The Clue of the Blue Bottle

05/14/20 • 42 min

4 Listeners

On a spring day in 1919, a woman’s body was found bound, gagged, and strangled in a garden in Barre, Vermont. Who was she? Who killed her? In this episode, we try to solve a cold case - reopening a century-old murder investigation - as a way to uncover the history of evidence itself. What is a clue? What is a fact? What is a mystery? We put the pieces of the puzzle together: photographs, newspaper articles, a private eye’s notebook, the trial record and, last but not least, a trip to the scene of the crime.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Previous Episode

Introducing The Last Archive

The Last Archive: a new podcast about the history of evidence written and hosted by New Yorker writer, author, and celebrated historian Jill Lepore.

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Next Episode

Detection of Deception

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When James Frye, a young black man, is charged with murder under unusual circumstances in 1922, he trusts his fate to a strange new machine: the lie detector. Why did the lie detector’s inventor, William Moulton Marston, a psychology professor and lawyer, think a machine could tell if a human being is lying better than a jury? And what does it all have to do with Wonder Woman?

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The Last Archive - The Clue of the Blue Bottle

Transcript Summary

In "The Clue of the Blue Bottle," The Last Archive invites listeners to delve into a compelling murder investigation from 1919. Historian Jilla Bore, akin to a coroner, aims to solve the mystery surrounding Lucina Broadwell's tragic death in the midst of the Spanish flu pandemic. As renowned reporter James R. Wood uncovers intricate details of the murder and subsequent trial, an unexpected clue emerges—a torn shirtwaist with a man's handkerchief tied around Lucina's neck. The investigation takes a riveting turn, focusing on George Long, who becomes the prime suspect. With intense interrogations and courtroom drama, the case raises questions about truth and justice, lingering long after the trial concludes. Tune in to uncover the secrets of this haunting murder case, leaving one to wonder: who really killed Lucina Broadwell?

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:15.396

Pushkin. There's a place in our world where the known things go, A corridor of the mind. Along the walls, shelves stucked with proof, and all around a clutter of clues.

Speaker 100:00:36.716

Here's a photograph of a corpse. Paste it onto the page of a moldering leather bound album. Here a teetering stack of newspapers tied with twine. Oh, and this, this is very good. A detective's notebook smells like tobacco. And

The Clue of the Blue Bottle Top Questions Answered

What is the podcast episode 'The Clue of the Blue Bottle' about?

The episode is about a murder mystery that occurred in 1919 in Barry, Vermont, and explores the history of evidence and knowledge.

Who was the victim in the murder case discussed in the episode?

The victim was Lucina Courser Broadwell, a 29-year-old woman with three children.

What was the cause of Lucina Broadwell's death?

Lucina Broadwell died due to homicide by strangulation, as recorded on her death certificate.

Who was initially suspected of the murder?

Lucina's husband, Harry Broadwell, was initially suspected, as he had a history of violence towards her.

Who was called to solve the murder case?

James R. Wood, a private detective from Boston, was called to solve the murder case.

What evidence aroused suspicion against George Long?

A torn shirtwaist and a man's handkerchief with a laundry mark led detective James Wood to suspect George Long, as he claimed the handkerchief was borrowed by George.

What charge was George Long convicted of?

George Long was convicted of second-degree murder based on the evidence presented during the trial.

What did the evidence reveal about Lucina Broadwell's use of birth control?

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Lucina had been using birth control, which was considered obscene at the time and deemed unprintable.

What led to George Long's conviction?

George Long's conviction was influenced by his admission of providing Lucina with birth control and lying about it, suggesting a motive and opportunity for the crime.

What challenges did the podcast host reflect upon when visiting the scene of the crime?

The podcast host reflected on the limitations of historical records and the difficulties in uncovering the truth when visiting the scene of the crime.

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