Case 278: Alma Tirtschke (Part 2/2)

Great show. Perhaps my hearing is overly sensitive but I wanted to mention that at times, there is a long high pitched note that is played in the background music that is a bit hard to listen to especially with headphones on. An example is at the 47:16 timestamp. Otherwise I enjoy the subtle background music. Cheers.

Full transcript of letter: “LIFE A HELL!” Colin C. Ross, Melbourne Gaol. “You have been condemned for a crime which you have never committed, and are to suffer for another's fault. Since your conviction you have, no doubt, wondered what manner of man the real murderer is who could not only encompass the girl's death, but allow you to suffer in his stead. “My dear Ross, if it is any satisfaction for you to know it, believe me that you die but once, but he will continue to die for the test of his life. Honored and fawned upon by those who know him, the smile upon his lips but hides the canker eating into his soul. Day and night his life is a hell without the hope of reprieve. Gladly would he take your place on Monday next if he had himself alone to consider. His reason, then, briefly stated, is this: A devoted and loving mother is ill—a shock would be fatal. Three loving married sisters, whose whole life would be wrecked, to say nothing of brothers who have been accustomed to take him as a pattern. He cannot sacrifice these. Himself he will sacrifice when his mother passes away. He will do it by his own hand. He will board the ferry across the Styx with a lie on his lips, with the only hope that religion is a myth and death annihilation. “It is too painful for him to go into the details of the crime. It is simply a Jekyll and Hyde existence. By a freak of nature, he was not made as other men . . . This girl was not the first . . . With a procuress all things are possible . . . In this case there was no intention of murder—the victim unexpectedly collapsed. The hands of the woman, in her frenzy, did the rest. “May it be some satisfaction to yourself, your devoted mother, and the members of your family to know that at least one of the legion of the damned, who is the cause of your death, is suffering the pangs of hell. He may not ask your forgiveness or sympathy, but he asks your understanding.”

Gotta be honest here: this was a pretty disappointing two-parter. It didn’t need to be two parts, and the gratuitous “hey it might’ve been the uncle in law” at the end was just really kitschy. I expect better from Casefile. This struck me as a tabloid type setup.

Wow... That letter gave me goosebumps.

This was a really tough one. Tragic all around. Without diminishing the horror of the case, and without seeming overly critical of the writing itself: what was the decision process that led to ending this episode with “here is who actually probably did it” conjecture about the uncle in law? One of the main themes of this episode seems to be the danger of assuming guilt on limited evidence, especially when guilt might be convenient closure (and when the accused is unlikely to be seen sympathetically). Yet nearly a century afterwards we are here discussing what another particular individual “could have done” or “may have done” that would point to their guilt. I’m not saying this other theory is wrong, I just think it’s ill-advised to include in the context of the episode. If there’s any episode where it might be good to avoid finger pointing on limited evidence, it’s probably this one (and the episode wouldn’t have been any worse had it been excluded).

I can’t even begin to imagine the scene where he is allowed to see his family before being led to the gallows. The emotions in that final moment kills me. Not allowing to hug her son one final time? No words.

Incredible storytelling. A trend unfortunately that is not recent of those innocent of the crime being condemned because of a preconceived notion of "how it must have gone down". His incredible faith and knowing he'd be cleared eventually, amazing. That letter at the end is one of the most haunting things I've heard in all the episodes of this podcast.

A 1925 photo of the area where the saloon is located: https://tinyurl.com/Tirtschke I'm not sure where Gun Alley is located in relation to this scene.

I always listen to Casefile multi-parters after the last part has dropped, so when I got the notification in my inbox and saw that the episode description started "71 years later" my jaw hit the floor. Can't wait to listen to this one, wow.

Casefile ... At 38:10 when you said "corporal punishment" you clearly meant "capital punishment". Perhaps you might want to correct this for the general release next week.

A remarkable injustice told so well. Really appreciated the use and choice of music in this episode - and in fact in many other episodes where the music adds atmosphere and depth, yet can be taken for granted because the balance is so unobtrusive.