Bread and Butter Murders 09

Tombstone of Henry Hoag(e) - Alabama Center Cemetery, Alabama, NY

SETUP: We left off last time with Polly preparing the final doses of arsenic laced brandy to do away with her husband Henry. Polly sent George Lester to get the doctor.  Henry was at death’s door when George got back. By the time Dr. Townsend got there it was too late—Henry was already dead.

***

 AND NOW THE SNIPPET:

 

 James Espy aided in laying out Henry’s body for viewing. Upon hearing the news of Henry’s death, friends and neighbors came over to the Hoag’s to pay their respects.

Reuben testified that Polly told him, “She was anxious to see Matthew Bardwell and wanted him to carry on [the shoe shop]. She said she was sorry that Matthew did not come to see Henry before his death. Said Henry told her Bardwell should work up the leather.”

Within only four hours after her husband’s death, Polly’s only thoughts were of Matthew. After catching his wife in bed twice with this man, it is doubtful Henry would have desired to see Matthew while drawing his last breaths of life; it would be equally hard to believe that Matthew would want to speak to the dying husband of his former mistress.

No one in town knew, however, that Henry had caught Polly and Matthew in bed together.

***

 

In 1856, in the rural town of Alabama, NY one woman's family suffered from multiple unexplained deaths. The town folk grew suspicious of the now remarried Polly Frisch. An investigation commenced, bodies were exhumed, an affair—exposed. Polly would be arrested for the murders of her first husband and daughters. Her fourteen-year-old son would testify against her. If found guilty, the punishment for such a crime was the gallows. Bread & Butter is the true story of Polly Frisch who poisoned her family with arsenic and the five trials it took to convict her.

The link to the other Weekend Writing Warriors is here. You're bound to find something to pique your interest.

The Sunday Snippet writer's on Facebook are here. Between the two there is something for everyone. Thank you for any comments you leave me. Much appreciated!

**** 

The above excerpt is from Bread & Butter: The Murders of Polly Frisch, an 1850s true crime co-authored with my friend, Ellen Bachorski in 2000. We are re-releasing it into the modern world of POD in both soft and hard covers, as well as Nook, Kindle, etc. with a new cover, fresh edits and new info. 

April 1st release is only a few days away! I'll be making announcements on my Facebook page. To celebrate during the month of April and as part of the Blogging From A-Z Challenge I'll be posting tidbits about the book and other 19th century crimes every day of the month.  
Did I mention there will be a scattering of prizes?

Read More

Some Other Child

Many of you know Sharon Buchbinder from our Weekend Writing Warriors or Snippet Sunday blog hops.
Well today is a big day for her....

COVER REVEAL!

Her new novel SOME OTHER CHILD

Doesn't that look creepy good? I'm looking forward to this one. I love a story with a deep dark secret and a bit of romance with my mystery! (And you all know I love a mystery.)
Coming soon from Wild Rose Press. You can find Sharon on Facebook and twitter to keep up with upcoming release news. Below is the blurb:

            Between taking on the responsibility for the care of her critically injured mother as well as straightening out her muddled finances, public health researcher Sarah Wright hasn't a minute to herself, much less time to repair a fractured romance. After a much loved aunt goes missing, Sarah is convinced it's a kidnapping but the police refuse to investigate. Former fiance Dan flies to Sarah's side to help—and it looks like things might come back together for the two of them—until Sarah is arrested for her aunt's murder. As evidence stacks up against her, Sarah must find the real culprits as well as unravel decades old family secrets along the way.

Awesome cover Sharon, look forward to your release date!

 

Read More

Bread and Butter Murders 08

Hoag Family Plot - Alabama Center Cemetery, Alabama, NY

SETUP: We left off last time with Polly preparing for the final doses of arsenic to do away with her husband. She didn't realize her nine-year-old son was curious as to what she was doing as she laced her husband's brandy. Family friends who came by to stay by their poor friend Henry in his illness had no clue he would never get better.


AND NOW THE SNIPPET:

 According to Andrew Davis, Polly laid on the lounge all night next to her husband’s bed and got up often to wait on him. She waited on him not to be a dutiful wife, as it appeared to all, but to make sure Henry continued to get his doses of arsenic laced brandy and tea.

At three or four in the morning, George offered to go again for the doctor if Polly wished him to do so. Polly said that if he thought a doctor would do any good she wanted one called. In the middle of the night, George Lester went once again to fetch Dr. Townsend for his ailing brother-in-law Henry. George immediately went back to the farm after speaking to the doctor. Townsend grabbed his medical bag—for all the good it would do him—and drove his buggy up to the Hoags. Henry was at death’s door when George got back, and by the time Dr. Townsend got there it was too late—Henry was already dead.

***

 

In 1856, in the rural town of Alabama, NY one woman's family suffered from multiple unexplained deaths. The town folk grew suspicious of the now remarried Polly Frisch. An investigation commenced, bodies were exhumed, an affair—exposed. Polly would be arrested for the murders of her first husband and daughters. Her fourteen-year-old son would testify against her. If found guilty, the punishment for such a crime was the gallows. Bread & Butter is the true story of Polly Frisch who poisoned her family with arsenic and the five trials it took to convict her.

The link to the other Weekend Writing Warriors is here. You're bound to find something to pique your interest.

The Sunday Snippet writer's on Facebook are here. Between the two there is something for everyone. Thank you for any comments you leave me. Much appreciated!

**** 

The above excerpt is from Bread & Butter: The Murders of Polly Frisch, an 1850s true crime co-authored with my friend, Ellen Bachorski in 2000. We are re-releasing it into the modern world of POD in both soft and hard covers, as well as Nook, Kindle, etc. with a new cover, fresh edits and new info. Due for release in On April 1, 2014. 

Read More

Bread and Butter Murders 07

Hoag Family Plot - Alabama Center Cemetery, Alabama, NY

SETUP: We left off last time with Polly preparing for the final doses of arsenic to do away with her husband.The dialogue below is taken from the description of Albert's testimony against his mother at the trial. Albert was a few months shy of his tenth birthday at the time of the murders.

AND NOW THE SNIPPET:

Polly removed a small folded piece of paper from out of her bandbox, poured part of the contents of the paper into the brandy, and shook the bottle. She then returned the paper to its hiding place behind the clock. Julia was wrong—Polly had known all along where the paper with the arsenic had been.

Albert asked his mother, “What are you putting into it?”

“Salaeratus,” answered Polly.

“What did you put it in for?” asked Albert.

“To sweeten it,” she answered.

Albert knew there was something not quite right about this; the salaeratus, was kept in the buttery in an oyster can, not a piece of paper.  Polly wrongly assumed that Albert wasn’t paying attention to what she was doing.

 ***

 

In 1856, in the rural town of Alabama, NY one woman's family suffered from multiple unexplained deaths. The town folk grew suspicious of the now remarried Polly Frisch. An investigation commenced, bodies were exhumed, an affair—exposed. Polly would be arrested for the murders of her first husband and daughters. Her fourteen-year-old son would testify against her. If found guilty, the punishment for such a crime was the gallows. Bread & Butter is the true story of Polly Frisch who poisoned her family with arsenic and the five trials it took to convict her.

The link to the other Weekend Writing Warriors is here. You're bound to find something to pique your interest.

The Sunday Snippet writer's on Facebook are here. Between the two there is something for everyone. Thank you for any comments you leave me. Much appreciated!

**** 

The above excerpt is from Bread & Butter: The Murders of Polly Frisch, a book I co-authored with my friend, Ellen Bachorski in 2000. We are re-releasing it into the modern world of POD in both soft and hard covers, as well as Nook, Kindle, etc. with a new cover, fresh edits and new info. Due for release in On April 1, 2014. (Had to wait til 4/1 due to scheduling conflicts.) Below is a picture of the hardcover.

Read More