4 out of 4 stars
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As a fan of true crime books, I happily selected this historical true crime story of a house painter’s fatal shooting in New England in 1910. Mrs. Dodge and the House Painter by George Garrigues is the second book in the Read All About It! non-fiction series. The case unfolds through actual newspaper articles from the time period, with editing by the author for clarity.
William Heath is shot and killed while painting a wealthy widow’s bedroom in Lunenburg, Vermont. Florence M. Dodge, the widow of a prominent man, claims that she was in the kitchen when the shots rang out and that Mr. Heath committed suicide. She is arrested at the scene and goes on trial for the man’s murder several months later. An autopsy is conducted which shows that Mr. Heath could not have killed himself since one of the bullets entered his back. There is also evidence that he was shot by someone standing in the doorway or right outside the room.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book which focuses on the murder trial. It is a fascinating look at a true crime with evidence on both sides. The format of using newspaper articles gives a layered feel to the story with tidbits about Mrs. Dodge’s demeanor and various witness statements. Although the methods of analyzing evidence are much more advanced now, there are still similarities to current trials where each side puts on “expert” witnesses to explain the evidence in a certain light. Although it initially appears that the case is a slam dunk for the prosecution, the defense team brings in witnesses to give an alternative theory based on forensic evidence. Not to be outdone, the prosecutor also has a surprise or two in store. There are a few interesting twists along the way.
I was very impressed by the author’s extensive research and the media accounts of the time period. Many of the newspaper articles are written objectively, without the sensationalism that has become commonplace in today’s times. One exception is an article by a Boston Sunday Post reporter who claims to have interviewed Mrs. Dodge. The article was immediately debunked by the superintendent of the prison and another newspaper.
The author provides additional information in italics about the Vermont legal system as well as his own thoughts about the case. I found this very helpful as it filled in the gaps and gave me additional insight about the trial. Even if a few descriptions in the book were a bit repetitive, I didn’t mind. It’s realistic that articles would mention some of the same details, albeit with new nuggets of information.
This book has earned a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Told in a unique format, the media accounts add depth to this interesting story. Fans of books about true crime and historical events will find this an interesting read.
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Mrs. Dodge and the House Painter
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