The "Golden Slaughter" was the name given to a series of vicious serial murders performed by a squatter by the name of Zander the Mute. The details are well documented in the archives of the Clark County Observer from April to July 1915. Here is the summary according to contemporary records:
Zander the Mute was staying at the house of Xavier Szelkac, apparently earning his keep as a gardener. All through the beginning of 1915, things seemed to be going well for the mute, simple worker and there were no signs of danger. Then, on April 19th, Xavier Szelkac went missing. It took a bit for people to notice, but when they did, the local police took Zander in for questioning. As he was mute, they were not particularly successful, and released him without any undue suspicion. Then, over the next few days, Lillian Bones's parents went missing, followed by Philbert Jonkins and Isabel Rose. Eventually, young deputy Rodgers thought to more closely investigate Zander's comings and goings, and eventually tracked him to a secluded spot in the forest, where he found the bodies. Rodgers confronted Zander, who attacked back, which eventually lead to the entire area being lit on fire. No evidence was found at the scene, but Zander was tried posthumously, and found guilty for the murders.
There are some SERIOUS problems with this historical account. The lack of evidence and unexplainable sudden fire place doubt on Rodgers's account. Based on later actions, I wouldn't call the eventual Major Rodgers the most scrupulous fellows. His "heroic" actions certainly helped his political ambitions.
The other extremely serious problem with this account is that according to many other accounts, Xavier Szelkac died in 1885. At the time of the murders, Larry Tinker should have been in position of the house at 27 Spruce Street. I quite frankly can't figure out what's going on here, unless there was a SECOND Xavier Szelkac who also had temporary ownership of the house at Spruce Street.
-Randy Jameson, "The Real Spruce Street"