- Mystery Murder
- The body of Edward Ehrecke, 42, Davenport manufacturer, as it was found in the trunk of his auto near here. Deputy Sheriff Tom Carroll, left, and Sheriff Walter Beuse, right, examine the car. Ehrecke was found tied hand and foot with common clothesline, a rubber tube was used to feed the exhaust into the trunk of the car. Police have found no motive for the crime.
Sheet: 7 3/16 × 8 3/8 in. (18.2 × 21.2 cm)
Explore Further
In August 1946, businessman Edward Ehrecke’s body was found loosely bound in a car trunk in Davenport, Iowa. Newspapers printed this photograph alongside the known facts, captivating their readers with macabre details. While the mystery faded from public memory, the police in Davenport continued their investigation. Months later, the photograph once again led the story: “After eight months of investigating, authorities reported that Edward Ehrecke (shown trussed in the trunk of his car) ended his own life in this strange manner.” Facing financial troubles, Ehrecke staged his own death so that his wife could collect his life insurance.
Provenance[Winter Works on Paper, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2017.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed in pencil, verso, lower left corner: Hs
Printed in purple, verso, left on applied label: 00247112......CHICAGO BUREAU // MYSTERY MURDER // DAVENPORT, IA. The body of Edward Ehrecke, 42, Davenport // manufacturer [sic], as it was found in the trunk of his auto // near here. Deputy Sheriff Tom Carroll, left, and Sheriff // Walter Beuse, right, examine the car. Ehrecke was found // tied hand and foot with common clothesline, a rubber // tube was used to feed the exhaust into the trunk of the // car. Police have found no motive for the crime. // #30T-Mck-Peo- CREDIT LINE (ACME) 8/30/46 htp [label taped sideways]
Stamped in black ink, verso, left: [illegible, cut-off by applied label over top]
Stamped in black ink, verso, right: ACME NEWSPICTURES // DIVISION OF NEA SERVICE, Inc. // TRIBUNE TOWER CHICAGO, ILL. // THIS PICTURE IS SOLD TO YOU FOR YOUR PUBLICATION // ONLY AND MUST NOT BE LOANED, SYNDICATED OR // USED FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT WRITTEN // PERMISSION FROM ACME. // BY ACCEPTING THIS PICTURE YOU AGREE TO HOLD // ACME HARMLESS FROM ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE ARISING // BY REASON OF YOUR USE OR PUBLICATION OF THIS // PICTURE. [stamped diagonally]
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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