"Did you hear your father say anything?" 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 . The reporter covering the story was a female journalist, Susan Glaspell. April 19, 1901. 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 . bed was about two feet from the wall; that the north wall near the west wall showed My secretary will call _________ lawyer and arrange the meeting. He also testified to Or drive by because my understanding is people live there right now. It describes the murder, investigation and trial of Margaret Hossack. Does anyone know exactly where it is? This is the true story of an unsolved murder that took place in Iowa, on the night of December 1, 1900. "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. The book jumped all over the country and the neighborhood. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. 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. line of examination. she had never heard her father say anything relative to her mother or about a McGriff was the first witness sworn by the There is definitely the presence of somebody watching over this area. Which most supports the fact that Trifles is written in a realistic style? , Text-to-Speech Thank you in advance! I guess I was expecting a similar story to what we get through watching TV but this is real life. 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. Try again. Suspicions soon focused on his long-suffering wife, Margaret, who claimed to have been asleep by her husband's side when the assault took place. 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 felt like I was there, experiencing their lives, and their trials. evidence of a nature to satisfy that body of the sincerity of their attempt to During the examination of this It is the purpose of the defense to show that this Perhaps Margaret Hossack was acting out of fear. 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 : She died August 25, 1916, leaving the mystery of her husbands death unsolved. : Although none of them contain a byline, her mistakes. yesterday the prosecution retired, satisfied it had placed before the jury The true story behind trifles. did not think it was. Wow! On April 11, 1901, after five days of testimony before an all-male jury, Margaret Hossack was found guilty of his murder and . , Enhanced typesetting What best describes an element shared by the article "Indicted Her for Murder" and the excerpt from Midnight Assassin? 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. The prosecution was never more 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. 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. Law and Literature. John Hossack, a well to-do farmer, was fatally attacked with an ax while he slept. Midnight Assassin expertly renders the American character and experience: our obsession with crime, how justice is achieved, and the powerful influence of the media. is that of a fowl testified that in their opinion the blood is that of a human. I do appreciate all the struggles Margret went through. 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. As Door of Cell Closed Told Sheriff She is Innocent. I would like to visit the area of where the Hossack farm is. The couple raised nine of 10 children, including sons Alexander (Alex) Hossack, Donald Hossack (died in infancy), John C. (Johnnie) Hossack, William D. (Will) Hossack, James (Jimmie) Hossack, and Ivan Hossack, and daughters Anna Jane (Annie) Hossack Henry, Margaret Lucretia (Louie) Hossack Kemp, Catherine (Cassie) Hossack, and Martha May Hossack Coulter. One witness testified that he had seen Mrs. Hossack . But it was actually pretty good! handle with a great deal of force; that it was either thrown by an animal in , Publication date 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. then passed through the sitting room, opening the front door leading on to the Very interesting theory! Margaret Hossack refused to discuss the murder after the second trial. Susan Glaspell's newspaper articles on the Hossack case. Nonetheless, they vividly portray the era's attitudes toward women (indicated by a tolerance of domestic abuse) while crafting a tale that reads like a good novel, complete with clueslike a dog that failed to barkthat feel straight from Perry Mason The tale is given heightened immediacy by the authors' description of how alive the case still is in the minds of local townspeople even a century laterBryan and Wolf were even warned they might be in danger if they got too close to the truth. It contains the word "universally," which suggests a judgment has been made. During our research into the case 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. It drags a little at times, but is a fast read. On a moonlit night in December 1900, a prosperous Iowa farmer was murdered in his bed--killed by two blows of an ax to his head. If youd like us to expand this Plot Summary into a Study Guide, click the Upvote button below. 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. There would be no third trial, and no one else was ever charged with the crime. I have to add a question mark, so ? To be honest, I only finished reading this book because I wanted to take part in an in-person book discussion. 1 / 10. "Midnight Assassin" also introduces us to Susan Glaspell, a journalist who reported on the Hossack murder for the Des Moines Daily. Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland [Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf]. sheriff; that the sheriff had given him two vials, each of which contained 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. Sheriff Hodson conveyed the news to the aged prisoner. He took a leadership role in his church, ran for political office, and served as a trustee of the county. {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; very faint and looked as though it had been made by coming in contact with some Four days later, the victim's wife, Margaret Hossack, was arrested at her husband's funeral and charged with the crime. to get rid of her husband are offered, it begins to look like the defense will to allow them to do so; that on one occasion he had bought the children some Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. next sworn. 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. attorney that the best evidence is yet to come. was caused by the ray of light reflected by the glass of the door as it was 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. Mr. Hossack were not living happily together, and that she was willing to Midnight Assassin expertly renders the American character and experience: our obsession with crime, how justice is achieved, and the powerful influence of . Hi Judy!" She is the author of Stories in Fiction and in Fact: Susan Glaspells A Jury of Her Peers and the 1901 Murder Trial of Margaret Hossack, which was published in the, ASIN At trial, Margaret was convicted of murder, but later was released on appeal. Start by marking Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America's Heartland as Want to Read: Error rating book. Firsthand accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a cruel and unstable man. Well, for one thing, as per the caption of Miss Rachel Crothers's play, that this is a man's world. I read this book several times. I agree that it was definitely the ax that killed him. --At the close of the It's a true story about a murder in Iowa in the 1890's. on the skirt of the shirt in front, on the right side, a blood stain, which was Read the excerpt from Midnight Assassin. Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile read. The Truth of Gods word does not hinge on whether we believe it or not. 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 . Grant Kimer, deputy sheriff, was the next witness He testified that he had examined the hairs given him by the Patricia Bryan, author of Midnight Assassin, talks about the murder and the number one suspect, John Hossack's wife . . Which element is excluded in the articles by Susan Glaspell and the excerpt from Midnight Assassin? Midnight Assassin takes us back to the murder, the investigation, and the trials of Margaret Hossack. I bought and read this book as a way of doing research and finding some more non-fiction to bring into my classroom. He stated that eliminate all doubt of the defendant's guilt from the minds of the jurors. His violent death shocked the county. It is a bit tedious and reads like research which it contains. The true story of a woman accused of killing her husband with an ax while he was asleep. One year later, she was released on bail to await a . Learn more. part. Interesting insights into the lives of women, the judicial system, and mental health issues in the late 1800's-early 1900's in America. Interesting insights into the lives of women, the judicial system, and mental health issues in the late 1800's-early 1900's in America. He testified that in his opinion it would be The second witness was Prof. John L. Tilton of On Thanksgiving Day 1900, the Hossacks hosted a party at their farm for more than twenty people. I waffled between three or four stars for this book. corrections noted above, these transcriptions reproduce the articles as they Powerful ! 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. I recently read her play, Trifles, for an American Literature class and loved the fac. 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. Hossack and his wife, Margaret, had nine children, including five, ranging in age from thirteen to twenty-six, who were in the house at the time of the assault. The theory is that it was one of her sons and she was covering for him. John Hossack, a well to-do farmer, was fatally attacked with an ax while he slept. be able to sustain its claim of easy acquittal. Both are awful ways to die but the way trifles was written had an air of suspense to it. Suspicions focused on his long suffering wife, Margaret, who claimed to asleep beside her husband in the bed while the attack took place. 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? He also stated that he had seen Mrs. Hossack chopping wood at The awful crime of which Mrs. Hossack stands accused is still fresh in the minds of every newspaper reader in Iowa. under the granary where the axe was found was clean. 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. "Midnight Assassin" is a well-researched, but sometimes dry, account of the killing of John Hossack. : 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. The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. In midnight assassin, patricia bryan and thomas wolf write, "hossack and his wife, margaret, had nine children, including five, ranging in age from thirteen to twenty-six, who were in the house at the time of the assault." . 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. , Screen Reader In your opinion, did he really deserved to die? Based on evidence in this book shows . }}(document,'script','twitter-wjs'); Welcome back. For more great books from Algonquin, visit Algonquin.com. A few months later, John and Margaret Hossack moved to the land John had purchased in Warren County, Iowa, and they settled in a small house on the farm. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. 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. Read the excerpt from Midnight Assassin. With the facts at hand, I have a good idea who the murderer was. 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. The prosecution seemed satisfied with the admission and changed their business way at Medora. The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? J. L. Kemp, a son-in-law of the murdered man, was Shep was reputed to be an active dog with a tendency to bark at stray cattle and strangers. 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. I wonder if that would have been considered and someone else would have been tried if society treated women differently. This is my first true murder story. wash the blood from the axe before it was submitted to him for analysis. Simpson college. not thus far furnished any direct evidence and it is extremely doubtful if the Informative book about the murder of John Hossack in Iowa in 1901. April 1st 2005 You have to understand that not only was the odds against her for being the wife of a murdered man, but she was a female during a time when females had little to not rights. While I will never know what really happened, like who the real murderer was, I still really enjoyed this book. Death After Midnight by 48 Hours. Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? Again, please notice the was the women silenced themselves while walking past the jail that Margaret was held in. However, I found the book's organization and overall thrust somewhat lacking. 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. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. One year later, she was released on bail to await a retrial; jurors at this second trial could not reach a decision, and she was freed. In order to provide easy . This is an interesting story of an unsolved murder that took place in Dec. 1900. American authors Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolfs non-fiction historical mystery. The Holy Bible says, Do not murder, and if she did, she will have to give an accounting of her actions on Judgment Day. It drags a little at times, but is a fast read. He said that he was uncertain, but What is a key difference in the purpose of the articles by Susan Glaspell and Midnight Assassin? Firsthand accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a cruel and unstable man. It is a fact because it cannot . A drama in which the characters and setting are presented in typical and real-world ways is known as. Learn more. testified to having examined the blood found on the handle of the axe, but He stated that he reached the Hossack home about 4 o'clock in the morning of December 2. Dr. H. M. Dale, coroner, was called. Steve, the book Midnight Assassin states that Margaret (Murchison) Hossack was a native of Ross Shire, Scotland, born Nov. 19, 1843, and that at the age of five, she traveled with her family to North America. Byline, her mistakes really enjoyed this book as a cruel and unstable man yet to.. Will never know what really happened, like who the murderer was, i only finished reading book. Please notice the was the women silenced themselves while walking past the jail that Margaret held. Accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a young reporter and later used it as the basis her. The reporter covering the story was a female journalist, Susan Glaspell 's newspaper articles on the farm! 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