Prairie Tales
Darren McMannis
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Recent Episodes
S1E29 Common Conflicts - Of Hobos & Buried Legs
This episode traces several 1889 newspaper excerpts detailing criminal and unusual incidents in Kansas. The primary focus is a series of events in Burrton involving "tramps" and train-men, escalating…
S1E28 Crimes & Punishments - Ralph, Haber, Coffee Jim, & Fosdyk
This podcast presents several distinct criminal cases from 1888 Kansas, each offering a snapshot of local legal and social issues on the Prairie. The newspaper articles detail incidents ranging from…
S1E27 Victims of Circumstance
What do a horse thief, a county seat war, and a man buried under a cloud of murder rumors have in common? In late 19th-century Kansas, the answer lies not in fiction—but in the yellowed pages of…
S1E26 When Bitterness Takes Root - The Murder of Phoebe Wilcox
n the shadowed corners of 1886 Kansas, a chilling tale unfolds—one of obsession, vengeance, and the unraveling of a man consumed with bitterness. This episode dives deep into the murder of Phoebe…
S1E25 The Heart of Night - Behind Closed Doors
In the dusty rail-town of Newton, Kansas—where steam engines whistle through the prairie and justice rides a slow train—tragedy and truth clash across the 1880s frontier. From the chilling discovery…
S1E24 Death By Sandbag - Adam Kuntz
A shattered skull, a silent jury, and a Civil War veteran buried far from the town where his final breath drew suspicion—this is the story of Adam Kuntz. In the waning heat of late August 1877, a…
S1E23 Runaway! Travel Dangers On The Frontier
Imagine the thundering sound of hooves echoing down a dusty Kansas street—startled screams, overturned wagons, and the chaos left in the wake of panicked horses. Between 1884 and 1887, Newton, Kansas…
S1E22 Why Was Nellie Naughty?
What happens when a murder mystery meets the Wild West, and the woman at the center becomes both a suspect and a sensation? In 1883, the death of Clement Bothamley in Indian Territory set off a…
S1E21 Home Fires Burning - Dangers of The Prairie Home
1882-21. Imagine your dress catching fire from a single spark—no synthetic fabrics, no fire extinguishers - just blazing skirts and helpless screams. In the late 1800s, everyday chores often turned…
S1E20 Deliver Us From Evil - The Taylor Brothers
In the winter of 1882, as John Taylor stood shackled for murder of Captain Fletcher, a small riverboat owner, John's brothers Andy and Bob unleashed a hail of bullets on a train rolling through a…
S1E19 On The Mean Streets with a Horse - Benjamin Ball
Today our Wagon Train to the past stops by to see an angry outburst by J.C. Wilson - from his initial stabbing of young Benjamin Ball, through Wilson's escape, recapture, and eventual sentencing,…
S1E18 The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly - David Rasure
1878-18 This episode offer a biographical account of David Rasure, a figure whose life was marked by both civic responsibility and personal turmoil. Beginning with his experiences as a Confederate…
S1E17 In The Line Of Fire - Ashford, Cook, & Long
This episode focuses on incidents that occurred in the area of Halstead and Newton, Kansas in 1873. The newspapers detail several cases, including the murder of John Ashford stemming from a…
S1E16 Blood & Roses - Shay, Denningham, & Santof
This episode gives a glimpse into the tumultuous early history of Harvey County, Kansas. The prevalence of violence and personal disputes continued each week. Stories include the assassination of…
S1E15 Contempt of Court - The Murder of Justice Halliday
This episode recounts several violent incidents in Newton, Kansas, primarily from 1872-1873, highlighting the challenges of law and order in a frontier town. The first case details a shooting…
S1E14 Badge of Dishonor - Billy Brooks
This episode paints a vivid picture of Newton, Kansas, in the early 1870s, initially describing it as an exceptionally lawless "hardest looking town" characterized by violence and vice, including its…
S1E13 Rowdy Joe & The Plug Hat Guest
This exciting episode provides a glimpse into the turbulent early history of Newton, Kansas, focusing on several true, violent incidents and the town's struggle for order. We document the fatal…
S1E12 Shot Gun Violence in Bleeding Kansas
This episode compiles real-life newspaper accounts detailing multiple violent incidents occurring in central Kansas during early 1872. It documents several cases, including the "Ward & Keener"…
S1E11 Shadows In The Dark
These newspaper articles paint a vivid picture of frontier justice and the notorious reputation of Newton, Kansas, in the 1870s. The text details the stark reality of capital punishment by hanging,…
S1E10 No End Of Tears
This episode shares exerpts from various 1871 Kansas newspapers which paint a vivid picture of Newton, Kansas, presenting it as both a "saintly town" striving for morality and a volatile frontier…
Frequently Asked Questions
Prairie Tales has published 30 episodes since April 2025, covering topics in Documentary, History.
Prairie Tales is currently dormant with new episodes every few days. Average episode length is 14m.
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