iconoclast
09-03-2008, 07:32 PM
The only online discussion of this case is the original New York Times article from 1911:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C06EFDB1431E233A25751C1A9639C946096D6CF&oref=slogin
It is interesting that once again, "gypsies" got the blame for this little girl's killing; LE at the time didn't seem to know (or want to admit) that serial killers existed.
What is most interesting about this case, however, is the connection to well-known outsider artist Henry Darger (Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Darger), PBS (http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/intherealms/about.html)). Darger was a recluse who worked more than 50 years at menial jobs. When he died, it was found he had written and illustrated over 20,000 pages of stories. He was also obsessed with the Paroubek case, to the point that one Darger expert, John McGregor (http://www.interestingideas.com/out/darger2.htm), believes Darger may have been the killer. A news photo of Elsie that Darger treasured, was stolen from his rooms and he was devastated.
FWIW, my detective sense tells me Darger probably wasn't responsible. He quite probably had either high-functioning autism or severe Asperger syndrome. He had been horrifically abused as a child, but was not known to be violent. Darger was fascinated with children and tried several times to adopt a child. His writings are disturbing at times. But a person who kills so violently once, will almost certainly kill again. There were no other notable child murders around Henry Darger.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C06EFDB1431E233A25751C1A9639C946096D6CF&oref=slogin
It is interesting that once again, "gypsies" got the blame for this little girl's killing; LE at the time didn't seem to know (or want to admit) that serial killers existed.
What is most interesting about this case, however, is the connection to well-known outsider artist Henry Darger (Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Darger), PBS (http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/intherealms/about.html)). Darger was a recluse who worked more than 50 years at menial jobs. When he died, it was found he had written and illustrated over 20,000 pages of stories. He was also obsessed with the Paroubek case, to the point that one Darger expert, John McGregor (http://www.interestingideas.com/out/darger2.htm), believes Darger may have been the killer. A news photo of Elsie that Darger treasured, was stolen from his rooms and he was devastated.
FWIW, my detective sense tells me Darger probably wasn't responsible. He quite probably had either high-functioning autism or severe Asperger syndrome. He had been horrifically abused as a child, but was not known to be violent. Darger was fascinated with children and tried several times to adopt a child. His writings are disturbing at times. But a person who kills so violently once, will almost certainly kill again. There were no other notable child murders around Henry Darger.