Opening the text

Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the WorldWooldridge, Clifton R. (Clifton Rodman)

History

Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the World

Name: Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the World
Author: Wooldridge, Clifton R. (Clifton Rodman)

Wooldridge, Clifton R. (Clifton Rodman)

Crime -- Illinois -- Chicago; Police -- Illinois -- Chicago

35. Unknown young woman visitor, seen to go to Gunness
     house; never accounted for afterward.

     36. Unknown man, a widower, and his young son, went to Mrs.
     Gunness' house a year ago--never seen again. One of the
     bodies found on farm was that of a small boy.

     37-57. Twenty-one babies entrusted to Mrs. Gunness' care
     while she was running a "baby farm" on the outskirts of
     Chicago all disappeared mysteriously.

     57-180. Other unknown men, women and babies, who went to
     Chicago and La Porte homes of Mrs. Gunness, and were never
     seen again, are estimated to bring the grand total of
     victims up to 180.

This, then, is the crowning work of the matrimonial agency; this
horrid burying ground of dismembered bodies, this ghastly charnel pit
on an Indiana hillside. By their fruits ye shall know them. In the
dread Gunness Farm behold the ripened fruit of the matrimonial agency.

[Illustration: RIDES OUT OF THE CLUTCHES OF MATRIMONY]

[Illustration: She Steers Him Straight for the Lily Pond.]


IN LIGHTER VEIN.

The Funny Side of the Matrimonial Business.

There is necessarily the amusing side in all this miserable trading
upon the affections of fools. Some of the letters sent in to the
matrimonial agencies are little less than "screams."

Imagine, if you can, a big, husky farmer, a collarless, coatless son
of the Utah deserts, gushing forth that he "could live and die on
love." Think of a staid and sober trained nurse who has arrived at the
ripe age of forty pouring into the ears of the matrimonial agent that
she "wants a man who is a flower," and also saying confidingly that
she believes that she requires a few more years in which to prepare
for the "solemn step."

One who is 39 and dark, blushingly admits that she is a "young girl"
of loving disposition, and, since love is the destiny of us all, prays
for a husband of fifty or thereabouts.

One who describes herself as "lively and frolicsome" frankly admits
that she is out for the money and can get along without the love end
of it at all. It is needless to say that this letter comes from the
Pennsylvania Dutch regions.

Here are a few of the gems:


COULD LIVE AND DIE ON LOVE.

          Huntsville. Utah,
          Dec. 27. 1902.

     MRS. ELLEN MARION.
     Grant Works, Ill.

     My Dear Lady:

     I wish to beg your pardon if I appear rude in trying to
     personally introduce myself, but allow me to assure you
     that I am sincere in my quest for a kind friend, and it is
     nothing but the purest and holiest motives of the human
     heart that prompts the intrusion.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the WorldWooldridge, Clifton R. (Clifton Rodman)

History

Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the World

Wooldridge, Clifton R. (Clifton Rodman)

Crime -- Illinois -- Chicago; Police -- Illinois -- Chicago

35. Unknown young woman visitor, seen to go to Gunness
     house; never accounted for afterward.

     36. Unknown man, a widower, and his young son, went to Mrs.
     Gunness' house a year ago--never seen again. One of the
     bodies found on farm was that of a small boy.

     37-57. Twenty-one babies entrusted to Mrs. Gunness' care
     while she was running a "baby farm" on the outskirts of
     Chicago all disappeared mysteriously.

     57-180. Other unknown men, women and babies, who went to
     Chicago and La Porte homes of Mrs. Gunness, and were never
     seen again, are estimated to bring the grand total of
     victims up to 180.

This, then, is the crowning work of the matrimonial agency; this
horrid burying ground of dismembered bodies, this ghastly charnel pit
on an Indiana hillside. By their fruits ye shall know them. In the
dread Gunness Farm behold the ripened fruit of the matrimonial agency.

[Illustration: RIDES OUT OF THE CLUTCHES OF MATRIMONY]

[Illustration: She Steers Him Straight for the Lily Pond.]


IN LIGHTER VEIN.

The Funny Side of the Matrimonial Business.

There is necessarily the amusing side in all this miserable trading
upon the affections of fools. Some of the letters sent in to the
matrimonial agencies are little less than "screams."

Imagine, if you can, a big, husky farmer, a collarless, coatless son
of the Utah deserts, gushing forth that he "could live and die on
love." Think of a staid and sober trained nurse who has arrived at the
ripe age of forty pouring into the ears of the matrimonial agent that
she "wants a man who is a flower," and also saying confidingly that
she believes that she requires a few more years in which to prepare
for the "solemn step."

One who is 39 and dark, blushingly admits that she is a "young girl"
of loving disposition, and, since love is the destiny of us all, prays
for a husband of fifty or thereabouts.

One who describes herself as "lively and frolicsome" frankly admits
that she is out for the money and can get along without the love end
of it at all. It is needless to say that this letter comes from the
Pennsylvania Dutch regions.

Here are a few of the gems:


COULD LIVE AND DIE ON LOVE.

          Huntsville. Utah,
          Dec. 27. 1902.

     MRS. ELLEN MARION.
     Grant Works, Ill.

     My Dear Lady:

     I wish to beg your pardon if I appear rude in trying to
     personally introduce myself, but allow me to assure you
     that I am sincere in my quest for a kind friend, and it is
     nothing but the purest and holiest motives of the human
     heart that prompts the intrusion.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the World

Twenty Years a Detective in the Wickedest City in the World

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