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Author Truman Capote wears a hat given to him by Skipper Williams of Lawrence in this 1966 photo. Capote loved to dress outrageously and adopted a lot of Western wear when he spent time in Kansas doing research for his book "In Cold Blood."

Eight copies in several editions of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" sit behind the circulation desk at the Finney County Public Library in Garden City.

Bryce Druessel plays tag with his sister, Mariah, in the basement of the former Clutter home, now owned by Leonard and Donna Mader. They're playing in the corner where Kenyon Clutter was found dead on the morning of November 15, 1959.

Photo by KRIS KOLDEN

Kevin Bascue, the current Finney County sheriff, has become an unofficial tour guide for school groups, police and curious visitors who want to see scrapbooks, evidence and landmarks described by Truman Capote in "In Cold Blood."

Photo by Kris Kolden

Bernadine Stitts, a secretary for First United Methodist Church in Garden City, has been a member of the church for more than 50 years and spends seven days a week working in a back office in the church. Stitts remembers the Clutter family fondly as active members of the community.

The former bedroom of Bonnie Clutter is now a bright and cheerful guest bedroom in the Mader's farmhouse.

Herb Clutter used to hold 4-H meetings and dances for friends of his children in his home's large basement.

Author Truman Capote and Jonell Williams of Lawrence socialized during parties at her house in 1966.

Odd Williams Estate

Looking out from the bench and witness stand of the Finney County Courthouse.

A Tonganoxie-based nonprofit, the Purple Heart Veterans Foundation, has been sued in federal court by the Military Order of the Purple Heart — founded in 1932 — for trademark infringement, according to documents obtained by the Journal-World.

Donna Mader shows off a chute for sweeping dust and dirt into a bin under the kitchen floor in her farmhouse. The system was designed by the house's builder and first owner, Herb Clutter. He also designed built-in dish racks and step stools for the kitchen.

The sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church where the Clutter family attended services in Garden City.

The outside of the El Rancho Cafe, formerly Hartman's Cafe.

Holcomb-area farmer Jacob Neufeld prays before eating at the El Rancho Cafe in Holcomb, Kan. The El Rancho was formerly Hartman's Cafe, which became the center of a rumor mill that author Truman Capote described after the Clutter murders.

Dolores Hope, seen here in the Garden City Telegram newsroom, was a newspaper writer for years and wrote about the Clutter family murders years later. She befriended author Truman Capote and his childhood friend, Nelle Harper Lee, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird," when they were researching Capote's "In Cold Blood." Hope has addressed the murders and their impact on the community in her column several times over the years.

Photo by Kris Kolden

The headstone of KBI agent Alvin Dewey Jr. sits less than 100 feet from the graves of the Clutter family, second row in the background, in Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Dewey died in 1987.

Photo by Kris Kolden

The stained-glass window at the First United Methodist Church in Garden City stands as an unmarked memorial, posthumously dedicated to the memory of the Clutters, who were active members of the church. Herb and Bonnie Clutter were instrumental in raising funds for the construction of the current building.

Photo by Kris Kolden

The Brookover Feed Yards, within sight of Holcomb, is part of a vast new industry that has increased Finney County's population significantly.

The graves of the four members of the Clutter family who were killed in November 1959 remain a consistent attraction for readers of "In Cold Blood." James Hahn, the longtime sexton of the Valley View Cemetery, says a few hundred people visit the grave site each year.

Photo by Kris Kolden

The home of Herb Clutter's former groundskeeper still stands on the property, surrounded by a Quonset hut and tractor sheds. The building is dilapidated, but the Leonard and Donna Mader leave it standing, preferring to keep the property true to the way it was in 1959.

Photo by Kris Kolden

Donna Mader pauses in Kenyon Clutter's former bedroom - the largest bedroom in the house - while giving a tour.

Herb Clutter's former bedroom is on the ground floor of the 14-room house he built in 1948 at a cost of $40,000.

Alfred Stoecklein lived with his wife and three children in this tiny house less than 100 yards from the main house where the Herb Clutter family lived in Holcomb. Donna Mader, the farm's owner, says her husband, Leonard, doesn't want to demolish the handyman's house, she suspects, because of his respect for Herb Clutter, whom he knew well.

Donna Mader remembers and finds a picture of the year when the lane leading to her farmhouse was nearly buried by heavy snows.

Donna Mader loves showing off the custom-built kitchen, complete with a counter through which food could be passed to a breakfast nook, in her home.

The Mader's living room has been restored to its appearance in 1959 by removing paneling and carpet. The door on the far wall leads to Herb Clutter's former office.

Because of so many visitors, the lane to the former Clutter house, between rows of Chinese elms, is posted with No Trespassing signs. Donna and Leonard Mader say they sometimes see 20 cars a month come slowly cruising into the lane, stop near the house, and just as quietly back away.

Herb Clutter's office on the west side of the house now houses a collection of miniature homes during the holidays. Donna Mader is an avid collector and has set the homes up all through the house.

Former Garden City bowling alley owner Ray Shearmire served on the jury that deliberated for an hour and 40 minutes to convict Richard Hickock and Perry Smith and sentence them to death in 1960. The case lingers in his mind even after 45 years.

Photo by KRIS KOLDEN

Three strands of rope that were discovered buried several miles from Garden City along with four spent shotgun shells are on display at the Finney County Sheriff's office. The rope was from the same roll that was used to bind the four members of the Clutter family.

Photo by Kris Kolden

A faint red-orange stain on the wall of the basement of the former Clutter farmhouse is supposedly a blood stain, though owner Donna Mader says it's never been proven.

Holcomb's impressive school system, including this middle school, attracts many families to the area. A nearby Tyson's meatpacking plant has boosted population and the area's tax base.

Metal icons of longhorn cattle graze around the town's sign just north of Holcomb, Kan.

The Tyson meatpacking plant is a major contributor to Finney County's economy and has had a dramatic effect on the demographic makeup of the area.

Retired local radio broadcaster Tony Jewell was the first journalist on the scene the day the bodies of Herb, Bonnie, Kenyon and Nancy Clutter were discovered in November, 1959. Jewell broke the news to the area, and he credits those reports for instituting regular newscasts to local station KIUL's daily schedule.

Photo by Kris Kolden

Author Truman Capote wanted to be the center of attention at parties such as this one at the Odd Williams home in Lawrence in 1966. To the right is KBI agent Alvin Dewey Jr. and his wife, Marie.

"In Cold Blood" reporters and documentary students from the University of Nebraska.

Bob Rupp, Nancy Clutter's boyfriend, still farms in Holcomb less than a mile from the old Clutter farm.

The headstone of the Clutter family. Nancy and Kenyon Clutter are buried to the left and right under smaller headstones.

Duane West's autographed copy of "In Cold Blood" is signed, "For Duane, With all best wishes. Truman."

Duane West is an outspoken and integral part of western Kansas. He has been a Finney County attorney, a Garden City council member and mayor.

Charles McAtee was director of the Kansas State penal institutions when Perry Smith and Richard Hickock were hanged in 1965.

Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent Alvin Dewey Jr. didn't smile often during the stressful investigation of the Clutter family murders. He did, though, just after New Year's Day 1960, when he told journalists about the capture of the two killers, Perry Smith and Richard Hickock.

From left, editing students from Nebraska, Kris Kolden, Michele Brown, Sara Giboney and Stephen Hermann. Not pictured are Rob Hunter, Sara Connelly and Brian Lehmann.

The old Clutter family farmhouse today is a substantial home enlivened by a family with children and grandchildren.

Charles McAtee has a photo of a painting of Jesus that killer Perry Smith made while in the Kansas State Penitentiary at Lansing.

In Charles McAtee's collection of memorabilia from the Clutter family killers is this painting of stormy seas done by Perry Smith in his cell.

Among evidence still at the Finney County Sheriff's office in Garden City is a boot worn by killer Perry Smith.

Donna Mader cuts and presses homemade dough for noodles with her young assistant, Bryce Druessel, the son of her son's fiance.

A sign identifying Holcomb is about all that passing trains see. The sign marks where a small railroad shack used to receive mail sacks thrown off passing trains.

Truman Capote's photo hangs in the lobby of the Wheat Lands motel in Garden City, Kan.

Nancy Ewalt was one of two close friends who discovered Nancy Clutter's body Sunday morning, Nov. 15, 1959.

Nancy Clutter's photo in the 1960 Holcomb High School yearbook.

Photo by Kris Kolden

The final page in the 1960 Holcomb High School yearbook was a memorial to the slain Clutter family.

Bobby Rupp, Nancy Clutter's boyfriend when she was killed in 1959, finished the school year at nearby Garden City High School. He returned to Holcomb.

Authors, from left, Norman Mailer and Truman Capote socialized in New York despite sometimes being critical of each other. Mailer described Capote as "the most perfect writer of my generation."

Photo by Bettmann/CORBIS

Kenyon Clutter's photo in Holcomb High School's 1960 yearbook.

Photo by Kris Kolden

Prison guards accompany Perry Smith, at left in suit coat, and Richard Hickock, right, as they head to the federal courthouse in Topeka to make their last appeal.

Photo by Bill Snead/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent Alvin Dewey Jr. didn't smile often during the stressful investigation of the Clutter family murders. He did, though, just after New Year's Day, 1960, when he told journalists about the capture of the two killers, Perry Smith and Richard Hickock.

Photo by CORBIS Photo

Charles McAtee has a paintings of Jesus that Smith made while in the Kansas state penitentiary at Lansing. The prison chaplain, James Post, had the original painting of Jesus.

Photo by Rob Hunter/ Special to the Journal-World

McAtee has photos of a sea scene that Smith made while in the Kansas state penitentiary at Lansing.

Photo by Rob Hunter/ Special to the Journal-World

Charles McAtee, was director of the Kansas state penal institutions when Perry Smith and Richard Hickock were hanged in 1965. He had a close relationship with the men, trading letters with them.

Photo by Rob Hunter/ Special to the Journal-World

Among evidence still at the Finney County sheriff's office in Garden City is a boot worn by killer Perry Smith and the print left in blood on a piece of a cardboard mattress box in the basement of the Clutter home in Holcomb.

Photo by Kris Kolden/ Special to the Journal-World

Duane West's autographed copy of "In Cold Blood" is signed,"For Duane, With all best wishes. Truman." West keeps the book not for sentimental value, he says, but in the hopes that it will appreciate in value.

Photo by Kris Kolden/Special to the Journal-World

Duane West is an outspoken and integral part of western Kansas. He has been the Finney County attorney, a Garden City council member and mayor. He is best known outside the county for his role as the prosecuting attorney who tried Richard Hickock and Perry Smith for the murders of four members of the Herb Clutter family.

Photo by Kris Kolden/Special to the Journal-World

Killers Richard Hickock, foreground, and Perry Smith, in suit, walk through the federal courthouse in Topeka in this 1963 photo taken by Bill Snead of the Journal-World, who was then a photographer for the Topeka Capital-Journal.