Lawrence P. Gooley

North Country / Adirondack Author

Book Tag: Saratoga County

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Love, Jealousy, and Murder in the Adirondacks & Foothills: New & True Stories of Fatal Infidelity and More

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Love, Jealousy, and Murder in the Adirondacks & Foothills-Front Cover

Discover the dark and fascinating history of love, jealousy, and murder in New York’s Adirondacks and foothills. This gripping collection by acclaimed historian Lawrence P. Gooley explores real-life cases of passion-driven crimes, unraveling the motives, trials, and aftermaths of notorious incidents from the 19th and 20th centuries. Each chapter dives deep into the lives of ordinary people whose relationships turned deadly, including:

  • Howard Bishop and the “Code of the Hills”: A shocking tale of infidelity ending in murder and a sensational trial
  • John Benson: Killing a Friend to Possess His Wife—an explosive love triangle with tragic consequences
  • Adam Nappi & Mary Leo: Lust, murder, and a web of secrets that spanned continents

Drawing from court records, newspaper archives, and personal testimonies, Gooley’s book offers a vivid, meticulously researched account of true crime in rural America. Perfect for fans of historical mysteries, true crime, and regional history, this volume reveals how love and jealousy can ignite deadly passions, leaving lasting scars on families and communities.

Adirondack Murders of Passion: New & True Stories of Killing for Love, Money, or Both in the Mountains & Foothills

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Adirondack Murders of Passion-Front Cover

Discover the dark and captivating history of the Adirondacks with Adirondack Murders of Passion: New & True Stories of Killing for Love, Money, or Both in the Mountains & Foothills by Lawrence P. Gooley. This gripping true crime collection dives deep into the most notorious and sensational murder cases that rocked upstate New York from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Each chapter unravels a tale of love, jealousy, betrayal, and greed—crimes committed in the heat of passion that left communities reeling.

Explore chilling accounts, such as:

  • The multiple graves of Harriet Van Auken’s husband
  • Charles Harrison’s jealous rage on the streets of Plattsburgh
  • Edward Haynes, whose web of lies led to a double murder

Meticulously researched and rich with period newspaper accounts, trial details, and local lore, this book brings to life the real stories behind the headlines. Perfect for fans of true crime, regional history, and the mysterious allure of the Adirondacks, Adirondack Murders of Passion is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the darker side of human nature.

Bullets, Booze, Bootleggers, and Beer: The Story of Prohibition in Northern New York, Volume 1

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Bullets, Booze, Bootleggers, and Beer, Volume 1-Front Cover

Prohibition was the wildest, most chaotic period in northern New York’s history. America’s so-called “Great Experiment”—banning the social and recreational use of alcohol—led to unforeseen and unfortunate consequences. Thousands of speeding bootleggers presented potentially deadly hazards to casual drivers. The number of gun-toting highwaymen (robbers) skyrocketed with the emergence of new and irresistible targets—bootleggers carrying cash north to buy alcohol, and bootleggers carrying valuable booze loads south.

Even more alarming were the almost daily wild shootouts, often on village and city streets, the air heavy with bullets as lawmen and smugglers fought it out during high-speed chases. Worse yet in the eyes of many were the extremely aggressive tactics of lawmen, who were sworn to provide enforcement (the offenses were mostly misdemeanors) and protect the public, but killed bootleggers and innocent citizens alike in the process, and were rarely held accountable. They falsified charges, lied, stonewalled, withheld evidence, and did whatever it took to avoid prosecution. » More Details

Dannemora’s Death House: The Crimes and Fates of 41 Killers Sentenced to Die in Clinton Prison’s Electric Chair

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Dannemora's Death House-Front Cover

In 1890, when electrocution replaced hanging in New York State, Clinton Prison became a house of execution for the next 24 years. But not every killer who was sentenced to death died in the electric chair. Some were saved by fate, mercy, legal action, or last-minute reprieves. While some ultimately survived, most did not. By 1914, when all executions were moved to Sing Sing, 26 inmates had been electrocuted at Clinton.

Inside are the stories of 41 murderers who were sentenced to die in Dannemora’s electric chair. Graphic details of many brutal attacks are covered, including victims’ injuries as provided in coroner and autopsy reports, so this is not a book for the squeamish—but it is a book for fans of true-crime stories. There’s plenty of drama, passion, and angst throughout in stories ranging from shocking to frightening to just plain remarkable. » More Details

25 Diabolical Adirondack Murders: The Twisted, Fiendish Deeds of North Country Killers

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25 Diabolical Adirondack Murders-Front Cover

Within these pages are twenty-five complete stories of murder in the North Country. The perpetrators range from average citizens to some of the worst degenerates imaginable. Their methods run the gamut from poison to clubs to knives to guns to axes, while their stories contain shocking revelations and remarkable twists, far too many to count. And some are just plain unusual.

These true chronicles from long ago once held readers spellbound, and are as riveting as many of the high-profile murder cases in modern media. It’s at once fascinating and disturbing to explore the devious minds of those who walk among us. » More Details

Adirondack & North Country Gold: 50+ New & True Stories You’re Sure to Love

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Adirondack & North Country Gold-Front Cover

There is no other book out there like Adirondack & North Country Gold. Within these pages are 51 original stories about remarkable people, places, and events from the Adirondacks and foothills. Included are four anchor chapters that together are large enough to fill a volume: the life stories of Garrett Cashman, Michael Donovan, Harry Elkes, and Eben Rexford.

Though they may be unfamiliar names, their accomplishments are legend. Cashman was history’s second cluster balloonist who, in the 1950s, captured the imagination of the entire nation. Donovan was a world-champion athlete whose achievements rank among the rarest in sports. Elkes was a beloved world-champion cyclist with a brilliant and tragic career. And the modest and unassuming Rexford wrote one of the most enduring songs in American history, a best-seller for more than half a century.

There’s so much more among the other 47 stories. You’ll find humor (The Great Canine Court Caper); inspiration (the Dean Van Clute story); romance (Love So Strong, It’s Criminal); mystery (New York’s Legendary Vanishing Judge); and the offbeat (Alligators in the Adirondacks, and Rock Eaters? No Way … But Anything Else Will Do!). » More Details