Cape Cod Confidential

EJ,

By the way, if DeSalvo was not the killer, why did he confess? Was he just a nutcase? That is one story I didn't realize had any real cracks. Thanks for pointing them out. I look forward to movie and book.

EJA,

I was contacted by the artist's son and that is how I came to learn of the bloody apt. The book, "In His Garden", by Leo Damore was the best true crime novel I have read. Leo's rich details were unlike any other author I've read. Not much has changed when it comes to possible involvement from prominent families. Like I said, if they can't convict the real killer for whatever reason, anyone will do. I'm glad you wrote this blog. Who knew about Mary Sullivan's role in the story? I was wondering why Dinis was put on Costa case. Did you know those killings took place the same time as MaryJo and Teddy's oops? Lots of tangled webs. "Black Dalia", was not as well written as, "In His Garden", and was Damore well recognized? Maybe not. It was Kennedy country, afterall.

Crusader,

I've heard similar theories, but I suspect the truth will never come out.

-- EJA

Trusuki,

You should read A Rose for Mary, however the author is related to Sullivan and whitewashes her character and background. But there is detail about her Hyannis life. I highly recommend The Boston Stranglers, which presents in my mind a more realistic picture of Mary Sullivan. Sounds as if she left your brother and the Cape seeking adventure.

-- EJA

Rent "mystery street", Netflix.

Charles street and Beacon street was a place where call girls lived and Cape men visited. Interesting, Tony Costa had a friend who also lived there, "several murderers", that's what some journalists said about Costa killings. They also believe the killings went on for many years before Bernie Flynn joined the team of detectives. And more female slaying occurred after Costa was locked up. Also, a bloody scene was discovered in a NY apt by wife of a well known artist. Apt was used by friends of same PTown artist. It was hushed. That story never mentioned in the book. Drugs and cult were claimed as cause for killings by E.Lawson in archives.

My brother was engaged to Mary Sullivan right before she moved to Boston ... they called it off when she left the Cape. I have very dim memories of her ... wonder why my family members were never questioned? I've never read anywhere that they were ...

As I recall, I cobbled this story together from disparate accounts in the Yarmouth Register and the Barnstable Patriot of 1898.

Other than that, I haven't seen it anywhere else.

-- EJA

In 1897, there was a drive-by shooting from a horseman.

Evan,

Great story. Is this information published anywhere? I'd like to learn more.

good story

Not sure what you mean. In my review I wrote about the scene where Moralas confronts the alleged killer thus:

"In addition to murder and thrills, Mystery Street also comes with some biting social commentary about conditions on Cape Cod in the 1950s. When Moralas serves a search warrant on a Hyannis man whose family had been living in Barnstable bbefore there was a United States,' the Yankee sniffs, 'But from the way you talk, you haven’t been around here long.' Moralas ignores the comment, and continues his search, but finds nothing. As he leaves, the Cape Codder tells him, 'You know, I’m used to respect. People looking up to me.' 'So am I,' Moralas answers as he starts out the door. 'And my family hasn’t even been in this country for one hundred years.'”

I can't say that I've ever been accused of "political correctness" before ...

EJ,

There is still plenty to see in the movie that I did not mention. I'm sure your reasons were purely Cape Cod in all it's political correctness. Prominent businessmen who think they are above the rest can and will do whatever they please....to include murder. Proving it is another matter entirely.

Ahem. Crusader, the reason I didn't mention who the killer was because that isn't revealed until halfway through the movie. That's called a "spoiler." By revealing it, one is "spoiling" the movie for people who haven't seen it. Reviewers, as a rule, try not to directly mention these things. You'll notice I also didn't write about the train station, or how the landlady ends up in bed, or the parrot.

I don't believe the producers or screenwriters based the movie on any specific events. I think they were looking for an interesting location. According to the commentary that accompanies the movie, after World War II travel restrictions had been lifted and Hollywood was looking to get out of town and shoot more exotic locales.

Watched it on Netflix. Interesting, blog didn't mention the killer in movie was a shipbuilding owner, had 3 daughters, and the usual promient cc mayflower horsesht attitude....DA Morales role is true to life, given what we learn about DA's who only care about getting A suspect, NOT the killer, only if by luck or diligence by outside interests, like honest citizens, or exposure driven by relentless fear of the.pompous "don't you know who the....I am", I'm left with burning curiosity of what event prompted the movie in 1948, since Tony Costa killings, and lady in the dunes occurred much later, years later. Maybe boss was right,"how many dead bodies in them dunes anyhow"?

If you are a NetFlix subscriber, definitely add it to your queue.

Netflix has it, paired with Act of Violence.

Yes bunny, drug dealers. Worthington murder-drug dealers, Tony Costa-drug dealers, 3 drug dealers got killed in the 80's, drugs mysteriously vanished from police station. Look it up in archives. Drug reps, I only know of in the city. We got pushers everywhere. But the worst are drug companies because the masquerade behind the illusion all their drugs help patients. Not true. We find out much too late, some have caused irreversible damage. Botanical cures are labeled as snakewater because synthetics are money makers. Amazon has not been researched as much but holds cures. Why would we need doctors if we find cures? Here's a site and writer to watch, about fiscal disaster: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11117

Hadden Clak apparently said he was the killer. However authorities have discounted his claim because its not the first time he's to have claimed to kill and it just never panned out.

http://nov1.m.yahoo.net/yng0/KCHuO8SW0FWo.w6GFnmS.w__/1228090931/www.newyorker.com/archive/2000/09/04/2000_09_04_064_TNY_LIBRY_000021602

Thought they figured it was Clark who murdered the handless woman in the dunes. Some rich kid working as a cook in ptown, right?

When Montalban tried to fly out to Nantucket, this little midget ran out and started shouting "DE PLANE, BOSS!!"

You're right--it was taxi driver Robert DeNiro who killed them.

Just kidding. DeSalvo did them all. But, of course, it's conspiratorial fiction that sells books and movie rights.

If Brian DePalma has anything to do with this movie, we all know it will be a crock of sh--, no matter what the facts may or may not have been.

I haven't read about this in a very long time but I always thought it was a taxi driver? Thanks for re-kindling my interest- I'll have to re-check why I thought it was a taxi driver.

ask dave, the paranormal guy blogging on cc2day, who's so into the crypt, and morbidity, and bad vibes, and who is so psychic.

Are there any other books written about him. His father died when he was very young and I wonder what his life was like. Not thinking there is any excuse for what he did but he was clearly a disturbed personality. I wonder if there is a reason that some people end up so messed up?

The SORB laws were updated in Massachusetts, for many reasons. Think Glenn Marshall: Who was his victim, and why was his level downgraded to level 1? A good attorney? Of the four Cape Verdean gang-rapists, two were juveniles, re-offended, and are continuously in and out of prison now, as adults. One of the adult offenders ratted the fourth gang-rapist out. He also continues to serve in Massachusetts prisons' revolving doors. The fourth gang-rapist pled guilty, but did not serve his twenty-year sentence; and he has also been in and out of prison on multiple felonies, all of his life. It was Jane Doe's fault.

We don't play...

in Buzzards Bay!

:-D

Hey, Mike,

I've been trying to find the same thing for the very same reason (two books on Thompson at the same time--who'da thought?). Perhaps between the two of us we can track them down. The Century Co. doesn't exist, but they haven't owned the rights since the book went out of print. Also, be wary that Houghton Mifflin apparently claims rights to Thompson's autobio, but they are selling something they do not own.

E-mail me (ejalbright AT gmail DOT com) if you want to continue the conversation, but just know I am a competitor.

-- Josh

Does anyone know who owns the rights to "City of the Sacred Well," T.A. Willard's somewhat sensational account of Edward Thompson's adventures while exploring/working/ dredging/diving at Chichen Itza. I need to use quotes from that book in an upcoming book I am writing about Thompson, but no one seems to know who holds the rights. It was published by The Century Company in 1926, but that company no longer exists.

Great post. Thanks.

Hey, Solon. You heard correctly, but it's an apocryphal story, the Yucatecan version of "buying Manhattan for a handful of beads."

I have been unable to verify exactly what Thompson paid, but it was far more than $50, Mexican or US. He could have afforded that or even $500, but he needed the help of Allison Armour to purchase the land.

It is possible that the transaction as it appeared on tax logs was $50; even today in Yucatan land purchases are made in cash and the figure reported to the tax man is almost always far less than the actual price.

-- Josh

Josh, I may be wrong, but I understand that Thompson paid only fifty bucks for Chichen Itza. The attitude of the natives was, "Those old stones? He can have them." Good article.

Jack,
I'm a bit confused. Did Bernie Flynn ever write a book on the accident? You said that he was a regular in a restaurant where you bartended. As he has passed, did he have family or friends that he may have left unfisished writings/articles with?

thanks EJ,

Maybe Peter remembers Evelyn Lawson....can you tell me anything about her, Peter?

Sorry, Crusader. I know little about him. Sounds like Peter knew him, so maybe he can chime in.

He wrote for the Cape Cod News (now defunct), and through his relationship with Bernie Flynn, got the skinny on Ted Kennedy and Chappaquidick. This got him a book contract, but it never materialized. Instead Damore wrote a book about a Christian Scientist couple that were put on trial for murder because they refused medical treatment for their child. Then came In His Garden. He eventually did write the Chappaquidick book, mentioned above.

Here's an interesting bio of Damore (you have to delete the space):

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ USAdamore.htm

Click on the link to Mary Pinchot Meyer, which was what Damore was supposedly working on at the time of his death. Here's the link. Mind the gap:

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ JFKmeyerM.htm

EJ,

I am interested in knowing more about Leo Damore. As difficult as some sections of the book were to read, I think he was one of the best writers of our time. What impressed me was his unwavering thoroughness in his research, it was so rich in detail, not many writers today are as gifted or willing to put that much effort into writing true crime, in my opinion. Mostly what we read now is cheap sensationalism because it's what sells. Why did Bernie sue Leo? Did Leo write some things that were inaccurate? What else can you tell us about Leo Damore. It's unfortunate he died that way. I haven't read his other books, but plan on it.

Jack, Bernie supposedly knew where a lot of bodies are buried on Cape Cod, or at least claimed he did. Never spoke to him, either.

Mwalim, Good to hear from you, although as I recall the Zachary piece you wrote was not necessarily flattering of our coverage. Or is my memory tricking me? Life's been very good, although I miss newspapering on the Cape. I almost made it back a couple of times, but negotiations with publishers fell short. "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice ..."

keesuq, Thanks. My time in Mashpee was a particularly intense one as a reporter as it was during the second round of the David Mace shooting flap. Wrote a lot of stories about the Wampanoag.

-- Josh

Hi Ej. Thanks for taking the time to get to know and understand the tribe. Your words are interesting as most folks think natives have to be, look, sound and act a certain way. We are all unique; however it is the spirit that you fealt. The spirits are ancient ones. The spirit is the creator. The spirit is alive and well in Mashpee Wampanoags and in the land, trees,water, air, all four legged ones and in our hearts, mind body and soul! Thanks for sharing your experience with us and learning about us.

Nice words. Peace to you and yours!

Josh!

Great to see you back in print! I remember our first meeting was after my parody of your piece on Zachary's Pub. How goes it all?

Your recollection about Bernie's lawsuit against Leo is accurate, Josh. I remember the stories about it and was disappointed to see bad blood between them. Never met Leo unfortunately but Bernie was a regular at a restaurant where I tended bar in Falmouth years ago. One day we were talking about Chappaquiddick and I mentioned Jack Olsen's compelling theory that Kennedy wasn't in the car, as described in Olsen's book "The Bridge at Chappaquiddick," and Bernie said, I know all about that theory - I gave it to him.

Diana, the blog you're referring to is Cape Cod Murder. Yes, the focus of that one is pretty much limited to the Worthington case.