Murder at the Lumberjack Tavern: The Trial That Shocked Michigan by Baker, Patrick J.

Explore the true story of a famous crime that inspired Anatomy of a Murder

Just after midnight on July 31, 1952, U.S. Army Lieutenant Coleman A. Peterson walked into the Lumberjack Tavern in Big Bay, Michigan, and shot Mike Chenoweth in retaliation for an assault on his wife. This revenge killing rocked the small lumber town in the Upper Peninsula, and the trial that followed inspired a best-selling novel and an Academy Award-nominated motion picture, Anatomy of a Murder.

Using the testimony taken from trial transcripts, the police investigator, and the killer, author Patrick J. Baker shares the real story of a sensational murder trial that captivated the Midwest and the aftermath that drew the eyes of the nation.

Author: Patrick J. Baker
Publisher: History Press
Published: 10/20/2026
Pages: 160
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781467171021

About the Author

The son of a fourth-generation resident of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, author Patrick J. Baker was born and raised in Wisconsin. His book Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour was published in 2024 as part of Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series. Patrick has a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a retired business consultant. His frequent visits to the UP have only increased his interest in the history of the region.

Patrick lives with his wife Julie in a Wisconsin small town and enjoys traveling around the country visiting national parks, historic sites, and classic ice cream parlors.