Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Mystery on the Isles of Shoals

Closing the Case on the Smuttynose Ax Murders of 1873

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
For the first time, the full story of a crime that has haunted New England since 1873.
The cold-blooded ax murder of two innocent Norwegian women at their island home off the coast of New Hampshire has gripped the region since 1873, beguiling tourists, inspiring artists, and fueling conspiracy theorists.
The killer, a handsome Prussian fisherman down on his luck, was quickly captured, convicted in a widely publicized trial, and hanged in an unforgettable gallows spectacle. But he never confessed and, while in prison, gained a circle of admirers whose blind faith in his innocence still casts a shadow of doubt. A fictionalized bestselling novel and a Hollywood film have further clouded the truth.
Finally a definitive "whydunnit" account of the Smuttynose Island ax murders has arrived. Popular historian J. Dennis Robinson fleshes out the facts surrounding this tragic robbery gone wrong in a captivating true crime page-turner. Robinson delves into the backstory at the rocky Isles of Shoals as an isolated centuries-old fishing village was being destroyed by a modern luxury hotel. He explores the neighboring island of Appledore where Victorian poet Celia Thaxter entertained the elite artists and writers of Boston. It was Thaxter's powerful essay about the murders in the Atlantic Monthly that shocked the American public.
Robinson goes beyond the headlines of the burgeoning yellow press to explore the deeper lessons about American crime, justice, economics, and hero worship. Ten years before the Lizzie Borden ax murder trial and the fictional Sherlock Holmes, Americans met a sociopath named Louis Wagner—and many came to love him.
  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      November 1, 2014

      On March 6, 1873, a robbery attempt went horribly awry on tiny Smuttynose Island, located off the coast of New Hampshire, leading to the gruesome deaths of two women. A third woman miraculously escaped and was able to identify the attacker as Lewis Wagner, a former lodger and employee. Within two days the killer was caught and two years later hanged for the murders. The evidence for Wagner's guilt was overwhelming, but the case still haunts the island. The accused protested his innocence to the last, charming the press and sowing doubt in the minds of some citizens. Robinson, a local historian and island steward of Smuttynose, consults primary source material from the trial and its aftermath and reviews the various conspiracy theories about the case, including the one fictionalized by Anita Shreve in her book The Weight of Water, also a movie. His conclusion that the "hailstorm of evidence" presented in court shows that Wagner was almost certainly the killer should be the end of it but most likely will start the conversation over again. VERDICT This in-depth account of a controversial historical murder is essential for regional collections and recommended for all true crime collections.--Deirdre Bray Root, MidPointe Lib. Syst., OH

      Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading