Walter Bates

Born in 1760 in what is now Darien, Connecticut, he later settled in colonial New Brunswick as a Loyalist and became a prominent local figure. Sources describe him as an office holder and the sheriff of Kings County, roles that placed him close to the dramatic events that would shape his writing.

He is remembered above all for The Mysterious Stranger, his account of the notorious Henry More Smith. First published in 1817, the book grew out of Bates's direct involvement in Smith's capture and confinement, along with interviews and eyewitness testimony, giving it the feel of early true crime told by a participant rather than a distant observer.

That firsthand voice is a big part of his appeal today. Bates wrote before modern crime reporting existed, yet his work still feels vivid because it combines local history, courtroom drama, prison escapes, and the perspective of a man trying to make sense of an extraordinary criminal.