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Belmont Murder Mystery from Our Time
Dave Kales sent this report on April 8, 2006:
Big news item for BHS57 web site. A new book is coming out called “A Death in Belmont.” Remember the murder in 1963 of the mother of Leah Goldberg, BHS class of 56? A black handy man was accused of the crime and sentenced to prison for murder. Died of cancer just before he was to be released. The author of the book is Sebastian Junger, who wrote “The Perfect Storm” He grew up in Belmont, and the handy man at his house that day was Albert DeSalvo, the Boston Strangler. Junger’s theory is that DeSalvo murdered Bessie Goldberg. It’s wild, but it’s plausible.
As a result of the book, Belmont made the Today Show on Tuesday, April 18, 2006. Katie Couric interviewed Sebastian Junger about the book.
Did DeSalvo, not black handyman Roy Smith, commit this murder? It’s an interesting question, perhaps.
USA Today’s review of Junger’s book says this:
The book ends with questions. It doesn't declare DeSalvo or Smith innocent or guilty.
Pressed in an interview, Junger says there's a 20% chance Smith killed Goldberg. Smith's arrest, interrogation and trial "reeked of racism," Junger says and adds, "The thing about racism is that it doesn't mean the black guy didn't do it.”
As for DeSalvo's possible guilt, "that's even more conjecture."
The three people who do know the truth are dead: Goldberg, DeSalvo and Smith, who died of cancer in a prison hospital in 1976, two days after he was pardoned by the governor.
Leah Goldberg, Bessie’s daughter, strongly disputes Junger’s suggestion.
This murder, according to several news sources, was and remains the only murder to occur in the Town of Belmont.
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