Digest

This episode of Morbid delves into the chilling true crime story of Bessie Darling, a woman who owned and operated a boarding house called Valley View Manor in Deerfield, Maryland. The episode begins with the hosts, Ash and Elena, introducing the story and providing context about Bessie's life, including her marriage to Charles Howard Darling and subsequent divorce. They then discuss the rise of tourism in Deerfield, which led to the growth of Valley View Manor as a popular destination. The hosts detail Bessie's purchase of Valley View Manor with financial assistance from Joseph Posh and the challenges she faced in running the boarding house, including an economic downturn during World War I and a lawsuit filed by a guest after a bridge collapsed. They introduce George Schultz, a man who met Bessie while staying at Valley View Manor in 1929, and explore the rumors and gossip surrounding their relationship, including reports of George's heavy drinking, public outbursts, and abusive behavior towards Bessie. The episode delves into the ambiguity surrounding the extent and nature of Bessie and George's relationship, particularly due to the lack of records and the fact that they lived in different locations for part of the year. The hosts explain how Bessie ended her relationship with George in the summer of 1933, tired of his abuse, and detail George's escalating jealousy and anger after the breakup, including his threats against Bessie and his actions on the morning of the murder. The episode recounts the events of October 31, 1933, when George Schultz murdered Bessie Darling at Valley View Manor. The hosts describe George's arrival at the boarding house, his confrontation with Bessie, and the shooting. They compare the two versions of the story surrounding Bessie's murder: the objective account based on police reports and the more sensationalized version circulated by locals. The hosts describe the aftermath of the murder, including George's arrest, his hospitalization for a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and the subsequent autopsy performed on Bessie. They discuss George's confession to the murder, his claims of jealousy and self-defense, and the subsequent trial, highlighting the testimony of witnesses and the evidence presented. The episode details George's conviction for second-degree murder and his sentencing to 18 years in prison. The hosts discuss the jury's verdict and the judge's reasoning for the sentence. They explain what happened to Valley View Manor after Bessie's death, including the property's ownership, its foreclosure, and its eventual inclusion in the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area. The hosts describe George's attempts to be paroled from prison and his eventual release after serving nine years. They also mention his death a year later from unspecified causes. The episode concludes by reflecting on the tragic murder of Bessie Darling and her legacy as a trailblazer and a strong woman.

Outlines

00:00:00

Bessie Darling: A Tragic Tale

This episode of Morbid explores the tragic murder of Bessie Darling, a boarding house owner in Deerfield, Maryland, by her jealous ex-lover, George Schultz, in 1933. The episode delves into Bessie's life, the rise of tourism in Deerfield, and the challenges she faced in running Valley View Manor.

00:00:34

The Rise and Fall of Valley View Manor

The episode details Bessie's purchase of Valley View Manor, the challenges she faced in running the boarding house, and the introduction of George Schultz, a man who met Bessie while staying at Valley View Manor in 1929.

00:18:38

A Troubled Relationship

The episode explores the rumors and gossip surrounding Bessie and George's relationship, including reports of George's heavy drinking, public outbursts, and abusive behavior towards Bessie. The episode delves into the ambiguity surrounding the extent and nature of their relationship and explains how Bessie ended her relationship with George in the summer of 1933, tired of his abuse.

00:28:24

The Murder of Bessie Darling

The episode details George's escalating jealousy and anger after the breakup, including his threats against Bessie and his actions on the morning of the murder. The episode recounts the events of October 31, 1933, when George Schultz murdered Bessie Darling at Valley View Manor, describing George's arrival at the boarding house, his confrontation with Bessie, and the shooting.

00:34:10

The Aftermath and Trial

The episode compares the two versions of the story surrounding Bessie's murder and describes the aftermath of the murder, including George's arrest, his hospitalization for a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and the subsequent autopsy performed on Bessie. The episode discusses George's confession to the murder, his claims of jealousy and self-defense, and the subsequent trial, highlighting the testimony of witnesses and the evidence presented.

00:40:21

Justice Served and Legacy Remembered

The episode details George's conviction for second-degree murder and his sentencing to 18 years in prison. The hosts discuss the jury's verdict and the judge's reasoning for the sentence. They explain what happened to Valley View Manor after Bessie's death, including the property's ownership, its foreclosure, and its eventual inclusion in the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area. The hosts describe George's attempts to be paroled from prison and his eventual release after serving nine years. They also mention his death a year later from unspecified causes. The episode concludes by reflecting on the tragic murder of Bessie Darling and her legacy as a trailblazer and a strong woman.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was the name of the boarding house that Bessie Darling owned and operated?

  Bessie Darling owned and operated a boarding house called Valley View Manor in Deerfield, Maryland.

• What was the name of the man who murdered Bessie Darling?

  Bessie Darling was murdered by her former lover, George Schultz, on Halloween in 1933.

• What was the motive behind George Schultz's murder of Bessie Darling?

  George Schultz murdered Bessie Darling out of jealousy and anger after she broke up with him. He believed that she was seeing another man.

• What happened to Valley View Manor after Bessie Darling's death?

  After Bessie's death, Valley View Manor was foreclosed on by the bank. It was eventually purchased by the state and became part of the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area.

• What was the outcome of George Schultz's trial?

  George Schultz was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was eventually released after serving nine years and died a year later.

Show Notes