Harold Schechter - Killer Colt: Murder, Disgrace, and the Making of an American Legend

I owe my greatest debt of thanks to Professor Richard Vangermeersch, distinguished historian of American accounting, who graciously shared his research material on the Colt case and offered vital assistance throughout the project.

I am also grateful to the following people for their kindness and generosity: Randy Blomquist, Mickey Cartin, Kenneth Cobb, Dale Flesher, Bob Kenworthy, the Hon. Diane Kiesel, Richard Morgan, Karen Nickeson, Richard Pope, Richard Roberts, David Smith, Jamie Stockton, and, as always, Marianne Stein and Evelyn Silverman. The Research Foundation of the City of New York provided generous assistance in the form of a PSC-CUNY Research Award.

I cant adequately convey my appreciation for the love and support of my wife and partner, Kimiko Hahn. To describe my feelings about our life together, I must turn to the words of John Colts contemporary, Ralph Waldo Emerson: I am glad to the brink of fear.

ALSO BY HAROLD SCHECHTER

NONFICTION

The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
(with David Everitt)

Bestial: The Savage Trail of a True American Monster

Depraved: The Shocking True Story of Americas First Serial Killer

Deranged: The Shocking True Story of Americas Most Fiendish Killer

Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, the Original Psycho

Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer

Fiend: The Shocking True Story of Americas Youngest Serial Killer

Savage Pastimes: A Cultural History of Violent Entertainment

The Serial Killer Files: The Who, What, Where, How, and Why of the Worlds Most Terrifying Murderers

The Whole Death Catalog: A Lively Guide to the Bitter End

NARRATIVE NONFICTION

The Devils Gentleman: Privilege, Poison, and the Trial That Ushered in the Twentieth Century

FICTION

Nevermore

Outcry

The Hum Bug

The Mask of Red Death

The Tell-Tale Corpse

H AROLD S CHECHTER is a professor of American literature and culture at Queens College, the City University of New York. He is widely celebrated for both fiction and true-crime writing, including The Serial Killer Files. He lives in Brooklyn and Mattituck, Long Island, with his wife, the poet Kimiko Hahn.

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