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Christmas 1843. A murder and a home set on fire. Mary “Polly” Bodine is accused whom PT Barnum calls “The Witch of New York.”
As you may know from documentaries and historical records Staten Island, New York has a dark history. One story known to us concerned “Staten Island’s Lizzie Borden.”
The case of Polly Bodine, one of Staten Island’s most notorious 19th-century true crime stories, centers on the brutal murder of her sister-in-law, Emeline Housman, and Emeline’s child Ann Eliza on Christmas Day, 1843. Bodine was accused of murder, robbery, and arson, with widespread scandal and notoriety resulting from the alleged crimes and her sensational trials.
The Housman residence was owned by George Housman, wife of Emeline, Mary’s (Polly) brother, who was away at sea during the event. The parents of Mary and George, Abraham and Mary Housman, lived across the way, with Polly and her children. The houses only separated by a pear tree and small grass lawn.
Polly Bodine’s legal saga involved three separate, heavily publicized murder trials across multiple New York venues from 1844 to 1846.
When the trials began Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman were journalists who commented on the case. We will discuss what they said in our video and blog entries.
“Before Amanda Knox, and Casey Anthony, Before Even Lizzie Borden, There Was Polly Bodine”
Early 2024 brought the publication of an incredible book by Alex Hortis, The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine And The Cursed Birth of Tabloid Justice
I saw posts on ol’ Twitter by the author and immediately jumped on board. Staying up to date on the book’s release and an event that was to take place at Historic Richmond Town. May 17th, 2024. This event was to be a “Mock Trial” of Polly Bodine which took place at the Third County Courthouse in Richmondtown, Staten Island. June-July 1844.
In our forthcoming blog and video entries we will discuss the event, share pictures and thoughts from those involved.
Therefore as a huge fan of this work, and having learned alot about the case, and the trial(s). My wife and I thought it would make an interesting episode of Our Strange Meanderings to tour locations associated with Polly Bodine, such as the neighborhood where the Housmans once owned property, lived, and where the murder of Emeline and Ann Eliza took place, the cemeteries where they are all buried, and the court where she was tried, plus much more.
Throughout this tour, the book as our guide, we will provide historical context, and narrative about the case and story.
We highly recommend the book, watch the trailer above, and check out the author site with links to purchase the book
Below is a little preview of On the Trail of The Witch of New York
We will keep you posted when the full video is published, and shall provide more articles here on this blog about Polly Bodine.
Stay Tuned as our article concerning The Amityville Horror is almost ready!
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