EPISODE 18: The Trolley Problem

On today’s episode Paul and Kate are in 1927 Oakland, California as they sort out the cold case of 15-year-old Mabel Mayer. The victim was murdered just a few blocks from her home. Can victimology help solve the mystery? 

Sources:

Who Killed “Sunshine Mabel” by Donald L. Marshall (True Detective Magazine) December 1929.  

https://archive.org/details/TrueDetectiveDecember1929/page/n33/mode/2up 

  

“Girls Footsteps Traced to Ten Minutes”(Oakland Tribune) July 5 1927  

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/102810152/?terms=%22mabel%20mayer%22&match=1 

  

maybelmayer.com 

https://mabelmayer.com/Crime_Scene.html 

  

“Queer Acting Suspect Held in Slaying of the Girl” (San Francisco Examiner) July 6 ,1977  

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/458143842/?terms=%22mabel%20mayer%22&match=1 

  

“Rich Magnate Linked with Girl Death” (San Francisco Examiner) March 20, 1929  

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/458112217/ 

  

“Mabel Mayer” by Craig Rice (Tampa Bay Times) January 25 1948.  

https://www.newspapers.com/image/331879955 

  

“Smashed Wristwatch Reveals Hour of Murder” (Oakland Tribune) July 4 1927.  

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/102810128/?terms=%22mabel%20mayer%22&match=1 

  

“Statement by Barnett Denies Guilt” by David A. Barnett (Oakland Tribune) March 21 1929 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/95954504/?terms=%22mabel%20mayer%22&match=1 

  

“Barnett is Given Term of 20 Years” Oakland Tribune) March 21 1929 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/95954504/?terms=%22mabel%20mayer%22&match=1 

  

“Lie Test Faced by Oaklander In Confession” (Oakland Tribune) August 2, 1955  

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/295962991/?terms=%28%22mabel%20mayer%22%20and%20%22oakland%22%20and%20%22killed%22%29&match=1 

  

“Saccos Gets Second Lie Detector Test” (Oakland Tribune) August 3, 1955 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/295964921/?terms=%28%22mabel%20mayer%22%20and%20%22oakland%22%20and%20%22killed%22%29&match=1 

  

“Oaklander Quizzed on Confessions” (Oakland Tribune) August 1, 1966 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/295961019/?terms=%28%22mabel%20mayer%22%20and%20%22oakland%22%20and%20%22killed%22%29&match=1 

  

“Bud Abbott Indicted by Grand Jury” (U.P.) August 1, 1955.  

https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/745906324/?terms=%28%22mabel%20mayer%22%20and%20%22oakland%22%20and%20%22killed%22%29&match=1 

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EPISODE 19: Close to the Chest

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EPISODE 17: The Wayside Cafe