A century after Jane Stanford's mysterious death, an amateur sleuth uncovers university scandals, possible motives for murder, and a misinformation campaign by the president of Stanford University. Conflicting reports on whether her death was due to heart failure or murder. Archive letters, faculty cover-up scandal, and the Gilbert Affair potentially connected to her murder. Dr. Cutler examines motives and means, finding inconsistency in Bertha's story but leaving her murder unsolved.
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Quick takeaways
The president of Stanford University, David Starr Jordan, attempted to cover up Jane Stanford's murder by spreading misinformation and discrediting the Hawaiian doctors who conducted the autopsy.
Amateur detective Robert W.P. Cutler uncovered a possible motive for Dr. Jordan to want Jane Stanford dead: she was planning to fire him, and he also found inconsistencies in the statements of Jane's personal secretary, Bertha Burner, suggesting their potential involvement in the murder or cover-up.
Deep dives
The Stanford Scandal
After the suspicious death of Jane Stanford, founder of Stanford University, a scandal emerges. Stanford president, David Starr Jordan, tries to cover up the murder by spreading misinformation and discrediting the Hawaiian doctors who conducted the autopsy. The coroner's report reveals clear signs of strict-nine poisoning, but Dr. Jordan insists that Jane Stanford died of heart failure. Driven by personal motives and a desire to protect the reputation of the university, Dr. Jordan's actions raise suspicions and cast doubt on the official cause of death.
Investigation and Cover-up
Detective Harry Reynolds, sent by the San Francisco Police Department, investigates the case but is unable to find concrete evidence pointing to a murder. Robert W.P. Cutler, a retired professor turned amateur detective, becomes intrigued by the case many years later. His research uncovers a possible motive for Dr. Jordan to want Jane Stanford dead: she was planning to fire him. Cutler also discovers inconsistencies in the statements of Jane's personal secretary, Bertha Burner, leading to speculation that she may have been involved in the murder or cover-up.
The Smoking Gun
Dr. Cutler finds evidence that Dr. Jordan had a history of covering up scandals, including an incident involving a corrupt professor. Cutler begins to suspect that Bertha Burner and Dr. Jordan conspired together to murder Jane Stanford, but he is unable to find proof of their collaboration. However, he uncovers discrepancies in Bertha's recollection of events on the night of Jane's death, raising doubts about her innocence and suggesting possible involvement in the crime.
Unsolved Mystery
Despite Dr. Cutler's extensive research and theories, the true identity of Jane Stanford's murderer remains unknown. The case remains unsolved, and conspiracy theories continue to circulate. The tragedy brings to light the complex dynamics of university politics and the lengths people may go to protect their personal interests and preserve the reputation of an institution.
In early 1905, Hawaiian police opened—and quickly closed—an investigation into Jane Stanford’s mysterious death. A century later, an amateur sleuth tried to crack the case, uncovering university scandals, possible motives for murder, and a misinformation campaign led by the president of Stanford University himself. This episode originally aired in September 2020.