In Cold Blood: An insanely chilling story

As we follow the mysterious mass murders in 1959, Kansas, I realised that this is not just another whodunnit. This true-crime novel by Truman Capote has no surprising twists or big revelations at the end. It is a largely unbiased narrative that dives deep into the minds of two criminals as they plan, execute, and face the consequences of one of the most gruesome mass murders in American history.

The Clutter family was well-liked and popular in the town of Holcomb. Mr Herbert Clutter, was a hard-working, upstanding farmer, his wife, Bonnie Clutter, a loving lady with depression, their daughter Nancy, extremely talented and kind, and son, Kenyon, an insightful boy with a flair for creating artistic furniture — All murdered by two men who drove 400 km across Kansas to do so — Richard “Dick” Hickock and Perry Smith.

In a normal story, revealing the murderers’ names would be a huge spoiler. But as I said before, this story isn’t normal. Their identity isn’t the crux of this story, their motive is.

Through a simple narration of events, this book raises many questions across a range of heavily debated topics. Here are some that made me think long and hard about my world view.

The Childhood

Dick and Perry had contrasting life experiences.

Dick came from a loving household. Though his parents didn’t have much money, they taught him about morality and educated him. He went on to complete high school and marry twice.

Perry, on the other hand, came from a broken family, with an alcoholic mother and a father who didn’t believe in formal education. Though he believed in his intelligence, he led a nomadic early life in his father’s “house on wheels”. He had a few siblings, most of who had either died or committed suicide, and was left with a strained relationship with his sister.

What makes a murderer? Is there any way to pinpoint childhood experiences that can fill someone up with enough rage and hate to shoot four people mercilessly? What would be their reasons for doing so? This story truly sparks the nature v/s nurture debate.

The Extra Mile

Before the murders, when Perry was in prison for robbery, his sister wrote to him in an effort to change his perspective of life. However, after the murders, she cut off all contact with him and lived in hiding because she was terrified of him. In contrast, Dick’s parents attended his trial, and his mother visited him regularly in prison.

Knowing that someone close to you is a murderer is a lot to take in. But how far would you go to help them out? Do you continue supporting them just because of a blood bond or sever ties without feeling guilty?

The Insanity Plea

In the 60s, mental health was a vague subject. The behaviour of Dick and Perry was surely erratic. Modern doctors would point out how their actions swung between intelligence, rage, and absolute stupidity. Would they be diagnosed with severe mental illnesses today? We don’t know.

However, according to the McNaughton rule, as long as the accused can comprehend that murdering someone is morally and lawfully wrong, they are not eligible for the insanity plea. This rule does not take into account mental illnesses like Schizophrenia that can temporarily cloud judgement during the crime. This rule is still followed in many countries across the world.

Does this mean that criminals like Dick and Perry should be treated differently? Is it time for the law to pay serious attention to the mental health of its offenders? If so, how can the law continue being just to the victims’ family?

The Punishment

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. But what happens when two men commit four murders?

Dick and Perry were sentenced to death in 1960 and were hung in the wee hours of April 15, 1965. Throughout their trial, both were nonchalant about their crimes. Their apathy and their reason for shooting 4 helpless people mercilessly is what irked the jury into giving out rare death sentences. Over the next 5 years, Dick wrote to several attorneys and fought his case multiple times, right up to the Supreme Court. Perry, on the other hand, accepted his fate, and even tried to starve himself to death.

However, at the night of their deaths, Dick greeted everyone present as if he was hosting them at his own funeral, while Perry indifferently chewed on his gum. Both, in their last words, said that they didn’t believe in capital punishment, and shrugged off the murders as a tiny wrong done in an extremely unfair world.

Given their lack of remorse, is capital punishment justified? Would you rather have a murderer locked up for 15–20 years to atone for their sins, however gruesome, and then give them a chance at a new life? Can a jury impartially decide who lives and who dies?

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote can send a shiver down your spine while filling you up with rage at the thought of the 4 lives lost, and then against a system that disregards mental illnesses.

61 years since, it’s still the same.