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The 19th Century Murder Caused By A Pair Of Uncomfortable Shoes
In 1893 Georgia, a woman unhappy with a pair of shoes she had bought from a traveling salesman killed him
Humans are an imperfect species. We can generally control our impulses and emotions but we all have triggers that can set us off on paths that sometimes lead to no return. That’s what happened in the late 19th century when a woman shot and killed a traveling salesman who she held responsible for selling her a pair of uncomfortable shoes.
In 1893 Midville, Georgia, a fatal dispute arose over unsatisfactory footwear. Manuel Rosenweig was a traveling peddler, who traversed the area selling shoes. He sold a pair to Miss Sallie Wallace (also reported as Wallea), which appeared to be like any of the other transactions he had with his customers. However, after wearing her new purchase for a while, the lady was far from satisfied.
About five weeks after selling the shoes, Rosenweig was passing by Wallace’s home again when she flagged him down and began to harangue him about what she believed was a bad pair of shoes because of their discomfort. She demanded that he immediately refund her the money. Either because he didn’t have the cash, or he steadfastly stuck to his guns, he refused to acquiesce. However, he did offer…
