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Unwanted: A Murder Mystery of the Gilded Age
A Sensational Crime and Trial that Confronted Racism, Sexism, and Privilege as America Took to the World Stage
On the foggy, cold morning of February 1, 1896, a boy came upon what he thought was a pile of clothes. It was soon discovered to be the headless body of a young woman, brutally butchered and discarded. She was found just across the river from one of the largest cities in the country, Cincinnati, Ohio. Soon the authorities, the newspapers, and the public were obsessed with finding the poor girl’s identity and killer. Misinformation and rumor spread wildly around the case and led authorities down countless wrong paths. Initially, it appeared the crime would go unsolved. An autopsy, however, revealed that the victim was four months pregnant, presenting a possible motive. It would take the hard work of a sheriff, two detectives, and the unlikely dedication of a shoe dealer to find out who the girl was; and once she had been identified, the case came together. Within a short time the police believed they had her killers—a handsome and charismatic dental student and his roommate—and enough evidence to convict them of first-degree murder. While the suspects seemed to implicate themselves, the police never got a clear answer as to what exactly happened to the girl and they were never able to find her lost head—despite the recovery of a suspicious empty valise.
Centering his riveting new book, A Murder Mystery of the Gilded Age , around this shocking case and how it was solved, historian Andrew Young re-creates late nineteenth- century America, where Coca-Cola in bottles, newfangled movie houses, the Gibson Girl, and ragtime music played alongside prostitution, temperance, racism, homelessness, the rise of corporations, and the women’s rights movement. While the case inspired the sensationalized pulp novel Headless Horror , songs warning girls against falling in love with dangerous men, ghost stories, and the eerie practice of random pennies left heads up on a worn gravestone, the story of an unwanted young woman captures the contradictions of the Gilded Age as America stepped into a new century, and toward a modern age.
On the foggy, cold morning of February 1, 1896, a boy came upon what he thought was a pile of clothes. It was soon discovered to be the headless body of a young woman, brutally butchered and discarded. She was found just across the river from one of the largest cities in the country, Cincinnati, Ohio. Soon the authorities, the newspapers, and the public were obsessed with finding the poor girl’s identity and killer. Misinformation and rumor spread wildly around the case and led authorities down countless wrong paths. Initially, it appeared the crime would go unsolved. An autopsy, however, revealed that the victim was four months pregnant, presenting a possible motive. It would take the hard work of a sheriff, two detectives, and the unlikely dedication of a shoe dealer to find out who the girl was; and once she had been identified, the case came together. Within a short time the police believed they had her killers—a handsome and charismatic dental student and his roommate—and enough evidence to convict them of first-degree murder. While the suspects seemed to implicate themselves, the police never got a clear answer as to what exactly happened to the girl and they were never able to find her lost head—despite the recovery of a suspicious empty valise.
Centering his riveting new book, A Murder Mystery of the Gilded Age , around this shocking case and how it was solved, historian Andrew Young re-creates late nineteenth- century America, where Coca-Cola in bottles, newfangled movie houses, the Gibson Girl, and ragtime music played alongside prostitution, temperance, racism, homelessness, the rise of corporations, and the women’s rights movement. While the case inspired the sensationalized pulp novel Headless Horror , songs warning girls against falling in love with dangerous men, ghost stories, and the eerie practice of random pennies left heads up on a worn gravestone, the story of an unwanted young woman captures the contradictions of the Gilded Age as America stepped into a new century, and toward a modern age.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published July 20, 2016
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366 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 23, 2016
A great and fast read. More than just a true crime murder mystery. Each chapter explores an interesting aspect of culture and life in the guided age. Packed with interesting tid-bits, tangents, and humor without slowing down the pace of the main story. Pick it up and try prologue. If you liked Erik Larson's "devil in the white city" than you have to read this.
February 4, 2017
Not nearly as interesting as Devil in the White City but I still enjoyed it for the historic tidbits. I have to agree with previous reviewers that it seemed like the author included a lot of superfluous stories that were barely connected to the main story in any way. It's not a particularly long book so maybe he just wanted some filler. I much preferred the other book I read recently about a serial killer in Austin at the turn of the century. (Updated: that one was called The Midnight Assassin)
January 23, 2018
Really enjoyed this. I enjoyed reading about what my home was like 100 years ago. I work in Fort Thomas and drive on Alexandria Pike everyday so it was weird to know where everything took place.
As for the actual writing itself, Young does a good job. No flowery writing. It's to the point. Not horribly disgusting for those with sensitive stomachs but for those like me with a taste for the macabre, it has enough that you're not bored.
Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling. Did they kill Pearl? Most likely. They went to their graves protesting their guilt and with forensic science being what it was we'll never know 100%. The evidence was mostly circumstantial and the witnesses were all sketchy or somewhat disproven. Someone on that jury had to have a shadow of a doubt whether one of the suspects killed her but deliberations were speedy. Walling and Jackson most likely deserved what they got however I will argue that they did not receive a fair trial.
Everyone and their brother had pronounced them guilty before the trial even started. The trials shouldn't have taken place in the Cincinnati area.
We'll never know the whole story and it's frustrating. All we have is speculation and testimonies of people who wanted attention. We have inept police officers and one of the most important people on the case was a shoe salesman. And THOUGH UNLIKELY, it's possible two innocent men died for it. No other suspects were even considered. The crime scene was compromised.
Definitely recommend this; especially for those familiar with Campbell County. It's fascinating to think about what might have been standing 100 years ago in the very spot you're sitting.
As for the actual writing itself, Young does a good job. No flowery writing. It's to the point. Not horribly disgusting for those with sensitive stomachs but for those like me with a taste for the macabre, it has enough that you're not bored.
Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling. Did they kill Pearl? Most likely. They went to their graves protesting their guilt and with forensic science being what it was we'll never know 100%. The evidence was mostly circumstantial and the witnesses were all sketchy or somewhat disproven. Someone on that jury had to have a shadow of a doubt whether one of the suspects killed her but deliberations were speedy. Walling and Jackson most likely deserved what they got however I will argue that they did not receive a fair trial.
Everyone and their brother had pronounced them guilty before the trial even started. The trials shouldn't have taken place in the Cincinnati area.
We'll never know the whole story and it's frustrating. All we have is speculation and testimonies of people who wanted attention. We have inept police officers and one of the most important people on the case was a shoe salesman. And THOUGH UNLIKELY, it's possible two innocent men died for it. No other suspects were even considered. The crime scene was compromised.
Definitely recommend this; especially for those familiar with Campbell County. It's fascinating to think about what might have been standing 100 years ago in the very spot you're sitting.
January 20, 2018
It’s the late 1800’s in the Cincinnati, Ohio area and a young woman’s decapitated body has been found in a farmer’s field. This book traces the story of the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators. The initial challenge is to simply identify her because the head is missing. With fingerprints not yet broadly used in law enforcement and crime scene preservation not even a topic of conversation, the attempt to identify the girl finally comes down to an observant shoe seller who recognizes her shoes uniqueness and is able to actually trace the sale. The young lady had travelled to Cincinnati from her family’s rural farm to meet up with a boyfriend.
This is a very detailed look at a very brutal crime. The story is based on extensive research of the accounts that remain from the time. I really appreciated the structure of the chapters, with each looking at an aspect of the investigation from start to finish. It’s almost surprising that the identification of the body and the perpetrators was possible given the limited tools the police had available to them at the time. This book should be of interest to those who like true crime or historical crime stories.
This is a very detailed look at a very brutal crime. The story is based on extensive research of the accounts that remain from the time. I really appreciated the structure of the chapters, with each looking at an aspect of the investigation from start to finish. It’s almost surprising that the identification of the body and the perpetrators was possible given the limited tools the police had available to them at the time. This book should be of interest to those who like true crime or historical crime stories.
June 10, 2017
The case is fascinating, but a lot of details are lost. The author had to rely heavily on sensationalized and somewhat unreliable newspaper reports. The book is padded with historical tangents that are interesting, but also feel like fluff. It is always interesting to learn about how crimes were investigated before modern forensics, so the book was still enjoyable, and it gives a light overview of the Gilded Age that isn't about rich people.
December 4, 2017
This book is very hard to understand. It jumps around with all of these options of how the murder could have happened losing the context of what the verdict was. It brings in multiple people that could have been the victim and stories of other cases and topics that, yes happened in the Gilded age but have nothing to do with the murder. I overall did not like this book and would not recommend it to a friend.
December 5, 2017
This book had way to much information that was unneeded. Either write the story or a textbook, don't try to combine them. There were a lot of parts that needed to be reread because they didn't make sense. The book got off topic very frequently and the whole book could have been told in about 5 chapter if there wasn't all the unnecessary information. Over the book was too long and not a good read.
August 1, 2024
This was less a book about the murder of Pearl Bryan, and more a criticism of social ills during the Gilded Age. It wasn't until Chapter 10 that more than one paragraph per chapter was actually about the case. If your interest is in Gilded Age society and the need for reform, you'll probably enjoy this book. If you want to learn about Pearl, her murder and the ensuing investigation, skip to page 110.
August 5, 2022
This is a nonfiction account of a murder of a woman in 1896. I found it very interesting for many reasons. It took place in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (where I live) as well as Indiana (where I grew up), so location alone for me was intriguing. Plus how murders were investigated and trials were conducted over 100 years ago was really interesting — obviously very different from today.
January 12, 2023
I had great fun reading this book! Andrew offers a detailed analysis of the entire case and of those involved in a way that is casual and engaging.
There’s a plethora of historical knowledge about the time and many tidbits that help encapsulate an idea of the culture and people of the Greater Cincinnati Area. As a resident of Newport and a lover of history, I enjoyed it all.
There’s a plethora of historical knowledge about the time and many tidbits that help encapsulate an idea of the culture and people of the Greater Cincinnati Area. As a resident of Newport and a lover of history, I enjoyed it all.
June 18, 2017
3.5. Quick, entertaining read. I liked the many digressions into tangentially related historical facts, but I'm not sure all of it was necessary for context. Very enjoyable. I'm from Ohio and don't know much of the local history, so it was interesting to read all about Cincinnati.
September 2, 2023
The first few chapters (especially the chapter on tramps) where we do not know who the victim is are filled with needless fluff when the book gets around to focusing on the actual story it is well written.
July 14, 2017
I found this book quite boring. Far too much irrelevant information, and too much filler. find it interesting that the author calls this nonfiction.
July 19, 2018
Interesting. Lots of historical data from the period.
November 2, 2022
Pretty fascinating, and I always enjoy local connections.
April 24, 2021
In addition to exploring the Pearl Bryan case, this is also a well written a history book!
October 1, 2016
In the late 19th century, murder was a cause for fascination to the public. They wanted to see the crime scene, view the victim and in many cases take 'souvenirs'. Unwanted: A Murder Mystery of the Gilded Age by writer and historian Andrew Young tells the story of a grisly murder which repeatedly made headline news.
The headless corpse of a young woman was found in Fort Thomas, Cincinnati sparking a quest to discover her identity and her killer. A gripping insight into this era, Unwanted includes a great deal of historical detail highlighting America's gilded age alongside other criminal cases of the time such as the Lizzie Borden family murders. Andrew Young's research is extensive and his ability to provide details, insights and history within this story provides an informative and interesting read. Using the information we know now about that era allows Andrew Young to produce a comprehensive account of this crime from the moment the body was found, through the stages of police investigation right to the conviction and execution of these two men.
A detective story full of mystery and dogged determination to solve a murder which had captured attention and intrigue. For those with an interest in historical true crime and 19th century criminal procedures and investigations, this book will not disappoint.
Read my full review of Unwanted on Crime Traveller at: http://www.crimetraveller.org/2016/09...
November 28, 2016
I found this book quite interesting. It's always fun to read a book and are able to recognize areas written about. However, this was the murder of a young woman maybe with big dreams. The story could have been told much quicker had it not been interrupted by other stories.
September 20, 2016
This is an account of the death of Pearl Bryan, the investigation and trial of her killer. Local history FTW.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews