Podcast Summary: "LIVE: Minneapolis - The Madd Gasser of Mattoon"

Introduction to Mattoon, Illinois Hosted at the State Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant delve into the intriguing and mysterious case of the "Mad Gasser of Mattoon," exploring whether the events were genuine acts of terror or a phenomenon of mass hysteria.

Background of Mattoon

• Location & Demographics (00:23 - 05:28):

  • Mattoon, Illinois, a small town with a population of approximately 16,000 in 1944.
  • Positioned between major cities like Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, yet maintains its unique identity.
  • Predominantly agricultural, surrounded by corn and soybean fields.
  • Employment sectors included farming, railroads, and factories such as the Brown Shoe Company.

  Quote:
  Charles W. Chuck: "[Mattoon] is in kind of a triangle between Chicago to the north, St. Louis to the south, Indianapolis to whatever's over here." [01:56]

The Onset of the Gassing Incidents

• First Incident (05:41 - 10:27):

  • Victims: Aileen Kearney and her toddler daughter, Dorothy.
  • Event Details: On the night of September 1, 1944, around 11 PM, Aileen noticed a sweet, gardenia-like smell in her home, leading to paralysis and respiratory distress. Dorothy was also affected but recovered by morning.
  • Initial Response: Neighbors and police were called, but no evidence of a gas was found initially.

  Quote:
  Chuck Bryant: "At 11pm in this house, Aileen retired to bed with her toddler daughter, Dorothy... she was losing power over her legs and arms like it was paralyzing her." [07:02]

Escalation of Fear and Media Involvement

• Media Coverage and Public Reaction (10:27 - 21:03):

  • The Mattoon Journal Gazette published a sensational headline: “Anesthetic Prowler on The Loose” [10:56].
  • Reports of additional attacks began surfacing, including incidents involving Mrs. Olive Brown, Urban Raif, and Patrice Rider.
  • Public fear intensified, leading to the formation of vigilante groups like the Anti Theft Association armed with makeshift weapons.

  Quote:
  Charles W. Chuck: "The Journal Gazette ran a story... 'Anesthetic Prowler on The Loose.'" [10:56]

Police and Investigative Challenges

• Local Law Enforcement Dynamics (19:05 - 22:49):

  • The Mattoon Police Department was understaffed and divided in allegiance between Police Commissioner Thomas Wright and Police Chief C.E. Cole.
  • Chief Cole introduced a controversial policy: victims could either go to the hospital or spend a night in jail, deterring calls to the police.
  • State investigators Richard Piper and Francis Barry arrived to assist, bringing two-way radios that improved coordination.

  Quote:
  Chuck Bryant: "The police commissioner... said that he wouldn't walk across his own backyard at night for $10,000." [18:27]

Analysis: Mass Hysteria vs. Real Threat

• Case for Mass Hysteria (48:43 - 54:55):

  • Factors supporting mass hysteria:
    • High anxiety due to World War II, with many men fighting overseas.
    • Recent news of a real Nazi POW escape heightened paranoia.
    • Sensationalist media reporting amplified fears.
    • Lack of consistent physical evidence linking incidents geographically and temporally.

  Quote:
  Chuck Bryant: "There was a surge of anxiety... and the Journal Gazette played a prominent role in this whole thing." [49:20]

• Case Against Mass Hysteria (54:55 - 64:33):

  • Evidence suggesting a real perpetrator:
    • Multiple victims reported similar symptoms and experiences.
    • Physical evidence such as the moist pink cloth and high-heeled steel-toed footprints.
    • Scott Maruna's research points to Farley Llewellyn, a local chemist, as the possible gasser.
    • McGasser incidents ceased abruptly after police implemented restrictive measures.

  Quote:
  Charles W. Chuck: "Farley Llewellyn... built a professional chemistry lab on his parents' property that blew up about a week before this all happened." [58:34]

Conclusions and Unresolved Mysteries

• Scholarly Interpretation:

  • Donald Johnson's 1945 paper in the Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology labeled the Mad Gasser of Mattoon as an archetypal case of mass hysteria.
  • Decades later, skepticism remains. Scott Maruna's book challenges the hysteria narrative by introducing evidence of a potential real attacker.

  Quote:
  Charles W. Chuck: "Maruna doesn't think it was hysteria at all, does he?" [58:42]
  Chuck Bryant: "No. In fact, Maruna names an individual." [58:19]

• Final Thoughts:

  • The true nature of the Mad Gasser remains unsolved, with compelling arguments on both sides.
  • The case highlights the complexities of distinguishing between genuine threats and collective psychological phenomena.

  Quote:
  Charles W. Chuck: "No one knows who the Mat Gasser Mattoon was, seriously." [56:49]

Notable Quotes

1. Charles W. Chuck: "Mattoon is in kind of a triangle between Chicago to the north, St. Louis to the south, Indianapolis to whatever's over here." [01:56]
2. Chuck Bryant: "At 11pm in this house, Aileen retired to bed with her toddler daughter, Dorothy... she was losing power over her legs and arms like it was paralyzing her." [07:02]
3. Charles W. Chuck: "The Journal Gazette ran a story... 'Anesthetic Prowler on The Loose.'" [10:56]
4. Chuck Bryant: "There was a surge of anxiety... and the Journal Gazette played a prominent role in this whole thing." [49:20]
5. Charles W. Chuck: "Farley Llewellyn... built a professional chemistry lab on his parents' property that blew up about a week before this all happened." [58:34]
6. Chuck Bryant: "No. In fact, Maruna names an individual." [58:19]
7. Charles W. Chuck: "No one knows who the Mad Gasser of Mattoon was, seriously." [56:49]

Conclusion The "Mad Gasser of Mattoon" episode presents a captivating exploration of a historical mystery, balancing narratives of mass hysteria against the possibility of a genuine criminal threat. Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant engage listeners with thorough research, engaging dialogue, and critical analysis, leaving the true identity and nature of the Mad Gasser shrouded in mystery.