Behind Gray Walls

In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Skye and Anthony interview acclaimed historian Steven Branting, who shares his research on Margaret Hardy and his process uncovering stories following the many threads that make up our history. Pick up a copy of Wicked Lewiston from our gift shop: https://store.history.idaho.gov/GiftShopItem.aspx? I=116

In this season’s couple’s episode, Skye and Anthony discuss a pair of immigrants (one Swedish, one Canadian) who may have set fire to their house in a town only recently traumatized by one of the worst fires in the nation’s history #2679 and #2680 Richard and Anna Woodfine (Arson).

In this episode, Skye and Anthony have some conversations about a woman who gets a bit caught up with a husband (and maybe a wife) #6483 Leora Eliason (Adultery) and a man whose sexuality landed him in jail #2911 E.E. Gillespie (Infamous Crime Against Nature). Adult content: explicit discussions of sexual acts.

In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Skye and Anthony celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Month and sit down with the longest serving volunteer at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, Don Mummert. Don has spent over 20 years giving tours and working as a host at the J. C. Earl Weapon's exhibit, but his connections to the prison go all the way back to the 1940s! Interested in volunteering? Sign up today! ht...

In this episode, Anthony takes a bit of a divergence from normal, covering Mark Maxwell and his prolific administrative career at the Idaho State Penitentiary and Skye sticks to the script, profiling a woman who didn’t quite know how to resist a man in uniform #11297 Janet Brezicky (Robbery).

In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony talks to retired Deputy United States Marshal and Investigator Randy Martinez who shares stories about his career and compares it to the subject of this week's episode, Charles Phelps.

On this episode, Skye and Anthony examine national alcohol bans with Prohibition violator #4693 Helen Hall (Giving Intoxicating Liquor to a Minor) and a Deputy U.S. Marshal who defied laws he was supposed to enforce not once, but two times #266/#392 Charles M. Phelps (Manslaughter and Assault with a Deadly Weapon).

On this episode, Anthony and Skye dish the details of a police officer gone rogue whose crime is a real-life murder mystery #7070 Ralph Golden (Murder in the First Degree) and a woman who was charged with assault with nearly every weapon possible #9202/#9718 Edna Mae Hester (Assault with a Chemical and Voluntary Manslaughter).

In this week's Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony and Skye sit down with Hayley Noble to discuss #6153 Henry Wasielewski (Robbery) who enlisted in the Polish forces in Canada during WWII after a brief incarceration in Idaho.

Skye and Anthony have an interesting conversation about a woman who may have had an unfortunate sip of Coca-Cola #7769 Frances Webb (Forgery), and a serial offender who decided to take his fate into his own hands in a tragic way #4357 Vern McBride (Grand Larceny). Trigger Warning: Suicide.

In this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony and Skye interview Idaho State Historian HannaLore Hein who discusses Idaho's Response to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic and shares a message of hope and the importance of having historians at the table during trying times.

Anthony and Skye discuss a man who had title of “Whip Maker to Her Majesty” (Queen Victoria of England), but who was lucky to get away from his crime with his life #6 Frank Barnes (Murder in the Second Degree) and a young girl with hipster glasses whose train ride through Idaho ended in tragedy #3834 Margaret Brooks (Manslaughter).

In this first LIVE episode in collaboration with Storyfort, Anthony teams up with Historic Sites Administrator Amber Beierle to chat about a woman with skills writing bad checks and heartfelt lines #10595 Nancy Frances Christopher (Forgery and Escape) and master escape artist, brewer and yodeler #8204 Harley Carringer (Burglary in the Nighttime, Escape and Persistent Violator of the Law).

In this episode, Skye and Anthony chat about a young woman with an unfortunate man and health problem #5788 Helen Grace Andrews (Forgery) and a man who led an uprising that we didn’t get to talk about in the last season #8714 Paul Andrew Mahaffey (Robbery and Escape).

On this Stool Pigeon Saturday, Skye and Anthony interview Judy Louise Buck, the granddaughter of #1537 Hattie McCormick, who sheds some light on Hattie's life outside of prison.

On the first episode of Season 5, Anthony and Skye are sure glad to be back, and talk about a man whose escape nearly resulted in someone else’s death #11628 Peter Martin (Robbery and Escape), and a woman whose desire got her in a bit of trouble—and whose family helped us fill out her story #1537 Hattie McCormick (Adultery).

We're working hard to bring a brand new season of prisoner stories to you in 2021! If you have a story, share it with us at behindgraywalls@gmail.com. Looking for a great holiday gift? Come visit the Old Pen Gift Shop Souvenir Confinement or visit our online store: https://store.history.idaho.gov/giftshop.aspx Why not give the gift of membership at the Idaho State Historical Society: https://store...

In this episode of Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony sits down with retired Correctional Officer Calvin May who started working for the Idaho Department of Corrections months before he was held hostage during a riot at the new prison in July 1980. Calvin discusses the causes of the uprising and how his faith helped guide him.

In this episode of Disturbing Justice, Anthony and Skye discuss the chaotic 1970s and the final uprising at the Idaho State Penitentiary that resulted in damage still seen at the site to this day. Oral histories from Guards Charlie Griggs, Dan Mahoney, Milton Edgerton, Ralph Elston and Inmate Melvin Aldous help tell the story. Like what you hear? Consider supporting us by donating today or becomin...

In this episode of Stool Pigeon Saturday, Anthony sits down with retired Correctional Officer and Idaho State Patrolman Curt Williams who worked at the Idaho State Penitentiary during the 1971 riot. Curt talks about being in the yard at the height of the riot, and guarding prisoners at the new institution.

In this episode of Disturbing Justice, things heat up as Anthony and Skye discuss how the weather helped spark one of the most violent prison riots at the Old Pen. Hear oral histories from prisoner Ron Macik who served a pivotal role in the uprising, and guard Bill Sanders who describes how the events unfolded and his desensitized reaction to a surprise rolled up in a gym mat.

In this episode of Disturbing Justice, Anthony and Skye discuss the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and the attempts made by Idaho prisoners to invoke change through a week-long strike after losing commissary privileges.

In this episode of Disturbing Justice, Anthony and Skye launch into a discussion about the Space Race, and break down a hostage situation led by a prisoner with the unfortunate nickname of "Legal Cutie."

In this episode of Disturbing Justice, Anthony and Skye walk through the fascinating and turbulent history of 1950s Cold War America, and an uprising quickly quelled by Warden Clapp with the help of a few hundred dollars in tear gas grenades.

On today's Stool Pigeon Saturday, Skye discusses a black widow who threw a few mini-riots of her own in the Women's Ward, #3691 Mary Crumroy (Murder in the 2nd Degree).