Claim: Carl Wanderer, a murderer famous for what became known as "The Case of the Ragged Stranger", killed the assailant who was not immediately identified and the case became a cause célèbre, with extensive press coverage.
Evidence: According to Wanderer's account, the man had been tailing them and followed them into the vestibule of their apartment, presumably to rob them, and Wanderer drew his military service pistol—a Colt M1911—and exchanged fire with the intruder. Wanderer killed the assailant, but his wife was killed by the shooter, who was not immediately identified. The public expressed outrage that Wanderer—a war hero who was expecting a child—would be set upon and have his pregnant wife killed. However, the circumstances of Ruth's death were suspicious enough to inspire a police investigation. He told the police that he murdered his wife and the stranger to make it look like a robbery.