What do you think?
Rate this book
Murder in Their Hearts: The Fall Creek Massacre
In March of 1824 a group of angry and intoxicated settlers brutally murdered nine Indians camped along a tributary of Fall Creek. The carnage was recounted in lurid detail in the contemporary press and the events that followed sparked a national sensation. Although violence between settlers and Native Americans was not unusual in the Old Northwest Territory during the early nineteenth century, in this particular incident the white men responsible for the murders were singled out and hunted down, brought to trial, convicted by a jury of their neighbors, and, for the first time under American law, sentenced to death and executed for the murder of Native Americans. In the aftermath of the slayings, federal and state authorities perhaps motivated more by the encouragement of economic growth and the preservation of regional security than a commitment to justice for the victims, nevertheless, were determined to maintain the fragile peace of interracial coexistence. Their success in doing so proved to be local, temporary, and imperfect.
152 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2010
About the author
David Thomas Murphy
4 books1 followerProfessor Murphy earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992. His research specialties are in the history of modern Europe, modern Germany, and the Holocaust. He is the author of three books: The Heroic Earth: Geopolitical Thought in Weimar Germany (Kent, 1997), German Exploration of the Polar World: A History (Lincoln, 2002) and Murder in Their Hearts: The Fall Creek Massacre (Indianapolis, 2011). He is also the author of numerous scholarly articles, including most recently, ““A Big, New Hitler? Capitalism, ‘Anglo-America’ and Hitler’s War,” in Journal of Strategic Studies, (2020), DOI: 10.1080/01402390.2020.1752196
Prof. Murphy has also been the recipient of grants from the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security, the Stiftung Volkswagenswerk, the Social Science Research Council, the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) and the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
At Anderson University, he teaches courses on Western Civilization, the Holocaust, modern Europe, and the history of war in the Western world. He also serves as co-director of the Anderson University Honors Program, a post he has held since the Program began in 2004.
Prof. Murphy has also been the recipient of grants from the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security, the Stiftung Volkswagenswerk, the Social Science Research Council, the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) and the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
At Anderson University, he teaches courses on Western Civilization, the Holocaust, modern Europe, and the history of war in the Western world. He also serves as co-director of the Anderson University Honors Program, a post he has held since the Program began in 2004.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 29, 2012
12/28/12 ** The author was at the Authors' Fair at the Indiana Historical Society earlier this month, & I had a chance to meet and talk with him. I was first drawn to the inclusion of Fall Creek in the title, since I live within a mile of one branch of the creek - though this massacre was far out of town.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this non-fiction text. The first chapter depicted the massacre itself, which served as a hook to the remainder of the book. Chapters 2 & 3 explained life in central Indiana for both the Native Americans and the white settlers and frontiersman. I was fascinated to read the nuanced account of the conflicts and points of cooperation among the many traditions. Rather than dividing the people into two large groups - white and non-white - Murphy explained the fractures within the groups and the synergistic points of commonality across different native tribes and those in the white community who had different goals.
Chapters 4 & 5 were devoted to the trial of the murderers and the political damage-control. In these chapters, I especially appreciated Murphy's effort to sort out the conflicting accounts of the murders, pre-trial events, and trials. He was careful to explain what could be corroborated and where there were minimal records to support conclusions. He also worked to speak from more than one perspective, not privileging either the Native or White views.
An excellent book that left me with a deeper understanding of Indiana in the time immediately following its statehood.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this non-fiction text. The first chapter depicted the massacre itself, which served as a hook to the remainder of the book. Chapters 2 & 3 explained life in central Indiana for both the Native Americans and the white settlers and frontiersman. I was fascinated to read the nuanced account of the conflicts and points of cooperation among the many traditions. Rather than dividing the people into two large groups - white and non-white - Murphy explained the fractures within the groups and the synergistic points of commonality across different native tribes and those in the white community who had different goals.
Chapters 4 & 5 were devoted to the trial of the murderers and the political damage-control. In these chapters, I especially appreciated Murphy's effort to sort out the conflicting accounts of the murders, pre-trial events, and trials. He was careful to explain what could be corroborated and where there were minimal records to support conclusions. He also worked to speak from more than one perspective, not privileging either the Native or White views.
An excellent book that left me with a deeper understanding of Indiana in the time immediately following its statehood.
August 6, 2023
I live near Fall Creek and once took my family to walk the path between the falls and the cemetery described in the pages of this book. As we walked we came across a large tree with a marker below. To our surprise the maker simply read, “Three white men were hung here in 1825 for killing Indians.” We all scratched our heads and wondered what the back story was of this unusual stone marker. Then on a recent trip to Madison, IN I was browsing at Village Lights Bookstore and came across this book. As I opened it, I saw a photo of that same marker and realized this was the back story - and what a true story it is. The story is a rare gem from our country’s history and not like many others that took a completely different turn. I found myself both horrified by what happened, but also surprised by the outcome. I also found it giving a very good description of life in the area I live. Many of the names in this story are preserved in the names of towns and such around my home. Both well written and researched, I did not want to put this book down. Highly recommended, especially if you are from the Fall Creek area in Indiana.
September 28, 2025
Lived in Indy for the majority of my life and was not aware of this crime and its importance in the history of the US. Was introduced to this by my daughter-in-law's father by provided a book regarding true crimes in Indy. And this - The Fall Creek Massacre - was noted in very brief detail.
HAd a chance to hear the author speak about this book and the crime. It was enjoyable. We had a very brief discussion later.
This is a very short and insightful book about the Fall Creek Massacre that occurred In Pendleton Indiana in 1824 shortly after the Statehood of Indiana.
Many of the documents associated with this trial has been lost or destroyed (fire); however, it is a good interpretation of the events in which a native american clan were murdered and white men were charged with that murder. The first time that white men were sentenced for a crime against the native americans.
It is worth the time to read and to learn about this crime and its impact on social justice history.
HAd a chance to hear the author speak about this book and the crime. It was enjoyable. We had a very brief discussion later.
This is a very short and insightful book about the Fall Creek Massacre that occurred In Pendleton Indiana in 1824 shortly after the Statehood of Indiana.
Many of the documents associated with this trial has been lost or destroyed (fire); however, it is a good interpretation of the events in which a native american clan were murdered and white men were charged with that murder. The first time that white men were sentenced for a crime against the native americans.
It is worth the time to read and to learn about this crime and its impact on social justice history.
February 4, 2022
If you are looking for an enticing page turner about a tense moment in history, this book probably isn’t for you. However, if you are simply looking for a book that provides a detailed outline of events in relation to societal norms of the time, this would be appropriate.
The author does his best to present the facts behind the Fall Creek Massacre while admitting to the limited, and often contradictory, reference materials that remain. I found the most compelling aspect of this book to be the questions posed about how we understand history and the need to be able to scrutinize source materials for not only accuracy but also bias.
The author does his best to present the facts behind the Fall Creek Massacre while admitting to the limited, and often contradictory, reference materials that remain. I found the most compelling aspect of this book to be the questions posed about how we understand history and the need to be able to scrutinize source materials for not only accuracy but also bias.
February 6, 2023
Overall really great book. Never seemed repetitive at times. It got you in both indigenous brains and settlers' brains about this atrocity that occurred. Not only does it give you the narrative of the story but also the cultural context. The author also makes sure to let people know that there were very few sources on this account, and when there were, they could be deemed as heavily biased which I appreciate when authors do this.
Pros:
cultural context, the narratives.
cons:
If you aren't into history/anthropology, the book may seem slow at times.
Pros:
cultural context, the narratives.
cons:
If you aren't into history/anthropology, the book may seem slow at times.
February 3, 2023
I read this book for a class and I actually really enjoyed it.
The Fall Creek Massacre is a part of Indiana's history that goes unspoken. The Massacre takes place in Madison county and had sparked national attention. I am utterly surprised to learn about the killings of Natives and the depths the men had gone through to avoid the conflict they had created.
The Fall Creek Massacre is a part of Indiana's history that goes unspoken. The Massacre takes place in Madison county and had sparked national attention. I am utterly surprised to learn about the killings of Natives and the depths the men had gone through to avoid the conflict they had created.
February 10, 2021
Great little book about an event that took place near Pendleton, Indiana. If you like history then you will really like this small incite into Indian and Settler relations. How justice was served Very interesting book.
July 11, 2026
Not bad. A respectable read for the Indiana History class I teach.
August 18, 2013
This small (116 pages) non-fiction work tries to enlighten readers on the facts surrounding the Massacre at Fall Creek; unfortunately, as Murphy points out several times, many of the documents regarding this event have been lost, but he pieces together a fairly convincing case for a much less romanticized version than the wildly popular, fictionalized novel of the same event--by J. West.
Murphy points out that it is not probable that the killers were isolated racists, but more of a product of their environment. In fact, he asserts, the killers were pretty convinced that the residents in the "village" of Pendleton would have applauded the slaughter of unarmed natives.
Interesting, though somewhat dry in the telling, this is a good supplement to West's juicy novel. I am surprised to see that the Anderson professor/author never visited the Pendleton Community Public Library in his research, nor the Pendleton museum.
Murphy points out that it is not probable that the killers were isolated racists, but more of a product of their environment. In fact, he asserts, the killers were pretty convinced that the residents in the "village" of Pendleton would have applauded the slaughter of unarmed natives.
Interesting, though somewhat dry in the telling, this is a good supplement to West's juicy novel. I am surprised to see that the Anderson professor/author never visited the Pendleton Community Public Library in his research, nor the Pendleton museum.
July 25, 2012
Murphy has not only written a great treatment of the Fall Creek Massacre but also a wonderful overview of life on the Indiana frontier in the 1820s. The interaction between the local, state, and federal governments, and between the white and native populations were incredibly complex and Murphy does a good job of examining the gray areas and ambiguity in this case--particularly its astounding lack of long term impact on white/native relations in the Old Northwest.
One of the problems with the Massacre is the lack of documentation (the trial transcripts were lost in a courthouse fire). The book is also a good primer in the imperfect craft of reconstructing historical narratives from whatever sources are available.
If I were to teach a section of my early US history survey for honors students, this book would be on the list.
One of the problems with the Massacre is the lack of documentation (the trial transcripts were lost in a courthouse fire). The book is also a good primer in the imperfect craft of reconstructing historical narratives from whatever sources are available.
If I were to teach a section of my early US history survey for honors students, this book would be on the list.
February 28, 2015
short, insightful and engaging. Great local history - worth the time to learn about this bit of crime and social history.
October 10, 2016
Definitely a must-read if you have read the fictional account "The Massacre at Fall Creek" by Jessamyn West.
September 20, 2010
Excellent examination of the Fall Creek massacre of 1824 and the unusual response to it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews