Falling Through the Trap

Frank Belew had it out for his siblings. He was the third of five children and when he was left out of his parents’ estate—the money being divided among the other four—he plotted revenge. His case would make history, prompting the question, Can a person inherit the estates of those he murdered? At the time, in 1897, no laws existed in California preventing one from doing so, which meant . . . yes, they sure can. Frank might have gotten away with it, too, if it hadn’t been for his meddling brother-in-law.

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. New episode every 3rd Friday of the month. Episode extras and bonus episodes available on Patreon!

Music:

Intro: “Lamentation,” by Wastelander“Dear Frederic,” by Elise Solberg“Fight or Flight,” byYerself“Center of Gravity,” by Yerself“Distant Water,” by Chelsea McGough“The Bookshop,” by CJ-O“Evelyn,” by CJ-O“The Search,” by CJ-O“Coo-Coos,” by Dresden The Flamingo“The Open Steppe,” by Wicked Cinema“Tippy Toe,” by VOLK“All That Remains,” by Wicked Cinema“Alone in this World,” by Moments“Night Music,” by JCar“Druid,” by Wicked Cinema“Departure,” by Alice in WinterAftermath,” by WastelanderOutro: “Left for Dead,” by Wastelander

What happens when you’re provoked? Do you have a moment of temporary insanity? And, therefore, excused from any responsibility? What if it’s your former spouse who “provoked” you? Well, John was apparently having such a moment—the same moment he happened to have a gun. This case was likely the first in the Los Angeles courts (if not all of California), to debate the temporary insanity (in a heat of passion) plea. It was a certainly a novel defense in the mid-1890s and for those packing courtroom, the topic of mental illness turned the case from a tragedy to a comedy.

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Links:William Radam’s Microbe Killer

ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. New episode every 3rd Friday of the month. Episode extras and bonus episodes available on Patreon!

Music:

Intro: “Left for Dead,” by Wastelander“St. Mary,” by Chelsea McGough and Stephen Keech“As I Dream,” by Moments“Not As They Seem,” by Wicked Cinema“Our Web of Lies,” by Moments“Cat and Mouse,” by Wicked Cinema“I Will Never Forget You,” by Joshua Spacht“A Love Story,” by Wicked Cinema“Boo!” by Dresden the Flamingo“Shifter,” by Wicked Cinema“Ballroom Haunt,” by Dresden the Flamingo“Reverence,” by Marie“Molokai,” by Ian Kelosky“Curiosity,” by Shimmer“Grit,” by WastelanderOutro: “Lamentation” by Wastelander

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: What happens when a case is mishandled, witnesses change their stories, and societal bias and ignorance dictate what justice ought to be? You get a case for innocence. But seldom was guilt questioned during the lawless days of the wild west, and for some, that meant the end of the road—or in this case, at the end of the rope.

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Special thanks for Julie Chimenti at the Historical Society of South San Francisco for providing me with great historical information about Baden, and for indulging me in my long-winded emails.

The Innocence ProjectWhy is Eye-Witness Testimony an Important Area of Psychological Research?Why Eyewitnesses FailFelony Murder Rule

ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. New episode every 3rd Friday of the month.

Music: Intro: “Lamentation,” by Wastelander“Virtue,” by Featherland“Niagara,” by The Realist“Mindful,” by Featherland“Growing Pains,” by Featherland“Hidden Places,” by Featherland“Dead Ends,” by Wicked Cinema“Aurora,” by Featherland“Evidence Board,” by CJ-O“Serial Minds,” by CJ-O“Winter Train Home,” by Featherland“Dystopia,” by Ian Kelosky“Gentle Moon,” by The Realist“Heartbeat,” by The Realist“Bats in the Foundry,” by Material Gurl“The Diary,” by CJ-O“Endless,” by The Realist“Giving Up Your Ghost,” by CJ-O“Devil’s Doorstep,” by WastelanderOutro: “Left for Dead,” by Wastelander

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: These executions all took place within 14 months, from June of 1896 to August of 1897. Three claimed self-defense, one blamed booze, and the last one, well . . . he couldn’t wait to take his turn on the gallows. Their stories intertwine a bit—even with the first three executed men—and it simply made sense to combine them. Find out why one was called a “handsome specimen of physical manhood,” and how the oldest of the ninety-three men, at age 70, ended up on the gallows.

Others mentioned in this episode:

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind. New episode every 3rd Friday of the month.

Music:

Intro: “Lamentation,” by Wastelander“Aisling’s Rise,” by Cody Martin“Death Root,” by Cody Martin“Letter to You,” by Awyr“Fleet Street,” by Stephen Keech“The Search,” by CJ-O“A Future With No Names,” by Stephen Keech“Explorations,” by Gold Coast“The Enemy Within,” by Moments“A Love Story,” by Wicked Cinema“It Never Ends,” by CJ-O“Let the Games Begin,” by CJ-O“Out West,” by Alsever Lake“The Recovery,” by CJ-O“L’amour Au Café,” by Reves Francais“Retreat,” by Chelsea McGough“The Frontier,” by Alsever Lake“Humid Blues,” by Desert Dive“The Wanderer,” by Third Age“The Part Where They Got Into a Fight,” by Stephen Keech“Veil of Secrets,” by Wicked Cinema“The Last Straw,” by CJ Oliver“Reverence,” by MarieOutro: “Left for Dead,” by Wastelander

Additional sources:

Biography of James Harrison Miller

Historical Vagabond

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: John Craig definitely married up when he wedded Emily Hunter in 1884, but no one understood what Emily saw in a guy who had a reputation as a quarrelsome jerk with a drinking problem. This story entails some pretty historically significant events in the U.S. and California, dating back to 1846. You’ll even hear how Marilyn Monroe ties in . . . but wait, there’s more: our story has yet two separate ties to historic events in 2022 and 2024.

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind.

Sources and further reading from this episode:

2019 Los Angeles Dept of City Planning Recommended Report: Hunter Ranch HouseFebruary 2024 Addendum to October 2023 Hunter-Monroe Dossier1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps: Library of CongressLos Angeles Public Library (Digital Collection)"The secret, sordid, history of Threemile House, a den of iniquity on the edge of 1890s LA” by Glen Creason The Lost City of Tropico, CaliforniaSan Quentin Prisoner William “Kid” ThompsonHarriet Child Wadleigh Recommended reading: Gideon’s Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice by Jonathan Rapping

Correction: the children's guardian is referred to as "Aunt Emily," but was actually "cousin Emily."

Music:

Intro: “Lamentation,” by Wastelander; “Swamp Ash,” by Crack Skippy; “Long Walk Home,” by Crack Skippy; “Tumbleweeds,” by Desert Dive; “Brothers,” by Heartland Nights; “An Old Fashioned Magic Show,” by Dresden, The Flamingo; “Stranded,” by Wastelander; “The Lantern,” by Wicked Cinema; “Casino Tarantino,” by Dresden, The Flamingo; “Horseshoe Bend,” by Heartland Nights; “The Wanderer,” by Third Age; “Into the Breach,” by Third Age; “Standoff,” by Wastelande; “Ocean Shadows,” by Chelsea McGough; “Bamburgh,” by Stephen Keech; “Humid Blues,” by Desert Dive; “Lord of the Dead,” by CJ-O“; Grandpa Jokes,” by Heartland Nights; “Out West,” by Alsever Lake; “I Will Never Forget You,” by Joshua Spacht; “A World Suspended,” by Brent Wood; “Tempest,” by Falls; “Outlaw,” by Brent Wood; “Invisible Line by Stephen Keech; “Holy Wait,” Chelsea McGough; “The Untethering,” by Heartland Nights; “The Skeptic,” by CJ-O; “Grit,” by Wastelander; “La Guitarra,” by Cast of Characters; “Woven,” by Alice in Winter; “Banlieue,” by Dario Benedetti; “Rough Rider,” by Wastelander; “Uncanny Valley,” by Wastelander; “Happy Birthday,” by Amanda Welch; “Departure,” by Alice in Winter; “Sleepy Time,” by Dresden, The Flamingo; “Rise,” by Stephen Keech; “O’Brother,” by Wastelander; “Midnight Stroll,” by Ian Kelosky; “Swamp Tale,” by Dario Benedetti; “Delta Belt,” by Andy Ellison; “Moseying’,” by Heartland Nights; “Aftermath,” by Wastelander; Outro: “Left for Dead,” by Wastelander

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: The story of Ivan Kovalev is incredibly fascinating. In 1893, he escaped from the Siberian prison colony of Sakhalin Island, where Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov visited three years prior. Kovalev’s story also features a very famous whaling ship and a controversial Russian-American treaty, that you’ve likely never heard about.

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind.

Music:

(Intro) “Lamentation,” by Wastelander“Endless Desert,” by Simple Thieves“Sandstorm,” by Simple Thieves“Vikings,” by Adam Saban“Tales from the Past,” by Adam Saban“Redemption,” by Adam Saban“The Diary,” by CJ-O“One Quirky Mystery,” by CJ-O“Spiraling into Despair,” by Adam Saban“Point of No Return,” by Salon Dijon“Coat of Arms,” by Wicked Cinema“Rough Rider,” by Wastelander“Out West,” by Alsever Lake“New in Town,” by CJ-O“Sussex,” by Stephen Keech“Our Web of Lies,” by Moments“Woven,” by Alice in Winter“Departure” by Alice in Winter“With Great Vengeance,” by Moments“Cat and Mouse,” by Wicked Cinema“Boo,” by Dresden, The Flamingo“Dracula’s Dentist,” by Dresden, The Flamingo“Let the Games Begin,” by CJ-O“Drama Dee,” by Rhythm Scott“Stiltskin,” by Cody Martin“Not as They Seem,” by Wicked Cinema“Unfolding,” by Alice in Winter“Little Devils,” by Dresden, The Flamingo“Mysterious Grove,” by Cast of Characters“Casino Tarantino,” by Dresden, The Flamingo(Outro) “Left for Dead,” by Wastelander

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This is the story of Chin Hane, Folsom Prison's first execution, on December 13, 1895. Called the "King of the Highbinders," (a Chinese hitman), Hane was found guilty of killing a Sacramento cigar merchant, but the case was filled with questionable legal tactics, blackmail, witness tampering, and conspiracies.

YOUTUBE

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind.

Music: "Lamentation," Wastelander "New in Town," CJ-O "Bats in the Foundry,” Material Gurl "Druid," Wicked Cinema "As Fate Would Have it," Wicked Cinema "Azure," Alice in Winter "The Bookshop," CJ-O "Let the Games Begin," CJ-O "Curiosity," Shimmer "Grim History," Lost Ghosts "Left for Dead," Wastelander

ABOUT FALLING THROUGH THE TRAP: Step behind the walls of Folsom Prison where author and criminal justice professional, April Moore, delves into the haunting, yet profoundly human stories of the 93 men executed between 1895 and 1937. Join us as we explore the paradoxes of justice, taking a deeper look at the death penalty, and re-humanizing those that history might have left behind.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: The journey to this podcast essentially began in the late 1980s and eventually, to 17 years (and counting) of research into these stories. It all began with a box of mugshots, which I'll tell you all about. Also in this episode, I describe how a typical execution at Folsom was carried out.

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Music: "Lamentation," Wastelander "The Ballroom Haunt," Dresden, the Flamingo "Cast of Characters," Mysterious Grove "Legend," Moments "Beyond All Time," Moments "Ol' Boy Tavern," Heartland Nights "Horseshoe Bend," Heartland Nights "O Brother," Wastelander "Wonky Tonk," Reveille "Unexpected Turn," Moments "Left for Dead," Wastelander