Crime History: 'Boston Belfry Murderer' kills first victim

On this day, Dec. 5, in 1873, the “Boston Belfry Murderer” killed his first victim.

Thomas Piper bludgeoned and strangled Bridget Landregan in the snow and was scared away by a couple who said the killer looked “batlike,” with a flowing black opera cloak. In 1874, another young girl was clubbed to death by a man with a cape. A third victim was bludgeoned in 1875.