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Lies Told Under Oath: The Puzzling Story of the Pfanschmidt Murders and of the Surviving Son-Victim or Villain?
In 1912, a prosperous Illinois farm familyCharles; his wife, Mathilda; their fifteen-year-old daughter, Blanche; and boarding schoolteacher Emma Kaempenwere brutally murdered, the crime concealed by arson, and the familys surviving son, handsome Ray Pfanschmidt, arrested. He was convicted by the press long before trial. In Lies Told Under Oath, author Beth Lane retells the story of the murders, the trial, the verdict, and the aftermath.
Using information culled from actual trial transcripts and newspaper accounts, Lane presents the day-to-day testimony as Rays battle for his life surged through three courtroomsthe drama complicated by brilliant attorneys, allegations of perjury, charges of rigged evidence, jailhouse informants, legal loopholes, conflict over the large estate being inherited by the alleged murderer, and appeals to the state supreme court. The remaining family became divided over Rays guilt while his fiance staunchly stood by him.
Lies Told Under Oath provides a fascinating, historical account of the times and the peoplewhen science was in its infancy, telephones meant shared party lines, bloody evidence was contested (or contrived), and automobiles competed with bloodhounds and buggies. It captures the essence of an emotional crime that rocked this small Illinois community.
Using information culled from actual trial transcripts and newspaper accounts, Lane presents the day-to-day testimony as Rays battle for his life surged through three courtroomsthe drama complicated by brilliant attorneys, allegations of perjury, charges of rigged evidence, jailhouse informants, legal loopholes, conflict over the large estate being inherited by the alleged murderer, and appeals to the state supreme court. The remaining family became divided over Rays guilt while his fiance staunchly stood by him.
Lies Told Under Oath provides a fascinating, historical account of the times and the peoplewhen science was in its infancy, telephones meant shared party lines, bloody evidence was contested (or contrived), and automobiles competed with bloodhounds and buggies. It captures the essence of an emotional crime that rocked this small Illinois community.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
379 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2012
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73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 8, 2013
This story will have you hooked from the very first chapter.
It mainly takes place in 1912 after a horrendous murder is committed. The Pfanschmidt. family was highly respected in the community.
Unfortunately, nobody would have predicted that four people would be found dead after a fire takes place in their home. Among the bodies uncovered we find Charles, his wife Mathilda, Blanche, their fifteen-year-old daughter and Emma Kaempen a schoolteacher all brutally murdered.
Ray their son was not found murdered and since he was not living at home that particular week naturally he is considered the number one suspect, as only he would have something to gain from this.
The police and many neighbors,relatives, Ray’s fiancée and her family are questioned and even bloodhounds are brought in to see if they can find anything linking Ray to the murder. We must remember all the possibly new technology we have at our fingertips today was not available and so they have to use what they had.
Ray is fighting for his life as he says he did not do it and with the courtroom drama unfolding we hear testimony from the attorneys, a jailhouse informant, relatives of the family, results from bloodhounds and what forensic evidence was available and even a private detective who was hired.
Like myself you will wonder if this young man Ray, not quite twenty-one could have been involved or responsible in this terrible murder and how the town so wants him to be found guilty. The trial takes some twists and turns and does not end with a verdict but continues. It is a fascinating story as only Ms. Lane can tell when she realizes this is somewhat personal as her great grandfather was tied to the trial.
.
It mainly takes place in 1912 after a horrendous murder is committed. The Pfanschmidt. family was highly respected in the community.
Unfortunately, nobody would have predicted that four people would be found dead after a fire takes place in their home. Among the bodies uncovered we find Charles, his wife Mathilda, Blanche, their fifteen-year-old daughter and Emma Kaempen a schoolteacher all brutally murdered.
Ray their son was not found murdered and since he was not living at home that particular week naturally he is considered the number one suspect, as only he would have something to gain from this.
The police and many neighbors,relatives, Ray’s fiancée and her family are questioned and even bloodhounds are brought in to see if they can find anything linking Ray to the murder. We must remember all the possibly new technology we have at our fingertips today was not available and so they have to use what they had.
Ray is fighting for his life as he says he did not do it and with the courtroom drama unfolding we hear testimony from the attorneys, a jailhouse informant, relatives of the family, results from bloodhounds and what forensic evidence was available and even a private detective who was hired.
Like myself you will wonder if this young man Ray, not quite twenty-one could have been involved or responsible in this terrible murder and how the town so wants him to be found guilty. The trial takes some twists and turns and does not end with a verdict but continues. It is a fascinating story as only Ms. Lane can tell when she realizes this is somewhat personal as her great grandfather was tied to the trial.
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October 1, 2013
That boy had a lot of nerve. I don't think he did it. You can tell the author did some serious research . Very well written.
Read
November 12, 2025I don’t know how to rate this one. It was interesting but it was also A LOT. It also took me forever to read so maybe I lost something that way. But I thought I’d have a clearer picture of the crime and whether or not Ray was guilty. Maybe that wasn’t the goal, either. I don’t know. I was looking for more information about the case itself and I got a lot of details about what happened in court.
October 13, 2017
Interesting local history
This book was recommended by an acquaintance. I still really don't know who did it! Interesting the whole way. If you like local mystery, this is it.
This book was recommended by an acquaintance. I still really don't know who did it! Interesting the whole way. If you like local mystery, this is it.
November 3, 2014
True Crime from 1912
In late September 1912, a father, mother, daughter, and the schoolteacher boarder are murdered at the Pfanschmidt farm outside of Quincy, IL. The bodies are discovered during a house fire, later believed to have been set a full day after the killings.
Suspicion falls on the remaining son – twenty years old, engaged to be married, and sliding into financial trouble.
Arson investigation, murder investigation, and forensics were sciences in their infancy at the time. Add an extended family divided in their loyalty to the suspect – Ray Pfanschmidt – neighbors, businessmen, and bloodhound handlers milling about the farm during and after the fire and you have a tangle of evidence which even modern methods would have difficulty sorting into sense.
The narrative guiding the way through newspaper accounts and official court records together, held my attention. Which witness is lying? In which trial? Was the motivation money? Land?
I’ve heard of crimes of this sort before. At least one occurred near the small Midwestern town of my youth. But the multiple trials of the same defendant is what sets this apart from the average arson to cover murder case.
In late September 1912, a father, mother, daughter, and the schoolteacher boarder are murdered at the Pfanschmidt farm outside of Quincy, IL. The bodies are discovered during a house fire, later believed to have been set a full day after the killings.
Suspicion falls on the remaining son – twenty years old, engaged to be married, and sliding into financial trouble.
Arson investigation, murder investigation, and forensics were sciences in their infancy at the time. Add an extended family divided in their loyalty to the suspect – Ray Pfanschmidt – neighbors, businessmen, and bloodhound handlers milling about the farm during and after the fire and you have a tangle of evidence which even modern methods would have difficulty sorting into sense.
The narrative guiding the way through newspaper accounts and official court records together, held my attention. Which witness is lying? In which trial? Was the motivation money? Land?
I’ve heard of crimes of this sort before. At least one occurred near the small Midwestern town of my youth. But the multiple trials of the same defendant is what sets this apart from the average arson to cover murder case.
Read
June 4, 2014I'm not convinced that he's guilty but I do agree that he had an awful lot of nerve.
December 10, 2012
Slow at first, but by the middle to end, you're totally hooked!!
October 23, 2015
Great read
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews