Sean Paul Murphy, Writer

Sean Paul Murphy, Writer
Sean Paul Murphy, Storyteller

Monday, March 8, 2021

In Memoriam: Tom Brandau

My old friend Tom Brandau died of cancer on March 3, 2021.

I am shocked by the news. This was not Tom's first battle with cancer. He found himself on the brink of death five or six years ago. Death seemed so certain that he put up a moving goodbye post on Facebook. It was an excellent and thoughtful farewell I wish I had kept, but it seemed unnecessary. Tom ended up in an experimental program that put the cancer in total remission. Or so it seemed.

I met Tom in the Film Lab at Towson University in the early 1980s. We were both Mass Communications majors, but my initial area of concentration was journalism. I switched over to film halfway through my sophomore year. Not that it mattered one way or another. I never intended to work in the field. I anticipated working as a computer programmer at the Social Security Administration after graduation like my father and his brothers. So why not study something I enjoyed? Movies, not newspapers, were my obsession.

Film was nothing like journalism. In journalism, you worked alone and that suited me fine. But you needed the help of your fellow students to make films, especially in the higher level courses. You needed to make friends or die. So I made friends. It's funny. I can't remember the names of any of my fellow students from the journalism classes I attended, but I remember all of the serious students in the film program. Like Tom. 

Tom was already well-established in the Film Department. He was a serious filmmaker in every sense of the term. He was serious about his studies. He was serious about film theory. And he made serious films. Tom wasn't content just to thrill someone or make them laugh. He wanted to make people think as well. That separated him from the rest of us. He was the kind of guy who would hang quotes on the wall from Godard like "Film is truth at 24 frames a second." That was Tom.

The Film Lab was very competitive. Everybody worked on everybody else's films, and everybody wanted everyone to succeed... But not necessarily as much as they did. As ridiculous as it may sound, some folks from that group still measure themselves against their college rivals nearly forty years later. I don't think Tom did. I know I don't.

Being more of a hobbyist in the department than a serious contender, I got to enjoy everyone's work on its own merits. I will never forgot the first film I saw from Tom. It was a short, black & white film shot on 16mm about a World War I period firing squad execution called At Dawn. It was very arresting. Thankfully he put it on YouTube. Here it is:

 

If you needed a rival, Tom was definitely the guy to beat. He jumped to the head of the class with a documentary about the whaling industry called Whales, LTD. Talk about ambition! A college student from Baltimore flies to Iceland to make a short documentary about whaling. Really? But that was Tom. He'd risk everything for a film. And this opportunity that paid off handsomely. The film was nominated for a student Academy Award. Here it is:

    

Our paths continued to cross after college. Tom was one of my first screenwriting collaborators. Tom and fellow Film Labber David Butler had visited the Soviet Union together. Discussing it later, Tom had an idea for a comedy about the communist leader of a small Eastern Europe country experiencing freedom for the first time while in New York City to address the United Nations. Tom didn't have time to write the script itself -- I believe he was leaving to LA to attend the American Film Institute -- but David and I finished it. The script got a lot of reads, but ultimately didn't sell.

Another commonality we shared was musician Mike Lane. Mike was Tom's best friend since childhood and he was also a high school buddy of mine. Tom directed a commercial/video for Mike's band The Sunday Cannons where I appeared as Mr. Melon Head.  Here it is:

       

I could go on and on about the projects we worked on together. It was fun, but that all pales in comparison to one sentence Tom said to me at the funeral of my sister Laura, who killed herself in 1994. He put a sad hand on my shoulder and said, "Now you're a part of the Brotherhood."

Here's the backstory. Tom's father killed himself a decade earlier. He was the first person I met personally who had lost someone  to suicide. His father's death was something he talked about as a fact -- and as a motivation -- but we never really discussed it in a truly emotional context. However, it was clear the incident cast a deep shadow over his life. He knew suicide and its effect on survivors.

At that moment at my sister's funeral, Tom sadly welcomed me into an organization no one volunteers to join: The Brotherhood of Suicide Survivors. I knew what he meant. He was saying, "I know what you're going through. I've been there, too, brother, and we're both going to get through it." On some deep but very real level, Tom shared some of his grief with me and took some of mine with him. We were part of a Brotherhood.

I don't think we ever discussed it again. We didn't have to. We were both artists and we dealt with our emotions through our art. I dealt with my sister's suicide in my memoir The Promise, or the Pros and Cons of Talking with God and my brother Mark's subsequent suicide in my novel Chapel Street. Tom dealt with his father's suicide in his only feature film Cold Harbor.

Cold Harbor had a long history. The initial financing came from the inheritance Tom received after his father's suicide. There was some concern among his friends about Tom spending all of this nest egg on a film, but Tom was Tom. He was willing to put everything into his work. The story was about four brothers closing down their father's beach house after their father's death. It was a very thinly disguised roman a clef.

I read the script long before it became a film. I didn't give any notes. Although Tom would give lip service about wanting to make a film that would achieve success on the indie market, I knew the truth: This was a ghost he had to exorcise. Any notes would be irrelevant.

I wasn't involved in the shoot. Nor was there any thought that I would edit the movie. That job belonged to his old friend Wayne Hipley. Wayne edited the movie on film. However, I got involved near the end of post production when they switched over to the Avid system. My exact contribution is now lost in the haze of time. I know I worked on the trailer. There might have been a preliminary version, but I fine tuned it. I also re-edited a number of scenes throughout the film and reworked the climatic boat burning sequence.

I might have stayed on the film longer, but I was perhaps too insistent that Tom cut out a scene at the father's funeral I felt was ruined by a terrible performance. My philosophy is that you have to expect a wobbly performance or two in a low-budget indie, but you can't have one in the first five minutes. Tom was loathe to cut the scene because it was based on a real incident that made a point about grieving that wasn't echoed elsewhere. For him, it was the embodiment of Godard's philosophy that Film was Truth at 24 Frames a Second.

When I handed the editing reins over to his former student Mike Flanagan, who is now an important writer/director in Hollywood, I asked him to please find a way to cut that scene. When I went to the premiere, I was relieved to see that the scene was gone. Mike obviously had magic I did not possess.  Here's the trailer:

 

After that screening, I congratulated Tom and asked him about his marketing plans. He shrugged off the question. It was never really about money or success. He said, to him, the most important thing was that now future generations in his family would know what happened and what he and his brothers went through. That's the way I feel about my books. That's the way we roll in The Brotherhood.

I saw less of Tom after he moved to teach at Minnesota State University, Moorhead, but we remained in touch. I was delighted when he found his wife Janet, and finally embraced the love he deserved. My heart goes out to her, and his family and all the students he impacted. I got teary-eyed reading all the tributes he received on Facebook from the people he touched. His life was shorter than it should have been, but it was important and well lived. 

Rest in peace, my brother. Thanks for being there when I needed you.


Be sure to check out my memoir The Promise, or the Pros and Cons of Talking with God, published by TouchPoint Press. It is my true story of first faith and first love and how the two became almost fatally intertwined.



Here are some sample chapters of The Promise:

Chapter 7 - Mission Accomplished
Chapter 15 - Quarter To Midnight

Be sure to check out my novel Chapel Street. It tells the story of a young man straddling the line between sanity and madness while battling a demonic entity that has driven his family members to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting my family experienced.

You can 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:


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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Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Grave Tales #9: Maria Monteferrante

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 the website 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 those extremes, like most of us. However, don't be surprised if the tales are inherently tragic. These are grave tales. They all end in death.

I have to credit my faithful reader Ann Lynch for clueing me onto the grave of Maria Monteferrante at my intended resting place Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery. She heard the statue above the tombstone was that of a young girl who was playing in her kitchen and was tragically burned. She said her great-grandmother used the unfortunate girl as a cautionary tale. That sounded like an urban myth to me, but it turns out to be true. I had previously noticed the statue myself during my ramblings through the cemetery, but I never associated it with an individual person or a specific tragedy. Now I know the truth.

Here's little Maria's sad story: 

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 23 February 1928, Thursday:


BOY, 11, TEARS BURNING DRESS FROM MOTHER
-----
Beats Out Flames--Calls Neighbors To Help Take Her To Hospital.
-----
GIRL IS SCALDED IN TUB OF WATER
-----
Another Injured As Gas Stove Explodes--Both In Critical Condition.
-----

     Conrad Himmer, 11 years old, late yesterday beat out flames and tore a burning dress from his mother in their home, 929 North Caroline street. Although the mother, Mrs. Minnie Himmer, was reported in a serious condition, physicians at St. Joseph's Hospital said her chances for recovery were good.
     Mrs. Himmer was burned when her clothing was ignited by a gas stove in the kitchen.
     Conrad, home from No. 94 School, Chase and McDonogh streets, heard his mother's screams and ran to her aid. After tearing the burning dress away and beating out the flames, he called for assistance from neighbors to take his mother to the hospital. At the hospital it was found that Mrs. Himmer was burned severely on the back and legs.

Two Girls Burned.

     Two girls were reported in critical condition at the Johns Hopkins Hospital last night from burns received received several hours earlier. One child, according to the police, fell into a tub of hot water and the other was burned when a gas stove exploded.
     Lillian Szlechelka, 3 years old, 500 block South Bond street, is the girl who fell into a tub of hot water prepared by her mother for washing clothes.

Gas Stove Explodes.

     Mary Monteferrante, 5 years old, 200 block South Eden street, was burned on the face, neck, chest, arms and hands when a gas stove exploded and ignited her clothing.
     The child was standing near the stove when the blast occurred. She was burned seriously before relatives in the house were able to subdue the flames.


We get a little more details in the evening edition of the paper. Sadly, neither of the little girls would survive their injuries. 

The Evening Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 23 February 1928, Thursday:


INJURIES FATAL TO THREE SMALL CHILDREN HERE
------
Girls, 3, 6 And 8, Victims Of Hits Received in Accidents.
-----
THIRD DEATH BLAMED ON CRASH LONG PAST
------
Child Became Ill After Scare By Drunken Woman.
-----

     The deaths of three girls as the result of accidents were reported to the police today.
     Mary Monteferrante, 6 years old, ventured too close to a gas stove and her clothing was ignited. She died at Johns Hopkins Hospital from burns on the face, limbs and body.
     Lillian Czlschetka, 3 years old, fell into a pot of boiling water which her mother, Mrs. Mary Czlschetka, had place on the floor and filled with soiled clothes.
     The third victim, Sophie Adjent, 8 years old, died of convulsions today at her home, 415 South Bond street. The convulsions were caused, Coroner George C. Blades said, from pressure on the brain, with which the child had suffered since an automobile accident in 1925.

Visiting At Time.

     The accident in which the Monteferrante girl was burned happened at the home of her aunt, Mrs. Rose Moneteferrante, 318 South Eden street. The child's home was at 215 South Eden street.
     The Czlschetka girl lived at 518 South Bond street. Her mother had left the kitchen and had warned an elder daughter, Mary, 5 years old, not to let her sister get near the pot of hot water. In some manner, however, the baby eluded the sister's vigil.
     Sophia Adjent was playing in the dining room of her home last night with her 6-year-old sister, Helen, members of her family said, when an intoxicated woman passing by broke the window.

Illness Mysterious.

     Sophia ran to a corner, sat down in a chair and became very quiet. A short while later she became ill. Sophia's father, Ludwig Adjent, called Dr. C.J. Feinglos, 2002 East Pratt street, when she became worse. Upon his arrival Dr. Feinglos pronounced the child dead.
     Dr. Feinglos said that he was unable to tell just what had occasioned the child's death. He presented a report of the death to Dr. George C. Blades**, coroner at large, who said brain pressure caused by an automobile accident in 1925 was responsible.

The statue above the grave apparently captured Maria's likeness. The family wasn't rich. Her father wasn't a banker or stockbroker. He was a bricklayer. Yet he and his family cared enough to take the considerable expense memorialize their lost daughter with a life-sized statute. You don't see that much nowadays.

That said, little Maria wasn't mentioned in the death notice of either of her parents. It seems odd to me that the family saw fit to honor her with a statue, yet failed to mention her in the death notices. Maybe it was simply their tradition only to mention living survivors. They couldn't have forgotten her....

I know I won't.

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

**This is Dr. Blades second appearance in my grave tales. He lived near the Capital City Garage and ran over to administer aid first after the shoot-out which resulted in the death of Maurice Goldberg, my previous subject. 

Addendum:

After posting this blog, I got a direct message on Facebook from Sally DeMarco, a member of the Monteferrante family. Here is her message:

     Just in case you did not see my response to your Graveyard post, below is the information that I posted about our late family member, Maria Monteferrante. 
     Maria Monteferrante is my husband’s, Dr. Frank Monteferrante and his brother, Dr. Mark Monteferrante’s late aunt. Maria was spending the day at her aunt’s house, she got too close to the wooden stove, her clothing caught on fire, and she died. Her father also named Frank, commissioned the statue of Maria.
     According to my husband, it is the only statue of a person in the cemetery. The cemetery at the time did not allow statues of the deceased. Maria’s dad told them that it was a statue of an angel, and the statue was allowed to be mounted. My late Father in law Paul, Maria’s brother spoke about her often. He told us that his parents mourned her death until the day that they died. We visit the cemetery and we always place flowers on her grave. Her parents, along with her brother, are also buried at Holy Redeemer cemetery.

A later message gives more details:

     Maria was left at her Aunt Rose’s house as you mentioned when she died. Aunt Rose along with the rest of the family were devastated. According to my husband, not to make Aunt Rose and her family upset, they deliberately left off Maria’s name in the obituary. They never talked about the incident in the presence of Aunt Rose and her family.
     My father in law, her brother Paul, always spoke about the tragic death of his sister during our immediate family’s weekly Sunday Italian dinners. He said that the pain and heartbreak of Maria’s death was the cause of his mother’s death. Maria was never forgotten by her parents, brothers Paul and Nick, and now my husband, his brother, and me. Her memory lives on in the Monteferrante family until this day.

Thanks, Sally!

Sally later supplied me with two pictures. The first one here is an actual photograph of little Maria herself.


The second photograph is of the unnamed artist and the original form of the statue and monument.


Sally provided the information and photographs to keep Maria's memory alive. Maria was a sweet girl and her family mourns her to this day.

I'm glad I could help share her with the world.

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 & Noble. Chapel 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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Subscribe on YouTube: Sean Paul Murphy
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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast #59: Buddy Film Showdown

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

This episode features a showdown between three Buddy Films. This week I am the returning champion from last week's Sports Film Showdown. I bring the amiable 1969 western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with Paul Newman and a star making turn by Robert Redford. John brings the 1982 film 48 Hours with Nick Nolte and a star making turn by Eddie Murphy in his first film. Drew keeps the crew up to date with 2019 comedy Booksmart, with high school buddies Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldman. It's sort of a female Superbad, but funnier.  Watch and find out who wins....

Here's the podcast on YouTube:

        

Our Podcast is now available for download 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 Wojo's webpage: Wojo's World
And follow her on Twitter: @TheMicheleWojo

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:

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Tuesday, February 23, 2021

San Diego Premiere Pro User Group Interview

I was recently invited by Eric Addison and old friend D.J. Summitt, who I met on the set of Chainsaw Sally, to discuss editing at the San Diego Premiere Pro User Group. This networking group gives editors a chance to meet and hear war stories from grizzled old veterans like myself.

It was a fun talk. I opened with a little history of my editing career, and the various systems I used during my journey. Then we had an extended question and answer section. I hope I was helpful to the budding cutters.

I have been interviewed quite a bit about my screenwriting career lately. It was good to talk about editing for a change. I am much less cynical about my editing career. I have nothing but good things to say about practically everyone I worked with as an editor. Unfortunately, I cannot say that about everyone I worked with as a screenwriter....

Here's the interview:

 

Check out my novel Chapel Street. It tells the story of a young man straddling the line between sanity and madness while battling a demonic entity that has driven his family members to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting my family experienced.

You can 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:


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

Follow me on Twitter: SeanPaulMurphy
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Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Grave Tales #8: Maurice Goldberg


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 the website 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.

Lately I have been trying to document all of the visible graves in Ohr Knesseth Israel Anshe Sfard Cemetery and it has been a treasure trove of stories for this series. There was nothing particularly special about the monument for Maurice Goldberg itself, but the dates attracted me. I wondered how he lost his life at the youthful age of twenty-five. His year of death -- 1921 -- also interested me. My previous research taught me that the newspapers of the 1920s tended to be more lurid and indiscreet than the newspapers of today. If there was a story to tell, they would tell it. And they did. It turns out Maurice Goldberg, like the first subject in this series Leopold Gilden, was a gangster.  Here's the story of his death and its repercussions. 

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 11 August 1921 Thursday:

BANDITS HOLD UP GARAGE; 2 SHOT IN PISTOL FIGHT
------
Watchman And Gunman Fall In Battle In Fayette Street Building.
------
5 HIGHWAYMEN FLEE WITH WOUNDED MAN
------
Leave Companion At Hospital, And Then Escape In Automobile.
------

     Held up by six highwaymen shortly before last midnight, Hugo Kaplan,34 years old, watchman in the Capital City Garage, 1640 East Fayette street, was shot down with a bullet from an automatic pistol.
      One of the alleged highwaymen, Maurice Goldberg, who gave his address as 2939 Walbrook avenue, was shot. He was dragged away by his companions to their automobile and carried to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he is in a serious condition.

POLICE SEEK STATEMENT.

     Early this morning Magistrate Rohleder, of the Northeastern police district, went to the hospital to attempt to obtain a statement from Goldberg.
     The shooting occurred in the garage.
     The two men opened fire simultaneously, and it is believed they shot each other at the same instant. The other five men still are at large.
     More than $1,000, said to have been in the safe in the garage, is thought to have been sought by the highwaymen. Two months ago the garage was held up and a negro watchman was shot. He left the hospital only a few days ago. Among last night's bandits, it is believe, were men who made the former attempt.

Men Had Pistols Drawn.

     Kaplan, with Charles Nolan, colored, 417 North Central avenue, a helper, and Albert Rubin, 1640 East Fayette street, were at a desk near the rear of the garage, talking, when, at about 10 minutes before midnight, six men, carrying pistols, walked through the doorway. Kaplan and the others did not realize that the men were highwaymen until, when about two-thirds of the way to the desk, they called to the men to put up their hands.
     Rubin and Nolan, who were at the rear of the desk, made for the back of the garage. Kaplan was in front of the desk. As he saw one of the bandits raise his pistol, Kaplan picked up one that was kept on the desk, wheeled about and opened fire.
     Both men fired several times. Seeing that one of their number was struck, two of the men seized their wounded comrade and pulled him to the door. The other three left and ran west on Fayette street. The two men carried the injured man to Broadway and Fayette street, where an automobile was standing at the northwest corner. They placed him in this and the machine sped away from the scene.

Kaplan's Recovery Doubtful.

     Meanwhile Patrolman Haas, Northeastern district, had heard the shots and went to the garage. Nolan and Rubin had come from behind the wall, where they stood during the shooting, and picked Kaplan up. Haas called the patrol and Kaplan was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. Physicians said his recovery was doubtful.
     The automobile which is thought to have been used by the bandits went to Johns Hopkins and Goldberg was carried in and left in the accident department. Then the men who had brought him left the place. Physicians at the hospital declared that Goldberg denied any knowledge of the attempted holdup, but said he was shot on the street. The bullet pierced his lung.
     Five minutes after the shooting Lieut. John Carey, at Police Headquarters, flashed a general alarm to all police districts. He dispatched Sergt. P.C. Lauringer to Johns Hopkins Hospital.
     Headquarters Detectives Porter and Vahle were assigned to the case, and went at once to the scene of the shooting.
     First aid treatment was given to Kaplan at the garage by Dr. G. Clinton Blades, Broadway and Fayette street, who was on his door stoop when the firing began.
     "I was on the door stoop of my home," said Dr. Blades, "when I heard something which sounded like the cut out from an automobile. The next instant I heard cries coming from the direction of the garage. A few seconds later an automobile sped north on Broadway and I was told that someone had been shot at the Capital City Garage. I found Mr. Kaplan sitting in a chair. An examination indicated that his condition was critical. After hurried first aid I directed that he taken to the hospital."
     Dr. Blades called the police headquarters and outlined the situation. While the information was coming in over one wire Lieutenant Carey over another telephone was directing moves through the Eastern and Northeastern districts.
     Goldberg was arrested the later part of July, according to police records, charged with carrying a pistol and sentenced to three months in the House of Correction. He was released a few days ago when he took an appeal from the sentence of Police Magistrate Demarco.

I don't know about you, but I found this whole story a little fishy. It took six armed men to rob a garage? Even with a potential $1000 in the safe, that still seemed like overkill.* Also, why were there three men at the garage at midnight? It seemed like they were ready for trouble. I decided to keep digging.

The Evening Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 12 August 1921, Friday:

LEADER OF HOLD-UP BAND DIES FROM WOUND
-----
Morris Goldberg, After Shooting Garage Proprietor, Was Struck By Latter's Bullet.

     Maurice Goldberg, 2939 Walbrook avenue, who was shot through the lung when he led a band of five men to the Capital City Garage, 1640 East Fayette street, in an alleged attempted hold-up expedition, died this morning at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was taken by his confederates.
     Goldberg was under police guard at the time of his arrest, and had he recovered he would have been arrested on a charge of shooting and seriously wounding Hugo Caplan, proprietor of the garage, who is alleged to have shot Goldberg after the latter had shot him for failing to "put his hands up" quick enough. Caplan, it is alleged, was attacked by Goldberg, who led five men, believed to have been bootleggers, into the garage and demanded that he throw up his hands. The police investigation shows that Caplan, who is in a serious condition himself at the Hebrew Hospital with bullet wounds in the hand and back, was sitting down when the band came in. Instead of putting up his hands, he claims, he drew for his gun and fired after Goldberg had shot him. Albert Kaskey, 28 years old, alias Al Moore, 1506 Fleet street, a cabaret singer, and Thomas Andre, 21 years old. 740 Eastern avenue, a pugilist, are under arrest charged with having been Goldberg's confederates. Coroner Riley, of the Eastern district, is investigating the case now.

The story grows more interesting. Goldberg is now identified as the leader of the criminals. And now the gunman are being described as bootleggers. If they were bootleggers, why were they robbing a garage? Also, Caplan was promoted from watchman to proprietor in this story. I continued digging.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 14 August 1921. Sunday:

SECOND VICTIM IS DEAD IN HOLD-UP OF GARAGE
-----
Hugo V. Kaplan, Who Killed Alleged Bandit Leader, Dies From Wound.
-----
HAD JUST BECOME CITIZEN
-----
Four Men Now Held As Members Of Band -- Last One Arrested Is Frederick Selenkow.
-----

     An outcome of the raid by bandits on the Capital City Garage, 1640 East Fayette street, Wednesday night, two men are dead. Hugo V. Kaplan, night watchman of the garage, died of bullet wounds last night at the Hebrew Hospital. Maurice Goldberg, 2930 Walbrook avenue, alleged leader of the bandits, died from the same cause Friday at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
     Three hours before Kaplan died, his family received naturalization papers making him a citizen of the United States. Born in Hungary, but having served in the regular army of the United States from 1916 until January last, naturalization was granted him because of his war service. His unit, the Fortieth Infantry, never was sent abroad.
     Goldberg died without making a statement. The coroner who went to the hospital to take his dying deposition was ordered from the room. Kaplan died without being able to go to the hospital to identify the alleged bandit leader.

Shot Fired Simultaneously.

     The two men, according to the police, were the principals in the garage tragedy. No other shots were fired by any of the others, bandits or employes, in the garage. The pistols rang out almost simultaneously. Both fell, each wounded by the other.
     It was shortly before midnight Wednesday when six bandits entered the garage. Kaplan was sitting at his desk. Charles Nolan, colored, a helper, and Albert Rubin were standing near by. The leader of the bandits drew a pistol and ordered the three to throw up their hands. Nolan and Rubin made for a rear exit. Kaplan whipped a pistol from a desk drawer.
     The bandit leader saw the movement. The crash of his and Kaplan's weapons reverberated through the long concrete structure almost as one shot. Kaplan reeled from his chair. The bandit dropped to the concrete floor.

The bandits started to run away.

     "Don't leave me; take me with you; he's got me," the wounded leader shouted, according to statements made by Kaplan and Nolan. He staggered to his feet and his companions carried him to a waiting automobile and disappeared. A few minutes later Goldberg was left by unidentified men at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Said Stranger Shot Him.

     In the operation room his condition was found to be serious. He said he had been walking along the street and someone shot him.
     Arrests have been made in the case. The men held are Albert Kasky, 1506 Fleet street; Thomas Andre, 704 Eastern avenue; Jack Pollack, 301 South Calhoun street, and Frederick Selenkow, 11 North High street. All have been charged with "feloniously entering the Capital City Garage." All have been released for a hearing Thursday. Selenkow was arrested yesterday by Headquarters Detectives Porter and Pohler and Detective Sergeant Murphy.
     Kaplan's home was at 2220 McCulloh street. He came to Baltimore from Hungary in 1909 and was followed shortly by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kaplan, who survive him. He was a musician, but since his discharge from the army had been employed at the garage. Besides his parents, he is survived by seven brothers and four sisters.

Police Had Watched Him.

     Three weeks ago last night Goldberg and two other men were stalked by four headquarters detectives and two sergeants of the Central district, information having been received by Police Commissioner Gaither and Captain Hurley that Goldberg had planned a hold-up. The stalking continued until July 26 when Goldberg was arrested at 3 A.M. with an automatic pistol in his possession.
     The next day Captain Hurley had a private talk with Goldberg, during which he said: "Goldberg, we know what you have been doing. I believe that you are a gunman who would not stop at anything. I am going to tell you now that if you stop this gun business, you are going to kill someone or you will be killed." 
     On July 27 Goldberg was arraigned before former Magistrate V.J. Demarco, Central Police Court, and sentenced to three months in the House of Correction. Three days later his lawyer got him out of prison. A week ago last night Goldberg was around his old haunts in the neighborhood of Baltimore and Holliday streets. Last night his former associates discussed his "knocking off."

In this story, the late Mr. Kaplan was demoted from proprietor to night watchman at the Capital City Garage. His story is a tragic one. He was a veteran and a member of a large family which must have greatly mourned his loss.

The story also gave more details concerning the robbery and the behavior of the bandits. However, that isn't what I found most interesting.  To me, the most interesting aspect was the interest the police had in Goldberg prior to the failed robbery. It went all the way to the top with the Police Commissioner. Goldberg was "stalked" by four detectives and two sergeants before he even committed a crime. That's an awful lot of manpower to devote to a potential criminal.  Trust me, there was a lot of actual crime going on in Baltimore. I kept digging.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 17 August 1921, Wednesday:

HELD FOR KAPLAN'S DEATH
-----
Four, Jury Finds, Responsible For Garage Tragedy.

     A jury of inquest summoned by Coroner J. Knox Insley, which met last night at the Northeastern Police Station, held for grand jury action the four men accused of causing the death of Hugo Kaplan, watchman at the Capital City Garage, who died Saturday at the Hebrew Hospital.
     The verdict of the jury also covered the death of Maurice Goldberg, one of the alleged bandits, starting that "both deaths were due to bullets fired at the hand or hands of Jack Pollack, 301 South Calhoun street; Albert Kasky, alias Al Moore, 1606 Fleet street; Thomas Andre, 740 Eastern avenue, and Fred Selenkow, 11 North High street, and possibly another party unknown to us."
     The accused were rearrested on Monday.

Justice moved more quickly in 1921. The failed robbery took place on August 12th and the inquest was held on August 17th. The bandits were definitely tight-lipped. No one gave up their accomplice. That said, it was still a couple of weeks before the truth behind the raid was known:


The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 30 August 1921, Tuesday:

"FLYING SQUAD" TAKES $50,000 IN LIQUOR HERE
-----
Mobile Force Raids Hillen Road Farm--Compelled To Use Guns.
-----
POLICEMAN ACCUSED IN ANOTHER ATTACK
-----
Charge Cycle Patrolman Gave Tip To Move 2,000 Cases of Whisky.
------

     Twenty prohibition agents, constituting Prohibition Commissioner Roy A. Hanes' "flying squadron" came to Baltimore yesterday without the knowledge of local prohibition enforcement officials, made two raids and seized whisky valued at $50,000.

GUN PLAY ON FARM.

     In one of the raids on the Potter farm, near Hillen road and Woodbourne avenue, a guard at the whisky cache is alleged to have reached for his pistol. A prohibition agent promptly opened fire. The shot went wild.
     In the second raid, at 701 Whitelock street, no seizure was made. The prohibition agents declared that on Sunday 2,000 cases of whisky were on the premises. Yesterday they found none. They accuse a motorcycle patrolman with having tipped off the owner, who removed the whisky before their arrival.
     Following close on the heels of the Federal agents' raids police of the Western district raided the saloon at 415 West Pratt street and arrested the bartender, who, it is alleged, was in the act of mixing a highball. The same bartender was arrested in the series of police raids Saturday night.

CITY DETECTIVES AID.

     Before raiding the Potter farm the agents requested the aid of Police Commissioner Gaither, who assigned Detective John H. Mintiens and John and William Jenkins to co-operate. The agents motored to the farm and, leaving their machine on the road, approached the farmhouse on foot.
     William W. Potter was standing in front of the house. A warrant authorizing the search was handed to him. He is alleged to have knocked the warrant from the agent's hand and to have run back to the house, shouting to his son, William W. Potter, Jr., 22 years old, to get his gun.
     The younger man appeared at the door and, it is alleged, attempted to draw a pistol. One of the agents fired. Young Potter ducked and the bullet imbedded itself in the wall of the front room. Father and son were surrounded and held under guard while the premises were searched.
     Five hundred cases of contraband whisky and four drums of grain alcohol were found. One-half of the whisky was stored in a room on the first floor and the remainder was in the cellar. The Potters were locked up at the Central Police Station for the Federal authorities and later released under $500 bond each for a preliminary hearing Friday before Commissioner Supplee.

RAID GROWS OUT OF TRAGEDY.

     The Whitlock street raid was a result of information gathered in the investigation of the double tragedy several weeks ago at the Capital City Garage, 1640 East Fayette street, in which Hugo Kaplan, watchman, and Maurice Goldberg, alleged gunman and bootlegger, lost their lives.
     On the theory that Goldberg and his companions who attempted to the rob the garage were after whisky, the agents negotiated, it is alleged, with Lewis K. Kaplan, a brother of the dead man and also an attache of the garage, for the purchase of whisky. Kaplan, it is alleged, told them the whisky was in the garage of Charles Koehler, 701 Whitelock street. The agents visited the premises Sunday, they say, and saw 2,000 cases.
     Kaplan was arrested and taken before United States Commissioner Supplee and released under $500 bond for a hearing Friday. But when the agents went to the garage yesterday to seize the liquor not a bottle was found. They also say they know the name of the patrolman who "tipped off" the owners, and will report him to Police Commissioner Gaither.
     The bartender arrested in the Pratt street raid is Charles Karciauskas, 32 years old. According to the police he was mixing a high ball for Antone Pupkus, 29 years old, 503 West Pratt street, when they entered. He was arrested and held for the Federal authorities while Pupus was held as a witness. Two bottles and a pitcher, alleged to contain corn whisky, were seized by Round Sergeant Martin Tudel, Sergeant Murphy and Patrolman Kiel.

THIRD TRIP OF "SQUADRON."

     The raids yesterday marked the third appearance of Commissioner Haynes' "flying squadron" in Maryland. It first invaded the State two weeks ago in an effort to clean up the Back River district. At that time word was telephoned in advance and the aid of 10 local enforcement officers were asked for. The chief of the Washington force had notations of numerous places which, he said, were violating the law. Many places were visited, but nothing incriminating was uncovered.
    The second visit was made last week, when three men were apprehended at the Sherwood Distillery and charged with conspiracy to illegally transport 500 cases of whisky.

So there you have it. My instincts were correct. Goldberg's initial raid on the garage didn't make sense in the original context. The gang of bootleggers were not there to rob a safe. The final story alludes to corruption on both the police force and among local prohibition agents. That makes me wonder whether the police were stalking Goldberg at the behest of the rival gang that owned the garage...

Thomas Andre, Albert Kasky, Jack Pollack and Fred Selenkow went to trial on 22 October 1922 for murder, assault to rob and deadly weapon. The trial extended into 1923, but I could find no record of a verdict. However, Thomas Andre would be implicated in bootlegging related shootings and robberies in 1925. So I don't think he was in jail! But I know where Maurice was....

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

*A member of the Kaplan family said Maurice Goldberg and his gang came to steal trucks to move their bootleg liquor.

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 & Noble. Chapel 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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