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The Colour of Murder Trivia Quiz

I love to read true crime stories and have found them to be colourful in more ways than one, as you will see in my quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by gracie3. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
gracie3

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
326,495

Updated
Sep 08 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1229

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Maria Marten had arranged to meet her lover at the 'Red Barn' in Polstead, Suffolk, and from there to elope to Ipswich. Instead he shot her dead. What was the killer's name? Hint

Henry Smith

James Nesbit

William Corder

William McCawber

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In 1919 Bella Wright was cycling to meet her uncle, George Meadows, in nearby Gaulby when she was shot. What was the case known as? Hint

The black bicyle case

The blue bicycle case

The green bicycle case

The red bicycle case

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What was the name of the book by Erik Larson, published in 2003, about the murderous crimes of Herman Webster Mudgett, aka Dr Henry Howard Holmes? Hint

The Devil in White City

The White City Devil

The fiend in White City

Holmes, the White City Fiend

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which criminal gang led by Abe Bernstein in Detroit, Michigan, were supposedly given their nickname when a victim said they were like the colour of rotting meat? Hint

The Blue Stink Gang

The Mouldy Green Gang

The Purple Gang

The Black Rotten Gang

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What was the name of the prostitute, known as 'Old Shakespeare', whose mutilated body was discovered in a room in the East River Hotel, Manhattan, New York in late April, 1891? Hint

Annie Black

Carrie Brown

Mary Jane Brown

Mary Ann Green

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. On the 17th January, 1947, the mutilated body of a young woman was found on waste ground on Norton Avenue, Los Angeles. What name did the newspapers give her? Hint

The White Rose

The Black Dahlia

The Black Orchid

The Red Tulip

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The Lambeth poisoner, whose murders ranged from Canada and the USA to England, was hanged on 15th November, 1892, at Newgate Prison. What was his name? Hint

Dr William Henry Black

Dr Henry Titus White

Dr John Henry Gold

Dr Thomas Neill Cream

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. This 18 year old was hanged for the murder of her 19 year old husband, Charles, in Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina. His body was found in three different plots. What was her name? Hint

Frances Elizabeth Gold

Frances Stewart Silver

Frances Ann Black

Frances Jane White

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which kinswoman of Elizabeth I of England was executed on 12th February, 1554, in response to the Wyatt rebellion, of which her father was a key figure?

Hint

Lady Jane Grey

Lady Catherine White

Lady Mary Grey

Lady Elizabeth Black

10. A homicide case in the USA that ran for more than 20 years, took place in Seattle. It culminated in the arrest and conviction of Gary Leon Ridgway. What were this series of murders called?

Hint

The Blue Brook Murders

The Green River Murders

The White Stream Murders

The Green Lake Murders

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Maria Marten had arranged to meet her lover at the 'Red Barn' in Polstead, Suffolk, and from there to elope to Ipswich. Instead he shot her dead. What was the killer's name?

Answer: William Corder

William Corder was tracked down in London. He was bought back to Suffolk, found guilty of murder, and was hanged in Bury St Edmunds in 1828.

2. In 1919 Bella Wright was cycling to meet her uncle, George Meadows, in nearby Gaulby when she was shot. What was the case known as?

Answer: The green bicycle case

The leading suspect, Ronald Light, admitted being with Bella that evening, even accompanying her to her uncle's house where he waited for her. However, he denied murdering her. He dismantled his own bicycle and threw it into the river Soar. The bicycle was retrieved and, even though Light had tried to file the numbers off it, the police were able to trace him. Ronald Vivian Light was tried for murder at Leicester Castle, but his defence barrister, the celebrated Sir Edward Marshall-Hall, persuaded the jury to acquit him.

3. What was the name of the book by Erik Larson, published in 2003, about the murderous crimes of Herman Webster Mudgett, aka Dr Henry Howard Holmes?

Answer: The Devil in White City

Larson's book, "The Devil in White City", dealt with the juxtaposed accounts of the planning and staging of the World Fair and Holmes's story. On 7th May 1896 Holmes was hanged at Moyamensing prison. His neck didn't snap immediately when the trap was sprung. He twitched for 15 minutes and was pronounced dead 20 minutes later.

4. Which criminal gang led by Abe Bernstein in Detroit, Michigan, were supposedly given their nickname when a victim said they were like the colour of rotting meat?

Answer: The Purple Gang

Like so many gangs of the time it was Prohibition that brought the Purple Gang to power. In the 1920s and early 1930s its members ruled the rackets in Detroit. They were a group of killers and thugs as vicious and bloodthirsty as those in Chicago and New York. Rumour has it that their name resulted from a conversation between two shopkeepers who had been robbed and vandalised by the gang and concluded that the young men were off-colour like rotten meat, purple.

5. What was the name of the prostitute, known as 'Old Shakespeare', whose mutilated body was discovered in a room in the East River Hotel, Manhattan, New York in late April, 1891?

Answer: Carrie Brown

Carrie Brown was a long time prostitute who frequented the Bowery. The press of the day were quick to blame her murder on Jack the Ripper. Ameer Ben Ali was tried and convicted for the second degree murder of Carrie. He served 11 years before being freed on lack of evidence and police misconduct of the case.

6. On the 17th January, 1947, the mutilated body of a young woman was found on waste ground on Norton Avenue, Los Angeles. What name did the newspapers give her?

Answer: The Black Dahlia

Elizabeth Short was a 22 year old would-be Hollywood actress when she was brutally murdered. The case has continued to confound all who examine it more than 60 years on.

7. The Lambeth poisoner, whose murders ranged from Canada and the USA to England, was hanged on 15th November, 1892, at Newgate Prison. What was his name?

Answer: Dr Thomas Neill Cream

Dr Thomas Cream was a medical doctor. Most of his victims were young women, whom he poisoned with strychnine. However, a young man, whom he was treating for epilepsy, also died from the effects of this drug. It was thought that Cream's motive for murder was purely sadistic but lately a financial incentive is considered to have prompted his actions in some cases.

8. This 18 year old was hanged for the murder of her 19 year old husband, Charles, in Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina. His body was found in three different plots. What was her name?

Answer: Frances Stewart Silver

Frankie Silver was convicted of the murder of her husband. At her execution, Frankie tried to make a statement but her father drowned her out, shouting, "Die with it in you, Frankie."

9. Which kinswoman of Elizabeth I of England was executed on 12th February, 1554, in response to the Wyatt rebellion, of which her father was a key figure?

Answer: Lady Jane Grey

Jane's husband, Guildford Dudley, was tried for high treason alongside her prior to the rebellion. Five days after Wyatt's rebellion came to an end, the couple were executed. They are both buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Tower Green

10. A homicide case in the USA that ran for more than 20 years, took place in Seattle. It culminated in the arrest and conviction of Gary Leon Ridgway. What were this series of murders called?

Answer: The Green River Murders

On December 18, 2003, Ridgway was sentenced to 48 life sentences. Ridgway made a statement saying that murdering young women was his career.

Source: Author gracie3

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Snowman before going online.
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