Logan murder

On July 24, 1946, Marjorie Church Logan, wife of prominent banker and local politician William John Logan, was fatally shot at the family's estate on Bonnie Heights Road in Flower Hill, New York during a home invasion, prior to their daughter, Marjory Jeanne Logan, being shot twice and raped.

Logan Murder-Rape
LocationBonnie Heights Road
Flower Hill, New York, United States
Date24 July 1946 (1946-07-24) (US Eastern time (UTC−05:00))
Attack type
Shooting with handgun; rape
Deaths1
Injured1
VictimsMarjorie Church Logan; Marjorie Jeanne Logan
PerpetratorWard Beecher Caraway

The murder-rape, along with the associated trial, received significant attention and coverage from the media – including from Newsday and The New York Times.

Description

Background
Bonnie Heights Road in 2021.

During the morning hours on July 24, 1946, the Logan estate, located on Bonnie Heights Road in the Incorporated Village of Flower Hill, was broken into by 23-year-old Ward Beecher Caraway, who worked as a butler and chauffeur at another Flower Hill estate, located on Greenbriar Lane.[1][2][3] Soon after entering the home, Caraway confronted Marjorie Church Logan in the living room and demanded that she give him money, then fatally shooting her.[2][4][5] Caraway then exited the living room and went upstairs, where he shot twice and raped Marjory Jeanne Logan in her bedroom, severely injuring her.[4]

Marjory Jeanne Logan, although severely wounded from the assault and rape, escaped the house through the back door, where painter Theodore Click, who was doing work at a neighboring home, heard her crying for help.[1][4][6] Click quickly transported her to receive medical assistance.[1] Despite the extent of her injuries, Marjory Jeanne Logan made a full recovery.[7]

Investigation and manhunt

Caraway had fled the crime scene before the Nassau County Police Department and detectives were able to arrive at the scene.[4][8] An intense manhunt quickly ensued, during which roughly 200 potential suspects were interviewed and found to have had no involvement.[9][10][11][12][13] Caraway, on August 2, eventually confessed to his role in the murder and rape – a week after he committed the crimes, for which he was then charged.[14] During his interview with the police and detectives, Caraway also showed the authorities where he fled, and where he disassembled the gun which he used, which was equipped with a .32 caliber revolver.[14]

Trial and conviction

During a dramatic trial in court, Caraway was handed a guilty verdict by the court.[15][16][7][17][18]He also admitted to being high on drugs at the time of the crimes.[3][19][20][21][22] He was handed the death sentence by the courts and imprisonment at Sing Sing Prison in the Town of Ossining, New York, where he was ultimately executed for his crimes on the evening of July 3, 1947 by electrocution, through the use of an electric chair.[23]

References
  1. "Logan Murder and Rape Throw Flower Hill in Turmoil". Newsday. July 25, 1946. pp. 28–29 – via ProQuest.
  2. "Logan Murder Trial Opens Today: Logan Murder Trial Opens Today". Newsday. October 7, 1946. pp. 1, 3, 46 – via ProQuest.
  3. Wyse, Dick (December 11, 1946). "DOPE BLURRED MIND, CARAWAY SWEARS: Caraway Testifies Drug Blurred Memory of Logan Murder Scene". Newsday. pp. 1–2, 20.
  4. "ROBBER KILLS WIFE OF BANKER IN HOME; Mrs. William John Logan Shot and Daughter Wounded by Man Who Makes Escape ROBBER KILLS WIFE OF BANKER IN HOME Daughter on Second Floor Started for Doctor's Office Maid Finds Dying Woman". The New York Times. 1946-07-25. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  5. "PSYCHIATRISTS TO REPORT; 2 Examine Accused Man in Logan Murder at Mineola". The New York Times. 1946-08-09. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  6. White, Ben (August 2, 1946). "G-Man Probes Logan Murder for Newsday: G-Man Probes Logan Murder for Newsday". Newsday. pp. 1–2, 8 – via ProQuest.
  7. "Miss Logan Heard in Carraway Trial". The New York Times. December 7, 1946.
  8. White, Ben; Sheward, Virginia (July 25, 1954). "KILLER-RAPIST STILL AT LARGE: All Cops Hunt Killer-Rapist". Newsday. pp. 1, 3, 54 – via ProQuest.
  9. "FREE LATEST LOGAN MURDER SUSPECT". Newsday. July 29, 1946. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  10. "PRISONER QUERIED IN LOGAN MURDER; Nassau Police, However, Doubt Man Held Here Is Slayer Despite Similarities". The New York Times. 1946-07-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  11. Wyse, Dick (July 30, 1946). "200 Logan Murder Suspects Cleared; Cops Search Anew". Newsday. pp. 3, 38 – via ProQuest.
  12. White, Ben (July 29, 1946). "Police Fly to Buffalo For Suspect in Logan Murder". Newsday. pp. 3, 30 – via ProQuest.
  13. "THE LOGAN MURDER.; The Defectives' Pursuit if the Assassin--Dunn's Arrest in St. Louis and his Return to this City". The New York Times. 1870-11-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  14. Times, Meyer Berger Special To the New York (1946-08-03). "BUTLER CONFESSES THE LOGAN KILLING; REVOLVER IS FOUND; HELPING TO LOCATE MURDER WEAPON". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  15. "CARAWAY TRIAL TODAY; Selection of Second Jury in Logan Murder Case to Start". The New York Times. 1946-11-21. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  16. "CARAWAY IS GUILTY; WILL DIE IN CHAIR; Mineola Jury Rejects His Plea He Murdered Mrs. Logan While Drugged CARAWAY IS GUILTY; WILL DIE IN CHAIR". The New York Times. 1946-12-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  17. "Logan Case Trial Opens in Minneola". The New York Times. October 8, 1946.
  18. "CARAWAY INDICTED IN LOGAN MURDER; Prosecutor Urges the 'Speedy Assignment' of Counsel--He Hopes to Start Trial Sept. 9". The New York Times. 1946-08-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  19. "Carraway Testifies He Had To Confess". The New York Times. December 5, 1946.
  20. "Mistrial Weighed in Carraway Case". The New York Times. December 12, 1946.
  21. "JURY TO SIT AUG. 13 IN LOGAN MURDER; Absence of Panel Members Delays Action--Job Agency Summoned to Inquiry". The New York Times. 1946-08-04. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  22. "Logan Murder Testimony Starts Monday". Newsday. October 12, 1946. p. 2 – via ProQuest.
  23. Sheffield, Wesley (July 5, 1947). "Caraway Calm as He Dies in Chair: Caraway Calmly Dies in Chair, Pays Penalty for Logan Murder". Newsday. pp. 1–2, 8 – via ProQuest.
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