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"Before the sensational cases of Amanda Knox and Casey Anthony--before even Lizzie Borden--there was Polly Bodine, the first American woman put on trial for capital murder in our nation's debut media circus. On Christmas night, December 25, 1843, in a serene village on Staten Island, shocked neighbors discovered the burnt remains of twenty-four-year-old mother Emeline Houseman and her infant daughter, Ann Eliza. In a perverse nativity, someone bludgeoned to death a mother and child in their home--and then covered up the crime with hellfire. When an ambitious district attorney charges Polly Bodine (Emelin's sister-in-law) with a double homicide, the new "penny press" explodes. Polly is a perfect media villain: she's a separated wife who drinks gin, commits adultery, and has had multiple abortions. Between June 1844 and April 1846, the nation was enthralled by her three trials--in Staten Island, Manhattan, and Newburgh--for the "Christmas murders." After Polly's legal dream team entered the fray, the press and the public debated not only her guilt, but her character and fate as a fallen woman in society. Public opinion split into different camps over her case. Edgar Allen Poe and Walt Whitman covered her case as young newsmen. P. T. Barnum made a circus out of it. James Fenimore Cooper's last novel was inspired by her trials"--.… (more)
User reviews
Polly Bodine was accused of everything in the papers, from alcoholism, witchcraft and abortions. America was captivated by her situation and the
Parts of this tale are quite intriguing and you realize a lot has changed since this time period…BUT, a lot has stayed the same, as well. This tale does drag in many places and it is repetitive. However, I did learn quite a bit about how processes worked, or didn’t work, in this time period.
The narrator, Erin Bennett, has such a clear and true voice. She kept this story moving for me.
Need a well researched true crime…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.
If you've ever considered writing a book about a true story, do it! Someone else will surely beat you to it if you dally!