Saturday, December 12, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 12

December 12, 1914 – The media called her the “sphinx woman,” the “woman who can’t weep” and the “sword widow.” Her face also called an “iron mask,” Charlotte Sharpless remained emotionless throughout her trial for the murder of her husband Leaming Sharpless the evening of Nov. 14, 1914. Even after being found guilty of first degree murder yesterday, and sentenced to life in prison today, her composure was unshaken.

When asked by the judge if she had anything to say why the sentence should not be passed upon her, Mrs. Sharpless insisted again that she was innocent.

The speed with which the jury made their decision was a record. Not for more than 20 years, according to the District Court records, has a jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first or second degree in three hours, one of them spent in lunch, the new record established by the Sharpless jurors.

 
The Sharpness Trial1

More than 50 percent of the spectators at her trial were women. Thousands of people stood in line to be admitted to the courtroom, only a small percentage of those getting a seat to watch the biggest spectacle of the day. Those that did not get in, waited in the hall for someone to leave their seat; but that rarely happened—most people brought bag lunches so they could retain their seats throughout the day.

The Defense’s version of what happened that Saturday evening apparently didn’t sway the jury. Mrs. Sharpless said her husband was asleep on the couch while she was in the bedroom reading a motion picture magazine; her head was at the end of the bed where the light was better so she could not see into the living room. She said she left their rooms for a few minutes to empty the garbage and to retrieve a coat she had hung in the attic to air out the mothball smell. Walking back into the apartment through a doorway that did not put her in the room where her husband lay on the couch, she said she didn’t know anything was wrong until she heard her husband moan and roll off the couch, falling to the floor.

Mrs. Sharpless believed her husband’s murder was related to a family secret. Leaming Sharpless had a daughter out of wedlock before he and his wife had met. The child never shared the Sharpless name. As she grew up, the girl acquired a suitor; a man Mrs. Sharpless told the jury, she believed was her husband’s killer, in retaliation for the way Sharpless had ignored his daughter.

The State’s witnesses, including Leaming Sharpless’ brother Louis and several neighbors, testified that the Sharpless’ marriage was not as perfect as Mrs. Sharpless claimed. Neighbors said they heard yelling often, and Louis Sharpless said Mrs. Sharpless had been having an affair while her husband was on his railroad runs; a claim Mrs. Sharpless vehemently denied. 

Detective Crummy, another State’s witness, testified that on the day following the murder, he took Mrs. Sharpless to the Morgue and showed her the body of her husband. He said she screamed: “Oh, my husband!” and attempted to kiss his dead lips, refusing to believe her husband was really dead. She became hysterical, he said, when he led her away and said over and over again, “I wish I could cry like other women.” But her wish was not granted, he said, and dry-eyed she rode back to her cell in the City Jail.

Her lack of emotion over the murder of her husband played a significant role in her guilty verdict, as did the evidence found in the apartment: the murder weapon standing in the corner of the living room, bloody clothes found in the back of Mrs. Sharpless’ closet and on the street below the Sharpless’ apartment window.




In the right hand picture panel is shown the lodge ceremonial sword with which Leaming Sharpless was slain in his rooms at the Lowenhaupt Apartments Saturday night. Finger prints of the person who yielded it, impressed in blood, can be seen near the hilt. As a background there is some of the clothing worn by Mrs. Sharpless, the police say, when she was arrested. No. 1 shows a part of the living room where Sharpless was found, and the couch upon which he was asleep when stabbed to death. The sword stood in the corner behind the couch when the police arrived. No. 3 is Mrs. Charlotte Sharpless and No. 2 is that of her slain husband.2

Who else had the time or the inclination to murder Leaming Sharpless? Plus, as widow of the dead man, she would inherit his $5,000 insurance policies.

My question is, did Charlotte have the strength and/or height to murder her husband by stabbing him three times with a sword? I would suspect any good lawyer worth their salt today would require a reenactment test. (If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.)


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Man Slain with a Lodge Sword; Wife Arrested. Leaming Shartless Stabbed to Death in Lowenhaupt Apartments. Mrs. Charlotte Shartless (sic) Is Questioned by the Police. She Says She Was in Next Room—Knew Nothing of Killing. Blood-Stained Clothing Is Found in Street and Hidden in Closet. Telltale Finger Prints on Ceremonial Fraternal Weapon.”; Nov. 15, 1914; p. 1.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Finger Prints on Sword May Solve Killing. Mystery in the Slaying of Leaming Sharpless is Still Uncleared. ExpertsWill Scrutinize Telltale Marks on the Stained Weapon. Two Impressions Remain Despite Hasty Attempt at Cleansing. Motive Occupies Attention of Police—Coroner’s Verdict ‘Murder.’ Mrs. Sharpless Maintains Innocence—Displays Little Interest.”; Nov. 16, 1914; pp. 1 & 3.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Witnesses Tell How They Found Sharpless’ Body. His Wife, They Said, Declared She Discovered Him With Sword Through Heart. Mrs. Sharpless Not Allowed to Attend Funeral Held in the Afternoon.”; Nov. 18, 1914; p. 1.


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Sharpless Had Insurance. Two Policies for $5,000 Make Wife Beneficiary.”; Nov. 23, 1914; p. 7.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Sharpless Trial, Dec. 2. Trial of Woman Charges With Husband’s Murder Set for That Date.”; Nov. 24, 1914; p. 12.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Crowd of 1000 Watches Sphinx Woman’s Trial. Half of Curious throng That Jams Court Room Are Women. State to Offer Evidence of Stormy Life in Sharpless Family. Mrs. Sharpless Unmoved as State’s Attorney Outlines Case. She Declares, at End of Day, She’ll Be Found Innocent. Defendant’s Character Attacked by Brother of Slain Man.”; Dec. 5, 1914; pp. 1, 7 & 9.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Sword Widow to Bare Secrets of Family Life. Mrs. Charlotte Sharpless to Tell of Her Husband’s Nameless Child. Skeleton in Closet Haunted Husband’s Life for Years, She Says. She will Give Hint of Outcast Girl’s Life and a Vengefull Lover. The Story of the Sphinx Woman Will Be Theory of the Defense. State Will Call Long Line of Police Witness in Court Tomorrow.”; Dec. 6, 1914; pp. 1B & 2B.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Janitor Relates Story of Ritual Sword Murder. Fred Crisman Gives Glimpse of Sharpless Family Life. He Chatted With Engineer Few Moments Before Murder. Mrs. Sharpless Called ‘the Woman Who Can’t Weep.’ Dry-Eyed, Detective Says, as She Views Body of Husband. State May Complete Its Case Late This Afternoon.”; Dec. 8, 1914; pp. 1 & 2.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Mrs. Sharpless Unmoved When Found Guilty. First Degree Murder Verdict Is Found in Three Hours. Life Imprisonment Sentence Will Be Imposed by Court This Morning. ‘I am Innocent’ Is the Only Break From Stoical Calmness. Jury Agrees on the Third Ballot—One Voted for Acquittal. Verdict in Three Hours Is the Shortest in 20 Years.“; Dec. 12, 1914; p. 1.

The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune; “Life Sentence Pronounced on Mrs. Sharpless. Woman’s Composure Unshaken as She Listens to Judge Leary. ‘Nothing to Say Except That I Am Innocent,’ She Tells Court. Judge Says Law Gives Him No Option in the Sentence. No Motion for Retrial Made by Attorneys for the Defense. Stay of Sentence Till Monday to Settle Her Affairs Is Granted.”; Dec. 13, 1914; p. 1B.


1The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; Dec. 5, 1914; p. 1.

2The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; Nov. 16, 1914; p. 1.

Leaming Sharpless murdered by saber; wife in next room hears nothing; see Nov. 14, 2015 blog.

Blood-stained imprint of fingers on the sword that killed Leaming Sharpless may be the principal means of determining the murderer; see 
Nov. 15, 2015 blog.

Mrs. Sharpless indicted by the Hennepin County Grand Jury for murder in the first degree in the killing of her husband; see Nov. 17, 2015 blog.

Sharpless had two insurance policies for $5,000; made wife beneficiary; see Nov. 23, 2015 blog.
               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 

Friday, December 11, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 11

December 11, 1916 – Creeping over thin ice on Lake Calhoun, Mrs. Clara Haas, who lives on the west shore of the lake, rescued Mrs. Ebba Robbins, her neighbor, from drowning late today. Mrs. Robbins broke through the ice into deep water while skating.

Mrs. Robbins cries for help reached Mrs. Haas as she worked in the kitchen of her residence. When she reached the lake, Mrs. Haas found a long board. With it she crept out on the ice. Mrs. Robbins grasped it and was pulled from the water. Her clothing was frozen when she reached Mrs. Haas residence.

Mrs. Robbins, who is a good swimmer, said she kept afloat by treading water and clinging to the crumbling ice.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Woman Braves Thin Ice; Rescues Skater. Answers Cry for Help and Pushes Board to Imperiled Person.”; Dec. 12, 1916; p. 1.




Lake Calhoun in winter 1902

https://minneapolisparkhistory.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/north-shore-clutter-1902-mhs.jpg

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 


Thursday, December 10, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 10

December 10, 1909 – In St. Paul, the explosion of a quantity of dynamite in a freight car at the Minnesota Transfer yards that resulted “in the death of one man, the fatal injury of another and serious injury to a third, caused considerable excitement because of a report that striking switchmen were involved. It was [determined], however, that the explosion was purely accidental, as the dynamite was being [moved] from one car to another when it exploded. The dead and injured were all freight handlers.”

Duluth News-Tribune
; “Explosion at Transfer Yards St. Paul Freight Handler Killed, Another Dying and Third Seriously Injured”; December 11, 1909; p.1.



               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 



Wednesday, December 9, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 9

December 9, 1941 – Faribault, Minn. native Bruce Smith, Minnesota Gopher halfback, was awarded the seventh Heisman Trophy on this date.

“The marquis triple-threat tailback of his era, Smith epitomized the single-wing offense and could seemingly do it all. Although well over 200 pounds, he was one of the Big Ten Conference's fastest men. In 1941, the team captain led the Gophers to their second consecutive undefeated season and national championship. For his efforts, Smith beat out Notre Dame's Angelo Bertelli for the Heisman.”1


 
Bruce Smith2

“After graduating, the All-American halfback went on to garner MVP honors in the College All-Star game against the Chicago Bears that summer. That next year, before going off to fight in WWII, Smith first went to Hollywood, where he starred in the movie "Smith of Minnesota," about a small-town family whose son becomes and All-American halfback.

“Smith went on to become a Navy fighter pilot, and also played service football for the Great Lake Navy team. He returned home in 1945, and signed on with the Green Bay Packers and later with the Los Angeles Rams. He played for four years in the NFL, mostly on defense, but injuries prevented him from performing up to his unbelievable collegiate standards.”1

“Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972, and in 1977, he became the first Minnesota player to have his number (54) retired.

“[He] was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 1967 and succumbed to the disease on Aug. 28 of that year.”1
1http://heisman.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8

2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Smith_(halfback)
               _________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 8

December 8, 1962 – Due to low temperatures and the fact that the steam lines that heated the oil pipes at the Richards Oil Plant in Savage had not been opened the day before, the pipes burst, spilling “one million gallons of petroleum into the Minnesota River” on this date.



Minnesota River1

By January 24, 1963, the Department of Health traced downstream oil back to Richards Oil. Employees claimed only a small leak had occurred. The Department of Health requested that Richards Oil clean up the oil but could only take action if there was a public health emergency. Richards continued to drain oil until March.

https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2012/12/december-1962-oil-spills-mississippi-triggering-ecological-disaster




Savage, Minn.2               _________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com   




Monday, December 7, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 7

December 7, 1925 - Phyllis Lucille Gates, an American secretary and interior decorator best known for her three-year marriage to the actor Rock Hudson, was born in Dawson, Minn., on this date. She met Hudson when she worked as a secretary for influential Hollywood agent Henry Willson, who represented Hudson, Tab Hunter, Rory Calhoun and a string of other young stars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Gates

http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jan/12/local/me-gates12



Rock and Phyllis Hudson  at their wedding in 1955

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2007/10/rock-hudsons-we.html
               _________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 


Sunday, December 6, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 6

December 6, 1951 – On this date, a large fire consumed northern Minnesota’s Lutsen Resort for the third time. The first fire happened in early 1948, and the second on Oct. 21 in the same year.  The current lodge was built after the 1951 fire, using a “Scandinavian design by Edwin Lundie.”

http://www.lutsenresort.com/pdf/lutsenresort_history2010.pdf




Old Main Lodge at Lutsen

http://www.lutsenresort.com/img/photos/history/main1.jpg




Current Main Lodge at Lutsen

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/32/4f/ec/lutsen-resort-main-lodge.jpg

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com