The Adventuress: Murder, Blackmail, and Confidence Games in the Gilded Age

Introduction

© 2010 by Virginia A. mcConnell All rights reserved Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2009047060 isbn 978-1-60635-034-8 manufactured in the united states of America Designed by Christine Brooks and set in Cycles. Printed by sheridan Books, inc., of Ann Arbor, michigan. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data mcConnell, Virginia A. The adventuress : murder, blackmail, and confidence games in the Gilded Age / Virginia A. mcConnell p. cm. — (True crime history series) includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-1-60635-034-8 (hardback : alk. paper) ∞ 1. Walkup, minnie Wallace, 1869–1957. 2. Women murderers—united states— Biography. 3. Husbands—Crimes against. 4. murder—united states—Case studies. i. Title. HV6248.W188m33 2010 364.152'3092—dc22 2009047060 British Library Cataloging-in-Publication data are available. 14 13 12 11 10 5 4 3 2 1 This one is for “the girls”: my sisters-in-law Patty mcConnell, Victoria Beckner, and the late Jill mcConnell; my niece Kristin mcConnell; and my good friends Lisa Greenville and Laurie Austin. Contents � Acknowledgments ix introduction xi Dramatis Personae xv Part 1: New Orleans 1. A shootout and a World’s Fair 1 2. The Visitor from Kansas 11 Part 2: Emporia 3. The mayor Takes a Wife 21 4. minnie Goes Downtown 29 5. The Death of a mayor 45 6. A sensation in emporia 62 7. Defending minnie Walkup 75 8. starring minnie Walkup 89 9. The rise and Fall of minnie Walkup 103 10. intermission 116 Part 3: Chicago, 1893–1902 11. The Levee 127 12. The Death of a Club man 134 13. Hansen versus Ketcham 152 14. Billy, Baby Jo, and the Prince 159 ...