UNLIKE some other magazines of the era, such as Redbook and Cosmopolitan, that published both fiction and nonfiction, True Magazine remained true to its title (and its subtitle, The Man's Magazine). On occasion they'd present pieces that could be of interest to mystery and real-life crime enthusiasts. The final issue of 1947 had no fewer than three of them, with one of the authors later being responsible for a cat named Thomasina and a capsized ocean liner jam-packed with Hollywood stars . . .
(1) "The Telltale Bullet."
By Lucian Carey (?-?).
First appearance: True Magazine, December 1947.
True crime article (5 pages).
(Note: Text is faded.)
"Certainly it is now rare for one firearms expert to controvert the testimony of another in court. The competent men know what they are talking about . . ."
References:
- For further information about firearms forensics, see Wikipedia (HERE), (HERE), and especially (HERE).
- Concerning the Charles Stielow case, see The National Registry of Exonerations Pre-1989 (HERE). A book was written about it (HERE) and is online (HERE; borrow only).
(2) "Kickback."
First appearance: True Magazine, December 1947.
True crime article (8 pages).
(Note: Faded text.)
". . . a number of supposedly solid and substantial citizens got into an awful lot of trouble, a red-hot political scandal blew up with a loud noise, the police department was turned upside-down with several incumbents departing for healthier climates, and a very dead and embarrassing body appeared upon the scene, posing by its mute presence a series of questions."
References:
- It's an understatement to say that newsrooms have changed somewhat since the '40s; see Wikipedia (HERE).
- We couldn't localize anyone named "Dapper Danny" Mahoney, of course, but there was a "Dapper Dan" Hogan who fits Mahoney's description to a T. For a while Hogan haunted the Twin Cities but sadly (for him but not the community) met a noisy end; see Historic Twin Cities (HERE).
- A Brink's robbery in 1950 inspired at least four movies; see Wikipedia (HERE).
(3) "The Case of the Wife Who Got Boiled."
By Alan Hynd (1903-74; Goodreads list HERE).
First appearance: True Magazine, December 1947.
Illustration by Amos Sewell (1901-83; Pulp Artists HERE).
Reprinted in Brutes, Beasts and Human Fiends, 1964 (online HERE; borrow only).
True crime article (7 pages).
". . . she had been unable to remove the wedding ring from the third finger of her left hand."
References:
- Wikipedia has an article about Adolph Luetgert (HERE).
- Everything you might want to know about potash is in Wikipedia (HERE).
The bottom line:
Unless otherwise noted, all bibliographical data are derived from The FictionMags Index created by William G. Contento & edited by Phil Stephensen-Payne.
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