50 years later: Kansas town remembers 'In Cold Blood' deaths, still angry about Capote's book

fox40 ^ | November 9, 2009 | ROXANA HEGEMAN

[JoeProBono]

It's one of America's most haunting crime stories: four members of a Kansas family brutally murdered on Nov. 15, 1959, at their rural farmhouse.

The slayings of the Clutters — chronicled in Truman Capote's book, "In Cold Blood" — have overshadowed the town of Holcomb for the past half century and the trial and execution of the culprits has brought little, if any, closure.

For many townsfolk, the wounds have been slow to heal partly because of Capote's critically acclaimed, nonfiction novel that spawned a new literary genre. The book has been reviled in its birthplace by residents because of its recreation of events that never happened and what they say is commercial exploitation of the victims. The subsequent movies have also been unpopular here.

"They made a tremendous amount of money off our great tragedy," said Bob Rupp, who as a teenager dated Nancy Clutter.

The horrific slayings of Herbert Clutter, a prominent farmer and community leader, and his wife, Bonnie Mae Fox, along with their children, 15-year-old Kenyon and 16-year-old Nancy, shattered the innocence of a generation accustomed to leaving their doors unlocked.

The hunt for their killers — parolees Dick Hickock and Perry Smith — mesmerized the nation, drawing journalists from across the country to this rural outpost on the Kansas prairie.

Then when Capote's book hit the shelves, it forever linked the small town with a crime now known around the world......

[JoeProBono]

In this photo taken Oct. 19, 2009, a memorial to the Herbert Clutter family is seen in a Holcomb, Kan. park. Fifty years ago, the Clutter home on the outskirts of Holcomb was the scene of the brutal murder of Clutter, his wife Bonnie and their two children inspiring Truman Capote to write "In Cold Blood".

In this Jan. 6, 1960 file photo, Perry Edward Smith is led by police officers into the courthouse at Garden City, Kan. Smith was arrested in Las Vegas and charged with first degree murder in the slaying of four members of the Herbert Clutter family at their farm house in Holcomb, Kan. Fifty years ago, the Clutter murders inspired Truman Capote to write "In Cold Blood".

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[Clintons Are White Trash]

The movie Capote was fascinating - revealing the struggle he had between 1. helping the murderers on death row as he had befriended them toget the story and 2. letting them get the death penalty as quickly as possible so he could finish the book and make his $$$.

He was in France vacationing when Perry was trying to call him about getting an appeal or stay filed and he basically said he was doing everything he could to help then did nothing knowing that the quicker they were gone, the quicker he would get his book published and he would be paid. Amazing....

[mfish13]

From what I understand Capote kept all profits to himself.

[TC Rider]

The greater tragedy? The book, movie and this article glosses over the fact that the two murderers were gay.

[tal hajus]

WTF does them being gay have anything to do with them being killers?

[llevrok]

One of my favorite books ever. The way Capote "constructed" the story are the best I've ever read.

Then there is the image in my head of a little Manhattan odd ball like Truman rattling around this small town. ;-)

[llevrok]

The book, movie and this article glosses over the fact that the two murderers were gay

Perhaps. But the book paints a clear picture they both were social misfits and deviants with out conscious

[JohnLongIsland]

WTF does them being gay have anything to do with them being killers?

Do you think that Truman was taking notes all the times he visited Perry in jail?

[llevrok]

Self Correction: The way Capote "constructed" the story are is the best I've ever read

[Liz]

Kansans still angry about Capote's "In Cold Blood."

What goes around comes around.

Kansans should feel gratified that Capote got his, years later.

He was the darling of the social set...hobnobbing with all of the rich and famous......held the famous Black And White Ball.

Then a chapter from his unfinished book "Answered Prayers" was published.

His friends discovered he had published gossipy items they had told him in strict confidence.

They cut him off ....and Capote never recovered. A rerun of his appearance on late night TV was not very pretty....he was obviously drugged up and incoherent. He died a broken man.

[agere_contra]

If they decided to take revenge on heteronormative society then it would matter a very great deal that they were gay.

Did they? You don’t know. I don’t know.

Don’t mistake me. I think the concept of a “hate crime” is toxic. Murder is murder.

But if we insist that no gay criminals can possibly be guilty of this ‘hate crime’ - so much so that we refuse even to examine the possibility as you seem to - then we have allowed gay people to obtain an effective patent of nobility. One law for heterosexuals, another law for homosexuals, do you see?

The current state of the law is toxic enough. Let us at least apply it evenly, even to murders long since resolved.

[JoeProBono]

[trisham]

Two flawed people. Sad.

[JoeProBono]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2277547/posts

[Eric in the Ozarks]

In the years between his conviction and execution, Dick Hickock began to think he could survive hanging. A relative of the guy who built our house was on the Kansas State Patrol in the late 50s and told why it took a half an hour for Hickock to die.
Hickock exercised his neck muscles for several hours each day, betting he could survive the drop without breaking his neck. He did, but the sentence was "hang by the neck until you are dead." He died of slow strangulation at the end of the rope.

[trisham]

I suspect it’s been tried before.

[JoeProBono]

[trumandogz]

The book, movie and this article glosses over the fact that the two murderers were gay.

I don't think the book "glosses over" the sexuality of Dick and Perry as most 9th graders can read between the lines and see that is the case.