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Peyton Moreland
You're listening to an Ono Media Podcast. Hey everyone and welcome back to the into the Dark podcast. I'm your host Peyton Moreland. I'm so glad you are here and either watching or listening to this episode. I hate to be annoying, but if you are watching on YouTube can you please make sure to follow the page, turn on notifications so so you don't miss an episode and then please please please leave a comment on this video. Give it a thumbs up. Interacting with the episode just helps support the show in ways you can't even imagine. And if you are listening on audio and can leave a five star review. Thank you so much. It doesn't have to be long, just a little brief sentence about why you love this show. Honestly, just you listening is supporting the show enough. So thank you for going above and beyond for me and the show. As you know, into the Dark is a true crime podcast that also ventures into all things dark and spooky. But before we get into that, I need to start this episode with my 10 seconds. Just a little something I do to start it off on a lighter note. Okay, well if you didn't know, I actually have really bad posture. I think part of it's genetic, part of it's just the age we live in looking at our phones all day. And also I honestly like to lay in bed a lot. So all those combined have led to me having just really poor posture. So I went and got an X ray on my spine. And I have actually changed the shape of my spine due to my poor posture. And then some older injuries that I had in dance have kind of shifted my hips a little bit, which then in turn have shifted my spine. Honestly, it's just not great. But I am on top of it. I'm taking care of it. I go in every single day. I've been really working on just my posture, really adjusting my hips, making sure my body's in a good place. I've been trying to get out, work out, not lay in bed so much. I've also been stretching a lot, which I think will help. I already feel a bit better. I feel a little bit more like me, which is great. But yeah, that's kind of what I've been up to this week. I actually had a really productive week last week, which I don't always have. But I'll take it. I'll take it. Honestly, a win's a win. But yeah, that being said, that's all I have going on. And let's just jump straight into today's case. Oh, wait, I actually forgot, before we get into it, if you are watching on YouTube, you can obviously see my shirt. It says literally, just murder with my husband junkie. We have a couple more versions of the shirt over on our store. The link will be linked everywhere. But yeah, if you want to check it out, this is the crop top version. I think we have a boxy cut version. And then I also have a version of this for my Twitch stream. So if you are a listener over there or a viewer and are wanting throatie merch, that is also available now. Okay, everyone needs to unwind sometimes. And for a lot of us, the best way to relax is by enjoying a favorite piece of pop culture. We might binge watch a comfort show, head to the theater, see a movie, play our favorite album, or the soundtrack from a beloved musical. And of course, if you're here, you are probably a fan of true crime. But the thing about true crime stories is that they're not just pop culture. They are real stories of things that happened to actual people. Sometimes the survivors are still hurting and trying to heal while in the public eye. So obviously this can turn into a gray area. You don't want to get too much enjoyment out of something that's tragic or traumatizing for another living person. Still, though, it is undeniable. For as long as there's been radio, newspapers and other kinds of mass media, people have been curious. They are interested in why people do what they do. And they are obsessed with murder stories. And that's true even in Chicago in the 1920s. In fact, at this time, true crime stories are very popular because they're so salacious. When you think of murderers, you probably think of men. But at this time in the 1920s, there's a slew of women reportedly killing their romantic partners and rivals. It almost feels like every day there was another news story about another alleged female killer. The thing is that a lot of the time these accused murderers don't get convicted. And it's illegal for women at this time to serve on a jury. So it's always men deliberating on each case. And these male jurors seem to see women as inherently weak and dainty. They don't believe that a woman could be capable of real violence. So time after time, a woman gets arrested and charged with murder, she goes to trial, and then she's found not guilty and goes free at this time. It's terrible from a justice perspective, but it sure sells papers. So that's what's going on in pop culture on the night of April 3, 1924. So that is when a woman named Beulah Anon is meeting a date in her apartment. Beulah lives in a Chicago neighborhood called North Kenwood. Except Beulah isn't from Chicago. She actually grew up in Kentucky. There she married her husband, who, for the record, is not the man she's meeting on the third. No. Bulla settled down with her first husband when she was just 15 years old. The marriage didn't work out and ended up in a divorce. And then she got married again in 1920. By now she was 19 on her second marriage, and her new husband was named Albert Anon. They stayed in Kentucky for a while as newlyweds, but at some point in the early 1920s, she and Albert moved to Chicago, which is how they even ended up in the North Kenwood apartment. Now, at this time, Albert worked there as a mechanic. He didn't make much money, and it was hard for him and Beulah to make ends meet. So In September of 1923, at just 22 years old, Beulah got a job as a bookkeeper at a Laundromat. And at her new position, she actually met a man named Harry Kolstead. Now, Harry had a dark history. In fact, Harry had recently gotten out of prison following a five year sentence for assault. He works at the laundromat because his brother in law actually owns it. And it's hard for a man with a record to find job otherwise. But as soon as he meets Beulah, he can't help but stare at her. He thinks she's the most beautiful woman he's ever met and he can't make himself look away. He's so obvious about this that Beulah catches him and instead of getting angry or offended, she smiles. Kind of signaling that she's not bothered by his attention. After this, Harry starts finding excuses to drop by the area where she's working just to hang and talk. Sometimes he says he needs to get out of the office and stretch his legs. And he invites Beulah to go on walks with him. That way they can talk to one another without their co workers overhearing. Now it turns out Harry and Beulah actually have a lot in common. They both like going out drinking, whereas Beulah's husband doesn't really enjoy partying. And more than anything else though, Beulah likes the way that Harry makes her feel. She enjoys the attention he showers on her and she likes to know that she's still attractive. She so even though she's married, she encourages Harry's crush and she starts to develop feelings for him too. So they start meeting at her apartment in secret. At first they just drink together while Albert's away at work. But before you know it, Beulah and Harry are having a full blown affair in the 1920s. So that's why he is visiting her on the afternoon of April 3rd. As for what actually happens while they're alone together that day, nobody really knows. But as the case goes, the events of the encounter have been hotly contested. Here's what I can say for sure. Harry arrives at Beulah's house sometime in the late morning or early afternoon. Then at around 2pm her neighbors hear a loud blast come from in her unit. Now at the time they don't know what it is. But later the police conclude that the sound was a gunshot. For the next three hours the same song begins playing over and over in her apartment. It's like a record is on a loop. Now by 5pm Beulah's husband Albert gets off work. He comes home and that record is still playing. Now right away Albert sees Harry, his wife's co worker daughter, lying on the ground in his home in a pool of his own blood. Now when her husband gets home, he also finds Beulah there and she explains, I shot Harry, but I had a good reason to. Except if she tries to explain what that good reason is, it never gets recorded anywhere. It's not clear to Albert if Harry is dead or just badly hurt. But either way, he's like, hey, we need to get officials involved. So he's the one who calls the police and they rush to their apartment. Now it's clear to them that they're too late. Harry has been dead of the gunshot wound for a while. Remember, this is three hours after the neighbors heard it. The coroner later confirms hours went by between the time when Harry died and when the police officers were called and arrived on scene. And more alarmingly, the bullet actually didn't kill him immediately. He was shot and suffered for a long while, died and then stayed on the ground until Albert came home and found the body. Meaning the entire time that Beulah was blasting that record on loop, she had a dying man and then a corpse in her apartment. You guys, I know summer is busy for majority of you and sometimes when it comes to meals, you only have a couple minutes. Factor helps you eat smarter with tasty chef prepped meals that are dietitian approved and delivered right to your door. 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Speeds may slow above 35 gigabyte on unlimited plan taxes and fees. Extra cement Mobile for details now it's reasonable to think that maybe Beulah was playing the loud music to cover up the sounds of Harry's death. But once the story hits the papers, the society comes up with a different story. The earliest headlines announced that Beulah shot Harry in cold blood and then danced around her apartment for hours to celebrate his death. There's no evidence supporting this. Still, given the facts of the case, it's no surprise that some people jumped to that conclusion. The point of this is that the police think this scene is very suspicious and right away they have questions for Beulah. Innocent people don't ignore dying or dead men in their apartment for hours. So right there they ask her what happened and she says, I shot Harry in self defense. According to her, he's basically a stranger. She knows him from work. This is what she's telling police. But they've never spoken to one another before. They're not even friends. But according to her, earlier that day he showed up at her apartment and she let him in. And then he began attacking her and she shot him. She doesn't even know why he came over or tried to hurt her. But she says she's just lucky to be alive. Except, honestly, from the get go, police are not buying it. They don't believe her story. They ask pointed questions. Okay, where was Harry standing when he attacked you? How was he holding the gun? How did you manage to hit him at the angle that you did? One officer points out that there are two wine glasses in the kitchen that are dirty. It looks like before the shooting, Harry and Beulah might have actually been drinking together, which would be an odd way for them to spend the afternoon if they barely knew one another. And on top of that, one officer says that he can tell that Harry was shot in the back. So how could he have been attacking Beulah if he was turned away from her? And as soon as those words come out of the detective's mouth, Beulah faints. Now the police bring her back too, but they're still not feeling sympathetic. She's a top suspect and she needs to be interrogated. So the police arrest her and drag her to the station. She doesn't even have a chance to change out of the nightgown that she was wearing when Albert got home from work. In Beulah's mugshot, she looks like an underwear model posing for a photo shoot. Her pearl necklace is framed by her nightgown's lacy neckline, and she's kind of gazing off in the distance like she doesn't even realize she's in serious legal trouble. Now, after this, the police question Beulah again, and she admits once again that she killed Harry. But she says still that it's in self defense. According to Beulah's new testimony, she and Harry actually were friends from work. But not good friends, she insists. We certainly were not having an affair. They knew each other well enough that he would come visit her at the apartment sometimes, and it wasn't unusual for them to share a glass of wine during these visits. So she's changing her story and explaining a little bit more. To hear Beulah tell it, that's what happened that day he came over. She thought they were just gonna chat a little. But instead, as soon as he arrived at the apartment, Harry allegedly tried to convince Beulah, his co worker, to sleep with him. Now, Beulah tells the police this time that she refused. She loves her husband. She'd never hurt him in that way. But according to her story, Harry wouldn't take no for an answer and he tried to assault her. Now, Beulah knew that her Husband owned a gun, and she knew exactly where he kept it in the bedroom. So she warned Harry if he didn't leave her alone, she was going to shoot him. And when that didn't work, she grabbed the gun and fired at him. In other words, she says, it wasn't a murder. It was completely legally justifiable. But the problem is, as soon as they picked Beulah up, she was slurring her words. The officers could smell the alcohol on her breath. It was clear that she was drunk, which means the police couldn't really take anything she was saying at face value the first time or the second time. They need to wait until she sobers up before they attempt another interrogation. So third time's the charm. The next session, Beulah tells them, once again, a different story. This time around, she admits they were having an affair. She tells police she was cheating on her husband with Harry. Beulah also says that during his last visit, Harry told her he was going to leave her, so that's why she shot him. She says she was in a jealous rage. And this confession is enough for the police to charge Beulah with murder. Now, luckily for her, she has a fantastic lawyer to represent her in the upcoming trial, and that's thanks to her husband, Albert. Now, it's worth noting that when Albert first heard about the affair, he was devastated. When reporters tried to talk to him, he said he felt like a fool. But once he calms down, he actually goes to the jail to talk to Beulah, his wife. And whatever she says to him there, it's enough to convince him to stand by her during her trial. He goes out and spends all of his life savings hiring the best attorney he can find. Because in Albert's mind, nothing is more important than helping his wife beat these charges, even if she did cheat on him and murder her affair partner. And Albert's not the only person who Beulah manages to charm. Like I mentioned before, she was already making headlines all over Chicago at this point. With this case, the press is fascinated with Beulah, in part because she's very pretty. In fact, some columns describe her as the most beautiful woman to ever be accused of murder, as though her appearance is relevant to the legal case at all. Newspaper articles describe her short, dark hair, her flawless makeup, her delicate features, and her amazing fashion. Sometimes they barely even mention the actual murder. They treat Beulah like she's a glamorous model or actress who just happened to kill someone, rather than an accused murderer who cheated on her husband and then Allegedly gunned her lover down in cold blood and let him die for hours as she played music. Now, as this is all breaking, Beulah loves the attention. She is thrilled to have her name and picture in the papers. Now, if the newspapers describe her as sympathetic, that could influence the jurors to be on her side when her trial starts. And her lawyer knows this. After all, Beulah knows that if she's found guilty of murder, she could be executed. So in her mind, the stakes have become life and death. A carefully chosen sound bite or posed photograph could be the difference between a guilty or not guilty verdict. So in no time at all, Eula and her team start finding ways to keep making headlines while she waits for her trial. At one point, she sees an article that incorrectly lists her age as 29. So right away, she reaches out to every reporter she can find to explain, no, no, no, she's only 23, not 29. She even makes a joke about it to the press, saying it's worse to be accused of being old than it is to be accused of murder. And there might be a grain of truth to that statement, because Beulah probably knows that she benefits from people seeing her as a young and innocent woman. After this incident, she has a new PR issue to manage because a bunch of stories come out about. About her affair, the alleged motive. They make her look untrustworthy and unfaithful. So she begins giving interviews where she talks about what a bad husband Albert was, or at least about how he was bad in her eyes. She describes him as neglectful and unromantic. A few times, Beulah tells a story about how someone robbed her on a vacation and Albert did nothing to protect her. Basically, her way to combat this is to try to make herself look like a victim who had no choice but to find someone else to take care of her and protect her. And it works. Reporters write sympathetic stories about how hard of a life she's had. Plus, this next part is wild. Albert still publicly stands by her and supports her. Beulah is trash talking him to anyone who will listen, and he still wants to help her. He's willing to fall on the sword for her.
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Peyton Moreland
Now, before I get to the next part of this story, I need to tell you about another woman who is in the same gel as Beulah. Her name is Belva Gardner and she's very famous. Belva is a former dancer who had an affair with a married man named Walter Law. Now, according to witnesses, he wanted to break up with her and go back to his wife. But every time he tried to end things, Belva threatened him. Walter told his friends that he was afraid of her, so he stayed with her out of fear of what would happen otherwise. Then one night, the two of them went out together. They got drunk in a bar. And the next morning his car was found parked in front of Belva's house. Walter was sitting in the front seat, shot to death, and the bullet that killed him matched a gun that Belva owned. When the police asked her what had happened, she claimed she couldn't remember. Her boyfriend's married boyfriend's death must have been so traumatic that she blacked it out. But Belva insists she did not murder Walter. There must have been another shooter. Or perhaps she might have killed him in self defense and then blocked the memory. Not a great alibi, but it's certainly attention grabbing. And like Beulah, Belva has been making headlines ever since the homicide. And now they're in the same jail. She knows what the media circus is like. Sure enough, for the first few days after Beulah's arrest, there are always reporters and photographers at the jail. It feels like she can't go anywhere without attention from the press. And Belva realizes there's an opportunity here for both her and Beulah to get even more attention together. Anytime there's a camera nearby, she makes a point of standing near Beulah and talking to her. That way, every picture shows the two of them together. They get to feed off of each other's fame. From then until their court dates, Beulah and Belva kind of become best friends. They do one another's hair in jail and makeup, and each time they're together, the reporters fly into a frenzy. Then Beulah, Belva and several other women have a pre trial hearing on April 21. And there are so many accused female killers in the courtroom that day that the newspapers dub it Ladies Day. Photographers line up in the courthouse while reporters take notes on everything. The judge says it's an epidemic and I could go on, but I think you get the point. Beulah and Belva might be in jail and waiting for trial, but they are very much in control of their cases. They are playing the press like a fiddle, winning fans, and becoming incredibly famous. And then on May 8, about a month after Beulah's arrest, she finds a new way to grab headlines. She announces that she is pregnant. Eula says the baby is her husband's, and according to her, it's part of the reason why she had to kill Harry. When he found out she was carrying Albert's baby, it drove him wild with jealousy that she was still sleeping with her own husband. He attacked her, and that's the real reason that she shot him that day, because she had to defend herself from his jealous assault. Now, for those of you who are keeping track, this is the third, fourth version of the story that she's told. First, she said she didn't kill him. Then she said she killed Harry to stop him from raping her, then because she was angry that he was leaving her. And now, again, it's gone back to him attacking her. And to save her life and the life of her unborn child, she had to kill him. But there is some additional context I should share. First of all, Beulah had never mentioned this pregnancy to anyone before. Her husband didn't even know about it. Beulah claims that she opened up to her new best friend, Belva, but there's no evidence she ever did. There's also no sign that Beulah ever saw a doctor about the alleged pregnancy. Oh, and yeah, she never has a baby. These days, it's safe to say that Beulah was definitely faking the pregnancy. It was another way to manipulate public opinion in the lead up to her trial. It's probably safe to say that Beulah figures the jury will be less likely to sentence an expecting mother to death or even a lengthy prison sentence. The point is, her strategy works. She gets a lot of favorable coverage, and so does Belva because she plays the part of the supportive friend who is standing by Beulah during her pregnancy. Both of these women having gone through something awful, keep in mind, they're the murderers. Now, by the time Beulah's trial begins later that month, she knows she has a lot of supporters, and the chances are very high that she'll be found not guilty. That might be why she feels bold enough to tell another new story on the stand. Okay. It doesn't match either of the statements she gave to the police after her arrest or the story she told when she announced her supposed pregnancy. Now, at trial, Beulah says yes, she and Harry were having an affair. But once she realized she was pregnant, she was gonna call it off. She was gonna try and make her marriage work. Except she never anticipated how angry Harry would become when she tried to leave him. See, on April 3rd, Albert was at work and she had the day off. And that's when Harry showed up uninvited at her back door. According to her, at trial, he was drunk and angry. Eventually, Beulah convinced him to leave by giving him some money. But he came back later in the afternoon at 2pm Beulah says she tried to get him to leave her alone once again, except this time she had no more cash to give him. And Harry was so drunk and erratic, she was kind of afraid of him. Eventually, according to her, she let him inside because she didn't know what else to do. Beulah says that as soon as Harry got into the apartment, he. He threatened to kill her. And from where they were standing, Harry could see into her bedroom. And he could also see Albert's gun sitting out on a bedside table. Eula claims that she watched him look at it, and then she knew exactly what he was thinking. As soon as Harry lurched toward the bedroom, Eula understood her life was in danger. So she also ran into the bedroom. Beulah was a fraction of a second faster than him. She made it to the firearm first, picked it up before he could grab it, and in the heat of the moment, she pulled the trigger. And it went off while the gun was pointed directly at Harry. So she says at trial that she killed Harry, but she insists she had no choice. It was inevitable that one of them was going to die from the moment that they both reached for the gun. And that's a phrase that the papers are going to seize on. All of the headlines the next day. Screaming, they both reached for the gun. The articles repeat her testimony as though it is the truth. They don't even acknowledge the way her story has been changing this entire time. And they still devote a lot of column space to talking about Beulah's hair, makeup, and outfits at the trial. Again, they're treating her more like a celebrity who's known for her beauty than like an accused killer. And this next part is wild. The jury is supposed to be beauty proof, meaning that when they were selected, the courts tried to find jurors who didn't follow the news. They also wanted men who weren't easily swayed by public opinion and who seemed calm and reasonable. The idea was that these guys serving on the jury were supposed to ignore all of the sensational reporting and make their own decision based on the evidence alone. Except as it turns out, the jury all buys into Beulah's story. After just two hours of deliberation, they find her not guilty. Now, almost everyone who's close to the case is thrilled to hear that Beulah will go free. Her husband Albert, gives a statement to the press. He says he always knew that she would beat the charges. He's happy to have her back home again. Except just one day later, she comes forward and makes a public announcement. She says, oh, my gosh, thank you. I have beat these charges. I did it out of self defense. My husband stood by me. And now, to all my loyal fans, I am moving to Hollywood to become an actress. And I'm actually going to leave Albert because I just don't think he can keep up with my fast paced, glamorous life. She's capitalizing on all of the fame that she has gained through her trial. And obviously this is a huge blow to Albert. Remember, he spent all of his money on her legal costs. He's literally bankrupt. And now, to all appearances, she's rewarding his loyalty by abandoning him. But before you feel too bad, I need to tell you about Albert's life. After Beulah leaves him, he dates around for a while and eventually moves in with one of his girlfriends. And then one night in 1934, he is drunk at home with her when they get into a heated argument, and he gets so angry that he beats his girlfriend to death. I'm not sure what led Albert to this behavior, but obviously he had it in him. He's convicted of manslaughter, but due to a legal loophole, he never actually serves a day in prison. So that's something that he allegedly has in common with Beulah. They both get away with murder. Speaking of Beulah, her Hollywood career never takes off, and Beulah never actually leaves Chicago. Instead, she finalizes her divorce from Albert and marries someone new. And when that relationship runs its course, she remarries again. And then she dies very young. By age 28, Eula dies of a respiratory infection, meaning she only lived five years after her trial. Except before she passes, she actually reached another level of fame on Broadway. If you're a big fan of musicals, you probably know where I'm going with this. See, all through this whole story, from the murder to the arrest to the trial, one reporter in particular was on the beat. Her Name was Maureen Watkins. She was very young when all of this went down, this women killing thing in Chicago. In fact, the Beulah case was one of Maureen's first ever assignments as a reporter. So she knew she had to prove herself when she wrote about each development. She had to balance a lot of things. Maureen needed to prove she could be accurate and factual, but write things that were exciting and attention grabbing. She knew what the public wanted to see, and she had to deliver the twists and turns they were craving. Even while privately she felt it was wrong for her to cover the story this way. Truth was, Maureen didn't like Beulah. She saw her as a heartless killer who was using the press for her own purposes. Maureen also knew that each time she gave Beulah more attention, she was helping the alleged murderer. But a job was a job, and stories about Beulah sold. So she kept on covering her case, even though it felt immoral to her. When Beulah was acquitted, Maureen was disgusted. She thought it was so obvious that Beulah was guilty. It was terrible for her to go free just because she was beautiful and popular. So Maureen quit her job as a reporter, and instead she wrote a play all about what she saw as a miscarriage of justice. She called this play Chicago, or Play Ball, and it debuted on Broadway in December of 1926. Reportedly, Beulah was really excited to see the show, but she never made it to New York to see it. Even though the story was based on her case. Marine fictionalized some elements. She changed Beulah's name to Roxie Hart, and the character based on Belva was called Velma. As you probably know, the play was a smash success. It was adapted for film twice, and in 1975 it became a musical. Of course, it's called Chicago, so if you've ever watched the show or the movie adaption, you might not have realized it, but it's based on the true story of Beulah and her role in what was basically an epidemic of women killing men in their lives. And as the saying goes, he had it coming. This all goes to show that true crime is not a new phenomenon. There have always been people who treat these stories as entertainment first and foremost, and that can impact the way the legal system functions. It was the case for Beulah and for Belva, who, for the record, was also acquitted. And it still happens today, too. I don't really know the solution to this problem, but something good did come out of Beulah's case. After her acquittal Some politicians began campaigning for a change to the laws, and they wanted women to be allowed to serve on juries as well. The thinking behind this was that female jurors would be less likely to be swayed by sexist assumptions and by the manipulation tactics that worked for Beulah. So, yeah, the only reason they wanted women to serve on jury was not equal rights, but just so in hopes that maybe they could convict other women. But I digress. It took 15 years, and then in 1939, it happened. Eventually, the city of Chicago did allow jurors of all genders. In the end, it is worth keeping in mind that the world and the criminal justice system can be very complicated, but it's never too late to try and make things a little better. Obviously, women killing men is no different than men killing women. We can not stand for it. And although there was kind of this entertainment value of the women killing men in Chicago in the 1920s, there is still obviously a larger epidemic today of men killing their partners versus women killing their partners. But it happens on both sides. And when it comes to the part of Eula's case being turned into a very famous musical called Chicago Again, true crime is fascinating. I think human beings have a right to know what their other fellow human beings are doing. They have a right to be curious. They have a right to be fascinated by the most gruesome things their fellow humans do. It's honestly kind of bred into us, especially as women, when we are primarily the victims of these cases. We want to know everything we can about it to try and prevent it for ourselves. But, yeah, I mean, there is a line you have to walk between the right to be fascinated and intrigued and want to know every single detail of these cases and then exploiting it in a way that can be unempathetic or harmful to victims. We're definitely still learning to walk that line, but I believe we are on the right path. Thank you so much for listening to today's Case, and I will see you next time. Another one. I love it. Oh, thank you so much for listening to today's Case, and I will see you next week as we go further into the dark together. Goodbye.
Tamsen Fadal
Hi, I'm Tamsen Fadal, journalist and author of how to Menopause and host of the Tamsen Show, a weekly podcast with your roadmap to midlife and beyond. We cover it all, from dating to divorce, aging to adhd, sleep to sex, brain health to body fat, and even how perimenopause can affect your relationships. And trust me, it can Each week I sit down with doctors, experts and leaders in longevity for unfiltered conversations packed with advice on everything from hormones to happiness and, of course, how to stay sane during what can be. Well, let's face it, a pretty chaotic chapter of life. Think of us as your midlife survival guide. New episodes released every Wednesday. Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Host: Peyton Moreland
Release Date: August 13, 2025
Podcast Description: A True Crime podcast with elements of horror and mystery, hosted by Payton Moreland. Each week, Payton delves into different cases, exploring the motivations behind criminal behavior while occasionally discussing conspiracy theories, hauntings, and other spooky topics.
Peyton Moreland opens the episode by setting the stage for a true crime story from the roaring 1920s in Chicago. She emphasizes the era's fascination with female murderers and the societal biases that often led to their acquittal.
“It almost feels like every day there was another news story about another alleged female killer.” (06:30)
Beulah Anon is introduced as a young woman from Kentucky who moved to Chicago with her second husband, Albert Anon. Struggling financially, Beulah secures a job as a bookkeeper at a laundromat, where she meets Harry Kolstead, a recently released ex-convict. Their mutual attraction leads to a secret affair, setting the stage for the tragic events of April 3, 1924.
“Harry thinks she's the most beautiful woman he's ever met and he can't make himself look away.” (13:45)
On the afternoon of April 3rd, Harry visits Beulah’s apartment. Neighbors hear a loud blast around 2 PM, later identified as a gunshot. For the next three hours, a record continuously plays in the apartment. When Beulah’s husband, Albert, returns home at 5 PM, he discovers Harry dead and Beulah alive but injured.
“The bullet actually didn't kill him immediately. He was shot and suffered for a long while, died and then stayed on the ground until Albert came home and found the body.” (18:20)
The police quickly find the scene suspicious. Initial reports suggest Beulah shot Harry in self-defense, citing that he was a stranger who attacked her. However, inconsistencies arise during her interrogations:
First Testimony: Claims of self-defense against an unprovoked attack.
“I shot Harry in self defense.” (21:15)
Second Testimony: Admits to an affair and a jealous rage led to the murder.
“I was in a jealous rage.” (32:50)
Third Testimony: Introduces a fabricated pregnancy to garner sympathy.
“I am moving to Hollywood to become an actress.” (36:10)
Her changing stories and evident intoxication during interrogations cast doubt on her credibility, leading to her arrest and subsequent media frenzy.
Beulah skillfully manipulates her public image to gain sympathy and influence public opinion. Supported by her loyal husband, Albert, she garners favorable media coverage despite accusations of infidelity and murder.
“She’s treating her like she’s a glamorous model or actress who just happened to kill someone.” (27:40)
Peyton introduces Belva Gardner, another woman accused of murder around the same time. Belva's case mirrors Beulah’s, with both women gaining media attention and supporting each other in jail. Their camaraderie fuels further public fascination.
“Beulah and Belva kind of become best friends. They do one another's hair in jail and makeup.” (34:50)
Maureen Watkins, a young reporter covering Beulah’s case, grows disillusioned with the sensationalist reporting that favors Beulah's manipulative tactics. Frustrated by the perceived miscarriage of justice, Maureen quits journalism to write a play inspired by the case.
“When Beulah was acquitted, Maureen was disgusted. She thought it was so obvious that Beulah was guilty.” (38:10)
Her play, "Chicago", becomes a Broadway sensation, eventually adapted into the famous musical and films. The character Roxie Hart is directly inspired by Beulah Anon.
“It's called Chicago, so if you've ever watched the show or the movie adaptation, you might not have realized it, but it's based on the true story of Beulah.” (38:25)
Beulah’s acquittal highlights the systemic biases of the time, particularly the exclusion of women from juries. Her case, alongside others, spurs political movements advocating for gender-inclusive juries, leading to legislative changes in 1939.
“Politicians wanted women to be allowed to serve on juries as well. It took 15 years, and then in 1939, it happened.” (38:40)
Peyton wraps up by reflecting on how true crime stories like Beulah’s shape and are shaped by public fascination. She underscores the ethical considerations of turning real tragedies into entertainment, using Beulah’s story to illustrate the enduring impact of media portrayal on justice.
“True crime is fascinating. I think human beings have a right to know what their other fellow human beings are doing.” (38:50)
Episode 132 of Into The Dark meticulously unpacks the Beulah Anon case, illustrating how gender biases, media sensationalism, and societal perceptions can intertwine to influence legal outcomes. Through Beulah’s story, the podcast not only explores the depths of true crime but also its significant ripple effects on culture and justice systems.
Thank you for joining this deep dive into one of Chicago’s most infamous cases. Stay tuned for more journeys Into The Dark every Wednesday.