Who Was Guilty? Two Dime Novels

by Philip Warne

THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MYSTERY WRITER!!! The dime novel was the first form of cheap fiction available to the American masses; between the 1870's and 1890's such dime novel detectives as Old Sleuth, Nick Carter, Old Cap Collier, Deadwood Dick and “Lady Kate, The Dashing Female Detective” thrilled millions of readers. One of the finest dime-novelists was Philip Schuylar Warne, the first known person of African-American descent to publish a mystery in the United States. Howard W. Macy, whose works predate Warne’s, was also a prolific popular dime novel writer during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Both clever wordsmiths, Warne and Macy demonstrate their skills in the two mystery novellas featured in this book. Published before detective fiction became a widely recognized genre, Warne’s Who Was Guilty? (1881) and Macy’s The Mystery of Sea-Eagle Tavern (1872) will keep readers guessing until both stories’ startling conclusions. In her introduction, editor Marlena E. Bremseth offers another startling conclusion. Her detective work has unearthed compelling evidence that Philip S. Warne was, in actuality, a pseudonym of Howard W. Macy. Professor Bremseth, the premier expert on African-Americans in dime novels, teaches at San Diego City College. She has published articles in The Dime Novel Round-Up and is Area Chair of the Dime Novels/Pulps/Juvenile Series Books of the Popular Culture Association. Who Was Guilty? is the 17th in Crippen & Landru’s series of Lost Classics. The cover design is by Deborah Miller and is based on a woodcut for Tiger Dick, The Faro King; or, The Cashier’s Crime (1878) by Philip S. Warne.

190 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jc]

Little is known about either Warne or Macy. Even their publishers do not seem to have known who they were. According to the editor of this edition, there is good evidence that both authors may have been pseudonyms used by the same man. What is certain is that Warne, who wrote the first story in this collection, “Who Was Guilty?” (1881), was an African American. As far as is known, he was the first Black author of the mystery genre. “Guilty” is a classic dime-novel, containing many defining elements of the style: Upper Midwest lumberjacks, bare-fisted boxing, street brawls and gun fights, tar-and-feathering, and of course lust and murder – all in just 80 pages. Of Macy, author of the 2nd story “The Mystery of Sea-Eagle Tavern” (1872), even less is known other than his writing and sharing at least one of Warne’s publishers. Sea Eagle is more of a classic-style mystery centering around a remote pub and a fateful duel. Beautifully plotted. Both authors wrote a number of stories from multiple genres for a handful of publishers, but there appears to have been no overlap between the dates of their works. Kudos to the editor, Marlena E. Bremseth, for digging up these wonderful bits of Americana as well as for her informative introduction.

I certainly don’t recommend this collection to all—it is definitely a historical relic that is written in a style that is far from the a 21st century approach to the form. It is also rather brutal and cruel in a manner very much a product of its time. But if you want to sample what passed for thrilling adventure in the 1870s-80s, this is a great place to start.

[Nefty123]

Too much old english. The second story, The Mystery of Sea-Eagle Tavern, was the better of the two.