Created by Stewart Sterling
Pseudonym of Prentice Winchell
Other pseudonyms include Spencer Dean, Jay de Bekker, Giles Norcroft, Robert Wallace
(1895-1976)
He was a “full-blooded Indian” straight out of Hollywood casting (actually, purportedly the last of the Kwanee Blackfoot).
But just in case that clunker of a name didn’t clue you in, he was also, of course, tall, black-haired and bronze-skinned, had high broad cheekbones and was generally stoic, impassive, and sentiment-free.
But he was quick to action, and excelled in javelin and football while attending Haskell Indian Nations College in Lawrence, Kansas. He later went into the detective biz, much to the dismay of Homicide Deputy Chief Inspector Vansitter. That dismay, however, only lasted two stories, both of which appeared in Dime Mystery Magazine in 1939.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Big-Knife was one of Stewart Sterling‘s long list of detective heroes (others include Johnny Hi Gear, Don Cadee, Steve Koski, Don Marko, Eric Lewis, Vince Mallie, Ben Pedley, Gil Vine, and The Special Squad. His real name was Prentice Winchell (ouch!), who in his long career worked as a journalist, as well as for radio and film.
SHORT STORIES
- “The Forty-Nine Frankensteins” (April 1939, Dime Mystery Magazine)
- “For Every House–A Corpse” (June 1939, Dime Mystery Magazine)
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
- Native American Eyes & Faithful Indian Companions
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.
