Comments on: Walter Cronkite and “The Strangler”

By: Henry Barth

Henry Barth — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:24:02 +0000

Thanks, Bill

I no longer live near Boston now.

I think it was Ed Corsetti of the Boston Herald who first used the term "combat zone" in a series of articles n the Herald around 1959-1960. They staged many of the photos, and exaggerated the tales, of course.

You might look for copies of the Boston scandal rag/newspaper “Midtown Journal” – published in the South End in the 40s to 70s.

Police from Station Four who had details in the bars would be great sources.

Eddie Walsh was a detective (with his partner Tom Nee) out of Berkley Street headquarters. He'd be 80 or more by now, and retired. You might find a contact for him through the retirement offices. I think he used to live in Dorchester. If you know Howie Carr, I think Howie mentioned Eddie used to attend federal court cases.

Parenthetically, you might like this article dated 1968 by the now very famous James K. Glassman: http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=117157

Adlow was one of the great characters of the period.

All the best,

HB

By: Bill Landay

Bill Landay — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:14:32 +0000

Hi Henry. I'm going to email you to talk about Eddie Walsh. I'm always looking for sources, and at the moment I'm researching a project on the old Combat Zone, particularly in the mid seventies. Maybe Eddie Walsh would have some memories to contribute. For that matter, maybe you would!

By: Henry Barth

Henry Barth — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 05:08:25 +0000

Eddie Walsh knew a lot about the Strangler case, and about Boston from the 50s onwards. Don’t know if he’s still alive.

By: Bill Landay

Bill Landay — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:28:32 +0000

Thanks for your comments, Henry. Please chip in anytime with memories of old Boston. Those recollections are always welcome around here. In fact, the recollections of a few old cops contributed mightily to "The Strangler."

The Casablanca is still open, but it ain't what it used to be. In its current form, it would fit right in at your local shopping mall. For that matter, Harvard Square itself is beginning to look like a shopping mall.

You're right about Boston, too. It's getting so a crime writer can hardly find material here anymore. Which is good news for everyone in town who is not a crime writer, I suppose.

Thanks for the kind words about my book. Stick with me, I'll get better at this.

By: Bill Landay

Bill Landay — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:52:00 +0000

It is fascinating to me (born in 1963) to hear from people who remember these places and can add these sorts of details. I don’t know if you’ve read my novel “The Strangler,” but Station 16 play a part in it. Thanks for your comment, Henry.

By: Bill Landay

Bill Landay — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:51:31 +0000

It is fascinating to me (born in 1963) to hear from people who remember these places and can add these sorts of details. I don't know if you've read my novel “The Strangler,” but Station 16 play a part in it. Thanks for your comment, Henry.

By: Henry Barth

Henry Barth — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:08:10 +0000

Bill, I did read your book. Good job. Are you writing more novels? Day by day...that's how Bob Parker does it. (Is the Casablanca in Harvard Square still open?).

My recollections of Boston (and criminals I have known and loved) go back to 1955.

Boston has changed, changed utterly.

By: Henry Barth

Henry Barth — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:09:01 +0000

The old Station 16, horses and all, always had a bad reputation because it WAS bad. I remember a detective (was he nicknamed “Tiger”?) who beat a 16-year old kid to death in the interrogation room.

As for Schwartz’s key shop, which was actually many blocks away from the station, not “a few blocks,” the cop on that beat at the time had joined the force in 1919. He looked like Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes and like Schultz, he “knew nothing, nothing at all.” He was a good guy, though.

Joe McGinnis of Brinks fame owned a bar almost across the street from the station. The bar was a club for criminals … and cops.