The Girls of Murder City (50 page)

164
“Too damned many women gettin’ away with murder”:
CDT,
May 23, 1924.

164
The men accepted by the defense, Maurine wrote:
Ibid
.

164
The jury selection moved along slowly:
CDJ,
May 22, 1924.

164
She “leaned wearily on one white hand”:
CDT,
May 23, 1924.

164
“Would the fact that the defendant and the deceased”:
CDT,
May 23, 1924;
CDJ,
May 22, 1924.

165
Three days earlier, federal agents had raided:
Higdon, 29.

165
In a follow-up raid, this one at the Stock Yards Inn:
“Rifles Close Beer Parlor,”
CDJ,
May 24, 1924.

165
Worse yet, as jury selection for Beulah’s trial:
Higdon, 44.

165
The
Tribune
immediately offered $5,000:
Higdon, 50.

165
They would prove, the prosecutors told the newly impaneled jury:
CDT,
May 23, 1924.

166
That the defense “favored bachelors”:
“Beulah, the Beautiful Killer!”
CDT,
Dec. 30, 1951.

166
“We are not relying on the beauty of this woman”:
CEP,
May 23, 1924.

166
Right off, Beulah was called to the stand:
“Judge Puts Proof Up to Defense,”
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

166
Before the trial could get under way, Judge Lindsay:
CEP,
May 23, 1924.

166
Patricia Dougherty, writing as Princess Pat:
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

166
“We’re not trying a case of adultery”:
CDT,
May 24, 1924.

167
Responding to a question from Stewart, Beulah said:
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

167
“Who was the first person to arrive”:
CEP,
May 23, 1924.

1 67-68
“The luck,” the
Evening Post
w rote, “seemed to be goi ng”:
CEP,
May 23, 1924.

168
“Her statements are entirely too vague”:
CDT,
May 24, 1924.

168
“I believe the statements are competent and admissible”:
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

168
Woods’s conversation with Beulah in her kitchen:
“Beulah, on Stand, Tells Wine Killing,”
CDJ,
May 24, 1924; Stewart,
Stewart on Trial Strategy,
92.

168
Stewart viewed it as a victory:
Stewart,
Stewart on Trial Strategy,
92.

168
He also believed that if he and O’Brien played it right:
Ibid.

169
“It is true that a jazz record was being played”:
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

169
“Kalstedt forced his way into her apartment”:
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

169
Maurine noted that “Tears slowly came to Beulah’s”:
CDT,
May 24, 1924.

169
“At three in the afternoon,” O’Brien continued:
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

169
“She foolishly took a drink”:
CDT,
May 24, 1924.

170
“Fascinated, the jury followed him down the path”:
CDT,
May 24, 1924.

170
“He put on a jazz record and made advances”:
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

171
“Both reached for the gun,” he said:
Ibid.

171
“However, she tried to get it”:
CDT,
May 24, 1924.

171
“He was in the St. Cloud reformatory”:
CDT,
May 24, 1924.

172
Betty Bergman, Beulah’s boss, took the stand:
Ibid.

172
He read Beulah’s words from his notes:
CEP,
May 23, 1924.

172
He insisted that Woods had never promised:
CEP,
May 23, 1924.

173
“In news articles, you are not allowed to write editorials”:
“Pistol Fire Lights Up ‘Chicago’; or, Telling It to the Maurine,”
NYW,
Jan. 16, 1927.

173
“‘Beautiful’ Beulah Annan’s chance for freedom”:
CDT,
May 24, 1924.

Chapter 14: Anne, You Have Killed Me

This chapter was chiefly drawn from the following four articles: “Beulah, on Stand, Tells Wine Killing,”
CDJ,
May 24, 1924; “Tried to Kill Me, Says Beulah Annan on Stand,”
CEA,
May 24, 1924; “ ‘Shot to Save My Own Life,’ Says Beulah on Stand,”
CEP,
May 24, 1924; “Jury Finds Beulah Annan Is ‘Not Guilty,’”
CDT,
May 25, 1924. These reports include extensive excerpts from Beulah Annan’s trial testimony, with the
American
printing virtually all of it. The transcriptions closely mirror each other, though the wording of the same questions and answers occasionally differs to a minor degree from one newspaper to the next. I have synthesized this published testimony as seamlessly as possible. Unless otherwise indicated, Beulah Annan’s trial testimony and details related to the testimony come from these sources. The official court records for the trial were destroyed years ago.

175
“Her name was Hula Lou”:
“ ‘Glad,’ Says Jazz Slayer,”
CEA,
Apr. 4, 1924.

175
Outside, on the sidewalk:
“ ‘Glad,’ Says Jazz Slayer,”
CEA,
Apr. 4, 1924; “Dances over Body of Man She Kills,”
Davenport (IA) Democrat and Leader,
Apr. 6, 1924; “Woman in Salome Dance After Killing,”
CDN,
Apr. 4, 1924.

176
“The case of Beulah Annan is one of the most remarkable”:
“Spurns Husband Who Saved Her from Gallows,”
Washington Post,
July 13, 1924.

177
“All you have to do is to tell the truth”:
Stewart,
Stewart on Trial Strategy,
170.

178
Maurine, well on her way to becoming a court expert:
“Maurine Watkins Stirred by ‘Old Fashioned Girl’s’ Sin and Sashweight Story,”
New York Telegram,
Apr. 30, 1927.

178
The
Daily News
noted that Beulah:
The
Daily News
story is quoted in “The Truth Behind ‘Chicago’ Glitz Was Fleeting for the Real Women of ‘Murderess Row,’
Chicago Sun-Times,
Mar. 23, 2003.

183
There had never been a “more dramatic story”:
Ibid.

Chapter 15: Beautiful—but Not Dumb!

191
In his closing argument, Assistant State’s Attorney William McLaughlin:
“Jury Finds Beulah Annan Is ‘Not Guilty’ ”,
CDT,
May 25, 1924; Pauly, 148.

191
“No woman living would have stayed in that apartment”:
“Beulah, on Stand, Tells Wine Killing,”
CDJ,
May 24, 1924.

191
“You have seen that face, gentlemen”:
CDT,
May 25, 1924; “Tried to Kill Me, Says Beulah Annan on Stand” (jump-page headline),
CEA,
May 24, 1924.

191
Beulah, nervous now that her part in the drama:
CDT,
May 25, 1924.

191
He told the jury that if they believed she lied:
CEA,
May 24, 1924.

192
“The verdict is in your hands”:
CDT,
May 25, 1924

192
He laid into McLaughlin for using:
CDJ
, May 24, 1924.

192
“Every defense counsel knows the value”:
“Playwright Says Parents of 2 Murder Defendants Have No Monopoly on Sobs,”
New York Telegram,
Apr. 25, 1927.

192
“She had played the Victrola while the man”:
CDT,
May 25, 1924.

193
“Will this woman be convicted, or will her looks”:
“Beauty in the Courts,”
Decatur (IL) Review,
May 25, 1924.

194
An observer watched as Beulah “wrung her hands”:
“Beulah Annan Credits Babe with Melting Jury’s Heart,”
Atlanta Constitution,
May 26, 1924.

194
“Oh, I can’t thank you!”:
CDT,
May 25, 1924.

194
She kissed a juror:
“Spurns Husband Who Saved Her from Gallows,”
Washington Post,
July 13, 1924.

195
She grasped the jury foreman’s hand:
“Beulah, the Beautiful Killer!”
CDT,
Dec. 30, 1951.

195
“Beulah Annan, whose pursuit of wine”:
Pauly, 143-44;
CDT,
May 25, 1924.

196
“Men on a jury generously make allowance”:
“ ‘Chair Too Good for Them,’ Says ‘Gentle Sex’ Which Is Ready to Save State’s Time,”
New York Telegram,
Apr. 20, 1927.

196
“Mrs. Beulah Annan, Chicago’s prettiest slayer”:
“Beulah Annan Fades Away to Seclusion,”
CDT,
May 26, 1924.

197
“It was the baby—not me,” she told:
Atlanta Constitution,
May 26, 1924.

197
She told another reporter that “I know now better”:
“ ‘Too Slow’ for the Wife He Fought for in the Gallows’ Shadow,”
Fresno Bee,
Aug. 8, 1926.

198
Beulah and Al must have had a terrible fight:
Washington Post,
July 13, 1924.

198
“He doesn’t want me to have a good time”:
Washington Post,
July 13, 1924.

198
“I want lights, music and good times”:
Ibid.

198
News of Beulah’s acquittal received:
CDT,
May 25, 1924; Pauly, xix.

199
When introduced to another reveler:
Higdon, 63.

Chapter 16: The Tides of Hell

200
The mood also was completely different:
“Lilacs Mock Home, Tomb of Sorrow,”
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

200
For much of the morning, as family friends:
CEA,
May 23, 1924.

200
As she did in her report on Wanda:
“Simple Funeral Service Is Held for Franks Boy,”
CDT,
May 26, 1924.

201
“Only relatives, a few close friends, and”:
CDT,
May 26, 1924.

202
“How and why was Robert Franks, a fourteen-year-old heir”:
Higdon, 68.

203
“He caught them lightly and deftly”:
“Big Experience Either Way, Is Nathan’s View,”
CDT,
May 31, 1924.

203
“While it is a terrible ordeal both to my boy and”:
Higdon, 89.

204
Kitty Malm, the most famous gun girl:
“Kitty Malm Starts Serving Life Term,”
CEA,
May 29, 1924.

204
“You’ll not find me making any trouble”:
“Kitty Admits She Expected ‘Rope’ Verdict,”
CDT,
Feb. 28, 1924.

204
“Some other woman might get off”:
“Life Term for ‘Tiger’ Woman,”
Lincoln (NE) Sunday Star,
Mar. 9, 1924.

204
“Goodbye, Kitty, and good luck”:
“Kitty Malm Sobs as She Starts to Begin Life Term,”
CEP,
May 29, 1924.

205
Reporter Owen Scott, seeing Kitty carted:
“A Woman Jury to Try Women Slayers Urged,”
Danville (VA) Bee,
June 12, 1924.

205
She was intent on doing “a character analysis”:
“Pistol Fire Lights Up ‘Chicago’; or, Telling It to the Maurine,”
NYW,
Jan. 16, 1927.

206
“In clear, precise language,” Maurine wrote:
CDT,
May 31, 1924.

208
“The Franks murder mystery has been solved”:
Higdon, 112.

208
“Anyone who had ever spoken to either of them”:
NYW,
Jan. 16, 1927.

209
“He couldn’t have done it”:
“ ‘Dick Innocent,’ Loebs Protest; Plan Defense,”
CDT,
June 1, 1924.

209
“This thing will be the making of me”:
Higdon, 127.

Chapter 17: Hatproof, Sexproof, and Damp

As with Beulah Annan, Chicago’s daily newspapers captured every detail and utterance at Belva Gaertner’s trial. Unless otherwise indicated, material for this chapter comes from the following articles: “Belva Gaertner Goes to Trial on Murder Charge,”
CEP,
June 3, 1924; “Mrs. Gaertner on Trial,”
CDN,
June 3, 1924; “Mrs. Gaertner Has ‘Class’ as She Faces Jury,”
CDT,
June 4, 1924; “Complete Jury in Belva Case,”
CDJ,
June 4, 1924; “Mrs. Gaertner’s Powder Puff Is Seen Victory Aid,”
CEP,
June 4, 1924; “Gaertner Trial Starts,”
CDN,
June 4, 1924;
CDJ,
June 4, 1924; “Jury Holds Belva’s Fate,”
CDN,
June 5, 1924; “Gin Bottle and Slippers Shown at Belva’s Trial,”
CEP,
June 5, 1924; “State Launches Trial of Belva for Law Killing,”
CDT,
June 5, 1924; “Gaertner Case Given to Jury; See Acquittal,”
CDJ,
June 5, 1924; “Jury Finds Mrs. Gaertner Not Guilty,”
CDT,
June 6, 1924; “Mrs. Gaertner Found Innocent of Slaying,”
CDN,
June 6, 1924; “Belva ‘Checks Out’ of Jail,”
CDJ,
June 6, 1924; “Mrs. Gaertner Given Freedom on Murder Charge,”
CEP,
June 6, 1924; “Murderess Row Loses Class as Belva Is Freed,”
CDT,
June 7, 1924. Also see Pauly, 149-57.