Dial M: The Murder of Carol Thompson

by William Swanson

At 9:00 on the morning of March 6, 1963, in the quiet neighborhood of Highland Park, Mrs. Fritz Pearson glanced out her window and saw something almost unimaginable: slumped on the front steps of the home across the street was a woman, partially clothed in a blue bathrobe and bloodied beyond recognition. The woman, Mrs. Pearson would come to learn, was her beloved neighbor Carol Thompson, wife and mother of four.   Earlier that morning, T. Eugene Thompson, known to friends as “Cotton,” dropped his son off at school and headed to the office, where he worked as a criminal attorney.  At 8:25 am, he phoned home, later telling police that he did so to confirm evening plans with Carol.  Mr. Thompson lied.   Through police records, court transcripts, family papers, and extensive interviews, William Swanson has recreated Middle America’s “crime of the century,” the deadly plot by a husband that made headlines around the world. But Dial M: The Murder of Carol Thompson also tracks the lives of the Thompsons’ children. Their journey from disbelief to acceptance culminates in a private family trial where they decide whether their father truly was responsible for the violent act that crushed their childhood and forever altered their views of the world.   

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, History, Book Club

228 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like true crime stories this is one to look for. I don’t remember the case but the murder of Carol Thompson, the wife of an affluent and popular churchgoing, Minnesota lawyer, is like most of the Dateline or 48 hour mysteries popular now. If you are a fan of those two tv shows you can pretty easily guess who did it and why. The husband did; he hired some poor fools to carry out his plan. Why, for the other woman and for the insurance money of course. What makes the book worth reading is the author’s reporting over the following four decades of the lives of Carol’s children after she is so brutally killed. The strength of her parents in raising their four grandchildren to be as wholesome, wise and kind as she would have done had she been able to live the full life as their mother, is incredible. Read it to see how Carol's wicked husband's life has been since his wife's murder.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this book is well-written but not really groundbreaking. It describes a grisly murder and the resulting investigation. The details are intriguing, but it's fairly clear early on who the murderer was.

It's the second half that makes the book a worthwhile read. The author interviews the murdered woman's four children and explains what happened to them after the murder -- their childhoods and careers -- and how they interacted with their mother's murderer.

Although much of this book focuses on the murderer, the author makes an effort to focus on the murdered woman's character and personality, which I appreciated.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone growing up in Minnesota in the early 60's will probably remember these names: T. Eugene Thompson, Norman Mastrian and the victim, Carol Thompson. If social media had been around then, the murder and subsequent trial would have been prominent.

I was 12 years old and even at that age, I remember these names. I was a little foggy on the details, but the book brings it all back. "Cotton" (as T. Eugene was known) and Carol had what appeared to be a happy marriage despite his infidelities, unpredictable behavior and time away from the family. However, all the circumstantial evidence said T. Eugene hired Norman Mastrian to kill his wife. In turn, Mastrian then hired Dick Anderson to carry it out. T. Eugene was convicted and spent 20 years in prison. As of the writing of the book, he still maintains his innocence.

But, the real story is about the four children and how they protected and supported one another. The oldest, Jeff, became a lawyer like his father and eventually a district judge. The three girls dealt with their father and his notoriety in various ways. One of them forgave him. The youngest, Amy, kept distance between herself and her father. Margaret is probably the one who has the most contact with him. They have said, "He's still our father."

[Tomigirl44 · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Minnesotan I found this book very interesting. The author does a wonderful job presenting the facts as well as following up with the family in the years following the crime, and that part of the story is what intrigued me even more than the crime - how the family has responded and lived in the aftermath of the tragedy.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I became interested in this story after seeing the play "Carol & Cotton" at the MN Fringe festival this year. The play is a retelling of the murder and trial, using only 2 actors playing all of the parts. The dramatization of Cotton's character really intrigued me.

Sadly, the first part of the book did not live up to my expectations. After seeing the story of the murder so brilliantly rendered with so much emotion, reading it in a very dry, newspaperish style was a let down. For those who aren't familiar with the story, however, the story of the murder and how it was accomplished is equal to anything you might see on the ID channel.

The second part of the book was more interesting to me. The murderer and the victim are clearly impacted by the crime, but what of the collateral damage? Carol Thompson had four young children- the youngest was 6- when she died. Understanding their stories, and how their views of the murder changed over the years was fascinating. It also spoke to our societal obsession with celebrity- no matter what the children do as they become adults, they will always be linked to the infamy of the murder.

Overall, an interesting twist on the traditional true crime story, which was somewhat lessened by the author's emotional distance from his subjects.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

An unimaginative book about the murder of Carol Thompson in Minnesota in 1963. Even the name of the book is unimaginative. "Dial M" is a take-off from the movie "Dial M for Murder" in which a husband murders his wife.

After Carol's brutal murder and investigation ensues and there are 7 links in the chain of circumstantial evidence pointing to T. Eugene Thompson as having hired someone to murder his wife. One of the most convincing facts was that he had taken out life insurance policies totaling $1.4 million. That was a mega-fortune in 1963! The hired murderer couldn't bring himself to murder the church-going mother of four, so he got someone else to do the job. That person bungled the plan to make Carol's death look like an accidental drowning in the bath tub. Both men testified against T. Eugene Thompson at the trial and he was convicted and sent to prison for life (25 years less 5 years for good behavior)

The story doesn't stop there and goes on to tell how the murder as well as their father's conviction affected the lives of the children.

All the pieces are there for a great story and in the hands of someone like Ann Rule probably would have been a page turner. But the author is a newspaper journalist and he writes like one.

I wouldn't recommend this book.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

True crime book about one of the biggest murder cases in Minnesota history. A brutal home invasion murder of a housewife and mother of four in the early 60's. The first half reads like a mix between textbook and novel in kind of a who done it style. This continues all the way through the trial. I found this portion pretty interesting.

The second half is what makes this a unique book. It following the life of the 4 children all the way through adulthood. There are a lot of direct quotes and input from the children on what it was like living the rest of their lives with the stigma of being the "Thompson children".

I enjoyed the first half more than the second but it was still an okay read. I have the urge to watch Fargo now. Recommend for crime readers and Minnesotans alike.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good one that revisits a crime case so big that only the Kennedy assassination finally pushed it off the front pages. The author reconnects with the 4 children of the victim and examines their uniquely painful situation, as well as their unique approach to setting all the unanswered questions to rest.

[Bill reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carol Thompson was bludgeoned and stabbed to death in her Minnesota home in the early morning hours in March of 1963. Her husband Eugene was a well respected lawyer and the couple had four children in a seemingly perfect all American family.
Eventually, Eugene was arrested and then convicted of hiring a man to off his wife in order to collect over $1 million of several life insurance policies. The impeccably dressed barrister also had a mistress on the side who was awaiting his divorce in order for the lovebirds to live happily ever after.
The first half of the book deals with the murder, trial and conviction of Mr. Thompson. The second half gives updates of the four now adult children and their unusual relationships with Eugene, a man who proclaimed his innocence for the forty-three years up to the publication, in 2006, of this book.
An online search reveals even more unexpected information on the case. The twists and turns of the story, especially in regard to Thompson's son, are quite surprising.
Dial M is a very good read.

[Jennifer Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating account of a St. Paul murder mystery that happened less than a couple miles from my house in 1963. I hadn’t heard of this sensational news story before stumbling upon this book, but it was big news for a city that was not used to scandal and violence in a middle class neighborhood.

The book is separated into two parts- the first, a retelling of the events, evidence, interviews and ultimate trial of T. Eugene Thompson, the accused killer of his wife Carol. The second portion of the book is from the perspective of the Thompson kids, thirty years after the murder of their mom. They reckon with their memories and opinions of their father.

I’m always a sucker for a good MN story!

[Kelly]

Judge Thompson is an ass, and no one who actually knows him would put money in his pockets by buying his book. Yes, I feel bad for the tragedy he has seen in his life. Apparently, his son was killed by a drunk driver. No person should have to experience these things. That being said, he has ruined many people life's with no ACTUAL legal reason to do so. I do want to give my condolences to him about his mother (murder because of his father) and about his son (who would still be alive if people did NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!)...

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a true crime reader so I'm being purposefully generous with the rating. I don't really know what's normal or expected for books like this. But I found Swanson's work readable and sympathetic, sensitive to the family, and interesting. I have heard Judge J. Thompson speak about this himself and he suggested the book as having more details of the murder itself, but I didn't actually learn much new. If you're a "fan" of the book and you get a chance to hear/see Judge J. Thompson speak, take that opportunity! He's a fantastic, very engaging speaker.

[Bexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and succinct detail of the murder of Carol Thompson, the trial, and the family's aftermath. There wasn't a lot of fluff and the details were all from newspapers and interviews with the individual involved, not just spouting rehashed facts from other true crime. It wasn't very engaging, but it was still interesting.

[jmilesc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve meant to read this book for a long time and finally picked it up. It’s well written and a quick read. The author was familiar with the children of Carol Thompson as adults- and that came through. Unsatisfying in a way- while you can guess the ‘why’, Eugene never comes clean. Overall, a good read.

[James Empson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Guess you needed to have grown up in Minneapolis at the end of the C20 to understand why anyone would read or write this book. That said, it was an in depth analysis of both perpetrator AND his family that might make this worth a read (if you had interest in murderers and their family)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best written but enjoyed (?) all the references to St Paul and our neighborhood.

Wish the author would have referred to the protagonist by a single name, and not all the variations and nicknames.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading

If you like true crime, this book is for you. It is from both sides, the crime itself and the aftermath.

[Deanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative book. Worth the read.

[Timothy Kauphusman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written easy read. I haven't read a book as quickly as this one in a long time

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began to feel a little like a voyeur.

[Jo-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book written from a few points, sad story.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This case has always intrigued me since I saw it on A Crime to Remember. The book is a good retelling of the events.

[Andrea Trenary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more of a 3.5 but I thought it was really interesting to read a true crime book about my local area (I’m from Minneapolis but I spend a lot of time in the Highland area).

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about a murder local to the Twin Cities in 1963.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting book! I remember this murder in the Twin Cities in 1963.

[Amy Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, especially since I k ew the story. My stspmom is the friend in this true story.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was 1963, I was 8 yrs old living in a first ring St. Paul suburb when the frightening news hit. Carol Thompson, a well-educated, married, 34 year old mother of four children was murdered that morning in her home on Hillcrest Street in the tony St. Paul neighborhood of Highland Park. Her attacker escaped without finishing the job, leaving her half-dead but able to find her way to a neighbor's home. She was taken to Ancker Hospital (which is now...Regents) where emergency physicians attempted to save her but were unsuccessful.

In 1963, these kinds of atrocities were rare. No one locked their homes whether they were home or not. My home was the same way. We left the door unlocked so the likes of Hank, our milkman, could replenish the supply of dairy products in the refrigerator. The Highland Park neighborhood was no different. Carol's husband, T. Eugene, left with their son, dropping off the son at St. Paul Academy and then headed early to his office. The other children left the house to walk to school shortly after that just as they did every school day.

T. Eugene Thompson, nicknamed "Cotton", a Macalester grad as was his wife Carol, was a prominent St.Paul lawyer, with big-shot behavior, a large ego-centric personality and was cheating on her. She knew it. T. Eugene had recently taken out several insurance policies on her totaling over $1M. He had also made a few changes in their home to help facilitate the hired murder. Within a few months, investigators pieced the crime story together and all who were involved. It was evident T. Eugene had hired the killer and plotted the cold-blooded murder.

Convicted. Life sentence in Stillwater prison. Denied parole twice. In the mid-1980's he was granted parole. Still contending he was innocent.

Much of the second half of the book is the story of their children and how as adults they struggled to come to terms T. Eugene had hired someone to kill their mother. The eldest, Jeff, an attorney at this point and later a judge, called a family meeting with just the kids and T. Eugene. The kids shared brutal but honest feelings and thoughts with their Dad. They fired at at Eugene what had been living inside them since that day in 1963. They gave him a chance to exonerate himself. He tried but was unconvincing.

I remember how much publicity this case received and how scary it was over the course of time it took to find and prosecute. Things like this just didn't happen. People began locking their doors and taking other precautions. This horrific case was highly publicized and rocked the world of many. I was drawn back to reading this since hearing of T. Eugene's death recently. What a shameful, despicable man.

Side notes:

Tilmer Eugene Thompson grew up in Elmore MN, also home of Walter Mondale. They attended high school together and both attended Macalester College. There could not be two very different men and their contributions to society.

Norman Mastrian, Duluth native, Golden Gloves boxer, journalism grad from Macalester College (still known for it's academic rigor and excellence), WWII Navy veteran, convicted of a previous grocery store break-in and suspected in the murder of a local restaurant owner, was Thompson's hired killer. Mastrian then hired Dick W.C.Anderson to carry out the plan. Anderson was known as a hard-drinking, pill popping ex-Marine. He "chickened out" the day the murder was planned but drank and popped pills before sunrise the next day and headed for that infamous Highland Park home where he parked down the street before daylight, entered through an unlocked side door and hid in the Thompson's basement until it was time to head upstairs. Thompson was to call his wife a little after 8 am so she would have to go downstairs and answer on their only remaining phone. Anderson would then emerge from the basement with a rubber hose, knives and gun to carry out the attack. When that plan took place a day later, Anderson had to go find Carol upstairs in her bedroom. The rest is brutal.
http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_28...

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. I choose it because at the time of the murder of Carol Thompson I was a kid and the investigation and trial were always forefront on the local evening news. My parents had good friends who lived a few blocks from the Thompsons in Highland Park and I remember them talking in hushed whispers about it. So I came to reading this book with the curiosity of my own unanswered questions from so many years ago. While the details of the murder and case are tragic, it's the effects on the Thompson children of the murder of their mother and the imprisonment of their father, that are the saddest of all. They found their own ways to band together and cope, as best as they could, with these events. A testament to their strength in the very public face of adversity.

[Laren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of a midwest housewife who was murdered and subsequently her husband was convicted of the crime. The actual crime story only takes up half of this short book, with the remainder of the book telling the story of their children growing up in the aftermath. This is a somewhat unique idea in the genre, but it wasn't as well done in this book as I had hoped for. There were big gaps in time, and the kids remained largely enigmas even as they grew into their adult lives. Even the promise of a trial held by his family years after the fact didn't pay off in any compelling way for me.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pretty young when this murder took place, but even so, I picked up on it---it was on tv and radio constantly for awhile, inundating us with all the details they could relate. It was pretty scandalous at the time, a lawyer's wife, living in an affluant area of the Twin Cities, stabbed to death in such a brutal fashion. What makes this book stand out from other true crime books is the skillful writing and the amount of space the author devoted to the impact on the children and their relationship with their father.