Wicked Words - A True Crime Talk Show with Kate Winkler Dawson James Polchin: Shadow Men
Sep 8, 2025
James Polchin, author of Shadow Men, reveals the haunting true crime narrative of the 1920s Jazz Age murder of ex-sailor Clarence Peters in Westchester County. He discusses the complexities surrounding the case, including the confession from a suspect tied to a wealthy family and the early days of homicide investigations before the FBI's formation. Polchin explores themes of privilege, victim portrayal, and the social dynamics of the time, providing a gripping glimpse into a century-old mystery with modern implications.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Staged Discovery Shapes The Story
- James Polchin opens the case with the discovery of a staged body to mirror how contemporaries encountered the crime.
- The body lacked ID and was found laid out "as if an undertaker had put it there," creating early mystery.
Prohibition Context Drove Early Theories
- Early speculation tied the killing to Prohibition-era bootlegging on back roads near Kensico Reservoir.
- Reporters initially imagined either bootleg-related violence or an enforcement encounter gone wrong.
Military Underwear Led To ID
- Investigators identified the victim by military-issued underwear and fingerprints sent to Naval Intelligence.
- They matched prints to 19-year-old Clarence Peters and located his family in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
