Behind Gray Walls

In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony and Samuel sit down with HannaLore Hein and Michael Hart to explore the history of surveying in Idaho. From Surveyor General Lafayette Cartee and the establishment of the Initial Point to the challenges faced by early surveyors, they unpack how these foundational lines still shape land ownership today.

Join us at the Old Idaho Penitentiary on May 2, 12–5 PM for the Boise Meridian Initial Point Celebration, featuring live demonstrations, talks, vendors, and more.

1) Boise Meridian Initial Point Celebration: Surveying the Past, Mapping the Future

https://america250.idaho.gov/events-calendar/boise-meridian-initial-point-celebration-surveying-the-past-mapping-the-future/

2) America250 in Idaho

https://america250.idaho.gov/

3) Initial Point Location

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GQ4hVvbvxG6X6xTS8

4) Bureau of Land Management Official Federal Land Records

https://glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx

In this episode, Skye covers the story of a once-popular and well-liked member of her community who slipped away with a remarkable sum of money that was never recovered, Edna Eckersley #5315 (Embezzlement) and Anthony dives into the story of a young man whose dream of becoming an aviator took a tragic turn and set his life on a new path behind bars, Arley Latham #3402 (Murder in the 2nd Degree).

Come see us perform live at Podfort on Saturday, March 28, 4:00 pm at Boise Contemporary Theater (854 W Fulton St.) **Free admission!**

In this Valentine’s Stool Pigeon special, Samuel tells the story of a great Western romance. We follow Diamond Tooth Lil, who found work as a dance hall girl, a singer, and eventually a madam. Through her travels, Lil earned fame for her beauty and charm—but she also stole the heart of gunslinger Diamondfield Jack (Jack Davis #820). Through their relationship, we gain a perspective on one of the penitentiary’s most notorious prisoners in a way we’ve never had before. Join us for a story of heartbreak, longing, and enduring love you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, Samuel takes us into the courtroom where Andrew Gilbert #811 (Murder in the 2nd Degree), is tried and found guilty of stabbing another man to death. Then, Skye leads us to Montpelier, where we explore the story of the daughter of prominent pioneers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints whose reputation is challenged when a man makes promises he refuses to keep #1146 Caddie Shupe (Voluntary Manslaughter).

In this episode, Anthony shares the story of lover’s lane prowler and escape artist Ed Miles #5128 (Robbery), whose repeated run-ins with the law are matched only by his talent for slipping away, and Skye tells the story of Leola Norris #4486 (Adultery), a young mother whose husband’s imprisonment leads her to take in a boarder, a decision that changes both of their lives forever.

Oral Histories:

Depression Era Gangsters, The Motion Picture Division of the U.S. National Archives.

Idaho State Penitentiary Guard Frank Rigby, 7/13/1992, Idaho State Archives.

Herbert Hoover, Address to the Puerto Rican Legislature, March 24, 1931.

In this first-ever holiday special, Skye enchants us with the Yuletide Yeggs exploits and heists of 1947, during which Margaret #7327 (Robbery) and James Barney #7322 were arrested for a string of burglaries, including stealing presents from underneath Christmas trees. Afterward, Samuel takes us on a journey through several holidays: Thanksgiving with Butch Cassidy; Christmas Eve with Bob Meeks #574; and finally, Samuel Bruner’s #723 (Grand Larceny) New Year’s Eve escape on the legendary horse Selam.

For this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Samuel hits the trail and heads to the Selam Endurance Ride at Centerville, a 100-mile horse race held annually in tribute to the Idaho Penitentiary’s most famous horse. On August 30th, 2025, Samuel interviewed riders, veterinarians, and organizers of the event to get an in-depth look at the challenges and accomplishments behind one of the most demanding forms of horse riding—and how it all connects back to Selam, the horse used in not one but two escapes from the penitentiary. Saddle up and join us for this truly one-of-a-kind episode.

In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Samuel and Anthony sit down with Kathy Deinhardt Hill, author of THE authoritative book on Idaho’s early capital punishment, Hanged: A History of Idaho’s Executions. Kathy discusses how she researched and wrote the definitive account of Idaho’s 26 legal hangings and offers valuable advice for aspiring writers.

In this episode, Anthony shares the story of John Jurko #3416 (Murder in the 1st Degree), whose mysterious business partner spreads a rumor that leads to murder, and Skye takes us on a road trip with three women who may or may not have been part of a car-theft gang, Matilda Hatfield #2539, Ellen Pappas #2540, and Martha Chrisman #2541 (Grand Larceny).

On this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Samuel interviews Jessica Lira, Superintendent of the Ames Monument and the Wyoming Territorial Penitentiary. Jessica recounts some of the most fascinating stories from the prison’s history — including Fannie Marsh, who became warden at just nineteen years old; Butch Cassidy, who served his only prison sentence within these very walls; and the heartwarming story of Chaplain Dr. May Preston Slosson, whom the prisoners lovingly called “Little Mother.”