Documents From Clutter Case To Be Auctioned
Associated Press - Fri 10:36 AM 07/20/2012
The Clutter case became the subject of Truman Capote's book "In Cold Blood"
Original documents from the murders of a southwest Kansas family that became the subject of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" are being auctioned off.
Case files about the 1959 murders of the Herb Clutter family in Holcomb are being auctioned by a Seattle-based auction company specializing in film and literature relics.
The files from Kansas Bureau of Investigation Agent Harold Nye include original investigation notebooks and photographs from the Clutter investigation.
The Garden City Telegram reports the items include crime scene photographs of the killing that have not been made public.
Vintage Memorabilia President Gary McAvoy says Nye's son gave him the materials a few months ago. He says the files are being auctioned off as a single lot to preserve their historical value.
---
Information from: The Garden City Telegram, http://www.gctelegram.com
Comments must stay on topic and be respectful. Comments that are personal attacks, make unfounded accusations, or are for the purpose of "trolling" or inciting others will be removed. Offending users will have their profile suspended.
Post a comment Log in or Register to comment
GetAGrip
Friday 20 July 2012 11:56 Report this comment
That case made Kansas history, along with a rise in fame for Truman Capote. My question is, are these official files and photographs property of the State of Kansas, i.e. KBI documents and how was a private party given official files that were part of a criminal investigation? I would think if the documents are state property, then they should belong in a state museum for display and not sold at an auction for profit. It would make sense if a private party took photographs and notes. In this case it was a employee of the State of Kansas and those documents should remain State of Kansas property.
getumgranny
Saturday 21 July 2012 06:32 Report this comment
Getagrip: I agree!! Any documents/evidence should be retained by the State/Law enforcement. If there are personal items involved, the victims family should be the ones to be allowed to profit from this horrible crime. Agent Nye was an employee of the State at the time of the crime, any records, documents, photos etc... should have been turned over to the State. I think they should stop the family from selling anything and investigate further into this. I do not think after this much time has passed there will be a need for this evidence, however, you never know. If a family member should come forward in this case and request this matter be re-opened, then what? All of the documents are compromised by being sold.
SimpleMan
Saturday 21 July 2012 10:16 Report this comment
To think anyone would profit from this sickens me. I agree,, all the documents and photos are, IMHO, property of the state and should be returned and destroyed.....
GetAGrip
Saturday 21 July 2012 11:02 Report this comment
I don't know if it will do any good, as for me I will be sending an e-mail to the govs office and also calling them. These official crime scene documents and photographs are the property of the State of Kansas and if they are going to be disposed of then it should be by KSA Statue like any other state property. They should have not been given in the first place to a private person to be sold for profit and held by some investor to enhance a collection. Thank about it folks, if these people were your family, would you want their dead bodies shown in a photographs to be in the hands of a collector?
getumgranny
Saturday 21 July 2012 13:58 Report this comment
That is a wonderful idea, we should all bombard them with letters and phone calls about this!! I agree 100%, I would HATE to see any of my family members murder photos end up in a collection somewhere with someone that would have to be warped to want them anyway!! I too will be sending a letter to the Governor, I hope he will look into this and stop this terrible idea. To Mr. Nye's family, shame on you all, what a terrible thing for you to do to the Clutter family members. It's always about making a buck, noone looks at what the decent, right and moral thing to do is anymore.