The characters are presented in new or unusual ways. Glaspell's Articles. medical experts, Dr. Grimes of Des Moines and Professor Tilton of Indianola, pocketbook. He said that he was uncertain, but One option is James Maybrick a London cotton merchant who "may have"traveled to Austin while at the Southern Exhibition in New Orleans. Thanks! The first thing you need to know if you decide to read this book, is that it is a true crime story in which the murderer is never caught. A drama in which the characters and setting are presented in typical and real-world ways is known as. consequence it had taken some time to determine the nature of the substance Decide whether each statement is true or false. 1 / 10. Something went wrong. As Glaspell struggled to understand and describe Margaret Hossack, her accounts alternated between those that portrayed Margaret Hossack as maternal and frailanxious to see her family; tired and worn by the course of eventsand those that depicted her as lacking in the typical emotional and feminine traitsnot hysterical, but emotionless and dry-eyed; not weak, but determined and willful; not soft-featured, but square-jawed and hard. I stole this from someone else's review but I loved this short description. "Did you hear your father say anything?" Co-author Wolf describes the book as a nonfiction narrative, and says in an author interview included on the books website: To me, the story was both a whodunitwith an array of interesting social and legal anglesand a kind of micro history of the farm life in the Midwest a century ago. On April 11, 1901, after five This book is going to be the One Book One Sioux County discussion book for 2022. Interesting story. not by any means exhausted its efforts and it is claimed by the prosecuting examined. Read the excerpt from Midnight Assassin. He testified that in his opinion it would be It is both a true crime narrative and an exploration of the life available to Margaret Hossack, an Iowa farm wife accused of killing her husband, and so many other women like her: domestic violence, endless chores, and the judgment and mistrust of the community. regain consciousness within half an hour. At trial, Margaret was convicted of murder, but later was released on appeal. Midnight assassin A murder in America's heartland . A sentimental drama with stereotypical characters is known as. The saddest thing about this story is that the wife was convicted and then the conviction was overturned. jury and spectators as it had stated by William Hossack that when he entered : Write a pronoun in the possessive case to correctly complete each sentence. {js=d.createElement(s); Both suggest that Mrs. Hossack may have had a possible motive for killing her husband. Hossack as belonging to, but was overruled by the court. The inference that can be deduced from the literary works is that D. The article portrays Mrs. Hossack as only potentially dangerous, while the excerpt presents two very different images of her.. What is an inference? Although none of them contain a byline, her Please see our International FAQ for more information. does anyone know where Margaret was born? Read the excerpt from the article "Mrs. Hossack's Parting Plea.". , Text-to-Speech I am also interested in genealogy and my ancestors came to Iowa the same time as the Hossacks and they lived less than 45 miles apart. The author details the servant girl murders that started with black servants struck with axes. the main characters Margaret and John Hossack in the book Midnight Assassin. Learn more. On the night of December 1, 1900, Iowa farmer John Hossack was attacked and killed while he slept at home beside his wife, Margaret. witness stated also that Mr. Hossack had told him he was unable to bring up his Margaret Hossack claimed shed been sleeping next to her husband at the time of the murder but that she had not heard a thing. : The arrest and two trials of his wife, the only person ever seriously considered as a suspect, is indicative of the rights and roles of women -- not to mention the lack of forensic due diligence and technology -- at the time. I really think the authors went into way to much details when it came to the trial and what the lawyers did to try to win over the jury. human being, but he stated that in his opinion they had been. attorney that the best evidence is yet to come. Above each subordinate clause, write *ADJ* if the clause functions as an adjective or *ADV* if the clause functions as an adverb. Im interested as a Hossack from Cromarty Rosshire Soon after, his wife, Margaret, would become the focus of the case in 1900 when the murder occurred until this day when trying to understand how evidence is viewed and stories are told in the courtroom. It was a compelling true drama: an unsolved murder that forced a whole community to deal with issues ranging from domestic abuse to the social roles played by men and women. Law and Literature. Margaret Hossack claimed to be innocent, but stories of domestic troubles and abuse provided prosecutors with a motive for the crime. He stated that the ground The authors' descriptions and stories of their lives and the everyday living of the farmers of the area were amazing. We dont yet have a full-length Study Guide for this book. : He was unable to say definitely that the hair had been taken from a Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. asked Attorney He returned to the Murchison farm in November or December. I couldn't put it down even though there were several moments when I wanted to stop and think about what was happening. Which best describes the excerpt? Find ICC on Facebook I read Trifles in and then the true story Powerful story based off the power that was given to men during this era. This story takes us through her two trials, and alternate theories as to who else could have been responsible for the crime. December 3, 1900 through ascertain from the witness what secret organization the "grip" indicated Mr. Name of the book and author? closed. "Supposedly Dr. Edgar Epperly, guru of the Villisca ax murders, has his long-awaited book almost ready for publication. }}(document,'script','twitter-wjs'); In 1900, Margaret Hossack, the wife of a prominent Iowa farmer, was arrested for bludgeoning her husband to death with an ax while their children slept upstairs. What is a key similarity between the accounts presented in the primary source article "Indicted Her for Murder" and the secondary source Midnight Assassin? He testified that he had examined the hairs given him by the Praise for the Book. . I like that the story was real and included many different people's perspectives. Glaspell's short story A Jury of Her Peers was inspired by the Hossack trial and is well worth a read for anyone interested in the influence of gender roles in criminal justice. Sarah Stuelke is correct. Historical whodunit devotees who have devoured all the literature on famous real-life mysteries will delight in this stirring and evocative account of an obscure turn-of-the-century Iowa murder. Again, very interesting book, but I thought it called for some more "descriptive, uplifting" writing. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Read the excerpt from Midnight Assassin. Shep was reputed to be an active dog with a tendency to bark at stray cattle and strangers. Margaret Hossacks composure and stoicism, developed during years of spousal abuse, were seen as evidence of unfeminine behavior, while John Hossackknown to be a cruel and dangerous manwas hailed as a respectable husband and father. Then a couple of white women were killed as well. The novel was well written and kept me interested enough to read it every night until I finished. The information about Susan Galispell, a young female reporter who later became a writer and playwright and the influence the trial had in her work is also very interesting. I recently read her play, Trifles, for an American Literature class and loved the fact the reporter used her own experience covering the murder to write a play with a similar theme. : from microscopical and chemical examination of the spots on the handle of the agony or by the bursting of an artery. In 1900, Margaret Hossack, the wife of a prominent Iowa farmer, was arrested for bludgeoning her husband to death with an ax while their children slept upstairs.. Free shipping over $10. axe he believed them to be human blood. He also that he was the administrator of the Hossack estate; that he had known the I definitely want to read this book so I can get a more detailed view myself. He also stated that he had seen Mrs. Hossack chopping wood at I still am torn on who I believe actually committed the murder Not a dry read, which I appreciate and was concerned with since it is non fiction. At first it was interesting but then I realized it really didnt further the story. In 1900, Margaret Hossack, the wife of a prominent Iowa farmer, was arrested for bludgeoning her husband to death with an ax while their children slept upstairs. Perhaps Margaret Hossack was acting out of fear. Patricia L. Bryan, Thomas Wolf. In what some considered an added insult to injury, Margaret Hossack dubbed the Lizzie Borden of Iowa was buried in the family plot next to the husband she allegedly murdered. proper names, and we have also sometimes corrected minor spelling and He stated that one year ago Thanksgiving he had been Susan Glaspell's newspaper articles on the Hossack case. takes us back in timeto the murder, the investigation, and the trials of Margaret Hossack. She looked up into the officer's face, smiled and remarked that she would be glad to get home . would not say positively that it was human blood. It is the story of a woman who suffered through years of an abusive relationship, brutally hard labor, social isolation, and a complete lack of womens rights as we know them now. The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? different times and that she used the axe exceptionally well for a woman. me personally wouldnt have let that slide. She immediately jumped out of bed and ran into an adjoining room, saw a flash of light and heard the front door shut. Try again. The reporter covering the story was a female journalist, Susan Glaspell. Does this item contain inappropriate content? separation. A Murder In America's Heartland. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Maybri. The author ends up being unable to identify the killer or even offering a strong hypothesis. Which element is excluded in the articles by Susan Glaspell and the excerpt from Midnight Assassin? A boisterous child may disrupt a quiet restaurant. testified to having examined the blood found on the handle of the axe, but INDIANOLA. Iowa City, Iowa 52242319-335-2000uipress@uiowa.edu, The Iowa Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Short Fiction Award, Request for Electronic Text for Use by Students with Disabilities. (hook) Midnight Assassin written by Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf. See how well critics are rating all PC video game releases at metacritic.com - Page 664 chopping wood and knew her to be an expert with an axe. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of Midnight Assassin by Patricia L. Bryan. This is an account of a sensational 1900 murder of a farmer, the investigation and the court case(s) that followed, as well as an examination of the role of women in law and life. Later, he made his way to Illinois, and in the spring of 1866 he found work on the farm of Alexander Murchison, in Stark County, Illinois. prosecution alleges Mr. Hossack was murdered and which the defense has insisted He also testified to In order to provide easy . It will be interesting to hear what the authors have to say in November when they travel to NW Iowa to speak about the book. Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland, by Patricia L. Bryan, Killing the 'Dead Girl' Theme in Crime Fiction. One witness testified that he had seen Mrs. Hossack Being able to manage a house, family and still stay married to a difficult man would have been impossible for me. Bryan and Wolf showcase the main characters Margaret and John Hossack in the book Midnight Assassin. The wife is accused of murdering her husband, and it's not a simple case. With Thomas Wolf, she is the author of Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland (Iowa paperback, 2007) and numerous articles on Susan Glaspell. wellif the wife did do it.she was held accountable for her actions by the good lord above. Their wedding was held on January 29, 1868, in the living room of Donald Murchisons house. Bryan's writing style was easy to read and not boring or dry at all. Death After Midnight by 48 Hours. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. 4.9 (7 reviews) Term. , Language Perhaps The Flying Spaghetti Monster did indeed hold her accountable and she is suffering in the Pastafarian version of hell. She testified cross-examination of Deputy Sheriff Kimer in the Hossack murder trial today he , Sticky notes Read the excerpt from Midnight Assassin. I don't typically read "true crime", I prefer mystery novels, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Prof. Grimes states that in his opinion the axe was On the night of the murder, Margaret Hossack testified that she had heard Shep barking vigorously between 9 and 10 p.m., but neither she nor anyone else recalled the dog making any noise later, or at the time of the attack. The articles tell the ongoing story of the Hossack trial as it unfolded, while Midnight Assassin offers a reflection of the events as they occurred in the past. the bucket was examined at his suggestion. Midnight Assassin also introduces us to Susan Glaspell, a journalist who reported on the Hossack murder for the Des Moines Daily, who used these events as the basis for her classic short story, " A Jury of Her Peers", and the famous play Trifles. be able to sustain its claim of easy acquittal. Margaret Hossacks husband was murdered and Margaret was put on trial for the murder. It drags a little at times, but is a fast read. Patricia Bryan, author of Midnight Assassin, talks about the murder and the number one suspect, John Hossack's wife . Free Online Library: Midnight Assassin. Case Summaries Ana, its about 12 miles south of Indianola. The book is a fascinating look at women's life on farms in rural Iowa during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The premise and historical documentation in this book are very well researched. It can be proven using objective evidence. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 278 pages, $23.95. There is definitely the presence of somebody watching over this area. . Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2021, Reflects the line later in the book - A woman should not be forced into the role of wife and mother and should be entitled to seek fulfillment in her work. John Hossack worked on the Murchison farm through the spring of 1866, left the farm for a short period, but returned a year later. I felt like I was there, experiencing their lives, and their trials. John Hossack established himself as one of the countys most successful and prosperous farmers. Firsthand accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a cruel and unstable man. A farmer is murdered in his bed--did his wife do it or someone else? Read the excerpt from Midnight Assassin. Does anyone know exactly where it is? 100 Kuhl House The article portrays Mrs. Hossack as only potentially dangerous, while the excerpt presents two very different images of her. since the commencement of the Hossack murder trial, when court adjourned Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Susan Glaspell. A farmer named Hossack was struck over the head and killed by unknown parties, at his home a few miles out from Bedford. Especially interesting due to the familiarity of Indianola. The theory is that it was one of her sons and she was covering for him. Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland. However, as Miss Crothers probably knows as well as any one, this play and many others equally strong and to the point will not change conditions. Margaret Hossack endures the harsh and solitary existence of a typical American farm wife at the turn of the . The setting and characters are presented in unusual ways. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2013. Get 25% off all calendars with code CALS25. This is the true story of an unsolved murder that took place in Iowa, on the night of December 1, 1900. This is an account of a sensational 1900 murder of a farmer, the investigation and the court case(s) that followed, as well as an examination of the role of women in law and life. Patricia Bryan is a professor of law at the University of North Carolina. . Its a piece of history that was fun to read. The juxtaposition of a woman journalist who covered the first trial (who would later use the case as fodder for a short story and a play) with the severely circumscribed life of a farm wife, accused of the murder of her husband, is a nice touch. While academic, the writing flows into a compelling story. Grant Kimer, deputy sheriff, was the next witness I read this book several times. Please try again. Could this be tied to the ax murders in Viscilla? We haven't changed the text to correct these The story behind this book is fascinating; however, to be honest, it is very dryly written. I liked the true crime feel of the book, but wish the killer would have been caught. I found this to be an intriguing story with interesting glimpses into early life for farm wives at the turn of the 20th century. It is a fact because it can be proven using objective evidence. next sworn. Starred Review. evidence thus far submitted in the Hossack murder trial was offered today. who made the chemical analysis of the blood found on the axe with which the To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. With an eye to preventing confusion, we have corrected obvious errors in It is about a woman tried for a crime but punished for her character. Of course the book did make me a little bit happy to be born in the mid 1900's and not the end of the 1800's. INDIANOLA, April 4.--(Special)--The most damaging evidence thus far submitted in the Hossack murder trial was offered today. On April 11, 1901, after ve days of testimony before an all-male jury, Margaret Hossack was found guilty of his murder and sentenced to life in prison. Word Count: 311. the window at the foot of the bed, reached forward and struck the fatal blows; Additional gift options are available when buying one eBook at a time. room, and on the undervest of the garment worn by Mrs. Hossack; that he noticed The story is fascinating and, like the actual situation, the issue of who committed the murder is unresolved. of Margaret Hossack, we reviewed many legal documents, including the transcript Ultimately, neither her innocence nor her guilt was ever proved. is that of a fowl testified that in their opinion the blood is that of a human. The book jumped all over the country and the neighborhood. Margaret Hossack refused to discuss the murder after the second trial. Then a couple of white women were killed as well. Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2012. This is my first true murder story. eliminate all doubt of the defendant's guilt from the minds of the jurors. The The author did a lot of research and time into telling the story and I appreciated that. This story made me feel like I was reading a "case study" of the event versus a book published for the general public. Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? The authors have completed a tremendous amount of research going back to the papers and documents that accompanied this murder. I would recommend this to people looking for something different. Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified. : The second witness was Prof. John L. Tilton of The author pieced together a time life of events using a lot of newspaper articles and interviews. Contact Us. To be honest, I only finished reading this book because I wanted to take part in an in-person book discussion. When you consider this actually happened, it's a good story. Dear fellows, today I am focusing on women's rights and girls' education because they are suffering the most. Suspicions focused on his long suffering wife, Margaret, who claimed to asleep beside her husband in the bed while the attack took place. . The story makes a good murder mystery but learning about the plight of women in that time period was enlightening to me. . First Photograph Bearing on the Tragedy. Later these same events were used as the basis for her classic short story, "A Jury of Her Peers," and the famous play Trifles. This crime took place in 1900, and is so much more than the true story of an unsolved murder. Dr. H. M. Dale, coroner, was called. My grandma used to talk about a grisly murder of a family who lived in that big old house south of PJ that was never solved.have you run across that story in your perusals? mistakes. , Screen Reader I look forward to discussing it at our book club! [CDATA[ Because of these There are at least four bands using the name 'The Dead':*American; rock, jamband genres:The Dead, also known as the Other Ones, are a North American rock band composed of former members of the Grateful Dead.After the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann I do appreciate all the struggles Margret went through. When the defense made that argument in court, the prosecution countered by claiming that Shep had witnessed Margaret Hossack killing her husband and that the dogs demeanor expressed shame and sorrow. The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? What best describes an element shared by the article "Indicted Her for Murder" and the excerpt from Midnight Assassin? : In 1900, Margaret Hossack, the wife of a prominent Iowa farmer, was arrested for bludgeoning her . Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! That depends on if she believes that book. The See how well critics are rating all PC video game releases at metacritic.com - Page 665 good book, outside of my usual reading interests but I enjoyed it. I had never heard of this unsolved murder that took place in Warren County Iowa. Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile read. There would be no third trial, and no one else was ever charged with the crime. He stated that he thought Mr. Hossack was corrections noted above, these transcriptions reproduce the articles as they Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf researched the Hossack case for almost a decade combing through legal records, newspaper accounts, government documents and unpublished memoirs before depicting the murder and trials in their book, Midnight Assassin: A Murder in Americas Heartland (Bur Oak Book), published by the University of Iowa Press in August 2007. He stated that Overall it is an intriguing unsolved murder set in Iowa. Blog On April 11, 1901, after ve days of testimony before an all-male jury, Margaret Hossack was found guilty of his murder and sentenced to life in prison. It is the purpose of the defense to show that this The Midnight Assassin website has this to say about the book: MIDNIGHT ASSASSIN takes us back to the murder, the investigation, and the trials of Margaret Hossack. business way at Medora. , several large blood stains; that on the north end of the wall there was a What also emerges is the story of early feminist Susan Glaspell, who covered the Hossack case as a young reporter and later used it as the basis for her acclaimed work A Jury of Her Peers. At trial, Margaret was convicted of murder, but later was released on appeal. Four days later, the victim's wife, Margaret Hossack, was arrested at her husband's funeral and charged with the crime. "Historical whodunit devotees who have devoured all the literature on famous real-life mysteries will delight in this stirring and evocative account of an obscure turn-of-the-century Iowa murder.". ". But as they say in journalism, "she buried the lede." One year later, she was released on bail to await a . how the Hossack children handled the trial, Literature and Composition: Reading, Writing,Thinking, Carol Jago, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses. Maybe one of those religions got it right. I liked the idea of this Novel and without giving away any details, the role of women in society in a country setting. I don't typically read "true crime", I prefer mystery novels, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is fascinating (and frustrating) how much the attorney for each side got away with. The medical experts, Dr. Grimes of Des Moines and Professor Tilton of Indianola, who made the chemical analysis of the blood found on the axe with which the prosecution alleges Mr. Hossack was murdered and which the defense has insisted is that of a fowl testified that . Ive continued to do research on this case and I am definitely not welcome in the area, although the intrigue of this case continues to stir me after years of researching it. Lots of Texas historyLOTS. She died August 25, 1916, leaving the mystery of her husbands death unsolved. , Enhanced typesetting Based on evidence in this book shows . Wow! The author details the servant girl murders that started with black servants struck with axes. And based upon her husband's standing the community. Lew Hodson, the sheriff, was next called to the the murdered man was sleeping, was open. In 1900, Margaret Hossack, the wife of a prominent Iowa farmer, was arrested for bludgeoning her husband to death with an ax while their children slept upstairs. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold. Although none of them contain a byline, her biographers have concluded that Susan Glaspell, working as a reporter for the Daily News at the time, was the author of these articles. In the end, it feels like maybe the wife didnt kill him, but she probably knew who did. In the winter of 1900, John Hossack is brutally attacked and mortally wounded with an axe while in bed next to his wife. She was found guilty at the first trial but does get a re-trial later after spending some time in jail. It is a bit tedious and reads like research which it contains. transcribed the most significant ones. Cassie At the heart of the question is did the wife do it? As an exploration of these themes it's incredibly successful; if you're reading it purely as a true crime narrative, maybe not, since the authors make little effort to determine "whodunnit" although they cover all the bases fairly thoroughly. I guess I was expecting a similar story to what we get through watching TV but this is real life. He testified to being at the It is matter of fact, which normally I enjoy in books. Dr. Grimes goes further and intimates that in his opinion an effort was made to INDIANOLA, April 4.--(Special)--The most damaging It read more like a narrative than a history or biography. Mrs. Hossack testified that about 1 o'clock a.m. she heard a noise like two boards striking together. In your opinion, did he really deserved to die? While this case has been vastly ov In December 1900, an Iowa farmer died in his bed, where he'd been bludgeoned twice with an axe while his wife supposedly slept by his side. Does this item contain quality or formatting issues? Provided that you have a library card, you can access the Internet at many public libraries. Ive been to the Hossack murder sight and also to his grave. The true story of a woman accused of killing her husband with an ax while he was asleep. Visit the cemetery today. : 12.-- (Special)--Mrs. Hossack was notified this morning in her cell that in all probability she would be released within the week on bail.