Wicked Conduct: The Minister, the Mill Girl and the Murder that Captivated Old Rhode Island

by Rory Raven

This scribbled note belonged to Sarah M. Cornell, written the day her body was found hanged in a rural pasture in Tiverton, Rhode Island. An unmarried young woman of limited means, Sarah was four months pregnant, and a married Methodist minister stood accused as the father. Local authorities grew skeptical of Sarah's apparent suicide as Reverend Avery's conduct appeared increasingly suspect, and eventually the extensive evidence of their tortured relationship set off a groundswell of public interest and media attention never before seen in 1830s New England. This tragic crime left the nation clamoring for justice and became one of early America's most sensational murder trials.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 2009

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Attention fans of true crime stories and Rhode Island history: This is a well researched retelling of the trial of a Methodist minister for the murder of mill girl Sarah Maria Cornell in Tiverton, Rhode Island, in 1832. Cornell's death was already sensationalized by the media in the 19th century. Was she killed in connection with an abortion attempt or did she commit suicide? Was she Minister Avery's seducer or his victim? The story recalls others from the era that have inspired historians' accounts -- Mary Rogers, Helen Jewett, Mary Bean, even Lanah Sawyer's rape case in the 1790s -- wherein powerful male suspects escaped conviction. But I personally missed an academic framework (or even a fictionalized version?) that would make the book more than a modern translation of the trial.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical book is about a murder that took place in 1832, in which a young woman named Sarah Maria Cornell was found hanging in a stockyard. It’s immediately assumed she committed suicide, but with the finding of a note saying to look at a reverend if she goes missing, the suspicion next falls on murder, especially given that she was pregnant at the time with his baby.

Poor Sarah—or Maria, as she liked to be called—who was murdered and then found her name dragged through the mud afterward. The defence of the case based most of it on her being a loose woman. She killed herself because of falling pregnant in order to ruin the minister, Avery. She allegedly wrested money out of a man by feigning pregnancy with a pillow. Her sister claimed she got her period before a meeting and then missed it but loose women have unpredictable cycles! The baby was actually further along than expected because loose women produce smaller babies. It was just horrible and relentless and sad and yet, to the surprise of no woman alive, the minister got off.

A fascinating look at a case I’d never heard of, even if the result was frustratingly predictable.

[Kelly P · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick read, good length for a historical true crime book, not too long or repetitive, so I got through it in one sitting. But I kept waiting to feel like this case was actually special, and I just never got there. I don't know, murders happened constantly in the 1800s, and with this one there's so little actual evidence, it's almost 200 years old (194 years, to be exact) at this point, so most of the book is speculation dressed up like fact. I get that's the nature of digging up an old cold case, but it made the whole thing feel thin.
The most interesting part for me honestly wasn't the murder itself, it was seeing how much the newspapers shaped the story at the time. It's kind of wild (and honestly not surprising) to see that papers were spinning things and pushing agendas even back then. That felt more like the real story than the haystack murder itself did.
Fine for a fast, casual read if you're into this era of crime, but I finished it not really understanding why this particular case was framed as so captivating.

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

This is a historical crime book. It is a crime also known as the haystack murder, that happened in the 18th century. It is stories like this that dispel the notion crime didn’t happen as much in the past, because it did. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it intriguing. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this book to those who like crime and detective work. This was so good!

[Nick Rojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This being my 4th Rory Raven book, I've really grown to appreciate the writer's passion and style when it comes to telling the stories about a Rhode Island that has long since come and gone. He gets right to the point, but gives enough details and context to make it entertaining. This was a fascinating but sad tale, and I'm glad I read it.

[Rebecca H Newhall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, I teresti g.

Interesting narrative of a forgotten crime. Getting a glimpse of the language and opinions of the people of that era was almost as interesting as the primary story.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rory Raven is a local writer who focuses on various events of local interest. This book, which I believe was his first, looks at a murder of a young mill girl of questionable repute in Tiverton, Rhode Island in 1832. The girl in question, one Sarah M. Cornell, seemed to have started a relationship with a Reverend Avery, who served as minister at a number of churches over the years. As a result, he became the primary suspect when she was found hung in a local farmer's hay yard.

Raven does a pretty good job of presenting the events as they happened, using primary documents like press reports, letters, and illustrations/photographs. The reader is taken through two levels of court cases, including the original inquest in Tiverton and the trial that took place in Newport. What is particularly interesting is that Raven does not force on a particular perspective as to whether or not Reverent Avery was actually guilty of the murder.

The book is a little slow at times. I think this might be tied to the thoroughness of the coverage during the trial, but it was interesting to see how different witnesses presented data during the case as well as how the two sets of lawyers did everything in their power to sway opinion. There can be no question that both Sarah and Avery had trouble in the area of reputation. Ironically, she was better liked, and he seemed to really irk a lot of people around him.

Considering all of the dramatic and emotional trials that seem to clog our news in recent years, this could probably be of interest to a lot of people.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice writing by Mr. Raven. It starts with the finding of the body on a farm in 1831. Like the town people of Fall River, Massachusetts, we gradually learn more about the victim and the accused. And like the OJ Simpson trial 160 years later, lots of people took sides, and the media of the day did everything they could to sell more. You really don't know how it is going to end, either.

Great research, highly recommended. Also, very well written. Not too long, but a lot of details and humor.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 1830's a minister stood trial for hanging a mill girl in Tiverton RI he supposedly got pregnant. This was the OJ Simpson case of its day. The book is very well written and readable and long enough to cover the story but not so long as to dwell on every detail. I thought it the best local history book I ever read and I have read many and most are barely readable.