Killer set women ablaze

Not that much ever happened in Marion, Penn., but back in 1937, a crime took place there that has seldom been duplicated anywhere for sheer diabolical execution.

Twenty-year-old Catherine Gelwix was thrilled and excited. She was engaged to the handsomest boy in town. Ralph Hawk was a hunk. He stood a full six feet, had a slim but muscular build and a thick crop of jet black hair. What's more, Ralph had just inherited a sizeable amount of money. He held down a good job on a farm at the edge of town, where he also had living quarters. Yes, as 1936 drew to a close, the two young people could look forward to a fulfilling and happy life together. They were to be wed on New Year's Day.

It was after midnight when tragedy struck. Charlie Farran was driving his girlfriend, Margaret Small, home from a New Year's Eve party. The young people parked near Margaret's house and were busy necking when the house next to Margaret's suddenly burst into flames. Margaret ran to her home and raised the alarm. Charlie rushed toward the burning house. As he did so, he saw the form of a girl at one of the downstairs windows. Without hesitation, Charlie broke the window and managed to pull the burning Catherine Gelwix from the blazing inferno. Charlie knew very well that there were two other occupants in the house, Catherine's mother and her 15-year-old sister Helen.

Try as he might, he couldn't get back into the burning building.

Catherine was carried to the nearest hospital. She had suffered severe burns and had lost consciousness. Doctors called police. The badly-burned girl had a fractured skull, which doctors felt had most probably been caused by a blunt instrument. What's more, Catherine had been doused with kerosene and set on fire. Miraculously she had awakened and staggered downstairs, where she was spotted by Charlie Farran.

Twelve hours after Catherine was pulled from the fire, police were able to question her. Catherine told police that she remembered nothing about having been struck on the head or having been set on fire. She had spent the evening with Ralph discussing their wedding and honeymoon. He had left quite early to visit his father and had promised to call in on her on his way back.

Arson experts found a flashlight that was badly dented. Was it possible that the killer had struck Catherine a vicious blow to the head with the flashlight, poured kerosene on her and had then proceeded to soak Mrs. Gelwix and Helen?

The tiny community was in a state of shock. No one believed that a local could possibly have committed such a cold-blooded crime. Maybe the culprit was some maniac who just happened to be passing through. This theory was most popular, but was dismissed by the police. A transient would not have stopped to pour kerosene over sleeping women. He would have ransacked the house, struck out if interrupted and made his getaway. No, it had to be one of their own.

Ralph was grief stricken. He rushed to Catherine's side in hospital. Ralph was interrogated by police. He told them that he had spent the evening with Catherine and had then visited his father. He had planned to return to Catherine's house, but instead had gone back to the farm where he worked and lived.

When asked why he hadn't gone back to Catherine's house to celebrate the New Year with her, Ralph gave an answer which was easily verified. He had sent away for his 1937 car license plates, but they hadn't arrived.

He was aware that the local police kept a sharp eye out for expired plates at the turn of the year. Ralph figured that he'd better get his vehicle off the road before midnight to avoid being fined.

Police felt that Ralph's alibi was logical enough, but it was far from airtight. They questioned the couple who owned the farm where Ralph worked. The couple told police that Ralph had recently received a letter, which he had angrily thrown in the stove without realizing that the fire was out.

They had retrieved the letter and had destroyed it, after noting that it was

from Mrs. Gelwix. In the letter, Catherine's mother had advised Ralph that she had heard he was dating a girl in a nearby town and wanted to talk to him about it.

Had the police stumbled upon a motive for murder? The girl mentioned in Mrs. Gelwix's letter was located. She was shocked to learn that her Ralph was about to marry. They had exchanged Christmas presents, but she hadn't seen him since Christmas day.

Ralph was now considered a prime suspect. He agreed to take a polygraph test. When asked if he had killed anyone, he answered, "No, I didn't kill anyone.'' He watched as the needle on the machine reacted dramatically.

Ralph lost his nerve. He confessed then and there. He told detectives that after he had solidified his wedding plans, he had met another girl. When he received the letter from his future mother-in-law, he felt that the only solution to his problem was to murder her, Catherine and Helen.

Unbelievably, Ralph had planned to kill them all.

The crime had taken place just as the police had theorized. When Catherine had moved, Ralph had hit her over the head with the flashlight. He had then doused her, as well as Mrs. Gelwix and Helen, with kerosene before setting them on fire.

Ralph Hawk was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. He was executed in Pennsylvania's electric chair.