Big Stu Kesselring | |
Fictional Character | |
The House of Daniel Urban Fantasy | |
Type of Appearance: | Direct |
Nationality: | United States |
Date of Death: | 1935 |
Cause of Death: | Shot to death |
Occupation: | Criminal, Restaurateur |
"Big Stu" Kesselring was the local crime boss in Enid, Oklahoma in the 1930s. He earned his nickname from his hefty weight. In addition to his criminal activities, he owned a diner in town.[1]
In May 1934, Big Stu wanted to collect on a debt owed to him by local businessman Charlie Carstairs. He decided the best way to put the squeeze on Carstairs was to arrange for Carstairs' younger brother, Mitch to be beaten up in Ponca City. He paid one of his regular employees, Jack Spivey, to do the job, as Spivey also played semi-pro baseball with the Enid Eagles, and they were scheduled to play the Ponca City Greasemen in the next couple of days. Despite some hesitance, Spivey agreed to take the job when Big Stu upped his offer from fifty to one hundred dollars. Big Stu even gave Spivey a ten -dollar advance.[2]
However, when Spivey found Mitch was actually Michelle Mich Carstairs, Charlie Carstairs' younger sister. Deciding he really didn't want to hurt a woman, Spivey convinced Mich Carstairs that she was in danger and that she needed to leave Ponca City immediately. While he couldn't provide much detail, he was convincing enough that she agreed to leave the next day. Spivey then fled after she closed the door.[3]
Spivey was not the only semi-pro baseball player Big Stu had on his payroll; he also employed Rod Graver, the Enid Eagle's manager. When the rest of the team arrived the next day, Graver confirmed that Spivey had not beaten up Mich Carstairs,[4] and relayed that info to Big Stu when Spivey opted to stay in Ponca City. He also relayed Spivey's promise to pay back the ten-dollar advance.[5]
Spivey joined the House of Daniel in short order, so Kesselring lost track of him for several days. However, Spivey played well enough in Sweetwater, Texas that his name made it into the local papers.[6] Kesselring eventually saw that paper, and so learned that Spivey was with the House of Daniel. When the team played in Hobbs, New Mexico, a couple of Kesslering's hired thugs caught up to them, and assaulted Spivey. The next morning, Spivey finally mailed the ten dollars to Big Stu as he'd promised before he joined the House.[7]
Kesselring died in 1935. He was shot three times in the back of the head. Nonetheless, the local police treated his death as suicide. Rod Graver sent word to Spivey, who was now living in the Los Angeles area.[8]
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