B is for Bread and Butter the Murders of Polly Frisch

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 the Murders of Polly Frisch, written by Cindy Amrhein and Ellen Lea Bachorski,  is the true story of Polly Frisch who poisoned her family with arsenic and the five trials it took to convict her. Here is an excerpt:

In an article printed by the Republican Advocate, November 17, 1857, Polly claimed—that “she was innocent of this [meaning her family’s deaths] or any like offense, and attributed the prosecution to local excitement and prejudice.” From this statement it seems obvious she knew that the residents of Alabama didn’t like her or her unbecoming behavior. Maybe Polly’s calm exterior during the trials was because she knew she was innocent and thought justice would prevail. Did she do it or was the community trying to railroad her out of town? It wasn’t until we came across a certain newspaper article and scrutinized court documents that we felt Polly was guilty in some form.

Our hardcovers released yesterday. Hopefully the softcovers today, and Kindle and Nook editions this week. 

Stay tuned as I blog about other 19th century true crimes during the whole month of April!

This post is part of the April Blogging A to Z Challenge. Check out the list of other bloggers blogging on all types of subjects!

And I almost forgot it's the first Wednesday!  My first post for IWSG and I almost missed it! I guess my stickler for me these past few months was getting ready to publish. My list would be very long on all the things that went wrong trying to learn the new world of self-publishing. POD is different than offset, and ebooks? Wow. Learning curve there. But I get by with a little support from my writer friends! I look forward to meeting the folks over at ISWG and checking out their blogs and thoughts on writing. 

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A is for ARSENIC

Arsenic was always the poison of choice for 19th century women when they wanted to do away with a pesky husband--no mess, little clean up. Bread & Butter the Murders of Polly Frisch is about such a woman. A 19th century true crime. Here is an excerpt:

An autopsy proved there was arsenic in the bodies of her dead family members, but arsenic was commonly used for medicinal purposes during the 1800s. Could Polly or the doctors have done it accidentally with one of the medications prescribed? Or, if the Hoag’s were intentionally poisoned, could someone other than Polly be responsible? 

With the death of her husband and two of her children the town became suspicious that something odd was going on in the Hoag household. After four months of investigation, Polly would be indicted on three counts of murder in the first degree. What would come to light over the next two years would shock and horrify this small knit community to such an extreme that it would haunt them for decades to come.


Release date today! The hardcovers below went live. The soft cover and Kindle versions will be out this week. Be sure to come back during April while I blog about 19th century true crimes.

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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?

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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!

 

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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. 

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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.

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Bread and Butter Murders 06

Hoag Family Plot - Alabama Center Cemetery, Alabama, NY

SETUP: We left off last time with Henry deathly ill again, and the medicine from the doctor, not working. Two neighbors, Selah Vosburg and Mrs. Bugby, pay a call on Henry to inquire to his health. Polly was the only one home caring for her husband at the time of their visit. (Side note: I explain earlier in the story the similarities in some of the symptoms between cholera and arsenic poisoning.) 

Any quotes are exactly as they appeared in trial testimony.

And now the snippet:

 Selah recalled, “She told us about his vomiting, thirst and pain in his head. We saw Polly give him something to drink and put a wet cloth on his head. She said Henry was subject to spasms and called it Cholera Morbus. I saw nothing peculiar in Henry’s appearance, except one of his ears, which seemed black, as if blood had settled there. Don’t recollect Henry himself saying he had Cholera Morbus.”

Here is where the difference in symptoms of cholera and arsenic in the system first become evident—the pain in his head and skin discoloration was the result of arsenic poisoning. Henry himself did not tell them he had cholera morbus; it seemed as such at the beginning, but as he worsened, he knew that’s not what he had.

This is the first instance, which we know of, where there were witnesses to the fact that Polly had been alone with Henry—now was the perfect time to begin the completion of the final act. 

***

BLURB:

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 and Kindle, etc. with a new cover, fresh edits and new info. Due for release in March 2014.

Thought I'd show you the jacket cover I designed for the hardcover edition. (Got a free hardcover from LuLu, participants choice as to manuscript, for doing NaNoWriMo.) So might as well sell those too now that it's done. :)

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Bread and Butter Murders 05

Hoag Family Plot - Alabama Center Cemetery, Alabama, NY

SETUP: Henry seemed to be on the road to recovery after his illness. Polly, Henry and the children appeared to get back to their normal routine. That was until Henry went out of town and Polly was found in an intimate position with with his apprentice in the shoe shop, Matthew Bardwell. Oddly Henry's illness returns, and this time he knew he was dying. Julia mentioned below is Polly's sister. And now the snippet.

Supposedly Julia was present during a conversation between Henry and Polly concerning what he wanted her to do after his death. Julia claimed in testimony, “Henry called Polly up to bed and told her to get Matthew Bardwell and have him attend the shop and make up the leather; he said it would be the only way she could get a living. Polly objected, as people would talk. Henry said if Matthew did not like to board at the house he could board at the tavern. He did not think he would get well; while he still had his sense he would tell her what she ought to do. He told her to sell her crops to pay the rent with.”

The fact that Henry would come up with the idea to have Bardwell in the shop, after all that had happened, is ludicrous. To think that Polly would care if people would talk, based on what she had already said and done, is equally unbelievable. This plan was not of Henry’s making. It was contrived by Polly and backed up by Julia in defense of her sister.

***

BLURB:

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. 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS!

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 and Kindle, etc. with a new cover, fresh edits and new info. Due for release in February 2014.

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Bread and Butter Murders 04

Hoag Family Plot - Alabama Center Cemetery, Alabama, NY

SETUP: Last time we left off with Polly's sister Julia insisting it was Polly's husband, Henry, who wanted the arsenic to kill rats, not Polly. Julia also testified that it was Henry who mixed the poison in the meal and Polly was outside at the time and had no idea where Henry put the rest of it. We know this was not the case as Henry was sick for several days, Many friends came to visit him until they thought he had chorea. And now the snippet.

Henry was sick for ten days before he felt any better. Selah Vosburg testified he went to visit Henry only once for fear he had cholera morbus again and he knew it was catchy. Selah said he had known Henry for a long time and had never known him to be sickly, although he saw nothing odd in Polly’s behavior to make him suspect her of any wrong doing.

All had said they saw no lack of attention on Polly’s part towards her husband. It is our opinion that Polly did poison her husband, but not enough to kill him yet. She wanted all to believe that she was a devoted wife. Polly also wanted everyone to believe that Henry was a sickly man and would always be so. When she finally killed him no one would suspect a thing.

***

BLURB:

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 and Kindle, etc. with a new cover, fresh edits and new info. Due for release in February 2014.

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Bread and Butter Murders 03

Hoag Family Plot - Alabama Center Cemetery, Alabama, NY

SETUP: At the first trial, Polly's sister Julia tried to cover for her. Julia said it was Polly's husband Henry who who asked Polly to go to druggist to get the arsenic for the rats. In part of Julia's testimony for the death of Henry, she tells how Henry allegedly mixed the poison to kill the rodents. We know by last week's snippet this was not the case. The druggist and his wife both testified that Polly purchased it twice, and Henry didn't want it in the house. Henry would die three months later. 

Text in quotes is from actual testimony. 

And now for the eight sentences.

According to Julia, Henry then asked Polly for some meal. "He went upstairs, asked me for the meal and some water, which I gave him. He mixed the most of the arsenic with the meal and water in a basin. He put it between the lathing and the clapboards upstairs. Polly went out into the garden at this time, I think. He put the rest on top of the clothes’ cupboard, at the west end of the house," stated Julia.

We have only Julia's word for this incident taking place. Notice too, that she conveniently places Polly out in the garden while Henry was supposedly doing this, thus implying that Polly could not have seen where Henry put the remaining arsenic.

***

BLURB:

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 and Kindle, etc. with fresh edits and new info.

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Bread and Butter 02

Hoag Family Plot - Alabama Center Cemetery, Alabama, NY

SETUP: The Hoags moved onto the farm and away from Alabama Center in  April of 1856. At the end of May, Polly went to the Center to see Dr. Samuel Bateman, who was also a druggist, and purchased a half-ounce vial of arsenic on the premise to kill rats. By this point her husband Henry was suffering on and off with bouts of illness. Polly had alleged to people this was due to an accident but she was already poisoning her husband. Polly returned a couple weeks later to the Batemans to replenish her supply.

Anything in quotation marks is from actual trial testimony.

....and now for the snippet.

Calista, Dr. Bateman's wife, testified, "Polly came to my house early one morning in June, she wanted to get into the office to purchase some rhubarb, and some arsenic to kill rats or mice who were destroying her clothes and bedding. She said she had some in the house before, but had mislaid or lost it.  She was going to mix it with some bread and butter and put it between the lath.  She said her husband did not wish her to buy it, for fear of accident. Said the mice were so thick that she couldn't live in the house,"  Calista continued, "I put up a half an ounce of rhubarb for her at the same time I gave her a small vial of arsenic. I then inquired to the health of her family."

Mrs. Bateman said Polly's response was that her husband concluded to farm for a while and thought it would be harder for him, and she did not believe he would live a year. She then told Calista that Henry had been hurt by a cultivator, which struck against a stone, and hit him in the pit of his stomach and that Henry had vomited blood and had not been well since.  

***
As a side note, rhubarb was used in the 1800s and before as a laxative or for digestive problems.
***

BLURB:

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 and Kindle, etc. with fresh edits and new info.

Read More