The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Cursed Birth of Tabloid Justice

by C. Alexander Hortis

Before the sensational cases of Amanda Knox and Casey Anthony—before even Lizzie Borden—there was Polly Bodine, the first American woman put on trial for capital murder in our nation’s debut media circus.

On Christmas night, December 25, 1843, in a serene village on Staten Island, shocked neighbors discovered the burnt remains of twenty-four-year-old mother Emeline Houseman and her infant daughter, Ann Eliza. In a perverse nativity, someone bludgeoned to death a mother and child in their home—and then covered up the crime with hellfire.

When an ambitious district attorney charges Polly Bodine (Emelin’s sister-in-law) with a double homicide, the new “penny press” explodes. Polly is a perfect media she’s a separated wife who drinks gin, commits adultery, and has had multiple abortions. Between June 1844 and April 1846, the nation was enthralled by her three trials—in Staten Island, Manhattan, and Newburgh—for the “Christmas murders.”

After Polly’s legal dream team entered the fray, the press and the public debated not only her guilt, but her character and fate as a fallen woman in society. Public opinion split into different camps over her case. Edgar Allen Poe and Walt Whitman covered her case as young newsmen. P. T. Barnum made a circus out of it. James Fenimore Cooper’s last novel was inspired by her trials.

The Witch of New York  is the first narrative history about the dueling trial lawyers, ruthless newsmen, and shameless hucksters who turned the Polly Bodine case into America’s formative tabloid trial. An origin story of how America became addicted to sensationalized reporting of criminal trials,  The Witch of New York  vividly reconstructs an epic mystery from Old New York—and uses the Bodine case to challenge our system of tabloid justice of today.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Crime, Historical, American History

Audiobook

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

"[A] fascinating look at the crime and what came after...the reader is rewarded by the increasingly bonkers trials and their fallout." -New York Times book review

"Hortis's fastidious historical detail makes this episode come to life.... Fans of Daniel Stashower will love this." -Publishers Weekly *STARRED* Review

Book trailer for The Witch of New York is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYoSB...

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

The right to an unbiased/impartial jury at a public trial is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. Polly Bodine was not only tried at court by biased individuals, but by the court of public opinion, the media, and even P. T. Barnum made a joke and circus of her trial. Polly was a woman who enjoyed gin, was separated from her husband, commits adultery, and reportedly had abortions. Edgar Allen Poe and Walt Whitman were newsmen at the time who covered her case.

Polly had been accused of killing her brother's wife, Emeline Houseman and her infant Ann Eliza. Their murders will be known as the “Christmas murders.”

I listened to the audiobook which I felt was terrific. Fans of True Crime will enjoy this book. I enjoyed hearing the court cases, the lawyers back and forth in court, the information on the judges, the jury, the way the public wanted to see her hang no matter if she was guilty or not. She was viewed as a fallen woman in the publics opinion and deserved to suffer. Dubbed The Witch of New York, the newspapers/tabloids sensationalized the case, presented Polly in the worst possible light, and made it hard to find impartial jurors. But was she innocent? Was she the villain she was painted to be? Readers can form their own opinions.

I enjoyed learning about this case and how this case gave birth to sensationalized tabloid journalism. The amount of research that went into the writing of this book was impressive. I enjoyed how it was presented. I also enjoyed how it was shown that public opinion and news media can sway jurors. Did tabloids interfere with legal justice?

I found this to be well done, interesting, and well thought out. I enjoy books that are not only educational but move me. I was not aware of this case prior to listening to the audiobook. I was also annoyed by how some of the professionals did not properly do their jobs, making sure the jurors were unbiased.

This was a gripping, well thought out, wonderfully narrated true crime book.

#TheWitchofNewYork #NetGalley #SpotifyAudiobooks #AlexHortis #TrueCrime

Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Marialyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Polly! Her trial for the murder of her sister in law, Emmeline, and her baby niece was put on trial for capital murder. Polly was no saint. She was a divorced woman who drinks, is an adulterer, has had abortions, so she presents as the perfect villain.

This is the 1843 and what was then the penny press, runs with articles about Polly and more or less convicts her in the press., and we thought this was a modern age travesty! She is tried three times over in Staten Island, Manhattan, and Newburgh. Even some famous names entered the hysteria surrounding the Christmas murders, like Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman, PT Barnum, and later James Fennimore Cooper.

It became a media circus something we are so use to today. The media drove this trial and no matter how talented the defense team was, it didn't really matter as Polly was already convicted by the frenzy created by hucksters.

This was a frightening story for the reason that people were convinced by the press not by the evidence which at times was very strong that she murdered wantonly.

Was she guilty? Only a jury should decide not the press!
Fascinating material that was at times presented in a laborious way.

[Yamini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even after being stated as a well-known fact, it never sits right with me to see how women have been conjured to black magic and witchcraft for their sheer existence in history. This book starts with the most widely known Salem trials and diffused into the Polly Bodine case that stretched out for years. The author articulates the impact of media on such scenarios and how strongly it influenced the mob and jury to sway their allegations. In a normal court of law, one has to prove a crime is committed, but in her case, she had to constantly provide the corroboration of her innocence.

The books. Movies and podcasts that focus on true crime have their own fanbase, though it has always appeared to me leveraging these in the form of entertainment is outrageous. It is the actual life of someone we are talking about here, commercialing on its sensation is amiss.

While I am thankful to be aware of these events of the past that bring to light the injustices of history, I can't really say I enjoyed reading it as it made me feel really sad for the most part. This book is certainly not everyone's cup of tea, but people with a strong stomach can certainly give this a try.

Thank you @netgalley @alexhortis5 and @spotify for the digital ARC.
Genre: #nonfiction #truecrime
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️

[Darcia Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally love historical true crime, but this book was a struggle to get through.

The research seems impeccable. But the writing is primarily a regurgitation of historical information, verbatim. Most of this story is told via quotes from newspaper articles and trial activity. Since this case occurred in the mid 1800s, the language is clunky and the opposite of engaging.

The bit of writing interspersed by the author is much more dry textbook than engaging narrative. These bits are designed to move us from one quoted passage to another, informing us of timelines and tying together events, without really adding much independently. I would have much preferred it if the author had taken all that research and told us the story in his own voice, with only an occasional historical quote.

Also, the tie-in to Walt Whitman and Edgar Allan Poe is tangential and irrelevant to the case. Whitman happened to work for a newspaper, and some of his later articles were quoted. Poe had little to do with any of it, aside from offering his opinion on the case.

[Linds · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Amanda Knox of 1843.

This is a true-crime account of Polly Bodine. When her sister in law and her SIL’s baby were burned to death in a terrible crime, Polly Bodine was blamed.

There was little to no evidence but Polly openly slept with men that were not her husband, drank gin, and had abortions. She was quickly tried in public court and the press.

[bookworm Rosie 🤓📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's sad how this woman spent 3 1/2 years in a prison to finally receive a not guilty verdict because of the press and the reputation she had in that time. they all accused her of murdering 2 of her family members . her lover who has also being accused was set free first to later pick up and leave the country leaving Polly all alone while the system and the press ripped her apart . it's sad that after the verdict people saw her as a murder and later she moves to a disclose location and past away with no one else mourning her death but her 2 children . they never found the murder who killed the victims and burned the house down. she was the first woman to be treated in this matter due to the press and later on there were other women that also went to this ordeal as well . it just comes to show how powerful the press can be especially today. I enjoyed the book but also feel sorry for Mary " Polly" bodine for what she had to go through to finally be free but still was treated as a murder after all she went through.

[Leah M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The title is what caught my attention, and the fact that I’ve never even heard about Polly Bodine or this case, which made major headlines at the time. We’re all very familiar with the way that cases are tried in the media before a court decision is ever rendered, and the way that people are trial are put through the wringer in the media. But our society is also more than familiar with the right that an accused person has to a fair and unbiased trial. It was this case that highlighted that need and made this a landmark case.

I was approved for the audiobook of this, and the narrator did a fantastic job with this book. Erin Bennett presents all of the information in a clear voice that makes it all feel easy to stay focused on.

This is a really well-researched book. There’s so much information being presented in the story, and it couldn’t have been easy to wade through all of the conflicting reports—the scathing news stories, the court records, the character attacks, and the aggravating nature of following a case from the 1840s, and seeing how misogyny and prejudice played a role in her character assassination.

While there isn’t any witchcraft that actually occurs in the story, society hasn’t changed very much in the nearly 200 years since these events occurred. Women who don’t fit into the expectations of society, whatever the changing norms are, get labeled as witches, as something outside the norm, as women with loose morals, bad character, and more. The newspapers of the time, with headlines written by famous names like Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman, printed images accompanying the stories that depicted her as a hook-nosed witch. And since this was the first time that a court case was accompanied by media involvement, there was no established protocol to prevent the jury from making a decision about Polly Bodine in advance of hearing any evidence at all, thereby preventing her from receiving a fair and unbiased trial.

There are so many facts presented. Readers are given the relatively scanty evidence collected by the police, as well as the court documents of prosecution and defense sides. However, we learn so much about how crime scene processing has evolved over the years between then and now. There were so many ways in which the investigation fell short of collecting potentially important evidence, but at the same time, there was no way to analyze the evidence that would be vital to an investigation today—microscopic evidence, bloodstains, burn patterns, and the bones themselves.

Ultimately, this wound up being a bit more of a slow paced read than I was expecting, and it wound up being a bit repetitive in a lot of parts. I found it incredibly frustrating to hear about how poorly Polly was treated simply for being a woman who was involved with a man she was not married to, for becoming pregnant out of wedlock, or for behaving in a way that society deems outside of expected roles. But at the same time, I liked how there was at least one person in Polly’s corner, fighting for her to get a fair trial. This is the kind of book that is going to stay with me because Polly deserves to have a more fair picture of her painted for history to remember her by than the one in the media of her day, but I struggled to really connect with the story.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 5 out of 5]

C Alexander Hortis takes readers on a deep dive into the trials of Mary “Polly” Bodine, who, in 1844, was accused of murdering her SIL and her infant niece, then setting fire to their home.

With only circumstantial evidence, prosecutors tried Mary three times with one hung jury, one guilty verdict which was later overturned and one innocent verdict.

The cards were stacked against Mary, who left her alcoholic and abusive husband after two years of marriage. Rumors of her promiscuity and prostitution plagued Mary, though she came from a reputable family of means. She became pregnant, further tarnishing her reputation. In mid nineteenth century New York, women who had to live like Mary, through no fault of their own, were assumed guilty of causing their situation, even if their husbands left them.

The audiobook narrator of THE WITCH OF NEW YORK did a fantastic job bringing she story to life. Her voice made interesting what would otherwise have been dull parts of the book.

The stark differences between trial protocols then and now made for interesting reading. Only men were allowed on juries and judges could allow in or out based on their opinions rather than law.

If you’re a true crime buff, THE WITCH OF NEW YORK is a must read.

[NaTaya Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit. This book isn't exactly what I expected it to be when I requested it. Even so, I was interested in it because I love true crime books, and I had never heard about the Polly Bodine case. Most true crime books aren't about women, so that drew my interest immediately.

Even so, in execution, it fell a little flat for me.

Let's talk about the pros first:

- The book was obviously well-researched. For a case I've never even heard of, this author came up with a WEALTH of information. I was very impressed with the level of detail that went into this book. Well done, author. This case took place at a time before media was so involved in court cases, but at the same time, media DID play a large role in this particular case. It was interesting to see how that played out.

- The book doesn't shy away from addressing "sensitive" topics like misogyny and the particular prejudice against women -- particularly women who strayed outside the bonds of marriage -- during the time this trial took place.

- The narration for the audio book was excellent. It was clear, and the speaker had an engaging voice that made it easy to pay attention.

Now the cons:

- While the level of detail and research was phenomenal, it also made it hard to get through the book at times. It slowed the pacing down and made some sections pretty tedious and -- I won't say boring -- but definitely less than captivating. There was also a certain level of repetitiveness that made it difficult to slog through at times.

- At times, the book read more like a history book than a novel. And while that's to be expected somewhat with any true crime story, this one suffered from that more than most.

- The story itself -- the crime and the actual events -- weren't super exciting. That, of course, is not the writer's fault. But when placed beside stories about Manson, BTK, and Ed Kemper (other true crime books I've loved and read), it leaves a lot to be desired.

Ultimately, I'm glad I read the book. It was an interesting and pivotal case that (it seems) really stressed the importance of "non-biased trials." But I can't give it more than three stars.

[Karyl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve long been interested in how women have been perceived throughout history because it’s rarely positive. Go back to Adam and Eve, when women are blamed for all that is evil in the world. So when I learned about this court case in which a woman was accused of murder, and tried more in the tabloids than in a court of justice, I was intrigued. Alas, this book did not deliver as much as I was hoping.

Perhaps a woman author would have been more sympathetic to the plight of Mary (aka Polly) Bodine. But in his afterword, Hortis posits that Bodine most likely murdered her sister-in-law and niece. Yet he even mentions in passing that it would have been difficult for a woman who is eight months pregnant to bludgeon a grown woman, taller than she, to death. And there is truly no motive. She knew quite well that the large amount of money her brother had was kept at her father’s home, so why murder her sister-in-law? She could simply have stolen the goods from her sister-in-law and pawned that if she needed money, no killing necessary. I fear some of the negative press Bodine received in life may have tainted the author’s opinion.

As scandalous as this case was in the mid 1800s, this book ends up being quite dry. We don’t really know who Mary Bodine is, other than a woman who married as a teenager to a man who was drunk and violent, and who returned to her father’s house after only a few years. Then she took up with another man, which seemed to be a love match. She was pregnant by him, and then her sister-in-law and her niece are murdered. There is very little evidence of a rash of abortions undertaken by Bodine, but even if she had any, abortion was not illegal at that time. Still, a woman’s reason to have an abortion is simply that she is choosing not to have that child. Especially in the mid 1800s, a woman was taking her life in her hands every time she became pregnant. It is no surprise that Bodine, had she become pregnant by Waites multiple times, would have chosen not to carry these babies to term. Again, I feel a female author would have been a bit more sympathetic.

Most of this book is a retelling of Bodine’s three trials, usually verbatim. It makes for a rather dry read as well, as scandalous as this case was supposed to be at the time. Hortis also repeats not only the misogynistic reporting of Bodine but also the many antisemitic slurs spoken by the press and the legal community. In no way did Bodine ever get a fair trial.

While it is clear that Hortis did a great deal of research for this book, I fear some of the yellow journalism may have seeped into his own opinions of these events. I would prefer to read another book by another author on this subject to compare the two.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is either a wonderful coincidence or brilliant marketing ploy to have "The Witch of New York" drop on Super Tuesday 2024. Not only does Alex Hortis' nonfiction text depict the interesting and little known murder trial of Polly Bodine (1843-1844), but it also reviews the corresponding birth of tabloid journalism, an element of modern life that no one can avoid and that will revel in the frenzied primaries of Super Tuesday. Hortis' writing was plain but clear. Historical context, legal, criminal and medical details, and research were offered without embellishment of this "true crime." I appreciated that the information was neither dumbed down nor technically inscrutable and was not at all surprised to see that Hortis is a constitutional lawyer. I have not read his "The Mob and the City" but would certainly do so if it came my way. Historians and true crime lovers will enjoy this non-fiction work.

TW: murder, violence, abortion

"The Witch of New York" is due to be released in the U.S. on March 5, 2024. Thanks to Spotify Audiobooks, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for this audio ARC given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Caroline Bare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me awhile to read because it was so detailed, but the intersection between sensational “journalism” and the social norms of gender roles and growth of popular court cases was really interesting.

[Shweta Ganesh Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and well-written non-fiction book on the birth of tabloid justice. Highly recommended for anyone who has a taste for true crime, detective novels, courtroom dramas and historical non-fiction.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-fiction tale of a woman accused of murder and the impact that tabloid reporting had on her case. This wa an interesting story linked to the kind of sensationalism and false reporting we see now.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have been 4 but the last third dragged along. Also no witchcraft charges were included so it felt a little misleading

[Megh Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5**

[Al Menaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of interesting. Trials were so different then, the evidence that came in was astounding. There was almost no evidence against Polly, but she had 3 jury trials. In 1844.

[Barb reads......it ALL! · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seemed a bit slow in parts, but it was fascinating to read the newspaper accounts of the murders and the trail coverage. Even in 1948, there was gutter press!

[Matthew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid read, great for anyone into true crime

[Hannah Knotts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story!!! Loved the format. Probably my first time in a really long time dipping my toes into nonfiction for funzies. Highly recommend to any true crime nerd!

[Esperanza Navarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story. The true crime story of Polly Bodine of New York, 1843. The role the media/tabloids played in shaping public opinion. The way women were treated. Factoring a person’s way of life in determining guilt or innocence.

Seems not much has changed! I found it interesting how Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman entered their opinions into the ring.

Well written book. Lists the full “cast of characters” in the first chapter, but each person is introduced as the story is told. Audiobook is well narrated.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, loved all the real quotes. While the in-depth biographies into side characters can occasionally “lose the plot”, the history was interesting all the same.

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting presentation of the 3 actual trials of a woman named Mary "Polly" Bodine who was accused in 1843 of murdering her sister-in-law and the almost 2-year-old daughter to cover the theft of items she needed to sell to pay for her abortion of the child she had conceived secretly by her lover. She had been married at 16 to an older man, with whom she had 2 children who were at the time of these events considered adults. She had been separated from her husband for years now after he was found guilty of bigamy and jailed, and he had been abusing her during his drunken sprees. He died while in prison, so she was technically a widow. This book goes through all three of the trials, in which the same prosecutors tried to get the death penalty for the accused and repeatedly used verbal impressions not facts to prove their version of the events that caused the deaths. Mary Brodine's defense lawyers prevailed in disclosing and finding facts to disprove the verbal accusations. It highly reminded me of how in today's world social media affects public opinion and creates negative false impressions of the truth. In the historical period of this trial, newspapers or their more popular publications called penny papers influenced popular opinion. It didn't help that women didn't have any rights to express their minds and voices, had to rely on men for support, and were not allowed to own property or have money in their names. Mary Brodine was characterized by the hideous figure made by Barum, during his pre-Circus days, and put on display in his American Museum. an NYC paper The New York Herald had an illustration picture of her which was posted above all their reports of her trials. National Police Gazette made a woodcut illustration of Mary Bodine alongside a picture illustration of their version of the murders, plus a fictionalized story pamphlet was put out in 1846 and distributed to the readers, It was called the Early Life and the Complete Trial of Mary, alias Polly Bodine. Edgar Allen Poe and Walt Whitman were both writers of crime storytelling during this period before their other more famous works. It was their stylized telling of crime, and police solving that started the reporting recordings for the Police Gazette, plus all those crime-solving books we have today. Fact that this book was based on true historical facts is quite telling about how justice can be manipulated

[Maeghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked parts of this book, but found it too long and repetitive. Three trials AND an appeal? All while quoting the same newspapers? It was just to repetitive. As with many of the spectators at the time, I too was getting frustrated that no one would make a decision on what to do with her! The narrator was good, a little awkward when saying "ha ha ha" when the courts would laugh but it was kinda cute too.

I honestly don't know if Polly did the murder she was accused of. There's definitely some stuff that was suspicious, but there's also a lot of other things that point to a third party. It's also hard to read into it further since there is so little out there. I mean she doesn't even have a Wiki page! The irony of being so over publicized and yet almost being forgotten now is not lost on me.

I'll definitely borrow the print of this from the library once it's released, I'd really like to see any photos that may be included. Overall this book was good, but was just too repetitive. Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!

[Megan Rang · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****I received this audiobook free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

If you are a fan of true crime this is for you. This book takes you back to 1843 to the scene of a horrific murder. It walks you through the collection of evidence and the trials that follow. It also demonstrates how much media can influence an outcome even that far back in history.

[Paul Sutter]

Some might think that the thirst for true crime stories and sordid tales that are the talk of social media, is a most recent phenomenon. Truth of the matter is, it began decades, or rather a century before this. Polly Bodine became the symbol for a lone female against the justice system, the first woman to be put on trial for first degree murder. It turned into a media frenzy long before the Internet, television, and instantaneous news stories that circled the world in seconds.
It was Christmas night in 1843, when the grisly discovery of the burnt remains of twenty-four year old mother Emeline Housman, and baby daughter Ana Eliza. It was a sight that many would never forget. A fire was set to try and disguise the heinous act that had gone on that night. It was not long before a district attorney pointed his finger at Polly Bodine, who was the sister-in-law of Emeline. For its time, the public had a thirst for murder and scandal, the time right for this to be the crime of the decade, as Polly was perfect fodder for the media and those thirsty for scandal. It was as if she had the scarlet letter imprinted on her body, as she was seen as guilty even before any trial.
She was separated from her very abusive husband, drank gin, and had several abortions, which seemed to right away equate that with guilt and murder. Accusing fingers were pointed right at her, as a trial was in the offing. But there was also an indication that robbery may have been a motive as well, as Polly went to several shops, pawning items that reportedly were part of Emeline’s possessions.
The fascinating thing is that some of the most famous people of that era were obsessed and inspired by the imminent trial. Edgar Allen Poe and Walt Whitman covered the trial, along with P. T. Barnum who created a wax figure of a witch, that was thought to be Polly, in one of his museums. James Fennimore Cooper, noted author of Last Of The Mohicans, supposedly based his final book on the court trial involving Polly.
The court trials were good for certain business, as the newspapers fought to get the story out, not bothering sometimes to approve the truth. Scandal sold, and the more lurid and sordid the headlines, the more papers sold.
Polly was subjected to not one, not two, but three trials, each one resulting in the fact a jury could not conclusively find her guilty. Was she guilty? Was she a victim? Author Nortis looks at her life from all angles and sides, giving readers a most thorough and engaging story of a crime many are unfamiliar with. Those who enjoy true crime, will find the book a remarkable and hard-to-put-down classic.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Emma and Anna liza Houseman were found dead under the rubble of their burnt home her sister-in-law Polly Bodine was quickly arrested. It was Christmas 1843 her husband William was the captain of a ship and on his way Home to celebrate the new year with this small family. As a police gathered evidence all signs pointed to Polly and when she got word of it she tried to escape the area only to be brought in by a friend. Polly‘s life had its own problems when her husband went to jail for bigamy and left her still married and in love with George Dare apothecary owner in New York who she was heavy with child for at the time of her arrest. There would be many rumors and speculation as to what happened and three trials to determine whether or not she was guilty. The defense would try to disparage witnesses by bringing up their race and immigration status but in the end it would be her son testifying against her that would become even more father for newspaper reporters. I have said many times that historical True Crime is my favorite genre and this one did not disappoint it set an antiquity stone in the narrator did an awesome job as I mentioned the distance kept bringing up witnesses immigration status in the race and I love that the judge at the time in 1844 reprimanded them saying whether you are a Jew or gentile does not have bearing on whether you are honest or not this was a really great dog it is not bark down in detail but tells the story and then on packs it piece by piece to give the whole view of what happened I absolutely loved it and totally enjoyed listening to help people talk back then and what was acceptable and what was not I myself didn’t know what to think of Miss Polly but I did think she was guilty and wanted to thousand dollars per in Georgia thought her husband had FaceTime money is the root of all evil and I do believe that was the case with the couple. I was sad when she lost her unborn baby while in a dank dingy prison but choices are like steps and every time we make one we should always try to determine it is the best step to get where we want to be in obviously poly wasn’t looking where she was walking. I love this book again as I said the narrator was top notch and I cannot recommend this book enough. I want to thank Spotify audio, the author and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Haley Ivey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not generally a non-fiction reader (it's just not the genre I typically gravitate towards), but I wanted to read this book because the premise sounded really interesting and it's a person and event I didn't previously know anything about so that intrigued me. I genuinely thought the way the author Alex Hortis told the story was really interesting and definitely reminded me a well-detailed true crime podcast (definitely with less dramatization, though). I will say I really appreciated the way the book was outlined (intro to story with cast of characters upfront, chronological telling of events in the case, and then conclusion and final thoughts). I'm more of an analytical person, so the attention to detail was a big plus for me. But I also enjoyed how the author's tone shown through in the recounting of events, as well. There were just moments here and there in his writing style that alluded to why Mary "Polly" Bodine's story is so important to know and not forget (since so much of the prejudice and unjustness of her story is still relevant today).

Listening to the audiobook was honestly the best way, I think, personally for me to have consumed this book. Due to nature of the story (specifically the multiple court cases held against Polly), sometimes the facts began to feel repetitive at times. I think Alex still did a good job with telling an accurate portrayal of the events so this was just an unfortunate side effect of that, as facts of the case had to be rehatched often. But I think the narrator, Erin Bennett, did a good job with her reading of the book and that made those parts easier to parse through as she kept such an even, clear voice throughout the audiobook.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this read. Though it definitely felt slower-paced at times, I think Alex Hortis did a phenomenal job not only recounting the trials of Polly Bodine, but also the woman. Whose character was defamed publicly in such a demoralizing, brutal way. Both by the press and by the courts. She deserved a better immortalization than the "witch" she was depicted as.

Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify for graciously sending me the audiobook to review in exchange for an honest review!

[Yaritza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The brutal murder of a young woman and her child will flip the lives of those living on Long Island on a Christmas night in 1843. The case against Polly Bodine will portray her as an evil witch who needs to get punished for the murders of her sister-in-law, Emeline Houseman, and her niece, Ann Eliza. Emeline and Ann were killed and burned in their home. It was a gruesome murder of two innocent lives. Can the court find Polly Bodine guilty of this heinous crime?

Polly's trials will drag on for three and a half years and will be the talk of everyone who reads the newspaper or lives near where the court cases get held. The first case is in Long Island, but she has an unfair trial. Then, the case moves to Manhattan, where the newspapers will tarnish her reputation and create Polly as an evil witch, which will dissuade everyone in New York that she is guilty of the murders. A new trial will occur in Newburgh, where the jury will reach a decision.

Alex Hortis shared a story with which many people were unfamiliar. He researched the three trials thoroughly, providing readers with a glimpse into a trial that took place many years ago, was famous at the time, but got forgotten with time. I learned about this story when I saw Alex would be discussing the book at the exact location where the Newburgh trial took place. Sitting in the precise location where Polly Bodine stood trial made this rollercoaster case seem surreal. I was back to a moment in history. Organizing the book into four sections, naming each chapter, and providing dates when the events took place made the story easy to follow.

He provided detailed information about the court cases, Polly's life, and the media frenzy that fueled the witch trial to portray Polly as guilty and a witch figure. In my opinion, Polly was guilty. Her running away when she found out about the murders, had written a mysterious letter to her lover, and was seen as the woman who sold Emeline's property raised more questions than answers. You must read this epic trial to decide whether or not you find Polly guilty.

[Debra Gaynor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Witch of New York
The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Cursed Birth of Tabloid Justice
C Alexander Hortis
Throughout the years there have been several notorious women that have caught the attention of the nation because of a crime. However, the first American female tried for murder was Polly Bodine. It was December 25, 1843, on Staten Island. There was a devastating fire; sifting through the charred wood and ashes two bodies were found. One of the deceased was Emeline Houseman, twenty-four years of age. Beside her was her infant child, Ann Eliza. The bodies were burned but death was caused by bludgeoning. The fire was merely an attempt at covering up the crime.
Polly Bodine, the sister-in-law of the Emeline Houseman was accused of the two murders. The tabloids saw their opportunity to grow and develop their papers and sell, sell, sell. They filled their pages with stories about the accused. The public wanted answers; they wanted information and on the go the tabloids gave them information.
The public tried MS Bodine not only on whether she was guilty of murder but also on her moral character. Edgar Allen Poe and Walt Whitman wrote about the case and James Fenimore was inspired to write by Polly.
In this novel you will find ruthless newsmen, the truth is unimportant as long she you sell papers. As I listened to this book I could not help but remember OJ Simpson and how his trial became a farce. Everyone wanted a piece of the action. It gave people an opportunity to write a book. I’m not saying whether Simpson was guilty or not I am saying the press used situation to their advantage. Remember watching Simpson in the infamous Ford White Bronco, we were a nation glued to the TV
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book from review.