Mystery Writers Have a Tough Decision
One of the more gruesome aspects to my research for “The Triangle Murders” was learning about defenestration. This nasty means of murder is the act of throwing someone out the window or from a high place. The term comes from two centuries-old incidents in Prague. The first in 1419 when seven town officials were thrown from the Town Hall, no doubt precipitating the Hussite War. The second in 1618, when two Imperial governors and their secretary were thrown from Prague Castle, sparking the Thirty Years War. The latter was referred to as the Defenestration of Prague.
Now, while there’s something appealing about throwing political officials out of the window, remember that when they hit the ground the results are quite grim.
Falling as a cause of death can be very effective. There are two ways a person can fall. A vertical “controlled” fall is when the person lands upright and feet-first. An “uncontrolled” fall is when some other part of the body hits the ground first ie: head or back. Not pretty.
The vertical fall is survivable up to about 100 feet, but an uncontrolled fall can be fatal at very short distances such as from a stepladder. With a controlled fall, the initial energy transmits through the feet and legs and spares vital organs. The uncontrolled fall, however, can cause massive internal and head injuries.
Unrecognizable bodies lay on the sidewalk along Greene Street, together with hoses, fire rescue nets, and part of a wagon. All were drenched by the tons of water used to contain and extinguish the fire. Photographer: Brown Brothers, March 25, 1911. Photo courtesy of Kheel Center, Cornell University: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/
I use this “cause of death” in another book coming out soon: “Pure Lies,” about the Salem witch trials. Why? Maybe because it’s clean way to murder (no blood on your hands) and allows easy escape for the killer? There is the problem, however, of actually shoving someone who might be bigger and heavier than you out the window. But that’s a story for another blog.
As one who has worked on ladders for a living, the word picture you paint of defenestration evokes some memories I’d rather not recall…ugh!
In one of my Matt Davis Mysteries, Twice Bitten, I chose snake bite as the method de jour. I came up with the idea after reading a non-fiction book entitled Salvation on Sand Mountain by Dennis Covington. In it, he detailed how a pentecostal preacher who handled venomous snakes as part of his ministry had forced his wife (at gunpoint) to place both her hands into a box of rattlesnakes. She was bitten several times, and nearly died. Her husband was charged with attempted murder and is currently serving 99 to life in an Alabama prison. I took the idea a step further, but to find out exactly what I did you’ll have to read the book.
Truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction!
Hi Joe,
Wasn’t there just something in the news about a preacher getting bitten and dying from a snake bite? Love that stuff. Thanks for reading! Lynne
Yes! Actually, he was the main character on the reality TV show, Snake Salvation. I’m not sure, but I think the show has been canceled, as was the preacher!
P.S. I see that you were born in Brooklyn. I was raised in Brooklyn. We lived in Fort Green Park in “the Projects” right alongside the Myrtle Avenue “El” across from Monument Park. My family moved out in 1955, when I was 10 years old, and just in time. I understand that the area has become “gentrified.”
It’s not politically correct to laugh, but, jeez, how can you not? PS: I don’t blame the snake.
As to your other comments on Brooklyn. Yes, I was actually born in the Flatbush section and then moved to East New York. I left when I went to college upstate at SUNY New Paltz never to return. Both neighborhoods, as yours, have undergone so many transitions. Brooklyn is quite gentrified now. Although I’m not sure about Flatbush!
My grandmother lived on Cortelyou and Rugby Roads in Flatbush!
Wow. I was on Stratford Road near Church Ave!
As I recall, Church Station was the last stop coming from my house on the subway before Cortelyou (at least that’s how I remember it). You might enjoy my upcoming blog called “Peanuts, popcorn, Crackerjack!” My blog is: http://www.joetheauthor.wordpress.com. If you subscribe (hint, hint), you’ll get that post when it comes out (I believe it’s scheduled for April 3).