Sunday, Oct 6, 2pm.   Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave, SINY 10306.

As a crime reporter, Poe covered the notorious murder trials of Mary “Polly” Bodine, dubbed “the Witch of Staten Island” by P. T. Barnum.

On Christmas Day 1843, a young mother and her infant daughter were brutally murdered, and their house was set afire.  Several days later, Mary “Polly” Bodine was accused of killing her sister-in-law and 18 month-old niece.  Though she was tried three times for the murders, Polly was ultimately acquitted.  She lived out her long life as a nurse on Staten Island.

Poe invented the detective story, and the Bodine case informed some of his revisions to  The Mystery of Marie Roget.  Hear Polly’s story in the same courtroom where her first trial took place.  Co-sponsored by the Staten Island Women’s Bar Association.  Special guests: Hon. Barbara Irolla Panepinto (Justice, New York State Supreme Court), Hon. Yolanda Rudich (Chief of the Special Victims Unit, Office of the Richmond County District Attorney), Duane Felton, Esq (noted criminal defense counsel), Prof. Marguerite Maria Rivas & historian Patricia Salmon.

Best for ages 8 and older.

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com