Austin Murder & Mayhem
By Richard Zelade
Beneath Austin's shiny veneer lies a dark past, filled with murder, lechery and deceit. Legislators, lawmen and lawyers killed, robbed and lied just as well and just as often as the drifters and grifters preying on newcomers. The nation's first known serial killer made his debut in Austin in the form of the Servant Girl Annihilator, who is still rumored to be Jack the Ripper. After the Willis brothers murdered their neighbors over rumored buried gold, a lynch mob hanged the boys from live oaks on present-day Sixth Street. Freshman representative Louis Franke died after he was robbed and beaten on the steps of the statehouse. Author Richard Zelade delivers a fascinating look at the seedier side of Austin history.
Richard Zelade is an author and historian from Austin, Texas, and a graduate of the University of Texas. His writing has appeared in Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Monthly, People, Southern Living and American Way, among others. An author of five other books, Zelade studies Texas geology, weather, geography, flora, fauna and ethnic folkways, including the medicinal and food uses of native plants. This is his second book with The History Press. Visit RichardZelade.com for more details.