Wicked Columbus, Ohio

by David Meyers, Elise Meyers Walker

Ohio's capital city once teemed with crime bosses, rampant corruption and unpunished perversion. The Bad Lands of Columbus was a nationally recognized slum controlled by "Smoky" Hobbs. Columbus native Dr. Samuel B. Hartman, the world's most successful snake oil salesman, was almost single-handedly responsible for the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act. Local gambler "Pat" Murnan had an unlikely love affair with Grace Backenstoe, the madam of the most popular brothel in town. The two were a symbol of the area's salaciousness. Authors David Meyers and Elise Meyers Walker explore the heyday of Columbus's most notorious fiends, corrupt politicians and con men.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2015

Reviews

[Jim Dooley · Rating 3 out of 5]

WICKED COLUMBUS, OHIO prominently displays the James Thurber quote, "We all have flaws. Mine is being wicked." Well, Thurber was certainly not alone in that pursuit!

There is more than a little surprise in making "dark" discoveries about where I've lived for most of my life. On the topic of wickedness, I definitely expected to encounter porn king, Larry Flynt, who had a notorious mansion in a well-to-do suburb ... just across the street from the Columbus School For Girls (where the privileged sent their young women). Yes, he was to be found in the pages.

Yet, although Columbus has had its share of political corruption (and, according to some, still does), I had not known of the "Bad Lands" which apparently gave New York's "Tenderloin District" a run for its money. Apparently, Columbus was rife with prostitution "resorts" and gambling establishments. One unsubstantiated tale suggests that Al Capone was so impressed by our Irish "Kingpin" that he decided not to add Columbus to his sphere of influence!

I was also surprised to learn that Columbus had been the home of Peruna, a patent medicine that "cured what ailed you" with its 56-proof alcoholic content ... and that the main business partner in that venture continues to be remembered as a philanthropist, and has a prominent location named after him in our city.

We also had a very demented individual who went on a crime spree of cutting "choice meats" from living cattle. I have to admit that I was a bit sickened by the details, although they weren't excessively graphic.

Yet, I was surprised that the writing wasn't more engaging. It wasn't quite a reiteration of news stories, but it did seem "dry." Although the chapters were short, I frequently found myself rereading earlier paragraphs as I thought, "Wait a second. Who was that again?" And there were some inconsistencies. The main one was that the chapter about Larry Flynt wasn't exactly about him. It was about his wife, Althea Flynt, who oversaw his business operations. Yet, despite the several photos showing him, his wife is nowhere to be seen. (Of course, the internet rectified my curiosity.)

I am definitely keeping the book for reference as I am fascinated by Ohio history. However, I doubt that I'll ever read it in its entirety again.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm always interested in learning more about the history of my state, but this just wasn't quite what I was expecting it to be. Sure, some of the events and figures related here are interesting in their own right but how the authors presented everything is much too dull. I did enjoy looking at the historic photos included though.

[Mariann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book so so. I was very interested in the last chapter about Larry and Althea Flynt.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 2 out of 5]

David Meyers and Elise Meyers Walker's "Wicked Columbus, Ohio" is a book that attempts to deal w/ some of the more infamous crimes in Ohio's capital city from the late 1880s until the mid 20th century. Assuming the reader can get past the first 2 chapters in the book which deal w/ the skin trade & a mass murder of cows, the book itself kind of plods along through a total of 12 different events in the city's history which for the most part I as a reader & relative newcomer to Columbus as a home base wasn't aware of. The opening 2 chapters of this book describe crimes that honestly will turn your stomach due to how graphic in nature they are as well as how awful the actual crime is. The remaining 10 deal w/ a collection of random events that while adding to my knowledge of this city & it's history don't seem all that important either. Mercifully the book is only 140 pages which at times is far too long for this particular book that would likely only be of interest to people w/ ties to the city itself.

[Steve Grunwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps it’s my fault for reading this on the backs of novels covering Cleveland’s Torso Killer and Chicago’s H. H. Holmes, but there was little “wicked” in this book. A few gruesome tales, for sure, but an equal number of “this person was a gambler, bootlegger, sex worker, and/or adulterer!” Please excuse me as I clutch my pearls.

The book is a fast read, yet takes effort to finish. I’d find my mind wandering to my to-do list, meal planning, or deciding what kind of book I’ll read once I can mark this one as read. There’s nothing technically wrong with it (save for some missed typos), but the structure is basically 10–12 pages on a person, with the occasional “Leo DiCaprio points at himself on TV” meme; not enough to get a deep understanding, but honestly half of these people I’ve already forgotten. Were it not for my connection to Columbus, this probably would be a 2-star read — not a waste of time, but nothing to seek out, either.

[Phillip E Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of great stories ad facts about Central Ohio

I enjoyed reading this very much. I learned a great deal about the history of the Columbus area. I had no idea there were so many "CHARACTERS" in its history. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good scandal story mixed with historical facts.

[Jean Wetmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I was thinking more of evil when I picked this up at a local library. But the less evil stories give a better view of the history of the city that I have adopted as my home. I especially liked the stories connected with Graceland, which is now a small shopping mall about 3 miles from my home.

[Angela Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

And we think times are bad today!

Nothing has changed. Political corruption, under world dealings, illicit sexcapades, lying, cheating I and stealing, racism - the world keeps turning.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great deal of research was presented and it seems very competent. However, there weren't many juicy stories involved. There was quite a bit of routine criminality and corruption. Which oddly gives me hope.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but not overly so - some chapters were much more compelling than others. Likewise, it was a little wicked, but not too much.

[Kara Prem · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars A review of some of the more colorful characters in Columbus history. Some of the stories were really interesting and others were informative, but not necessarily as engaging.

[Kate Lee Phadke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it covers an interesting topic and I had high hopes of it, it was written more complicated than it needed to be. I had to reread sections many times to make sense of them. I ended up giving up on it in the end.

[Carol Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This came to my attention while I was trying to find out more about Pat Murnan and Grace, notorious Columbus gambler/gambling house owner and brothel owner. My grandfather wa a Murnane and he always told us that all the Murnane's in Columbus were related, but he never talked about his family other than his brothers and sisters. I was looking for a connection, but alas, have found none (yet)! This volume highlights several low moments in Columbu history, particularly of the 1800-1900's. There is one about a serial cow killer, another about Larry Flint's wife. I find it hard to believe, however, that these are the wickedest stories available in Columbus!