Today we conclude our about the Polish American serial killers of Chicago with a conversation about John Wayne Gacy’s Polish heritage and how he used that heritage as a key part of his camouflage.

Notes:

• The Leopard Man (1943) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036104/
• M by Fritz Lang (1931) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022100/?ref_=nm_knf_c_2
• “The secret source of humor is not joy but sorrow; there is no humor in heaven.” ―Mark Twain

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Today we conclude our conversation about Tillie Klimek with an exploration of her trial and how 1920s newspapers colored the public (and history’s) view of her. We also take a quick sidebar into the background of Judge Marcus Kavanagh's thoughts about women and how this contributed to the verdict and sentencing.

Sources

Martin, Alison. "This week in history: Chicago serial killer Tillie Klimek dies in prison." Chicago Sun-Times (IL), November 19, 2020. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/17EDE16BD1F83C28.

"From our archives – March 14, 1923." Mexia News, The (TX), March 14, 2017: 4. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/163244C312AE49A0.

Daily Times (Chicago, Illinois), November 23, 1931: 10. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A176820A8B9EC1C11%40EANX-NB-16C22ACF9EC2C604%402426669-16C172605C3A5DE6%409-16C172605C3A5DE6%40.

Daily Times (Chicago, Illinois), June 1, 1931: 3. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A176820A8B9EC1C11%40EANX-NB-16C3529F71BE60F1%402426494-16C2115FA42D89A6%402-16C2115FA42D89A6%40.

Daily Times (Chicago, Illinois), November 20, 1936: 82. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A176820A8B9EC1C11%40EANX-NB-16C3D040C58001FC%402428493-16C3CB8353C95CCE%4081.

Marcus Kavanagh One of Many Judges in Iroquois Theater Fire Trials. https://www.iroquoistheater.com/marcus-kavanagh-circuit-court-judge-iroquois-theater-fire.php. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kavanagh, Marcus. The Criminal and His Allies. Indianapolis, The Bobbs-Merrill company, 1928. Internet Archive, http://archive.org/details/criminalhisallie0000kava.

Forbes, Genevieve. 1923. "GUILTY" IS KLIMEK VERDICT: LIFE IN PRISON FOR WOMAN AS ARCH POISONER HEARS VERDICT WITH: "ISN'T IT WARM?" LIFE TERM FOR TILLIE KLIMEK; SHE'S UNMOVED PENALTY SETS RECORD HERE FOR WOMAN SLAYERS. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 14, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/guilty-is-klimek-verdict/docview/180477844/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

TILLIE KLIMEK IS STRONG WITNESS IN OWN DEFENSE. 1923. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 13, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/tillie-klimek-is-strong-witness-own-defense/docview/180453327/se-2 (accessed Septe

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In Episode 2 of our coverage of Tillie Klimek, we discuss Tillie’s four husbands (each of whom suffered from arsenic poisoning) and other potential victims.

TW: murder (and attempted murder) by poisoning

Recommended reading for Episode 2: https://www.mearsheimer.com/publications/

Notes:

TILLIE KLIMEK IS STRONG WITNESS IN OWN DEFENSE. 1923. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 13, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/tillie-klimek-is-strong-witness-own-defense/docview/180453327/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

MRS. KLIMEK IS FORMALLY HELD IN POISON DEATH: BODIES OF OTHER RELATIVES WILL BE EXAMINED. 1922. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922), Nov 11, 1922. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/mrs-klimek-is-formally-held-poison-death/docview/175083939/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

Forbes, Genevieve. 1923. GRAVE DIGGER TELLS OF GOINGS ON AT KLIMEKS': SAW ONE KISS, THEN VIEW WAS SHUT OFF, HE SAYS. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 10, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/grave-digger-tells-goings-on-at-klimeks/docview/180465757/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

MYSTERY DEATHS IN POISON CASE MAY REACH 20: SEEK NEW MISSING MATE; QUIZ ANOTHER WOMAN. 1922. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922), Nov 14, 1922. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/mystery-deaths-poison-case-may-reach-20/docview/174991920/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

Forbes, Genevieve. 1923. HOW MRS. KLIMEK JESTED OF DEATH OF HUSBAND TOLD: STATE DROPS CASE FOR TIME AGAINST HER COUSIN. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 09, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/how-mrs-klimek-jested-death-husband-told/docview/180486247/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

KLIMEK POISON LIST IS TWENTY; ARREST 1 MORE: SISTER OF MRS.KOULIK LATEST ACCUSED. 1922. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922), Nov 19, 1922. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/klimek-poison-list-is-twenty-arrest-1-more/docview/175050889/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

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