Bio

Carl Otto Wanderer was born in 1887 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of German immigrants. Carl did not finish high school. Instead, he began working hard to help support his family. By the time he reached his twenties, he and his father owned a successful butcher shop.

In 1916, Carl joined the Illinois Cavalry. He served under General John Pershing during the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico. Carl showed dedication and bravery during his service. He later became a lieutenant in the regular Army. When World War I began, he fought on the Western Front. He returned home as a decorated war hero, gaining recognition for his bravery.

In late 1919, Carl married Ruth Johnson, who was twenty years old. They moved in with her parents after their wedding. Shortly after their marriage, Ruth became pregnant. This news caused Carl to change. He became distant and unhappy, showing little joy about the pregnancy.

Carl's early life was marked by hard work and military service. He earned respect as a butcher and as a soldier. However, his marriage began to face challenges even before his child was born. This period set the stage for the tragic events that would unfold later.

Murder Story

On June 21, 1920, Carl Otto Wanderer and his pregnant wife, Ruth, were returning home from a movie in Chicago. As they entered the dark vestibule of their apartment building, shots suddenly rang out. Ruth’s mother, whose apartment was nearby, heard the commotion and rushed to the scene. She found Carl attacking a man dressed in rags while Ruth lay on the floor with gunshot wounds. As Ruth was dying, she reportedly exclaimed, "My baby is dead."

Carl claimed that the man was an intruder who had entered their home to rob them. He stated that he drew his gun, a Colt M1911, and shot at the intruder. The man, later identified as Al Watson, died later in the hospital. The public initially praised Carl as a hero for defending his wife.

However, an investigation led by reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur soon began to unravel Carl's story. They noticed suspicious details, including that both the Colt M1911s used in the shooting were identical. They discovered that the gun belonging to the dead man had been sold to Carl's cousin years earlier.

As the investigation continued, Hecht found love letters in Carl's home that he had written to a man named "James." This discovery raised further questions about Carl’s motives. When confronted with the evidence, Carl initially denied any wrongdoing. He claimed the deceased man’s gun was part of a military shipment he had received during his time in the Army.

Eventually, Carl confessed to the murders. He admitted to hiring Al Watson to stage a robbery. His plan was to appear heroic in front of Ruth. However, instead of following through with the staged event, Carl shot both Ruth and Watson to ensure they were both dead.

After two trials, Carl Wanderer was found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to death by hanging. On September 30, 1921, as he stood on the gallows, he sang "Dear Old Pal O' Mine." He was executed that day, ending the case known as "The Ragged Stranger."