[00:00:00] Watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town.

[00:00:10] Welcome back, dear listener. As we count down the days to Christmas, we thought we'd revisit one of our most beloved episodes, a story that brings a touch of the unexpected to the holiday season.

[00:00:21] For those of you who've been with us for a while, you might remember this episode.

[00:00:26] This story is a bit lighter than our usual noir style, but it still carries the intrigue you've come to love from us.

[00:00:33] So, grab a cup of cocoa and settle in by the fire, and enjoy this festive favorite.

[00:00:47] Santa Claus is coming to town

[00:00:51] He's making a list, checking it twice

[00:00:54] Gonna find out who's naughty and nice

[00:00:57] Santa Claus is coming to town

[00:01:02] He sees you when you're sleeping

[00:01:04] He knows when you're awake

[00:01:07] He knows if you've been bad or good

[00:01:10] So be good for goodness sake

[00:01:12] Oh, you better watch out

[00:01:14] You better not cry

[00:01:15] You better not pout

[00:01:17] I'm telling you why

[00:01:18] Santa Claus is coming to town

[00:01:21] You are listening to

[00:01:45] The Evidence Locker

[00:01:48] Warning

[00:01:49] If you believe in Santa Claus

[00:01:51] This episode contains information that can make you question his existence

[00:01:56] Listener discretion is advised

[00:01:59] When Wall Street collapsed in 1929

[00:02:04] A period of financial difficulty followed

[00:02:07] Better known as the Great Depression

[00:02:10] Even though the average person did not personally invest in the stock market

[00:02:13] The ripple effect of the Depression meant that countless people were laid off work

[00:02:18] Banks, building societies, and businesses closed down

[00:02:21] And employees were forced to find alternative means of earning a living

[00:02:25] By 1932, unemployment had reached 24%

[00:02:30] People needed entertainment to take their minds off of the dire situation

[00:02:35] They watched sports and films and lapped up the distraction

[00:02:39] Tarzan the Ape Man and Grand Hotel were two of the biggest films that year

[00:02:44] It was also the year the world was introduced to a little girl called Shirley Temple

[00:02:49] The New York Yankees won the World Series with Babe Ruth having a good season

[00:02:52] Making no less than 41 home runs

[00:02:56] Bing Crosby's velvety voice graced the airwaves

[00:02:59] With songs like Brother Can You Spare a Dime?

[00:03:01] And Love Me Tonight

[00:03:03] But distraction only lasted so long

[00:03:05] Until reality kicked back in again

[00:03:09] By 1932, things were so bad

[00:03:12] The feeling was, it could only get better

[00:03:16] Franklin D. Roosevelt campaigned and promised a way out of the Depression

[00:03:19] The New Deal, he called it

[00:03:21] And people were quietly optimistic that the tides were about to turn

[00:03:26] The town of Mesa, Arizona

[00:03:27] With its 4,000 residents

[00:03:29] Was not immune to the problems of the time

[00:03:32] Back then, it was a town in its own right

[00:03:34] Whereas today, it's a suburb of its bigger neighbor, Phoenix

[00:03:38] Mesa was the set for many Western films

[00:03:41] Most well-known perhaps being Henry Hathaway's To The Last Man

[00:03:45] Besides film production, the largest sources of income in the town

[00:03:49] Were Arizona's three C's

[00:03:50] Copper, Cotton, and Cattle

[00:03:54] For the most part, the Depression did not completely derail the town

[00:03:58] People carried on with their daily lives

[00:04:00] Positively believing that things would take a turn for the better

[00:04:04] But towards the end of 1932

[00:04:06] Local businesses were flailing

[00:04:09] This also meant that Christmas was not going to be a time of giving

[00:04:13] In a material sense

[00:04:15] Families planned to spend as little money as possible during the festive season

[00:04:18] Opting for handmade trinkets or gifts

[00:04:21] It was a time to be practical

[00:04:23] And anything else was considered a luxury

[00:04:25] And therefore, unnecessary

[00:04:28] At the beginning of December 1932

[00:04:30] There was a great uncertainty about the town's annual Christmas parade

[00:04:35] Before the financial turmoil of the time

[00:04:37] Christmas was a jolly affair in the town of Mesa

[00:04:40] Santa would be pulled into town on a horse-drawn cart

[00:04:43] As the highlight of the Christmas parade

[00:04:46] Families would gather around

[00:04:47] And children would sit on Santa's lap

[00:04:49] Convincing him that they had been nice

[00:04:51] Not naughty

[00:04:54] That said, for the first time ever

[00:04:56] Households had easy access to electricity

[00:04:59] More homes were decorated using strings of electric lights

[00:05:02] Whereas before, people used candles and lanterns

[00:05:05] There was definitely a buzz around Christmas celebrations

[00:05:08] As it would bring a brief distraction from the hardship of everyday life

[00:05:13] John McPhee

[00:05:14] Editor of the Mesa Journal-Tribune

[00:05:17] Was an energetic and positive person

[00:05:19] Who had settled in the U.S. from Ireland

[00:05:22] He felt that the town of Mesa

[00:05:24] Needed some Christmas magic to lift the holiday spirit

[00:05:27] If he could come up with some other plan

[00:05:30] To draw crowds to the town

[00:05:31] The shops would get a financial boost

[00:05:33] And Mesa would be on the map for good

[00:05:35] And if nothing else

[00:05:37] He would make the town's folk smile

[00:05:39] Even if only for a day

[00:05:42] The biggest news stories of 1932

[00:05:44] Were circling in the space of aviation

[00:05:47] Charles Lindbergh Jr. was kidnapped

[00:05:48] Just five years after his father

[00:05:50] Became the first man to cross the Atlantic

[00:05:52] In a plane

[00:05:54] Amelia Earhart's solo flight across the Atlantic

[00:05:56] Also made headlines

[00:05:59] Civil aviation was in its infancy

[00:06:02] Veterans from the Great War

[00:06:03] Were able to operate flying machines

[00:06:05] And there were not too many regulations

[00:06:08] Many amateur pilots took to the skies

[00:06:10] Hoping to become flying aces

[00:06:12] It was the golden era of barnstormers

[00:06:15] These were stunt pilots

[00:06:16] Who performed tricks in the air

[00:06:18] To entertain crowds at festivals

[00:06:19] Or flying circuses

[00:06:22] Reading about these daring aviators

[00:06:24] John McPhee of Mesa

[00:06:26] Had a light bulb moment

[00:06:27] What if Santa Claus

[00:06:30] Could jump out of a plane?

[00:06:33] Surely that had not been done before

[00:06:35] And McPhee knew

[00:06:36] That would make the scoop of the year

[00:06:39] The previous year

[00:06:40] The city of Phoenix

[00:06:41] Had Santa arrive by plane

[00:06:43] But he only disembarked

[00:06:44] After it had landed

[00:06:46] This stunt

[00:06:46] Would be so much better

[00:06:49] McPhee went to work

[00:06:50] And hired a barnstormer

[00:06:52] To dress up in a Santa suit

[00:06:53] Walk out on the wing

[00:06:54] Of a light aircraft

[00:06:55] And make the jump

[00:06:56] In one of the alfalfa fields

[00:06:58] Just outside of town

[00:07:00] Santa was to hit the ground

[00:07:02] Somewhere in the vicinity

[00:07:03] Of Maine and Dobson

[00:07:04] From where a procession

[00:07:05] Of police vehicles

[00:07:06] Would transport him

[00:07:07] Into town for the parade

[00:07:09] He would sit on the hood

[00:07:10] Of Sheriff Merrill's police car

[00:07:11] From where he would

[00:07:12] Hand out presents

[00:07:14] When McPhee discussed his idea

[00:07:16] With local business owners

[00:07:17] And politicians

[00:07:17] They loved it

[00:07:19] Most people in the local area

[00:07:21] Lived on farms

[00:07:22] And were pretty naive

[00:07:23] When it came to world news

[00:07:24] And events

[00:07:25] Some did not even

[00:07:26] On a radio

[00:07:27] When news about

[00:07:28] The parachuting Santa

[00:07:29] Was announced

[00:07:30] Adults were as excited

[00:07:31] As their children were

[00:07:33] An article announcing

[00:07:34] The once in a lifetime event

[00:07:35] Was published

[00:07:36] In the Mesa Journal Tribune

[00:07:37] It read

[00:07:39] St. Nick

[00:07:40] Will drop from plane

[00:07:41] In parachute

[00:07:42] The generous old gentleman

[00:07:44] Isn't coming in

[00:07:44] The conventional style

[00:07:45] And he isn't going to wait

[00:07:47] Until the airplane

[00:07:48] Lands to get out

[00:07:48] He is going to drop

[00:07:50] Right down in the center

[00:07:51] Of Mesa

[00:07:51] On a parachute

[00:07:52] He'll be here

[00:07:53] At 4.15 o'clock

[00:07:54] Next Friday afternoon

[00:07:55] December 16th

[00:07:57] With a greeting

[00:07:57] And a present

[00:07:58] For every Mesa kitty

[00:07:59] Who is downtown

[00:08:00] To see him

[00:08:01] Every kid in the Mesa district

[00:08:02] Is invited to be in Mesa

[00:08:04] Next Friday afternoon

[00:08:05] And help show Santa

[00:08:06] A good time

[00:08:07] Santa's airplane

[00:08:08] Will arrive over Mesa

[00:08:09] Direct from the north pole

[00:08:11] At exactly 4.15 o'clock

[00:08:12] His pilot will circle

[00:08:14] The airplane over Mesa rooftops

[00:08:15] And will put the plane

[00:08:16] Through a few difficult stunts

[00:08:18] Then Santa will step out

[00:08:19] On the wing

[00:08:20] And with a special parachute

[00:08:21] Firmly attached to his body

[00:08:23] He will step off to land

[00:08:24] In the arms

[00:08:25] Of the awaiting children

[00:08:27] It was going to be

[00:08:28] A two-day event

[00:08:29] With a jump

[00:08:30] On the Friday afternoon

[00:08:31] Followed by the parade

[00:08:32] And then a meet and greet

[00:08:34] At 10 a.m.

[00:08:34] The next morning

[00:08:35] Followed by festivities

[00:08:36] All day long

[00:08:39] Shopkeepers all signed up

[00:08:40] To take part

[00:08:40] In a two-day sale

[00:08:42] They stocked their shelves

[00:08:43] In preparation

[00:08:44] For the big event

[00:08:44] And chatted to anyone

[00:08:46] Who would listen

[00:08:47] McPhee made sure

[00:08:48] The news of Mesa's

[00:08:49] Christmas parade

[00:08:50] Spread to the farthest

[00:08:51] Corners of America

[00:08:53] This was all done

[00:08:54] In the true Depression

[00:08:55] Era marketing style

[00:08:56] Of boosterism

[00:08:57] A way of over-inflating

[00:08:59] The truth

[00:09:00] Something wasn't good

[00:09:01] It was marvelous

[00:09:02] Or wonderful

[00:09:05] In the 1930s

[00:09:06] Advertisements promised

[00:09:07] Things that made people

[00:09:08] Remember the good old days

[00:09:09] Before the Depression

[00:09:11] And if there was a freebie

[00:09:12] In the mix

[00:09:13] The crowds were sure

[00:09:14] To show up

[00:09:14] A poster promoting

[00:09:16] The event read

[00:09:17] Mesa merchants

[00:09:18] To celebrate

[00:09:19] Coming of generous

[00:09:20] Old gentlemen

[00:09:20] With two great sales days

[00:09:22] December 16th and 17th

[00:09:24] Gifts to be provided

[00:09:25] For all

[00:09:27] McPhee's idea

[00:09:27] Was exactly

[00:09:28] What the doctor

[00:09:29] Had ordered

[00:09:29] The town of Mesa

[00:09:30] Desperately needed

[00:09:31] Something positive

[00:09:32] To work towards

[00:09:33] A warming feeling

[00:09:34] Of hope

[00:09:35] And good cheer

[00:09:36] Spread around town

[00:09:37] And McPhee

[00:09:38] Became somewhat

[00:09:38] Of a local hero

[00:09:40] However

[00:09:42] Despite meticulous

[00:09:43] Planning and preparation

[00:09:44] Everything did not

[00:09:45] Quite go

[00:09:46] According to plan

[00:09:48] When the big day

[00:09:49] Came around

[00:09:49] The skydiver

[00:09:51] Who was going

[00:09:51] To be Santa Claus

[00:09:52] Did not show up

[00:09:55] It didn't take

[00:09:55] John McPhee long

[00:09:56] To find him

[00:09:57] He was

[00:09:58] Self-medicating

[00:09:59] Calming his nerves

[00:10:00] At a local bar

[00:10:02] McPhee later said

[00:10:03] That the man was

[00:10:04] So full of

[00:10:05] Christmas cheer

[00:10:05] He couldn't jump

[00:10:08] This was a crisis

[00:10:10] People were streaming

[00:10:11] Into town

[00:10:11] From all over the state

[00:10:13] Locals had gone

[00:10:14] Through so much

[00:10:14] Effort to set

[00:10:15] Everything up

[00:10:16] And it was

[00:10:17] A carnival-like

[00:10:17] Atmosphere

[00:10:18] In the streets

[00:10:19] People were grazing

[00:10:20] On hot dogs

[00:10:21] And potatoes

[00:10:21] Kids stuffed

[00:10:22] Their mouth

[00:10:23] With candy buttons

[00:10:23] And popcorn

[00:10:26] McPhee realized

[00:10:27] There was no way

[00:10:27] The skydiver

[00:10:28] Could make the jump

[00:10:29] It was up to

[00:10:30] The chipper

[00:10:31] Newspaper editor

[00:10:32] To come up

[00:10:32] With a solution

[00:10:33] And pronto

[00:10:35] He simply

[00:10:35] Could not disappoint

[00:10:36] The whole town

[00:10:37] There was so much

[00:10:38] Pressure

[00:10:39] The event had been

[00:10:40] Built up to a scale

[00:10:41] Never experienced

[00:10:41] In the town

[00:10:42] Of Mesa

[00:10:42] Before

[00:10:44] And this was

[00:10:45] Not quite the scenario

[00:10:46] Where a plan B

[00:10:46] Was already in place

[00:10:48] There was no one else

[00:10:49] In town

[00:10:49] That could skydive

[00:10:50] And there was no way

[00:10:51] They could drop

[00:10:52] The drunk Santa

[00:10:53] Out of the plane

[00:10:54] McPhee wished

[00:10:55] He could make

[00:10:56] The jump himself

[00:10:57] But then he realized

[00:10:58] There was a way

[00:11:00] After all

[00:11:02] McPhee went

[00:11:03] Into a local

[00:11:03] Clothing store

[00:11:04] And asked

[00:11:04] To borrow a mannequin

[00:11:06] They dressed

[00:11:07] The mannequin

[00:11:08] In a Santa suit

[00:11:08] And after the

[00:11:10] Storekeeper

[00:11:10] Was sworn to secrecy

[00:11:12] McPhee left

[00:11:14] McPhee personally

[00:11:15] Took this

[00:11:15] Santakin

[00:11:16] To the flying field

[00:11:18] Where he convinced

[00:11:19] The pilot

[00:11:19] To throw it

[00:11:20] From the plane

[00:11:21] The mannequin

[00:11:22] Had an automatic

[00:11:23] Parachute

[00:11:23] Like the ones used

[00:11:24] By the military

[00:11:25] During cargo drops

[00:11:27] At a certain altitude

[00:11:28] The chute deploys

[00:11:29] Automatically

[00:11:31] So the plan was

[00:11:32] That when the

[00:11:33] Fake Santa

[00:11:33] Landed in the

[00:11:34] Alfalfa field

[00:11:35] McPhee

[00:11:36] Would switch places

[00:11:37] And assume the role

[00:11:38] Of Old St. Nick

[00:11:39] For the rest of the parade

[00:11:41] The plane took off

[00:11:42] And the crowd

[00:11:43] Took to the streets

[00:11:44] To watch the spectacle

[00:11:46] People came

[00:11:46] From all over the county

[00:11:47] And all eyes

[00:11:48] Were fixed

[00:11:49] On the plane

[00:11:49] In the sky

[00:11:51] Mothers

[00:11:51] Fathers

[00:11:52] Children

[00:11:53] And grandparents

[00:11:54] Bigger kids

[00:11:55] Climbed telephone poles

[00:11:56] To get the best view

[00:11:58] Everyone was waiting

[00:11:59] For the moment

[00:12:00] When Santa

[00:12:00] Would parachute

[00:12:01] Into Mesa

[00:12:02] To come and spread

[00:12:03] The joy

[00:12:04] Of this festive season

[00:12:06] McPhee later

[00:12:07] Recounted that the

[00:12:08] Turnout

[00:12:08] Was the largest

[00:12:09] Crowd

[00:12:10] In the town's

[00:12:11] Entire history

[00:12:13] The plane

[00:12:13] Carried on as planned

[00:12:14] Coming in low

[00:12:15] Over downtown Mesa

[00:12:17] It circled the town

[00:12:18] Three times

[00:12:19] Doing impressive

[00:12:20] Aerial acrobatics

[00:12:22] The crowd

[00:12:23] The crowd

[00:12:23] Cheered with

[00:12:23] Oohs and

[00:12:24] Ahs

[00:12:25] At 3,000 feet

[00:12:26] The plane

[00:12:27] Straightened up

[00:12:29] Anticipation

[00:12:29] Was palpable

[00:12:31] Then the man

[00:12:32] In red

[00:12:32] Came into sight

[00:12:33] And the crowd

[00:12:34] Roared in approval

[00:12:36] Without much

[00:12:37] Ceremony

[00:12:37] He flopped

[00:12:39] Out of the plane

[00:12:39] For his daring

[00:12:40] Jump

[00:12:42] McPhee's plan

[00:12:43] Was perhaps

[00:12:43] The best solution

[00:12:44] To make

[00:12:44] Under the circumstances

[00:12:46] Except for

[00:12:47] One small detail

[00:12:49] The automatic

[00:12:50] Parachute

[00:12:51] Malfunctioned

[00:12:53] Some sources

[00:12:54] Say

[00:12:54] That it wasn't

[00:12:55] An automatic

[00:12:56] Shoot after all

[00:12:57] And that the

[00:12:57] Pilot neglected

[00:12:58] To pull the cord

[00:12:59] Before pushing

[00:12:59] The mannequin

[00:13:00] Out of the plane

[00:13:02] Either way

[00:13:03] You can probably

[00:13:04] See where this

[00:13:05] Is going

[00:13:05] When the town

[00:13:08] Of Mesa

[00:13:08] Watched Santa

[00:13:09] Jump from the

[00:13:10] Plane

[00:13:10] Everyone waited

[00:13:11] For the parachute

[00:13:12] To blossom

[00:13:12] And their favorite

[00:13:14] North polar

[00:13:14] To glide down

[00:13:15] To terra firma

[00:13:17] But instead

[00:13:18] What they witnessed

[00:13:19] Was a body in red

[00:13:21] Plummeting from the sky

[00:13:22] End over end

[00:13:24] Falling

[00:13:25] To his inevitable death

[00:13:28] Mothers covered

[00:13:29] Their children's eyes

[00:13:29] People screamed

[00:13:30] It was chaos

[00:13:32] As everyone thought

[00:13:32] They had just seen

[00:13:33] Santa's brutal death

[00:13:35] The mannequin

[00:13:36] Had veered off course

[00:13:37] And smashed

[00:13:38] Into a lettuce field

[00:13:39] With workers

[00:13:40] Jumping the fence

[00:13:40] In horror

[00:13:42] Others ran

[00:13:43] To the unfortunate

[00:13:43] Santa's aid

[00:13:45] A farmer

[00:13:46] Ripped his trousers

[00:13:46] As he hopped

[00:13:47] The barbed wire fence

[00:13:48] To help

[00:13:50] McPhee kept

[00:13:50] His head in the game

[00:13:51] Rushed over

[00:13:52] To the mannequin

[00:13:53] And ripped off

[00:13:54] His Santa's suit

[00:13:55] Donning it

[00:13:55] As quickly as he could

[00:13:57] He rushed into town

[00:13:58] Hoping his miraculous

[00:14:00] Appearance

[00:14:00] Would make

[00:14:01] Everything okay

[00:14:02] Santa was not dead

[00:14:04] Look

[00:14:04] He made it

[00:14:06] But by the time

[00:14:07] He reached town

[00:14:08] In Sheriff Merrill's car

[00:14:09] It was too late

[00:14:11] In McPhee's

[00:14:12] Own words

[00:14:13] When we arrived

[00:14:14] It was a ghost town

[00:14:16] From behind closed doors

[00:14:18] You could hear the wails

[00:14:18] Of heartbroken children

[00:14:21] Instead of being

[00:14:22] The most elaborate

[00:14:23] Christmas parade

[00:14:24] In Mesa's history

[00:14:25] It became the parade

[00:14:26] That haunted the town

[00:14:28] Forever

[00:14:29] People cleared the streets

[00:14:30] Before you could say

[00:14:31] Jingle bells

[00:14:32] Trying to protect

[00:14:33] Their children

[00:14:33] From this tragedy

[00:14:35] There was a story

[00:14:36] About a pregnant woman

[00:14:37] Who was so distraught

[00:14:38] She went into

[00:14:39] Premature labor

[00:14:41] McPhee's planet

[00:14:42] Backfired tremendously

[00:14:44] The poor guy

[00:14:45] Who only wanted

[00:14:46] To cheer the town up

[00:14:46] Managed to horrify

[00:14:48] Its children

[00:14:49] Parents were forced

[00:14:50] To come clean

[00:14:50] And admit to their children

[00:14:52] That it was never

[00:14:52] Going to be the real Santa

[00:14:54] The spell was broken

[00:14:55] Santa

[00:14:56] Didn't die

[00:14:58] But also

[00:15:00] He never existed

[00:15:02] Every child's

[00:15:03] Worst nightmare

[00:15:05] After the event

[00:15:06] McPhee became

[00:15:07] A social outcast

[00:15:09] People could not

[00:15:10] Forgive him

[00:15:10] For spoiling

[00:15:11] The magical myth

[00:15:12] That is Santa

[00:15:13] He even received

[00:15:14] Threats from angry parents

[00:15:16] And it was suggested

[00:15:17] That he left town

[00:15:18] Until the dust settled

[00:15:19] Or at the very least

[00:15:21] Until after Christmas

[00:15:24] McPhee had no choice

[00:15:26] And decided to leave town

[00:15:27] For a week

[00:15:27] Taking his family

[00:15:28] With him

[00:15:30] To add insult

[00:15:31] To injury

[00:15:31] National wire services

[00:15:33] Got a hold of the story

[00:15:34] And it became

[00:15:35] National news

[00:15:36] They interviewed

[00:15:38] Traumatized townspeople

[00:15:39] And everyone named

[00:15:40] John McPhee

[00:15:41] As the villain

[00:15:41] Who stole Christmas

[00:15:44] The report

[00:15:45] In the Journal Tribune

[00:15:46] Took the stance

[00:15:47] That Santa survived

[00:15:48] Well

[00:15:48] Because he was

[00:15:49] The magical Santa

[00:15:50] Of course

[00:15:51] This quote

[00:15:52] Directly from the article

[00:15:55] Daring leap from airplane

[00:15:56] Thrills Mesa crowds

[00:15:57] As unprecedented

[00:15:58] Action results

[00:15:59] Faith explains all things

[00:16:02] Mesa children

[00:16:03] Demonstrated

[00:16:04] Even Santa Claus

[00:16:05] Who miraculously leapt

[00:16:06] From airplanes

[00:16:07] Alight

[00:16:08] A straddled

[00:16:08] The city police car

[00:16:09] And who rode through town

[00:16:10] Waving cheerily to children

[00:16:12] Unhurt

[00:16:12] And unperturbed

[00:16:13] By the narrowness

[00:16:14] Of recent escape

[00:16:15] From death

[00:16:16] Many hearts

[00:16:17] Mentally removed

[00:16:18] The traditional stocking

[00:16:19] From the fireplace

[00:16:19] Mantle Monday afternoon

[00:16:21] When the jolly old gentleman

[00:16:22] Leapt from his plane

[00:16:23] High over Mesa

[00:16:24] And his only apparent

[00:16:26] Insurance against death

[00:16:27] Failed

[00:16:27] The parachute

[00:16:28] Did not open

[00:16:31] Two minutes later

[00:16:32] Santa was seen

[00:16:33] Riding through town

[00:16:33] On the hood

[00:16:34] Of the city police car

[00:16:35] Driven by

[00:16:35] Marshal Ray Merrill

[00:16:36] One young mason

[00:16:38] Suffered

[00:16:38] But one qualm of fear

[00:16:39] For the Christmas visitor

[00:16:40] And then when he appeared

[00:16:42] Remarked his recent feat

[00:16:43] As one of the many

[00:16:44] Wonderful things

[00:16:45] Accomplished by him

[00:16:45] Each year

[00:16:48] The effect of the event

[00:16:49] Had varying stories

[00:16:51] Some report that

[00:16:52] Sales in Mesa

[00:16:52] Actually did go up

[00:16:54] That day

[00:16:55] Some people found

[00:16:56] Refuge in local stores

[00:16:57] And bought toys

[00:16:58] To comfort their

[00:16:59] Traumatized kids

[00:17:01] Other reports

[00:17:02] Say most people left

[00:17:03] And never returned

[00:17:04] To Mesa

[00:17:05] It was probably

[00:17:06] A combination

[00:17:07] Of the two

[00:17:08] Some may have

[00:17:09] Supported local stores

[00:17:10] In the immediate

[00:17:11] Aftermath of the accident

[00:17:12] But it is fair

[00:17:13] To assume

[00:17:14] That the second day

[00:17:15] Of Christmas festivities

[00:17:16] Was cancelled

[00:17:17] No Santa

[00:17:18] No sale

[00:17:21] McPhee returned

[00:17:22] To Mesa

[00:17:22] After Christmas

[00:17:23] But things were

[00:17:24] Never quite the same

[00:17:26] Every year

[00:17:27] In the lead up

[00:17:28] To Christmas

[00:17:29] People would recall

[00:17:30] The events

[00:17:30] Of December 16th

[00:17:31] 1932

[00:17:33] He could not stand

[00:17:34] Being taunted

[00:17:35] By the traumatizing

[00:17:35] Effects of his

[00:17:36] Intended triumph

[00:17:38] Many years after

[00:17:39] The event

[00:17:40] He admitted

[00:17:41] That it still

[00:17:41] Weighed on his

[00:17:42] Conscience

[00:17:42] That he had

[00:17:43] Killed Santa

[00:17:43] For a generation

[00:17:44] Of Mesa children

[00:17:45] He said

[00:17:46] Many Mesa mothers

[00:17:48] Will never forget

[00:17:49] Or forgive me

[00:17:51] In the end

[00:17:52] He left town

[00:17:53] And settled in

[00:17:54] Colorado

[00:17:54] Where he continued

[00:17:55] His career in journalism

[00:17:56] Before becoming

[00:17:57] Mayor of Telluride

[00:17:58] In 1968

[00:18:00] Together with

[00:18:01] His wife Betty

[00:18:02] He founded

[00:18:03] The Telluride Times

[00:18:04] In December 1962

[00:18:07] When he passed

[00:18:08] Away in 1968

[00:18:09] His own newspaper

[00:18:10] Ran the headline

[00:18:11] Man who killed

[00:18:12] Santa

[00:18:12] John McPhee

[00:18:13] Dies at 66

[00:18:15] And that

[00:18:16] Is how a man

[00:18:18] Who once wanted

[00:18:18] To save Christmas

[00:18:20] Became

[00:18:21] Its misled murderer

[00:18:24] If you'd like

[00:18:25] To read more

[00:18:26] About this case

[00:18:26] Have a look

[00:18:27] At the resources

[00:18:28] Used for this episode

[00:18:29] In the show notes

[00:18:30] Also

[00:18:31] Visit and like

[00:18:32] Our Facebook page

[00:18:32] At facebook.com

[00:18:33] Forward slash

[00:18:35] EvidenceLocker Podcast

[00:18:36] To see more

[00:18:37] About today's case

[00:18:38] This was the Evidence Locker

[00:18:39] Thank you

[00:18:40] For listening

[00:18:41] Here we come

[00:18:43] A caroling

[00:18:44] Among the leaves

[00:18:45] So green

[00:18:46] Here we come

[00:18:47] A wandering

[00:18:48] So fair

[00:18:49] To be seen

[00:18:51] Love and joy

[00:18:53] Come to you

[00:18:54] And to you

[00:18:55] Glad Christmas too

[00:18:56] And God bless you

[00:18:58] And send you

[00:19:00] A happy new year

[00:19:02] And God send you

[00:19:04] A happy new year

[00:19:09] We wish you

[00:19:10] A merry Christmas

[00:19:11] We wish you

[00:19:12] A merry Christmas

[00:19:13] We wish you

[00:19:14] A merry Christmas

[00:19:15] And a happy new year

[00:19:24] People needed

[00:19:25] Entertainment to take

[00:19:26] Their minds

[00:19:26] Off of the

[00:19:26] Blah

[00:19:28] Tarzan the ape man

[00:19:29] Johnny Weissmuller

[00:19:30] Sorry

[00:19:32] Santa would be

[00:19:33] Pulled into town

[00:19:33] On a horse

[00:19:34] John cart

[00:19:34] It was the

[00:19:35] High

[00:19:35] Santa would be

[00:19:37] Pulled into town

[00:19:38] Blah

[00:19:39] Keep wanting to say

[00:19:40] Down

[00:19:40] Because he's

[00:19:40] Couldn't jump out

[00:19:41] Of a plane

[00:19:43] Santa would

[00:19:43] Saint Nick

[00:19:44] Will drop from

[00:19:46] Plane

[00:19:46] In parachute

[00:19:47] I had a game

[00:19:49] Sort of in that

[00:19:50] 30s advertising style

[00:19:52] I just want to

[00:19:52] Play with it

[00:19:53] Saint Nick

[00:19:54] Forgive me

[00:19:54] Forgive me

[00:19:55] I will do

[00:19:56] That

[00:19:57] Mesa Christmas Day

[00:19:59] Parade

[00:19:59] Instead of Macy's

[00:20:00] It's just kind of funny

[00:20:02] When we arrived

[00:20:03] It was a ghost town

[00:20:05] From behind closed doors

[00:20:07] You could hear the wails

[00:20:07] Of heartbroken children

[00:20:11] It sucks

[00:20:12] It sucks

[00:20:13] It sucks

[00:20:13] My sense of humor

[00:20:14] It sucks

[00:20:17] It sucks

[00:20:19] I just see a little movie

[00:20:21] Of this

[00:20:21] Oh god

[00:20:23] And it's in the horror section

[00:20:27] She went into

[00:20:28] Premature labor

[00:20:34] Who the hell wrote this

[00:20:35] This is such weird

[00:20:36] I can't

[00:20:37] This is how they spoke

[00:20:38] I know

[00:20:39] That's why I was just

[00:20:40] I'm gonna let it

[00:20:40] I couldn't correct

[00:20:41] I don't get it

[00:20:42] Like

[00:20:42] It's weird

[00:20:42] So

[00:20:43] Like