But what about literature of TRUE crime, especially in relation to genealogy?
What if you discovered your great aunt was the victim of a brutal crime and the descendants of her murderer came forth unaware they were even related to this murderer until they read a book you wrote about it?
“True crime” is a much messier affair than fiction and I dare say much more passionate, especially in the hands of authors Cheri Mancuso and John Scarano.
Their particular true crime story in their latest literary non-fiction book Coldspring: The Trial is elevated to literary art when they take the reader on the same journey as the murderer by capturing his thoughts, anguish and his premonitions’ of death and eventual execution. The same murderer who killed Mancuso’s great aunt Bernice Kenyon Farnsworth and her husband Harold Farnsworth. The criminal was their farmhand Alfred J. ‘Freddy’ Lindsay who led State Troopers in the largest manhunt in New York history and executed at NY’s Sing Sing by way of in infamous ‘old sparky” electric chair in 1935.
But Mancuso, (like many of us who are simply curious about our genealogy/ancestry roots) was only inquiring as to the name of the woman found buried in her aunt’s photo album while on a family visit in Jamestown, NY. Her aunt quickly dismissed the photograph, which only increased Mancuso’s curiosity which then led to opening a Pandora’s Box of buried information that eventually affected an entire community in lower state New York area.
One inquiry about a single 75 yr. old photograph- Mancuso and co-author John Scarano got more than they bargained for.
As they dug through the family history, passionate curiosity evolved into nearly a decade of detailed investigative research and mountains of documents. With the help of a private investigator, and interviews with descendants of family members, towns people, witnesses, jurors and the defending DA’s son that one inquiry all ultimately unfolded serendipitous discoveries no one could have imagined.
The woman in question in the 1935 photograph is Bernice Kenyon Farnsworth. Bernice was a strong independent woman ahead of her time in the early 1930’s. She worked for Judge Orla Black and became politically active in the protest against capital punishment. Bernice never married until late in life so when she married an ex-con, Harold Farnsworth who was 20 years her junior, (the cell mate of their farmhand and their eventual murderer Freddy Lindsay) the small rural community frowned upon her personal life choice, already uncomfortable her being an independent full time career woman.
What if you discovered your great aunt was the victim of a brutal crime and the descendants of her murderer came forth unaware they were even related to this murderer until they read a book you wrote about it?
“True crime” is a much messier affair than fiction and I dare say much more passionate, especially in the hands of authors Cheri Mancuso and John Scarano.
Their particular true crime story in their latest literary non-fiction book Coldspring: The Trial is elevated to literary art when they take the reader on the same journey as the murderer by capturing his thoughts, anguish and his premonitions’ of death and eventual execution. The same murderer who killed Mancuso’s great aunt Bernice Kenyon Farnsworth and her husband Harold Farnsworth. The criminal was their farmhand Alfred J. ‘Freddy’ Lindsay who led State Troopers in the largest manhunt in New York history and executed at NY’s Sing Sing by way of in infamous ‘old sparky” electric chair in 1935.
But Mancuso, (like many of us who are simply curious about our genealogy/ancestry roots) was only inquiring as to the name of the woman found buried in her aunt’s photo album while on a family visit in Jamestown, NY. Her aunt quickly dismissed the photograph, which only increased Mancuso’s curiosity which then led to opening a Pandora’s Box of buried information that eventually affected an entire community in lower state New York area.
One inquiry about a single 75 yr. old photograph- Mancuso and co-author John Scarano got more than they bargained for.
As they dug through the family history, passionate curiosity evolved into nearly a decade of detailed investigative research and mountains of documents. With the help of a private investigator, and interviews with descendants of family members, towns people, witnesses, jurors and the defending DA’s son that one inquiry all ultimately unfolded serendipitous discoveries no one could have imagined.
The woman in question in the 1935 photograph is Bernice Kenyon Farnsworth. Bernice was a strong independent woman ahead of her time in the early 1930’s. She worked for Judge Orla Black and became politically active in the protest against capital punishment. Bernice never married until late in life so when she married an ex-con, Harold Farnsworth who was 20 years her junior, (the cell mate of their farmhand and their eventual murderer Freddy Lindsay) the small rural community frowned upon her personal life choice, already uncomfortable her being an independent full time career woman.
The brutal murders of Bernice and Harold gained national attention in March 1935. The manhunt for murder suspect Freddy Lindsay was the largest ever in NY state history. His trial was front page national news; his execution was brutal making one re-think the death penalty all together, especially since it was not premeditated murder.
In addition, Mancuso and Scarano discovered 3 similar events involving 2 men and 1 woman each took place in Coldspring Creek, Cattaraugus County, New York…….
The serendipitous discoveries
In the early 1700’s, a Seneca Indian brutally murdered two of his own tribe – the woman he loved and the man who had won her heart – with an ax. A Seneca Indian Guide recited the legend of these murders in Coldspring to a Holland Company surveyor in 1799.
In 1873, William Bourne, the young stepson of a settler, murdered his stepfather Caleb Omens and his stepfather’s wife - with an ax. This incident was reported in many local papers in 1873.
In 1935 Alfred “Freddy” Lindsay, murdered Bernice Kenyon Farnsworth and her husband Harold Farnsworth - with an ax.
In the early 1700’s, a Seneca Indian brutally murdered two of his own tribe – the woman he loved and the man who had won her heart – with an ax. A Seneca Indian Guide recited the legend of these murders in Coldspring to a Holland Company surveyor in 1799.
In 1873, William Bourne, the young stepson of a settler, murdered his stepfather Caleb Omens and his stepfather’s wife - with an ax. This incident was reported in many local papers in 1873.
In 1935 Alfred “Freddy” Lindsay, murdered Bernice Kenyon Farnsworth and her husband Harold Farnsworth - with an ax.
The small rural areas of Cattaraugus County New York buried it all in shame, never to be spoken of again. The memory of Bernice, Harold, and Freddy were shunned and forgotten until 75 years later when Mancuso and Scarano revealed truths and healing on what had become an unbelievable fable around camp fires.
Many descendants of the individuals in this non-fiction story have come forth, (including the descendants of Lindsay himself). All are relieved the story has come to light so it could finally be laid to rest in peace.
All this information unfolded from one simple question about a 75 year old photograph?
FYI: in case you'd like to research your own family history here are the terms defined.
Ancestry is the descendant of a person’s bloodline. Genealogy is the research and analysis of ancestry. But genealogy can also be used to analyze the evolution of concepts, values and ideas. Cast as historical narratives, critical genealogies can effectively show how certain systems of thought, cultural practices and ways of life developed over time.
Coldspring: The Resolution will be released in 2011.
Coldspring: The Trial was released October 9, 2010.
Coldspring was released November 12, 2009
Due to Hollywood interest, a screenplay is in the works.
1 comment:
Coldspring was great book, currently reading the 2nd book. My Grandfather was born in the house the murders took place in. The foundation of the house is still there if you know where to look. Interstate 86 now runs thru where the farm was.
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