Edward Gein - America's Most Bizarre Murder

Citation preview

s

AMERICA'S MOST BIZARRE

by Judge Robert H.Gollmar With eight pages of blood-curdling police photographs

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Ln Ln Oa b-« -\J I

Ln LU -O

.

PSYCHO! Due

to legal complications the "official" true

story of the

Gein case could not be

told before

now.

What follows is probably the most unusual case in modern times. It is the story of Edward Gein, America's most bizarre murderer, grave robber, maker of exotic household items and wearing apparel; possessor of undoubtedly the finest private collection of female heads and vaginas and, unquestionably, the most notorious character ever to stand before me in court.

Judge Robert H. Gollmar

PINNACLE BOOKS AND TRUE DETECTIVE MAGAZINE TEAM UP FOR THE GRISLIEST TRUE CRIME STORIES IN PRINT! (486, $4.95) BIZARRE MURDERERS Edited by Rose G. Mandelsberg are too shocking to be believed, but they are true

The crimes

nonetheless:

The "vampire" who drank his victim's blood The hooker who was cooked alive • The killer who kept his victim's brain as a souvenir • The murderer who fed his victims to the pigs BIZARRE MURDERERS recounts some of the most sensational slayings in the annals of crime. You won't believe what you •

•

read — but

it's all

true.

And truly bizarre.

CELEBRITY MURDERS

(435, $4.95) Edited by Art Crockett Some were in the wrong place at the wrong time, others were the victims of an obsessed fan. Bob Crane, Sharon Tkte, Sal Mineo, Rebecca Schaeffer, George Rose, and others: stars of the screen and stage, darlings of the media. All had brilliant careers cut short by an act of bloody violence. Read the true accounts of the stars who last roles were played out on a cold, coroner's table.

SERIAL MURDERERS

(432, $4.95)

Edited by Art Crockett

Some of them,

like

Son of Sam,

are

world. Others are not well known, like

known throughout

the

Henry Lee Lucas, even

though he killed 176 people. And there are those who are still unknown, their carnage gone unstopped, like the Green River Killer. They are all serial killers, slaughtering their innocent victims for reasons known only to themselves. No one knows where they'll strike, or when. Or why. We know only one thing: Once they do start, they will write their stories in blood until someone stops them. Available wherever paperbacks are sold, or order direct from the Publisher. Send cover price plus 50C per copy for mailing and handling to Pinnacle Books, Dept. 537, 475 Park Avenue South, New York, N. Y 10016. Residents of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania must include sales tax. SEND CASH.

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? PINNACLE BOOKS WINDSOR PUBLISHING CORP.

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©

Copyright 1981 by Chas. Hallberg and Co., Inc. Published by special arrangement with Chas. Hallberg and Co. Inc.

No part of this book may be reproany form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes

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duced

in

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printing: December, 1990

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7

1

Contents

FOREWORD

by George W. Arndt,

M.D

vii

PREFACE

xv

INTRODUCTION 1

xvii

MURDER

1

Bernice Worden Missing Gein Arrested 12

3

"My God, Here She Is!" 14 2 GEIN'S CONFESSION The Third Degree 3

29

Crime Lab Obtains Confession

35 Search for Additional Evidence A Judicial Review 38 Proof of Grave Robbing 48

The

36

3 THE MEDICAL REPORTS Bernice Worden's Autopsy 53 Dr. Warmington's Report 56 Mr. Colwell's Report 61 Dr. E.F. Schubert's Report 65

4

GEIN'S 1958

51

HEARING

Sanity Issue Decided!

73

76

Shock 79 Murders? 81 GEIN'S 1968 TRIAL

Plainfield in

How Many 5

State of Wisconsin

v.

The Appointment of Counsel The Initial Motions 99 Testimony Testimony Testimony Testimony

89

Edward Gein

of Allan Wilimovsky of Jan Beck 109 of Wilma Rothermel of Dr. Miller 1 1

93

96 103

116

Testimony of Edward Gein 120 Testimony of Frank Worden 159 Jan Beck in Rebuttal 162

The

Court's Decision

An An

A

Interview with Dr. Schubert 181 Interview with Gein 187 Visit to Plainfield

APPENDIX A. B.

163

A VISIT TO CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL & PLAINFIELD

6

173

175

199 George Arndt on "Gein Humor" 201 About the Author and Other Contributors 2 1 Dr.

Foreword

History since

is

replete with tragedies of

man

is

human

violence,

the most aggressive beast in his

inhumanity. Edward Gein

is

unique as the "case

of the century" in which not only was there mur-

der but also perversion, possible

fratricide,

and

cannibalism.

Even among the more recent horrendous crimes in Texas, California, New York, and Illinois, the crimes for which Mr. Gein was found "not guilty by reason of insanity" are unique. Interest continues to be manifest in his atypical type of psychopathology, combining

murder with sexual elements,

perversion and fetishes resulting in displays of

human art and trophies. The outpouring of grim gore and gallows humor concerning this case is also unique as I discovered through my research into the initial situation vii

EDWARD GEIN And, it has resurged several times since the original Gein trial in 1968, especially when Gein petitioned for release from Central State Hospital for the criminally insane and during the subsequent court procedures in 1974. Newspapers and magazines from throughout the United States published articles on Ed Gein's trial a decade after the murders and again seventeen years after the in

1957.

The result of which I examined Gein and testified regarding his mental condition) was his return to

event, during his try for release. that try (at

still psychotic and insane. Edward Gein's family moved, when he was still a young man, to a rural section in central Wisconsin.

the hospital as

In such rural areas people often believe they

much

know

about each other because of their close proximity, similar backgrounds, and mutual involvement and interest. Gein was a lonely, or

all

isolated, schizoidal, "strange" individual

who was

not given to communicating openly with his neighbors.

He was

a

man who

himself with others only cial

purportedly involved

when

there was a finan-

reason or personal need of assistance. His

neighbors

may have thought they knew all about yet, for more than a dozen years,

each other, and

Gein apparently committed multiple murders and grave robbings without detection. In retrospect, we now know that

and age,

likely that,

when he was

it

is

possible

thirty-eight years of

what had been called the "Cain and Abel"

aspect of this case occurred.

Ed

Gein's brother

was found dead in the midst of a large Vlll

pile

of

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

and brush which was being cleared

debris

to

burned.

Of

brother's

body was reportedly found on the

special interest

est collection deposit

on

be

the fact that his

—some have said

The

a funeral pyre.

is

larg-

as if placed

following year his mother

died and Gein repeatedly attempted to raise her

from the dead with ter

is

apparently

his willpower. Shortly thereaf-

when he began grave

robbing.

from which the human troon his mantel, were located in the cemetery not far from the family plot where his parents were buried. The grave robbings and murders included removing heads, chest skin including mammries, and pelvic areas including vaginas. These were found in Gein's home and attested to the morbid,

Some of

the graves

phies were taken, and later found

perverse "secondary psychic kicks for psychological

gain" he seemed to receive from removing

"appropriate" and "interesting" anatomical parts

from the bodies of then added to

Ed

his

his victims.

Each trophy was

ghoulish collection.

Gein's unusual interest, preoccupations,

and

pastimes were not discovered until at age fifty-one

he was caught with

his last victim's

body

still

hang-

ing in the shedlike area at the back of his house

dressed out like a deer.

home community with a populaunder seven hundred people, there developed a tremendous outpouring of apprehension, fear, panic, and a sense of being totally overwhelmed by the depth and breadth of the psychopathology which had been discovered. In such In Gein's small

tion of

ix

EDWARD GEIN mid-western towns people are not prone to be frightened. In general, they experience each other as stoic, reliable, conscientious

religious

and

people with a strong

practical educational

background.

Such people tend to be very trusting of friends and usually seem to believe they know and can vouch for everyone in town. As people who would not lock a door, day or night, they were shocked no aghast at having "the Gein" in their midst.

—

The neighbors were situation

Ed Gein was

man

literally

dumbfounded

at the

which was presented to them. For many, a friend or acquaintance or the handy-

who helped around He was a nice quiet man. People,

or part-time carpenter

the neighborhood.

especially children, liked him.

who so strongly believed in themand each other could experience this horror with an individual who had lived in their midst for over half a lifetime, what protection is there If these people

selves

for people who, living in isolation in cities, are fearful of their own neighbors, the next neighborhood, and/or the criminal element who continu-

ously prey

on

society?

Here were God-fearing

people, living an upright, struggling, productive life

and

this

happened.

The shock was overwhelming and

Gein's neigh-

bors very naturally reacted with stress and tremen-

dous anxiety. Not only

in

Plainfield

and the

surrounding communities, but also in towns and cities hundreds of miles distant, people relieved their tension with a type of

humor which had

not

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

been heard since the Elizabeth Borden affair over one hundred years ago. Periodically there are news reports about individuals who display a history of mental disturbance or prior hospitalization which precipitated tragedy. Here, however, was a literal bolt from the blue. Gein had no known history of mental

Are there other Edward Geins? How many? Where? Are you sure? We must study the questions posed and begin to realistically develop programs to identify and assist the mentally ill person. They must become more productive, self-sufficient, reliable individuals, to protect themselves, the public, and most importantly the lives of their immediate neighbors and families. Certainly there must be a way our society can do more, in a preventive way, to reduce the increasing number of such tragic events which have occurred and continue to occur in our society. With the recent emphasis during the last quarter century of deinstitutionalization with its sometimes illness.

tragic turning loose of those mentally unable to

fend for themselves, we have seen repeated episodes of "the criminalization of the mentally for unable to cope, they It is

time to take as serious a view of mental

illness as

We

ill,"

commit crimes.

we do of heart disease, cancer, and aging. to do something other than simply

need

deinstitutionalize mentally

be more

to

Superficial

ill

persons so there can

their lives than privileged neglect.

freedoms within the context of a hu-

man warehousing

concept of institutional XI

treat-

EDWARD GEIN ment

will

no longer do;

it

can no longer be

justified.

Psychiatry, medicine,

and science are continu-

gaining knowledge and slowly unlocking the secrets of that mental apparatus called the mind.

ally

Today we have the means to chemically detect many types of mental illness and effective treatments designed to relieve the untold suffering of who develop thinking disorders, schizophrenia, and manic-depressive illness. Unfortunately, many who need and could benefit from treatment those

decline, resist, or refuse treatment that could help

them. Further they are aided and abetted by the sometimes strange, and in many cases, peculiar beliefs of members of the legal profession who too often take it upon themselves, under the guise of protecting the civil rights of the individual, to deny mentally ill people the right to receive needed and appropriate treatment. What freedom is there for a person with a tormented mind struggling with false beliefs, false perceptions, false ideas, and

bend toward self or mass destruction? Today, we have a situation in which treatment is available and people decline to avail themselves of it. And, this is further offset by the tragic a bizarre

misuse of other chemicals by the public. Certain

now abuse mindway as to destroy the thinking capabilities and perhaps even the

large segments of our society altering agents in such a brain's

genes of future generations.

needed medicaand other therapies necessary to assist men-

Psychiatrists are obtaining the

tions

xii

AMERICA'S tally

ill

normal

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

people in stabilizing and leading more unencumbered by their symptoms.

lives,

Simultaneously, however,

we now

also

encounter

masses of people being coerced by peer pressure in a mass hysteria of increasing use of alcohol, marijuana and other mind destroying drugs in

They sabotage themselves with naurally occurring and man-made "brain cell killing chemicals/' Brain damage is not increasingly self-destructive ways.

something which

The

is

readily treated or reversible.

an increasingly large population of seriously brain impaired individuals who have net result

is

become incapable of self-decision and/or

who

self-care,

are tragically invalid to themselves as they

become increasing burdens

to those with

whom

they live and/or the taxpayers.

Interference with the proper treatment of tal illness, as

well as the

men-

noninvolvement of our

and welfare of those who suffer has become increasingly evident not only

society in the care

from

it,

to the professionals in the medical field but also in

the popular press. Articles decrying then neglect

and disenfranchisement of the mentally ill in our open society are becoming more frequent and more forceful. Edward Gein, because of his quiet, isolated, secluded existence was one who came to the attention of the authorities only through the

ultimate event/crime of detected murder.

The sub-

sequent discovery of the extent of his ghoulish grave robbing and other perverse behaviors revealed his acts to be different from psychiatric practice only in degree xiii

and

in

legal/criminal

EDWARD GEIN Gein could and did exist as a bachelor recluse in a rural area, and was accepted there. Many of the mentally ill, deprived of a sanctuary or refuge, (i.e. the asylum), cannot exist in our detection.

communities without support. Hence they come into the

more

frequent,

open

conflict with the law

because of their inability to understand or appreciate the impact of what they do or fail to do. These people, who are obviously men-

and

tally

civilization

ill,

decision

are incapable of adequate, rational

and

alization laws

but a positive suffer

much

self-

The present deinstitutionhave, in many ways, been anything influence toward helping those who

self-care.

from mental illness. These persons are very need of help in the management of their

in

day-to-day

lives.

The Edward Gein

case symbolizes the type of

exist and carry on his bizarre life-style, without detection, for a dozen or more years. His pattern of behavior and macabre activities were a result of serious mental illness and disordered thinking. It is the hope of the author that through understanding of this true story of Edward Gein, citizens in all types and sizes of communities throughout our nation will begin to examine seriously the problems of the mentally ill, and particularly the problems of

situation in

which an individual can

the mentally

ill

comes involved

Fellow,

individual

who

coincidentally be-

in crime.

George W. Arndt, M.D. American Psychiatric Association xiv

Preface

Due

to legal complications the "official" true story

of Edward Gein could not be told until now. in

What follows is probably modern times. It is the

the most unusual case

true story of

Edward

Gein, America's most bizarre murderer, grave

maker of exotic household items, wearing apparel and possessor of undoubtedly the finest robber,

private collection of female heads, vaginas, vulvas

and unquestionably the most notorious character ever to stand before

me

in court.

In November, 1957, the entire nation was rocked

by the disclosure of the ghoulish discoveries made on the Gein farm near Plainfield, Wisconsin. This was followed by an equally widespread wave of "Gein humor" that was analyzed and reanalyzed in heavy scientific papers by learned psychiatrists, such as Dr. George Arndt.

xv

EDWARD GEIN Gein. alter a short hearing, without trial, was sent to Central State Hospital for the Insane at

Waupun. Wisconsin. Suddenly he was returned for

trial.

ten long years later,

As the

the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit,

Waushara County, the scene of sided at his

judge of which includes

circuit

his crimes,

I

pre-

trial.

This book

based on the transcript of that

is

Gein's confessions to the Wisconsin crime

trial.

laboratory as taken by Joseph Wilimovskv.

my

trial

notes, official medical reports, conferences with

counsel and the police officers involved in

trial

the case as well as

my

personal

visit

with Gein at

Central State Hospital. there "a time to

Is

kill?"

have tried murder cases, recurred to me.

women

Over the years

this biblical

there a time

Is

are compelled to

kill

as

I

phrase has

when men

or

by emotions which

overpower their rational minds? Did Gein feel this compulsion? Were the bodies he removed from graves so unsatisfactory that he needed freshly killed

women

killing a result

training?

for his strange activities?

of

Was and

his is

Was

his

mother's twisted '"religious"

Gein insane, or trulv

"sly as a

fox" with an ability to convince psychiatrists and psychologists of his insanity so as to protect himself

mav

from

a life sentence

reach his or her

behind bars? The reader

own

xvi

conclusion.

Introduction

January 1968. I sat in my chambers at Baraboo and read again the letter I had just received from Dr. E.F. Schubert, superintendent of Central State

Hospital for the Criminally Insane. official

Couched

language, Dr. Schubert advised

his staff

Gein was

me

in

that

had determined that Edward Theodore fit

to stand trial;

he could intelligently

confer with counsel and participate in his defense.

Then

the final sentence: the staff believed that

Gein was still insane. Only in the "Alice In Wonderland" labyrinth of American jurisprudence could this occur. Now we were faced with a long and arduous legal proceeding, costing thousands of dollars, with a predetermined end: no matter what the degree of guilt or nonguilt, in the end, Gein would return to Central State

Hospital for the Criminally Insane. xvii

EDWARD GEIN I

promptly made a long-distance

call to

Howard

Waushara County. Dutcher, Howard had prosecutor, young A tall, fair-skinned than most cases murder already prosecuted more the district

attorney for

rural district attorneys get in a lifetime. After

read the letter to

stunned

Howard

silence; then,

there was a

moment

I

of

could have heard his roar

I

without the seventy miles of telephone wire be-

tween after

us. all

'Judge, you can't do this to me!

these years?

the McBrair

murders

Why now? You that

I

told

Why,

me

in

was young and needed

Haven't I had enough training?" "Simmer down, Howard," I said, "we don't have any choice and you know it. Now, let's get down to business. Alert Buck (Buck Batterman, the sheriff), and Jerry (Jerry Brillowski, my court reporter). I will be up in a few days to work out trial training.

the preliminary details." Still grumbling, Howard hung up, and I sat back and let my mind go back ten years to

November, 1957.

I

am

at

ham

and I some was pleased that an

heart a

actor

could not

resist

a feeling of pleasure.

judge was

to try

Ed Gein

accident of geography gave

am

I

me

If

that privilege.

an extrovert, and as a young lawyer opportunities to speak in public flowed my way. I became a county judge and then a circuit judge. In the sharp interchange of legal battle, I found my great love and enjoyment. Over thirty years on the bench has not changed my pleasure in well-contested jury trials nor diminished my enthusiasm. As a country judge I heard both civil Admittedly

I

xviii

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER cases. My suitcase was always packed

AMERICA'S

and criminal and I eagerly accepted assignments anywhere

in

the state.

My circuit in circuit in

1968 was an L-shaped, four-county

south central Wisconsin.

It is

a beautiful

region and includes such well-known resort areas as Devils

Lake and Wisconsin

Dells.

Waushara, is an

the farthest north of the four counties,

untouched, unpolluted area containing over seventy lakes and miles of trout streams. the Pine River, as is

it

Of the

rushes busily about

its

latter,

business,

the most beautiful.

In 1968 the whole country contained only teen thousand people, and

fif-

Wautoma, the county

had a population of sixteen hundred. The who lived there were warm, friendly, and independent. They preferred the wide open spaces where a motorist is far more likely to see a deer than other motorists. Hunting and fishing were primary pursuits for both men and women. The talk in the bowling alley where they gathered for coffee was always about the outdoors. These were people who had learned that there are far more important things in life than amassing money. The "rat race" of city life was not for them. When the fish were running or during deer hunting seat,

people

season, they just locked the doors of their busi-

and went. Everyone understood and would And, no doubt, life goes on the same way today. nesses

await their return.

Up

in the northwest corner of the county

Village of Plainfield,

whose population xix

in

is

the

1957

EDWARD GEIN was just over

six

hundred.

A

few miles south in

the Township of Plainfield, on an unworked 160acre farm lived Edward Gein, a fifty-one year-old

hermit and bachelor.

November

16, 1957, a

Saturday, was the open-

ing day for deer hunting in Wisconsin

and

this

important to our story. By that nightfall, sheriffs and their deputies would converge on fact

is

Plainfield

from

all

surrounding counties. The

Wisconsin crime laboratory would be "hard on their heels," closely followed by a large concourse of newspaper reporters, cameramen, and TV personnel. W hispers would run through the streets r

of Plainfield and over rural telephone party

Grim-faced

citizens

would gather

lines.

in shock, horror,

and anger as stories of the ghoulish discoveries on the Gein farm rocked their quiet village. In November of 1957, the Waushara County Sheriffs Department consisted of three men: Sheriff Arthur Schley, who had been in office six weeks and was a former highway department truck driver; Arnold Fritz, full-time deputy who had also served under former Sheriff Leon "Specks" Murty; and Dan Chase, former sheriff and now traffic officer. (Dan's father, Frank Chase, had been sheriff for some years, and Dan had spent most of his life in law enforcement work). Back of these men was a thin line of special deputies who could be called in an emergency: r

Specks Murty,

who was now the marshal of the Arden Spees in Red Granite,

Village of Wild Rose,

Frank Worden

in Plainfield,

xx

and a few more.

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Law enforcement personnel from large cities may find it difficult to understand another thin line

men

of support. In rural areas of Wisconsin, law are in close and friendly contact with their

fellow officers in the surrounding counties.

A

call

immediate and unquestioning help. So it was to be on November 16, 1957. Captain Lloyd Schoephoerster of the Green Lake County Sheriffs Department heard the call and left immediately for Plainfield. He was early on the scene for the first phases of the investigation and was closely followed by Sheriff Herbert Wanserski of Portage County as well as men from Adams and Wood counties. for help

in

on the

police radio brings

Rural officers such as these are largely untrained formal police work, but they have three assets

that city officers generally

do not have. To a man,

They develop a keenness for clues, and tracking a man is not too different from tracking an elusive fox or deer. A second asset is their deep knowledge of the people with whom they deal. Their third and perhaps greatest asset is the rural grapevine. City people may, and do, ignore their next door neighbor, but rural people usually know and are interested in the most minute details of their neighbors' lives. Because the police are often friends and even relatives of the townspeople, the people cooperate with the law quickly and willingly. Frank Worden, the deputy sheriff in Plainfield, was closely and personally involved, for it was his mother, Bernice, whose disappearance triggered the uncovering of the Gein story. they are seasoned outdoorsmen.

xxi

EDWARD GEIN AMERICA'S MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

1

MURDER

Bernice Worden Missing

November

16,

1957 was a quiet Saturday in the

Village of Plainfield.

It

was the opening day of

deer hunting, and virtually all able-bodied men and youths (and many of the women) were in the woods hunting. On Main Street, Bernice Worden, a fifty-eight-year-old widow, was alone in the

Worden hardware Frank,

like the rest

store.

Her son and

partner,

of the community, was deer

hunting.

One man had

not gone into the woods.

Edward

Gein, a middle-aged handyman, was on his lonely

farm a few miles away. Gein got up early on the morning of November 16. He noted a fine rain falling, breakfasted, and drove downtown. He parked his car in front of Worden's store and went in to buy some antifreeze. No one noticed him or his car on the street. He took a glass jug

EDWARD GEIN from

his car,

purchase.

He

entered the store, and

Worden drew from jug out and put

new

his

it

a steel barrel,

and carried the

He

then reentered

in his car.

the store to talk to Mrs.

chase of a

made

paid for the antifreeze which Mrs.

Worden about

the pur-

.22 rifle.

At about 9:30 a.m. the Worden hardware truck drove out of town but no one noticed

it

leave.

No

one noticed who the driver was nor observed the grisly object in the back of the pickup truck. Somewhat later, Gein walked unnoticed to his car and drove it away; not even the attendant at the filling station across the street from the Worden's hardware store saw him. That Saturday, Sheriff Art Schley and Chief Deputy Arnie Fritz had spent the day in Wautoma, the county seat, performing their usual duties.

Dan

Chase, the county's only traffic officer, inves-

tigated a traffic accident at 2:00 a.m.

He

later

went home and then went deer hunting. That evening he went to a restaurant in Hancock. Captain Lloyd Schoephoerster of nearby Green Lake County and other officers in the surrounding area went about their routine duties. In Madison, the state capital, Allan Wilimovsky, ballistics specialist for the Wisconsin crime laboratory, spent the

day

assisting his brother, Joe, build

The weather turned cold, raw, and sleety afternoon. He went home feeling tired, ate

a garage. in the

his dinner,

and took a nap.

day; a quiet day that

is,

for

It all

was indeed a quiet but Ed Gein.

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Gein returned from Worden's store and busied himself with certain important chores. About 3 p.m. his neighbor, Mr. Ueeck, dropped by to apolgize for shooting a deer on Gein's property

but Gein was too busy taking the snow car to discuss

tires

off his

After he finished changing

it.

tires

he went back into the house where he busied himself for a couple hours until he was again interrupted. This time

needed help

met him

in

it

was the

Hill boy,

who

Gein hurried out, the yard, and then took him to to start his car.

Plainfield.

The

parents of the Hill boy ran a grocery store

on the edge of

Plainfield.

Here Gein bought

He also helped out at The Hill home was next to the

his

simple groceries.

times in

the store.

store.

Irene Hill had a vivacious and bubbly personality.

She talked freely to me about that day. She had known Gein from their grade school days. Gein often came to the Hill home because he enjoyed TV and he had no electricity in his home. This Saturday, Gein had stayed at the Hills' home for supper. They had pork chops, she recalled. After supper, Gein sat on the davenport playing a game with one of the younger children.

Jim Vroman,

He

a son-in-law of the Hills',

came

in.

was excited and said something had happened

Worden

store and the state crime lab was coming. Gein said to Vroman, "Boy, someone sure at the

must have been bloodthirsty.

Is that right?'*

suggested that he would like to go

Gein

downtown and

EDWARD GEIN see the excitement.

He and

the Hill boy then went

to Gein's car.

Meanwhile, at about 5:00 p.m. that evening Frank Worden returned from deer hunting and was surprised to find his store locked and dark. Inquiry at the

filling station across

the street dis-

closed that the store had been shut practically day.

The

litde

thought as

Worden

filling station it

operator had given

was not

uncommon

to lock the store while she

all

this

for Mrs.

went out on

errands.

Frank returned, unlocked the door, and enNot only was his mother missing, but there was a pool of blood on the floor and a trail of blood leading to the back door. Frank ran out the back door only to discover that his hardware truck was missing from the garage. tered the store.

Worden, in great excitement, called Sheriff Schley Wautoma, fifteen miles away, and over the phone blurted "murder." At 5:30 p.m. Chief Deputy Fritz was at home reading the newspaper when his phone rang. It was Sheriff Schley in great agitation: "Come quick. We have a murder in Plainfield." The two officers started out. Schley, who had been sheriff just six weeks, was upset and told Fritz: "I don't know anything about it. I want out, you take over." Worden was outside his store when at

they arrived. All three quickly entered the store. Officer Fritz reported what they saw:

Over

by the counter by the cash register there

pool of blood on the floor and there was a

was a

trail

'

of

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

blood like something had been dragged from that pool into the back where they kept the truck. We followed this trail of blood back to where the truck

around

was supposed to be parked. We could see a little messing around in the tracks and there was blood on the dirt

and

the truck

was gone.

Quickly Fritz went to the public phone and called

Specks Murty

at Wild Rose. Specks was village marshal and a part-time county deputy. He too had been deer hunting. Murty quickly drove to Plainfield and joined the other two officers. At 6:15 p.m. Captain Schoephoerster received a call

from Sheriff Bartol of Green Lake saying

that

there was an apparent murder, kidnapping, and

robbery flashing

at Plainfield.

and

He

started out with red lights

siren blasting because of the heavy

traffic. On the way he heard more on the radio and a statewide call to look for a red Chevrolet pickup truck with the name Worden Hardware on it. At 6:30 p.m. Dan Chase left the restaurant at Hancock. He went "10-8" on his radio and heard Deputy Fritz say: "Get your ass up to Plainfield. There has been a murder." At about the time Allan Wilimovsky received a call from Charles Wilson, head of the crime lab in

deer hunting details

Madison. Wilimovsky, too, started out for Plainfield,

up fellow staff members Jim Halligan and Beck with the crime lab's mobile field unit. Jan Schley and Fritz, meanwhile, had asked Worden if he suspected anyone. Worden said, "Ed Gein." Murty asked him why, and he said, Gein had been picking

EDWARD GEIN asking his mother to go roller-skating with him;

Gein had been in the day before inquiring about antifreeze; and that Gein asked Worden if he was going to go deer hunting. Worden told Gein that he was, and that he expected to be in that

the

woods

all

day.

A quick check of Mrs.

Worden's

sales slips for the day disclosed three sales, one of

them

for antifreeze. Unbelievably, this was

all

of

the evidence against Gein. Probably the thinnest

evidence that ever caused a manhunt.

There was one further fact. A few years before Mary Hogan, a tavern keeper operating across the line in Portage County, had disappeared. A pool of blood had been found in her tavern. Murty and Fritz for some reason had suspected Gein in that case but had no evidence. Fritz this time,

said:

When we saw the blood, Specks and I got our heads together. See, we had the finger on Ed Gein for the Mary Hogan deal, but we never could prove it. To me the Hogan deal was the same thing: a pool of blood on the floor, blood marks out the door, loaded her on a truck and left. Then we decided we better get some help and. see if we could find the truck. We called in help from all neighboring counties. Pretty soon, Sheriff Artie and Deputy Neilson came from Marquette County; Sheriff Sharky and another officer from Wood County; Sheriff Wanserski and two or three men from Portage County; the sheriff from Adams County and Schoephoerster from Green Lake. Maybe more.

A map

of Plainfield was secured and divided 8

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

EDWARD GEIN As the neighboring officers were assigned to the search for the truck. The next morning the truck was found hidden in a pine plantation on the edge of the into four sections.

arrived, they

village.

Meantime, Dan Chase had arrived and it was decided that he and Marty should go out to the Gein house, a distance of four or five miles. Total darkness had fallen as they drove down the lonely road to the farm. Chase swung the car in the yard so that

its

headlights shone

on the back door.

The old frame house was dark and there was no sign of life. Chase stayed by the car while Murty knocked on the back door. There was no response knocked again. The door slowly swung

so he

open. Inside

it

was pitch dark and as neither Murty

Murty lit a match. The and he was afraid of starting a fire. Murty stumbled forward and found another door but there was no response to his repeated knocks. Carefully he made his way out and back to the car. Obviously Ed Gein was not at home. Back in town there was a small group of men on the sidewalk in front of the Worden hardware store. The sirens and red lights of the arriving squad cars increased the excitement, and a large crowd gathered. Officer Fritz had made inquiries at the filling station and at the Gamble store. It did not take nor Chase had a

flashlight,

floor was littered with papers

10

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

"Chase stayed by tke car tohile Murty knocked on the back door."

11

EDWARD GEIN long to canvass the few blocks of the business on Main Street. The name of Ed Gein was

district

whispered. There was a rumor, never substantiated, that

Gein had been seen that morning driving the

Worden

truck.

Gein Arrested

It

was decided that Gein should be found,

possible. Since

Dan Chase knew

if

Gein, he was sent

being an officer of the

to look for him. Chase,

old school, never questioned the fact that he was

being sent alone,

at night, to pick

up

a probable

murderer. After Chase

not go alone.

left,

A

Fritz

radio

decided that Chase should call

reached him and he

returned so that Deputy Arden "Poke" Spees could go with him. The two officers started out and Chase said, "Let's go out to the Hill store because Eddie goes there a lot and does his grocery shopping." Chase talked to Mrs. Hill and was told to look in Gein's car, which was parked by the Hills' back door. Chase gave this account of what happened next: / saw Eddie Gein sitting in the car. There was a light or something on and I could see him. One of the Hill boys was sitting with him. I walked up to

porch

the car

and

said, "Eddie, I

would

12

like to talk to

you.

"

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Eddie came over and got in the car with Poke Spees in the back seat. I asked Eddie to tell me where he was from six that morning until right now. He went through it and I said, "Now go back to where you entered Worden's store and tell me that again.'' He started and went back through it. I said, "Now, Eddie, you didn't tell the same story coming through there." He said, "Somebody framed me." I said, "Framed you for what?" "Well," he said, "Mrs. orden?" "Well, Worden." I said, "What about Mrs. she's dead, ain't she?" I said, "Dead! How do you know she's dead?" He said, "Well, I heard it." I said, "Where did you hear it?" He said, "I heard them talking about it. " I knew then what I had.

W

The three men returned to Plainfield and parked on Main Street. Deputy Fritz met them and said, "She's been murdered." On the way into Plainfield Chase told Gein to lie on the floor of the car because he was afraid of violence if Gein was seen by the townspeople. Gein was greatly

amused by this precaution. Chase then placed Gein under arrest and he and Spees took him to Wautoma and placed him in jail. When Chase had Gein undress he noted a spot of blood on Gein's arm. in Plainfield, the crowd on the street grew and there were dark mutterings of "hang him." But fear rode over all; fear and bewilder-

Back

larger

ment.

How

could

ful little village?

this

horror come to their peace-

Women

ran frantically about in

the residential area calling their children home.

Shades were drawn and doors locked that had not

known

a key for

many

years. It

13

was a dark,

swirl-

EDWARD GEIN ing fear.

No one knew

Had Ed

Gein, this quiet

for sure little

what had happened.

handyman who had

eaten in their homes, helped with their chores,

and baby-sat

their children,

murdered Bernice

Worden? Meanwhile Captain Schoephoerster and SherSchley had decided to look for Gein. As they started out, they received a radio message from Chase that he had the suspect, Gein, in custody. Schley and Schoephoerster decided to drive out to the Gein home instead and look iff

around.

'My God, Here She

Schoephoerster gave

when

this

Is!'

account of what occurred

they arrived at the farm:

It

was 8:00 p.m.

We

tried the doors.

They were

all

locked but the door leading into a woodshed attached to the

my

house didn't seem

to be

latched too tight. I put

and pushed and the door came open. Knowing Gein had no electricity, we took our falshlights and went in.. As I tried to open the door going from the woodshed into the house, Sheriff Schley looked around a portion of the woodshed. foot against

it

heard him cry out, "My God, here she is." I went over to where he was and saw a woman's nude, headless body hanging from the rafters by her

I

ankles.

14

EDWARD GEIN

"My

God, here she

15

is.

EDWARD GEIN Both men immediately ran out and Sheriff Schley became violendy

ill.

Schoephoerster radioed

Deputy Fritz that Mrs. Worden's body had been found and that all cars should come to the Gein farm. The coroner and district attorney were also

summoned. Schoephoerster 's account continued:

We

then went back in

had been

and found

that

Mrs. Worden

completely dressed out like a deer with her

head cut off at the shoulders. Gein had slit the skin on the back of her ankles and inserted a wooden rod, 3 112 feet long, about 4 inches in diameter, and sharpened to a point at both ends, through the cut tendons on the back of her ankles. Both hands were

The center of the a pulley on a block and tackle. The body was pulled up so the feet were near the ceiling. We noticed that there was just a few drops of watery blood beneath the body on the dirt floor, and not finding the head or intestines, we thought possibly the body had been butchered at another tied to her side with bindertwine.

rod was attached

to

location.

Other

officers arrived

and the barn and out-

buildings were searched without result. Captain

Schoephoerster and Deputy Neilson of Marquette

County decided

to search the house.

Schoephoerster's story of the account

is

follows:

As we went

into the house

we found it to be in a from one end of the

terrible state; completely littered

house

of

to the

other with bones, barrels of junk, stacks

clothes, papers,

and

so forth.

16

We

went upstairs,

as

AMERICA'S which was

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

less littered

than the

in a box on the floor found a this

outside

and showed

it

rest

of the house,

and

We

took

human

skull.

to the sheriff

Someone

could have been Mary Hogan, missing from Portage County since 1954. Murty arrived and he and Schoephoerster returned to the house. Murty found an automatic revolver under the pillow of Gein's bed and behind the door in the bedroom he found a human head in a plastic bag. Sheriff Wanserski thought the head in the bag resemsuggested

it

bled that of Mary

Hogan.

Allan Wilimovsky, of the crime witness in

many

trials in

interested in his precise

my

lab,

court.

manner of

I

has been a

am

always

speech: choos-

ing his words with great care and exactitude.

entered the scene at

count of

this

He

point and gives this ac-

his observations:

Upon arriving, there was a rather large gathering of people; some were law enforcement, but the majority I believed to be people of the press. I was wooden door that was painted no windows. The door later was idenme as being the door which entered into

directed to a solid white, with tified to

a so-called summer kitchen area. The sheriffs personnel held the news media away from the scene; they had the scene generally secured. I had a lantern. I opened this door and I flashed the light into this darkened room. There was no light inside the room and at that time I saw a body which was decapitated and which was suspended by a gambrel by the ankles which in turn was attached to a pulley and chain hoist system to the ceiling joist

of

this

portion of the

house.

My

first

impression was some degree of shock.

I momentarily stepped back

17

and without saying

EDWARD GEIN anything other than thinking to myself, "What type of individual would do something like this?"

Wilimovsky was joined by Beck and Halligan from the crime lab. An electric generator was secured from Wood County so that photographs could be taken. Wilimovsky then went to Plainfield and called Charles Wilson, director of the lab, apprised him of the situation, and suggested that he come up from Madison. He also suggested that his brother, Joe Wilimovsky, also come up and interrogate the prisoner. (Joe did the polygraph or "lie detector" test for the lab). Allan Wilimovsky then returned to the Gein farm. Officers were going in and out of the house, many of them carrying grisly objects found therein. Considerable confusion ensued and there was a general feeling of shock

among

these seasoned

law officers. Wilimovsky concerned himself with a search for the instrument used in the decapitation

of the body.

Ray Goult, the undertaker, had been on the grounds for many hours. Finally, in the early morning hours, the headless body was placed in a plastic bag and given to him for transportation to his

home in Plainfield. The searching officers made various observations.

funeral

Schoephoerster recounted: / had a feeling I never had before in my life because I had never seen anything like this. It was so horrible.

We found

skulls

skin portion of the head that

18

and masks; that is, the had been stripped from

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Among the things

Gein made from human a wastepaper basket, lamp masks, and bowls made from skullcaps. belt of nipples,

19

in

or bone mere: a ,

chairs, fcxe

EDWARD GEIN and preserved and put in plastic bags. There were several of those skulls. We found a box that had women's organs in it and I noticed one small one was gilded a gold color with a ribbon tied on it; I believe a red ribbon. We found leg bones and discovered the chair seats were made out of human skin. They were crudely made. The outside portion would be smooth and if you looked underneath you could see strips of fat. It wasn't a good the skull

job-

There was a knife handle made of bone and lamp and there was one upper portion of

shades from skin

a woman's

torso

from

down both and everything You could set it up

the shoulders, cut

sides to the waist, with her breasts

was stiff. had everything attached to it. Gein told Dan Chase that he would put these female parts on himself at night and go out in the yard and parade around completely tanned. It

and

it

in them.

he was with Murty when the latter found a Mauser pistol. This was later identified by Wilimovsky as the weapon that killed Mary Hogan. Fritz described the search in the

Deputy

Fritz said that

house: The house had a path through

the middle so

you

could walk around from one room to another. It was dark and the only thing you could see was what you

saw with the flashlight. Everything was a mess. We also found Mary Hogan s mask that night. That was found behind the kitchen door. I picked it up. I don't know what possessed me to do it. The kitchen door was ajar and behind that was one of these old horsef

hide robes that they used to use years ago in the

buggy. It was full of dust and dirt. I picked it up and saw a paper bag there. I picked the bag up and held

20

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

"There were skulls on the bed posts.

21

'

EDWARD GEIN bag open with one hand and looked in it, which was sort of hard with the flashlight in the other hand. You could see the hair on it, you know, and I held onto the bag and flashlight and Specks [Murty] was going to hold it up. "By God," he said, "It's Mary the

Hogan.

"

There was a stack of old overalls about four feet high if it was an inch. Every time they would get dirty and full of holes he would just throw them on the pile. There was a lot of clothing all

over the woodshed.

There were skulls on the bed

posts.

Schoephoerster recalled: There was a pound coffee can that had little wads of gum; I bet if there was one in there, there was two thousand. You know like when you get through chewing it, you know, it's a little wad. Gein would never throw anything away. During his confession they

would interrupt every once chew his gum.

in a while so

Gein could

Wilimovsky made a search through the summer kitchen.

He found

another gambrel

sitting

on the

ledge between two of the studs of the wall. There

was a large wooden barrel with some loose binder twine in it which resembled the cord used on Mrs.

Worden's body. The men from the crime lab worked on through the night. Wilimovsky said:

We found a

—a drum— drum contained nine integuments—which

cardboard drum

cylindrical

in a small bedroom area. This

integuments

—head

covering of the

skull.

is

We 22

also

the skin

found a shoe box

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

"Her heart was found

in

23

a saucepan on

the stove."

EDWARD GEIN which contained nine vulvas. The uppermost vulva in the box appeared to be relatively fresh and a fatty surface of the tissue revealed the presence of a crystalline material indicative of salt. Mrs. ordens heart was found in a saucepan on the stove. And a glass container of antifreeze was observed

W

nearby.

We

also found

a hunting-type knife contained in a

sheath, the sheath being bly originated from

chairs

three

resembled

—

made of material

—

straight-back type

human

that proba-

a human body. There were two or

On

skin.

the seat covering

the second floor

we found

two or three skull caps.

The entire house, with the exception of one room, was in a state of shambles. In the living room was a large textbook on medicology. Mr. Halligan looked through

this

book

and

the

pages were relatively clean

with the exception of two areas. These two areas were evidently referred to rather frequently and they were

on

the

human head and on

the

female reproductive

areas.

The one room was completely different; it was a room and bedroom area which we were advised had been occupied by Geins mother. It had been nailed shut from the time of her death to the present time. The room contained several pieces of furniture. In the bedroom was a bed and a cedar living

chest.

In

this

area everything appeared

to

be in a

normal, orderly fashion. The room had not been occupied for quite a while as there was a rather heavy

uniform coating of dust on the upper surfaces of

the

furniture.

The night. sleet,

investigation

went on through the long colder; it began to

The weather turned then to slush, and

Through and gained more

finally to

the long night one query arose

24

snow.

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

and more importance. Were was Mrs. Worden's head? At about 4:30 a.m. Halligan and Wilimovsky discussed the problem. There was so much trash in the house.

Where

to look? Finally they deter-

mined to go back to the summer kitchen area and try again. Here, they noted two dilapidated mattresses.

One

of the

men

a corner of

lifted

the top one. Between the mattresses was a bur-

from

The men

lap bag.

Steam was

looked

each other. They knew what they had

at

rising

it.

found. Wilimovsky bent over and opened the bag.

There was

a

human head

—a

female head. In-

bag were also two tenpenny nails bent in the form of hooks. At the head end of each nail side the

was attached a piece of binder twine making a loop; the

hook portions of the

nails

were

in the

ear sockets of Mrs. Worden's head.

No one

will

ever

know what

plans Gein had for

Would he have head of his bed to sway gently in the breeze? Or perhaps on the wall of his living room? Deputy Fritz was called in to identify the head. "Yes," Fritz said, "It's her head." The head was perfect; just like she was sleeping; the eyes were closed. The rest of Mrs. Worden's internal organs were found in a box back in a corner. The head was placed in a plastic bag and delivered to Deputy Chase for safekeeping. He had to keep it in his car until the next day, when displaying this grisly trophy.

hung

it

at the

25

EDWARD GEIN it

was conveyed

X-rayed.

to a local doctor's office

The X-ray

and

disclosed a bullet inside the

head. Chase then took it to Goult's funeral parlor where the head and body of Mrs. Worden were reunited.

26

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

"The hook portions of these nails were in the ear sockets of her head."

27

GEIN'S CONFESSION

Deputies Chase and Spees had taken Gein to the

and placed him in a cell where later Deputy Murty joined them. It was 2:00 a.m. on November 17. Suddenly the door opened and Sheriff Schley rushed in. Schley was a large, burly man. Gein was small and not very heavy. What occurred next is taken from a later transcript of testimony.

jail

The Third Degree Deputy Chase

testified:

Q. What happened at that time? A. They came into the jail; Sheriff Schley asked

31

me

if

EDWARD GEIN he had come clean. I said, "Not too much. " Sheriff Schley grabbed him, whirled him around, and shoved him up against the wall. Q. When you say shoved him against the wall, who

do you mean? A. Mr. Gein. Q. That happened in your presence? A. That's right.

Q. Sheriff Schley grabbed Mr. Gein physically hit him up against the wall? A.

That's right.

Q. What kind of a wall was that? A. I believe it's a concrete wall. And did the head of Mr. Gein A. I don't know.

Q

Deputy Spees testified and peppery and interesting: Q.

and

Were you present

hit the

his

wall?

answers were

at the time in the county jail

with Sheriff Schley, Mr. Chase and November 17, 1957? A. No, I wasn't in there at that time.

Q. When were you there? A. The night that we took him

Mr. Gein on

there.

Q. Who else was there? A. I don't think anybody else. What night was that? A. That was the night of the sixteenth. Q. Will you tell the judge what you saw happen in the county jail? A. Well, when Schley came in he took ahold of Gein

Q

by the shoulders.

Q. A.

What

did he do?

He

would have knocked his head against quite a few times but we stopped him. Q. When you say, "we", who do you mean?

A. All of us. Q. Who all was there?

32

the wall

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S A.

Dan was

Q.

Now

there

tell

us,

and

so was Specks Murty. what did you see Schley do

to

Gein

at that time?

Take him by the shoulders like that and cram him up against the side of the building. That was in where the bull pen over there where the table is

A.

—

they feed the prisoners.

Deputy Murty

testified:

Q. What did you observe at that time? A. Well, when Sheriff Schley came in he asked Dan if he had gotten anyplace by questioning him, and

—

Dan answered the same thing as "No" I guess and Schley took ahold of him and shoved him against the wall. Q. When you say took ahold of him, who do you I can't remember just what

—

mean? A. Eddie Gein. Q. What did he do

to

him?

A. Shoved him against the wall

Judge's note:

Our memories

concrete and Murty had

are

it

that Sheriff Schley

frail things. It

said the wall

made out of

point, to the court,

evidence of third degree

and

brick wall.

Chase

really doesn't matter, but

The important

—

tactics

was

bricks.

was the blatant

of the worst kind

had pounded Gein against

that wall to obtain a confession. Obviously, his

treatment of Gein must have been very rough for the sheriffs

own

deputies to have to pull him

away from the cowering prisoner. I

cannot excuse such conduct, although

understand

it.

I

can

Schley was under great pressure.

Given the responsibility of sheriff (for which he 33

EDWARD GEIN had no training), and with a big case unfolding, he must have been upset indeed, especially in light of the great local indignation and anger that demanded an immediate solution to the case. In spite of the third degree treatment, Gein did not confess that night. Later, because of this occurrence in the jail and the testimony of psychiatrists, I suppressed the confession Gein made to Joe Wilimovsky of the Wisconsin crime lab. That Sheriff Schley's conduct was greatly regretted by Schley himself was established by many of his acquaintances.

Shortly before Gein's

trial

in

There were Waushara County who believed that worry over his being subpoenaed to testify hastened his 1968, Schley died of a heart attack.

those in

death.

November

17,

1957, was a

—a

Sunday

Sunday

unlike any other in the history of Plainfield.

Normally, the good people of the village would

church of their choice in the mornit would have been noted with good-natured smiles that there would be a heavy preponderance of women and children in church. Normally, the men would be out in the woods, once again hunting the elusive deer. This day was different. A hunter of women had struck their community. Suspicious of strangers, as rural people often are, the local people re-

go

to the

ing.

Normally,

sented bitterly the strangers on their

were largely reporters from big

—questions

ers asked questions like:

What was Gein

The

They

report-

they had to ask,

really like?

34

streets.

cities.

What about

his

AMERICA'S parents?

What about

his love life? If

were short and

given, they nity

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER evasive.

answers were

The commu-

was beginning to develop a sense of horror that

became almost an obsession. This just could not have happened in their peaceful, law-abiding community.

A

feeling that was to develop into a "closed

door" attitude that would linger for many years.

Crime Lab Obtains Confession At the jail in Wautoma, Joe Wilimovsky of the crime lab interrogated Gein. No third degree now, just a quiet

and persistent questioning by an ex-

pert at interrogation. Gein steadfastly denied the

murder. At the hearing on the suppression of all agreed that swayed by suggestion from a questioner. Maybe so, but the crime lab's Joe Wilimovsky found Gein obdurate in his refusal to confess. Finally, when on November 17, Gein was smuggled out of the jail and shown Mrs. Worden's body, then, and only then, did he confess. Later, when Sheriff Schley decided to take Gein to Mary Hogan's tavern, he and Deputy Fritz devised a method of evading the reporters. While

Gein's confession, the psychiatrists

Gein was

easily

Schley kept the reporters busy at the front of the

jail,

Fritz

took Gein out the

the waiting squad car.

It

35

fire

escape to

was agreed they would

EDWARD GEIN meet Schley at the Catholic cemetery and proceed Mary Hogan's former tavern. The plan worked perfectly and Gein enjoyed the escapade very much. to

The Search For Additional Evidence On Monday, when

Gein was taken

to

Madison for

further questioning, the officers decided to search his farm for additional evidence. One hundred and sixty acres of wild land is a big territory so a week was spent in the search. Deputy Fritz described the procedure used:

We must have had a dozen steel rods made with a handle welded on each one. The rods were four feet long and three inches wide. Every little depression out there on that farm was gone over. I bet every inch of the farm was walked at least three times. Every place where there was a little depression or a little mound, especially in the woods, we were in there with rods.

Our arms

got so sore.

In spite of the long, hard search, no evidence of value was found, although that he did find

Dan Chase reported

some human bones "down

corner of the woods."

36

in the

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

£ £ e

5

I

37

EDWARD GEIN A Judicial Review granted the motion suppressing Gein's confession, I did not read it until long after the

Because

I

trial. It is

a voluminous document, originally taken

on tape and later transcribed, which consisted of several hundred pages. Joe Wilimovsky did the questioning, with Doctor Ganser present during a

portion of

it.

Gein was questioned at length at the Waushara County jail on November 17, the day after the discovery of Mrs. Worden's body. He was then taken to the crime lab at Madison and from there to the Dane County jail Extensive interrogation took place at each of these locations. During Gein's stay at the crime lab he was given a polygraph test,

or as

it is

Much of the

popularly called, a

went over the

lie

detector

test.

repetitive as Joe

Wilimovsky

salient features again

and again

material

is

with Gein.

My impression from the confession is that Gein was one smart cookie. He never admitted to anything serious unless the evidence against him on that point was very clear. His favorite answers

were: "I didn't

kill

anyone that

my

I

know

of."

"To

knowledge, I didn't do it." "In a way, I can't remember about it. I might have [done] something but not to my knowledge." Gein maintained, throughout, that the killing of Mrs. Worden was an accident. In fact, he steadfastly maintained this position down to and includ-

38

AMERICA'S ing the

trial

summary

in

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

ten years later. Wilimovsky's report, says,

"His replies to relevant ques-

were calculated, guarded and evasive." Because I still have nagging doubts about whether he was insane or very cleverly giving the appearance of insanity, I find this interesting. Certainly tions

his extracurricular activities, particularly with the

bodies, were abnormal, but perfectly sane people

often do abnormal things privately, as ten noted in cases involving sex

I

have of-

activities.

Very significant to me is an early statement Gein made to Joe Wilimovsky. He said, "Give me a lie detector test. It will show my mental unbalance." Psychiatrists stressed Gein's suggestibility.

They

would try to answer questions in a manner that would please the questioner. I have a strong feeling that Wilimovsky would have been pleased if Gein had been cooperative, but he was said that he

not. It is interesting, too,

Gein admitted the

that at the

Dane County

Wilimovsky and others, but only when he was not being recorded. In the area of his abnormal activities Gein spoke freely and almost eagerly. These were shocking

jail,

killings to

but not serious crimes from a legal standpoint.

Without question Gein was smart enough to know both when to talk and what to talk about.

A comment

at this point

on Gein's following

statements about two of his victims

is

in order.

Mary Hogan may or may not have been

as

Gein

believed her. Certainly his characterizing of Mrs.

39

EDWARD GEIN Worden

as "bad"

is

totally

refuted by the

facts.

Unquestionably Mrs. Worden was a woman of fine character and standing in the community. In fact, not too long before her murder, she had

been given an award as an outstanding Gein's paranoid view, he had to justify acts

citizen. all

In

of his

by casting the blame on other people.

It is

particularly interesting at this point to contrast

what Gein

told

Wilimovsky about the two women:

Q. What do you think about Mrs. Worden? A. I liked her [Mrs. Worden] that way; she was nice. I did take her for the resemblance of my mother; her height and everything was the same and she had resemblance in the cheekbones.

Q.

Were your feelings about Mary Hogan had toward Bernice? [Worden]

the

same

as you

A. That's right. Q. And what was that feeling? A. Every time I went there she was friendly and nice. What about Mary [Hogan] did you find was the same as your Mother's? A. That friendliness and thinking it over now, I believe that she must have been about the same,

Q

,

same height and everything. Q. Could you have taken Mary and put her in the casket that had formerly been occupied by some other

woman?

A. Could

be.

Wilimovsky questioned Gein at length in many Gein stated that he had dug up nine or ten bodies between 1950 and 1954 from three cemeteries. The first one was a Mrs. Sherman areas.

from the Plainfield cemetery. He named others as Adams, Bergstrom, Everson, and Sparks, the 40

— AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

mother of Henry Woodward, who was also a depThere was a Mrs. Foster from the Hancock cemetery and a Mrs. Beggs from Spiritland. Some bodies were returned to the graves "not too many." Gein said, "See, some of them were left right there and not taken away." He told Chase that he sometimes rolled the body over in the casket and removed the parts he wanted, such as the head and skin from the back. At the time of his arrest Gein was questioned at uty sheriff.

length about other unsolved disappearances, in-

cluding Evelyn Hartley of La Crosse, Mary Jane

Weckler of Jefferson, and Dick Travis of Adams County. Detectives came from Chicago to check

on a Jackson girl. Gein has never admitted involvement in any of these cases although the evidence strongly suggests

it.

There was discussion of his disposition of the bodies. Mrs. Worden's heart was found in a stew pan on the back of the kitchen stove. Gein claimed he meant to burn it and not to eat it. He thought he would have buried the body rather than burn it because "his stove was so small." Although Gein never admitted cannibalism,

he did engage in

this

it is

practice.

steadfastly maintained that

very possible that

At the

trial

he

he never shot a deer

because "he couldn't stand the sight of blood." Nevertheless, there were

whom

numerous neighbors

to

he presented packages of "venison." (And, Mrs. Worden's body cavity had been washed out, 41

EDWARD GEIN just as

one would have when butchering a deer or

a cow.) I

quote further from the confession:

Q.

You

told

me

that

you removed some sections of

the flesh ?

A.

Yes.

Q. What section of the flesh did you remove? A. The head.

How

Q. The head? A. Well, that

—

about the vagina?

not always.

Q. In removing the head, did you first cut through and then snap the bone?

A. I guess that would be snapping. Q. Would you work the head back and forth in the same fashion as you would when you attempt to break a piece of wire in two? A. That's a good description of it. I never took any

saw

to the

cemetery.

[The transcript

when Gein was

discloses that

during the period

giving the foregoing answer he

was eating a piece of apple pie with cheese on it that the cheese was dry.] Wilimovsky then asked some searching questions about Gein's inner thoughts on sex:

and complaining

Q. Did you ever have the thought that you would have liked to remove or cut off your penis and preferred to have it in the shape of the sexual

organs of a A.

woman?

Well, part of that What part of that

Q. A. That

is

true.

is

true?

removing part of myself. Q. Does that part mean your penis? A. Well, it doesnt seem like. Well, that seems that was before, when I was young. like

42

like

— AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Do you

ever have any recollection, Eddie, of taking any of those female parts, the vagina specifically, and holding it over your penis to

Q.

cover the penis?

A. I believe that's true.

Q

You

A.

bodies of other women? That I believe I do remember; that's right.

recall

doing that with the vaginas of the

Q.

Was

A.

that of your mother? I believe there was some.

How

Q.

a resemblance

there

That I of

did.

some of these faces

Have you own face?

about the face?

faces over your

A.

in

to

ever placed the

I'm pretty sure of that. The parts sort those parts of a head. There should

—

like eyes

be some parts of just a head and I suppose there would be about two or three. Well, do you remember how you held the faces over your own face? A. I believe there was a cord here. Q. Do you think you would wear the face over a

Q

prolonged time? A. Not too long; I had other things

about an hour or

Would you

Q.

to do.

Maybe

so.

ever put a pair of women's panties and then put some of these vagi-

over your body

A.

nas over your penis? That could be.

One found a

of the garments in the

woman

home was

—

if it

can be called that

the complete front skin of

including breasts. This had a cord to

suspend it around the neck. Gein told Chase that on moonlight nights he would put this on and prance around the yard. In reference to

Mary Hogan he was asked: 43

EDWARD GEIN Q.

You just peeled

the skin off the skull

and

disposed

of the bone and other material that was in the

head

is

y

that it?

[He also admitted taking the vagina.] Q. The preparation of the flesh? A. In some of that skin, probably you know, from that one woman / probably put some oil on possibly, that's all, to keep it soft, you know. A.

That's right.

—

—

Q. A.

Which woman do you mean? It's

where

this

upper part of her

is

taken.

From

Adams woman. What kind of oil?

the

Q. A. Pentrating

oil.

Q. Did you wear the rubber gloves? A. With Mary Hogan, I'll say right out that I did.

Shown two

pieces of tissue, he was asked:

Q. You think that they are reversed breasts? A. That's right. Q. Were they from Mary? A. I think you're right as far as I remember. Q. How did you remove the skull caps? A. A hacksaw. Q. How did you remove the scalps? A. It was a large-bladed pocket knife. Q. The skullcaps: did you want to use them as containers? A. I think you got the right idea. I think that's taken from an old Norwegian style. These old songs the Norwegians used to sing, and they were supposed to have used skulls for what was that drink?

—

Mead? Q. The waste basket: What A. That's human skin.

Q.

It

seems that

from

this

is it

made op

is from a leg, or probably sewed in two places? (These

item

two. Is that

items looked like old

army puttees or leggings

were wrapped around the leg from ankle

44

that

to knee.)

AMERICA'S

Gein danced in the breasts

and

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

the moonlight

the vaginas

wearing the face, the

of his

45

victims.

hair,

EDWARD GEIN That's from a person

from the grave. What about the face masks? A. When I made these masks, you see, I stuffed them A.

Q

paper so that they would dry. On the you know, sprinkle a little salt. had you painted this particular vagina with

all out xvith

vagina I

Why

Q.

silver or

did,

aluminum paint?

was getting a greenish color. Q. Beginning to decay? A. Yes. I put that paint over to see A.

It

preserve

Q.

and

stop

Would you open

if that

would

the entire casket or just

one of

it.

the halves?

A. Just the half. Q. And slip 'em out? A. That's right.

Gein was asked if anyone ever came to the cemehe was there. He said that only happened once. He assumed they were lovers and he tery while

stayed

down

in the grave so they didn't see him.

—

At another point referring to the doctor who examined him he made the following significant statement: "I think I've got them pretty good convinced; anyway I hope so." Bill Belter told me that after Harvey Polzein

—

was appointed guardian they made a further search of the house. Even though the crime lab men had presumably removed all of the human material, they found a belt

made of female

nipples. This

too was sent to the crime lab.

So much for the confession, at least at this point. To those of you who are insatiable collectors of antiques and would pay any price for a lamp shade of human skin made by an authentic crafts-

46

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

J.I.

"He stayed down in

the grave so the lovers didn't see

47

OLU60H

him."

EDWARD GEIN man

in

graphed

at

disposed

of.

and answer is: none were duly photothe crime lab and then decently form of

this

are available.

The

art,

grisly relics

Proof of Grave Robbing Gein talked freely, almost eagerly, about his grave robbing exploits. realize that,

to the officers

He seemed

to

shocking as they were, they were mi-

nor indeed, from the law's standpoint, compared murder. Again the officers went with Gein and took him

to

to the three cemeteries involved. Fritz recalls that

Gein admitted digging up nine to eleven bodies, most of them in the Plainfield cemetery. The question of whether or not the graves should be opened to ascertain the truth of Gein's statements was hotly debated in the community. Some of the victims' relatives were strongly in favor of ascertaining the facts; other relatives were strongly opposed. Finally the officials decided to open some test graves.

The state crime lab was called again and Allan Wilimovsky returned. He described the security measures taken to guard against the press and the public:

The law

entire cemetery area was literally ringed by enforcement personnel to keep unauthorized

48

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S

people out. There was a single engine light plane flying overhead. The information conveyed to the people on the ground was that this was a plane that had been hired by a member of the press, so at each of the grave sites to prohibit viewing from ciently

that

in

from

we

erected

above.

the perimeter

a canvas tent were suffi-

We

of the cemetery so

no one could readily observe what was being

accomplished.

Three graves were opened, and the findings corroborated exactly what Gein had told them. At one grave the casket was empty; at another a pry bar had been lost and entry had failed; at

The

the third, entry had been effected.

corpse

had been removed but parts thereof, as well as the rings, had been returned. Gein is a small, relatively slight man and the question arose: how could he accomplish this act unaided? Wilimovsky gave this explanation: The graves were not completed at the time that the of the bodies was accomplished. There was considerable speculation whether or not a person could in fact dig down into a freshly filled grave and remove a body from the casket. It was our observation that it was a relatively easy job to do. The casket was placed in a wooden rough box. The boards on the cover ran in the direction of the short dimension of the box. The head end of removed

the casket could be easily established.

of the wooden boards approximately up to

to

my

plus or minus. It was sandy

Deputy

Fritz

the

knee

From

ground

the top

level

—two

height

soil.

was one of those present

49

was feet

at the

EDWARD GEIN opening of the graves. He agrees with Wilimovsky that they found exactly what Gein said they would find in each grave. Since the opened graves verified Gein's story, only the three graves were opened. The impact of these findings on the community were stunning and shocking. This was followed by a deep anger that still remains. A decent, lawabiding village cannot understand or accept the enormity of Gein's crimes.

50

THE MEDICAL REPORTS

Eigenberger, a pathologist from Neenah, Wisconsin, was called to Plainfield to perform the Dr.

The doctor's

autopsy.

unusual

skill

report clearly indicates Gein's

as a surgeon. It reads, in part, as

follows:

Bernice

Worden's Autopsy

an over-middle-aged allegwoman, well-shaped, and in of nutrition. It had been decapitated at

The body was

that of

edly fifty-eight-year-old

a good

state

shoulder level by a smooth circular cut which severed skin

and

tebrae

and the intervertrebal and seventh cervical ver-

all the soft structures,

cartilage between the sixth

had been cut with a sharp instrument. There

53

EDWARD GEIN was no evidence of jagged edges, indicating that no axe or similar implement had been used. The body had been opened by a median incision from the manubrium sterni and extending in the midline to the area just above the mons veneris. Here the around the external genitalia for the complete removal of the vulva, lower vagina, and the anus with the lowest portion of the rectum. To accomplish this, the symphysis pubis had been split and the pubic bones cut circled

widely separated.

From

appearance of the cut for evisceration,

the

it

was concluded that the cut was started from the lower end and terminated above the stomach pit. The reason for this was the somewhat jagged appearance of the cut skin near the chest indicating hesitation in terminating the knife cut. The vulva and adjoining structures that had been removed were preserved in a carton box together with preserved and dried other specimens of the same type.

The freshly removed vulva fitted well into the tissue of the body. Only a few pubic hairs had remained on both sides of the removed organs, and a portion of this hairy skin was removed for purposes of indentification. Examination of the outer genitalia revealed no evidence of trauma and no conclusion could be reached whether or not sexual intercourse had taken defect

place.

The body

cavities

had been

completely eviscerated to-

gether with most of the diaphragm. Inspection of the trunk and extremities revealed how the body had been hoisted by the heels.

There was a deep cut above the Achilles' tendon of and a pointed crossbar made of a rough wooden stick covered by bark had been forced underneath the tendon. The left side of the crossbar had been tied to a cord which was tightly fastened to a cut of the left leg above the heel. This cut had severed the Achilles' tendon and had necessitated the tying with the right leg

cord

to

wrists

hold the body securely to the crossbar. Both tied with longer hemp ropes to the

had been

54

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

corresponding ends of the crossbar attached to the feet, thus holding the arms firmly when the body had been suspended by the heels.

The skin of the back, both arms and legs, chest, and abdomen was somewhat discolored by dust which showed irregular smudgy areas of heavier covering. Rather striking was the amount of black dust covering both plantar surfaces, dust which appeared somewhat "rubbed in, " as iffrom walking barefooted on a dirty, dusty floor.

Both

breasts

appeared good-sized and, for her age,

medium firm, mostly because the adipose tissue had hardened from the exposure to cold. The right nipple appeared normal, the left was somewell formed. They felt

what

inverted.

Both breasts appeared

to

lean upward,

apparently due to the long suspension by the heels. There was no evidence of mutilation of the breasts. The empty body cavities were glistening and free from blood and appeared as if they had been washed.

In describing the bullet

wound

the doctor

concluded: had apparently not been a contact nor a very close The other head trauma had occurred while the blood had still circulated. Death had apparently ocIt

shot.

curred very shortly (seconds or minutes) after the shot the body

had been fired. All the other mutilations of had been carried out after death.

(There

is

some of the the police

an interesting speculation offered by police officers. As experienced hunters,

tell

me

that a .22 bullet entering at that

point in the head would bleed very less,

little;

neverthe-

there was a large pool of blood in the store.

A

deer hunter would instinctively cut the throat of a deer to cause prompt bleeding to improve the

55

EDWARD GEIN meat. Query: Did Gein cut Mrs. Worden's throat immediately after shooting her? How else did that large pool of blood get

on the

floor?)

Doctor Warmington's Report

After his arrest, Gein was sent by Judge to Central

State

Bunde

Hospital for examination. His

statements there clarify his background and

He was

first

seen by Dr. Warmington,

who

life.

reported

in part:

Physical inspection disclosed a well-developed, wellnourished middle-aged white male that was ambulant and not in any apparent distress. Menially he was found to be in contact with his surroundings, carried on a coherent conversation and verbalized without difficulty while speaking in a rather quiet, well modulated voice. His ton indicates he lias been closer to the mother than

drank and was on occasions. Mention was also made by him that he never married, lias never had sexual relations, and the impression was gained that tfie

father, possibly since the father

somewhat

irritable

he has been rather limited in his social contacts. Personal and family history: This patient was admitted to this institution on November 23, 1957, for a 30-day observation period under W.S.S. 957.27(3) after he had been arrested and charged with the crime of murder, first degree. The offense occurred at Plainfield, Wisconsin, on or about November 16, 1957 ,

and involved

a woman, one Mrs. Worden, by the patient. Gein had entered a hardware store, which the victim operated, sometime during the the shooting of

56

AMERICAS MOST BIZARRE MURDERER morning of November 1 6, looked over the guns, took one from a rack, found he had a .22 caliber bullet in his pocket, placed it in the gun, and shot the women in the head. The bullet apparently struck her obliquely and passed through the skull. He then walked over to her and pulled the body into a back room where it would not be visible from the street. At this time he declares he was nervous agitated, and did not think clearly, but put the body in her truck, which was standing in the back of the store, drove it some distance, abandoned the truck, walked back to the town of Plainfield, got his car, drove to the truck, and put the body in his own car. The body was then taken by him to his home and according to reports was strung up by the feet, disembowelled and mutilated. Toward evening he was taken into custody as a suspect since people had seen his car earlier in the day parked in ,

front of the hardware store and had also seen him driving the truck. It appears that he confessed to the homicide, and investigation of his house revealed several so-called masks, the use of human skin as upholstery

human

material for a chair, and other remains of human anatomy. These findings prompted a further search

of the property and several human bones and dismembered parts were excavated. According to the records, confessed to the murder and admitted exhuming several whole bodies and parts of others, particularly the head and neck. Before coming here he was subjected to interrogation by authorities, was the subject

given

lie

detector

tests,

and revealed

his actions.

Personal history reveals that the patient was born

on August

8,

1906,

at

La

Crosse, Wisconsin, spent

short time there with his parents, the Plainfield area

and

then

moved

a to

where they lived on a farm. In

addition to the patient there was one other male child in the family who lost his life in a fire in 1944. Edward attended a country school, attained 8th grade, and did odd jobs, farm work and babysitting after

57

EDWARD GEIN leaving school.

He

had no technical education but

being interested in study and read considerably. Since childhood his attachment xvas closer to the mother than the father as the latter drank in earlier years and seems to have been a threat to both the mother and the patient at times. The father preceded the mother in death and at the time of arrest Gein xvas living alone as the mother had died in a hospital from a second stroke. The first stroke occurred sometime previously and resulted in her incapacitation and the patient's occupation with her nursing needs. He believes the stroke may have been precipatated by the witnessing of neighbor argumentation and disturbances, particularly in connection with the first stroke, and in his mind she suffered a further setback after the death of her elder son. In recent years he has been a lonely individual who occasionally had some visitors to his home and did baby-sitting in the area but did not have the ordinary describes himself as

social outlets.

an introverted, had difficulty relating closely to other people. He also has shown some paranoid trends but on the other hand may have been duped and unfairly used on some occaPersonality makeup:

The

subject

is

odd, withdrawn personality that has

sions as he speaks of doing work for other farmers and failing to be paid for his labor. He is passive,

and somewhat evasive when questioned about and may harbor deep-seated feelings of hostility. He denies ever having had sexual experience and declares that in this connection he was inhibited,

the offense

taught the moral code by his mother that sexual experi-

—

"If a woman is good enough for intercourse, she is good enough for marriage." In his general reaction immaturity and shyness are noted; however, a certain cleverness and ability to plan are present. A belief in spirits is also expressed by him and he tends to be superstitious. Mental status: Since coming here the patient has

ence before marriage was wrong

58

AMERICAS MOST BIZARRE MURDERER been very tractable, cooperative the institution rules.

During

and

readily abides by

sessions he sat quietly

displayed no belligerency. Information was volunteered and he discussed his case but when interrogated for details he became cloudy, cried, or gave indication that the subject was distasteful. He has been clean in personal habits and shows no particular mannerisms or stereotypy of speech or action. He

and

has slept a considerable amount and relates this to his inability to procure uninterrupted rest prior to his hospitalization here. Consciousness

no

is

clear, there is

of epileptic seizures, orientation is correct in all fields, and the train of thought is coherent and relevant but sometimes somewhat illogical. Faces have been seen by him in leaves and he spoke of hearing his mother's voice while in a twilight sleep zone but it is uncertain if these should be designated as overt hallucinations. No delusional material has been elicited but his behavior has been very unusual as he admits to excavating several bodies, as mentioned before. In this connection he is not always clear in his history

statements

he

and

at times holds his

head and declares

not sure of his actions. During interviews he talked of using a rod to determine the nature of the rough box by its sound is

upon tapping and also knew some of the exhumed people in life. They were all women of varying ages. The

—

were removed from three cemeteries and Hancock; but some were returned after a short time as he became remorseful. In other instances he made the so-called masks from the heads by removing the skin and separating it from the bones. The tissue in the back of the neck was cut and the cavity stuffed with paper or sawdust. One of these was placed in a cellophane bag but others were kept throughout the house. The unused parts of bodies were burned or buried and eating is denied. He had also denied having sex relations with the bodies or parts of them. He declared the odor was bodies

Plainfield, Spiritland,

offensive.

59

EDWARD GEIN His memory

is

for most subjects but when

intact

emotionally charged situations are encountered there is a suggestion of a self-serving amnesia or vagueness. Denial or inability to recall shooting Mrs. Hogan is made and there is an intimation that the most recent homicide may have been accidental. At times the remark was made "It seems like a dream, impossible. Since the death of his mother he has had feelings that things were unreal. He felt that he could raise people from the dead by willpower and some ambiguity was noted in his account of the happenings. Mrs. Worden in one interview was described as being short, inconsiderate, and brusque, but during a later interview was declared to be a friendly, pleasant woman. Physical attraction for either woman was not admitted and he denied seriously attempting to escort Mrs. Worden to a roller-skating rink. Mrs. Hogan was a tavern operator and it is gathered that she was regarded by the patient as being a rather poor representative of womankind and he could have felt justifed

—

in shooting her because of his self-righteous, rigid attitude.

Criminal motivation factors and psychodynamics: The motivation is elusive and uncertain but several factors come to mind hostility, sex, and a desire for a substitute for his mother in the form of a replica or

—

body that could be kept indefinitely. He has spoken of the bodies as being like dolls and a certain comfort

was received from

although ambivaregard probably occurred. When

their presence,

lent feelings in this

questioned regarding the reason for Jus bizarre conduct,

no explanation

it

given but sex relations with the

bodies has been denied several times. This does not

seem to check with hearsay in which he admitted having sex activities with the cadavers. He has been

a

lonely

mother,

man, particularly since

and some

have arisen in

Review of

this

the death

of his

drive, uncertain at this time,

area

to

account for

the life of this individual indicates

60

may

his misconduct.

poor

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

ego structure, excessive self-consciousness,

and

deep-

seated feelings of insecurity in his social contacts. The source of the poor ego strength is problematic but

could be related to psychologic traumatization suffered at the hands of the father, overidentification with the mother, and morphologic factors of small

and

stature

eye defect.

Mr. ColwelVs Report Gein's social history was taken by Mr. Colwell clearly

and

shows the family background:

Personal died in

history:

1940

condition.

He

The

patient's father,

and was an orphan who had education. During the patient's Crosse, the father

When

little

early

opportunity for while in La

life,

worked in a tannery, as a carpen-

ter for the railroad,

plant.

George Gein,

at the age of sixty-five of a heart was born in Coon Valley, Wisconsin,

and for

the patient

the

was

La

Crosse

city

eight years

power

old,

the

family moved to the farm in Plainfield which now belongs to the patient. The father was described as a heavy drinker who would become easily angered when inebriated.

He

"did not like to work"

and on occasion

mother found jobs for him. The father drank less in later years and was a semi-invalid for some time the

prior to his death.

The

Augusta nee Loehrke, died She was described as the dominant parent who handled family decisions, and at times managed the farm work. She was of German extraction and very thrifty, hard working, and moralistic. The patient was closely identified in

patient's mother,

1945

at the age of sixty-four.

61

EDWARD GEIN with her, accepting her guidance

and her demands.

He described her courageousness even while stating that she never complained, but

"enjoy fun

The

and make

bedridden,

was able

to

other people feel better.

Henry, who was five years 1944. Both were treated equally well

patient's brother,

older, died in

and adjusted well to each other except for the usual arguments that brothers always have. The brother worked away from the farm much of the time and on one occasion was a foreman for a farmer who hired Jamaicans. "He was the only man in the area who could handle those guys." His death occurred when a marsh fire got out of control and went to help his brother, but could not find him. He states that he got a search party and "when we returned, I went right to where he was. Funny how that works." The patient assumes that the brother was either overcome by smoke or had a heart attack. by the parents

The patient describes his childhood as not happy due to the family's poor financial situation occasioned by the father's drinking and difficult job adjustments. The father was abusive when drunk

and

the

mother had stated that she would have

left

for the children. The family moved to the farm at Plainfield because the father wished to be independent. It would appear that the mother's moralistic preachings were not well accepted by the neighbors and the patient indicated that they were envious of the farm, which was always neat and well cared for. It is probable that the family did not accept the father except

and

a point was work on Sundays. He also stated that when "we came there the neighbors did not cooperate and tell us how to work the sandy soil." The patient completed the eight grade of school and got along well with his classmates, joining them the habits of their neighbors

made of the fact

in recreational

quite

that Geins did not

and

social activites

when

time could

be spared from the farm work. After the completion of

62

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S

school he remained on the family farm, assuming more responsibility after the father's death. With the

death of the brother and the mother's invalidism, he was unable to operate the farm as efficiently. Following the mothers death he kept stock on the farm for a time, but began working out on a day-to-day basis with the neighbors. Later he sold the stock and the farm gradually deteriorated. He stated that he pre-

ferred

hoped

to

let

He had

reseed itself to woodland.

it

to sell the

farm,

throughout the

visit relatives

country for a time, and then settle down in some other part of the country. He felt that he was not excepted in the neighborhood and states, "People would come to visit me, but I would soon find that they only

came to borrow things or added that "we had always

to

ask for

my

help.

n

He

good neighbors With the exception

tried to be

but people took advantage of us. " of a couple of families, he was not invited into other

homes although "the women were kinder in this gard than the menfolks." For recreation the patient has skied most of his

and

also practiced archery.

ketball

games and other

in music

and

mouth organ.

He

life

enjoyed watching bas-

sports events.

He

is

interested

plays the violin, the accordian,

He

re-

enjoyed listening

to

and

the

music, prefer-

to modern, but lost his interest in music after the mothers death. He frequently attended movies, preferring adventure and western sto-

ring old-time music

ries to love stories. He and the brother frequently attended dances but "we were too self-conscious to

dance. "

a

He

did, however, enjoy square dancing,

for

time.

Sexual

history: Patient's early sexual

information

was given by the mother who impressed upon him the need for sexual abstinence prior to marriage. He indicated that she was not as strong in her admonitions against masturbation.

He

obtained additional

information in a more uncouth classmates.

He

manner from

his

views not marrying, in part, as a

63

EDWARD GEIN family trait, saying that his brother did not marry, nor did two of his mothers brothers. The patient gave more thought to marriage after the death of the mother and felt he would have married if he could have found "the right girl." He rejected one girl after he learned that she could not get along with her mother and "I couldn't straighten her out on that. I almost fell in love with another girl, but found that she had had many affairs with other men. The patient also described the moral standards of his two victims. The first "was a dirty talker, operated a tavern, and people said that she was in some crooked business." He states that the second victim wooed her husband away from another girl and married him shortly after the other girl committed suicide. (He became tearful when describing his sorrow for the other girl.) He went on to describe the husband's death as his just punishment and then relates that his victim broke up another marriage. His comments have a strong religious connotation.

The patient received

religious training

from

his

mother whose strict teachings were unusual in the community but were not viewed as excessive by the patient. He did not attent church frequently because there was no Lutheran church in Plainfield. After the mother's death he "turned away from God because he did not feel it was right that his mother should have suffered so much." Later he decided that "God

knows

best,"

and now

feels that the Bible gives

him

hope for the future.

He

indicated that he would not have gotten into

his present difficulty if he

bors

had

sell his

treated

him

farm and

had married, if the neighor if he had been able to

better,

travel.

He stated

that prior to the

grave robbing incident, he had been reading adventure stories of headhunters and cannibals. He related in detail one story of a man who had murdered a man, acquired his yacht, and was later captured and killed by headhunters. He learned about

first

64

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

shrunken heads, death masks,

etc.,

from

other similar

stories.

He admitted to feelings of excitement during the grave robberies, and describes periods when he felt he should return the bodies. There were also feelings that the bodies should be preserved and that he should care for them. When asked about the sexual aspects of this activity he commented on the great variations in age of the bodies. When it was pointed out that he was

interested only in the bodies of

women, he

stated

that the articles he read indicated that these heads

were more valuable because of their longer hair. to the murders, he recalled the sequence of events up to the act itself which in the latter case he

Relative

described as accidental, activity

following the

but had no recall for his

acts.

Doctor Schubert's Report

Gein was ably interviewed by Dr. E.F. Schubert on two dates: December 9, 1957, and December 12, 1957. The interviews were as follows: December 9, 1957. Gein immediately began speaking about the difficulty which hrought him to the institution. He rather vehemently stated that none of this would have happened if his neighbors had shown some interest in him and would have visited him. He stated the that only time the neighbors came to his home was when they wanted to borrow things. He complained about the neighbors playing "dirty deals."

He

applied

this

phrase

to

business dealings that he

had had with one particular neighbor who had rented a field from him some years ago for $10 a year. This

65

EDWARD GEIN

"He admitted to feelings of excitement during robberie*."

66

the

grave

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

neighbor paid the rent for the first year but neglected to pay the rent for subsequent years. He claims that about five of his neighbors were constantly taking advantage of him and that they all owed him money. He denied that he had any difficulty with the people in Plainfield, although he said that many of them didn't appreciate the things that he did for them. He complained of memory deficits and more specifically with regard to the crimes he is accused of committing. He stated that he is unable to recall any

of the details of the murder of Mrs. Hogan and said that some of the things they claim he said in Madison at the crime laboratory were not true. He said that he is unable to figure out how he could have had time to do everything they have accused him of doing. He also claims that he is not clear on many of the details involved in the murder of Mrs. Worden. He vaguely remembers putting a cartridge which he found in his pocket, in a rifle which he took from a rack in the Worden store, but he feels that her death was an ,

accident

because the

accidentally.

He

states

gun must have discharged that he does not

remember

putting the body in his truck and driving

it

to his

home, although he admits he must have been the one who did this. His opinion of Mrs. Worden is that she was a rather disreputable woman who was known to have a bad reputation. He also stated that he feels Mrs. Worden received her just desserts when her husband died of some blood dyscrasia

and

that this

was in

the

nature of a punishment for her.

Much

of the interview was spent in discussing his His mother was a very

feelings about his mother.

woman and

his only description of her was was good in every way." His mother suffered two strokes and much of his time was spent in caring for his mother after the first stroke. He began

religious

that "she

to cry

when he

described his mother's infirmities

and

stated that "she didn't deserve all of her suffering.

67

EDWARD GEIN stroke followed an argument that a neighbor by the name of Smith had with his wife and daughter. This man Smith was "an evil man" who brought a married woman to live with him on the farm neighboring the Gein property. This man would have temper tantrums, and on one occasion,

His mothers second

killed

a puppy because

the

dog

The

irritated him.

mother suffered her second stroke shortly after an argument which this man had with his wife

patient's

and daughter, and

man

the patient feels that this

was, therefore, responsible for his mother's death. His feelings for his father are completely negative.

He

stated that his father drank excessively and would abuse both him and his brother. Following the death of his mother in 1 945, he was very depressed for about two years and it was during this

time that the

farm

fell into disrepair.

He

states

of the blues," and that he wanted to sell the farm because of all the unpleasant memories connected with it. Apparently he made some

that he "has

had

spells

halfhearted attempts to

he planned ally settle

to visit

down

States with the

sell this

some of his

farm and stated that and eventu-

relatives

in the southern part of the United the sale of the

money obtained from

farm.

He says that his lapses of memory started after the death of his mother. While discussing much of his symptomatology he becomes tangential and irrelevant. When

asked specifically about his interests since the

death of his mother, his only answer was that he wished he could have had more contact with other

He stated that since the death of his mother, he has had feelings that things around him are unreal and at one time, shortly after the death of the

people.

mother, he felt that he could raise people

from

the

dead by willpower. He also stated that he heard his mother talking to him on several occasions for about a year after she died. His mother's voice was heard while he was falling asleep and, apparently, this is in

68

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

of a hypnagogic hallucinatory phenomenon. has also had dreams that his mother was with him upon occasion. He mentioned one unusual experience occurring two or three years ago in which he saw a forest with the tops of the trees missing and vultures sitting in the trees; he feels that this was more in the nature of a dream. He feels that the death of Mrs. Worden was justified because she deserved to die, and he goes on to explain that he is actually fatalistic and that this whole sequence of events was ordained to happen. December 12, 1957. The patient was interviewed on this date. He again denied any knowledge about the death of Mrs. Hogan and stated that he had admitted to this crime because this was what the investigators wished him to do. It was impossible to obtain a chronological series of events with regard to the death of Mrs. Worden. Gein specifically denied the nature

He

remembering the evisceration of the body. He stated that he had violated nine graves and when questioned as to his reasons for doing this, stated that he thought it was because he wanted a remembrance of his mother. He denied any sexual relations with any of these bodies and gave as his reason for this that "they smelled too bad. " He again admitted that for a period of time after his mother's death he felt that he could arouse the dead by an act of willpower. He claimed

to

have

tried to arouse his

dead mother through

willpower and said he was disappointed unsuccessful.

He

when he was had attempted bodies which he had

also admitted that he

of thing with some of the exhumed. Questioning this man requires a great deal of this sort

because he

is

extremely suggestible

and

tact

will almost

invariably agree to any leading questions.

At

the present time he

is

in contact with his sur-

roundings and cooperates as completely as possible. Gein's knowledge of current events is intact and his

memory for past

events, with the exception of details

69

EDWARD GEIN involved in the evisceration of Mrs. Worden and the death of Mrs. Hogan, is also intact. He denies any hallucinatory phenomena at this time. There is ample reason to believe that his violation of the graves was in response to the demands of his fantasy life, which was motivated by his abnormally magnified attachment to the mother.

70

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

71

GEIN'S 1958

HEARING

In 1958, the Honorable Herbert A. circuit.

Wisconsin Rapids, the court called

The

Bunde was

and had Waushara County At a special term held on January

the circuit judge

in his 6, in

State v. Gein.

was represented by District Attorney With him were Stewart G. Honeck, attorney general of Wisconsin and William Platz, assistant attorney general. Rare indeed are the trials in which the attorney general personally takes part. His presence clearly indicated the importance of the case and its widespread interest. Bill Platz was an expert in criminal law in the attorney general's office. William Belter appeared for the state

Kileen.

defendant.

75

EDWARD GEIN Sanity Issue Decided!

The

court and counsel promptly agreed that the

issue

was the sanity of the defendant and a deter-

mination by the court as to whether or not the defendant had the capacity to sufficiendy cooperate with his counsel in his defense. Criminal law

has changed radically in the

1958 Wisconsin laid

down

in the

still

last

decade, but in

followed the old English rule

—can the defend-

McNaughton case

ant distinguish between right and wrong?

hearing was held on

Belter called Dr. Schubert as his

The

The

this basis. first

witness.

examined him. The doctor stated his expert qualifications and then gave his testimony from which we herewith quote the most court

first

important points. Central State Hospital is the maximum security mental hospital in the state of Wisconsin. The defendant had been given a complete physical examination and then a series of psychological tests. On the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale he was found to have an IQ of 99 (100 is average.) Bendertest was negative. The Rorschach, or ink blot test, showed an individual suffering from a mental disorder. Figure drawing showed that Gein was withdrawn and having a

Gestalt

rather expansive fantasy life. A further test suggested odd and possibly bizarre religious beliefs and a ten-

dency

to project the

blame for

evil

on alcohol or some

other person. [Gein's confession shows this latter ten-

dency in marked degree. Gein never admitted any blame; it was always someone else's fault for everything.]

76

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

The Rosenzweig

test

showed he had various

feel-

ings of shortcomings and guilt. The Blacky picture test disclosed that sexually he was functioning at a

pregenital

state.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory revealed that he had little faith or trust in people, in

difficulty

periods,

concentrating,

disturbed sleep,

and feelings of wanting

to

blank

smash things

at

times.

The

court carefully outlined the law and then

asked the witness his opinion as to the sanity of the defendant.

It is the

considered opinion of the staff of Central

State Hospital that

Mr. Gein

is

He

legally insane.

[Gein] felt he had no real choice in the matter [Mrs. Wordens death]. This was something that was to happen and he was the agent that carried it out We reached the conclusion that this is an illness that has been going on for a number of years, probably for at least twelve years, and his is a chronic mental .

.

.

disorder.

Attorney general Honeck tried manfully

in his

cross-examination of Dr. Schubert to show that Gein was legally sane. Many questions, like the following ones, however failed to alter the doctor's opinion.

Q.

You would say then, I take it, that his sojourn during that period of time [at the hospital] down

A.

That's right.

to the

present has been uneventful?

Q. His behavior generally, in the broad sense, is no different than an average person without a men-

77

EDWARD GEIN tal illness so

far as

these entries

on

this

record

are concerned? A.

Yes.

Belter then called Dr. Milton Miller, a psychi-

who had examined

atrist

the defendant at Cen-

Dr. Miller stated:

tral State.

Mr. Gein

I feel that

is

suffering from a long-standing

chronic schizophrenic condition

.

.

.

although I can

not state whether the defendant can consult with his attorney

to

.

.

.

I think he

is

legally insane.

Honeck offered to produce four lay witnesses show the normalcy of Gein's conduct with other

people but

The

finally

psychiatrist

withdrew

his offer.

then called Dr. Edward M. Burns, a

state

who had

also seen the

defendant

at

Central State. Asked his opinion, he stated:

Mr. Gein but he

is

is

not feebleminded or mentally deficient,

chronically mentally

cooperate with his counsel

ill

.

and

.

.

he however can

therefore

is

legally

sane.

THE COURT:

Are you trying

you

believe he

that

what you are trying

A.

is

to say,

Doctor, that

medically insane but legally sane; to

is

say?

Yes.

Judge Bunde thoughtfully reviewed mony and stated:

the

testi-

/ can't see how my opinion can be anything other than to find this defendant insane. I so find him and I do hereby recommit him to the Central State Hospital in Waupunfor an indeterminate term commitment.

78

AMERICAS MOST BIZARRE MURDERER From

the opinions of the various experts, I think it is me to say that it does not appear that he

adequate for

will ever be at liberty again.

able conclusion.

court

My

is

That

Perhaps that is a desirthe hearing and the

closes

adjourned.

Judge Bunde, was prophetic as He had no way of ten years later Gein would be re-

old friend,

to the liberty of the defendant.

knowing

that

turned to face trial for his offense. But that was not quite the end of Judge Bunde's participation in this case. There was one small tag end. In March, 1958, the crime lab reported possession of a pathetic list of items: one bunion pad, one woman's white girdle, one jar of antifreeze, a sales slip for the latter item, one 1922 silver dollar, one cash register, and other items. May 6, Judge Bunde entered an order providing in part: "The sum of $182.75 seized by the sheriff by Waushara County from the said Edward Gein and clearly belonging to Bernice C. Worden, together with the Winchester brand single bit ax head, the mop handle, and the lady's wrist watch, Hampton brand, shall be returned forthwith to the co-executors of the estate of Bernice C. Worden."

Plainfield in Shock

Although Gein was

swiftly declared insane

and

the entire matter disposed of in record time, the

people of Plainfield remained in a state of shock.

79

EDWARD GEIN How

could such a thing have been going on in

town of only 647 people without their How close had they come to being killed when Gein was in their homes? No one knew the full story because there had not been a trial. Rumors fed upon rumors until ten years later when the trial was finally held and even then very little information reached the peotheir

little

knowing

it?

ple in the area. Stories of Gein's cannibalism sent dozens of peo-

ple to their doctors suffering

from stomach prob-

lems after they remembered eating the packages of "venison" given them by Gein. College kids kept trying to throw beer parties in the "ghoul's house" to

and

it

required full-time guards

keep them out.

The crowning blow came when

the townspeople

learned that plans were being to

made buy

house, at auction, and to turn

it

Gein's

into a tourist

The House of Horror. The auction was scheduled for March 30, Palm Sunday, 1958. But, on March 27, the house and all its contents burned to the ground in a mysterious fire which has never been officially solved. House or no house, the auction proceeded as planned with over two thousand people in attendance. Total proceeds for all that Gein owned came to a bit over $5,000. The farm land brought $3,883. The 1938 Chevy pickup truck which Gein used to haul Mary Hogan's body went for $215, to haul scrap metal. The big surprise of the auction was that fifteen people bid for Gein's 1949 Maattraction as

80

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

roon Ford, the car used by Gein to haul Mrs. Worden's body. The high bid was $760. Its buyers intended to display the car at county fairs but we know of one such exhibit which the sheriff closed because of public displeasure. In the aftermath of the Gein discoveries there a wave of "Gein humor," a black humor, which had occurred only once before in our nation's history during the Elizabeth Borden case over one hundred years ago. And, as Dr. Arndt points out in his appendix to this book, "Gein humor" was looked upon very differently by the people of

came

Plainfield.

How Many One

of the delightful

nection with Gein

And, did he or for the

more

The money but

I

find

kill

is,

Murders?

fields

of conjecture in con-

how many people

did he

kill?

for the bizarre reasons he stated

prosaic desire to obtain

money?

question has never really been raised,

it

a thread running through

much

of

his life.

Due

to

prohibitive costs, Gein was tried for

—

murder that of Mrs. Worden. He also admitted killing Mary Hogan. To use a common expression, the authorities had the goods on him only one

in these

two

cases.

He was

questioned as to

other disappearances but denied 81

all

many

of them.

EDWARD GEIN

"Gein's house

and

all its contents

burned

to the

ground in a

mysterious fire which has never been officially solved."

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

During the Worden

the state, in rebuttal,

trial,

Hogan

offered certain testimony about the

show

This was offered to

a pattern.

testimony subject to objection and struck the record afterwards. Nevertheless,

ing and

I

it

this

from

interest-

it is

present the important parts thereof.

Waterman

Vilas

killing.

took

I

testified

that

of 1954 he was chairman of the

in

December

Town

of Pine

Grove in Portage County; that he knew Mary Hogan; and that we went to her tavern on the evening of December 8, 1954, about 5:20 p.m. He saw what appeared to be blood on the floor,

a

tipped-over

chair

near

the

blood,

a

tipped-over coffee cup on a table, a .32 caliber

of which

was green, and that he had not seen Mary Hogan since December 8, 1954. Waterman further testified that the tavern was about seven miles from the Village of Plainfield. William Kvatek testifed that he was a deputy sheriff for Portage County and gave the shell revolver

the

shell,

base

indicating age,

to

the

sheriff.

The

shell

eventually

came

to

Allan Wilimovsky, as did the coffee cup, and

both were taken to the crime lab in Madison.

There the

exhibits

rested

until

November

16,

1957.

Wilimovsky

testified

taken from the Gein

that

one of the items

home was

Mauser automatic-loading listics test was conducted on the Mauser, from which I quote:

caliber

83

a

German

pistol.

shell

A

.32 bal-

and the

EDWARD GEIN As a result of that comparative examination I concluded that the cartridge case which I had received from Sheriff Thompson had been fired in the

Mauser kill

pistol.

[Proof that Gein's gun was used

to

Mary Hogan.]

Jan Beck of the crime lab then testified that he had photographed a fingerprint "apparently in blood" on the coffee cup, and that he compared this with the right thumbprint of Edward Gein

and found them

identical.

Herbert Wanserski sheriff of Portage visited

the Gein

testified that

County

in

he had been

1957, and that he

home on November

16,

when

Mrs. Worden's body was found. His testimony

concerning Mary Hogan

is

THE WITNESS:

[Mr. Wanserski] I seen a lot of was about ten heads in particular Did you recognize any of those heads? Yes. One head in particular looked like that of Mary Hogan. Did you know Mary Hogan? Yes, I knew her.

stuff but

Q. A.

Q. A.

as follows:

—

it

murdered Mary Hogan, and own gun along. Why did he kill her? Mary Hogan had about fifteen hundred dollars on her premises when she was murdered which disappeared. Gein denied taking it, and at one point said that it must have been taken by someone who came to the tavern after the killing. I suspect that Gein got Mary Hogan's money. So,

Gein

clearly

that time he took his

84

AMERICA'S

Remember

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

too that there was $182 in the

Worden

cash register, which Gein took. is an interesting sidelight to the Hogan The physical evidence clearly established that Worden had been dragged out of the store.

There case.

Mrs.

On

the other hand the blood trail indicated that Mary Hogan had been carried out. Gein was strong but not strong enough to have carried Mary Hogan, a very large woman. Who helped him?

Dan Chase told me that Gein did have a friend another man and that shortly after the Hogan

—

disappearance

He was

this

man became

violently insane.

confined in a mental institution and died

shortly thereafter. Did

sudden mental turmoil

the crime and possible cannibalism that he

at

may

have witnessed cause his insanity and death? Moving into the realm of conjecture, there are two other possible murders that tie in with money. Gein's older, unmarried, brother, Henry, died in a

marsh

fire in

Adams County

after the death of

Gein's father, but before the death of his

mother

in 1945.

While questioning Gein about Bernice Worden, Joe Wilimovsky asked Gein about the death of his brother:

Q

What

A.

He

wanted to burn a marsh that belonged to him. When your time is up, it's up. I coaxed him and tried to keep him home, but he just kept at me 'til I took him there.

It

was Gein

did

Henry

die

op

who found 85

his brother's

body lying

EDWARD GEIN near the burned portion. Apparently the authoriaccepted the accident theory and no real inves-

ties

tigation

was ever made, nor was there an autopsy. left Gein as the sole heir of

The death of Henry his

mother's estate.

The second

case involved a

man named

Travis,

from Chicago, who disappeared and mysteriously after visiting an Adams County tavern. his friend

This mystery

is

still

unsolved. Incidentally, their

car also disappeared. All that was ever found was

men and his dog. These in were found the woods near the Gein two items home. Shortly after their disappearance a neighbor of Gein's complained of a strong odor or stench coming from Gein's garden. Gein's story to Joe Wilimovsky about this was that he burned mice and maybe a rat. However, he said that he only caught one or two a day. Later Gein said that he burned portions of the bodies he took from the graves. Gein admitted to Joe Wilimovsky that he knew Travis. There is a story that Travis's the jacket of one of the

friend was exhibiting a large roll of

tavern

when Gein was

bills

in a

there and that Gein offered

two men hunting. Gein told Bill Belter that Travis was killed by a neighbor and that he, Gein, could guide the authorties to the grave. Apparently this offer was never followed up. Dan Chase told me that he to take the

flew over the area

many

times looking for signs of

a grave but never found one.

One

thing

is

sure:

Gein was a digger of outstanding qualifications 86

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

and 160 acres is plenty of land in which to bury an automobile. There are two other unsolved disappearances

A young babydisappeared in La sitter named Evelyn Hartley Crosse, Wisconsin. Gein was born and raised in La with clues leading directly to Gein.

who

lived only a

girl at

the time of

Crosse and was visiting an aunt block or two from the Hartley

her disappearance. How did she disappear? Like Mary Hogan and Bernice Worden, the only trace

was a pool of blood in the garage with a trail of blood leading to what must have been a waiting

When

home was

searched, a young and also the vulvas of two females judged to have been about fifteen years old. Who was Gein's other young victim? Probably the unsolved case of a young girl named Mary Jane Weckler who disappeared at Jefferson, Wisconsin. The authorities had only one real clue: a white Ford was seen in the area of the crime. Traffic officers were alerted throughout the state. Dan Chase, as Waushara County's traffic officer, car.

girl's

Gein's

dress was found

searched the entire county looking for white Fords.

He found only two in the whole county; both were cleared of involvement. When Gein's property was searched the officers found his pickup truck, the maroon Ford he usually drove, and a white Ford. No one had ever seen Gein driving a white Ford.

two vulvas of young girls found in Gein's were not those of the Hartley and Weckler girls, he must have murdered a couple of If the

collection

87

EDWARD GEIN teen-age runaways because a close study of the

records of

all

cemeteries in the entire area dis-

closed that no girls age twelve to eighteen

been buried during the time

in question.

these vulvas of young girls came from live and not Gein's grave robbing activities.

me

had Hence,

victims,

the most is any of these people has ever been found. The bodies of most murder victims are found sooner or later, usually sooner. Certainly we must conclude that Gein demonstrated unusual ability not only as a digger but also at dissecting and disposing of bodies.

Probably the fact that bothers

that after

many

years

no

88

trace of

GEIN'S 1968 TRIAL

16, 1968. Ten years and ten days Judge Bunde committed Gein to Central

January

after

State

Hospital, I entered an order to the superintendent of the hospital to remand the defendant to

the custody of Sheriff Virgil Batterman and an order to the sheriff to produce Gein in court at Wautoma on January 22, 1968, at 1:00 p.m. I remember going to Wautoma that day to sign the order for the sheriff. Batterman, or "Buck" as we called him, sat in my chambers. (Buck was tall, lean and hard muscled, with black hair and a perpetually tanned complexion. In his brown uniform, complete with revolver, he always looked to me as if he had just stepped off the set of a western movie.) Buck expressed concern as to the community attitude and what might happen to Gein if he were held in the local jail.

91

EDWARD GEIN I looked sternly at him and said, "Buck, he is your responsibility. No excuses will be accepted. Get such help as you need but if anything happens to Ed Gein, I will hold you personally

responsible."

Buck looked at me for a long moment and then "You really mean it, don't you, Judge? Okay, nothing will happen to him." And nothing did. That there were hotheads in the county I had no doubt. Even after ten years, Gein was not forgiven. I am also sure that the word was passed that no quick justice would be tolerated. During the long months preceding the trial, Gein was kept over forty miles away at the Winnebago County jail in Oshkosh. Later when there said,

was an even longer delay, he was returned

to

Central State Hospital.

On January 22, 1968, I returned to Wautoma. This day I was to see the famous (or infamous) Ed Gein for the first time. There had been a rather humorous incident the day before. I received a phone call from a TV station at Minneapolis-St. Paul. The young lady at the other end asked if pictures

would be permitted.

I

indicated consent

but not during court session. She then asked

if

they could take pictures of the courtroom before

again indicated consent. She then would be during' the lunch hour, should she need to reach me. Without giving my answer much thought I said, "Ted's Bar." I heard a gasp on the other end and I knew she had visions of an intoxicated judge coming into court. court opened.

asked where

I

I

92

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

quickly assured her that Ted's Bar was also a

I

restaurant and

my

I

would be

lunch.

State of Wisconsin

It

was 1:00 p.m. as

bailiff,

ye,

eating, not drinking,

I

v.

Edward Gein

entered the courtroom.

Dan Chase, intoned

My

the age-old ritual: "Hear

hear ye; Circuit Court for Waushara County

now open,

is

the Honorable

Judge Robert H. Gollmar, presiding. Silence is commanded." As I half listened, I looked around the old

On

courtroom.

the wall

—two

predecessors

of

hung

whom

I

pictures of

my

had known. One

was Herman Severson, whose name is rememless as a judge than as the legislator who

bered

—

had fathered Wisconsin's prohibition act the Severson law. (What problems that ill-fated attempt to ban the sale of liquor caused the nation!) Another picture was of Byron Park. Years before,

when

I

started the practice of law, Park

was the

judge. Although he was often brusque and short-

tempered with the older lawyers, he was patience personified with me, a young, inexperienced lawyer. I always had a soft spot in my heart for him. I remembered too his uncanny recall for testimony taken in court. In one week-long case which I sat in on, he took no notes and yet remembered the 93

EDWARD GEIN

1

looked closely at the defendant. Could this wispy little man with thinning hair and a half smile be the infarruxus Edward

GeinV

94

AMERICAS MOST BIZARRE MURDERER testimony better than lawyers with voluminous notes. This

My

is

a faculty

have never mastered.

I

opening statement

in Wisconsin v. Gein indi-

cated the continuing and revived interest of the

communication media. "Members of the press and TV and so forth, if you want to, you can sit over here in the jury box, but no pictures may be taken while court

is

of Wisconsin, fendant.

Is

in session.

the

This

is

the case of State

Edward Gein, dedefendant here in court? Are you

plaintiff,

versus

Mr. Gein?" Gein answered, "Yes." I then looked closely at the defendant. Could this wispy little man with thinning hair and a half smile be the infamous Ed Gein, murderer, grave robber, and possible cannibal?

which some had called

his face,

more

like the act

The

little

pected him to wiggle a nonexistent

The

I

to

me

of a puppy trying to ingratiate

himself in the court's good graces.

Then

on

smile

seemed

sly,

I

almost ex-

tail.

said:

state

is

Mr. Howard Dutcher, Waushara County, and by

represented by

the district attorney for

Mr. Robert Sutton, assistant attorney general, State Attorney General's Department. Let the record show that Mr. Edward Gein has been returned

to

this

court

upon a finding

by the

State of Wisconsin at Central State Hospital where he has been confined and that he is now mentally

able to confer with counsel

and

participate in his

defense.

Let

me

again interject a recollection. At a later

95

EDWARD GEIN point the attorneys were arguing a complicated

point of law. Sutton was arguing and cited a U.S.

Supreme Court decision. Suddenly Gein leaned over to attorney Frinzi and in a stage whisper said: "He isn't quoting that right. Cite him" (naming another Supreme Court case). Frinzi looked at me in some anguish but I had my mental hearing aid turned off and ignored it. It was obvious that

who was

Gein,

spent a

lot

certainly

admittedly a constant reader, had

of time in the hospital law library. Gein

was not insane

in this area.

The Appointment of Counsel THE COURT:

Obviously, under the law, the first

matter that concerns the court

is

the

appointment of

counsel for the defendant to represent him in these proceedings. I take it, Mr. Dutcher, that so far as the is concerned there is no contention that Gein is not indigent? In other words you are not contending he's able to retain his own counsel? DUTCHER: May it please the court: Your Honor, I understand all the worldly possessions of Mr. Gein

state

were sold, he was placed under a guardianship and this guardianship has terminated, and there are no longer assets available so, he'd be indigent.

THE COURT:

Upon

the statement

attorney the court will find that

and he

is

entitled to the

of the

Mr. Gein

is

district

indigent

appointment of counsel at

state expense.

At

this

point

I

was faced with a delicate ethical

96

AMERICA'S question. since,

upon

It

and

I

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

was one I had never faced before, nor doubt if any other judge has passed

it.

THE COURT: I have before me a petition and a proposed order for appointment of counsel which is signed and verified by Mr. Gein, and in it he asks that he be represented by Mr. William M. Belter of Wautoma. It is my understanding, Mr. Belter, that you represented Mr. Gein at the time of the original hearing before Judge Bunde. Is that correct? BELTER: That's right, Your Honor. THE COURT: The only complicating factor that we have in this appointment is the fact that at the present time

Mr.

Belter

is

the assistant district attor-

ney of Waushara County. Mr. Belter has advised me that he proposes to permanently resign as assistant district attorney. Is that correct, Mr. Belter?

BELTER: That's correct, Your Honor. THE COURT: Now, let me ask you, Mr.

Belter,

have you taken part in any of the proceedings that have been taken since this matter has been referred back

to this

court?

BELTER: None whatsoever. THE COURT: Now, Mr. Gein,

it

is

my under-

standing that you have signed this petition asking for the appointment of Mr. Belter. Is that correct?

GEIN:

Yes,

Your Honor.

THE COURT: And that

you do wish him

GEIN:

to

does the court understand be your attorney?

Yes.

THE COURT: Do you at the present time he

GEIN:

is

understand and know that

the assistant district attorney ?

Yes.

THE COURT: Do you feel

that creates any problem so far as you re concerned? In other words, do you have any feeling that because of the office he presently holds and which he is proposing to

97

EDWARD GEIN any problems would be created for you in undertaking your defense? Do you understand resign,

his

my

question?

GEIN:

Well, pretty good. I think he's honest

everything, so I wouldn't have

no

I couldn't say just what trouble

it

and

objection that way.

would be

otherwise,

you know.

THE COURT: At least so far as you're concerned, that's

what you want?

GEIN:

That's right.

THE COURT:

Any comment from

the state?

That opened the door not only for comment first legal argument. Both Dutcher and Sutton stated their objections. The gist of their argument was that at some future time, Gein might claim error due to this appointment. but for the

The court recognized the problem. I pointed out the lapse of time involved and that Belter, having represented Gein before, might have knowledge of

facts

defendant. to

I

make sure

that could be invaluable to the said "I have a very strong duty that the defendant gets the best

At any rate, at this point, Mr. Belter, if you desire to do so, you may file your resignation as assistant district attorney/' This was done. Then I signed the order appointing Belter as counsel for the defendant and big Bill Belter solemnly rose from the state table possible representation.

and moved across

to the defense table.

98

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER The Initial Motions

AMERICA'S

There was discussion as to whether the defendant should be remanded to county court for a preliminary hearing and whether the court should hear testimony as to the defendant's capacity to stand trial.

As

to the latter point,

I

ruled that

I

would

stand with the finding of the staff at Central State Hospital and take no testimony.

Since Belter wanted an opportunity to confer

with his client,

I

took a recess until January 23, Thus ended the first day.

1968, at 1:30 p.m.

January 23, 1968. A new member had been added to the cast of characters. Belter asked for the appointment of Dominic Frinzi of Milwaukee as special counsel for the defendant. I had known Frinzi from my experience in Milwaukee courts and I knew him to be a skilled, experienced attorney; especially in the criminal defense field.

I

promptly appointed him. There was further argument on procedure but surprisingly we all agreed on one point: that a person can be insane but still can be competent to stand

trial.

—

of many motions all proper but necessarily time-consuming. The reader, Frinzi then

I

am

made

sure, unless

the

first

he be a lawyer,

is

not interested

of the law and

I will not go was a motion to dismiss because the Complaint was insufficient. Under the law in 1968, the Complaint was not sufficient but under the law in 1958 it was. The

in these ramifications

into detail about them.

The

99

first

EDWARD GEIN ground

rules

change and a case

tried ten years

many of

these problems. I after the fact contains denied the motion and the issue went to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, where, in an unpublished opinion, I was affirmed but it was April by that

—

time.

On

same

cast present.

April 24, 1968, court resumed with the

The defense had had been agreed tion

was

in effect,

filed

two motions on which

to take testimony.

The

first

it

mo-

to suppress the physical evidence. That,

was

to bar evidence of the finding of

Mrs. Worden's body in the Gein home. This

in-

volved a very difficult point of law. Basically, the

contention was that the search was

illegal because have the officers did not a search warrant. As a matter of fact, no search warrant was ever obtained and no effort was ever made to get one, even though County Judge Boyd Clark was present at the Gein home and probably could have issued a search warrant on the spot. In defense of rural justice, I can only say that the shocking and macabre discoveries in the Gein home and the dressed-out body itself overcame the normal need for a legalistic approach. The second motion was to suppress the confession given by Gein to Joe Wilimovsky of the crime

lab.

Technically,

if

these two 'motions had been

granted, the state would have been without a case

and Gein would have gone free. It was obvious to the court and the attorneys that these issues were the crucial points of the case.

100

The

finding of Mrs.

AMERICA'S Worden's body

up

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

at the

to that point

was

Gein farm solved a case that

thin,

almost to the ridiculous.

hinged upon a hunch or guess by Frank Worden based upon a sales slip for antifreeze and an idle conversation about Worden going deer hunting. Fate takes some unusual turns. What would have happened if the Hill boy had not gone over to Gein's home that afternoon and asked Gein to take him to town? The body of Mrs. Worden had already been dressed out like a deer, and given a couple of more hours, Gein could have totally disposed of the body. At least it would not have been All of the investigation

hanging in the woodshed where the officers practistumbled into it. Like Mary Hogan years before, Bernice Worden might well have just cally

disappeared.

The important motions made in April of 1968 were followed by learned and able briefs in July. Wisconsin's always reluctant spring

slid

slowly into

summer. Then fall followed with Waushara County in full leaf color. the searing heat of

I

denied the motion to suppress the physical

—the

evidence

body.

I

ruled that Mrs.

Worden

being missing, and there being strong evidence of

had a right to search and without a warrant for her. (Presumably she might have been found a prisoner or in an injured condition where prompt action would be helpful and required.) As to the many articles removed the next day and for the balance of the week, these were clearly found as a result of an foul play, the police officers

quickly

101

EDWARD GEIN the search was

illegal search, since

made

without a

warrant.

granted the motion to suppress Gein's confes-

I

improper third degree methods of Sheriff Schley. Additional factors were the long and protracted interrogation at Madison and the testimony of the psychiatrists as to the sion largely because of the

suggestibility

The

of Gein.

actual trial started

on November

6,

1968,

moved faster, but time was not an element because we knew

at

9:00 a.m. Probably we could have

from the beginning that regardless of all legal maneuvers, Gein would remain in a mental institution. Besides, I was engaged for most of September in Green Bay with the Hebard mass murder trial

—the story of which

Of A

Prior to Gein's

underbrush. waive a jury and legal

The

is

told in

my

book, Tales

Country Judge.

we cut away considerable The defense had decided to

trial

try the case before the

judge.

an inditement with one count of murder (Mrs. Worden) in the first degree and one count of theft (the cash register) .During the state filed

trial I

dismissed the theft count. After ten years

the state simply could not produce the necessary elements of proof, even though the cash register

was found

The

in Gein's

home.

case was to be tried as a bifurcated

trial.

That means we would first try the murder charge and then, if Gein was found guilty, the sanity issue. First degree murder requires proof of intent to kill. While I knew that Gein would admit 102

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

to the actual shooting

of Mrs. Worden, he had

always contended that the killing was accidental.

The

defense, therefore, was aiming at a finding of second degree murder or manslaughter. For the statistically inclined, the trial was reasonably short as

murder

my court reporter,

trials go. Jerry Brillowski, took and transcribed 581 pages

of testimony. Nineteen witnesses testified. Only 37 exhibits were received, although during the entire proceedings 529 exhibits were marked.

Much

of the opening testimony dealt with the

occurrences at the store, the arrest, and the finding of the body.

The

interest because

deals with the lawyer's battle to

it

following testimony

is

of

prove or to disprove Gein's claim that the shooting was an accident.

Testimony of Allan Wilimovsky

Allan Wilimovsky was sworn and examined by Sutton:

Q.

A.

You recovered a

bullet

Bernice Worden.

Do you

you? on

It's

the head of Mrs. have that bullet with

from

the table before me, yes.

SUTTON: Mark this, please.

[Object was marked 15 for Identification.] Q. I show you State's Exhibit No. 15 for Identification and ask you what that is. Plaintiffs Exhibit No.

103

EDWARD GEIN A. Exhibit 15 contains a .22 caliber fired bullet which was recovered from the head by Dr. Eigenberger, and also contained within Exhibit 15 is a glass vial in which 1 placed the bullet at the time of its recovery. The vial is banded, or was originally banded, with adhesive tape which is marked by Dr. Eigenberger and myself. Q. What, if anything, did you do with the bullet after you did that? A. It remained in my possession until I returned to

Madison. Q.

Now,

I direct your attention to November 18, 1957. Would you tell the court whether or not you had occasion to be on the Worden store premises on that day?

A. 1 did. Q. Why did you go to the store? A. To conduct a cursory examination of the store. Q. Who, if anyone, went with you? A. Mr. Halligan, a Mr. Beck, and I believe Deputy

Arnold Fritz of

the

Waushara County

sheriffs

office.

Q.

Approximately what time on the eighteenth did

you get

to the

A. I don't recall that

it

was

Worden

store?

this specific time.

late that day.

My

recollection

I don't know. To

is

my

recollection it was dark outside. Q. Did you enter the premises? A. I did. And what, if anything, did you discover on the premises? What observations did you make first

Q

of all? A. The observations which I made were of a general nature, and in addition I "specifically was looking for any .22 caliber firearms that may have been

on Q.

the premises.

And

did you discover any .22 caliber firearms on

the premises?

A. I did. Q.

And

where did you discover such a weapon?

104

m^*

m,

Ed Gein

at the time of his arrest.

Plainfield POPULATION

642

PJP

Ed

Gein's

Ed

home community.

Gein's home.

The exterior of the hardware

store

where the murder of

his last victim took place.

The amount of blood on the floor cut his victim's throat.

indicates

Gein also

ED

GEIN'S LAST VICTIM

"The body had been opened by a median incision from manubrium sterni and extending in the midline to the area just above the mons vereris. Here the cut circled the

around the external genitalia for the complete removal of the vulva, lower vagina, and the anus with the lowest portion of the rectum. To accomplish this, the symphysis pubis had been split and the pubic bones widely separated The empty body cavities were glistening and free from blood and appeared as if they had been washed. .

.

.

9 y

Gein's

home burning

to the

ground.

Gein's car on display at a county fair.

AMERICA'S A. In a

rifle

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

rack behind the counter in the hardware

store.

Q.

And would you

describe what, if anything,

you

did at that time with that rifle? A. I operated the action of the three rifles which I observed, and from one of the three, as a result of operating the action, a fired cartridge case was ejected.

Q. What, if anything, did you do with that cartridge case?

A. I immediately recovered

SUTTON: Mark

Identification [Object

it.

No. 16 for was marked Plaintiffs Exhibit

this

State's Exhibit

No. 16 for Identification.] Q. In what manner did you secure that cartridge case?

A. I placed the cartridge case in a small coin envelope with adhesive on the flap and took possession

of Q.

it.

And

where did you take that cartridge case

ultimately?

A.

To Madison.

Q. I show you what has been marked State's Exhibit No. 1 6 for Identification and ask you what that is.

A. State's Exhibit No. case

and a small

16 contains a fired

cartridge

coin envelope in which I placed

the cartridge case after finding the cartridge case

in

a Remington .22 rimfire

slide action rifle

at the

caliber,

Model 121

bearing serial number

Worden hardware

store

149099

on November 18,

1957.

Q

Now, what did you do with the weapon itself? A. I don't recall if the weapon was removed from the store and placed in the mobile field unit and locked.

Q. Did you have occasion to secure the weapon on the nineteenth of November, 1957? A. I did.

105

EDWARD GEIN Q. What, if anything, did you do with the weapon at that time? A. On the nineteenth of November, 1957, I placed the weapon in a cardboard box, cradle fashion. I cradled the firearm in this cardboard box; it was placed in the trunk of the sheriffs automobile and was taken to Madison. SUTTON: Mark this State's Exhibit No. 17 for Identification. [Object was marked Plaintiffs Exhibit No. 1 7 for Identification.] Q. Now, I show you States Exhibit No. 17 for Identification and ask you what that is. A. State's Exhibit No. 17 is a Remington .22 rimfire caliber slide rifle, Model 121, bearing serial number 149099, which I recovered from the rifle rack at the

Q.

A. Q. A.

Worden hardware

store

on

the nineteenth

of November, 1967. Directing your attention to Exhibits 15, 16, and 1 7, did you subsequently make any examination involving those exhibits? I did. And what was the purpose of those examinations? The purpose of the examination was to establish, if possible, whether or not the fired cartridge case, which I had ejected from the rifle, Exhibit 1 7, had been fired in the rifle, and whether or not the fired bullet contained in Exhibit 15, which was recovered from the head, as to whether or not this particular bullet had been fired from the rifle,

Exhibit 17. Q. Now, directing your attention to Exhibit 17, 1 ask you what examinations you made involving it. A. I made a visual inspection of the firearm to determine its mechanical operating condition. I testfired the firearm, recovering the test-fired bullets and cartridge cases for subsequent comparison purposes.

In addition, prior to the pushed through the bore patches.

106

test-firing the rifle, I

clean, white, dry

gun

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Q. And what did the examinations disclose? A. Examination revealed that the firearm was in mechanical operating condition, and as a result of comparison microscope examinations involving

and

the test-fired bullets

fired

from

those

cartridge cases which I

the rifle. Exhibit 17,

tests

with

the

and comparing cartridge

fired

case

Q

contained in Exhibit 16, and the fired bullet contained in Exhibit 15, it is my opinion that Exhibit 15 had been fired from the rifle, Exhibit 1 7, and the first cartridge case contained in Exhibit 16 had been fired in the rifle, Exhibit 17. And your conclusion is that the bullet in Mrs.

A.

The

Q.

Calling your attention to Exhibit 17, do you know whether or not that exhibit has any safety device with reference to the trigger?

Worden's head came from that

rifle?

bullet recovered from the head, yes.

CROSS-EXAMINATION BY FRINZI:

A. It does.

Q. Could you point that out to the court? A. The rifle, Exhibit 1 7, has a cross bolt type safety which is located at the rear of the trigger guard. You don't know what the condition of that safety

Q

November 15, 16, 17, 18, or prior to your coming into contact with the device was on either exhibit?

A. No, I do not. *

*

Q. Calling your attention bullet

to

*

Exhibit 15, what type of

is it?

A.

The fired cartridge case contained in Exhibit 16 is a Remington manufactured .22 rimfired caliber cartridge case. The fired bullet contained in Exhibit 15 is a .22 caliber plain lead type fired bullet consistent with Remington manufacture.

Q Q

Now,

And how many

A.

There

A.

are there different types of .22 bullets?

Yes.

is

the .22

types are there?

BB

cap, the .22

107

CB

cap, the .22

— EDWARD GEIN and magnum.

short, the .22 long,

the .22 rimfire

Q.

Now

and

—

someone were trying that exhibit out a bullet would fit in there, could you demonstrate that to us? How would he go 17

A.

the .22 long rifle,

if

to see if

about that? There are two ways that this can be accomplished, one of which would be to insert the cartridge through the opening on the right-hand side of the receiver

—physically

inserting the cartridge into

chamber of the rifle. The other method would be magazine tube or withdraw the

remove the inner a point which tubular magazine.

to it

to

exposes the loading part of the The cartridge would be then inserted, base first, permitting it to be dropped into the tube. The

inner tube would then be depressed into

its

locked

position.

To bring the

from

the cartridge

chamber would require

the

the

magazine

into

functioning of the

firearm to bring the cartridge into the chamber ready for firing. Q.

Could you Exhibit 17

tell

the court the

put to? A. Generally a firearm of target shooting or small

Q.

normal use

that

is

intended for hunting.

this type is

game

Now, would you use a 22 and shoot a deer?

rimfire short to go out

A.

This is prohibited by law. Q. Would a .22 rimfire kill a deer? A. If the bullet was properly placed upon the target, it's my belief that it would.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY SUTTON: Q.

Mr. Wilimovsky, when you secured the weapon and transported it to Madison, would you describe how you held it?

A.

My

first physical contact with the rifle, Exhibit

17, was on the night of November 18, 1957. The rifle was in the rifle rack at the Warden hardware store. It was in a vertical position with the

108

AMERICA'S butt

down,

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER the barrel

piece of wood,

magazine

tube,

was supported

by

a cutout

and I grasped the end of and simultaneously depressed

action release button which

is

located

on

the

the the

un-

derside of the receiver. I further pushed the magazine tube

down which caused the cartridge case that was chambered in the firearm to be extracted and ejected.

—physical contact—

The next contact with the

rifle,

the rifle

was handled by

had end of

that I

the

the magazine tube and by the edge of the trigger guard, the rifle was cradled in a cardboard box, placed in the trunk of a vehicle, and transported to Madison, and I was an occupant of the vehicle. Q. Did you handle this weapon in this manner

intentionally?

A. I did.

Q

For what purpose?

A. For the purpose of fingerprint identification.

The

state

had

to

prove

its

case by circumstantial

evidence since obviously there was no eyewitness to the

murder of Mrs. Worden.

Testimony ofJan Beck The

next witness was Jan Beck,

who was

the fin-

gerprint expert for the state crime lab. Having

proved the murder, having placed the body at the Gein farm, and having proved the murder weapon, the state, through this witness, placed the final piece in the picture. Again I quote only the pertinent portions of his testimony: 109

EDWARD GEIN Q.

[Sutton] Could you describe briefly what academic training and experience you have had

related to the area of fingerprint comparison and examination? A. My first experience goes back to a period of six months as a trainee in the National Police Laboratory of Stockholm, Sweden, where I learned the fundamentals of fingerprint classification and specifically

identification.

Q. And when was that, approximately? A. Nineteen forty-nine.

Q. And continue. A. I'm a graduate of the School of Criminology at the University of California where my courses included a one-semester course in personal identification, which is basically fingerprint identificaf

My work experience at that time, November, 1957, was my period of service at the state crime laboratory in Madison. That is fourteen months. Q. I direct your attention to November 19, 1957. Did you have occasion to be in the Worden hardware store in Plainfield, Wisconsin? tion.

A. I did.

And who were you with at that time on those premises? A. Mr. Wilimovsky, Mr. Halligan, and I believe Q.

Deputy

Fritz.

Q. Now, I show you State's Exhibit No. 1 7.

What

is

that?

A.

A

Q.

And would you

rifle.

seen that

rifle

tell

the court whether you've ever

before?

A. Yes, I have. Q. Where? A. At the Worden hardware store at Plainfield, Wisconsin. Q. A.

When was

that?

On the Nineenh of November, And how did you identify it as

Q. A. By

its

serial

1957. the same

rifle?

number, 149099, and by a

110

little

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

defect in the wood of the stock that I remember from photographs of the rifle. Q. When you say on November 19, 1957, who, if

anyone, was with you? A. Mr. Wilimovsky and Mr. Halligan. Now, what, if anything, did you do with Exhibit

Q

17 on November 19, 1957? A. I examined

may

it

for fingerprints or palm prints that

be visible on the weapon,

white fingerprint

powder

the rifle to try to develop

and I also applied wooden part of

to the

any

latent or hidden

prints.

Q. Did you observe any visible prints on the weapon? A. Yes, I did. Q. And, did the powder reveal any latent fingerprints on the

weapon?

A.

Yes.

Q.

Now, what was

17? A. I handed of the Q.

And

subsequently done with Exhibit

the rifle, Exhibit 1 7, to Allan

state

Wilimovsky

crime laboratory.

what, if anything, was done with the its transportation?

rifle

regarding

A. I believe I assisted him in putting the

rifle in

a

cardboard box, a cradlelike arrangement, for transport back to Madison.

Q. Now, do you know the defendant, A. I do. Q. Did you have occasion 18, 1957? A. Yes, I did.

to see

Edward Gein?

him on November

Q. And where was that? A. At the Waushara County Jail.

Q

And

what, if anything, did you do at that time?

A. I took inked fingerprints

and palm

prints of

Mr.

Gein.

SUTTON: Mark

these, please. [Documents were marked Plaintiffs Exhibits Nos. 18 and 19 for

Identification.]

Ill

EDWARD GEIN Q.

Now,

I

show you what has been marked

Exhibit No.

A.

18 for

Identification

State's

and ask you

what that is. a fingerprint card that I took of Edward Gein on November 18, 1957, at the Waushara County

It's

jail.

Q. And what does it reflect? A. Fingerprints of ten fingers rolled out with black printer's ink, which is the standard record of fingerprints.

Q

State's Exhibit No. 19 for Identificaand ask you what that is. A. That is a palm print made in black ink on paper of Edward Gein's right palm right hand palm which I took on November 18, 1957. Now, where did you take Exhibit 18 and Exhibit

I

show you

tion

—

—

Q

marked for Identification after you had obpalm print and the fingerprints? A. I brought them back to the crime lab in Madison. Q. Now, I direct your attention to the visible fingerprint which you testified you observed on Exhibit 17 on November 19, 1957, when you were in the Worden hardware store. Did you make any re19

tained the

cord of that print? Yes. I took a photograph of it. SUTTON: Please mark this. [Document was marked Plaintiffs Exhibit No. 20 for Identification.] Q. Now, I show you what has been marked State's Exhibit No. 20 for Identification and ask you

A.

what A.

that

Q. Now, A. I did. Q.

is.

an enlarged photograph showing

the fingerprint on the receiver of the rifle. That is the central blue steel part of the rifle, Exhibit 1 7. It's

And

who is

ferred

A.

Yes.

Q

And

is

took that photograph?

that the visible fingerprint that

to in

that

you

re-

your prior testimony?

what

is

reflected enclosed in the red

area in the enlargement?

112

AMERICA'S A. Q.

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

That's correct.

Now,

I direct your attention to the latent

you

palm

you discovered on Exhibit 17, by dusting on November 19, 1957, in the Worden hardware store. Did you make any prints which

testified that

record of that print!

A. I did. Q. And, how did you do that? A. I photographed it.

SUTTON: Would

you mark this State's Exhibit [Document was marked Plaintiffs Exhibit No. 21 for Identification.] Q. Now, I show you what has been marked State's Exhibit No. 21 for Identification and ask you what that is. A. It's an enlarged photograph of the palm print which I developed with white fingerprint powder on the pistol grip of the rifle, Exhibit 17. Q. And who took the photograph? No. 21 for

Identification.

A. I did. Q.

And what

is

reflected in the enclosed red area

on

that enlargement?

A.

The

V

area of the palm print shown here

is

about

three times the enlargement.

Q.

Now, did you have occasion to make any comparisons between Exhibit 18 and Exhibit 20?

A. I did. Q. And did you have occasion to make a comparison between Exhibit 19 and Exhibit 21? A. Yes, I did.

Q. Now, where did these comparisons take place? A. At the crime laboratory in Madison. Q. And do you know on what dates the comparisons took place? A. On the twentieth and twenty-first of November,

1957. Q.

And would you

describe the comparison test that

you made? A. With a magnifier I pared the fingerprint

visually visible

113

on

and

directly

com-

the receiver of the

EDWARD GEIN rifle

shown here

in the photography Exhibit 20,

with the fingerprints on the print card, Exhibit 18.

Q.

And what and 21

A.

A

Edward Gein finger-

comparison did you make between 19

?

similar comparison. But, in addition to the

visual comparison using a magnifier, 1 compared the photograph in that comparison with the photograph of the palm print with the direct

also

original ink palm print of Edward Gein. Q. What did you conclude as a result of those tests? A. I concluded that the fingerprint visible on the rifle, Exhibit 1 7, on the steel receiver was made by the left hand middle finger of Edward Gein. Q. And what did you conclude with regard to Exhibits

A.

19 and 21?

That the palm print on the pistol grip of the rifle stock, Exhibit 1 7, was made by the upper area of

hand palm of Edward Gein. you mark this for Identification please. [Document was marked Plaintiffs Exhibit No. 22 for Identification.] And also mark this State's Exhibit No. 23. [Document was marked Plaintiffs the right

SUTTON: Would

Exhibit No.

Q A.

23 for

Identification.]

Now,

I show you what has been marked State's Exhibit No. 22 for Identification and ask you

what that is. a side-by-side arrangement of the two enlarged photographs representing, on the left side, the visible fingerprint on the receiver of the rifle, Exhibit 1 7, and on the right side, the left middle It's

finger taken from the fingerprint card of Edward Gein. Q. Now, under whose- direction were those photographs taken? A. Under my direction. Q. Now, that exhibit has twelve numerical designations

on

it,

is

that correct?

A. That's correct. Each photograph, both identically marked Nos. 1 through 12.

114

sides,

are

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S

Q. Would you explain to the court the significance of those numerical designations, generally? Not necessarily each of the twelve, but just generally. A. The significance of the numbers is to serve as a point, and indicator, for each one of the individual characteristics that serve to identify this unique fingerprint, and it corresponds with the very same characteristics in the known print the inked

—

fingerprint.

Q

Now,

you what has been marked

I show

Exhibit No.

23 for

Identification.

What

is

State's

that?

A.

arrangement of enlarged photographs showing on the left the palm print which I developed on the pistol grip of the rifle, Exhibit 1 7, and on the right, a portion of the palm print which I took in ink of Edward

Q.

And under whose direction

This

also

is

a

side-by-side

Gein.

were those photographs

taken?

A.

Under my

Q.

And

direction.

that exhibit also has

on both

right

and

a numerical designation

left side, is

that correct?

A. That's correct.

Q. Is the significance of those numerical designations the same as on Exhibit 22? A. Yes, they are. They point out the individual characteristic features

Q.

of

this

Did you find any

Edward

particular

palm

print.

prints other than prints of Gein on the gun on that rifle, rather?

—

A. No.

Q. [Frinzi] Now, Mr. Beck, I show you Exhibit 1 again, and assuming that the exhibit is in this is it possible to find the put the palm print in the area that you described where you found it if one were to pick it up from this position with the trigger facing away?

position [indicating],

—

palm

to

A. Assuming

it's

against the wall?

Q. Right. A. Yes.

115

EDWARD GEIN Q.

Now, Mr.

Beck, if the

gun were

in this position

put the palm print in the area you just described? [Frinzi holding gun

[indicating],

is it

possible to

upside down] A. Depends on other obstructions. Q. Assume there are no other obstructions.

A.

Yes. It

would be awkward, but possible. to know if it would be awkward, but

Q. I dont want is it

possible?

A. Yes. Q.

Then turn

it

around with

the

gun

in this position

down:

[indicating], with the trigger facing

gun up

possible to pick the

to

is

it

put the palm print

in the position you described to the court?

A.

Yes.

Q.

And

it's

possible that

Mr. Gein had

hand

in the cradle of the rifle and the in the position you are now indicating,

his right

hand and that

left

both those prints could be placed there while just

holding the gun,

is

that correct?

A. Yes. Q.

Now, am that

I correct that the only prints on the

you discovered

gun

that were suitable for identifica-

tion purposes were the

palm print and

the finger-

print of Mr. Gein? A. That's correct.

Testimony of Wilma Rothermel The

next witness was Wilnta Rothermel,

who

testi-

was with Mrs. Worden on the evening of November 15, 1957, and that they had gone to the hairdresser at Wisconsin Rapids. This fied briefly that she

merely proved that Mrs.

Worden was

116

alive at

mid-

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S

night the night of November 15. There were a few questions of Dan Chase and the state rested. The defense then made motions, one of which I granted. This was a motion to dismiss the robbery

count on the cash register. As previously indicated, the state raised no real objection to this motion. The defense then moved for dismissal of the murder count on the ground of insufficiency of evidence.

I

quote only a portion of the argument

by Sutton: .and that Exhibit 1 7 bears the fingerprints of the defendant, Edward Gein, who also is the man on whose premises the body was found to quote from .

.

—

Shakespeare by way of Justice Heffernan in State

Smith "wh finds flesh, and sees fast

by

suspect 'twas he that

made

And

in the

the heifer

Smith

FRINZI: Vd

a butcher with an

case

like

to

v.

dead and bleeding axe, will

the slaughter.

—

know what Shakespearean

play that comes from.

SUTTON: Henry VI. THE COURT: I'll refer you

The

to Justice

Heffernan.

court denied the defense motion with

little

comment.

Testimony of Dr. Miller November

12,

1968.

The defense opened who had

Dr. Miller, one of the psychiatrists

117

with exa-

EDWARD GEIN mined Gein

in 1957.

quote a small portion of

I

his

testimony:

Mr. to the

Gein's recital of the events of the day that led shooting were by way of describing a series of

some

some apparently unrelated, which a certain time in Mrs. Worden's store with the intention of making a purchase; saw him asking her permission to examine the rifle; saw him handling the rifle and inserting a shell into it; events,

trivial,

saw him then

at

saw him attempting

gun going

to

disengage the

shell,

and then

him stating to me that he was not certain whether the gun went off accidentally or not, that he was unable to say that with certainty. That Mrs. orden fell over; that he examined her body to see if she was dead; that he experienced the

off with

W

—he

himself terrified

an animal caged ing what

in a

described himself to

me

as like

room running about not know-

to do.

—

He

then described himself as carrying as dragging her body out_ to a truck which was apparently

not his; putting the body in the truck, puzzled.

puzzled

And he

—about

somehow

able

He

and being

—being

talked a great deal about this the fact there

to start

was no

key, but

he was

it.

then drove the truck out,

and parked it. He and closed

said he walked out in front of everybody the garage door, and then drove the

truck out somewhere, and apparently moved the body from the truck to his car, took the body to his home, and there midst a series of interruptions with people coming somebody wanting to borrow something, someby body having trouble with Ms car midst going out back and forth to deal with people who had come, he began some kind of dissection of the body. Those would be the events of the day as he de-

—

—

scribed them as I

Q. [Frinzi] cal

and

remember them.

Now,

Doctor, within the realm of medi-

psychiatric probabilities,

118

do you have an

AMERICA'S opinion as

to

what caused Edward Gein

manner he did

My

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER to act in the

after the alleged shooting?

to your question is that which the patient gave to me relative not only to this event, but to his prior history, which includes robbing graves, bringing into his home the bodies of females, and handling those bodies in a certain rather compulsive and destructive way, that

A.

opinion with regard

the history

that history

is

relevant in this sense.

me that from about the year 1947, continuing for a period of several years, ceasing, according to his statement, five years before 1957, approximately, that for a period of some years in there, he, with some regularity, robbed the local graveyard, or local graveyards, follwing recent burial of deceased; that he brought home the bodies, all Mr. Gein

related to

female, and that he mutilated them, cut out parts of them, preserved parts of them. These acts were complex, difficult to understand acts, but included in part the attempt of a psychotic and lonely man to bring a form of perverted companionship into his isolated home.

With that background, and the history of his fascination with regard to, and his extraordinary history of involvement with, deceased human female bodies, it would seem to me that the handling of the body of Mrs. Worden takes on complicated understanding. In particular, what seems to me a puzzle, he is attempting to clarify what his intentions would be with regard to a body, female, middle-aged which is characteristic of many of the bodies which he brought home what his intentions would be with regard to the body; whether the body was primarily an object to

—

—

be disposed of because of the guilt associated with it, had other bodies been for

or whether the body was, as

him, a form of trophy, a form of stimulus,

and a part

of a psychotic way of gaining gratification.

So the defense called Edward Gein and rather fully:

119

I

quote

EDWARD GEIN Testimony of Edward Gein

FRINZI: Your Honor,

at this time we'd like to

go

defense of the first part of the case, and as our next witness we'd like to call the defendant,

back

to the

Edward

Gein.

THE COURT:

Mr. Gein, and be sworn? FRINZI: Now, Mr. Gein,

will

you come forward

before

we

start

asking

you any questions, I want to tell you, as your attorney that under the law of the State of Wisconsin you do not have to take the witness stand and testify in this case.

You understand?

THE WITNESS: FRINZI: And several times,

is

Right.

I have gone over this with you

that correct?

THE WITNESS: FRINZI: And

Right.

you don't take the stand and come to any conclusions as to your guilt or innocence because you didn't testify in this case, and the judge cannot draw any inference of your guilt or innocence because you did not take the witness stand. You understand that? testify,

if

the judge cannot

THE WITNESS: FRINZI: And

Yes.

I have gone over this with

you

several times?

THE WITNESS:

Yes.

FRINZI: Knowing you have a right not to testify, what is your pleasure? What is your wish? You want to testify in this case

THE WITNESS: FRINZI:

on your behalf? Yes.

All right.

DIRECT EXAMINATION OF QEIN BY FRINZI: Q. Will you state your A. Edward Gein.

name for

the record please?

Q. And where do you live? A. Well, at the present time in Wautoma. Q.

Now, how

old are you?

120

AMERICA'S

"Q. Will

A.

you

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

state

your name for

Edward Gein."

121

the record, please?

EDWARD GEIN A. Sixty-two. Q. And are you married or single? A. Single. Q. How far did you go in school? A. Eighth grade.

Q. Did you graduate from the eighth grade. A. Yes. Q. Did you go A. No.

to

any schools after that?

Now, Mr.

Gein, on the sixteenth day of November, 1957, where did you live? A. In the Town of Plainfield. Now, did you have a home there? A. On a farm.

Q.

Q

Q. Pardon? A. On a farm. Q. I see. And on this farm where you lived, will you tell the court whether or not you had any rifles or revolvers or pistols? A. Yes.

What, if any, of these types of weapons did you have on your farm at that time? A. One twelve gauge shotgun, one .22 Marlin reQ.

peating bolt action rifle,

old

and one

—what

rifle,

one single shot Stevens

—/ couldn't say—

old style

type

it

A

was.

it

was

.22 single shot

rolling block, I guess they call

it,

and one

old .22

revolver, short barreled, that wouldn't work,

32

a Mauser Q.

Now,

automatic

in the past, did

so

too,

and

pistol.

you at any time do any

hunting? A.

Yes.

Q.

Did you in

at any time have occasion your pocket?

A.

Yes.

Q.

Now, on

to

put

bullets

day of November, 1957, what time you got up on that morning, if you remember? the sixteenth

would you

tell

the court

A. Six o'clock about.

122

AMERICA'S

Q

What,

A. I

if anything, did

made my

the dishes

Q

What

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER breakfast,

—washed

you do

and

after

you got up? up

after that cleaned

the dishes.

did you do? light A. And, it was raining outside at that time and it probably was half an hour till the rain rain died down. Q. All right. What, if anything, did you do after the rain died down? A. Then I decided to go uptown. else

—

—

Q

Now,

before you left your farm, will you tell the court whether or not you took with you any of these rifles or weapons that you had on the farm ?

A. I did not.

Do

you know whether or not you had any bullets your pockets? A. No. Q. Now, after you left the farm, where did you go? A. I took my / was going to get kerosene. I had a kerosene stove. I took the kerosene can, and I put it in my car. And I wanted to get some antifreeze permanent antifreeze a gallon of that so I took a glass container and put that in my car. Q. And where did you go? Q.

in

—

—

A.

—

—

And

then I drove up to Plainfield, and stopped to a Standard station to get the kerosene, and after that I drove to Mrs. Wordens place and parked

in front of her place of business. Q. Now, when you parked your car in front of Mrs. Wordens hardware store, did you park your car

out in the open?

A. Right in the open,

yes.

Q. Now, at the time when you got out of your car, will you tell the court whether or not you observed

—

any people in the area of the hardware store the Worden hardware store? A. Well, right across from Wordens was a filling station run by Spees a fellow by the name of Spees Tm sure that he was out there talking

—

—

123

EDWARD GEIN with someone

else. They always used to weigh deer They had deer scales there. Q. Now, do you remember what day the sixteenth of

there too.

November was,

in

19517

The first day of deer season. Q. All right. Now, would you tell

A.

the court why you did not buy the antifreeze at the gas station where you bought the kerosene ? 1

was an advertisement in the paper a week before that there was a special price on permanent antifreeze at Wordens hardware store. Q. Is that the reason why you went to the Worden hardware store? A. Yes. That same week I bought two gallons, and the next week I went up Saturday and bought A.

Well, there

another gallon. Q.

Now,

will you tell the court whether or not you were in the Worden hardware store on Friday, the day before, on the fifteenth of November,

1957? A. No. Q.

When was

the last time that

Worden hardware

you had been in

store before the sixteenth

the

of

November, 1957, if you remember? A. That was the week before. Q. That was the last time? A. Right.

Now, will you tell the court what happened after you got out of your car after you had parked it in front of the Worden hardware store? What happened then? A. I took my kerosene can and I believe that glass jug at the same time and carried them in no, I / had the kerosene already. I took the left the Q.

—

—

glass container for the antifreeze. Q. And where did you go with that? A. I went into Mrs. Wordens store. And what, if anything, did you do after you got into the store with the glass container? A. I told her I wanted another gallon of that.

Q

124

AMERICAS MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Q

And what happened

then'?

—

A. She filled that up, and I took / paid her, and took it out and put \t in my car. Q. After you put this glass container with the antifreeze in your automobile, what, if anything, did you do then? A. And then I went back in because I thought that I wanted to trade my Marlin rifle for one that Mrs. Worden had in her store. What did you do? A. So, I went back in and asked Mrs. Worden if I could look this rifle over. Q. At the time you asked Mrs. Worden if you could try this gun, or rifle rather, where in relation to you was she standing? How far away from you was she? A. She walked up to where the rifles were, and I was standing we were side-by-side.

Q

—

Q. At that time? A. Yes. Q. And what did you do? A. I asked her if I could see that rifle. Q. And what happened then? A. And she said, "Sure. It's my favorite type of rifle."

Q. And what did you do then? A. So I reached in and removed it from under the chain that was in front of the rifle. Q. Where was this gun rack, or rifle rack located in the

A. Q.

It

Worden

was on

How

is

store, if you remember? the east side of the main room. that gun facing? was that

How

facing when you picked

gun

up, if you remember? barrel was resting against it

The back of the rifle and the stock on the bottom of the case. Q. I see. What did you do after you removed this one rifle from the rifle rack? A. I asked her if it would handle all of the .22 calibers, the .22 short, the .22 long, and .22 long rifle, and she said yes. A.

the wall,

125

EDWARD GEIN Q. And then what happened? A. I believe I ashed her if it would handle a .22 short, because there are quite a few rifles that only handle .22 shorts, some longs, and some chambered just for the .22 long rifle. Q. And then what did you do? A. And then I remember that I had been hunting squirrels the day before red squirrels and I felt in my pocket, and there was one or two shells. I couldn't say now. Will you tell the court whether or not you put those shells in your pocket that morning before you left your home, or whether or not they were in your pocket? A. They were in my pocket from the day before. Q. All right. Now, what did you do after you reached in your pocket and felt these shells? What did you

—

—

Q

do? A. I thought I would try it because my Marlin rifle wouldn't handle the .22 long rifle like it was stated it would. All right. What did you do? A. So I took this .22 short and put it in the magazine. Q. Now excuse me, Mr. Gein. I'm going to give you Exhibit 1 7, and ask if you will show the court what you did on that particular morning to the best of your memory. Turn around so the judge

Q

—

can

see you.

A. If I remember how this works. Will you describe to the judge what you are doing, as you did it, as you best remember, on November 16, 1957. A. This is the magazine [indicating]. There should be a slot in here somewhere where the shell goes in. There should be a slot in here. Q. Can you speak up so we can all hear you? THE COURT: He said, "There should be a slot

Q

in here."

FRINZI: [Frinzi handling down here [indicating]. 126

rifle]

There's a slot

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S

SUTTON: Object to that as leading and suggestive. FRINZI:

Til withdraw that.

THE COURT: FRINZI:

—

go ahead. Your Honor.

Well, he's apparently

I withdraw that statement,

THE COURT:

I didn't even hear it. Will you speak up so we can hear, Mr.

FRINZI: Gein?

THE WITNESS:

I put the .22 short shell in here

[indicating].

And then what did you do? And slid this down [indicating].

Q. A.

FRINZI: pushed

Let the record show that the witness

down

the tube

THE WITNESS: know either. FRINZI:

into the port.

Now,

this is

something I don't

—

Tell us to the best of your memory the that gun on the sixteenth

you remember doing with day of November, 1957. best

A. You see now release

this is

locked [indicating], there

on here [indicating]. Must be here

is

a

[indi-

cating],

Q. Let the record show that the witness is pointing to the lever on the bottom of the trigger guard. [Pause in proceedings while witness handling rifle] Will you tell us what you did on this particular day? A. Well, that day it was ready for loading, and now this hammer is back in here and she's locked [indicating].

Q. And, then what did you do? A. But after I put the shell in—

Q. You can

sit

what you

down, Mr. Gein. Go ahead. Describe

did.

—

A. I operated

—

there she goes

/ operated this ac-

tion that holds the shell in the chamber, but I

—

didn't have this locked

Q.

A.

the

magazine

locked.

And

then what, if anything, happened? What, if anything, happened after that?

Then

this

I can

tell

here slide will not operate [indicating].

when

the shell enters the

127

chamber of the

EDWARD GEIN

—

—

a clicking sound and there was no this down, but before to operate the slide you have to pull the trigger to release the hammer if I had known this was underneath this [indicating], there's no need of pulling the trigger. That releases the action. So, I had to pull the trigger to release that, but after I pushed this down and operated the slide the shell went into rifle

there's

—

sound, so I shoved

—

the chamber. Q. Then what happened? A. I couldn't pull the trigger because the gun would fire, and I turned the rifle in many positions looking for some release on the rifle. I may have

had

it

this

way

[indicating], this

or might even

had turned

for a

And

release.

here [indicating], I

or

it

in doing

Now,

[indicating],

down looking and trying on

this,

may have pulled

might have gone off by

Q. All right.

way

upside

it

this trigger,

itself I couldn't say.

at that time, did

you hear any

noise?

There was a sound, oh, like a low-powered Just a low sound. Q. You can sit down, Mr. Gein. At that time did you have occasion to look up after you heard this

A.

Yes.

air

rifle.

noise?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you have occasion to see Mrs. Worden? A. Yes. Q. And where was she in relation to you? A. About, I'd say, twelve feet from me. Q. And did you have occasion to see her? A. Yes. She was standing there. Q. What did you observe? A. She was standing there as if she didn't hear. Q. And then what did you observe? A. So I glanced down at the rifle again. Q. And which way was Mrs. Worden facing? A. She had been facing northwest. Q. Now, was her back to you, or was her face

you?

128

to

AMERICA'S Her

A. No.

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

face was towards the north. Kind of

northwest.

Q. Was her back facing you then? A. That's right. Cornerwise. Slantwise. Q. And what did you next observe? A. When I was looking down I heard a sound like something striking metal like a metal can or

—

something.

Q. And then what did you do? orden was gone. I couldn't A. I looked up and Mrs.

W

see her.

Q A.

And

then what did you do? There was an island in between so I coudn't see

around

her, so I stepped

island

this

and

I

saw her

laying there.

Q. And what, if anything, did you do then? A. I believe I laid down the rifle to see if she was hurt or what was wrong.

Q. A.

And And

then what did you do?

saw blood

then I

mind

either the bullet

rifle fired,

Q. Will you

you aimed

had fell

or she

tell

there. So it came to my had struck her when the

that way. I didn't know. whether or not at any time at the person of Mrs. or den?

the court

the rifle

W

A. No, I did not.

Q.

And what on

A.

did you do after you observed

the floor?

From little

here on on,

—

this

blood

well, I better explain this:

from

whenever I saw

blood, I'd either faint or

just about faint. I'd just like black out. So that

why I Q.

can't

What, this

answer

if anything, did

you do with

the

gun

at

time?

A. I believe I put the remember, I had to. Q.

is

at this time.

Do you

recall in

gun

back,

because as I

what position you put

the

gun

back on the rack, if you remember? A. I believe the same as the others. Q. Now, do you remember what, if anything, you did with the body of Bernice orden? What is the

W

129

EDWARD GEIN when you saw Bernice Wardens body on the floor, if you remember? A. I'm afraid I do not remember that. Q. Do you remember anything else you did on that day you saw the body of Bernice Worden on the next thing you did

floor? A. I do not.

Q

Did you

at any time prior to November 16, 1957, Mrs. Bernice Worden that you wanted to go dancing with her? No, I did not. I do not dance. Did you at any time prior to November 16, 1957, ask her to go to a movie with you? No. Did you ever tell her Bernice Worden that you wanted to go roller-skating with her? That was said in a joke after they had opened a roller-skating rink towards Hancock, Wisconsin. Do you remember when that was said? No. That was a long time before. Do you know what the circumstances were? I never roller-skate, because when I was young I tell

A.

Q. A. Q. A.

Q. A. Q. A.

tried roller skates that

Q A. Q. A. Q.

—

—

my

brother had,

and

I fell

on the floor and that cured me. I never tried it since. It was just a joke. Did you ever argue with Bernice Worden? No. Did you ever have a fight with Bernice Worden? No. Did you ever have any bad words with Bernice

Worden? A. No.

Q. Could you ory

tell

how many

the court to the best of your memyou had been in the Worden

times

hardware store? Through the years it would be quite hard to Q. How often in a week would you go there?

A.

tell.

A. Probably once a month.

Q. Did you at any time see or have anything to do with Mrs. Worden away from the hardware store?

130

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

A. No.

Q

Did you ever

see her

away from

the

hardware

store?

A. I seen her on the street. That's all. Like any other person? A. Right. Q. Did you ever have occasion to go to her home?

Q

A. No.

Q.

It's

your testimony you never went out with her

socially?

A.

Yes.

FRINZI:

That's

all.

CROSS-EXAMINATION OF GEIN BY SUTTON: Mr. Gein, before November 16, 1957, am I correct, you had extensive familiarity with the workings of rifles, did you not? A. With the bolt action and single shot. Q. How long when did you first FRINZI: Hold it. Hold it. I can't hear Mr. Gein. Mr. Gein would you speak up loud enough so we can Q.

—

—

hear you?

THE WITNESS: shot

rifles.

That's

With

the bolt action

and

single

all.

SUTTON: When

did you first learn

to

shoot a

rifle?

THE WITNESS:

Oh, single

shot,

about eight

years old.

Q. And, intermittently from the time you were eight until this occurred when you were fifty-one years old,

A.

you had handled

rifles?

Yes. Single shot.

Q. Were you taught the safety precautions in the use

of weapons? A.

Yes.

Q.

Was it your normal procedure to finger the trigger of a weapon when you were checking what kind of shell it took?

A. Not always.

Q. Did you ever do that before?

131

EDWARD GEIN life of one neighbor boy. He crawled through the grass, and he thought he had something in the barrel of this rifle, and he looked down the barrel from the muzzle end, and the hammer was back on the rifle, and I pushed it away. Q. My question is: did you ever handle a rifle like that before with your finger on the trigger when you were checking to see what kind of shell it

A. I saved the

took?

A. No.

Q. You would never do that again, would you? A. No. Q. Why did you do it that day? A. I suppose because I had first time to release the

Q.

to

pull the trigger for the

mechanism.

Did you murder Mary Hogan Bancroft in 1957?

FRINZI: may answer.

Object.

I'll

withdraw

in the

town of

the objection.

He

THE WITNESS:

No. week before this occurrence, do you recall what you did on Monday or Tuesday of that week? Do you recall what you did the day before

SUTTON: Now,

the

the fifteenth?

THE WITNESS: I believe I sawed wood Friday helped the neighbors saw wood cordwood. Q. Did you go into Plainfield on Friday at all?

—

—

A. No. Q. How about Thursday? A. I dont remember. Q. Any time that week do you remember going into Plainfield? A. No. Q. When did you purchase '-the two gallons of antifreeze that you already had?

That was the week before. Q. Where did you buy that? A. Mrs. Wordens. Q. Why didnt you buy three gallons?

A.

132

AMERICA'S A. Because

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

—metal

was a two-gallon container

it

container.

Q

What were you going

A.

Two of my cars pickup and passenger car. And had you already installed the two gallons

Q.

—

antifreeze that

to

use the antifreeze for?

of

you purchased?

A. Yes. In which? The pickup or the car? A. Both. But you needed another gallon of antifreeze? A. Yes. Q. Was the antifreeze on sale when you went in the

Q Q

week before? A.

Yes.

Do you

deny having a conversation with Frank the opening of deer season? A. I didn't have FRINZI: I didn't hear you, Mr. Gein. THE WITNESS: I don't remember anything about Q.

Worden about

—

that.

SUTTON: tion?

You don't remember having a conversaYou might have had a conversation about the

opening of deer season? A. I'd say no, that I didn't. Q. Do you deny asking Mrs. Worden to go rollerskating with you? A. In a joke I said, "Let's go try out the new floor." Q. A.

Was

A

that the

week before

month or more

this

happened?

before.

Q. Is there any reason why you remember it? A. Because that was a new roller-skating rink that had been put in. That's how the joke come. How long had you lived on the farm? A. In the Town of Plainfield?

Q

Q, Yes. A. Since I was / believe since I was eight years Q. How long had you known Mrs. Worden? A. Oh like personally?

—

—

Q. Yes. A. Sixteen or seventeen years

133

old.

old.

.

EDWARD GEIN Q. You mean you were sixteen or seventeen? A. Yes. That's right. Q. How old was she then, do you remember? A. I couldn't say. Q. Was she also a young woman? Was that before she was married? Let me ask you that. A. She was married to Worden then. Q. Do you remember the circumstances of her marriage to

Mr. Worden?

A. No. Q. Did you ever tell anybody that you remembered the circumstances of her marriage to Mr. Worden?

THE WITNESS: ried before

You see, Mrs. Worden was marwe was up in that country, so I couldn't

say.

SUTTON:

Well, that's not exactly my question. ever remember telling anyone you knew about the circumstances of her marriage? Let me ask you this: did you ever tell anyone Mrs. Worden had stolen her husband from another girl?

Do you

A. I was told

that.

Q. And you resented A. No. Q.

Do you know ted suicide?

A. I was told

that, didn't

you?

that the other girl allegedly commit-

Did you know

that?

that.

Q. And you remember that day, don't you? A. Right. Q. And you knew that in 1957? A. Well, I never thought of that at that time. Q. Isn't it a matter offact that you held Mrs. Worden responsible for the death of that girl? A. I don't believe I did.

Q.

You

don't believe

you did? You might have?

Is

that it?

FRINZI:

I can't hear that question.

SUTTON:

Did you ever tell anyone you thought Mrs. Worden was a bad woman because of that? THE WITNESS: No.

134

AMERICA'S Q.

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

When you went

into this store, did

you take in a

glass container?

A. Yes.

Q

By a that

"glass container"

a

A. Well, you'd call

Q

A jug? And

what do you mean? Was

or what?

bottle,

it

a jug.

Mrs. Worden, where did she fill the

antifreeze from?

A. In the office from a steel barrel. Q. And then you paid her for it? A. Yes. And then you left the store, is that right? A. To put the jug in my car. Q. Where did you put it in your car? A. I believe the back seat, on the floor.

Q

Q

Now, you said that you wanted your guns on this one?

to

trade in one of

A. Right.

Why didn't you bring that down to you? A. Because I wanted to try it out first Q. Check it for what? Q.

the store with

—check

A. To ask whether

it

it.

could use the three caliber, the

long rifle, because I wanted a would handle all three. You had no rifle that would handle all three? No. But you didn't bring your gun with you? Not at that time. When you went back into the store, did you tell Mrs. Worden you were thinking of trading your gun in on that one? short, the long, or rifle that

Q. A. Q. A.

Q.

A. Yes. Q. Did you

Did

know

was the usual procedure? weapons on the ones they were

that that

they allow

selling?

A.

Yes.

Q. A.

And

then what did she say to you?

How

do you mean that?

135

EDWARD GEIN Q. I mean, what did she say to you

you wanted

Did

to

she say something to you about

favorite rifle?

A.

when you

told her

trade in your rifle on thai one?

Did you

testify to that

it

on

being her direct?

Yes.

Q. Did you just forget that a minute? A. You see, you confuse me a little bit there. Did she say that or didn't she? A. She said that before, yes, when I asked if it would

Q

handle all three cartridges, the short, long, and long rifle. Q. What did she say ? A. She says, "Yes, it will.

It's

my favorite weapon

—or

rifle."

Q. And, you didn't believe her, is that it? A. Well, I doubt if anybody would believe everything just by saying so, especially when I was told that the rifle that I bought dle all three,

and

it

—

that

Marlin would han-

didn't.

Q.

What kind of a coat were you wearing Mr. Gein? Do you remember?

A.

Summer jacket.

that day,

Q. Where were the shells? A. In my overall pocket. Q. And you had put them there the day before? A. Yes. Q. And you had been hunting squirrels the day before? A. Red squirrels. Q. Did you shoot any squirrels the day before? A. I believe I did. One.

Q.

Now, was Mrs. Worden there when you took shell out and inserted it into the weapon?

A.

Yes.

the

Q. Did she say anything then? A. At that time she was lodftirig out the window, towards the north. Q. She had her back to you then? A. Well, on a slant. Q. Did she see what you were doing with the gun? A. I doubt it.

136

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

FRINZI: Wait a

THE COURT:

minute. I want to get that answer. "I

doubt it." tell her you were going

SUTTON: Did you a

shell into the

to

put

gun?

A. No.

Q

And, as you

you had weapon?

described,

the shell into the

difficulty

putting

A. Right.

Q. Why was that? A. Because this magazine is different than the one on my Marlin. Did you ask her anything about that?

Q

A. No. Q. About how long would you say it took for you to figure out how to put the shell into the weapon? A. Three four minutes. Q. And during that time, during that three or four

—

minutes, where was Mrs. Worden? A. I would say at that time she was looking out the window at her son-in-law's Chevrolet new Chev-

—

rolet.

Q

Where was

that?

A. Parked over by the Gambles

store.

Q. Could you see that from inside the store? A. Yes. Q. And how did you know that was her son-in-law's new Chevrolet? A. She said so. Q. You had more conversation in the store then? A. You never asked before. Q. What did she say about that? A. She said, "I see Bud has a new car. I do not like the Chevrolet." Q. What did you say? A. I didn't say anything. Q. You were trying to put the shell into the gun? A. Yes. Q. Now, will you stand up again and take the rifle in your hands, please? [Witness picked up rifle] Now, the time you were attempting to put the

137

EDWARD GEIN weapon, was the gun in substansame position it is in now? A. I believe I was working with the magazine here shell into the

tially the

[indicating].

Q. And you are right-handed, aren't you? A. Yes. So I presume that you used your right hand to manipulate the magazine? A. Rigt. Q. Would you do it again as you did when Mr. Frinzi was cross-examining? FRINZI: Direct examining. SUTTON: When Mr. Frinzi had you on direct examination. THE WITNESS: Well, you pull it all the way up [pulling out magazine tube]. You have to with this

Q

rifle.

Q. And then you put the shell in? A. Right. Q. And it took you three or four minutes to figure it out? A. This works altogether different than my Marlin. Q. But, it took you three or four minutes to figure that out? A. You see

—

Q.

That's right, isn't

or four minutes

it,

Mr. Gein?

It took

you

three

figure it out? FRINZI: Now, just a minute. COURT: Wait a minute. He's trying to

THE

figure

—

THE WITNESS:

It took that

locks different than mine.

long because

Then I operated

to

this

the action,

but no shell came in. You can hear a clicking sound when the shell goes into the chamber. SUTTON: Were you holding the weapon as you are now? A. Yes.

Q. With regard to where you were standing, where was Mrs. Worden standing when you were doing this?

138

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S

A. While I was doing there.

Q

she was standing over

this

[Witness pointing] Slant.

That's where the

window

is?

A. Right. Q. Were you facing this direction? A. Right. And she had her back to you and she was looking out the window?

Q

Well, she was on a slant. Q. And then what happened? A. Then you have to lock this in like that [indicating]. It's altogether different than the Marlin. Q. Go ahead. What happened then? to operate the action you A. Then, you see, before have to pull the trigger if it's cocked before. When I operated the slide that naturally cocked the gun

A.

—

and

locked

it.

Q. Just as you are standing now you did it? A. Well, I was just demonstrating now. That's what I want you to do to the best of your

Q

recollection.

FRINZI: Just a him

to

minute. Just a minute. Let's get understand. I think he should be

SUTTON: witness.

He

I

—

object

can have

to

this.

I'm examining the

redirect.

Id like to ask that the prosecutor inform the witness as to his question that he wants him to demonstrate as best he knows how how he did it on the sixteenth of November, 1957. FRINZI: Just a

THE COURT:

minute.

I don't

—

know whether

that's

—

what

he wants or not.

SUTTON: Of course FRINZI: Ask him

that's

THE COURT: All right. SUTTON: You have been you did on Mr. Gein?

the sixteenth of

THE WITNESS: Q.

Show

us

what I want.

then.

demonstrating just what November, haven't you,

No.

how you did

November.

139

it

on

the sixteenth of

EDWARD GEIN A.

That's quite hard to remember after almost eleven years, but I'd say I probably bly took three or four

—

like I says, it probaminutes that I figured out to

this button and slide it. Were you holding the gun like that? A. As I'm right-handed, I would. Q. Now, we have gotten past that point to the fact that you have gotten the gun into the bullet into the gun. Now, you're having difficult with the

push

Q

—

trigger, right?

A. Right. Q.

Mrs. Worden is standing sideways looking out the window, right?

A.

Off this way

Q

[indicating].

You're looking at me, light? A. Right.

Q. And that's the way you were in the store? A. That's when I pumped the shell and was operating it, right.

Now, demonstrate

to me how you held the weapon you were trying to work the trigger. I don't want you to turn, Mr. Gein, I want you to show me how you did it, not the judge. Show me how you did it. A. That's what I was just going to show you. This

Q.

as

way. [Witness turning

to the right

a

little]

Q. Why? A. You see, after almost eleven years, it's pretty hard to show exactly how I stood almost eleven years ago. Everybody should admit that. Q. But you do remember that you turned? A. Yes. I may have been standing this way after I loaded it [indicating], but I was facing you because we were talking and. I naturally turned that way, and I hate to point this at people. THE COURT: Go ahead. If it isn't empty it's somebody else's fault. I'll blame you, Sheriff. FRINZI: Hold it. Before we do any more demonstrating, I value my life. I'd like to have one of the firearms guys back there check this gun. This gun

140

AMERICA'S was

used.

Can

to see if there

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

I be excused a minute to check it out are any bullets in herel [Wilimovsky

checking gun] Judge, if anything happens we can blame the State of Wisconsin. Mr. Wilimovsky says there is nothing in the gun. COURT: Okay. Leave it there until he asks you a question. Go ahead, Mr. Sutton. SUTTON: Before we get back to that, I refreshed my recollection on something. The weapon you were

THE

to trade in an this one, which of the caliber didnt it fire? A. Twenty-two long rifle would jam. Q. And you were interested in buying a gun that would shoot that caliber? The shell you put in here was a .22 short, wasnt it?

going shells

A. Right. Q.

How would that prove

to

you

it

would shoot a .22

long?

a difference in rifles. Some will no long, and some are chambered just for the .22 long rifle. Q. And you wanted one which shot the .22 long? A. All, the short, long, and long rifle. Q. Now, will you stand up again, please? Take the rifle in your hands. Now, would you lean it against the wall in back of your chair as it was similar to the position it was in when you first saw it in the store? Now, you went up and picked A.

You

see, there 's

take a .22 short but

—

—

the

A.

weapon up,

is

that right?

—

hasnt been mentioned in any in the court proceedings so far, but there was a chain across It

here

and

full length in front of the

rifles,

and

some shotguns, I guess. Q. So, what happened then? A. To take it out youd have to take it this way out [indicating], from underneath the chain. Q. And did you do that? A. Yes. Q.

And, where was Mrs. Worden when you did that?

141

EDWARD GEIN A. She probably would be just where the judge

is

down. Standing there. Q. And, was this the point where you had the conversitting

sation with her?

A. Yes.

Q

What did she say to you at this point? A. This was the point when I ashed her about if handled

Q

And

it

all three.

she said, yes?

A. Yes. Q. And what did you do then? A. Just looking the rifle over then. That's all at that time.

Q

And

then what happened?

A. Well, she walked over then. Q. Did she walk over by the window? A. Yes. Q. In what direction is that? A. Northwest. Q. In a northwest direction she walked? A. That's right.

Q. And then what did you do? A. I just demonstrated that once already. Q. I know, and I'm sorry to belabor the point, but I'd like you to demonstrate it again. This time facing the right direction.

A. Well, reaching in the pocket, putting the shell

and

in,

you don't push this so it goes down, it won't chamber the shell. Q. And this took you three to four minutes, and during this time she was over by the window, is if

that right?

A.

You

operate

—

Q. Is that right, Mr. Gem? That took you three or four minutes while she was over by the window? A. You're wrong. Q. Well, what happened? A. I stated before that I operated the action, and no shell

went in

the chamber.

142

AMERICA'S

Q A.

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

All right Then I didn't see any release, so the only way do it is point it down and pull the trigger.

to

Q. Point it toward the floor? A. Right. And that's what you did in exactly that position,

Q

or as close as you can recall?

A. That's right. (?. Then how did you shoot Mrs. Worden if she was standing over there? A. She wasn't standing there. Where was she standing? A. She was standing where I told you. She was northwest of me. Q. She was by the window when you shot her? A. Facing the window. I still don't know how it works. [Witness handling gun]

Q

Q

All right. As you were bringing the gun down, the gun accidentally discharged, right?

you say A. I'd say

Q

that, yes.

And you

looked

up when you heard

the report?

A. Right.

Q

And you saw Mrs. Worden

standing up ?

A. Right. Q.

And

then you looked

up and you

down

again,

and you looked

couldn't see her?

A. I heard that noise.

Q. You may

A

.

sit down. Something striking metal

like;

—

something rattling

metal rattling. Q. You may sit down. Where was the counter in this store with relation to where you were standing. A.

There was an island in front here where things could be put on. There were things on it too.

Q. Where was the side door, the door

was? A. That would be over here

to the

—where

the truck

gun

at the north

end of

rack.

Q. Where did Mrs.

Worden 's body come 143

to rest?

the

EDWARD GEIN A. Northwest from

me where

I was standing on the

floor.

Q

That was quite a lengthy distance, would you the door to where the truck was?

say,

from A.

Oh— me

was it on the same side of the door to the truck was? A. You see, in back through that doorway was where they overhauled tractors, and I guess, loading Q. Let

ask you

this:

store as ivhere the

and

Q

and then off on the side there park a truck or car off south

things like that,

was a room from there. Well,

my

to

—

was that door on the opposite ordens body from where Mrs.

question:

side of the store

W

came to rest as you described the shooting? A. That would be east. That goes in the back part. Q. Let me ask you this: did her body come to rest close to where the door was to the truck area? A. No. Q. Some distance away from that? A. Right.

Q

Then what did you do after you heard the noise of something hitting metal? A. I went over to see what it was what caused it. Q. Now, by "went over" would you describe what you mean by that? Did you walk directly, or did

—

—

you go A. I had

by

to

—

to the end of the where I was. counter, where was her body?

walk around the back

island. I couldn't see her from

Q. With relation to the A. That would be northwest. Yes, northwest. Q. Was the counter between you and her body ? A.

Yes.

Q.

And,

by

mean

by that?

"island," could

you

tell

us what you

in hardware stores, where they put on canned goods. Any store they call them islands. It's like a table, and most of them have shelves.

A. They generally call them, islands,

144

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Q. How high was that? A. Oh, 3 112 feet or so.

Q. So you walked around the island? A. Yes. Q. Was her body on the other side of that island? A. Right. Q. So her body was not in back of the counter?

THE COURT:

Are

and

the counter

the island the

same thing?

THE WITNESS: SUTTON:

No, they're different. The counter and island are two

differ-

ent objects, right?

THE

VSITNESS:

SUTTON: And

Right.

you

testified that

her was behind that island? FRINZI: Wait a minute. Object This is not the testimony.

SUTTON: Then

he can say no. minute. Don't

FRINZI: Just a say. I got

an

objection,

and

where you shot

to that question.

tell

him what to form of the

object to the

question as assuming a fact not in evidence. COURT: Well, I think your phrasing

THE

is

Mr. Sutton. Rephrase it, please. SUTTON: At the time you shot Mrs. Worden, you

unfortunate,

were standing on one side of the island, right? FRINZI: Just a minute. Object on the same ground that there is a conclusion in the answer. He's assuming a fact not in evidence.

THE COURT: can get at

it

FRINZI:

Well, I think so too. I think you without using that phraseology. Fortunately we don't have a jury. This

would be prejudicial

THE COURT:

error.

Well, you're not prejudicing the

court.

FRINZI:

I

know

THE COURT:

that,

Judge.

All right,

try it

again.

SUTTON: at the

With regard to the island, Mr. Gein, time you shot Mrs. Worden where were you

standing?

FRINZI: Just a

minute. Mr. Gein, don't answer.

145

EDWARD GEIN THE COURT:

The trouble is "at the time he an implication of a conclusion there. SUTTON: The gun was in your hand, according your testimony, and you pulled the trigger, and the

shot." There's

to

gun went off, right? FRINZI: Wait a

minute. If he wants to ask a triple question, not a double question. Vm going to object. THE COURT: I think you can go back to your other phrasing of it, Mr. Sutton, and leave out this

—

questions

that's

"he shot her" part.

SUTTON: When the gun went off, Mr. Gein, where were you standing with relation to this island you're talking about? FRINZI: If he

knows.

SUTTON: If he doesn't know,

I assume he wouldn't

answer.

THE WITNESS: SUTTON:

East of

that.

And, where was Mrs.

THE WITNESS:

Worden?

I believe that's been

gone over

half a dozen times.

THE COURT: We may have to go over it again. SUTTON: With relation to the island, where was she?

THE WITNESS:

She was on

the northwest side

of the island. Q. Was she on the other side of the island? A. Right. Q. Now, where you were standing when the gun went off, where was the counter the store counter?

—

A. By her Q.

Well,

office.

in

what direction from where you were

standing?

A. That was north. Q. That was almost, would you say, directly north of where you were standing? A. Right.

Q

So, if I understand the time the

your testimony

gun went

off

146

and

correctly, at

at the time that

AMERICA'S Mrs. Warden

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

disappeared, she was standing north-

west of this island you testified to? FRINZI: Just a minute. Object to the

form of the

question as assuming a fact not in evidence. There

is

nothing here that the body disappeared. THE COURT: Yes. He said so. Disappeared from his sight.

FRINZI: He should

THE COURT: FRINZI: The

state so in his question.

Oh, I think—

appelate court wouldn't understand

that.

THE COURT: Go ahead, Mr. Sutton. SUTTON: At the time the gun went off and Mrs. Worden disappeared from your view, she was standing on the other side of that island, right?

THE WITNESS: Q.

And about fifteen is

A.

Yes.

or twenty feet east of the counter,

that right?

West.

Q. Which direction was she from the counter? FRINZI: Why don't you answer the question?

THE COURT: He from

asked what direction she was

the counter.

SUTTON: Do you

deny that she fell in back of the

counter?

THE WITNESS:

I do.

Q. All right. Then what did you do after you went

around

the isle?

A. Looked at her. Q. Was she facedown on the floor or was she faceup? A. Well, you'd call it faceup. Q. She was faceup? A. Yes. Q. She was laying on her back? A. Yes. Q. All right. A. Yes.

And you

testified that

you saw blood?

Q. Did you see a lot of blood? A. Just blood. I couldn't say how much.

147

EDWARD GEIN Q.

And

where was the blood coming from, could you

tell?

A. No.

Q

Was

A.

Yes.

Q.

And the

there blood by her

head?

—

then you took the

gun around

Did you take you when you

strike that.

the counter with

went to look at her body? A. I can't remember that. Q. And then you went and put the rifle back in the rack? A. Yes. Q. Did you put it underneath the chain? A. I cant remember that. Q. But you do remember putting it in the rack? A. Either over it or under it. Q. And then what did you do? A. Well— ordens body then? Q. Did you move Mrs. A. That's where I can't remember too well.

W

Well, search your recollection. Do you remember moving her body? A. I can't remember that. Q. Let me ask you this, Mr. Gein: Do you consider yourself a good shot with a rifle? FRINZI: Objected to, Your Honor. THE COURT: He may answer. THE WITNESS: At that time I was seeing double. SUTTON: Oh, you were seeing double? A. If I looked close up I'd see double. If I looked through rifle sights or something I'd have to wear

Q.

glasses.

Q. Did you have glasses on? A. No.

Q. You remember that? A. Yes. Q. You're sure of that? A. Right. Q. When you went over and looked at Mrs. Worden's body did you know she was dead?

148

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

A. No.

Q. Did you realize that she had been shot? A. I saw blood, that's all.

Q. Did you think to get a doctor? A. I'd say no to that. Q. Did you think that there was any connection between the fact that you had been handling that

weapon and it discharged, and the fact was laying on the floor with some blood?

that she

A.

Yes.

Q

So then did you take her body around behind

the

counter? A. No. You're sure of that? A. Yes. Did you take her body out

Q Q

to the

back of the store

where the truck was? A. That I don't remember. When did you see your car again?

Q Q

A.

The same

day.

When

do you remember seeing the car again? A. The same day. That's all I can answer. Q. Well, how long after what happened in Mrs.

W

orden's store? A. Probably an hour. Q. Where did you see it, do you remember? A. Parked in front of her store. Q. Okay. What happened then? A. Drove home, I guess. You don't remember driving home? A. I remember being home. Q. And do you remember being home with Mrs. orden's body? A. I don't remember that. Q. Look at these pictures, Mr. Gein. Do you remem-

Q

W

ber that?

A. [Witness looking at photographs] Some of these

—

pictures

Q.

Do you remember some FRINZI: You've

of these pictures? Mr. Gein, so the

got to answer,

149

EDWARD GEIN reporter can mark it down. [Witness looking at photographs and shaking head with long pause in proceedings] Would the court reporter indicate on the record that the witness nodded his head in a negative manner? SUTTON: Object. I have no idea what he means.

FRJNZI: Ask

SUTTON: what

him.

I ask you again.

Do you remember

those pictures portray?

A. I know what they portray y but I don't remember seeing anything like this.

Q

You dont remember seeing that at your farm? All You may put the photographs down. Do

right.

you remember eating supper that evening? That was to Lester Hill's place. Q. What time did you go over there? Do you remem-

A.

ber that?

A.

Q

That was after dinner, but His daughter It was after dinner?

—

I couldn't exactly say.

A. Yes. Q. Where did you eat dinner? A. To home. His daughter and her brother,

—

and

two brothers came to my place. Q. They came to your place? A. Right. Did you tell them that anything had happened Mrs. Worden?

Q

— to

A. No.

Q

Why

not?

A. I couldn't say.

Q. You had no reason for not telling them? FRENZI: He already answered he couldn't say,

Your Honor. Object

to 'the

question as repetitive.

He

already answered the question.

THE COURT: I think he answered. SUTTON: Were you afraid that you'd hended by the police? FRINZI: Object on answered.

He

the

same grounds

said he can't say.

150

be appre-

He

already

AMERICAS MOST BIZARRE MURDERER THE COURT: Well, the court doubts if it's

a

proper question.

SUTTON: Mr.

Gein,

when you

took the rifle out

of the case, could you recall whether the safety mechanism was on or off? THE WITNESS: It must have been off because the action worked.

Q. Did you manipulate at all the safety mechanism

during the time you handled the

rifle?

A. No. Q. Did you recollect these events as you testified to them today in October of this year, 1968? A. Would you explain that? Q. Yes. Last month did you remember these events that

you

testified to?

A. Yes, I believe

Q.

so.

Have you remembered

these events continuously

since they occurred?

A. For a quite a few years.

FRENZI: What was that answer? THE WITNESS: For quite a few years.

SUTTON: Did you remember them on the night of November 16, 1957, when you were arrested? A. All the events? Q. Events you the

gun

testified to today, the

—of

the rifle

—and

manipulation of

the other things

you

testified recalling today.

A.

Tm sure

of

Q

Do you

recall

it.

having a conversation with Dr. Crawley in the Winnebago County jail on October 23, 1968? [Dr. William Crawley, a psychiatrist from Milwaukee]

A. Yes. Q.

You

didn't

tell

Dr. Crawley any of these things,

did you? A. Just answered his questions. Some of his questions were about what happened in Mrs. Wordens store weren't they? A. He didn't ask me very many questions as I remember.

Q

151

EDWARD GEIN Q. You admit that you didn't tell him anything about this loading of the gun, and having the difficulty putting the bullet in, and wanting to test it to see whether it took .22 shorts, and having your finger on the trigger and having the weapon go off? You didn't tell him any of those things, did you? FRINZI: Just a minute. Object to that question. The question was whether he admitted to Dr. Crawley these things. It's an improper question, Your Honor. SUTTON: Did you tell him about those things? THE WITNESS: No.

Do you remember

Q.

the night of

November 16,

1957, and having a conversation with Deputy Dan Chase about what had happened in Mrs. Worden's store? A. At the jail. Wautoma jail. Q. You didn't tell him anything about this either, did you? A. I believe I tried

Q

You

you

say

to,

told

but they wouldn't listen. them that you put in the .22

short and all of those things? FRINZI: Just a minute. Object

That was not about

his statement.

to the question.

He said he didn't ask

him

it.

THE COURT: He

said he tried to

tell

them but

they wouldn't listen.

SUTTON: Now, were a

little

you

testified that

ever since you

boy the sight of blood caused you to black

out?

A.

Yes.

Q. Is that animal blood as well as human blood? A. Well, it would have been the same.

Q.

When you went hunting for squirrels animals, did you black out

or deer, or

when you would

see

blood?

A. I didn't hunt deer. Q. Well, the squirrels that you shot, the one squirrel you shot the day before, when you shot it, did it

152

AMERICAS MOST BIZARRE MURDERER A. I

Q

left it lay

Did

it

where

it

fell.

bleed?

A. I didn't go

up

to see.

Q. Because you were afraid you'd black out if you

went up

to see it?

A. I couldn't answer that. Did you ever dress an animal

Q

—

for

and prepare

it

after killing it?

My father and mother done that. Q. Were you ever present when that was done? A. Seldom. Q. On occasion were you, though? A. Right. Q. Did you pass out then, or black out, I mean? There was a lot of blood then, wasn't there, under those circumstances? A. Not small animals, no. Q. Well, did you experience this blackout when you would see any blood when your father was doing A.

this?

When

A.

we'd butcher I'd always walk out in the

field or something like that,

away from

it.

Q. Your mother died in 1945, is that correct? A. I believe so. From 1945 to 1957, did you ever have occasion to butcher any animals, small or large? A. No. Do you deny that you mutilated Mrs. Worden's body as those photographs show it? Q. [Long pause] I don't remember it, but Q. If you did do it, is that the first time you ever did anything like that?

Q Q

—

FRINZI:

Object to the question.

SUTTON: FRINZI:

He

I

mean

to

an animal.

I believe that question has been answered.

said he doesn't remember.

THE COURT: He said he didn't

remember doing

that.

SUTTON: Do

you deny you ever butchered an

animal yourself?

153

EDWARD GEIN FRINZI: He

already answered that. Object on the repetitious. Mr. Sutton asked if he butchered animals, large or small, and he said no.

grounds that

it's

THE COURT:

That's been covered.

He

said he

any animals. SUTTON: Other than your amnesia relating to the events after Mrs. Worden was shot in the Worden store, were there any other times in your life that you have had amnesia or that you have no recollection of the events that happened? FRINZI: I'll object to that, Your Honor. It's not didn't butcher

within the province of

—

If he experienced this type of amnesia before? Do you know what I mean by "amnesia"? this witness.

SUTTON: Have you

THE WITNESS. Yes. THE COURT: He says yes. FRINZI: If he had amnesia, he wouldn't know. The very statement begs the question. THE COURT: No, he may answer. THE WITNESS: When I was to Central State—to give you a little example / wheeled in a patient for examination in the operating room, and he had a rectal examination and they put an expander which caused bleeding, and I almost passed out then. That was Dr. Laramore there and Dr. Schneider. SUTTON: Other than that, can you tell the judge whether you ever experienced amnesia as you testified you did on November 16, 1957? FRINZI: Object to the form of the question, Your

—

Honor. There's nothing in the record where he said he experienced amnesia on November 16, 1957. He testified to certain questions that were put to him. SUTTON: Well, all right. I'll withdraw that. Mr. Gein, you recall these events that transpired on the morning of November 16. About what time did this happen?

FRINZI: I'll object to the vagueness of the question. What are we referring to? SUTTON: What time were you handling the weapon and the gun went off? 154

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

THE WITNESS: Probably half past eight. Q. In the morning? A. Right. Q. What is the next thing you remember that day? A. That would be when this Darlene Hill and her brother Bob and her little brother came to my place. That's the plainest I can remember. Q. What time was that? A. That was right after twelve

o'clock,

Vd

say.

Q. Noon? A. Noon.

Q.

So,

Vm

correct that

you do not remember any

event that transpired between approximately 8:30 in the morning and 12:30 November 16, 1957.

in the afternoon

on

A. Except what I testified to. Q. Except what you testified to, is that right? A. Right. Q. Do you remember anything about the cash register in the orden store?

W

FRINZI:

Objected

to

THE COURT:

was

if

he remem-

it.

THE WITNESS: put money

may answer

Well, he

bers anything about

her, she

as immaterial. That case

Your Honor.

dismissed,

The only

thing,

when

I paid

in.

SUTTON: How many bullets did you have in your pocket when you went into the Worden store? A. That I couldn't say. Well, could you say that they were all the same

Q

caliber?

A.

Yes.

Q. Were thy all .22 shorts? A. Yes.

Q. You had no .22 longs? A. For squirrels I used shorts.

Q. You had no .22 longs with you? A. No.

Q

Was

it

your intention

to test the

155

weapon

to see

EDWARD GEIN whether

it

took

22

long

shells

and .22 long

rifle

shells?

A. I didn't have any with me. Q. So that was not your intention? A. So I couldn't test it. Q. That's

want

my point. Was

your intention? Did you

that

whether it could shoot .22 longs and .22 long rifle bullets? A. I couldn't test it without shells.

Q

to test that rifle to see

Did you want

to test it?

A. Remember, I said I asked her. Q. But, you didn't believe her when she told you, did

you? A. No.

FRINZI:

as argumentative. tell— FRINZI: Wait a minute. SUTTON: Let me finish my question. FRINZI: You finished your question. I want the

Object

to that

SUTTON: Did you

court to rule.

THE COURT: As far as

the original question

you

asked, the court will sustain the objection as argu-

mentative.

SUTTON: Did

you

examination, Mr. Gein, it

tell

me

earlier in

when Mrs. Worden

cross-

you you didn't believe her was true in your other told

took the three caliber bullets,

because they told you that

gun? FRINZI: gone over

Object to that question as repetitive. He's

that before.

THE COURT: He may answer. THE WITNESS: Will you repeat

that, please?

SUTTON: Read

Do you

it

back

to

him.

under-

stand what I mean?

THE WITNESS: I'd say yes.

Q

And

A.

Yes.

Q.

Am

that

is

why you

inserted the .22 short, right?

I correct that you have stated that you were

interested in determining whether the rifle could

156

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

take .22 shorts, .22 longs,

and .22 long

rifles,

but you didn't have any .22 long shells, did you?

A. No.

Q

And you

didn't

have any .22 long

rifle shells,

did

you? A. No. Q.

And

as a matter offact that

is

not why you loaded

that bullet into that rifle at all,

FRINZI:

Objected

SUTTON: FRINZI:

That's

is it

Mr. Gein?

as argumentative.

to all.

I got a couple redirect questions.

THE COURT: All right. REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY FRINZI: Q. Mr. Gein,

how

old were you at the time that your

had this meat market? If you remember. A. Around five. Q. You were five years old? folks

A.

Yes.

Q.

Now, what, if any, activity did you see across the street from the orden hardware store at the time

W

you arrived there? A. Mr. Spees

and another

person.

Q. And what were they doing, if you remember? A. I believe they were getting a deer scale ready for weighing.

Q

Pardon?

A.

Getting a deer scale ready for weighing deer.

Q.

Now, Mr. Gein, did you ever see anyone shot before your eyes prior to November 16, 1957?

A. No. Q.

When

did you first decide

Worden hardware

store?

to test this rifle in the

Was

it

after

you bought

the antifreeze?

SUTTON: FRINZI:

Object.

Leading and suggestive.

Tell us when.

THE WITNESS:

Yes, after.

That would be

after.

Q. Pardon? A. After. Q.

What was your

reason, originally, for going to

157

EDWARD GEIN the Worden 1957?

on

store

the sixteenth

day of November,

A. For the antifreeze. Q. To buy antifreeze? A. Yes.

FRINZI:

That's

THE COURT:

all.

Is that all,

Mr. Sutton?

SUTTON: No. I have a question. RECROSS-EXAMINATION BY SUTTON: SUTTON: After you bought the antifreeze, you decided

to test the

weapon to see whether it would fire and .22 long rifle bullets?

.22 short, .22 long,

FRINZI:

Objected

SUTTON:

to.

That's not the evidence here.

I'm asking him whether

that's true

or

This

is

not.

FRINZI: That was

not his

testimony.

recross-examination.

THE COURT:

I'm going

to

sustain the objection.

That's not a proper question.

SUTTON: Did you after

you had taken

make

that decision,

Mr. Gein,

the antifreeze out to the car?

FRINZI: Object to the form of the question. We know what he's referring to. What decision?

don't

SUTTON: FRINZI:

The decision to test the rifle. to, Your Honor.

Objected

THE COURT: He may THE WITNESS: Yes.

answer.

SUTTON: You thought of that while you were putting the antifreeze in your back seat?

THE WITNESS:

Yes.

Q. And then you went back into the store? A. Yes. Q. And then you discovered the bullets in your pocket? A. Yes.

Q

So when you made the decision you didn't even know you had pocket?

FRINZI:

Objected to. That's all

SUTTON: FRINZI:

I want a ruling.

158

to fire the rifle,

bullets in

your

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

THE COURT: guing

to the

FRINZI: He the big

Objection sustained.

You're ar-

court through the witness.

goes too fast for me,

and

Vm from

city.

THE COURT: FRINZI: He

I have

no doubts.

does that

when

it's

going against

him. I have one more question.

THE COURT: All right. REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY FRINZI: Mr. Gein, you see Dr. Schubert and you see Dr. Miller?

Q.

in court here

today

A. Right. it was a month after November 1 6 that you them what you testified here today about what orden store? happened in the

Q. And, told

W

A. I believe

so.

Following the testimony of Edward Gein the

defense presented an expert on firearms to

who

tried

demonstrate that the shooting was accidental.

Testimony of Frank November

Worden

Even murder trials are not on this day a stir went through the courtroom with Sutton's opening 13,

1968.

usually too dramatic, but

statement:

My first witness and he has

this

merous other times in the here

Mr. Frank Worden, and nupast when I have been up

morning

is

indicated both on this occasion

and attempted

to talk to

159

him, tremendous hostil-

EDWARD GEIN toward the defendant and has advised both myself the sheriff that he feels there is a possibility if he sees the defendant he will be unable to control himself. I realize this is very unusual, but I ask the deferity

and

ence of the court either to take the testimony of Mr. Worden in here and have the defendant stay out in the courtroom, or alternatively, take the testimony of

Mr. Worden

and have

in the courtroom

the defend-

ant remain in here.

THE COURT: FRINZI:

Well,

Well, this

THE COURT:

Yes,

is

Mr. Frinzi? unusual, Your Honor.

it is.

FRINZI: Mr. Sutton knows what not going

the

law

Vm

is.

to try his lawsuit.

SUTTON: What does that mean? FRINZI: The law requires the defendant

to

be

present in all stages of the procedure. SUTTON: A right which he can waive.

FRINZI: Honor,

Let

me

confer with

Mr.

Your

Belter.

law requires that the defendant be present at all stages of a proceeding, and that he confront anyone that testifies against him. Unless Mr. Sutton can tell us some arrangement whereby Mr. Gein is present to hear and see that witness, whether we operate in here and Mr. Gein is at this door and we work there, or Mr. Gein at that door and the witness is over there, that is one thing, but I can't in conscience waive a right of Mr. Gein's to be present at the time that this testimony is offered. He's got a right to face the man that is going to give testimony against the

him.

THE COURT: question that that

SUTTON: about that

I don't think that there

is

I don't think

either.

THE COURT:

there

I just felt I

attention of the court. Well,

Mr. had

is

any

the law.

would

had it

is

any question

to call

suit

it

to

the

your problem,

Sutton, if Mr. Gein sat here in the doorway and the door open? This is unique, but would that

160

AMERICA'S assist

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

your problem? I don't know

own feeling

is

SUTTON:

—

I don't

man, and my

this

know him, and I'm not a

psychiatrist, but the depth

of his feeling is itself obvious to me, that he is not making it up the way he feels about Mr. Gein, and, frankly, this is one of the conditions upon which he has requested me to make I told him in all probability I would be granted. COURT: He can't make conditions about

in order to

didn't think

THE how him

testify.

it

to testify,

and if he doesn't testify, I shall find and treat him accordingly.

in contempt

SUTTON: never

I probably spoke too strongly there.

directly indicated that he's not

the witness stand

going

on

and

THE COURT:

eventually forget everything. Of course that can happen too.

That's maybe your problem. I'm willing to do

Mr. Frinzi

He

to get

this.

If

have Mr. Gein sit in this door, but I think he has to sit in such a place where he can see the witness, and hear what he says. consents, I'm willing to

SUTTON: That's perfectly THE COURT: All right.

—

agreeable.

you

Sheriff,

Mr. Gein move his chair around here and in the doorway. with

either

sit

so he's sitting

FRINZI: the

If this is the case, for the protection of defendant and everyone else in the courtroom, I

—for security reasons—check

ask you to

this

—

guy out

make a search of him so that he doesn't come in here armed. I mean what the heck. You called this to the court's attention.

SUTTON:

Don't be prosecuting me.

FRINZI: I'm

Mr. Belter feels there's hard Mr. Gein and Mr. Worden. THE COURT: I feel very strongly that I would not want to have an unpleasant incident occur. I think, Sheriff, that we should be assured that this man is not armed. I don't know what the depth of his feeling is, and, frankly, we have never run into this not, but

feelings between

sort of situation before, even in But, I want to be assured that he

161

kind of a case. not armed, and I

this is

EDWARD GEIN want to be sure that he does not injure the defendant. That's not hisjob.

He cannot takejustice into his

—

own hands heor anybody else. Okay. You're abig man. You can handle it, I'm sure.

We ended up with the defedant sitting in the door from my chambers into the courtroom, the witness on the left, and the judge between the two of them. Fortunately

my

my

trusty bailiff,

Dan Chase,

Gein smiled broadly throughout these proceedings. He seemed very calm and at was

at

right.

ease.

The

testimony of

Worden was prosaic. He had November 15, 1957, in the

seen the defendant on

The defendant had asked the witness if he was going hunting and Worden had answered, store.

Other than that he could not remember. and Frinzi waived cross-examination. The witness left and there was no disturbance. yes.

Sutton's examination was very brief

Jan Beck

in Rebuttal

Jan Beck of the crime- lab then

identified

ous pictures of the interior of the

The purpose of

numer-

Worden

store.

this testimony and show the cluttered condition of the store with racks for merchandise and other obstructions between the gun rack from which the murder

was

the pictures

to

162

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S

weapon was taken and the pool of blood. This testimony was important to refute Gein's claim

was an accident.

that the shooting

After some testimony that the state rested

its

rebuttal.

I will

not detail here,

There was no

surre-

by the defense and testimony closed in the phase of the case. It then became the duty of

buttal first

the judge to determine whether or not the state

had proven

degree murder.

first

until the following

I

took a recess

morning to consider my decision.

The Court's Decision November

14,

1968. At the opening of court

decided the murder portion of the case.

mind

analyze the case.

attempted

at in

that the defense insisted that

I

it

had been an

accidental shooting.

At

the close of the testimony yesterday the court

indicated that

it

wanted time

and make a proven under the

to reflect

decision as to the type of offense facts in this case.

Before I go into my consideration of the evidence, a couple of general statements that it wants to make. the court has

We

a country in which we have what we a democratic form of government. I was brought most forcefvMy to the atten-

live in

believe to be

presume thai

I

quote

The reader must bear

that decision rather fully because least to

I

163

EDWARD GEIN week when we had an election in won't take any sides in that election by commenting on it. I merely want to point out that the electors were divided almost evenly between the two popular candidates. Nevertheless, the next day when the election was over, there were no tion of everyone last

this

and

country,

armed

The people who lost made up would proceed under our demo-

rebellions in this country.

accepted their their

I

minds

loss,

and

that they

cratic process to

move toward

I have no doubt,

regroup their forces, as

it

were,

and

the next election.

One of the important features of our form of democracy, in my judgement, is our concept of law our courts and the care we take to make sure that every person accused of a crime has a full, fair, and complete trial. Not only is he given his day in court, as it were, but we also make every effort to make sure that he or she, as the case may be, is represented by competent counsel, skilled in this particular area of the law. I make these statements particularly because I am well aware of the fact that there are people and undoubtedly people in this community—who have expressed some doubts as to whether or not this case should be tried. I am sure there are some people who have prejudged it. I am equally sure there are some who have criticized those who determined that Mr. Gein was fit to stand trial and returned him here for

—

—

—

trial.

This court is firmly committed to the concept thai one of the great things we have in America is the right of every man to have a trial, either before a court or jury of his peers. This is the great concept that we must cling to, because when the day comes that this right is not extended to this man, or any

man, that same day, you and I, and the rest of us who think we are good citizens, will find ourselves deprived of our rights. other

And so to

the court, publicly and on the commend Dr. Schubert and those on

164

record, wants the reviewing

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S

committee for the fact that to stand

Edward Gein was fit to the

court for

when

determined returned him

they

trial, they

trial.

to commend counsel on both sides. This case has been well tried, and carefully prepared, even though it was not at all easy to prepare and try because it is now eleven years after the facts. Counsel

The court wants

has done an excellent job. They have conducted them-

a lawyer-like manner at all times. The court is pleased with them. The court too is pleased with the community because,

selves properly, in

again, as in the election, there are, as I said, many am sure, who take a rather dim view of this

people I trial.

no one in

Nevertheless,

made any to take the

this

community has

effort to interfere with the process

law into

an improper

his

nature.

ofjustice, hands, or do anything of this commendation, of course,

own

And

extends to the sheriff and his officers who have made sure that this case was conducted within the law.

Now, specific

the issue before the court this

finding as

morning

is

a

to the offense.

If this case had been tried before a jury on the facts

we have had them, the court believes that it would have submitted to the jury for determination two possible offenses: one, first degree murder, and the other, second degree murder. as

The court

is

really sitting here today, at this point,

as a jury rather than a judge,

and

the court hopes

it

can determine this issue on the material facts that have been allowed in evidence in this case. The issue in a sense may be said to be a very narrow one. It is basically a question of whether or not the defendant formed an intent to kill, and that word, of course, is used within the meaning ascribed to

it

by the law.

because the law

is

This

is

basically

well established,

an issue of fact, and we all know

a practical matter you cant look in any mind and examine it to determine whether or not an intent was formed. It isn't like a picture; you can't look at it afterwards and see what was there. that as

person's

165

EDWARD GEIN The law presumes

that a person intends the natuof his or her acts. This is a

ral consequences

presumption.

We

—and

am

happy that we do have certain that a man charged with any offense is innocent until his guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Within the context of these rules, we have to examine the evidence presented. Someone has said in argument that his is a unique also

I

other presumptions

—presume

and

I think that is the understatement of the unique in many, many respects. The undisputed testimony establishes that when it was discovered that Mrs. Worden had disappeared, for certain reasons suspicion was directed toward the defendant. The officers went to the home of the defendant and there they found the body of Mrs. Worden with her head removed and dressed somewhat like a deer might be dressed. Later investigation disclosed that a certain rifle, case,

year. It

is

now marked

Exhibit 1 7 in this case, was in the store of Mrs. Worden, and it had a discharged shell in it which the evidence establishes was fired out of that gun. A bullet was recovered from the head of Mrs. Worden, and the expert testimony here is undisputed

was fired from Exhibit 17. Certain fingerprints were found on Exhibit 17 and these have been identified by an expert in this that that bullet

field as a fingerprint

and a palm

print

from Mr.

Gein. And, of course, I think we have all reached the point that we accept as a matter of course that no two

people have identical fingerprints and that recognized method of identification.

The defendant in his

own

this is

a

in this case elected to take the stand

defense and* testified as

to the

events that

occurred in the store as he remembers them. Unlike the Perry Mason stories, we didnt have a surprise witness at the end who was peeking in the window and observed it, and so on. We have to go on

we get them. The defense in this case

the facts as

is

166

basically

one of acciden-

AMERICA'S tal

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

discharge of the gun,

and

the thrust

of

argu-

this

would remove any intent. Experts who have examined this gun have testified that the gun was in perfect mechanical condition and ment of course

gun

that the course,

is

the

that that

is

contained certain safety factors. One, of mechanism just behind the trigger, and

another is a built-in safety factor that requires release by pressing a lever on the bottom of the gun. The court has examined the photographs of the store, and the court has reread its notes. So, then, we get to the question of whether or not there was an intent. And these lawyers know, of

under the law is not an intent must be formed a month or a week, or a day before. It can be formed, as far as the law is concerned, course, that this intent that

the instant before.

The evidence is undisputed that Mrs. Worden was a bullet fired from this rifle, and that at the time of firing the rifle was in the hands of the killed by

defendant. This

is

clearly established.

The court might point out

also that in this case,

rather uniquely, a psychiatrist was called by the de-

fense as a part of the main case. Usually we keep all of that until the second part. But, I think we can say without question that

was

it

established here, as a

part of the main case, that the defendant at the time of this occurrence was psychotic, that he was a

—and

schizophrenic

—and

illness

that,

of course,

is

a mental a

that this condition existed for quite

number of years prior Dr. Miller examination,

to this

testified also,

occurrence. as a part of his direct

Mr. Gein had told him December of 1957. At that time the defendant told him that he was unable to say whether or not the gun went off accidentally. We to

the story

when he examined him

now

get

story

of what occurred

down

to the

in

defendant's

own

—and we have

—

testimony to

in the light of the other evidence to try determine whether or not the facts show an intent.

story

167

his

examine that to

s

EDWARD GEIN Mr. Gein

testified that when he went to the store, he was unarmed. He did have some .22 shorts in his pocket but his testimony indicated that he did not realize or know that they were there when he went in. There was the business about buying some antifreeze, and he said he took it out and put it in the car, and then came into the store and asked Mrs. Worden' permission to examine the gun, and she granted it to him. As a part of the examination, he opened the gun, placed a .22 short in it, closed the gun so that it was in firing condition, and at that point the gun went off. And, again, the question is, did he deliberately aim at Mrs. Worden or did it go off accidentally? Counsel for the defense argued, well, I think, that Mr. Gein could have taken a gun with him on that day if he had an intent to kill Mrs. Worden, and the court is familiar enough with the hunting habits in this area to realize that a man walking down the streets in the village on that day carrying one gun or y

half a dozen guns would not have attracted any is a rural commu-

particular attention because this

which most men take part in hunting activities. Counsel also argued that the placing of only one shell indicated a lack of intent to kill. There are some interesting conflicts in the evidence. Mr. Gein testified that he had not been in the store for a week before, and specifically, that he had not been in the store the day before, or conversed with Mr. Frank Worden, and he denied asking Mr. Worden whether he was going hunting. nity in

Mr. Worden

testified that he had been in the store day before, and that he had told Mr. Gein he was going hunting.

the

The court found, very interestingly, that the inside store, both as shown by the pictures and also from the testimony (I think we can say certainly without any criticism) was a typically old-fashioned country store in which a great many things were of the

168

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

around on the islands, and so forth, and this a factor that the court believes requires consideration on the question of intent. Evidence discloses zvithout any question that the defendant was familiar with firearms; he had been using them from the time he was eight years old. He indicated that squirrels had been a great annoyance to him, and that he had shot squirrels. In fact, he had shot one the day before. The court thinks it reasonably sitting is

probable that the defendant is an excellent marksman and that his skill has probably been sharpened by his squirrel hunting.

The court

thinks,

that

too,

we have

to take into

consideration the facts immediately after the shooting. Counsel did not argue this, but the court finds it significant that the defendant testified that after

Mrs.

Worden disappeared from his line of vision, that he went around the island and he saw her lying on the floor. alive.

He He

did not check to see if she was dead or did not do, from that point on, what most

people would do if a shooting were accidental. This may be somewhat conjecture, but I think most people

under circumstances of an accidental shooting would rush out into the get

a

this.

He

his car.

street

and

and

seek immediate aid, try to

The defendant did not do loaded the body into a truck, and then into And while he testified that he had no per-

doctor,

so forth.

sonal recollection of dissecting the body, there

can be no question that

defendant,

and

that he

hung

this

etc.,

I think

was done by

the

her in his woodshed.

This line of conduct, of course, does not fit with

an

accidental shooting.

The court observed the defendant on the stand, and the court is well aware of the psychiatric testimony that this man is mentally ill. The court is also well aware of the fact that this man has had opportunity to work out, in his own mind, a story. Whether he worked the story out as a result of the psychiatric reason testified to by Dr. Crawley, or whether he

169

EDWARD GEIN from his reading I cannot say and an educated man (never having gone beyond the eighth grade), I have a suspicion he is a well-read man in the sense that he has done a great amount of reading, and is quite well self-educated. The court does not accept the defendants story. It just does not ring true to me. The court is satisfied worked

it

while he

out

is

not

man

—

some instance perhaps, as one of when Mrs. Worden walked across the room but at some point prior to the actual shooting the court is satisfied that the defendant formed an intent. Why, I don't know, and I don't have to know. But I am satisfied that he formed an intent to take Bernice Worden's life. that this

at

the witnesses testified,

—

I

am

satisfied that he has not told the truth in all

Perhaps we can't blame him for this. If we were on trial for our lives, we'd maybe switch our story a little too. He has not categorically denied a deliberate killing. He has simply said he did not know whether he did it deliberately or whether it was

particulars.

accidental.

The surrounding physical facts

indicate to the court

that the odds are very great that if the shot

fired in the

manner

the defendant indicated,

had been it would

not have been possible for the bullet to bypass all of the materials that were in the way and enter directly into the

head of Mrs. Worden.

The court

is afraid that the defendant was "squirrel hunting" that day, and the court is satisfied that he had the skill required to place one bullet in Mrs. Worden's head. In view of all of this, the court has determined that the offense committed here is first degree murder and

will so find.

We case

then moved into the second part of the

—the

sanity issue.

Interestingly, the law in

Wisconsin had changed radically between 1957 170

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

No longer were we burand 1968 dened with the McNaughton rule of "right and wrong." In the Esser and Shofner cases the Wisconsin Supreme Court permitted the use of the Ameriin this area.

Law

can

Institute test as follows:

A person is not responsible for criminal conduct if at the time of such conduct as a result of mental disease or defect he lacked substantial capacity either appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or conhis conduct to the requirements of law.

to

form

The defense

burden of

elected to accept the

proof and proceed under the ALI

rule.

I

will

not detail this testimony as there was no contest. Dr. Schubert gave his opinion that "Mr. Gein was suffering from a very serious mental disorder that was classified, in those days, as a

schizophrenic, chronic undifferentiated type. It

is

his

my

opinion Mr. Gein could not conform

conduct

Under

to

the requirements of the law."

the rule stated, this was an opinion that

Gein was insane. Dr. Miller agreed with Dr. Schubert.

The

state called

one witness on

this issue,

Dr.

William Crawley, a recognized psychiatrist from

Milwaukee.

He

stated that

Gein was psychotic and

agreed with Dr. Schubert that he had chronic schizophrenia. Dr. Crawley stated that he did not

have an opinion under the ALI

Testimony

closed.

The

court had no difficulty

with this phase of the case and 171

rule.

I

stated:

EDWARD GEIN on November 16, 1957, Gein, was suffering from a mental disease. The court does further find that as a

The court does find

the defendant,

result

this

of

that

Edward

mental disease he lacked substantial

capacity to conform his conduct to the requirements of law. The court does, therefore, find the defendant not

The defendant is, therefore, Central State Hospital for the Insane.

guilty by reason of insanity.

committed

to

So ended the year after

of

we

trial

started

of Edward Gein, nearly a it

many thousands of

and

after the expenditure

dollars.

the place he started from

Gein returned

to

—Central State Hospital.

172

A VISIT TO CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL

AND PLAINFIELD

On

a cold day in February

my

court reporter,

Jerry Brillowski, and I traveled to Central State Hospital where we were graciously received by the superintendent, Dr. Schubert.

I

told Dr. Schubert

had decided to write an "official" case history on the Gein affair and as a closing entry I wanted to include firsthand information on Gein's years at Central State Hospital. Dr. George W. Arndt, forensic psychiatrist, met with us at Central State Hospital and Jerry taped our conversations, which are quoted as follows: that

An

I

Interview With Doctor Schubert

JUDGE: Welly Doctor, I came here this morning with the hope of asking you, and possibly Mr. Gein, 175

EDWARD GEIN some questions. You advised me that Gein has filed a a rehearing but my questions deal more particularly with what has occurred in the past. Ed Gein has been here approximately fifteen years, is petition for

that correct?

SCHUBERT: Pretty close to that. JUDGE: I would like to ask you first,

in all the

years that he has been here, has he ever said or done

anything that would indicate insanity

to the

ordinary

layman?

SCHUBERT: No. JUDGE: In other "normal"

words he has led a perfectly

life.

SCHUBERT: A

very

uncommunicative one in

and with

guarded one, and a very his

relationships with us

the other patients.

JUDGE:

At

the time of the first

hearing before

Judge Bunde and later in the trial before me, you and the other psychiatrists were convinced that Gein was insane. I recently have been reading, as perhaps you have, of a man who was written up in Time, (7 forget his name), who for fifteen years had led a criminal life, but had convinced people that he was insane so as to stay out of jail. Did you read about him? SCHUBERT: No, I didn't. JUDGE: Well, apparently he has been a great student of psychiatry and read extensively in the field, and every time he was arrested for a crime he con-

vinced the psychiatrists that he was insane. He now admits this was an act he put on. My question to you, perhaps, is do you think it would have been possible for Gein to do this? SCHUBERT: Well, anything is possible. I don't think so with Gein because he is, and has been, a very

—

naive, unsophisticated type offellow. I don't think his

knowledge of psychiatry,

his

knowledge of mental

disorder, or the desire to deceive with the use of such knowledge is very likely. I doubt if he knew anything

about psychiatry before he originally got into

176

difficulty.

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S

As a matter of fact, I think the most important thing is that Gein did not want to be locked up. He wanted to proceed with his trial That was his desire many years ago,

to

JUDGE:

proceed with

it

and

get

it

over with.

That's interesting. I did notice

and was

rather struck by the fact that early in his confessions Gein said to Joe Wilimovsky (who was interrogating

him) words to this effect, "Do you think that this will convince the doctors of my mental unbalance. " And, at another point, he indicated that if he was going to be locked up he much preferred a mental institution to a regular criminal one. SCHUBERT: It could very well be true that this was his feeling about these things, but it is a very, very common feeling that it is better to be hospitalized than to be in a prison. There is the connotation of prison having much more evil involved with it, and a much stronger sense of the lack of pleasure, than being in a hospital. However, I dont think Mr. Gein would hold to that idea after seeing what it is to be in

a maximum

security hospital. I think there is an idea many people hold that you have escaped justice if you get locked up in a mental hospital after you have

that

committed a crime. These people are very soon disenchanted with that idea. We dont have many people

who

like

it

here.

As far as my experience

goes, the

vast majority of people committed to Central State Hospital want to go to trial and if I say, no, you need

some treatment first, they will pretty much hang onto my coattails when I go through the institution, asking when they can get out of here, when can they go back to court, how do they go about getting back to court on their own initiative, and so forth. So this fellow that you indicate was written up in Time is a rare case.

Maybe

he

is

one of these people that psychiatric

literature at times reviews; tally ill

not mentally

maybe this

maybe he

but at this later date in his ill,

is

actually

life

he was just kidding. In actuality,

the psychiatrists were not naive after all.

man was

menwas

says he

mentally

ill

but

177

had no personal

Maybe insight

EDWARD GEIN into his mental disturbance. For anyone to maintain a picture of mental disorder for fifteen years is unusual,

extremely unusual.

JUDGE:

Apparently the reason

this

man

did

it

was to be sent to a hospital (not as secure as this one) from which he could escape, because his chances of escape from a mental hospital were greater than from a regular prison. SCHUBERT: We have had a man like that. He is not in residence now.

He

is

in escape status over in

Iowa where he got into some serious crime after he escaped from here. This man has been going through like this for at least twenty years. He commits a crime, he becomes mentally ill, he gets locked up. He eventually ends up in a veterans' hospital and then runs away from the veterans' hospital only to enter into his life of crime once again. He escapes prison (which he obviously doesn't like) by being a chronic mentally ill individual and he does a

the system

very

But when you look at this man who has to find a to why he acts in this self-destructive manner guy is mentally ill. He is really sick.

good show of

closely,

solution that this

it

is

it.

obvious to anybody

JUDGE: Sick in a different way. SCHUBERT: He is sick but he does not want to admit that he is that sick. He will acknowledge his sickness only when it suits his purposes to get out of prison or to keep out of prison. But this does not alter the fact that the

JUDGE:

man

is sick.

Getting back

to Gein's confession, I noof the fact that you, Dr. Miller, and others felt that Ed Gein was quite suggestible, he was very reluctant to admit his murders and only admitted to them when the evidence was put right before him. On the other hand, ,Gein talked very freely to Joe Wilimovsky about the bizarre things he had done with the bodies. He seemed to be almost volunteering this information. Does that give any indication of a desire to prove his insanity?

ticed that in spite

SCHUBERT:

I think you have to look at what

178

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Gein obviously did as a mark that he was mentally disturbed. The fact that he killed one person or perhaps two or more persons, in itself, I do not think is anything of great import regarding Geins mental disorder. But, of great interest was his digging up graves and removing bodies and what he did with the bodies. That was a sign of serious mental disorder. Perhaps his disarraying the body was one of the more bizarre, but that in itself was not necessarily a sign of mental disorder. What he did, how he lived, how he thought, how he wanted to return to being a child in his mothers arms, and how he tried to recreate his mother with the bodies that he dug up these are signs of mental disorder. Very unusual signs of men-

—

tal disorder, certainly.

JUDGE: You

mentioned his other murders. I used on purpose. There is no question about it as the boys from the crime lab established, that Gein the plural

Mary Hogan and he admitted it. I am thoroughly convinced that Gein also killed numerous other people. I believe that he killed his brother, whose death was never investigated and who died mysteriously in a marsh fire. I think Gein did that because he was motivated, in part, by his desire for money. This was never stressed, but Mary Hogan had $1500 that disappeared. There was $182 in the Worden cash register. And, there was the matter of Dick Travis and his friend who disappeared mysterikilled

ously after flashing a large roll of bills in a local tavern frequented by Gein. All of these incidents

indicate to

me "murder for money." Do you have any

comment on

that?

SCHUBERT:

Oh,

it

could very well

be.

But, of

course, as I indicated, the actions of Gein which to us were very significant in pointing the finger at a

mentally disordered person were not the killings that allegedly were performed, but

what Gein had done

with his existence while living in that broken-down farmhouse in Plainfield. What Gein had done with parts of the bodies was proof positive of a mental

179

"

EDWARD GEIN To go

and

for money is certainly a if you succeed with it, then you are successful at murder. And apparently Gein did succeed with it, as he did these things for a number of years. However, the fact that Gein was a "successful" murderer in no way alters the fact that he was also insane. JUDGE: I do not want to go on with this too long, but is there anything you want to say or do you have any final comments on Ed Gein or the case? SCHUBERT: Oh, I think about the only thing you can say is that psychiatrically Ed Gein is a very special, very interesting, and a very unusual case. I think the more that can be gathered and put down in records and for publication after this man's death, so much the better in understanding why he acted the way he did. Perhaps with his permission, this could be done at this time but as I said, he is not inclined to be very cooperative. His tack years ago was: I don't have to talk about it, you found me insane. His tack now is that it's all over with, let it rest. There will always be some misgivings or some questions as to whether or not Gein is actually mentally ill (did not understand what he was doing) and whether or not he escaped "justice. ARNDT: I don't know, I have wrestled with that problem for a long time and I really think what the public is getting is what the public wants. I have come to the conclusion that it must be a very rare individual who is not responsible for the acts he disorder.

out

kill

well-recognized motivation

and

performs. People, unless they are floating pretty far out on cloud nine, must be responsible for what they do. Actually the only ones that

from criminal

ought

to

be excused

penalties are people suffering

organic

some

following an epileptic seizure, or something where they are completely functioning automatons and don't know what they are doing. Anybody else that commits a crime has pretty well chosen his line of action and ought to be responsible for that action. Psychiatry

severe

brain

disease,,

180

or

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

has gotten its finger into the pot and has been involved in this subject for some years. The

McNaughton not want

rule

and

the idea that society does

punish those who are mentally ill is a bunch of foolishness really. I think society ought to treat all people equally and the mentally ill should be punished, unless they could not have controlled their actions or known what they were doing. The legal to

—

is did they kill with intent? If they could not have formed intent due to insanity, they should not have been convicted of a crime in the first place.

question

JUDGE:

I always

McNaughton

had great

difficulty

with the

whether right or wrong. Thank you very much for your time Dr. Schubert. If possible, we will now have a chat with your famous patient,

Edward

An When

rule,

Gein.

Interview with

I

Edward Gein

originally expressed a desire to talk with

Gein, Dr. Schubert advised

me

that

Gein had

re-

fused to talk to reporters and others but that he

would ask him

he would meet with me. surprise, Gein immediately accepted. I found him somewhat heavier than I remembered him. He was most friendly and talkative. In fact, he smiled or laughed almost throughout the interview. Dr. George Arndt, who

Somewhat

if

to

my

had not previously met Gein, joined Jerry Brillowski and me in this interview. I carefully avoided serious questioning, although I did touch lightly on the Travis matter and at this point Gein's entire 181

EDWARD GEIN manner changed. He stopped and

smiling and became

Gein seemed to be reluctant to end the conversation and as we moved down the hall he continued to talk to Jerry. This interview was also recorded on tape and I quote from it as follows: tense

slightly flushed.

JUDGE: I

have been asked to write a book on your doing that. I have got all the old transcripts and that sort of thing. I thought I would like to come over here and talk to you. You do not have to, of course, but I would like to know if there is anything you want to tell me about it. Is there anything you would like to say in the book! GEIN: Well, I guess quite a bit came out there after the sheriff died. You apparently remember that. That was kept undercover too. He died and the case

and

am now

I

came out with the facts. That night in the jail, Ed, as near as I could tell, the sheriff kind of beat your head against the wall, didn't he? That was not a very nice thing for him to do, of course. GEIN: Also I was kept awake from the start of the deputies

JUDGE:

and almost all day the next day and that. That's something like in the old days when they had the third degree or whatever they called it. The only thing" we didn't have was all those bright lights shining in my eyes. JUDGE: I remember when you were in Madison evening

all night

questioning

this

did feed you. I remember in one place they brought you some apple pie and it had some cheese on they

it

and

the'

cheese

was kind of

old.

Do you remember

that?

GEIN: dont care

Ya, they had some too

much for

pumpkin

pie,

too.

I

either one.

JUDGE: Ed, somebody told me or I read somewhere that since you have been here, as a sort of a 182

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

hobby you were working on rocks making jewelry. you do that? GEIN: I done that before. Now I'm working in

powerhouse. I've been

to

Do the

Dr. Schubert's house and

worked in there and all over. JUDGE: Everybody up around Waushara County always said you were a good worker. GEIN: My jewelry one of the volunteers sold all at once for $50. I made quite a few hundred dollars worth of jewelry, sterling silver bracelets, and stuff, but it was all sold for $50. JUDGE: Do you still make those things? GEIN: No, I've been working out in the powerhouse with carpenters, roofing, and doing about everything.

JUDGE:

The things

that

you made, have

they all

be sold?

GEIN:

That's right. There was quite a

few hunwas kind of an instructor down there when they were working on rugs. Why I'd help the fellas out down there and show them how to do it. I trimmed the rugs. JUDGE: How old are you now? dred dollars

GEIN:

there.

Then

I

Sixty-five.

JUDGE: You

are just a boy compared to me. I'm

seventy.

GEIN: You have

JUDGE: GEIN:

Is

me

by five, Judge.

pretty

good?

Pretty fair, that's right.

JUDGE:

how do they treat you here? of the people that are in here. Is

Generally,

Not just you but the food

beaten

your health

all

good?

GEIN: The food

is good. Everything else is pretty good. The only thing now with the new ruling and everything they have kind of slipped down in the patient dining room. Some of them will jump up and start talking to someone else and go back and sit

down.

JUDGE: Do you

miss

GEIN: No. Not

really,

Waushara County? 183

EDWARD GEIN JUDGE: Were you Ed? GEIN:

happy when you lived up

Well, not what you

would

there,

call really happy.

There were a lot of debts on my place. I worked pretty hard to get them paid up and from then on the buildings were getting pretty poor. It was kind of a tension all the time.

JUDGE: I We were

saw an old friend of yours the other up that way and visited with Mr. and Do you remember them?

day.

Mrs. Hill.

GEIN:

That's right.

JUDGE: had dinner

She was telling me that the last time you you played checkers with one of the

there

boys.

GEIN: That

JUDGE:

could

be.

I forgot.

you would put in my book about this case? GEIN: Well, one thing, you probably remember that too, the sheriff said that he went into my place there and searched it, I guess with some others, and he didn't find anything. Do you remember that? like

me

Well, Ed,

is

there anything else

to

JUDGE:

Yes.

GEIN: You know

was gone at that time and I got proof of that. I was with the Hills. I was with them all the time. So that's kind of confusing isn't it? They search my place and there is no evidence and when they search it again there is evidence and I had never been there. JUDGE: Of course it was dark that night and the first time they came to your place they did not have any flashlights with them so they did not search it. GEIN: Well, they must have had flashlights and stuff. They had to have flashlights to make a good was gone

all the time

I

and I

search.

ARNDT:

Did you have

GEIN: No. And

electricity

on

the

farm?

without a search They should really have gotten a search they entered

it

warrant. w airant first.

JUDGE: Do you GEIN:

still

read a

lot?

Interesting things, newspapers,

184

and keep

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

AMERICA'S up on

Some fellows are

not up to that. They read a newspaper. You have to keep up with things in the world, you know. I listen to the radio and get the news. I got shortwave and I things.

don't even

want

to

from all around the world. But do you still read a lot? GEIN: Well, what's educational and of

get news

JUDGE: but a

of that fiction I'm not interested for kids but not for a grown-up person. lot

JUDGE: Do GEIN:

they

you want

GEIN:

to

library here?

you are allowed

to take

books out

and read them?

That's right.

JUDGE: Do you would Arndt?

like

ARNDT: more as a

okay

Pretty fair.

JUDGE: And that

have an extensive

interest

in. It's

you have any questions or anything to visit with Mr. Gein about. Dr.

Well, I would like to be talking with you

on some of the things that have occurred that would have some bearing in psychiatry, so that we could understand better what went on in the past and into the future. Perhaps that is something we can do another day. I think Judge Gollmar was interested in what he has talked with you about psychiatrist

and we can

talk

some other

time.

JUDGE: Would you mind and

talked with

GEIN: No,

if

Dr. Arndt came back

you someday?

I wouldn't mind.

JUDGE: I would like to tell you him. He was my pupil. ARNDT: Small world. When

something about

grew up

I

in

Baraboo, Judge Gollmar was one of my Sunday school teachers.

JUDGE: and

I hope

Well Ed, it has been nice visiting with you you keep your health and get along all

right.

BRILLOWSKI: Dan Chase said too, Ed. Do you remember Dan?

to

say hello to

you

GEIN:

Ya.

JUDGE:

Mr. Hill

is

not very well.

185

You remember

EDWARD GEIN him. Mrs. Hill seems fine. They are still living back of the old store but the store has been abandoned.

GEIN: Where

is

the boy, Robert Hill?

Do you

know?

JUDGE:

No, I did not think

to

ask them that. I do

know what has become of him. I suppose he is around there. You and he used to go to the movies not

quite

a

lot together,

GEIN: Some, much

didn't

you?

not too much. I didn't have too

to go out Saturdays and Sundays. was nice to you though, wasn't he? GEIN: Ya. I got along good with most all of them.

time. I

used

JUDGE: He Some of

the neighbors there I didn't like very well. I

was working and would come home and make my meal and they would come over and I would think they wanted to visit, but they didn't. They would say, "Ed, could you help me get some bales of hay, " or do some other work for them.

BRILLOWSKI: What

about that one neighbor,

Judge?

JUDGE: Oh

yes, you always had some kind of Ed, that one of your neighbors bumped off Travis. You remember, they asked you about Travis? GEIN: Ya. I remember that but the only thing, of course, it wasn't so much my idea, but the others were saying it because I didn't really know nothing about it. There had been a family living on a farm not too far from my creek there and they were supposed (this is all hearsay) to have gone hunting, him and an-

theory,

and he came back alone or something. I know anything and I hadn't seen the guy before. He was thirty -some years old and the last time I had other fellow

don't

seen him, he was seven or eight years old. JUDGE: Well, Ed, thank you for .talking to us. I will report your words in my book exactly as you have said them to us, and I am sure you and Dr. Arndt will

have many fine

visits

in the future.

186

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER Visit To Plainfield

AMERICA'S

A

A few weeks before visiting Dr. at

Schubert and Gein I decided to

Central State Hospital, Jerry and

drive up to Plainfield to visit the scene of the crime and interview some of the principal witnesses.

These

interviews, of course, duplicate

lier

views to

some

ear-

found these personal interbe of great interest and I believe you will

testimony, but

I

also.

The day was

perfect

A light rain was

falling

from a movie set viewpoint. and fog swirled and twisted

more than six ahead, and often less. As we rode

across the road. Visibility was never

hundred

feet

WGN

radio

talking to listeners about the effects of a full

moon

along we listened to Wally Phillips on

on people's

actions.

Driving toward

Wautoma

the occasional view

through the fog was eerie and depressing. About eight miles south of Wautoma I saw an object sitting

on the shoulder of the road. As we ap-

proached

I

discovered

it

was a bald eagle

sitting

absolutely motionless, holding a freshly killed ani-

As we passed within a few feet of moved its head ever so slightly to follow us with its eyes. Then it was lost in the fog. Alongside the road the trees moved their branches mal

it,

in

its

talons.

the eagel

macabre dance. At Wautoma we picked up Dan Chase. Jerry started the tape which I quote from as follows: as if in a

187

EDWARD GEIN BRILLOWSKI:

While driving up here, Dan, we Wally Phillips program and the discussion he had with some of his listeners about a full moon and how it has different effects on people as far as irritability, more babies being born during a full moon, more violence, murders, and so forth. Maybe this is what inspired Ed Gein to do some of his grave robbing and what have you. Can you tell us a little about that, Dan? listened to the

CHASE: Yes. Many of the different parts of the body that Gein had, he put strings on and tied them on himself and walked around in the yard at night in Gein also wore them at times when he dug up graves. Gein told me that himself when he was in the jail. BRILLOWSKI: Why did he tell you that? Why didnt he tell the sheriff? Did the sheriff beat him up or something and that is why he would not talk to him? CHASE: That is right. The sheriff roughed him up in the jail so whenever Gein wanted anything he would confer with me or with Murty. He would not the moonlight.

talk to Sheriff Schley.

BRILLOWSKI: Now

let's see. We drove our car road and we are sitting next to a pine plantation. Can you go on from there, Dan? CHASE: Gein came in from the south with the Worden pickup truck with the body in it and there were bushes around here. He unloaded the body in the bushes and then drove the pickup truck into the

down a

side

pine plantation

to

BRILLOWSKI: looking at right

hide

•

it.

Is this the

pine plantation we are

now?

right here. CHASE: Right, this is BRILLOWSKI: Where did they find the truck? CHASE: The truck was right back in there, and it,

you could

see

where the body laid, right here. Gein come and pick up the car later, or what?

BRILLOWSKI: Did body with his

188

AMERICA'S CHASE: up

Gein walked back

and

his car,

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER .

.

to

Plainfield

and picked

.

JUDGE: How far is it from here to Plainfield? CHASE: I would say a little over two city blocks. Then Gein picked up his car, came back out and loaded the body into the trunk of his car, and went from here out to his farm with it.

BRILLOWSKI: You mentioned something about him cutting Mrs. Worden's throat. Do you think that because of all the blood in the store? CHASE: Yes. I do not think that much blood could come out of a small hole from a .22 caliber bullet. I think as soon as Gein dropped her, he slit her throat.

BRILLOWSKI: Why

was that? So she could

bleed-out?

CHASE: make sure

I think so she could bleed-out

and

also to

she wouldn't come to again.

BRILLOWSKI: Now we hardware store

and

where

Ed

are in the Village of are parked next to the Warden We are looking at the back of the

and we

Plainfield

store.

the loading platform. Is this the place loaded the body of Mrs. Worden into their

truck?

CHASE: No, it was on the other side of that loading platform over where the big cooler is. The truck was inside and he loaded the body in the truck inside of the building and then he backed the truck out and he went that way with it, about the way we drove in from the pines. BRILLOWSKI: I see there is an old garage there. CHASE: That is right. It used to be the Paul Reinflesh garage and then the Wordens used it for the

hardware

store.

JUDGE: Now

in my notes it says that looking towards the front of the store there was a large display window in the front corner of the store and the antifreeze barrel sat right outside the

window.

Is

that right?

CHASE:

That

is

right.

There were cement blocks

189

EDWARD GEIN under the window and that is where the door used to go into the building. They remodeled this and that's where the front door used to be. That antifreeze barrel would be to the left of where those cement blocks are now.

BRILLOWSKI: Judge

Gollmar, Dan Chase, and home of Lester and Irene Hill, who were friends of Gein. Now, Judge, do you want to say something about them? You talked to them quite a I drove to the

bit.

JUDGE: Yes. They had a store right near their house and apparently still live in the same house. Mrs. Hill was quite friendly and spoke freely. Mr. Hill did not appear to be well and did not take part much in the conversation. Mrs. Hill said that she had known Ed Gein ever since she was in the second grade (he was in seventh or eighth grade). On the day in question, Ed Gein had come to their home. She said he often came there because he enjoyed TV and did not have electricity at his home. He helped them often as a sort of general handyman, as he did many people in the neighborhood, and if he was around at

suppertime she would offer him a meal.

On

this

particular day he was there for supper and interestingly she remembered they had had pork chops. She also remembered that Ed was sitting on the davenport playing with one of the younger children when her

Jim Vroman, came from town and told them something had occurred at the Worden place. She said that Ed was not nervous. He seemed perfectly normal and showed interest in going back downtown because the son-in-law said the crime lab was coming and Gein thought it would be interesting to go downtown to see that. son-in-law,

BRILLOWSKI: Remember her reply when I

asked

her what effect Gein had on her? What was about the grinning Gein did all the time?

this

JUDGE: She said Gein had kind of a sly grin which bothered her but otherwise he was personally 190

AMERICA'S clean

and always

eat at various

crews

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

and

so

agreeable. She also said he liked to homes and he worked on threshing

on and often got

BRILLOWSKI:

This

is

to eat

around.

when Dan Chase came

into the picture.

CHASE: That's right. BRILLOWSKI: This is where you actually apprehended Ed Gein, isn't it Dan? CHASE: I stopped at the little store owned by the Mrs. Hill was in and I asked her if she knew Eddie Gein. She said he was to her place for supper and his car was still there. I thanked her and walked out and drove over there and I could see Ed's car still parked there with Gein and the Hill's son in the car. I asked Gein to get into my car because I wanted to ask him a few questions. BRILLOWSKI: One thing Mrs. Hill said—the police left Gein's car in her driveway and it bothered her for three days until she screamed so loudly about it that they finally towed it out. JUDGE: We are presently parked, having left the Hills, in the driveway to the Gein farm. The buildings are gone but there is an open space in front of us that indicates where the buildings were and it looks like there is one whole shed or part of a shed sitting in the woods. There are woods almost on two sides of where the buildings were. Across the road is now farmland but there is a great deal of woods and scrub brush and scrub oak in this whole area. BRILLOWSKI: Dan, did you say the house was to the right, just a few feet away? CHASE: There is a basement there and we can still go to where the basement is. The back woodshed wing is where Mrs. Worden's body was hanging, just about where the scrub oak is now. Hills.

the whereabouts of

BRILLOWSKI: Now Dan,

are

we

in the house

now, or what? CHASE: I'm standing just about were the house stood. You can still see the old wall here. This wing

191

EDWARD GEIN and

here was the woodshed here,

you went

to the

and

the kitchen

kitchen

BRILLOWSKJ: Where

and

living

then, in

room

part.

did you find bones

and

things like that?

CHASE: We found some

bones right

down

here in

the woods.

BRILLOWSKI: were.

Let's

walk towards where the bones beings in the woods?

You found bones of human

CHASE:

There were bones of human beings right

about here.

BRILLOWSKI: What type of bones were CHASE: Human bones. BRILLOWSKI: Were they whole bones

they?

or were

sawed up? CHASE: No, they were whole bones like leg bones. Then down this road, going farther west to get to the edge of the woods and twenty rods to the corner wood, they

is where work on

found a

they

lot

of

stuff,

although I didn't

that.

BRILLOWSKI: What kind of stuff? CHASE: More human bones. They found

quite

a

few human bones although I didn't work on it. I believe Specks and Arnie and the sheriff and Sharky and those fellows from the Rapids were down there and some of the prisoners from jail were also digging around there. BRILLOWSKI: You said you probed, with a metal rod, this whole area trying to

find the missing car of

the hunters that disappeared.

CHASE: The Travis car. We tried to locate that. We had some rods made BRILLOWSKI: Do you think it is still on this .

.

.

property?

CHASE:

I don't think

it's

on

this property.

I think

on the old Wagner farm over there because that's where we found the man's jacket and his little white it's

dog.

I

still

think that car

is

over in those pines

somewhere.

JUDGE:

Well, as you were telling us at lunch,

192

AMERICA'S Dan, you used

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

to fly

a

lot,

and you used

to fly

around

looking for the Travis graves.

CHASE: lot after

That's right. I was flying

I got

my

license

and

around

quite a

I flew that country time

and

time again trying to find any newly dug ground where Gein might bury the car. JUDGE: You never found anything? CHASE: Never found a thing! BRILLOWSKI: Did you find anything in the barn

or not?

CHASE: Nothing. BRILLOWSKI: Where was

that white Ford sitting? garage somewhere? CHASE: Those buildings were right along there. There were three of four sheds right along in here. Gein had a pickup truck in there. His maroon car sat over there in the woods and the white Ford was right in here a nice-looking white car. This is where the barn stood. I would like to mention that Jefferson County officers requested that we check the county for

Was

that in the

—

all the white Fords. I

checked and the only two white

Hensen and Ed Brooks from Wautoma. Then we came up with these two buildings of Eddie Geins and found a Fords

I

found

in the county belonged to Jake

—

white Ford a good-looking white Ford. They never knew it was there before. No one knew he had one. I knew Gein had this maroon-colored car but not a white Ford.

BRILLOWSKI: This is an unusual day. It's very foggy and dreary and you surely get an eerie feeling standing on this property and knowing all the things about the Gein case like we do. I sort of shudder out here.

CHASE: Those pines over there have all been planted since the Worden murder. The fellow that bought the farm planted it all in pines. BRILLOWSKI: You mentioned your brother-inlaw, Boyd Kelly, worked with Gein on the road, or your brother-in-law was a foreman or something.

What

is

that story?

193

EDWARD GEIN CHASE: Boyd Plainfield road, like

was a patrolman for the Town of to have help on the grading or brushing, he would hire Eddie

and whenever he had

Gein.

JUDGE: Boyd lived about CHASE: That's right. BRILLOWSKI: What is

half a mile from Gein? the statement he

made

about Eddie Gein?

CHASE: The men

Mary Ho-

were talking about

gan

while eating lunch out of their dinner pails and while sitting there, Gein mentioned that the officers

flubbed the dub because he went up there and got the body and brought it home in a pickup truck. Gein said, "I took my truck and went up there and got her and brought her home to my place." Then, everybody laughed and thought it was a joke. Now we know he was was actually telling the exact truth.

JUDGE: Let's go back to Plainfield. BRILLOWSKI: Judge, why don't you

describe the

we are riding. JUDGE: Well, we are going from Ed Gein 's farm back to the Village of Plainfield and the houses are not very fancy. There are open areas where we passed some irrigation equipment. Largely it is woods and scrub. It looks to me, Dan, like there is a creek off to countryside here a

our

little bit

while

right.

CHASE:

There

is

no creek in

there. It

just low

is

marsh land.

BRILLOWSKI: Sort of a We are driving on a

like this.

spooky area on a day side

road next

to

what

cemetery?

JUDGE: CHASE-

The Plainfield cemetery. If you want to go through

it

you can. I

don't care.

BRILLOWSKI: We now.

It is the

are approaching the cemetery

cemetery in which

eight, nine, or ten graves.

CHASE: Down

on

Ed

Where were

this side there

194

Gein dug up they,

Dan?

were two of them

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

and where the rest were, I do not know. out here and cut the people off.

JUDGE: there,

We just stood

There was a house right next door wasn't

Dan?

CHASE:

Yes.

There was a house right next

to the

cemetery line.

BRILLOWSKI: say.

Boy,

it

It

is

a huge cemetery, I would

really extends back.

JUDGE: One of the things we should note was Ed Gein admitted to digging up at least

that while

eight bodies in this cemetery, they never bothered to check but three of them. As for the rest of them, the people do not know whether the bodies are there or not. Or for that matter, no one really knows just how many bodies Ed Gein did dig up. He admitted to digging up at least eight but for all we know it could

have been twenty. CHASE: That is right. But the ones they did check they found just as Eddie Gein said they would.

BRILLOWSKI:

Let's see,

we are now

in the

Town

of Pine Grove in front of a building that used to be a tavern run by Mary Hogan until she was murdered. Right,

Dan?

CHASE: That is right. BRILLOWSKI: Is there

anything you want

to

say

about this?

JUDGE:

Notice the rather unusual construction.

made of concrete blocks and it has a curving type of roof on it. It looks like it was originally built as a commercial building rather than a house but it has been remodeled. I cannot help wondering if the people who live in this house now ever hear Mary Hogan walking around at night. CHASE: That is where Mary Hogan lived at the time Gein picked her off. The truck was sitting right here and you could see a trail of blood coming out of the tavern up to where he loaded her in the truck. He went out this way. It is

apparently

JUDGE:

Which way?

195

EDWARD GEIN CHASE: Right out around this corner. BRILLOWSKI: You said there were no drag marks like

with the

Worden

body.

CHASE: No. He picked her up and carried out. And since she must have weighed over y

her two

hundred pounds, we think Gein probably had someone

to

help him.

BRILLOWSKI: Dan, you said you had to guard Ed Geins house after he was committed to Central and that college kids came up to have it. What was that about? CHASE: Oh, college kids kept coming up to Gein's house and were determined to go in there. I had a State Hospital

beer parties in

hard time keeping them out. While I was keeping them out the front side, others would get in through

me they were bound and come out here and have beer parties in Eddie Geins house. It was impossible to stop them without spending a fortune for guards. The county was fortunate that a short while later the Gein home mysteriously burned down. the back. Finally, they told

determined

to

While Jerry and

I

were

in Plainfield

at the funeral parlor to see the

The back door was we walked

we stopped

owner, Ray Goult.

unlocked, in typical rural

No one

was in the buildRay was in the Twin Cities. Jerry did not like it in there and would not stay. I kidded him about this, especially since he was a veteran of the Korean War. Jerry said that he had seen plenty of dead bodies but this funeral home gave him the creeps after a day of visiting fashion, so

ing and

we

in.

later learned that

the scene of Gein's bizarre crimes.

A final stop at a truck stop for some food helped to dispel the weird,

uncomfortable feeling that 196

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

Jerry and I had all day. The bustle of burly truck drivers, the cheery waitresses bantering with the

and food made the ghoulish of Edward Gein, and the fog and outside, seem far away. customers, the

lights,

bizarre activities

197

APPENDIX

APPENDIX A

"Gein Humor"

Fellow,

By George W. Arndt, M.D. American Psychiatric Association

Preface

My original study of this phenomenon (which has occurred only once before in United States history) was entitled, Horror, Humor and Human Nature.

A shortened version, containing fewer examples, was published by the Menninger School of Psychiatry under the title of Community Reactions to a Horrifying Event and has since been reprinted in several textbooks.

201

EDWARD GEIN My following comments regarding "Gein Humor" are excerpts from these two previous writings,

which writings are now being expanded into a book length study to be published by Chas. Hallberg

& Company,

Inc.

"Gein

Humor"

Although Gein often gave obvious clues to his in a local group discussing the disappearance of Mary Hogan he joked, "She's up at the house now" these were passed off as crude witticisms. When the final crime was uncovered, the body found hanging and dressed as if it were a deer, neighbors recalled that he had frequently given them portions of "venison," although he remarked, while under psychiatric observation, "I've bizarre activities

— —

never shot a deer." The immediate response within the community itself was of horror, but also of profound indignation at the publicity suddenly poured upon the area. Beyond a ten to twenty mile perimeter of the afflicted town, the response to the crime was

anger or denial, the situawas dealt with through the media of grim humor, as though the unconscious was aware of what had happened. As Eysenck stated: "The elements contained in the joke must be experienced objectively, not emotionally." This is obvious in the response in far different. Instead of

tion

1

Plainfield

compared

to

the statewide reaction

202

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

where bravado was evidenced by the

retelling of the of the numberous "Gein-ers," as the grim jokes were referred to colloqually. The humor of these and many of the quips were gleefully recited by young and old alike, as the author discovered during a visit to Wisconsin where he personally gathered the material. The joking was so common that it could be considered a mass repetition compulsion. Gein raplatest

idly

became the most discussed

topic in the state

with pseudo-humorists trying to outdo each other with the "latest." All ages participated in the humor,

and before the Christmas holidays, the children were chanting: "

'Twas the night before Christmas And all through the school Not a creature was stirring, Not even a mule. The teachers were hung

From

the ceiling with care In hope that Ed Gein

Soon would be

there."

Their favorite carol was paraphrased: "Deck the walls with limbs of Mollie."

The humor can be roughly

divided into three

categories: (1) cannibalism, (2) sexual perversion,

and

(3)

combinations of the

Cannibalism

—Examples

first

of

this

two categories. type of

humor

are the following:

—As he said

to

you weren't a

some little

late arriving guests,

earlier

203

—

"Sorry

everybody's eaten."

"

EDWARD GEIN

— His telephone number was "O-I-C-U-8-1-2." —Someone asked him how were— he replied, "Delicious. — He couldn't operate farm— he had was a skeleton crew. — He used the cremated ashes of victims make "Instant People." favorites the taverns was —One of — his

his

folks

left

all

his

to

in

his

to

"That's lots of body but no

order "Gein Beer" head."

—What did Gein say the sheriff who arrested him? "Have a heart." —What did Gein give for Valentines Day? A box of farmer fannies. —What did they find Gein's cookie jar? "Lady to

his girl

in

Fingers."

—

Sexual Perversion The following are some examples of this category:

—Why New

did they

let

him out of the

Year's Eve? So he could dig

hospital

on

up

a fresh

girls

—there

date.

—They say he was were always a

lot

real

of

popular with

women hanging around

his

place.

friend stop going with —Why did Because he was such a cut-up. "Dig you —As a hearse went by he his girl

said:

Baby."

204

him? later,

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

—All the women used

field for

in the area are

going to Plain-

parts.

—They changed the population sign "gruesome/' because window, "Wombs for —Gein had a sign Rent." —They had keep heat on Gein's house—or the furniture would get goose bumps. —There were no mice around Gein's farmhouse at Plainfield

it

in his

to

in

else

because there were too

many

"pussies."

Cannibalism and Sexual Perversion of this category are as follows:

—

Illustrations

—They

—

could never keep him in jail he'd just draw a picture of a woman on the wall and eat his way out.

—He's the author of that of Women." —There was a man named Ed

article: "I've

Had My

Fill

Who

wouldn't take a woman to When he wanted to diddle, He cut out the middle And hung the rest in the shed.

—What did Gein have in

his

bed.

sewing box? "Belly

Buttons."

—Why won't anyone play cards with Gein? He might come up with a good hand. —Why did the Defense Department on Gein? To ship arms Vietnam. —Why do people go Plainfield? To get a head. call

to

to

205

EDWARD GEIN The Night Before Christmas

—"Twas the night before Christmas, when

all

thru

the shed,

were

All creatures

stirring,

even Old Ed.

The

bodies were hung from the rafters above, While Eddie was searching for another new love.

He went to Wautoma for a Plainfield Looking for love and also a meal.

deal,

When what to his hungry eyes should appear, But old Mary Hogan in her new red brassiere. how

Her

eyes

And

her dimples, oh

they twinkled, ever so gay

Her cheeks were

And

she

let

like roses

when

they.

kissed by the sun,

out a scream at the sight of Ed's gun.

Old Ed pulled the

He

how merry were

trigger

and Mary

fell

dead,

took his old axe and cut off her head.

He then took his hacksaw and cut her in two, One-half for hamburger, the other for stew. And

Up

laying a

hand aside of her heel, went his next meal.

to the rafters

He sprang

to his truck to the

graveyard he flew,

The hours were short and much work he must do. 206

AMERICA'S

He

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

looked for the grave where the

fattest

one

laid,

and

He

and spade.

started in digging with shovel

shoveled, and shoveled and shoveled

some

more,

he reached the old coffin door.

"Till finally

He took out his crowbar and He was not only clever, but

pryed open the box, sly as

a fox.

As he picked up the body and cut off her head,

He

could

tell

by the smell that the old

girl

was

dead.

He filled in the grave by the moonlight above, And once more Old Ed had found a new love. He

let

If

don't get caught,

I

out a

yell as

he drove out of sight, I'll be back tomorrow

In our culture, cannibalism taboos and all

is

people, yet

is

one of the

night.

stricter

deeply rooted in the unconscious of it

evoked a tremendous outpouring

of jokes in the wake of the Gein incident. Those able to handle this material in a

humorous man-

ner were fortunate as compared with those who were obliged to seek reassurance and treatment

from

their family doctor to protect

them from

erupting unconscious material via the organ langastrointestinal symptomatology. In re-

guage of

gard to the cannibalistic element, there

207

is

more

EDWARD GEIN humorous defense would There have been deep reactions in the area proximal to Plainfield in the form of functional gastric complaints. Drs. R.D. Wichmann and 2 RJ. Kjentvet of Wild Rose, Wisconsin, thirteen miles from Plainfield, reported that since the Gein threat than a superficial,

indicate.

expose, they have treated ten patients

who gave

a

history of developing complaints referable to the gastrointestinal system their

symptoms

and the

patients connected

to the incident.

None were

diag-

having ulcers and none were hospitalized. In the reaction of the school children, through

nosed

as

and humor, they were able

to

stand

abreast of their parental figures, and, in

many

witticism

cases,

knew

the risque quips before the former.

Children communicated the jokes

among

freely,

not only

themselves, but to their parents, thereby

provoking consternation and indignation. As Grotchildren do underjahn 3 points out, "Actually .

.

.

stand only too well the aggressive meaning of the

and

accordingly. Children are so genuine understanding of the much nearer to the They understand the point of the unconscious joke, all right, but they overlook the disguise which 'joke'

react to

.

is

.

it

.

essential for the adult's displaced attention."*

We

see that this

the

young school

grim humor

is

a subject close to

children's unconscious

and

to

Oedipal situation with both fears and wishes toward parental figures. Here, also, is a frightening situation of an adult man carrying out what children have phantasied and, on many occasions, acted out as a part of their play. Thus, their recent

208

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

the unreal, becoming reality, is a tremendous threat which is dealt with through grim humor. Here is a chance for the children to debunk the all-important parent by emphasizing, through humor, that an adult committed these deeds which have been forbidden to them. The people in Wisconsin reacted to Gein's horrifying crimes in an exhibitionistic and narcissistic manner, and gained pleasure from them through humor. t By this mechanism, they were able to have publicity directed at them, but were also able to forestall criticism of themselves for unknowingly tolerating such a criminal in their midst. To 8 quote Levine "Whether humor evokes an affective

or a perceptual disturbance, we infer that a

preconscious conflict has been aroused which

is

censored but threatens to erupt into consciousness"; also,

"The

fact that

humor can produce intense how sensitive is

emotional reactions demonstrates the individual to underlying

meaning of humor."

The people "master by humor" because more

di-

means are not accessible to them to deal with this threat. They chose the mechanism of grim humor to soften the blow to their good name and rect

reputations.

The quote

Bergler

tory self-irony

is

4

"And

the use of anticipa-

an attempt on the part of the

child in the adult to forestall the other fellow's ridicule of him,

which would again push him into

the passive masochistic corner and provide the

inner Frankenstein with

new

And, again Bergler 4 proposes 209

torture material." to

show

that

".

.

.

EDWARD GEIN Laughter is a necessary and healthy internal debunking process, and therefore, a fear reducing process, and that it is not directed at external powers, as more than fourscore investigators have claimed for centuries, but at internal powers."

The sists in

on the environment

effect

is

clear:

it

con-

a saving of expenditure of sympathy. Freud

expresses

it

thus: "It has

seemed

9

to us that the

economy of expenditure in inhibition, of the comic from an economy of expenditure in thought, and of humor from an economy of expenditure in feeling." Laughter is also a joint way of reacting. An alliance is formed between those who laugh and pleasure of wit originated from an

the laughter becomes a group situation. (The group in

Wisconsin had as an object of ridicule

scapegoat

—Ed Gein.)

—the

This unifying pact strengthens the tie between the people, but at the same time, the controlling and inhibiting function of the individual can become restricted or loosened. Thus in the identifi-

group and with the common humor can be released under the support of group sanction. The weaker the identification secured by the group situation, the cleverer the device must be so much better the cation with the

aggression, grim

—

joke; conversely, these standards are lowered

the collectivity

is

if

firmly established, until laughter,

apparently without cause, easily provoked, leaps

from person to person. Brody 10 states it in this manner: "The telling of a joke affects the listener as an invitation to common aggression and com210

AMERICA'S

mon

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

regression; thus the stronger the

group

spirit,

the less effort required to create laughter." 11

pointed out, "The importance of wit mechanism in everyday life will be readily admitted by any casual observer. It serves as

As

Brill

as a psychic

European and with present-day communication a good joke quickly becomes an interna-

a universal outlet in culture, facilities,

all

countries of

tional event."

The

simpler and

producing stimulus

more is,

the

primitive the laughter-

more does

the laughter

express "pure, uncontrolled motor pleasure" only.

The more complex

the stimuli, the broader the margins for variety of affects and emotions that can be discharged through laughter and the richer the shades of laughter. This paper is submitted as a discussion on the mechanisms of the response of the citizens of Wisconsin to the Gein incident. The event with its grief and horror was felt by the unconscious and conscious of all who learned of the activities and through the mechanism of humor, the horror was repressed, then released by the people who were near but not personally involved in the grim situation.

4

*Bergler "Hence children laugh more and more easily than adults do; they have more fears to counteract." :

"By proving through wit and comic

in general, that a seamy side to everything and flaws in everybody, the child in the

'the great isn't so great'; that there

211

is

EDWARD GEIN adult uses the tactic of anticipatory attack to gain respite and a breathing spell." Kris

5 :

"The

language it which adults

child's joy at playing with the

has just mastered

lives

on

in the pleasure

find in words and is a pleasure which wit justifies before the super-ego."

tObrdlik 6

humor) is manistrengthening of morale and of resistance of people who struggle for their "Its positive effect (gallows

:

fested above spirit

individual

in the

all

and national

Theodor Reik 7

:

survival."

"... gallows

humor

a reliable in-

is

dex of the morale of the oppressed."

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1.

EYSENCK, H.J.: The Appreciation of Humor: An Experimental and Theoretical Study. Brit. J. Psychol.

2.

32:295-309, 1942.

WICHMANN,

R.D. and

KJENTVET,

R.J.:

Personal communication. 3.

GROTJAHN, MARTIN:

Laughter

in

Psy-

choanalysis. Samiksa 3:76-82, 1949. 4.

BERGLER, EDMUND: Laughter and the Sense New York Intercontinental Medical

of Humor.

Book Corp., 5.

Process. 6.

1956.

KRIS, ERNST: Laughter Int. J.

OBRDLIK, logical

as

an Expressive

Psa. 21:314-341, 1940.

A.J.: 'Gallows

Phenomenon. Am. J.

Humor"-A Sociol.

Socio-

47:709-716,

1942. 7.

REIK,

THEODOR:

Psychoanalysis 2:12-20,

Freud and Jewish Wit. Winter 1954.

212

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER LEVINE, JACOB and REDLICH, F.C.: FailAMERICA'S

8.

ure to Understand Humor. Psa. Quart. 24:560572, 1955. 9.

FREUD, SIGMUND:

The Basic Writings of

mund Freud. New York, Modern

Sig-

Library, 1938,

p. 803. 10.

BRODY, MORRIS ter. Psa. Quart.

11.

W.:

The Meaning of Laugh-

19:192-201, 1950.

BRILL, A. A.: The Mechanisms of Wit and Humor in Normal and Psychopathic States. Psychiat. Quart.

14:731-749, 1940.

213

APPENDIX B

About The Author And Other

Contributors

JUDGE ROBERT H. GOLLMAR Judge Robert Gollmar is the author of the Award winning book, Tales Of A Country Judge, as well as numerous legal and other articles and a book on the circus entitled, My Father Owned A Circus. 215

EDWARD GEIN Judge Gollmar was born and raised in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin where he attended the public schools. He is a son of the late Fred C. and Lottie (Weirich) Gollmar. As a boy his father was one of the owners of Gollmar Brothers Circus which by the time Robert was thirteen grew from a few wagons to the fourth largest circus in the United

States, requiring twenty-five to thirty rail

cars.

Upon graduation from the University of WisLaw School in 1925, he practiced law in

consin

Baraboo (except for two years in Stevens Point) Sauk County Judge, taking office in January of 1956. Elected the first Circuit Judge of the newly created Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit, he took office May 1, 1961 and served there until his retirement on August 1, 1973. Immediately upon retirement, Judge Gollmar was appointed a Criminal Court (Felony Branch) Reserve Judge in Milwaukee County and served there for two and one half years. Then, after a six month stint in the Sixteenth Circuit, Judge Gollmar was appointed Acting Judge of the Twenty-fifth Circuit on July 1, 1976, where he is presently Judge of Branch 1, Circuit Court, Walworth until his election as

County.

He

married to the former Mildred Chase they live on Lauderdale Lakes near and Jensen Elkhorn. Judge Gollmar has three children; Sandra Edwards of Baraboo; Robert Jr. of Rochester and Gail Tofson of Madison. There are three is

216

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

grandsons and two great granddaughters as well Karen Ewing of Ohio, James Jensen and Margaret Jensen of Wisconsin. Judge Gollmar is a past president of the University of Wisconsin Law School Association and a member of the Wisconsin and the Walworth County Bar Associations. In addition, he is president of the Circus World Museum, Inc.; past Grand Master of Masons in as three stepchildren:

Wisconsin; a thirty-third-degree Mason and has been awarded the Jay Cees Distinguished Citizen Award.

217

Joseph D'Lugosz

Art renderings for the Edward Gein story as well as the face of the book's dust jacket were created by Joseph D'Lugosz of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. D'Lugosz's professional work during the past thirty years has been in the very fluid and dynamic world of television; first as a station artist and rising to the status of TV art director. It was, however, his work as a free-lance illustrator that caught the publishers attention and the Edward Gein assignment ensued. D'Lugosz's credits, as a

TV

artist,

include the

usual commercial and promotional tasks designed to keep a station's visual image crisp, competitive and commercially appealing to the businesses who

219

EDWARD GEIN use the

medium

as

an advertising

assignments have taken him to

vehicle.

TV

Those

stations in

Rockford, IL and Philadelphia, PA, with what he considers the highlight of his career (thus

far), to

be assigned to cover the 1979, John Gacy murder trial in Chicago. For weeks his daily courtroom sketches were

shown each night on northern

Illinois

TV

homes.

screens in thousands of "I

think that the daily

study of the murderer, the prosecutor and the

defense attorney gave really

me

the insight

I

needed

to

understand the Edward Gein case," said

D'Lugosz.

Born and

raised in Philadelphia, D'Lugosz earned

BFA

degree from the Philadelphia College of where he majored in illustration. Prior to his TV broadcasting career, which began in 1958, he worked as a free-lance artist, specializing in various media. These included design, illustration, drawing and painting. a

Art,

The D'Lugosz home

for the past thirty years

and now Lake his wife, Marilynn; live in a comfortable home on three wooded acres. Although their two grown children, Dianalynn and Joseph are very active in their own careers they are always in communication with their has been in Rockford,

Illinois

Geneva, Wisconsin, where he and

parents.

Currently Joe D'Lugosz has embarked on a new career teaching commercial art, design and drawing to students at the Milwaukee Area Technical

220

AMERICA'S College.

Of

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

course he has not discontinued his

and continues and TV graphics

free-lance assignments booklets, brochures

variety of clients that include

lithographers.

221

TV

to

produce

for a wide

stations

and

George W. Arndt, M.D.

George W. Arndt was born July 21, 1925, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a child his family moved to Baraboo, Wisconsin and George not only met the author of this book, Judge Gollmar, but became a member of Judge Gollmar's sunday school

class.

Upon

graduation from Baraboo high school in

Army

Corp and served during World War II in both the European and Pacific theaters until his discharge from the Army 1943, he entered the

Signal

in 1946.

After attending the University of Wisconsin's its School of Medi-

premed program, he entered cine

and

in

1953 was granted

223

his

Doctor of Medi-

EDWARD GEIN Arndt served his internship at Madison General Hospital and then joined the staff at Mendota State Hospital to pursue his intercine degree. Dr.

est in psychiatry.

July 1, 1955, Dr. Arndt became a Fellow at the famous Menninger School of Psychiatry in Topeka, Kansas, while serving also as a resident in psychia-

Winter General Veterans Hospital.

try at

during

this

It

was

period that Menninger published Dr.

Arndt's study, Community Reactions

to

a Horrifying

Event.

Upon

graduation from Menninger, June 30,

became the assistant chief, Continued Treatment Service at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Tomah, Wisconsin and also chairman 1958, he

of the hospital's Medical Records Committee. While at the

V.A. Hospital in Tomah, Dr. Arndt was

involved with organizing and clinically implemented their first

major Chemotherapy reserach program.

In 1959, Dr. Arndt became a Diplomat of the

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. July 1, 1960, Dr. Arndt left the V.A. to enter private practice in Neenah, Wisconsin, where he also organized and developed the Winnebago County Guidance Center and served as director from 1960 to 1963. (Afterwhich, he periodically served as consultant.) In 1960, Dr. Arndt also joined the staff of the

Theda Clark Regional Medical Center

in Neenah. Department of Medicine and Medical Records Committee and remains on the active medical and psychiatric staff.

He

is

past chairman of the hospital's

224

AMERICA'S

MOST BIZARRE MURDERER

When Edward

Gein petitioned for release from

Central State Hospital, Judge Gollmar called on Dr. Arndt to examine Gein as one of the state's

foremost forensic psychiatrists. Since 1960, Dr.

Arndt has given consultation and evaluations

to

the criminal justice system (Courts, prisons, dis-

attorneys and defense attorneys.) Other current activities of Dr. Arndt include:

trict

Sex Crimes Program, Diviand Social Services at both Central Hospital and the Winnebago Mental Health

•Psychiatric consultant,

sion of Health State

Institute. (1972-81) •Consultant to the State of Wisconsin Division of Corrections, Clinical Sevices. (1960-81) •Psychiatric consultant to the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, since 1961, and to the Wisconsin Veterans Home since 1973. •Member, Advisory Board, Winnebago County Mental Health Association, since 1965. •Chairman of Mental Health, Retardation and Drug Abuse Committee of the planning organization for a ten county area, preapring for the current Lake Winnebago Health System Agency. •Chairman, Clinical Directors Division of the Wisconsin Association of Community Human Services Programs. (Dr. Arndt was awarded the first Clinical Directors Award from that organization in 1979.) •Medical director, Waushara County Guidance Center (51.42) Unified Board since 1969. •Clinical director and consultant to Sheboygan County (51.42) Unified Board since 1977. •Psychiatric consultant to Marinette County (51.42) Unified Board beginning in 1981.

Somehow,

Dr. Arndt has also found time to be

225

EDWARD GEIN very active in

community and professional organi-

zations over the years.

•Fellow,

He

is

currently:

American Psychiatric Association

(1970).

•Member, Wisconsin Psychiatric Association of which group he currently serves as both its secretary and chairman of the Membership Committee. And, he is past president of the Northern Chapter. •Member, American Medical Association. •Member, Wisconsin State Medical Society where he serves as a member of the House of Delegates and is past chairman of the Credentials Committee. Last, but surely not least, we have just been informed that Dr. Arndt has been appointed by Governor Dreyfus to the Wisconsin State Board of

Medical Examiners.

226

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MYSTERIES

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In jail for a killing he didn't

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We

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KILLER'S BREED, an

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volume

the bloody days of the Civil

War

and incredible scenes of cruelty and violence as our young nation splits wide open, blue armies versus gray armies, tainting the land with a river of blood.

And Edge was

there.

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by Brian Hodge A plague of unknown origin swept through modern civilization almost overnight, destroying good and evil alike. Leaving only a handful of survivors to make their way through an empty landscape, and face the unknown horrors that lay hidden in a savage new world. In a deserted midwestern department store, a few people banded together for survival. Beyond their temporary haven, an evil was stirring. Soon all that would stand between the world and a reign of insanity was this unlikely fortress of humanity, armed with what could be found on a department store shelf and what courage they could muster to battle a monstrous, merciless

scourge.

Available wherever paperbacks are sold, or order direct from the Publisher. Send cover price plus 50C per copy for mailing and handling to Pinnacle Books, Dept. 537, 475 Park Avenue South, Y. 10016. Residents of New York, New Jersey and New York, SEND CASH. Pennsylvania must include sales tax.

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CAME OUT AT THE TRIAL

THERE WERE SKULLS ON THE BEDPOSTS. HER HEART WAS FOUND IN A SAUCEPAN ON THE STOVE. GEIN DANCED IN THE MOONLIGHT WEARING THE FACE, THE BREASTS, THE HAIR OF HIS VICTIMS.

Edward Gein. His story is the basis ot two ot the most terrifying films ever made: Alfred Hitchcock's

PSYCHO and Tobe Hooper's THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. Now, read the before

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of the century," as told by

H. Gollmar,

trial.

this reclusive bachelor to murder,

fratricide,

grave robbing and even can-

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unparalleled

modern annals of crime? Judge Gollmar's account, which includes transcripts from the

trial,

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straightforward, riveting,

chilling.

The Case

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