Grandma Lilly's Rustic Pear Galette with Ginger and Brown Sugar
Grandma Lilly's Rustic Pear Galette with Ginger & Brown Sugar
A Cozy Slice of Autumn
The perfect fall dessert: rustic, warm, and full of flavor.
There’s a little pear tree in my backyard that never quite knows what season it is. Some years it blooms too early, others it holds onto its fruit like a secret. But when it gets it right—oh, it really gets it right. That’s when I know it’s time to make this galette.
I first learned to make a pear galette in my grandmother’s kitchen, a place that always smelled like cinnamon and something baking. It was a crisp October afternoon, and I must have been no older than ten. We had just come back from her neighbor Mr. Ellis’s yard, where we filled a wicker basket with pears that had fallen from his old tree. He always let us take as many as we wanted, as long as we promised to bring him a slice of whatever we made.
Back in the kitchen, my grandmother didn’t use a recipe—just a handful of flour, a stick of butter, and that quiet confidence that comes from years of baking by feel. I remember standing on a stool beside her, watching her hands work the dough, her wedding ring dusted with flour. She let me arrange the pear slices, carefully overlapping them like flower petals, and I felt so proud when she said I had “the touch.”
We ate that galette warm from the oven, sitting at her little round table with chipped blue plates and mismatched forks. She served it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of honey, and I remember thinking it was the best thing I’d ever tasted.
Now, every fall, I make this version in her honor. It’s simple, rustic, and full of the same comfort I felt in her kitchen all those years ago.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
No pie dish needed—just a baking sheet!
The crust is tender and golden with a touch of crunch.
Pears are gently spiced and caramelized to perfection.
It’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
1 ¼ cups (160g) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp granulated sugar
½ tsp salt
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
3–4 tbsp ice water
For the Filling:
3 ripe but firm pears (Bosc or Anjou), thinly sliced
¼ cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp lemon juice
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground ginger
Pinch of salt
For Assembly:
1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
1 tbsp coarse sugar (optional)
1 tbsp apricot jam or honey (optional glaze)
Instructions
Make the Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add ice water gradually until the dough comes together. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
Prepare the Filling: Toss sliced pears with brown sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Let sit while rolling out the dough.
Assemble the Galette: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll dough into a 12-inch circle on a floured surface. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Arrange pears in the center, leaving a 2-inch border. Fold edges over the filling.
Bake: Brush crust with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Optional Glaze: While warm, brush pears with warmed apricot jam or honey for a glossy finish.
Serving Suggestions
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. A drizzle of caramel or a sprinkle of toasted almonds adds a lovely touch.
Tips & Variations
Add chopped crystallized ginger for extra zing.
Swap pears for apples or stone fruit in other seasons.
Make mini galettes for individual servings.
Every time I make this galette, I think of my grandmother—her flour-dusted hands, her quiet confidence, and the way she made baking feel like a kind of love language. This recipe is more than just dessert; it’s a memory, a tradition, and a way to keep her spirit alive in my kitchen.
As she used to say, “If you bake it with care, it’ll taste like home—no matter where you are.”
I hope this galette brings a little warmth and comfort to your table, just like it always has to mine.
Belle Starr: The Bandit Queen of the American West
Introduction Let’s take a journey back to the American frontier—a time when the Civil War had torn the country apart, Reconstruction was trying to piece it back together, and the Wild West was as lawless as it was legendary. In the middle of all this chaos lived Belle Starr, a woman who didn’t just survive—she thrived. Known as the ‘Bandit Queen,’ Belle’s story is one of grit, rebellion, and a flair for the dramatic. From her Southern upbringing to her outlaw adventures, Belle Starr’s life was shaped by the turbulent times she lived in. Let’s dive into her world and see what made her such a captivating figure.
From Southern Belle to Outlaw Legend
Belle Starr was born Myra Maybelle Shirley in Missouri in 1848. Raised in a well-off family, she received a classical education and learned piano. The Civil War disrupted her life, and after her brother was killed fighting for the Confederacy, she became entangled with outlaws like Jesse James and the Younger brothers.
Marriage and Family
Belle Starr’s love life was as wild and unpredictable as the frontier itself. Picture her in 1866, a young woman with fire in her eyes, standing beside outlaw Jim Reed as they exchanged vows—not in a church, but under the open sky on horseback, with danger lurking in every shadow. Their union was forged in rebellion, and together they had two children, Pearl and Edwin. But the outlaw life was unforgiving. In 1874, Jim was gunned down, leaving Belle a widow with a reputation and two children to raise.
She didn’t mourn long. Belle’s heart was a battlefield, and she marched on, briefly marrying Bruce Younger—a relative of Cole Younger. That marriage lasted just three weeks, a whirlwind of passion and disappointment. Belle later claimed she had been married to Cole himself, but Cole denied it, calling her story a fabrication. Perhaps Belle knew that legends are built on mystery.
Belle married Sam Starr around 1880, the exact date isn’t listed in the records. They lived in Indian Territory, near Younger’s Bend, a remote area along the Canadian River in what is now Oklahoma.Together, Belle and Sam ran a criminal enterprise that included horse theft, bootlegging, and harboring fugitives. Their home became a known refuge for outlaws.
In 1883, both were arrested for horse theft and tried by Judge Isaac C. Parker, the infamous “Hanging Judge” of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Belle was sentenced to nine months in the Detroit House of Corrections, while Sam received hard labor.
Four months prior to his death, Sam was stopped by a posse of Cherokee law enforcement officers, who fired on him killing his horse and wounding him in four places and capturing him.Four days later he escaped their jail with the help of his wife Belle Starr.He surrendered to the United States authorities and paid his bond for two robberies.
A few days later Sam and Belle attended a dance in Oklahoma.Frank West, one of the posse that had wounded and arrested him, and most importantly killed his horse.Sam followed Frank outside, pistol drawn, and asked him why he had killed his horse.Frank denied it and pulled his own gun.Sam pulled the trigger first and shot Frank in the neck.As Frank fell, he shot his own gun and shot Sam through his right side and through his heart.Frank shot two more shots from the ground, one hitting a Cherokee boy.Belle took Sam home to his father in the Cherokee Nation and he was buried there.His death marked the beginning of Belle’s decline, both emotionally and in terms of her criminal influence.
Their marriage was more than romantic—it was a strategic alliance that amplified Belle’s notoriety and deepened her ties to outlaw culture.
Her daughter Pearl, born Rosie Lee Reed, inherited her mother’s fierce spirit. After Belle’s murder, Pearl turned notoriety into enterprise, opening a bordello in Fort Smith, Arkansas, marked by a glowing red star and pearls. She became a madam, a mother, and a survivor. Pearl’s life was no less dramatic—marriages, children, and brushes with the law. She once said, ‘Mama taught me to fight for what’s mine, even if the world says I shouldn’t have it.’ Pearl eventually settled in Douglas, Arizona, where she died in 1925, her story forever entwined with the legend of Belle Starr.
Belle’s son, James Edwin “Eddie” Reed, born on February 22, 1871, in California, led a life as dramatic as his mother’s. In 1888, Eddie was arrested for horse theft and sentenced to seven years in prison by Judge Isaac C. Parker, the infamous ‘Hanging Judge.’ Belle Starr successfully petitioned President Grover Cleveland, who granted Eddie a full pardon. After Belle’s murder in 1889, Eddie was briefly considered a suspect but was cleared by federal authorities. In 1895, Eddie turned his life around and was appointed a Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas. He gained respect for his bravery and investigative skills, notably in incidents such as the shootout with the Crittenden brothers and the arrest of Matt Wafford. He also solved the murder of Zachariah Thatch, leading to the last hanging ordered by Judge Parker. Eddie married Jennie Cochran, a Cherokee school teacher, and settled in Wagoner, Oklahoma. Tragically, on December 14, 1896, Eddie was ambushed and killed by shotgun blasts while attempting to arrest two men in Claremore, Oklahoma. His death mirrored his mother’s, both falling victim to violent ambushes. Eddie was buried in Cochran Cemetery, though the exact location is uncertain due to later relocations.
Character Profiles
Jim Reed: Belle’s first husband and partner in crime. A charismatic outlaw with a taste for danger, Jim swept Belle off her feet in 1866. Together, they roamed the frontier, raising two children while dodging the law. His death in 1874 marked a turning point in Belle’s life, pushing her deeper into the outlaw world. Reed was known for his charm and recklessness—a man who lived fast and died young.
Sam Starr: A Cherokee bandit and Belle’s second husband, Sam was both her partner in love and crime. Their union was fierce and passionate, marked by horse thefts and run-ins with the law. Sam’s loyalty to Belle was unwavering, and together they built a criminal empire in Indian Territory. He was a man of few words but strong convictions, and his influence on Belle’s outlaw career was profound.
Pearl Starr: Belle’s daughter, born Rosie Lee Reed, who inherited her mother’s grit and flair. After Belle’s death, Pearl turned notoriety into enterprise, opening a bordello in Fort Smith and becoming a successful madam. Her life was filled with drama—marriages, children, and brushes with the law. Pearl’s resilience and entrepreneurial spirit made her a legend in her own right, forever tied to the legacy of the Bandit Queen.
Pearl Starr remains a fascinating figure in her own right—a woman who navigated the challenges of the post-frontier West with grit and entrepreneurial spirit, forever linked to the legend of her mother, Belle Starr.
Criminal Life
Belle kept a journal of her criminal exploits.In 1874 she and husband Jim Reed had their biggest heist.They robbed Wat Grayson; Wat was a Creek Indian that acted as a “banker” for other members of his tribe keeping their money safe for them.Belle and Jim and their gang rode up to his ranch and practiced what today would be known as home invasion.Wat opened a trap door under a wolf rug and brought out pots of gold pieces, gold coins and greenbacks.After they left, they counted the loot and had $34,000.However, $12,000 was Confederate currency. Still the $22,000 would be worth about $625,000 today.
It was a cold morning in 1883 when Belle Starr, dressed in her signature black velvet and riding sidesaddle, was surrounded by lawmen on the edge of Indian Territory. Her husband Sam Starr was by her side, defiant and armed. They were accused of horse theft—a crime that carried heavy consequences in the Wild West.They both claimed that they were set up by a cattle trader named Frank West and that they had bought the horses from him.Yes, the same Frank West that later killed Sam. The couple was hauled before the infamous ‘Hanging Judge’ Isaac Parker in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Belle stood tall in court, her eyes flashing with defiance. She was sentenced to nine months in the Detroit House of Corrections, where she surprised everyone by becoming a model prisoner. The prison matron reportedly admired her poise and intelligence, saying Belle could have been a teacher or a leader—had she chosen a different path.
Just three years later, Belle was arrested again. This time, she vanished on horseback after being released on bail. A wood engraving in *The National Police Gazette* captured the moment with flair: ‘A wild western amazon. The noted Belle Starr is arrested on the border of Indian Territory and being released on bail vanishes on horseback.’ Whether fact or fiction, the image added fuel to her growing legend. Belle knew how to play the part—how to turn every arrest into a chapter of her myth. She wasn’t just an outlaw; she was a master of perception, a woman who turned the chaos of frontier justice into her own dramatic stage.
Style and Persona
Belle was known for her dramatic flair: a white cowboy hat with a broad plush black band and black feathers and ornaments that she wore with black velvet, rode sidesaddle, and carried pistols with cartridge belts across her hips. Her image as a rebellious and stylish outlaw queen was cemented in dime novels and newspaper stories.
Mysterious Death
It was the evening of February 3, 1889. Belle Starr rode alone through the woods near her cabin, the winter air sharp against her cheeks. She was just two days shy of her 41st birthday. The trail was quiet, too quiet—and then, a gunshot shattered the silence. Belle fell from her horse, a bullet lodged in her back. She died there, alone, on the cold ground.
The news of her murder spread quickly, and with it, a storm of speculation. Who had killed the Bandit Queen? Some whispered it was her husband, Sam Starr, whose temper had flared in recent weeks. Others pointed to a disgruntled neighbor with whom Belle had quarreled. And then there were the darker rumors—that her own children, weary of her notoriety, may have played a role.
No one was ever charged. Theories abounded, but the truth remained elusive. Belle’s death became the final mystery in a life full of drama and defiance. Was it revenge? Jealousy? Or simply the cost of living on the edge? Whatever the reason, her final ride sealed her legend in blood and silence.
Notable Quotes
“I am a friend to any brave and gallant outlaw.”
“Shed not for her a bitter tear… The gem that fills it sparkles yet.”
Public Perception and Media Influence
From the moment Belle Starr stepped into the public eye, the media couldn’t get enough of her. Newspapers painted her as a pistol-wielding temptress, a woman who defied the norms of femininity and law alike. Dime novels in the late 19th century turned her into a legend, exaggerating her exploits and romanticizing her outlaw lifestyle. These stories often blurred the line between fact and fiction, but they succeeded in making Belle Starr a household name.
One of the most iconic portrayals came from *The National Police Gazette*, which published a dramatic wood engraving of Belle escaping on horseback. The caption read: ‘A wild western amazon. The noted Belle Starr is arrested on the border of Indian Territory and being released on bail vanishes on horseback.’ Though sensationalized, this image helped cement her reputation as a fearless and elusive outlaw.
As time passed, Belle’s legend grew through film and television. Hollywood embraced her story, casting glamorous actresses to portray her in movies that further mythologized her life. She became the subject of several films, including the 1941 movie ‘Belle Starr’ starring Gene Tierney, which further mythologized her persona. Television shows and Western-themed literature continued to reference her as a symbol of rebellious femininity in the Wild West. Her image—riding sidesaddle in velvet with pistols at her hips—has become iconic, representing both the allure and danger of frontier life. These portrayals often emphasized her beauty, cunning, and rebellious spirit, turning her into a symbol of defiant femininity.
Today, Belle Starr remains a cultural icon not just because of what she did, but because of how she was remembered. Her story is a testament to the power of media in shaping public perception—and to the enduring allure of a woman who refused to be tamed.
Books, Movies, and TV Shows
Belle Starr’s life and legend have inspired numerous works across literature, film, and television. These portrayals have helped shape her image as a romanticized outlaw and a symbol of rebellious femininity in the American West.
These portrayals, while often fictionalized, have cemented Belle Starr’s place in American pop culture as an enduring icon of the Wild West.
Conclusion: Belle Starr wasn’t just a character from dime novels—she was a real woman navigating a rough and tumble world. Her life unfolded during a time when the rules were constantly changing, and survival often meant bending them. The aftermath of the Civil War and the lawlessness of the frontier gave rise to legends, and Belle made sure she was one of them. Whether she was riding sidesaddle in velvet or outsmarting the law, Belle Starr left a mark that still fascinates us today. Her legacy lives on in books, movies, and the stories we tell about the Wild West—and she reminds us that sometimes, history’s most unforgettable figures are the ones who dared to break the mold.
Ma Barker: Criminal Mastermind or Overindulgent Mother?
Born Arizona Donnie Clark in the Ozark mining town of Ash Grove, MO in 1873, the daughter of John and Emaline (Parker) Clark, Ma Barker’s life was an ordinary tale of a Midwestern girl until it took a dark turn into crime history. With a background marked by church picnics and one-room schoolhouses, she seemed destined for a quiet farm life. But was she truly the criminal mastermind of the infamous Barker-Karpis Gang, or simply an overindulgent mother doing her best to protect her sons? Either way, she was the only woman to be J. Edgar Hoover’s Public Enemy #1!
Arizona Donnie Clark, affectionately known as “Kate,” married George Barker, a farm laborer, at 19. Together, they had four sons—Herman, Lloyd, Arthur, and Fred—who would later become notorious criminals.
The Barker Boys and Early Criminal Activities
The first significant brush with the law came on March 17, 1915, when her eldest son, Herman, held up five men playing cards in the back of a grocery store in Webb City, MO. Although he was released for lack of evidence, it marked the beginning of a life riddled with crime and law enforcement encounters for the Barker family.
By 1920, all four Barker boys had committed various crimes. Despite repeated complaints, George Barker always deferred to Kate, saying she was in charge of the boys. Ma Barker was fiercely defensive of her sons, arguing with law enforcement and pleading for leniency. She spent what would be today’s equivalent of thousands of dollars on attorney fees and bail, wrote numerous letters to various governors in a relentless effort to clear her sons’ names.
The Central Park Gang – Barker Inman Gang – The two Older Brothers
Herman, Lloyd, Arthur, and Fred either started or joined the Central Park gang involved in small-time burglaries and auto thefts across Missouri, Minnesota, and Oklahoma. The Barker house became their meeting place, a den of criminal activity, whether Kate “Ma” was involved or just innocently hosting her sons’ friends is unknown for sure.
Herman’s criminal escapades were particularly turbulent, leading to multiple jail stints. He used multiple aliases S.B.Wilson, D.W. Costello to name a couple. In 1925, Herman with his younger brother Freddy and Elmer Inman, organized the Barker-Inman gang. It was believed that this gang robbed a jewelry store in Vinita, OK of $12,000 in gems, but it could never be proved. Shortly after this, Freddy was arrested in Fort Smith, AR for robbing a movie theater. Herman and Elmer eluded the police. Ma bonded him out for $1,000.00. Soon after, in 1926 a jewelry store in McAlester, OK was robbed of jewels valued at $16,000.
At some point, Herman married Carol Hamilton who helped in his criminal pursuits. His next known arrest was with Ray Terrell for stealing a safe from First National Bank of Jasper, MO. There was a gun battle and Herman was wounded. Herman healed nicely and was being held in the county jail waiting to be transferred to Fayetteville, AR where he escaped from jail. Herman’s life ended tragically in 1927 when he committed suicide in Wichita, KS, rather than face arrest for killing Deputy-Sherriff Art Osborne during a bank robbery in Cheyenne, WY. Ironically, the police suspected Elmer Inman of the murder and didn’t know that it was Herman until they brought Carol, Herman’s wife, in for questioning and she confessed to the murder.
Lloyd joined a gang called the Baxter Trio in the early 1920s. The group consisted of Will Green, Lloyd Barker, and Gregory O’Connell. The three robbed G.H. Shields of 5 pouches of mail. Unfortunately, they were misinformed as there was no cash and only some registered bonds, which were of no use to them. Lloyd was sentenced to 25 years in Leavenworth for robbing the U.S. Mail. He was released in 1938.
After he was released, he gave up his life of crime. He was an Army cook at a Prisoner of War camp in Fort Custer, MI, and received an honorable discharge and a Good Conduct medal from the Army. After the war, he moved to Denver and married Jennie who had two children from a previous marriage, and she and Lloyd at two of their own. Lloyd lived the longest of all the brothers. He was killed in 1949, murdered by his wife, she pled that she was innocent because of insanity and was taken to the Colorado Insane Assylum. Lloyd was 51.
Fred Barker, while in juvenile detention, attempted to kill another inmate and was subsequently sent to Lansing, where he met the infamous Alvin Karpis, further solidifying the Barker-Karpis Gang’s nefarious activities.
Next up – The Barker-Karpis Gang and J. Edgar Hoover
I love Watermelon, so I invented ways to use it! Watermelon Mojito Pie was one of the successes! By the way, this has no alcohol, it’s called Mojito for the lime and mint.
When I was pregnant with my oldest daughter I craved it! I could sit down and eat a whole giant watermelon by myself! I didn’t of course but the thought was there! :)
Come fall, this was back in the 80s, my father-in-law would scour the farmer’s markets and roadside stands for watermelon for me! One of my favorite memories of him.
My daughter of course, loves watermelon too! I mean she binged on it before she was born! We often eat the sherbet without making the pie!
Watermelon Sherbet
This pie is so delicious from the graham cracker crust, the Watermelon and Lime sherbet, and the minty whipped topping on top. Not to mention it is Super Refreshing because it’s a frozen dessert!
This pie contains a sherbet which is a sorbet with dairy. The heavy cream in this makes it super creamy without the ice crystals that the sorbet sometimes has.
You will need an ice cream maker that will make a quart of ice cream. I got a very inexpensive one at Bed Bath and Beyond, you don’t need the fancy high end ones. Mine you freeze the bowl for 8 hours I did overnight and it’s ready to go!
I of course used a premade graham cracker crust. Actually for two reasons, one I don’t do crusts well for some reason and two because the aluminum pie plate does great in the freezer!
A delicious refreshing freezer pie with homemade Watermelon Sherbet and mint whipped topping.
Author:cwisdom@scandalsandsweets.com
Prep Time:15 minutes
Total Time:15 minutes
Yield:6 servings
Ingredients
6-8 Cups Watermelon chunks to yield 2 Cups Juice 1 1/2 Cups Heavy Cream 3/4 Cup of Sugar Zest and Juice from one lime Pinch of Salt 1 8 ounce container of Cool Whip – thawed 1-2 Tablespoons of chopped fresh mint Graham Cracker Crust
Instructions
The first thing you need to do is juice the watermelon. My sister tried to make this with some fancy organic watermelon juice but somehow it lacked something.
You can use a blender or a food processor and strain the solids or of course you can use a juicer if you have one.
Mix the Watermelon juice with the lime zest, lime juice, sugar and salt. Whisk in the heavy cream.
Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker following the manufacturer’s instructions.
While your sherbet is churning, chop your mint, I usually roll up several of the leaves into a cigar shape and thinly slice through them and then chop the ribbons. Technically rolling it up and slicing it is called Chiffonade.
Gently mix the mint into the cool whip.
When the ice cream is finished and is a soft set, spread it over the graham cracker crust, cover with the minted cool whip and place in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
You need to let the pie set out 5-10 minutes to thaw a little before cutting. Obviously I didn’t let it thaw enough as you can tell from the not so good pictures!
Who doesn’t have a recipe for banana nut bread? This is tropical banana nut bread because it has pineapple. The pineapple adds a tang and a whole lot of moistness to the banana bread. Add in some pecans and you have heaven on a plate! Honestly, this is the best banana bread recipe!
My family is split on the banana issue, my husband eats at least one a day, and one of my daughters loves them, the other is like me and not a fan! But… we both eat this delicious banana bread.
I have never been a fan of bananas, but we have banana trees in our yard that literally produce hundreds of bananas! I have found that this banana bread recipe is delicious! Not only does it have pineapple — but it has cinnamon! It makes two loaves, one to eat and one to share!
This is an easy banana bread recipe that you make in one bowl. Make sure that your bananas are good and ripe, soft to the touch and some brown spots on the skin. That way you won’t get any of the bitterness that you can get from under ripe fruit.
A story as old as the invention of guns. There is a struggle, and someone winds up dead. So is the story of Ruby Dean and Dr. Leon Quitman on September 8, 1917.
Ruby claims the shooting was accidental. She struggled for the gun because she thought Leon was going to shoot himself. She thought this because Ruby found out about his marriage and son from a private detective. Leon on the other hand thought Ruby was going to commit suicide because of the end of their love affair. Ruby was holding the gun behind her back when Leon grabbed her arm and wrenched it in front of her and Ruby heard a shot. Leon had been shot. She got him on the bed and ran to get a doctor.
Ruby is a divorcee, married when she was 16. Before taking up singing and dancing she was a telephone operator in St. Louis. She was also learning to play the pipe organ and often played and sang in churches on Sundays. Ruby met Leon at the Federal Inn in Chicago where she was performing, and he sent her a note from his table. She didn’t know that he was married with a child, and he didn’t tell her. She found that out several months later.
Ruby speaks to the press, “Everything is black to me. But I’ll prove my innocence. Rich St. Louis friends have promised to help me and have asserted their belief in me. They know I didn’t kill the only man I have ever loved. I haven’t a cent in the world and the story that I bled Dr. Quitman for his money and then killed him because he wouldn’t give me more is all a lie. Oh, why do people say those things? I’m down now and must fight the battle alone.
“The doctor’s father said I took $900. I didn’t. But what if I did? Didn’t I give everything for my love for that man. Oh, I wish he could have lived a minute longer. He’d have told them what sacrifices I made — and I haven’t told the great one yet — and he wouldn’t have let them persecute me. They mustn’t anyway. Doctor said just before he died that it was an accident, didn’t he? Would a man die with a lie on his lips?
“It was all an accident. I had the revolver hidden under a chair pillow. I don’t know why it was there. He started to sit down, and I was afraid the pistol might discharge. I snatched it from the chair. He seized me and tried to tear it from my grasp. Before I could let go or explain the pistol was discharged. It was awful. Maybe he thought at first, I had killed him. But then he knew I didn’t, and he died telling the truth.”
Ruby at inquest
The Inquest
At the inquest, William Schulke, Leon’s assistant, the first witness testified that Dr. Quitman and Ruby had spent three days at Fox Lake prior to the shooting. “When he got back, he asked me if his wife suspected he had been with another woman. I told him that she did and advised him to go home and make a clean breast of it, that she would forgive him. But he said he had an appointment with Miss Dean.”
He further testified that he waited near the apartments and an hour later Ruby came running out yelling, “I must get a doctor! He’s been shot. It was an accident.”
Ruby told them that the shooting was accidental. Dr. Quitman had asked Ruby for her gun, Ruby afraid that he was going to shoot her hid it. Leon found the gun and as Ruby was trying to take it away from him, it went off shooting Leon.
Ruby further testifies that she and Leon were planning on eloping to Texas as soon as Leon got his divorce. Leon had married young. His wife was like a sister to him. He told Ruby that his wife didn’t care if he ran around on her and that someday he would take her home and introduce them.
She testified, “When we got back from the trip to Fox Lake, there was an awful rumpus. His wife was objecting, his father was objecting, the doctor didn’t know what to do. “
“He was afraid I was going to kill myself, I told him I was a girl that could stand disappointment. He told me he knew I would not have accepted him if I had known about his wife and child before.”
Leon’s father, Dr. P. Quitman, testified that Leon had given Ruby $900 and she had asked for an additional $2,000. The father said that he would have gladly paid Ruby off, but Leon didn’t tell his father about the situation. The coroner’s jury ruled that Ruby Dean was guilty of the murder and that she would be held over for trial.
Ruby’s father Robert H. Dean refuses to help Ruby. Her mother goes to Chicago to support Ruby, even though Robert told her not to, to let Ruby fight her battle alone.
January 23, 1918 was “Slayers Day” in Chicago. There were 19 people charged with murder in some form on trial that day. Ruby Dean was of course one of them. Her trial though was postponed until February, and then again until April.
Ruby Dean’s Trial
Sketch of Ruby Dean in Trial
April 24, 1918 – Trial Day! Eight jurors have been accepted, twelve were dismissed because they said a pretty woman would influence them. A check for 10,000 kisses plus several passionate love letters will be part of the defense. The letters show that Dr. Leon Quitman was courting Ruby and said that he was a single man. The defense contends that the shooting was accidental.
Leon’s widow is the first to testify. She testified that she only found out about Leon’s affair with Ruby after his shooting. She had nothing more to say.
Thomas Mallay – the state’s star witness
Thomas Mallay, who lived across the hall from Ruby, took the stand. He was the first person to enter the apartment after the shooting. Thomas Mallay was a witness for the prosecution.
Prosecutor Justin McCarthy asked Thomas what had happened. Mallay testified that he had heard a shot and then footsteps running down the hall. He heard a man yelling “Help! I’m shot!” He went into Ruby’s apartment and found Leon lying on the bed, Ruby had gone for a doctor.
Mallay asked Leon how he was shot, and he replied that it was an accident.
William Schulke, Leon’s assistant dragged Ruby back into the apartment. Leon told Schulke that Ruby had shot him on purpose. Mallay heard that and asked Leon if he hadn’t just said that it was an accident, and Leon admitted that he had said that to shield Ruby.
Mallay’s Cross examination
When Ruby’s attorney Charles Williams questioned Mallay on cross examination he admitted that both Leon and Ruby had said that it was an accident many times.
Mallay continued testifying, “Schulke walked to the bed twice. First, he said to Dr. Quitman ‘Didn’t I tell you she’d get you — and didn’t she?’ And Dr Quitman answered, ‘ Yes you were right: she got me.’
Fifteen minutes Schulke walked over to the bed again. This time he said: ‘She shot you, didn’t she?’ and Dr. Quitman answered, ‘Yes she shot me.’ ”
Mallay also testified that a policeman Charles Mueller entered the apartment and said to Ruby, “Come, you might as well confess. Somebody saw you through the window. They saw you shoot this man.” Ruby answered, “No, nobody saw me shoot Dr. Quitman.”
Edwin Olson, the first policeman to arrive on the scene testifies next. “Miss Dean told me her finger was on the trigger of the revolver when Dr. Quitman was shot — she said they were struggling, and her finger pressed the trigger.”
Dr. Edwin Quitman, Leon’s brother took the stand next. When asked if his brother had told him that Ruby had shot him, Edwin answered, “Yes, it was 10:00 o’clock in the morning following the shooting. I was sitting at his bedside in the hospital. He came out of anesthetic and when he seemed clear brained, I asked: ‘Leon tell me, did that woman really shoot you?’ and he said, “Yes she did: Ed, it’s a long story and I’ll tell you all about it when I get stronger.'”
Prosecution rests and it’s time for the defense.
Ruby Dean takes the stand
Ruby testifies that she knew Leon as Dr. Joseph Springer, coroner’s physician. A few days before the shooting a private detective that she had hired to look into his background told her the truth.
“I met Dr. Quitman at the Federal Inn while I was singing there. It was sometime in April. He asked if he could call on me. I told him he might if he met my mother — I always passed Mrs. Douglas, an aunt, off as my mother to strangers.
“I saw him from 4-6 times a week until July, and from July on, every day. He proposed marriage a few weeks after I met him, but I didn’t agree to marry him until the middle of July.
“We left the cabaret after I was through singing on the night of July 26 and went to Crown Point to be married and got there early in the morning.
“That day we were walking around the courthouse and then he told me he had ‘a case ‘with another woman — a Lillian Hammer. He said she expected to become a mother. Doc told me he was already married to her and if he married me, he would have to go to the penitentiary. He asked me to wait awhile, he said he had a case in court to divorce her.
One morning after she was through performing, she took Leon to sit by the lake. “Doc, don’t you think it’s time you quit this little farce and be on the square with me?” she asked him.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he answered.
Ruby responded, “Oh, yes you know what I mean. “
Ruby then went on to explain everything that she had found out.
“He told me that night he wouldn’t tell me any more lies and he would use his own name after that. He told me he would go to a hotel when he left me and register under his own name and I called up to see if he kept his word, and he had.” Ruby closes her testimony by reading several love letters that Leon had written, one of them included a cancelled check for 10,000 kisses written on one of Leon’s business checks.
Ruby’s cross examination
The courtroom is once again packed with spectators. Prosecutor McCarthy cross examines Ruby for FIVE HOURS. He brings up that in her job as a cabaret singer that she is friendly and flirty with lots of men. Ruby agreed and insisted that Leon was the only man she loved.
Through the cross examination, we learn Ruby Dean had spent five years on the stage prior to moving to Chicago in 1917. She travelled constantly around the country as a member of the vaudeville team Dunn and Dean. Her partner was a man but his name was never mentioned. She also was one of the Sunshine Girls.
Ruby also told how on the trip to Fox Lake, Leon pretended to shoot himself. Ruby heard the shot and rushed up to him sitting on the ground with his hands limply at his sides. “‘Doc, you can’t fool me. When a person shoots themself, they fall on the ground.’
Then he got up and said to me, ‘Are you game? Let me shoot you and I’ll shoot myself!'”
She then said she took the gun away from him.
The prosecution’s case was falling apart as the testimony from Thomas Mallay, their star witness, was ordered stricken from the record on the grounds that Ruby was not within earshot when the accusations purportedly made by Dr. Quitman were made, so it was just hearsay.
Closing arguments
Justin McCarthy begins his closing arguments. He began by asking the jury to convict Ruby of the murder of Leon Quitman. Oddly enough, the widow Bertha Quitman sat behind Ruby during this part of the trial. Ruby remained dry eyed during McCarthy’s summation. McCarthy stated that Ruby’s love was mercenary, Leon owned a car, dressed well and was in comfortable circumstances.
“This woman,” McCarthy began shouting, “was playing a game, a shrewd game from start to finish — from the beginning to the last scene, which was the death of Dr. Quitman in her apartment the night of September 6.
“Men I ask you to use your common sense and judgement. This girl testified that for at least six years before she ever met Dr. Leon Quitman, she was an actress both in vaudeville and legitimate.
“Was this defense — was her action on the witness stand — the story she told you men here, a part played by an actress? Was she acting cleverly to deceive you men and to escape responsibility?”
McCarthy continued his rant, ridiculing Ruby’s testimony as a fanciful story. He claimed that Dr. Quitman knew there was going to be gunplay back at Ruby’s apartment, be he went anyway confident he could get the gun away from her.
Bertha Quitman, Leon’s widow, spoke to the press, “I feel that girl is guilty. I think she is getting a fair trial, and I cannot believe a man so strong as my husband would have been accidentally shot in trying to take a revolver away from so frail a girl. I saw my husband at the hospital on the day he died. He asked me to forgive him, and I told him I would. Then he said: ‘Now I still have something to live for.’ “We did not at any time speak of the shooting. He told me nothing about it and I asked nothing of him.”
Ruby Dean
The Verdict
May 4, 1918, Ruby is free! The jury was out only 13 minutes and acquitted her on the first polling.
Ruby was the 27th woman acquitted of murder in Chicago. Keep in mind, Beulah, Belva and the other women on Murderess Row didn’t happen until 1924. Oddly enough though, 75% of women charged with theft or other misdemeanors were found guilty.
State’s Attorney, Maclay Horne told the press in disgust, “Cook County juries will not convict a woman. Maybe someday there will be a stopping point.” Possibly when women are allowed to be jurors? Or maybe if Prosecutor McCarthy knew what his witnesses were going to say before they testify?
That’s the end of the story. Ruby told the press that she was going to take up knitting and play the organ in church on Sundays. But, that didn’t happen. Ruby signed a contract to appear in Vaudeville for a great deal of money. She said, “I suppose I’ll be criticized. But I want it understood that it’s not because of the notoriety that came to me because of the death of — someone. I was in vaudeville five years before I was in cabarets. I think I am worth the sum I am to get.”
I love cherries and Cherry White Chocolate Bundt Cake is a delicious dessert with pieces of maraschino cherries, white chocolate chips, a natural pink color from cherry juice and a white chocolate glaze! Not to mention that it’s yummy!
When I was small, my grandmother had a cherry tree in her back yard, which was the easiest tree to climb! When the cherries were ripe, my sister and I used to climb the tree and eat our fill. If this annoyed my grandmother she never showed it, she just baked a cherry pie, or cherry danish, or some other cherry treat with the cherries we left. I sometimes think that she actually bought more cherries.
Obviously, this is not one of my prettier cakes as I had problems with the white chocolate chips sticking to the pan, so it has some lovely divots! I could have, maybe should have covered it up with a thicker glaze, but I like the thinner white chocolate glaze.
Cherry White Chocolate Bundt Cake is a delicious dessert with pieces of maraschino cherries, white chocolate chips, a natural pink color from cherry juice and a white chocolate glaze! Not to mention that it’s yummy!
Author:cwisdom@scandalsandsweets.com
Prep Time:15
Cook Time:45
Total Time:60
Yield:12-18 slices
Ingredients
6 Tablespoons Butter – softened 2/3 Cup Canola Oil 2 Cups Sugar 1 Tablespoon Vanilla 1/2 teaspoon Almond extract 2 2/3 Cups Flour 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder 1 teaspoon Salt 1 Cup Tart Cherry Juice 6 Large Egg Whites at room temperature 1 – 16 ounce jar Maraschino Cherries – chopped finely 2 – 11 ounce bags White Chocolate Chips 1 1/2 Cups Heavy Cream
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350.
Spray a Bundt pan thoroughly with cooking spray.
Beat butter and sugar in a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer until creamy.
Add vegetable oil and mix completely.
Add in the vanilla and almond extracts.
In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt.
Measure out the cherry juice.
Alternate adding the flour mixture and the juice to the butter mixture until completely combined.
Add one package of the white chocolate chips and the cherries.
Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and gently fold them into the rest of the batter.
Bake at 350 for 40 – 45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let the cake stand 10-15 minutes and remove from pan.
When the cake is completely cooled, pour the remaining package of white chocolate chips into a heat proof bowl.
Heat the cream until you can see steam but it isn’t boiling.
Pour over chocolate chips, cover and let sit 5-10 minutes.
Whisk until velvety, cool in the refrigerator until it thickens a little and spoon over cake.
Enjoy!
Notes
The glaze is basically a watered down or should I say creamed down version of ganache. I like a thin glaze but you can adjust the cream until you get the consistency that you like. My husband likes a heavier glaze but I think that it makes the cake too sweet.
You can make this in a 13×9 pan and adjust the bake time to 35-40 minutes.
You can also make it in 2 – 8 inch cake pans. I would suggest using white buttercream for the icing then.
You know my layer cakes look like something out of Dr. Seuss so I don’t normally make them!
Yummy! Red Velvet Cupcakes are an easy moist cupcake recipe, with the not so secret but important ingredient BUTTERMILK!
These are so delicious and can be frosted with Butter Cream or Cream Cheese Frostings. Both are really really good, but I prefer the Cream Cheese Frosting myself, pretty much on anything! I wonder how it works with broccoli?
The history of the Red Velvet Cake goes back to 1943 and Irma Rombauer’s classic, The Joy of Cooking. This cookbook is still in print and was updated in 2020 by her great grandchildren. It boasts 600 new recipes and 4,000 updated recipes. This is a classic for a reason!
Cupcakes were my grandmother’s go to for Picnics and Barbecues. Really I don’t remember eating cupcakes in the winter! I think that’s probably because they are easily transported and easy to eat!
My grandma said that she started making Red Velvet Cupcakes during World War II and she used beet juice at the time. The beet juice added the red color, made it super moist, and added some sweetness when sugar was being rationed. This is what she told me, it was considerably before my time and she had changed up her recipe to exclude beet juice by the time I came around!
Red Velvet Cupcakes ready for the oven
Here are her secrets for making perfect Red Velvet Cupcakes: 1. Take all of the ingredients out of the refrigerator and put them on the counter 30-45 minutes before you start making the batter. This makes the cake fluffier with a better crumb. 2. Really cream the butter and sugar together until they are fluffy! A stand or hand mixer is perfect for this. You really will be glad you did! 3. Do not overfill the cupcake pans. Enough said.
Red Velvet Cupcakes are an easy, delicious, moist cupcake recipe using buttermilk and cocoa powder.
Author:cwisdom@scandalsandsweets.com
Prep Time:10
Cook Time:15
Total Time:25
Yield:12-18 cupcakes
Ingredients
2 sticks – 1 Cup Butter – softened 1 3/4 Cups Sugar 2 Eggs 2 Tablespoons Red Food Coloring 2 teaspoons Vanilla 1 teaspoon Vinegar 2 2/3 Cups Flour 1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder (unsweetened) 1 teaspoon Baking Soda 1/2 teaspoon Salt 1 1/3 Cups Buttermilk
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350.
Using a 12 cup cupcake pan or 2 6 cup cupcake pans. Insert the cupcake papers.
Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add the eggs and mix well.
Then add the Red Food Coloring, Vanilla and Vinegar. Mix until thoroughly combined. Don’t forget to scrape the sides of the bowl.
In a large bowl combine all of the dry ingredients and mix well.
To the butter mixture, alternate adding the dry ingredients and Buttermilk. Use at least 2 different cycles but 3 is better. Mix each addition until just barely combined, don’t overmix.
Using a cookie scoop fill the prepared paper cups about half to three quarters full. You should get 12-18 cupcakes depending on how full you fill them. Do not overfill!
Bake for 15-18 minutes until they spring back when touched or use a toothpick and it comes out clean.
Let cool completely before frosting.
Notes
1. Let all ingredients come to room temperature – set them out 1/2 hour before making the batter.
Simple Strawberry Earthquake Cake is a super easy dessert with Strawberries! It is a delicious moist cake that is basically a doctored strawberry cake mix!
My mother made the traditional Earthquake cake which was German Chocolate cake mix, coconut, chocolate chips, and pecans. But, one of my daughters, who may or may not have been switched at the hospital, DOES NOT LIKE CHOCOLATE! Somehow she got a mutated gene! :) So I came up with this strawberry version!
I will tell you up front that it is not a pretty cake, however it is sooooo yummy that no one will care!
Also you don’t have to frost it, because the oh so good cream cheese frosting is in the middle! You can top it with fresh whipped cream, or the dreaded frozen whipped topping and sliced strawberries if you want to try to dress it up a little, but it really doesn’t need it!
The key to this is to put half the prepared cake mix in the pan, top it with all the goodies, then cover it with the second half. Then use a spatula or butter knife to swirl it. The second key is to substitute melted butter and milk for the oil and water in the cake mix directions. There you have it easy-peasy!
A easy delicious strawberry dessert made from a cake mix!
Author:cwisdom@scandalsandsweets.com
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:45 minutes
Total Time:1 hour
Yield:18 squares
Ingredients
1 Box Strawberry Cake mix – and ingredients that it calls for substituting melted butter and milk for oil and water. 8 ounces Cream Cheese – softened 1/2 cup melted butter 2 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 12 ounce package white chocolate chips 1 1/2 cups strawberries – sliced or chopped I prefer the chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350
Generously spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray
Make the cake mix according to instructions, substituting melted butter and milk for oil and water – this makes a richer tastier cake, but is optional!
Combine the Cream Cheese, melted butter vanilla, and powdered sugar. Mix until smooth.
Pour half the cake batter in the prepared pan.
For this part I use a soup spoon and dot the cake with big dollops of the cream cheese mixture, as seen in the picture.
Sprinkle the white chocolate chips and the strawberries on top of the cream cheese.
Pour the rest of the batter over the cream cheese mixture, chips and strawberries
Using a spatula or butter knife swirl the batter so the cream cheese is swirled through the whole cake and not just sitting in clumps.
Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.
You cannot use the toothpick method on this cake because of all the gooey goodness inside. Instead lightly tap the top and if it comes back up or doesn’t dent in the first place it’s done.
Let cool, cut into squares and enjoy!
Notes
The cake may break open in places while it bakes, thus the Earthquake! As I said it is not a pretty cake.
