Tea Time Crimes

Gun Girl: Isabelle Messmer

Episode Summary

It’s 1939 and we’re covering a spirited woman with many nicknames: The Untamed Wildcat, Gun Girl, and 90 Pounds of Nitro. But her real name was Isabelle Messmer and she was from a small town in Indiana. Craving excitement, Isabelle was constantly in trouble, ending up on the run, hated by the police, and on trial for murder. Strap in for an adventure with a woman everyone just wanted to be a “good girl.”

Episode Notes

It’s 1939 and we’re covering a spirited woman with many nicknames: The Untamed Wildcat, Gun Girl, and 90 Pounds of Nitro. But her real name was Isabelle Messmer and she was from a small town in Indiana. Craving excitement, Isabelle was constantly in trouble, ending up on the run, hated by the police, and on trial for murder. Strap in for an adventure with a woman everyone just wanted to be a “good girl.”

Tea of the Day: Sleepy Fields Chamomile

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• No Place Like Murder: True Crime in the Midwest by Janis Thorton, Published by Quarry Books, Copyright 2020
• The Call-Leader (Elwood, Indiana), 03 Aug 1931, Mon ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/86613490/
• Anderson Herald (Anderson, Indiana), 28 Oct 1931, Wed ·Page 12, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974197416/
• The Call-Leader (Elwood, Indiana), 20 Oct 1933, Fri ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/86597412/
• Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, 20 Oct 1933, Fri ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/524079327/
• The Star Press, 20 Oct 1933, Fri ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/251888377/
• The Indianapolis Star, 23 Oct 1933, Mon ·Page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/image/105239462/
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 21 Oct 1933, Sat ·Page 15, https://www.newspapers.com/image/88909905/
• The Indianapolis Star, 12 Dec 1933, Tue ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/105282210/
• Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News, 13 Dec 1933, Wed ·Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/181631615/
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12 Dec 1933, Tue ·Page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/image/88902528/
• The Miami Herald, 13 Jan 1934, Sat ·Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/617037015/
• The Miami News, 13 Jan 1934, Sat ·Page 15, https://www.newspapers.com/image/298608537/
• The Miami News, 22 Jan 1934, Mon ·Page 1 , https://www.newspapers.com/image/298585177/
• Anderson Herald, 11 Mar 1934, Sun ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974201247/
• Evening star, 09 Aug 1934, Thu ·Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/619014643/
• Evening star, 10 Aug 1934, Fri ·Page 15, https://www.newspapers.com/image/619014901/
• The Call-Leader, 15 Aug 1934, Wed ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/87944143/
• The Edinburg Daily Courier, 23 Aug 1934, Thu ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/124728538/
• The Tipton Daily Tribune, 24 Sep 1934, Mon ·Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/545523685/
• Evening star, 26 Sep 1934, Wed ·Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/619031204/
• Anderson Herald, 04 Oct 1934, Thu ·Page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974293822/
• The Miami Herald, Fri, Nov 30, 1934 ·Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/617048242/
• Watkins, Everett C., The Star Press, Tue, Jun 11, 1935 ·Page  2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/251544168/
• Evening star, Sat, Jul 13, 1935 ·Page 16, https://www.newspapers.com/image/619010674/
• Evening star, Fri, Nov 15, 1935 ·Page 25, https://www.newspapers.com/image/619055363/
• Anderson Herald, Sat, Sep 05, 1936 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974266428/
• Anderson Herald, Fri, Oct 30, 1936 ·Page 12, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974280626/
• Anderson Herald, Sat, May 15, 1937 ·Page 8, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974299154/
• Evening star, Tue, Jun 01, 1937 ·Page 21, https://www.newspapers.com/image/864658006/
• The Call-Leader, Sat, Jan 29, 1938 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/87941981/
• Evening star, Sun, Jan 30, 1938 ·Page 18, https://www.newspapers.com/image/618945644/
• The Tampa Tribune, Sun, Jan 30, 1938 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/327502355/
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Mon, Apr 03, 1939 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/636387860/
• San Angelo Standard-Times, Sun, Apr 02, 1939 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/779852984/
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Thu, Apr 06, 1939 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/636383928/
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Tue, Aug 29, 1939 ·Page 21, https://www.newspapers.com/image/635825729/
• Wichita Falls Times, Tue, Apr 04, 1939 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/774191903/
• Daily News, Sun, Jan 22, 1939 ·Page 212, https://www.newspapers.com/image/429998681/
• The Call-Leader, Mon, Oct 09, 1939 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/87588288/
• The Indianapolis Star, Sun, Oct 15, 1939 ·Page 31, https://www.newspapers.com/image/105117870/
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Tue, Oct 17, 1939 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/636378231/
• Anderson Herald, Sun, Dec 24, 1939 ·Page 28, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974292341/
• The Odessa American, Mon, Mar 25, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/296933501/
• Slaughter, Tony, “Gun Girl Convicted of Murder.” The Call-Leader, Wed, Mar 27, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/87954571/
• Slaughter, Tony, “Case rests case against fun girl.” The Call-Leader, Tue, Mar 26, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/87954420/
• By Paul Burka and Judy Benson, “Unsolved Crimes: Five famous cases the police may never mark “closed.”” June 1976, https://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime/unsolved-crimes/
• The Courier-News, Wed, Mar 27, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/220819185/
• The Odessa American, Sun, Apr 07, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/296934743/
• Austin American-Statesman, Sun, Apr 07, 1940 ·Page 32, https://www.newspapers.com/image/366689172/
• The Windsor Star Mon, Apr 08, 1940 ·Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/501132870/
• Corpus Christi Times Mon, Apr 08, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/757659483/
• Anderson Herald, Tue, Apr 09, 1940 ·Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974359667/
• The Odessa American, Tue, Apr 16, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/296935978/
• The Call-Leader,Wed, Apr 24, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/87957324/
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Thu, May 30, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/635906815/
• The Call-Leader, Fri, May 31, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/87961166/
• Anderson Daily Bulletin, Tue, Jun 04, 1940 ·Page 12, https://www.newspapers.com/image/971880361/
• The Star Press,Wed, Jun 05, 1940 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/251403368/
• The Odessa American, Wed, Sep 18, 1940 ·Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/300272299/
• The Courier-News, Thu, Nov 14, 1940 ·Page 13, https://www.newspapers.com/image/219660229/
• The Waco News-Tribune, Sat, Nov 30, 1940 ·Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/62300365/
• McShane, Terry, “The Untamed Wildcat.” The Buffalo News Sat, Dec 28, 1940 ·Page 37, https://www.newspapers.com/image/840979941/
• Anderson Daily Bulletin, Tue, Jan 07, 1941 ·Page 7, https://www.newspapers.com/image/971899450/
• The Call-Leader, Wed, Jan 29, 1941 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/86625444/
• The Daily Reporter, Mon, Mar 17, 1941 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/103565192/
• The Star Press, Wed, Apr 23, 1941 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/252111514/
• The San Francisco Examiner, Thu, Apr 24, 1941 ·Page 38, https://www.newspapers.com/image/458352895/
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fri, May 02, 1941 ·Page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/image/636440161/
• Anderson Herald, Thu, May 15, 1941 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974328425/
• Anderson Herald Tue, Dec 22, 1942 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/974231862/
• Levins, Peter, “90-Pound Lassie Compiles Amazing Criminal Record.” Daily News, Sun, May 17, 1942 ·Page 142, https://www.newspapers.com/image/434328246/