Murder and Mayhem in 1912

Headlines from 100 years ago

by Robert A. Waters

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BOOTY OF TRAIN ROBBERY AMOUNTED TO $200,000

Thirty packages of Currency Known to Have Been in Safe on Train.

Waterloo Reporter
May 15, 1912

New Orleans--Robbers who held up a Queen and Crescent express train near Hattiesburg, Miss. yesterday got at least $200,000, according to best information obtainable here today. It is positively known that from the safe which was blown open, the bandit got more than thirty packages of currency, one of which contained in excess of $50.000. One [other] package of currency contained $140,000, according to an express messenger.

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Eight Babies Slain

Woman is Accused of Wholesale Murder of Infants

Associated Press
February 24, 1912

Winifred Anders, a nurse in the Brooklyn [New York] nursery and infants hospital, was held in the Brooklyn court today without bail on a charge of having caused the death of eight babies by putting oxalic acid in their milk.

Detectives who arrested the woman claim that she made a full confession but the motive for the terrible series of crimes is a mystery. The woman appeared in court indifferent and pleaded to have a baby, that she claims is her own, restored to her.

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An 18-Year Sentence Given to Two Boys by Judge Grimm Today

BERGER AND MEYER GO TO WAUPUN AT HARD LABOR FOR LONG PERIOD FOR MURDER OF TILLY BERGSTERMAN. SENTENCE EXPECTED.

Prisoners for First Time Appeared to Realize Enormity of Their Crime and Stood With Heads Bowed As Sentence Was Passed.

Janesville Daily Gazette
November 25, 1912

Edward Meyer, aged 19, and Harry Berger, aged 17, convicted of rape and of third degree murder when they caused the death of Tilly Bergsterman September 30, last were each sentenced to 18 years at hard labor at the state's prison at Waupun by Judge George Grimm at the circuit court this afternoon. The first day only of their imprisonment shall be in solitary confinement.

The two boys stood before the bar of justice with heads bowed down and were more deeply affected than at any time during their extended trial. They arrived in the court room accompanied by Turnkey Philo Kemp shortly before two o'clock and sat quietly until court was called. They glanced neither to the right nor left and paid no heed to the large audience which filled the court room.

A hush fell over the court room when Judge Grimm rapped for order and ordered Sheriff Ransom to open court for their sentence. "You each stand convicted of the crime of third degree murder and of rape," said Judge Grimm. “Have you, Edward Meyer, any reason to give why sentence should not be passed?” Meyer's head hung lower and [he] shook it negatively. “Have you, Harry Berger?” He had none.