Within days I was immersed in old accounts, digging through the basement and the creepy subbasement of the present-day Quincy, Illinois, courthouse for the Coroner’s Inquest transcript, eventually traveling to the state capital to read the trial transcript itself. She simply shrugged and said that his name was listed in an old newspaper article about the trial. How could a blind man possibly be an ‘eyewitness’ to anything, much less a murder?" I thought it a reasonable question. "He was blind! The words tumbled out before I thought about it. Sketch of Ray based on photo from the time of the Princeton trial (page 401)ĭid you know our great-grandfather was an eyewitness in an axe-murder trial? My cousin tossed this offhand remark in my direction and waited. The Pfanschmidt farm-numbers showing locations of the bodies (page 85) Map showing roads from Quincy to Pfanschmidt farm (page 83) Locust Street trestle and the Frese store (page 33)Īdams County Courthouse, Quincy, Illinois (page 69) Ludwig Hektoen-blood expert from Chicagoĭr. John Fogal (a.k.a.Fogel)-civilian Doctorsĭr. Loftus-Iowa sheriff sent by the Iowa governor Farley-private detective from the Young Agency Young-owner of Young’s Secret Service Company of Chicago, Illinois Tobie-private detective from the Burns AgencyĪrthur G. Strumpfer-bloodhound handler and Illinois state fire marshalĪ. George Koch-private detective, later Adams county sheriff Wall-private attorney for the prosecution retained by Charles Kaempen Law Enforcement and Detectives Wolfe-incoming-state’s attorney (1912) and lead prosecutor (Tony) Gilmer-outgoing-state’s attorney in 1912įred G. Govert-Ray’s attorney and father of attorney G. Peter-neighbor of the Pfanschmidt farm Attorneys and Court Officials Roy Peter-neighbor of the Pfanschmidt farmĮ. Freese, Freze)-storekeeper, owner of the works and Ray’s employerĬlaude (a.k.a. Zeba, Ziba) Lawrence-Ray’s second foreman John Lier-part-time Pfanschmidt hired hand, brother to Ben, Ed, and Moritz Lierīen Holeman (Holman)-Ray’s friend and foreman at the works Liehr, Lehr)-brothers, and neighbors of the farm John, Will, and Clarence Kaufman-brothers of Gus, sons of Henryīen, Ed, and Moritz Lier (a.k.a. Henry Kaufman-closest neighbor of the Pfanschmidt farm William Abel-Ray’s uncle, brother of Mathilda Pfanschmidtįred Knollenberg-Ray’s uncle his wife, Louisa, was sister to Charles Pfanschmidt Neighbors and Employees Cook-Ray’s uncle his wife, Ida, was sister to Charles Pfanschmidt Howard Petrie-Ray’s cousin, son of Elizabeth Petrie Walter Herr-Ray’s uncle his wife, Minnie, was sister to Charles PfanschmidtĮlizabeth Petrie-Ray’s widowed aunt, housekeeper for C. Henry Niekamp-Ray’s uncle his wife, Hannah, was sister to Charles Pfanschmidt Henry Geisel-Ray’s uncle his wife, Mary, was sister to Charles Pfanschmidt Walter Pfanschmidt-Fred’s son, Ray’s cousin C.)-Ray’s grandfather, father of Charles PfanschmidtĮmma Kaempen-schoolteacher boarding with the family (murdered September 28, 1912)įred and Mary Pfanschmidt-Ray’s uncle and aunt Mathilda (Tilde or Tillie) Pfanschmidt-Ray’s mother (murdered September 28, 1912)īlanche Pfanschmidt-Ray’s sister (murdered September 28, 1912)Ĭharles C. Tom Post, jury foreman, Macomb, Illinois, 1914 Cast of Characters The Pfanschmidt FamilyĬharles Pfanschmidt-Ray’s father (murdered September 28, 1912) Innocent or guilty, that boy has got a wonderful lot of nerve. Without whom it would not have seen print. Lynn Miller Snyder, without whom it would still be an idea.Īnd most of all, to my mother, Kathleen Miller House, This book is dedicated to two special people: It captures the essence of an emotional crime that rocked this small Illinois community. 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. The remaining family became divided over Rays guilt while his fiance staunchly stood by him. 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. In Lies Told Under Oath, author Beth Lane retells the story of the murders, the trial, the verdict, and the aftermath. He was convicted by the press long before trial. In 1912, a prosperous Illinois farm famil圜harles 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.
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