This is a fascinating tale based on an actual event that began on March 26, 1887, when a young woman was found murdered in a field on the outskirts of Rahway, New Jersey. She had been bludgeoned about the face, and her throat had been cut from ear to ear.
F. Alexander Shipley has provided a detailed history of the investigation into this murder, including numerous identifications of the victim and several confessions to this horrendous crime. Thousands of individuals, many of whom had a missing family member or friend, thronged to the local morgue, eager to catch a glimpse of the victim in hopes of identifying the remains.
Some have speculated there is a possible link between this dastardly deed and the crimes of Jack the Ripper.