Frank Lloyd Wright is perhaps one of the most famous people from Wisconsin. Today he is known for his marvelous architectural creations. Back in early 1900’s he was known for his philandering ways.
In 1911 he built a mansion for his mistress, Mamah Borthwick Cheney, in Spring Green, Wisconsin.
On August 15th, 1914, tragedy struck the household as everyone sat down for their midday meal. Julian Carlton, a servant at Taliesin took an axe and massacred nearly everyone in the house.
To better understand the mystery behind this story one must first look at the details.
Who was in the house?
Mamah Borthwick Cheney, mistress of the household
John (age 12) Mamah’s son
Martha (age 8) Mamah’s daughter
Julian Carlton, the servant from Barbados, married to Gertrude Carlton
Gertrude Carlton, the cook from Barbados, married to Julian Carlton
Edna Kritz, a neighbor girl and Martha’s friend
Six workmen, Tom Brunker, Billy Weston, Ernest Weston, Emil Brodelle, Herbert Fritz, and David Lindblom, all working on construction designs for Frank
What were the household relationships?
John and Martha were not Frank’s children, but the children from Mamah’s legal marriage to Edwin Cheney.
It is alleged that in July of 1914, Weston and Lindblom were at a tavern where they both stated their dislike for Julian Carlton.
Who was killed when?
First, Julian serves lunch to the six men working for Frank. He then serves lunch to Mamah and her children. He seals the door, blocking the workmen into their room. He then pours gasoline in the hall and lights it. Next, Julian goes over to the room where the family is eating. Mamah and her children were the first to be killed. Each was attacked with an axe. When he has finished killing the family, Julian goes back to the room where the workmen are trapped. He attacks Billy and Ernest Weston, David Lindblom, Emil Brodelle and Herbert Fritz. Herbert manages to escape by tumbling down a hill, though his arm is broken.
Billy Weston, David Lindblom, Herbert Fritz all managed to survive, though Lindblom passed away days later due to his burns. Mamah and her two children all died.
Now here’s where I am a little confused. All of the articles and books I have read say that seven people died in the house; Mamah, her two children, the neighbor girl (some reports neighbor boy), and four of the six workers. (But that adds up to 8? Perhaps they are not counting David Lindblom, because he did not die right away?) They then state that two survived. That would mean that there were eight (or nine) people in the house. However, all accounts state there were a total of ten people in the house, twelve if you include the Carltons.
Julian Carlton only lived for a few weeks after the massacre. In the last few weeks of his life, he never revealed why he did what he did. Some say it might have been racially motivated. Others theorize that it could have been because Julian and Gertrude were fired by Mamah. A few have even argued that Frank paid the Carltons to get rid of his mistress and her children.
You might also be asking where was Gertrude Carlton during the murders. Apparently she was absent from the scene, which leads to more questions. Where was she? Why was she there? Did she know the murders were going to happen? The police decided she didn't know anything about what her husband did, so they released her after a few days in jail.
Sources and Further Readings:
Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders by William R. Drennan
