Nutty Putty Cave Incident
Morbid
11/16/23
•73m
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Discovered in Utah County in 1960, Nutty Putty Cave quickly became a popular destination for amateur and professional cavers and spelunkers as a kind of bucket list cave of considerable difficulty. Despite its popularity, beginning in the late 1980s, the cave became notorious for the number of explorers who became trapped and required emergency assistance to escape its twisting, narrow, and poorly mapped passageways.
In late November 2009, the inherent risk and dangers of Nutty Putty Cave made national news when twenty-six-year-old college student John Edward Jones became trapped upside-down in an uncharted and perilously narrow section of the cave.
Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research assistance!
References
Ashton, Katie. 2006. "Nutty Putty Cave entrance getting a gate." Daily Herald, May 2: 23.
Associated Press. 2006. "Utah's caves remain open one year after Provo tragedy." Daily Herald, August 14: 8.
—. 2009. Man dies after day trapped upside-down in cave. November 25. Accessed October 12, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34157005.
—. 2009. Man dies after day trapped upside-down in cave. November 25. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34157005.
—. 2009. "Recovery of caver's body deemed too dangerous." Roanoke Times, November 28: 4.
—. 2004. "Teen stuck in cave is rescued." Salt Lake Tribune, August 22: 20.
Cabero, Alex. 2009. Nutty Putty Cave discoverer doesn't want it to be closed. November 27. Accessed October 12, 2023. https://www.ksl.com/article/8824435/nutty-putty-cave-discoverer-doesnt-want-it-to-be-closed.
Canham, Matt. 2004. "BYU student freed from cave." Salt Lake Tribune, Septmber 5: 21.
LaPlante, Matthew. 2009. "Popular cave draws ill-prepared adventurers." Salt Lake Tribune, November 25.
Nokkentved, N.S. 2005. "State may close popular cave." Daily Herald, June 26: 21.
Outside Magazine. 2002. Exploring Caving Accidents, Deaths, and Rescues in the United States. August 3. Accessed October 12, 2023. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/exploring-caving-accidents-deaths-and-rescues-united-states/.
Peterson, Chris. 2005. "Father says daughter died doing what she loved." Daily Herald, August 19: 1.
Reporter-Times. 1999. "Deputies free teens from cave." Reporter-Times, July 29: 3.
Tanner, Steve. 1999. "Teens spend long day in dark." Daily Herald, July 29: 1.
Waqar, Jehanzeb. 2022. The Nutty Putty Cave and the untimely death of a young caver. December 15. Accessed October 12, 2023. https://interestingengineering.com/culture/nutty-putty-cave-death-young-caver.
Whitehurst, Lindsay. 2018. Nutty Putty: ‘I really, really want to get out’. July 9. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/07/09/nutty-putty-i-really/.
—. 2018. Nutty Putty: ‘We’re going to get you out’. July 10. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/07/10/nutty-putty-were-going/
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
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Previous Episode
Nan Patterson and The Death of Frank "Caesar" Young
November 13, 2023
•88m
In the early morning hours of June 4, 1904, New York City police were called to Lower Manhattan for what they were told was the death of Frank “Ceasar” Young from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. When they arrived at the scene, they found Young’s body in the back of a Hansom cab, slumped over into the lap of a young actress named Nan Patterson, with whom he’d been having an affair. Nan claimed Young had shot himself when she refused to accompany him back to England, where he was headed to meet his wife that morning, but the police believed otherwise, and Nan was arrested and charged with Young’s murder.
What followed was not one, but three sensational murder trials that commanded the attention of New Yorkers across all five boroughs, and all of them had an opinion about Nan Patterson and her relationship with Caesar Young.
Thank you to the fantastical David White, of Bring me the Axe podcast, for research assistance :)
References
Allen, Oliver. 2017. When today's Tribeca was the site of a most sensational murder. November 15. Accessed August 30, 2023. www.tribecatrib.com/content/when-todays-tribeca-was-site-most-sensational-murder.
New York Times . 1904. "Nan Patterson hears the case against her." The New York Times, November 22: 6.
New York Times. 1904. "Bookmaker is shot in cab with actress." New York Times, June 5: 1.
—. 1904. "Actress recommitted at Jerome's insistance." The New York Times, June 7: 2.
—. 1904. "Aged witness speaks for Nan Patterson." The New York Times, November 2: 16.
—. 1904. "Allows Nan Patterson bail." The New York Times, September 2: 14.
—. 1905. "Choose married men for Patterson case." The New York Times, April 19: 20.
—. 1904. "Coroner says Nan Patterson is guilty." The New York Times, June 9: 2.
—. 1905. "Disagreement in Patterson case." The New York Times, May 4: 1.
—. 1905. "Indictment against Morgan Smiths quashed." The New York Times, May 6: 16.
—. 1905. "Misdirected sympathy." The New York Times, January 2: 6.
—. 1904. "Nan Patterson case results in mistrial." The New York Times, December 24: 14.
—. 1905. "Nan Patterson Free." The New York Times, May 13: 3.
—. 1905. "Nan Patterson free; Jerome blames press." The New York Times, May 13: 3.
—. 1904. "Nan Patterson swears Young shot himself." The New York Times, December 20: 1.
—. 1904. "Nan Patterson will not answer questions." The New York Times, June 10: 3.
—. 1904. "Nan Patterson's trial to begin again Monday." The New York Times, November 29: 4.
—. 1904. "New Patterson trial soon." The New York Times, December 25: 11.
—. 1904. "Patterson counsel witness at trial." The New York Times, December 10: 16.
—. 1904. "Rand highly praised for closing address." The New York Times, December 22: 6.
—. 1904. "Rand springs surprise in Nan Patterson case." The New York Times, December 14: 16.
—. 1904. "The Nan Patterson case, letter to the editor." The New York Times, December 30: 8.
—. 1904. "Witness corroborates Hazelton's version." The New York Times, November 3: 16.
—. 1904. "Witness ill, may halt Nan Patterson trial." The New York Times, November 19: 5.
—. 1904. "Young, witness says, hit Nan Patterson." The New York Times, November 24: 4.
New York Tmes. 1904. "Skeleton in court in Young case." The New York Times, November 23: 5.
San Francisco Call. 1904. "'Caesar' Young, the Californian slain while riding in cab with actress." The San Francisco Call, June 5: 21.
San Francisco Chronicle . 1904. "Young's death still puzzling." San Francisco Chronicle, June 6: 1.
San Francisco Chronicle. 1904. "Young's death still puzzling." San Francisco Chronicle , June 6: 1.
Segrave, Kerry. 2020. Death in a Hansom Cab; The 1904 Persecution of Nan Patterson. Cheltinham, UK: History Press.
The Washington Times. 1904. "Nan Patterson's mother very ill." The Washington Times, June 6: 1.
Woolcott, Alexander. 1930. "The mystery of the Hansom cab." The New Yorker, May 3: 36-44.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Next Episode
Mamie Thurman
November 20, 2023
•67m
On June 22, 1932, a boy picking blackberries in rural Logan, West Virginia made a hideous discovery when he happened upon the dead and brutalized body of local woman, Mamie Thurman. At first glance, Mamie’s murder resembled a gangland-style execution; she had been shot twice in the head and her throat had been slit from one side to the other, as though whoever killed her wanted to make sure she didn’t survive.
The murder shocked the small town of Logan. Mamie was well-known around town as a devoted wife to her husband, Jack, a local police officer, and a good Christian who was actively involved in her church and community organizations. Yet as news of the murder spread, so too did rumors of Mamie’s infidelity and poor moral character. Ultimately, local Black handyman Charles Stephenson was arrested, tried, and convicted in a sensational trial that made national headlines. Yet many felt that conviction was obtained on questionable evidence and, in retrospect, largely the result of racial bias.
Was Mamie Thurman really just an unfortunate victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or was there a more personal element? Indeed, evidence suggests there was more going on in the case of Mamie’s death than a simple murder and that a number of powerful men conspired to cover up the true motive for Mamie’s death, allowing the true killer to walk free.
Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring Me the Axe pod, for research assistance
References
Charleston Daily Mail. 1932. "Negro was at killing scene." Charleston Daily Mail, June 27: 1.
—. 1932. "Pair guarded in Logan case." Charleston Daily Mail, June 26: 1.
—. 1932. "Tests show blood in Logan official's car." Charleston Daily Mail, July 28: 1.
—. 1932. "Two men accused of Logan murder." Charleston Daily Mail, June 23: 1.
—. 1932. "Two more questioned in Logan murder case." Charleston Daily Mail, June 24: 1.
Davis, F. Keith. 2021. Secret Life and Brutal Death of Mamie Thurman. Charleston, WV: Quarrier Press.
Hinton Daily News. 1932. "Large crowd at hearing of Logan men." Hinton Daily News, June 25: 1.
State of West Virginia vs. Clarence Stevenson. 1933. 172 S.E. 533; 7621 (Supreme Court of West Virginia, December 16).
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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