So Much Bad in the Best of Us: The Salacious and Audacious Life of John W. Talbot

by Greta Fisher

Overview

From supreme president to forgotten enemy, John W. Talbot lived a remarkable life. Charismatic, energetic, and powerful, he founded a national fraternal organization, the Order of Owls, and counted senators, congressmen, and business leaders among his friends. He wielded his influence to help causes close to his heart but also to bring down those who stood against him.

In So Much Bad in the Best of Us, Greta Fisher's careful research reveals that Talbot was capable of great evil, causing one woman to describe him as "the Devil Incarnate." His string of very public affairs revealed his strange sexual preferences and violent tendencies, and charges leveled against him included perjury, blackmail, jury tampering, slander, libel, misuse of the mail, assault with intent to kill, and White slavery. Ultimately convicted on the slavery charge, he spent several years in Leavenworth penitentiary and eventually lost everything, including control of the Order of Owls. His descent into alcoholism and death by fire was a fitting end to a tumultuous and dramatic life. After 50 years of newspaper headlines and court battles, Talbot's death made national news, but with more enemies than friends and estranged from his family, he was ultimately forgotten.

A gripping true crime story, So Much Bad in the Best of Us offers a mesmerizing account of the life of John W. Talbot, the Order of Owls, and how quickly the powerful can fall.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684351879
Publisher:	Red Lightning Books
Publication date:	09/06/2022
Pages:	242
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.88(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Greta Fisher is a genealogist and historian born and raised in Indiana. She specializes in Central European immigration to the Midwest and enjoys placing family stories in historical context. She currently resides in South Bend, Indiana, and this is her first book.

Read an Excerpt

From chapter 6

In 1902, John Talbot met Leona Mason, a beautiful but unhappy woman desperate for a divorce from her husband. The two were "mis-mated," she claimed, and she didn't have much to pay for Talbot's services. However, John took a great interest in Mrs. Mason, and secured the divorce. He then proceeded to cultivate her friendship, buying her gifts, taking her out to dinner and the theatre. Mrs. Mason later recalled how she was enticed into a relationship.
"This slick devil sympathized with me; helped me out of my difficulty, got my confidence, threw his charm about me (like a spider or a snake gets its victims), lied to me about himself, about his wife, and about his family relations; deceived me into believing that he was about to obtain a divorce, said he lived very unhappy and longed for a companion who was agreeable; made arduous love to me; spent his money freely to show me a good time and took me to the theatre and to many others places of amusement. I had never until then had such attentions shown me I was dazed by their charms and I was blinded by their glitter."

Initially, Mrs. Mason was entranced by the attention, the affection, and the glamour of sharing his extravagant lifestyle. They travelled the country, with Mrs. Mason often introduced by Talbot as his wife. He trusted her, and introduced her to his closest associates. She was aware that he was married, but he told her that he had separated from his wife, and that a divorce was imminent. She believed him.

Soon, however, the situation took a turn for the worse. Mrs. Mason reported that after a trip to Chicago where she gave in completely to his advances, he blackmailed and threatened to kill her if she didn't do everything he wanted. His behavior towards her devolved. There were beatings and drunken rages, resulting in bruises and broken bones. He attacked her sister, strangling her with a scarf (for which he faced assault charges). Drunk and raving, he broke twenty-nine windows out of her house, although he claimed to know nothing about it when confronted. He was implicated when his horse was found tied outside the next morning. John often choked Mrs. Mason to the point of unconsciousness, and that was not the worst.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
An Auspicious Beginning
A Budding Career and a Blossoming Criminal
Diversification: Social Networks, Political Influence, and the Importance of Family
The Founding of the Order of Owls
Legal Trouble: The Talbot Brothers on the Defensive
Leona Mason Tries to Put Him Down
Death and Resurrection
Unwanted Owls
A Profit in Syphilis
An Owl Rebellion and the Charitable Institutions that Weren't
Can't Keep Out of Trouble and Other Odd Behavior
Not Just Owls: Talbot Cultivates an Interest in Exotic Birds (the Kind with Feathers)
"She Is Certainly Having a Fine Time"
"Guilty as Sin": Talbot Is Sent to Leavenworth
The Ex-Convict: Talbot Is No Longer Supreme
A Quieter Life
A Fiery Death
The Fate of the Order of Owls
Talbot's Legacy
Postscript
Appendix A: Order of the Owls Handbook
Appendix B: The Character and Life of John W. Talbot Exposed by an Outraged Woman
Appendix C: The Question
Notes
Bibliography

What People are Saying About This

Patrick J. Furlong - Indiana University South Bend

Reads like a mystery—but this is a true story about a remarkably popular criminal. You have heard of Moose and Elk clubs—but what about the Order of Owls, dedicated to "Love, Laughter and the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth," probably named for the Owl Saloon in South Bend. John Talbot was a fascinating villain:  a disbarred lawyer, a corrupt politician, an abuser of women, and leader of the Order of Owls until sentenced to five years in federal prison for a sex crime.   Upon release he was sued successfully by his wife and by his mistress.

Mark Torma

Fisher has uncovered an almost unbelievable amount of corruption and perfidious misbehavior in the story of just one man. It really makes one wonder just how much must lurk in the underbelly of our current society.

Patrick J. Furlong

So Much Bad in the Best of Us reads like a mystery—but this is a true story about a remarkably popular criminal. You have heard of Moose and Elk clubs—but what about the Order of Owls, dedicated to "Love, Laughter and the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth," probably named for the Owl Saloon in South Bend. John Talbot was a fascinating villain: a disbarred lawyer, a corrupt politician, an abuser of women, and leader of the Order of Owls until sentenced to five years in federal prison for a sex crime. Upon release he was sued successfully by his wife and by his mistress.

Margaret Fosmoe

An engrossing account of a forgotten chapter in Hoosier history. Fisher's book captures the essence of the colorful life and fiery death of John W. Talbot, attorney and scoundrel.

Editorial Reviews

"Fisher has uncovered an almost unbelievable amount of corruption and perfidious misbehavior in the story of just one man. It really makes one wonder just how much must lurk in the underbelly of our current society."—Mark Torma, South Bend Attorney and former Chair of the St. Joseph County Democratic Party

"So Much Bad in the Best of Us reads like a mystery—but this is a true story about a remarkably popular criminal. You have heard of Moose and Elk clubs—but what about the Order of Owls, dedicated to "Love, Laughter and the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth," probably named for the Owl Saloon in South Bend. John Talbot was a fascinating villain: a disbarred lawyer, a corrupt politician, an abuser of women, and leader of the Order of Owls until sentenced to five years in federal prison for a sex crime. Upon release he was sued successfully by his wife and by his mistress."—Patrick J. Furlong, Professor Emeritus of History, Indiana University South Bend

"An engrossing account of a forgotten chapter in Hoosier history. Fisher's book captures the essence of the colorful life and fiery death of John W. Talbot, attorney and scoundrel."—Margaret Fosmoe, Notre Dame Magazine

"Greta Fisher cooly travels us through "So Much Bad in the Best of Us: The Salacious and Audacious Life of John W. Talbot." No one can make up the kind of ordinary citizen gullibility that ran rampant around South Bend, Indiana, starting as early as 1872 and continuing to lope along the echelons of society for the next sixty-five years and counting. . . . The enduring scheming legacy of Talbot resides within the Order of Owls. Never heard of it? Neither did I, and now I am amazed and saddened. Owls deserve a better rap."—Rita Kohn, Nuvo

From the Publisher

Greta Fisher cooly travels us through "So Much Bad in the Best of Us: The Salacious and Audacious Life of John W. Talbot." No one can make up the kind of ordinary citizen gullibility that ran rampant around South Bend, Indiana, starting as early as 1872 and continuing to lope along the echelons of society for the next sixty-five years and counting. . . . The enduring scheming legacy of Talbot resides within the Order of Owls. Never heard of it? Neither did I, and now I am amazed and saddened. Owls deserve a better rap.

Nuvo - Rita Kohn