Stahler, Jr., & Co., coal dealers, South street, and lodged on Franklin street, one door west of Park. He formerly lodged on Argyle avenue. He was about 50 years old and unmarried, with relatives living near Catonsville, Baltimore county.

He later died. Here's the story:

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 16 July 1877, Mon:

Fatal Result -- Mr. Henry D. Gibson, who shot himself in the head with a pistol in Druid Hill Park last Monday afternoon, died at the Maryland University Hospital, Lombard and Greene streets, Saturday evening at six o'clock. The ball was embedded in the brain, and the physicians had no hope of his recovery, and he was in an unconscious state during the five days that he survived the infliction of the wound. No inquest was deemed necessary. Dr. T. A. Ashby, resident physician, requested that a post mortem examination should be allowed as the case was one of peculiar interest to medical science, but objection was made by relatives, and the body was delivered to them to burial. Mr. Gibson was in the 51st year of his age.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 14 September 1878, Sat:

The funeral of Mrs. Christine Fablbush, who committed suicide in Druid Hill Park, took place yesterday afternoon from the residence of her husband, No. 145 Burgundy alley. The services were performed by Rev. F. Hennighausen of St. Stephen's German Lutheran Church, and the remains were interred in the Western Cemetery.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 30 September 1880, Thu:

Supposed Suicide of a Merchant -- Dragging Druid Hill Lake. -- Ancel C. Perry, of Clark, Perry & Co., wholesale shoe manufacturers, No. 9 North Charles street, residence No. 220 East Chase street, is supposed to have committed suicide in Druid Hill Park on Tuesday night by drowning himself in Druid lake. Capt. Cassell, in making his early round of the Park yesterday morning, discovered a high-crowned silk hat inside the rail of the lake, opposite the fountain, next to No. 2 picnic grounds. Driving over there, the hat was found on the rip-rapping near the water's edge, with a stone in it weighing about two pounds. Officer Frank Doyle stated that as he left the park about 6.40 o'clock P.M. on Tuesday he saw a man in a high silk hat and dark clothes leaning over the railing of the lake, looking silently into the water, and that he changed his position as he passed him and went over in the direction of where the hat was found. Capt. Cassell had the employees of the park examine the lake about its edges to see if the body could be discovered, suspecting from the indications that some one had committed suicide. About noon, H. K. Love, father-in-law of Mr. Perry, came to the park at the request of Mrs. Perry to inquire for her husband, as he was in the habit of frequently visiting the park. The hat was shown to Mr. Love and readily identified. Feeling satisfied that Mr. Perry was in the lake Capt. Cassell communicated with Mr. Curran, water engineer, who has charge inside the rail, and received permission to use his judgment about dragging the lake for the body. Waiting until numerous visitors had left the park, Captain Cassell soon after night had set in commenced to drag the portion of the lake where the unfortunate man was supposed to have drowned himself. Several gentlemen from the store of Clark, Perry & Co. were in readiness waiting to identify the body when recovered. The dragging of the bottom of the lake was continued until a late hour last night, and numerous devices were used to render it effective, but all means were unavailing, and the efforts were reluctantly abandoned, to be renewed this morning.
     It was stated that Mr. Perry left home Tuesday morning as usual, and that he went from the store about 3 o'clock in the afternoon without saying where he was going, which was unusual with him and caused several of the men in the store to go after him to see if they could discover his whereabouts. He was also noticed by some of the employees to be exceedingly tremulous, and when spoken to about it said, "Yes, I am out of my mind, too." When he did not return Tuesday night the anxiety of his family became intense. Inquiries were made, detectives were sent to work, and until the finding and identification of his hat there were numerous opinions as to what had become of him. He had on his person when last seen a fine gold watch and chain, jewelry, and some money.
     It is supposed his mind was to some extent disordered. A week or more ago he had an attack indicative of something in the nature of paralysis or apoplexy. He told an acquaintance recently that he had lost twelve pounds in weight in the past few months. This gentleman thought then he was looking very badly. Mr. Perry, who was about 46 years old, was the only son of Levi Perry, of Perry, Clark & Co., Ancel C. Perry being the company. He was born Norwich, Conn., his father coming to Baltimore after the birth of Ancel. At his death, Perry left a moderate estate, which went, including his interest in the business, to his wife and son. Ancel Perry was twice married and had one son, about grown, by his first wife and five children by his second wife.

Capt. Cassell's guess was correct. It took a few days but eventually Mr. Perry's body was retrieved from the lake. Here's another story:

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 05 October 1880, Tue:

The Funeral of Mr. Ancel C. Perry, whose body was recovered from Druid Lake Sunday morning, took place yesterday, from his late residence, No. 320 East Chase street. Services were by Rev. Richard Norris, of Madison Square M. E. Church, and the interment was at Greenmount Cemetery. Among the pall-bearers were Messrs J. J. Tyler, H. S. Lithgow, W. H. Clark and P. W. Heath.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 05 August 1887, Fri:

The Mystery of the High-Service Reservoir in Druid Hill Park

The hat and coat of the man found near the high-service reservoir in Druid Hill Park were identified yesterday as those of Andrew Hertel, a barber, by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Disney, 911 South Charles street. She also remembered the "A.H." in India ink on his arm. Hertel was 34 years old, and lived with his wife and two young children at 613 South Charles street. Last Saturday he came in from his barber shop at one o'clock and retired Sunday morning about four o'clock. Those living in the house heard him go downstairs in his stocking feet and enter the street, and nothing had been heard from him since. Hertel had frequently threatened to commit suicide while under the influence of liquor, and attempted it last year by laudanum. His family relations had always been the most pleasant. He was formerly in business at the corner of Pratt and Commerce streets. At the time of his death he kept a barber shop on Camden street, near Paca street, which was found open after he left Saturday night. His wife is at present visiting her brother in Dorchester county, and is unaware of her husband's death. The remains were interred yesterday at the county almshouse, on the York road, by Constable Reid, at the expense of the county. They will probably be removed when Mrs. Hertel arrives in the city. The case was regarded as a suspicious one by some persons, who advanced a number of theories as to how he met his death. At the inquest Redmond, who measures the reservoir, swore that he had measured the lake every morning and had not seen the body, coat or hat, which he thought impossible had they been there. Capt. Cassell says the body was floating in the corner of the abutment which projects from the rip-raps, and in a position where it could not be seen unless by some one very near it. Three measuring rods have been found in the reservoir, either of which may have been used by Redmond. Chief Engineer Martin, of the water department, has emptied the reservoir of six or eight million gallons, and will give it a good flushing. The reservoir was dragged yesterday to see if it contained another body, as it was thought the first did not belong to Hertel, but it was positively identified.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 13 August 1887, Sat:

John Brehm committed suicide in Druid Hill Park, and a man supposed to be Henry Fels near Bayview Asylum.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 15 November 1890, Sat:

Mr. Louis Camacho, a well-known Cuban, committed suicide in Druid Hill Park.

A subsequent story revealed Louis J. Camacho killed himself by swallowing a quantity of prussic acid.

There was no story about the next man's death, only the legal wrangling that followed.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 26 March 1892, Sat:

To Set Aside a Deed.

John W. Lorenz and Michael Thron applied in Circuit Court No. 2, by J. Fred. Requardt and L. P. Hennighausen, attorneys, to have set aside a deed of trust for the benefit of creditors made by Ernest W. Bennett and to have a receiver appointed to take charge of the assets of the firm of Jacob Bennett & Son and of Ernest W. Bonnett individually and distribute them among the creditors entitled to receive them. The bill states that Jacob Bonnett & Son are indebted to Mr. Lorenz in the sum of $450 and to Mr. Thron in the sum of $1,200, both on overdue promissory notes. The firm was dissolved, it is said, by the death of Jacob Bonnett, who killed himself in Druid Hill Park on the 3rd of last June. On the 8th of June, the son made an assignment for the benefit of the creditors, which the bill declares is void.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 22 December 1892, Thu:


TWO SUPPOSED SUICIDES
------
One in Druid Hill Park and Another in Federal Hill

An unknown man, who seemed to be about sixty years old, was fatally wounded yesterday afternoon on the path in Druid Hill Park which leads to the Clipper gate. He is supposed to have shot himself. The report of a revolver was heard by several persons, who ran to the man who had fired it and found him prostate, with a pistol by his side. One chamber of the pistol had been emptied. Blood was oozing from a bullet-hole on the right side of the head, several inches above the ear. The man was taken to Captain Cassell's barn and the patrol wagon was summoned to remove him to the Maryland General Hospital. He was put in the wagon, but before the hospital was reached he died. Dr. Silas Baldwin, coroner, said no inquest was necessary, as he believed the man had committed suicide. The man wore a black diagonal coat and vest and black cheviot trousers. He had a short gray beard and his head was bald. On both of his arms above the wrists were India ink marks. In his pocket was found the business card of E. Becker, liquor dealer, 409 West Lexington street. Mr. Becker said the stranger appeared at his saloon Tuesday night and drank two glasses of liquor. He remained half an hour or more, sitting at a table. He did not reveal his name. Before leaving the saloon he asked Mr. Becker for his card. The body of the supposed suicide was sent to the morgue.

The unknown man was identified the following week. He had travelled from Jersey City to kill himself at Druid Hill Park:

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 28 December 1892, Wed:

The man who committed suicide in Druid Hill Park last Wednesday was identified as Charles W. Meyers, of Jersey City.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 25 August 1893, Sat:

Twenty-Ninth Suicide in Druid Hill, -- Frank Appleby, of Washington, shot himself in Druid Hill Park yesterday and died at the Maryland General Hospital, where he was taken in the patrol wagon. The shooting was witnessed by a number of persons and occurred back of the Washington statue, in one of the most frequented sections of the park. The ball entered the skull and lodged in the middle lobe of the brain. Appleby was unconscious when he reached the hospital and remained so until he died. A blazing handkerchief was found beside him in the park by Captain Cassell, who stamped out the fire. The initial or name appeared to have been torn from it. Mr. Appleby was about thirty-five years of age. The pistol with which he shot himself was of 32-caliber and only one chamber had been loaded. A box of cartridges was found in his pocket, 24 cents in change, a bunch of keys and a lead pencil. The body was taken to the morgue. This makes the twenty-ninth suicide in Druid Hill Park. Mr. Appleby was identified by his brother, who came over from Washington.

The twenty-ninth suicide? Obviously, I missed quite a few of them my research. But there would be many more. In fact, there was another suicide attempt in the park the very next day:

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 26 August 1893, Sat:

Came Near Being Another Park Suicide

     Anton Riedmaier, of 717 West Pratt street, took an overdose of laudanum in Druid Hill Park yesterday. He was found by patrolman Leitch near the Washington statue suffering from the effects of the drug, and was taken to Maryland General Hospital for treatment. Anton or "Tony," as he was better known, wrote a note in German, which was found in his pocket. Translated it is as follows:
     "Out of love I am going to die. I cannot do better. Words that come from the heart you will never forget."
     "Thine, Tonie Riedmaier"
     "Bury me and think of me."
     Riedmaier came to Baltimore from Philadelphia about five months ago with his wife and two boys. He had been unable to get any steady employment and was melancholy. Mrs. Riedmaier said last night she still had a few cents left and expected her husband to get out of the hospital before the family became actually in want. Dr. Howland, resident physician at the hospital, considered Riedmaier out of danger last night.

In the next case, the victim traveled all the way from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Baltimore to commit suicide in the park.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 13 March 1894, Tue:

Fatally Shot Himself in Druid Hill. -- A man about forty-five years of age was found unconscious yesterday, with a bullet wound in his right temple, on the path between the fish and sea lion ponds in Druid Hill Park. A 32-caliber revolver with one chamber discharged, was on the grass near by. Elijah Blizzard, keeper of the sea lions, discovered the wounded man. Captain Cassell was notified and the ambulance of the northwestern police district was called. The man was taken to the Maryland General Hospital and died soon after reaching there. Papers found in his clothing indicated that his name was Morris M. Spooner, and that he had been a resident of Charlottesville, Va. A policy in the New York Life Insurance Company, payable to W.B. Freeman, 1115 East Main street, Richmond, Va., was in one of his pockets. A lady's photograph and the inscription, "G. W. S. from S. H. B. -- 1880," were in the case of his watch. Money and other articles were also in his pockets. Coroner Baldwin considered it a case of suicide and decided that an inquest was unnecessary. The body was sent to the morgue. Marshall Frey took steps to communicate with the man's relatives. Mr. Morris M. Spooner was a Charlottesville architect. This makes the twenty-ninth suicide in Druid Hill Park.

The twenty-ninth suicide? According to another story, Frank Appleby was the twenty-ninth suicide in the park the previous year.

Regardless of the accuracy of the count, it was clear that a disturbing number of people killed themselves in the park. However, I wonder if any record was made of the number of people who attempted suicide but failed. Here's one of their stories. Sadly, the young man did not give up after his first try. Like my previous subject Yetta Palatnik, he ended his life with a leap from a hospital window.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 25 February 1895, Mon:

\
A MAN OF MYSTERY.
-----
He Commits Suicide by Leaping
From a Hospital Window.
-----
PREVIOUSLY TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF
-----
He Told a Nurse in Confidence that His Name Was
Charles E. Norton and She Kept the Secret Until
His Death -- The Body Removed to the Morgue.

     On December 2 a man who persistently refused to give his name attempted suicide in Druid Hill Park by shooting himself in the right temple. Early yesterday morning he succeeded in ending his life by jumping from a third-story window at the Maryland General Hospital, where he had been confined his first attempt on his life.
     With his tragic death came his supposed identification, it being announced that he had given his name in secret to a nurse as Charles E. Norton. This, he told the nurse, was his right name, and although he did not say whence he came, it is believed that his home was in New York.
     The man's successful effort to kill himself was discovered when William Morgan, the orderly of the ward on the third floor of the hospital, heard a crash, and then the noise of something heavy falling on the street. Dr. W. P. Miller, the resident physician, was awakened by the breaking glass and a fall on the Linden avenue side of the hospital. He looked out of the window and saw the man of mystery lying on an iron cellar door forty feet below the window. With several other persons he ran out and reached the man just in time to notice him give one or two gasps. The suicide's neck was broken, and he soon died. The body was carried into the building, and later sent to the morgue, where it will be held to await further identification.
     Norton slept near the window in the ward to which he was assigned. He had recently been restless and frequently expressed a desire to go out on the street, but as he had insufficiently recovered he was held at the hospital and kept under treatment for his self-inflicted wound and some chronic disorders, several operations being performed on him from time to time. The bullet from the shot he fired on December 2 was never found, and it remains in his head.
     A short time before the man made his leap a nurse passed his bed and noticed that he was awake. It is supposed that at this time he was contemplating the act, as his conversation in the past showed that he was still determined to end his life. It is supposed that he stood on the bed, and leaping, cleared the window-sill with one jump, going through the sash and glass. The patient lying next to him made an unsuccessful attempt to stop him by catching his foot.
     When Norton made his first attempt at suicide in Druid Hill Park he was found by Mounted Policeman Stocksdale near a bench under a number of Oak trees on a knoll known as Seven Oaks, at the bend in the drive to the Pimlico avenue entrance. The patrolman discovered the man lying on the ground face downward and when he raised him up he remarked "That's the worst shot I ever made." He made a feeble resistance when the officer tried to search his pockets and begged to be allowed to fire at his head again.
     After being sent to the hospital the man refused to give his name or say anything concerning himself or his home. He read the papers frequently and took a lively interest in the disclosures made by the Lexow committee in its examination of the New York police force. The mysterious patient was watched carefully by the hospital authorities, who hoped to solve his identity.
     Recently he wrote a letter and gave it to one of the convalescent patients to mail. The patient did not think it important to remember the address and dropped the missive in a letter-box. He now remembers that it was addressed to New York, but to whom he cannot recollect. Later Norton sent one of the patients to the post office to get a letter which was advertised among the general delivery mail. The patient brought the letter to him. He destroyed it, but saved the money enclosed, which was $10. He gave this to a nurse, asking her to keep it for him. It was at that time he revealed his supposed identity, telling the nurse that his name was Charles E. Norton and asking her to keep it a secret. This she did until the man's life was ended.
     Norton was about forty years old and appeared to be a mechanic or a laboring man. He weighed about 190 pounds, was nearly 5 feet 11 inches tall and had sandy hair and a mustache.
     In conversation with Dr. Miller, Norton said that when he came to Baltimore it was his determination to end his life, though why he made up his mind to do so he would not state. He said he came here a short time before he attempted to end his life in the park, and that the little money he had soon gave out. He also once said that his parents were dead, though he later contradicted the statement.
     It has been suggested that Norton was a member of a suicide club.
     Coroner Baldwin, after investigating the circumstances surrounding the man's death, considers an inquest unnecessary.

There's a few things to unpack in that story. First, our victim apparently came from New York to Baltimore strictly to kill himself, and of all places he chose Druid Hill Park. Why? Secondly, I wish they elaborated more about their suspicions that he was the member of a suicide club. To me, that would make it even more disturbing. A suicide club that had a member travel to Baltimore and kill himself in Druid Hill Park.... Geez.

On a personal note, I want to make the point that just because a person attempts to commit suicide, they are not doomed to die that way. More suicides take place at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco than any other location in the United States. 625 reported. Perhaps 200 unreported. However, studies indicate that 90% of those people who failed at their attempt do not die a violent death. One hopeless moment of darkness need not define a person or guarantee their fate.

Case in point is my great-granduncle Frank Kostohryz. Broken-hearted, he attempted to kill himself at a nightspot where his ex-girlfriend worked in 1907. He survived, and ultimately lived until 1943. You can read his story here: The Public Suicide of Frank Kostohryz.

In a moment of weakness, I nearly took my own life. However, I have felt no real temptation to do so again and have managed, I believe, to live a relatively successful life. I wrote about my suicide attempt in my memoir The Promise, or the Pros and Cons of Talking With God.  You can read the chapter about my near suicide online here: Chapter 15: Quarter To Midnight.

Pardon my public service announcement.  Back to our story....

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 7 January 1897, Tue:


I'm not typing out this story. It's way too long. Most of the front page of the Baltimore Sun was devoted to this incident.  Richard Cornelius was apparently a highly-esteemed and model citizen. His crime and death shocked the community. One story even speculated that he stole, not for his own benefit, but rather to give to charities.

There is one telling paragraph I would like to quote from the main story: As soon as Mr. D. Pinkney West received the intelligence that Mr. Cornelius was missing he was off on a hunt for him. At the bank Mr. John Pleasants had remarked casually: "Maybe Mr. Cornelius has committed suicide in Druid Hill Park."

That's fascinating to me. By 1897, Druid Hill Park was obviously so closely associated with suicide in the minds of Baltimoreans that someone could make that assumption.

Maybe Druid Hill was our Aokigahara forest after all.

Of all the stories I read about people who attempted but failed to commit suicide at the park, I feel the sorriest for this fellow:

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 27 January 1898, Thu:

William Pfaff, the cigarmaker, who attempted to commit suicide in Druid Hill Park on Sunday, January 15, has so far recovered that he will be discharged from the Maryland General Hospital in a few days. He will, however, be blind for the remainder of his life.

I don't know what inner demons drove Mr. Pfaff to try to kill himself, but I'm sure being blinded didn't make his life easier. (An earlier story revealed Mr. Pfaff had shot himself and the bullet had severed both of his optic nerves.)

Our next victim came from Buffalo, New York, to attempt suicide in the park.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 26 March 1898, Sat:


TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF
-----
Wilbur T. Vance, Who Says His Home Is In Buffalo,
Found Unconscious In Druid Hill Park.

     A well-dressed, gentlemanly looking man, who gave his name as Wilbur T. Vance and who said he resided at 13 East Eagle street, Buffalo, N.Y., attempted suicide yesterday morning in grove No. 2, Druid Hill Park, by taking a quantity of morphine. He was found about noon by Patrolman Moxley, of the park bicycle squad, lying on his face and in an unconscious condition, with a small bottle clutched in his hand. The patrolman succeeded in arousing him. In reply to questions Vance said:
     "I have tried to kill myself, as I no longer want to live. I intended to jump into the lake and drown myself this morning, but could not do it, so I took this way of ending my life."
     The man, who is about thirty-five years of age, was so weak he had to cease talking. Patrolman Moxley sent for the northwestern police district ambulance, in which Vance was taken to the Maryland General Hospital.
     Dr. C. N. Gabriel used the stomach pump vigorously on Vance, and it is likely that he will recover, although his condition is serious. Later in the day Vance was able to talk, and was induced to give his reasons for trying to kill himself. He said he had for many years been an agent of a railroad company in Chicago, and two years ago was worth $60,000. He moved to Buffalo a year or so ago and invested his money in stocks. In the past two months, he said, he had lost every cent he had in the world, and his wife and little boy had both died. His grief almost drove him insane. Why he had come to Baltimore he could not tell. Vance said he had been in the city three days. He brought the drug yesterday morning. He said he did not intend to kill himself, but merely quiet his nerves. He said he has a married sister living, but refused to give her name.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 1 July 1899, Sat:

George J. Booze, 25 O'Donnell street, Canton, committed suicide in Druid Hill Park.

I'm stopping in 1900 with the death of John P. Brandau, who started me off on this dark journey. He was said to be the thirty-fifth suicide in the park. I only found stories about thirteen of the previous cases. Trust me, many more would follow in the 20th Century.

I have no idea why people went to Druid Hill Park to kill themselves. Maybe they didn't want to burden their families by killing themselves at home. Or maybe those troubled souls wanted to be in a happy place during the final moments of their lives.... Or, more practically, perhaps they hoped their bodies would be found more quickly in the busy park....  The more supernatural might instead speculate that there is a dark vortex in the park....  Who can say?

However, regardless of the reason, Druid Hill Park became associated with suicide in the minds of many Baltimoreans. Strange. I've lived in Baltimore all of my life and I never heard about our Aokigahara forest until now.

Please permit me one more public service announcement. If you are considering suicide: Please don't. Take my word for it. Tomorrow will be better, if you let it. There are people who are ready to help. If you are contemplating ending your life, please reach out to someone who is able to help you right now. Just dial the number 9-8-8 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You're only three digits away from help twenty-four hours a day.

9-8-8.

I don't want to be writing about you....

Remember, there is a story behind every grave. You never know what you're missing when you walk past one....

Grave Tales:

My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & NobleChapel Street is the tale of a young man battling a demonic entity that has driven members of his family to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting. 


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Listen to me read some chapters here:


Read about the true haunting that inspired the novel here:

The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 1, An Introduction
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 2, The House
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 3, This Is Us
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 4, Arrival
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 5, Methodology
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 6, Clara's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 7, Clara's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 8, My Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 9, My Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 10, My Tale, Pt. 3
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 11, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 12, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 13, John's Tale, Pt. 1 
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 14, John's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 15, Come Inside!
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 16, Marion's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 17, Marion's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 18, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 19, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 20, Lisa's Tale
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 21, Recap, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 22, Recap, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 23, Recap, Pt. 3

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