Murder-Suicide of William Strutz
Making Sense of Conflicting and Erroneous Information
There are many lessons to be learned about how different reporters, publications, copy editors and layout editors treated (and mistreated) the same facts about my great great grandfather’s murder. Or how OCR (optical character recognition) further keeps the stories buried.
Tips From My Great-Great Grandfather William
- Reporters goof: His name was StRutz (not Stutz as below)
- Typesetters goof: His murder was July 2, not June 2, 1894
- Family members often spin or “sanitize” details
- There may be coverage beyond local papers (e.g. AP story)
- The Genealogical Proof Standard: Do an exhaustive search
- Keep Notes (sources, name variations, facts, conflicts)
- Names are often misspelled or misread. Search key words.
- Search not just for names but for initials and abbreviations · e.g. Joseph William Smith may be Jos. , Joseph W. or J. W.
- There may be mentions of the deceased years after death. Obituaries and real estate items are the most common.
- Newspapers and microfilm deteriorate and have limited lifespans
Spelling Variation - Strutz
Spelling Variation - Strutz
William Strutz artist rendering 1894
Wheeling WV Henry Tolger
Strutz Vogler funerals
Strutz Vogler crime scene artist rendering
Strutz story July 1984 full page with artist renderings
Strutz murderer Vogler's home artist rendering of
Chippewa Falls Herald July 13 1894
Strutz Waddington Recorder
2 Strutz The Abbeville Press and Banner
Strutz Der Deutsche Correspondent July 4 1894 searched by Stutz
Strutz Buffalo story
Strutz Elmira with banner 1894 an old story
