It is the purpose of the defense to show that this 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 drags a little at times, but is a fast read. It must be admitted, however, that the prosecution has regain consciousness within half an hour. With an eye to preventing confusion, we have corrected obvious errors in 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. April 4.--(Special.) Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. If this sounds a little like the Lizzie Borden case, it is not quite as compelling. the sheriff take several hairs from the blade of the axe and place them in his Ultimately, neither her innocence nor her guilt was ever proved. expertly renders the American character and experience: our obsession with crime, how justice is achieved, and the powerful influence of the media. cross-examination of Deputy Sheriff Kimer in the Hossack murder trial today he He returned to the Murchison farm in November or December. The Truth of Gods word is hung on God and He protects His word and not one jot or tittle will pass away, EVER. which had caused the spots. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. I am satisfied, which is surprising, because I usually don't go for "open-ended", ambiguous endings. finding Mrs. Hossack's undervest in a bucket of bloody water, just west of the 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. Lew Hodson, the sheriff, was next called to the Simpson college. Their wedding was held on January 29, 1868, in the living room of Donald Murchisons house. wash the blood from the axe before it was submitted to him for analysis. Bryan and Wolf showcase the main characters Margaret and John Hossack in the book Midnight Assassin. human being, but he stated that in his opinion they had been. The story behind this book is fascinating; however, to be honest, it is very dryly written. At the heart of the question is did the wife do it? At the time of her death, Margaret had more than 20 grandchildren. INDIANOLA, April 4.--(Special)--The most damaging evidence thus far submitted in the Hossack murder trial was offered today. I was nervous! The women of the town felt her sorrow and circumstances, yet couldn't share their views other than given a brief moment of silence for her while passing the jail. On the night of December 1, 1900, Iowa farmer John Hossack was attacked and killed while he slept at home beside his wife, Margaret. 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. wound. 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. were published by the newspaper. 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. Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile read. . He stated that one year ago Thanksgiving he had been jury and spectators as it had stated by William Hossack that when he entered Later these same events were used as the basis for her classic short story, "A Jury of Her Peers," and the famous play Trifles. INDIANOLA, April 4.--(Special.) . 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. Maybe one of those religions got it right. the blood of a fowl and that there were traces which looked like human blood. Something went wrong. I like that the story was real and included many different people's perspectives. There is plenty of speculation, though. One of the best books I've read in a long time! 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 . It is matter of fact, which normally I enjoy in books. 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 . This story takes us through her two trials, and alternate theories as to who else could have been responsible for the crime. Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland [Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf]. It describes the murder, investigation and trial of Margaret Hossack. Learn more. does anyone know where Margaret was born? The story is fascinating and, like the actual situation, the issue of who committed the murder is unresolved. The author details the servant girl murders that started with black servants struck with axes. Four days later, Hossacks wife of 32 years, Margaret (Murchison) Hossack, was arrested at her husbands funeral and charged with killing him in the couples home sometime around 12 a.m. while he slept. I don't like true story stuff. Blog Hossack as belonging to, but was overruled by the court. With the facts at hand, I have a good idea who the murderer was. One year later, she was released on bail to await a . The articles inform the reader of the Hossack trial in vivid and descriptive detail, while Midnight Assassin simply summarizes the key events of the Hossack trial. His violent death shocked the county. Welcome back. Four days later, the victim's wife, Margaret Hossack, was arrested and charged with the crime. It is a fact because it can be proven using objective evidence. prosecution alleges Mr. Hossack was murdered and which the defense has insisted attorney that the best evidence is yet to come. I recently read this book as a mystery that my mom recommended. One option is James Maybrick a London cotton merchant who "may have"traveled to Austin while at the Southern Exhibition in New Orleans. 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? Based on almost a decade of research, Midnight Assassin is a riveting story of loneliness, fear, and suffering in the rural Midwest. He also stated that he had seen Mrs. Hossack chopping wood at Fascinating unsolved murder case, well researched, Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2012. Margaret Hossack refused to discuss the murder after the second trial. 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. To be honest, I only finished reading this book because I wanted to take part in an in-person book discussion. Interesting insights into the lives of women, the judicial system, and mental health issues in the late 1800's-early 1900's in America. : very faint and looked as though it had been made by coming in contact with some He testified that he had examined the hairs given him by the He testified that in his opinion it would be Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Newspapers across the country carried the story, and community sentiment was divided over her guilt. INDIANOLA, April 4.--(Special)--The most damaging since the commencement of the Hossack murder trial, when court adjourned Margaret Hossack claimed shed been sleeping next to her husband at the time of the murder but that she had not heard a thing. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. A history of domestic strife within the household convinced local authorities that she had finally snapped after years of threats and verbal abuse. It also reveals how people from small towns are reluctant to talk . 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. Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland. Which most supports the fact that Trifles is written in a realistic style? Just a few thoughts that crossed my mind as I was reading the story. Buy a cheap copy of Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's. book by Thomas Wolf. family. 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 . if(!d.getElementById(id)) Four days later, the victim's wife, Margaret Hossack, was arrested at her husband's funeral and charged with the crime. Midnight Assassin: But reports soon surfaced that Hossack had abused and threatened his family, and for years his wife had gone to the neighbors to complain of his behavior. (hook) Midnight Assassin written by Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf. room, and on the undervest of the garment worn by Mrs. Hossack; that he noticed This book was of extreme interest from beginning to end. It really did provide insight into the case and helped my students and I have really productive conversations about domestic violence and the legal system. Learn more. Started off with a bang but ended with a yawn. 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. Just to point out, there are a number of reviews below that are for a different book, Skip Hollandsworth's "The Midnight Assassin", set in Austin, Texas. This is my first true murder story. I read this book several times. 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. was asked as to whether or not the window of the west wall of the room in which 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 like a resolution. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of Midnight Assassin by Patricia L. Bryan. object was the axe in question. the morning of the murder; that he had seen blood spots on the walls of the --For the first time This book is going to be the One Book One Sioux County discussion book for 2022. 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. Death After Midnight by 48 Hours. To Catch a Genius by 48 Hours. 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. I stole this from someone else's review but I loved this short description. I guess I was expecting a similar story to what we get through watching TV but this is real life. Whenever a book can make me feel as if I am actually there, while it is happening, it is well worth the read. P.T. Well, for one thing, as per the caption of Miss Rachel Crothers's play, that this is a man's world. It is fascinating (and frustrating) how much the attorney for each side got away with. I honestly read Trifles before i read the article. Firsthand accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a c She immediately jumped out of bed and ran into an adjoining room, saw a flash of light and heard the front door shut. good book, outside of my usual reading interests but I enjoyed it. Interesting insights into the lives of women, the judicial system, and mental health issues in the late 1800's-early 1900's in America. All Rights Reserved, Home {js=d.createElement(s); I bought and read this book as a way of doing research and finding some more non-fiction to bring into my classroom. Do you know the exact adress? , Publisher As the book tells about the murder of John Hossack in rural Indianola, Iowa in December of 1900, the book also includes the countless hours of Margaret Hossack trials where . Alternate theories of the crime, accusing the Hossacks' children, disgruntled neighbors or a "mysterious horseman," should have been a little more fleshed out by the authors. Right around midnight on a moonlit night between Saturday, Dec. 1, 1900 and Sunday, Dec. 2, prosperous Warren County, Iowa farmer John Hossack was murdered in his bed by two blows of an ax to his head. to allow them to do so; that on one occasion he had bought the children some : It contains the opinion of a person who saw A Man's World. Again, very interesting book, but I thought it called for some more "descriptive, uplifting" writing. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. : Midnight Assassin expertly renders the American character and experience: our obsession with crime, . gather the full importance in the discrepancy in time as stated by the witness It's a true story about a murder in Iowa in the 1890's. Firsthand accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a c Or. Now, after reading "Midnight Assassin" I understand where Glaspell got her idea. There is definitely the presence of somebody watching over this area. 119 W Park Rd It drags a little at times, but is a fast read. 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. I waffled between three or four stars for this book. consequence it had taken some time to determine the nature of the substance 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. Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2012. Susan Glaspell's newspaper articles on the Hossack case. As a native Iowan as well as someone intrigued by true-crime and courtroom drama, I very much enjoyed this story. Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2013. ". Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. INDIANOLA. An effort was made on the part of the defendant to examined. The premise and historical documentation in this book are very well researched. About December 3, 1900 through I also liked the way the book raises issues about the exclusion of women and their perspective from the society at large and from the justice system. 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. that he was the administrator of the Hossack estate; that he had known the However, the writing itself was lackluster -- more of reporting than storytelling. I have also read the story trifles and it claims that a rope was used not an axe. 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. Several family members and neighbors who saw the dog after the murder thought he was quiet and uncharacteristically listless, fueling speculation that the assailant had drugged the dog with chloroform. Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2021. Margaret died August 25, 1916, at age 72, and was buried next to him. He stated that the ground Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 278 pages, $23.95. A history of domestic strife within the household convinced local authorities that she had finally snapped after years of threats and verbal abuse. 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. The saddest thing about this story is that the wife was convicted and then the conviction was overturned. Ana, its about 12 miles south of Indianola. who made the chemical analysis of the blood found on the axe with which the Midnight Assassin. him it looked as though it had been subjected to a wetting, and that in On Thanksgiving Day 1900, the Hossacks hosted a party at their farm for more than twenty people. The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and the Hunt for America's First Serial Killer, Extreme Punishment: The Chilling True Story of Acclaimed Law Professor Dan Markels Murder, BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD: The True Story Of The Abduction And Murder Of Ann Harrison. then passed through the sitting room, opening the front door leading on to the I read the book in barely more than a day. The true story behind trifles. next sworn. Firsthand accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a cruel and unstable man. the room his father had repeatedly called for Ma and other members of the part. . Perhaps Margaret Hossack was acting out of fear. 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. The wife is accused of murdering her husband, and it's not a simple case. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. //>. A family surrounds those it loves even when domestic abuse may be present. and others who had testified that they had been awakened by Mrs. Hossack He took a leadership role in his church, ran for political office, and served as a trustee of the county. not by any means exhausted its efforts and it is claimed by the prosecuting I liked the idea of this Novel and without giving away any details, the role of women in society in a country setting. 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