In 1928, a notebook was found in Oregon that belonged to a young man from Los Angeles. In it, the young man had transcribed the lyrics from popular songs. This is a page from that notebook:

calisphere

Miss Annabelle Lee… Who’s wonderful – who’s marvelous/ Miss Annabelle Lee/ Who’s lovable – who’s kissable/ Miss Annabelle Lee/ Ain’t she a pretty baby – what I would give…’escortin’ her/ supportin’ her – Don’t forget that/ she’s exclusive / Who has it all – who makes ‘em fall/ [struck out:] Miss Annabelle Lee [continues:] Just look and you’ll see/ who’s glorified – who’s dignified/ Miss Annabelle Lee/ You’re not tellin’ me a thing boy/ I’m tellin’ you/ Who’s wonderful – who’s marvelous – Miss A. Lee.

Barbara… Barbara The moon is shining /Barbara/ I’m blue/ Barbara my heart is pining Barbara/ For you/ Let me build a cozy bungalow for u/ Where a million rozy-posies grow [for you]/ Together we will find – a silver lining/ Barbara – I Love You.

Highways Are Happy Ways… Highways are happy ways when they lead the way to home – Highways bring happy days to the broken hearts that roam – And as they travel along those ribbons of grey – They all unravel and pull you homeward to stay – For Highways are happy ways / When they lead the way to home.

I Fell Head Over Heels in Love… I fell head over heels in love at a glance/ I wanted to sing and I wanted to dance/ As most men do — / I fell head over heels in love and I thought/ That this was a love of a different sort/ Where dreams come true–/ Fate was kind to me that day/ For in her eyes I saw a ray of Heaven/ I fell head over heels in love and I vowed/ That the world that we live in was not/ worth to live in/ Till I Met You.

Normally this story would make me happy but this one has an awful twist! The reason this picture exists is because it’s evidence. It belonged to William Hickman who kidnapped  12-year-old Marion Parker in December 1927. He lured her away from school, kept hostage for a time, and then murdered her.

Hickman initially evaded capture but was picked up in Echo, Oregon after spending some marked bills he had gotten from Marion’s father as ransom. It was a terrible, senseless crime that Hickman blamed on his “ungovernable impulse to murder.”

You wonder what would be in such a man’s personal notebook? I would have some guesses but can you imagine? The lyrics to cheery little tunes.

I wonder, if I was on his jury, how that would change how I perceived Hickman.   I don’t know.