By Jon Tait Hutcheon Graham of Gards The Bishop of Carlisle was watching from the ramparts of Carlisle castle whenHutcheon Graham and his crew of border reivers started riding out to plunder theCumbrian countryside following the death of Queen Elizabeth 1 in March 1603.Hutcheon and his fellow horsemen – around 140 of his ‘kinsmen andContinue reading “Meet The Medieval Mafia #4”
Category Archives: Biographies
Serial Killer: Michael J. Swango
By Chris Bunton I love to travel, and as part of my travel plans I research criminals and crime locations. Recently, I traveled to Quincy, Illinois, where I discovered that the Serial Killer named Michael Swango was raised there. So, I checked out some of the sites associated with him. He was born in 1954,Continue reading “Serial Killer: Michael J. Swango”
Meet The Medieval Mafia #2
By Jon Tait Adam Scott of Tushielaw Adam Scott was such a notorious leader of sheep and cattle raiders that he earned the nicknames ‘King of Thieves’ and ‘King of the Border.’ Scott was born sometime in the late Fifteenth century, a son of David Scott in theforest of Ettrick, who had gained possession ofContinue reading “Meet The Medieval Mafia #2”
Meet The Medieval Mafia #1
By Jon Tait Sim Armstrong of Whithaugh He was Scottish organised crime’s Mr. Big TWO CENTURIES before the Sicilianmafia was formed. With links to cattle and sheep rustling, coin counterfeiting, robberies, protectionrackets and murders, Sim Armstrong of Whithaugh was one of the most dangerousand notorious reivers from just over the border in the lonely LiddesdaleContinue reading “Meet The Medieval Mafia #1”
Historical True Crime: Sam Hildebrand
By Chris Bunton “There seems little room for doubt that the desperado, who was recently killed at Pinckneyville, the particulars of which, our local correspondent of that town, has heretofore furnished our readers, was the real “Sam Hildebrand” of Missouri notoriety”—Du Quoin Tribune, April 11, 1872 Sam Hildebrand was born on January 6, 1836 atContinue reading “Historical True Crime: Sam Hildebrand”
Writer Interview: Russell Guenther
By Chris Bunton The Yard: Crime Blog loves to support writers. Here we have an interview with Russell Guenther. He has blessed us several times with his work, and we are glad to have gotten an interview with him. 1. What led you to start writing? “I’ve always loved to read, and been tinkering aroundContinue reading “Writer Interview: Russell Guenther”
Writer Interview: John Haymaker
John has submitted a couple of stories to The Yard: Crime Blog, and we have enjoyed reading his work. We contacted him, and asked if we could do an interview, and he was glad to answer our questions. What led you to start writing? “Blessed (or afflicted) with synesthesia, boundless imagination and desire to makeContinue reading “Writer Interview: John Haymaker”
Serial Killer: Raymond Lee Stewart
By Chris Bunton More appropriately labeled a “Spree Killer”, Raymond Lee Stewart kept Rockford, Illinois in fear during his shooting spree in January of 1981. Raymond Lee Stewart was born in Burlington, North Carolina. He had a rough up bringing full of poverty, physical and sexual violence. I say this, not as an excuse butContinue reading “Serial Killer: Raymond Lee Stewart”
Serial Killer: Dale Anderson
By Chris Bunton I traveled to Belleville Illinois, recently to research the serial killer Dale Anderson. My research took me to Belleville High School East, where the body of Audrey Cardenas was found in June of 1988. She was an intern for the Belleville News Democrat at the time. The area where she was foundContinue reading “Serial Killer: Dale Anderson”
Book Release: Gemma Hoskins
Have you seen the Netflix Documentary series entitled “The Keepers“? Then, you know who Gemma Hoskins is. Well, she has written a book entitled “Keeping On“. Mascot Books had this to say: “The Keepers investigates the unsolved murder of Cathy Cesnik, a nun and teacher at Archbishop Keough High School. Sister Cathy was Gemma’s belovedContinue reading “Book Release: Gemma Hoskins”