Episode 14: The Clutter Family Murders Part 2
After serving time in prison and meeting Richard Eugene “Dick” Hickock, Perry Edward Smith returned to his home in Nevada. Soon after being released from prison, Dick contacted Perry in order to implement their plan to rob Herbert Clutter at his farmhouse in Kansas. In part two of The Clutter Family Murders, Zelda and Denise discuss what led Perry to that Kansas prison in the first place, then explore one of the most interesting trees they have explored yet.
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The Clutter Family Murders Part 2: Perry Edward Smith
The article by Guy Rocha discussed in the episode.
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal, 15 Nov 2009
The family in Juneau, Alaska, 1929. From left to right: Maggie Cortez Buckskin, Flo’s brother Webb, James Tex, Dorothy, Tex, Ferne, Flo, and Perry.
Source: Find a Grave
Ferne “Joy” Smith Conwell Hoting (1923-1955)
Source: Find a Grave
James Tex Smith (1925-1949)
Perry Edward Smith (1928-1965)
One of the places Perry lived as a child
Source: Mendocino County Historical Society
Nookey and Maggie (Cortez) Buckskin on the right.
Source: Family Old Photos
Nookie Buckskin
Flo and mother Maggie in Juneau, Alaska, 1929.
Source: Find a Grave
The paperwork from the funeral home on Florence Buckskin Smith’s death and funeral.
Flo on the right with her sister Sylvia on the left.
Source: Find a Grave
Margaret “Maggie” Cortez Travelli Buckskin (1866-1948)
Source: Find a Grave
Nevada Rose Buckskin
Source: Find a Grave
1900 Special Indian Population Count
James Trivelli-Bucksin
Source: Find a Grave
William Raymond Trivelli-Buckskin
Source: Find a Grave
Hattie Buckskin as a young woman
Source: Find a Grave
John “Tex Buckaroo” Smith (1893-1986), Perry’s father
Source: Find a Grave
Donald Elwood Smith, one of Tex Smith’s sons from his first marriage.
Source: Find a Grave
Johan Smit, Sr., aka Jan Scheffer (1837-1906)
Source: Find a Grave
La Ferne Price
Source: Wikipedia
Johan Smit’s gravestone located at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Teton County, Montana.
Source: Find a Grave
Joanna Maria Josephina Helena Scheffer Van der Heyden Gunther, Johan’s daughter from his first marriage to Maria Josephine Helena Van Ort (1870-1950)
Source: Find a Grave
The story that made the national news about Vadis DeCorey Stratton.
Source: The Bismarck Tribune, 14 Jan 2007
The divorce from Fred Post.
Source: The Butte Miner, 4 April 1922
Response to Vadis DeCorey Stratton’s family’s claims on the land where they resided.
Source: The Montana Standard, 6 Aug 2003
Note:
Due to copyright concerns, we are unable to share the “Teenage Lion Hunters”, a short story by Harry E. Webb, in full on the website. However, it is available in a book, co-written by the author of the story, Call of the Cow Country, and may be available at your local library.