Tag: 1937
Sarah Johnson, Child Abduction, Alaska 2022
In a heart-stopping drama that unfolded in the sleepy streets of Juneau, Alaska, a frantic mother’s desperate bid to save her toddler from the clutches of three ruthless abductors ended in a stunning twist of fate. On August 4, 1937, Martha Szybnski Horst’s world was turned upside down when her two-and-a-half-year-old son, Donald Otto Horst,…
Shirlee Frocks, Disorderly Conduct, New York 2024
In the sweltering Texas heat of July 1937, the city of San Antonio found itself caught in the midst of a bitter labor dispute. The Shirlee Frocks plant, a bastion of female labor, had been the site of contentious picketing for weeks. But on Wednesday, July 28, the situation came to a head as two…
William Borah, Betrayal of the Black Community, Nebraska 1924
In a scathing rebuke, Senator William E. Borah of Idaho has left the Black community in Omaha reeling. According to an analysis from The Crisis in 1930, Borah’s words and actions reveal a stark lack of understanding and empathy for the hopes, ambitions, and rights of African American Americans. On July 25th of that year,…
Kentucky in the Grip of Crime 1937
In 1937, Kentucky was ravaged by crime, with the state’s law enforcement agencies grappling with the consequences of Prohibition’s repeal. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, the Bluegrass State’s crime rate skyrocketed, with larceny-theft and burglary leading the charge. The country was in the midst of a crime wave, sparked by the…
North Carolina 1937: Crime on the Rise
Crime in North Carolina continued to escalate in 1937, with law enforcement agencies struggling to keep pace with rising rates of property crime and violent offenses. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, the state saw a significant spike in burglaries and larcenies, with rural areas particularly hard hit. The FBI UCR program,…
Wyoming 1937: Crime in the Cowboy State
Wyoming in 1937 was a state plagued by outlaw violence and gangland activity, as the nation grappled with the rising tide of organized crime. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, established in 1930, provided a glimpse into the violent underbelly of America’s heartland during this tumultuous era. According to the UCR’s inaugural report for…
Alabama 1937: Crime in the Deep South
In 1937, the state of Alabama was plagued by high levels of crime, particularly larceny, which dominated the statewide crime statistics. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, larceny was the most common crime in Alabama that year, accounting for the majority of reported offenses. The UCR program was still in its early…
Louisiana 1937: Bootlegging and Murder Mark a Turbulent Year
In 1937, Louisiana was a hotbed of bootlegging and gang violence, according to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. Bootlegging, a major problem nationwide during the Prohibition era, was particularly rampant in the Pelican State. While exact numbers are difficult to come by, the FBI UCR program reported that crime rates in Louisiana were significantly higher…
Crime Spikes in North Dakota 1937
North Dakota in 1937 was a time of rising crime rates, with the state experiencing a significant spike in violent offenses, according to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data. The FBI UCR program, established in 1930, had just begun collecting and analyzing crime statistics nationwide. In 1937, the program reported a notable increase in violent…
Crime in DC: 1937 – Bloodshed on the Banks of the Potomac
In 1937, the District of Columbia was a city plagued by high crime rates, reflecting the turmoil of the Great Depression. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, which was established in 1930, District of Columbia was one of the most violent cities in the country, with a homicide rate that far exceeded…
