Episode 138: SOLVED: The Murder of Mary Schlais

I hadn’t given much thought to Mary, with whom I sometimes shared a flat in Poole, UK, when we were both art students in 1969 through 1970, but her face was on the news last night, in reference to a finally solved murder case. I wasn’t aware that Mary no longer took joy in being artistic, communing with equines, or sharing others creative works. We lost touch long ago. I am also the person who introduced Mary to hitchhiking. Mary and I didn’t have much in common, back in 1969, beyond our mutual love of art, so we were not fast friends. Mary was a more dedicated student than I, and more involved with her studies. I was more serendipitous, less concerned with following a curriculum, than just following creative energy. Mary loved horses, and had even found someone to pay her to ride. I had ridden a horse once. I hitchhiked everywhere. It was how I got around. When Mary had to travel anyplace she took the train.
Sometime between August 1969 and May 1970 I talked Mary into hitching to London with me (it was possibly to see an exhibit or, more likely, attend a party; I don’t remember exactly what our destination was after 55 years). The trip and the rides we shared to arrive at our destination were obviously not particularly memorable. I don’t recall Mary hitchhiking again, at least not in my company. I did leave her with a cautionary tale, however.
In late May 1970, when the English countryside was festooned with blooming mayhaws and daisies, I hitched alone to a party in Salisbury. A good time was had by all attendees. But on the journey back to Poole, I was murdered. The event was eerily similar to Mary’s last ride. I got in a car with the wrong guy. He pulled off the main road to a quiet, rural side road. He wanted sex. I wanted to go home. We fought. He finally let me out of the car. I began to walk toward the main road. He came from behind me and grabbed me by the throat. It takes a long time to strangle someone, not at all as it is portrayed in films. I struggled, dropped dead weight; flailed and squirmed, but finally lost consciousness. I awoke later in some rather scratchy bushes not far from where my assailant and I had parked. My throat was badly scratched and bruised. I had bruises on my torso, arms, back and legs. When I got back to the flat in Poole (hitchhiking, but only after I had filed a report with the first police office I could find) I told Mary and our landlady all the horrible details of my ordeal. Mary had been forewarned.
I didn’t take up thumbtripping again for a few months but, when I did hitchhike it was never alone. In November of 1970 I married a car, and have been with its owner ever since.
Mary met a very unhappy end. I am sure the world is poorer, because she was not allowed to develop her creative talents to their full potential. I am happy to be still alive and able to enjoy art, car ownership and have a little money for gas to get me where I need to be.