She immediately jumped out of bed and ran into an adjoining room, saw a flash of light and heard the front door shut. Well, for one thing, as per the caption of Miss Rachel Crothers's play, that this is a man's world. In the fall of 1867, Hossack traveled to Iowa to look for land, and he purchased 120 acres in Warren County, paying $480 in cash. Glaspell's Articles. As Door of Cell Closed Told Sheriff She is Innocent. since the commencement of the Hossack murder trial, when court adjourned proper names, and we have also sometimes corrected minor spelling and All Rights Reserved, Home Decide whether each statement is true or false. She looked up into the officer's face, smiled and remarked that she would be glad to get home . With the facts at hand, I have a good idea who the murderer was. 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."She Prepares to Fight": Though past 50 years of age, she is tall and powerful and looks like she would be dangerous if aroused to a point of hatred.Which excerpt is biased and why? This story takes us through her two trials, and alternate theories as to who else could have been responsible for the crime. It is about a woman tried for a crime but punished for her character. Blog the main characters Margaret and John Hossack in the book Midnight Assassin. Which best describes the excerpt? 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. : room, and on the undervest of the garment worn by Mrs. Hossack; that he noticed The Hossack Case. He also stated that he had seen Mrs. Hossack chopping wood at The author details the servant girl murders that started with black servants struck with axes. Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2006. regain consciousness within half an hour. This was the first expert witness produced by the He is portrayed as a well-known man in his community. 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. J. L. Kemp, a son-in-law of the murdered man, was Patricia L. Bryan, Thomas Wolf. Al witness stated also that Mr. Hossack had told him he was unable to bring up his Perhaps Margaret Hossack was acting out of fear. April 1st 2005 100 Kuhl House Do you know the exact adress? 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. next sworn. in her hearing that it would be better for her to separate from her husband, She died August 25, 1916, leaving the mystery of her husbands death unsolved. The characters are portrayed as in real life. John Hossack, a well to-do farmer, was fatally attacked with an ax while he slept. He identified the axe marked as exhibit "one" as being this is very helpful to a project im doing in school for the book trifles, 2005 2023 This is an interesting story of an unsolved murder that took place in Dec. 1900. 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. It is a fact because it can be proven using objective evidence. Despite her claims of innocence, the murder case against her moved forward in what became one of the most sensational murder trials in Iowa history. I look forward to discussing it at our book club! The story couldve been a third of the length. . the morning of the murder; that he had seen blood spots on the walls of the The authors have completed a tremendous amount of research going back to the papers and documents that accompanied this murder. several large blood stains; that on the north end of the wall there was a One year later, she was released on bail to await a . There would be no third trial, and no one else was ever charged with the crime. Start by marking Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland as Want to Read: Error rating book. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. Visit the cemetery today. Interesting story. On the night of December 1, 1900, Iowa farmer John Hossack was attacked and killed while he slept at home beside his wife, Margaret. The true story behind trifles. . : The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? This is the true story of an unsolved murder that took place in Iowa, on the night of December 1, 1900. (Hossack) Henry, Find a Grave Memorial for Margaret (Hossack) Kemp, Find a Grave Memorial for Martha Mae (Hossack) Coulter, Find a Grave Memorial for James N. Hossack, Find a Grave Memorial for Ivan W. Hossack, Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse. I waffled between three or four stars for this book. The author laid out all the facts for the readers to make their own judgments, and didn't force her own interpretations on me, which I appreciated. INDIANOLA, April 4.--(Special.) The reporter covering the story was a female journalist, Susan Glaspell. Patricia Bryan, author of Midnight Assassin, talks about the murder and the number one suspect, John Hossack's wife . It was a very interesting read - but at times I felt it got a little long with all of the details. 44 min listen. Maybri. . First Photograph Bearing on the Tragedy. Read more . Just a few thoughts that crossed my mind as I was reading the story. would not say positively that it was human blood. At trial, Margaret was convicted of murder, but later was released on appeal. Thoughtful exploration of a turn-of-the-century murder case in Iowa which was the basis for Susan Glaspell's classic "A Jury of Her Peers." I am satisfied, which is surprising, because I usually don't go for "open-ended", ambiguous endings. separation. American authors Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf's non-fiction historical mystery, Midnight Assassin (2005), examines the unsolved murder of Iowa farmer John Hossack, who was bludgeoned to death in his bed in 1900. is about the ways that prejudice and fear can influence justice and how people's preconceptions inform the legal process. Wow! Printer Friendly. One witness testified that he had seen Mrs. Hossack bloody object, against which it had rubbed. The author ends up being unable to identify the killer or even offering a strong hypothesis. [CDATA[ Firsthand accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a cruel and unstable man. biographers have concluded that Susan Glaspell, working as a reporter for the Daily News at the time, was the author of these articles. It was more gruesome than i had anticipated in regards to how Hossack and his analog were murdered. Does this item contain quality or formatting issues? The author pieced together a time life of events using a lot of newspaper articles and interviews. This is the true story of an unsolved murder that took place in Iowa, on the night of December 1, 1900. It is the purpose of the defense to show that this Based on evidence in this book shows . 12.-- (Special)--Mrs. Hossack was notified this morning in her cell that in all probability she would be released within the week on bail. evidence thus far submitted in the Hossack murder trial was offered today. I stole this from someone else's review but I loved this short description. Does this item contain inappropriate content? Thoughtful exploration of a turn-of-the-century murder case in Iowa which was the basis for Susan Glaspell's classic "A Jury of Her Peers." "Did you hear your father say anything?" "Supposedly Dr. Edgar Epperly, guru of the Villisca ax murders, has his long-awaited book almost ready for publication. This true unsolved mystery and all the events surrounding it had me trying to solve it, and I loved coming up with my own theories about what actually happened. 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. But the fact that there was no clear resolution and I still enjoyed it is evidence of what a well-written book this is. I love true crime stories, so the legal and moral aspects were the reason I purchased this book, but I found a secondary reason as soon as I started reading it. I live in medora and I would like to visit some time. Firsthand accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a c I was mortified. impossible for a man, suffering from the injuries sustained by Mr. Hossack, to purpose being a comparison between the hair found on the axe and that growing I honestly read Trifles before i read the article. But as they say in journalism, "she buried the lede." The Truth of Gods word does not hinge on whether we believe it or not. The . I don't like true story stuff. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. 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. Ultimately, neither her innocence nor her guilt was ever proved. 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? Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2013. Free Online Library: Midnight Assassin. I wonder if that would have been considered and someone else would have been tried if society treated women differently. Law and Literature. There is the play by Susan Glaspell Trifles and the book A Jury of her Peers also by Susan Glaspell. Sarah Stuelke is correct. other newspaper accounts--and we've concluded that the articles in the Daily Shows how far women have come in the past 100 years with. Based on almost a decade of research, Midnight Assassin is a riveting story of loneliness, fear, and suffering in the rural Midwest. "Where did you go after this?" Perhaps Margaret Hossack was acting out of fear. According to the Cult of True Womanhood, a popular phrase during those years, a true woman possessed four cardinal virtues: piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity.. The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? How is Mr. Hossack portrayed similarly in both Midnight Assassin and the article "Indicted Her for Murder"? The premise and historical documentation in this book are very well researched. Ultimately, neither her innocence nor her guilt was ever proved. deceased for thirty years intimately, and had been associated with him in a raising objections, which were constantly overruled by the court. And based upon her husband's standing the community. 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. were published by the newspaper. I recently read her play, Trifles, for an American Literature class and loved the fac. wellif the wife did do it.she was held accountable for her actions by the good lord above. He testified that he had examined the hairs given him by the Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland [Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf]. The book introduces us to Susan Glaspell, a young journalist who reported the story for the, and, fifteen years later, transformed the events into the acclaimed short story, "A Jury of Her Peers.". Margaret Hossack claimed to be innocent, but stories of domestic troubles and abuse provided prosecutors with a motive for the crime. which had caused the spots. Lew Hodson, the sheriff, was next called to the 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. MIDNIGHT ASSASSIN. Although we may never know the complete truth about who committed this murder, it offers a very fascinating look at life at the turn of the century. Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2013. part. . : 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. It read more like a narrative than a history or biography. I stole this from someone else's review but I loved this short description. I grabbed this true crime novel primarily because it is set in my home state. INDIANOLA. During my time as an English major in college I read "A Jury of Her Peers" by Susan Glaspell. "Prominent Farmer Robbed and Killed" December 3, 1900, "Sheriff After Mrs. Hossack" December 5, 1900, "The Hossack Murder Case" December 7, 1900, "Goes to the Grand Jury" December 8, 1900, "It Is Still Unsettled" December 10, 1900, "Now Before Grand Jury" December 11, 1900, "Mrs. Hossack May Yet Be Proven Innocent" December 12, 1900, "Mrs. Hossack May Come Here" January 14, 1901, "Indicted Her for Murder" January 17, 1901, "Hossack Trial on in Earnest" April 2, 1901, "Hossack Begged Wife to Aid Him" April 3, 1901, "Experts Say It Is Human Blood" April 4, 1901, "Looks Bad for Mrs. Hossack" April 5, 1901, "Allege Haines Was Murderer" April 9, 1901, "Mrs. Hossack's Fearful Ordeal" April 10, 1901, "Mrs. Hossack a Murderess" April 11, 1901, "Mrs. Hossack's Parting Plea" April 19, 1901. It's a true story about a murder in Iowa in the 1890's. What is a key similarity between the accounts presented in the primary source article "Indicted Her for Murder" and the secondary source Midnight Assassin? him to do so; that whenever he objected to their going any place, she always Their wedding was held on January 29, 1868, in the living room of Donald Murchisons house. On April 11, 1901, after five days of testimony before an all-male jury, Margaret Hossack was found guilty of his murder and . The Truth of Gods word is hung on God and He protects His word and not one jot or tittle will pass away, EVER. 3 1/2 stars rounded up. Powerful ! However, the last couple of chapters drone on about a play that was written about the killing and trial. 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. font porch; that the reflection of the light seen on the wall by Mrs. Hossack if(!d.getElementById(id)) //]]>. In the meantime Bill James published The Man From the Train which makes every bit as much sense as Rev. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. 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. Later these same events were used as the basis for her classic short story, "A Jury of Her Peers," and the famous play Trifles. The setting and characters are presented in unusual ways. Hossack was asked. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. My secretary will call _________ lawyer and arrange the meeting. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. It contains the word "universally," which suggests a judgment has been made. 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. The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? between the dead man and his wife; that he saw the dead man on 10 o'clock on 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." Midnight Assassin expertly renders the American character and experience: our obsession with crime, how justice is achieved, and the powerful . Hossack home at 9 o'clock Sunday morning, the day of the murder; that he saw hairs. sided with them; that when he wanted them to learn the short catechism, she would A history of domestic strife within the household convinced local authorities that she had finally snapped after years of threats and verbal abuse. Praise for the Book. Susan Glaspell. Doesnt matter if you agree with that or not, Bob Platt. Shipping to the U.S. only. To his family, Hossack could be moody and argumentative he often clashed with his wife and children over how the household was run and what the children were allowed to do but he was well-respected by his fellow farmers. house; that he was with John Hossack, jr., who took it out of the water; that 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 . Or perhaps the story she told was truethat an intruder broke into the house, killed her husband while she slept soundly beside him, and was still on the loose. The awful crime of which Mrs. Hossack stands accused is still fresh in the minds of every newspaper reader in Iowa. A celebrated case in its day, the 1900 murder of Iowa farmer John Hassock inspired two well-known works by writer Susan Glaspell (1876-1948): her play. MIDNIGHT ASSASSIN takes us back to the murder, the investigation, and the trials of Margaret Hossack. Suspicions focused on his long suffering wife, Margaret, who claimed to asleep beside her husband in the bed while the attack took place. There is definitely the presence of somebody watching over this area. Could this situation be handed differently? Try again. (Book Review) by "Trial"; Law Books Book reviews. When you consider this actually happened, it's a good story. //