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Description

This project examines how early twentieth-century yellow journalism shaped public perception of crime in North Dakota through newspaper coverage of the Eugene Butler case. Following the 1915 discovery of six bodies beneath Butler’s former home near Niagara, North Dakota newspapers rapidly transformed the case into one of the state’s most sensational crime stories. Through analysis of regional newspaper articles, hospital accounts, and modern retellings, this project argues that journalists exaggerated details, repeated unverified claims, and relied on emotionally charged language to construct Butler’s public image as a violent “hermit” and “maniac.”

The project also explores contradictions within contemporary reporting, including disagreements over victim identities, Butler’s mental condition, and the circumstances surrounding the murders. Statements from hospital staff and local residents often conflicted with newspaper portrayals, revealing the extent to which sensational journalism shaped public understanding despite limited evidence. In addition, the paper traces how these early narratives influenced modern true-crime interpretations of the case, demonstrating the long-term impact of sensational reporting on historical memory.

Focusing on the Butler case, this project highlights how newspapers in a developing rural state adopted broader national trends in yellow journalism. Ultimately, it argues that the press did not simply report the events surrounding Eugene Butler, but actively shaped how the crimes were understood, remembered, and discussed for more than a century.

Publication Date

5-7-2026

Document Type

Poster

City

Grand Forks, ND

Disciplines

History

Comments

Presented at the Spring 2026 Arts & Sciences UNDergraduate Showcase in Grand Forks, ND, May 7, 2025.

Included in

History Commons

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