PORTLAND — Annette Vance Dorey will speak about her book, “Maine Mothers Who Murdered 1875 to 1925: Doing Time in State Prison” at the Friday Local Author Series on Sept. 14 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Portland Public Library.
A news release from the Library describes the book as follows:
Most people don’t realize that scores of women and girls years ago were incarcerated in the state prison at Thomaston, or that several dozen were murderers. “Maine Mothers Who Murdered” reveals the previously untold stories of over 30 mothers accused of murder. What happened at their trials? Who was acquitted?
Dorey will give an illustrated talk about this new book and share stories about researching and creating the book. Those women’s disturbing stories are an unknown part of our history. They form a backdrop for a revealing look into our early criminal justice system and our culture. Dorey studied the mothers’ marital status, family relationships and economic struggles. The mothers (from ages 18 to 53) came from 12 of Main’s 16 counties. They were sentenced to hard labor or from one year to life in prison.
Persistent research led to discoveries about the early conditions and staff at the Maine State Prison and the pardon process.
Rarely have Maine’s prison histories mentioned female inmates, where they were generally ignored, compared to the attention they received in court and in the press.
For more information, call 871-1700.
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