Shotgun Jennie
Investigating Michigan’s Black Widow
$25.00
In stock
About the Book
In the spring of 1903, Nancy Jeanette Flood stood accused of a horrific crime—bewitching two elderly bachelors and luring one of them to his premature doom. Far from a romantic story of a love triangle gone wrong, Jennie’s is an earthy tale of a desperate woman, a cranky handyman, and a few sizable life insurance policies.
Condemned as a ruthless Black Widow by suspicious neighbors and convicted by a sensationalized press, she became known as the woman that area residents loved to hate. This book is a historical investigation of the woman behind the headlines, drawing on archival documents and never-before-seen crime scene sketches to uncover the true story of Jennie Flood and the crime that rocked Michigan at the turn of the century.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Tobin T. Buhk
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 255
Bibliographic Info: 28 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2025
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9384-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5415-7
Imprint: Exposit
Table of Contents
Preface: A Witch or a Witch Hunt? 1
Introduction: The “Real” Ada Witch 2
Key Figures in the Flood Case, April 21, 1903 6
Part 1—The Crime
1. April Fool’s Day: Tuesday, April 21, 1903 11
2. Last Supper: Wednesday, April 22, 1903 25
3. The Chair: Thursday, April 23, 1903 27
4. Jailbirds: Friday, April 24, 1903 39
5. The Noose: Saturday, April 25–Sunday, April 26, 1903 46
6. The Coroner’s Inquest: Tuesday, April 28, 1903 55
7. Jennie Speaks, Again: Wednesday, April 29, 1903 65
8. Six Feet Under: Thursday, April 30, 1903 71
9. Arraignment: Friday, May 1, 1903 73
10. Examination: Monday, May 4, 1903 75
11. If Looks Could Kill: Thursday, May 7, 1903 79
12. Humpty-Dumpty: Monday, May 11, 1903 86
13. Double, Double, Toil and Trouble: Tuesday, May 12, 1903 88
14. Defense-Less: Wednesday, May 13, 1903 90
15. “TRY HER!”: Saturday, May 16, 1903 92
16. Greetings from the Third Floor: Thursday, October 1, 1903 98
Part 2—The Trial
17. Witness for the Prosecution: Thursday, October 22–Friday, October 23, 1903 103
18. The First Sensation: Saturday, October 24, 1903 113
19. Mrs. Flood Speaks: Monday, October 26–Tuesday, October 27, 1903 118
20. Pettis for the Defense: Wednesday, October 28, 1903 121
21. “The most gruesome relic”: Thursday, October 29 124
22. Chamber of Horrors: Saturday, October 31, 1903 129
23. Case for the Defense: Monday, November 2, 1903 133
24. Justice Is a Blood-Streaked Dish: Tuesday, November 3, 1903 137
25. Head Case: Wednesday, November 4, 1903 140
26. The Pen Is Mightier Than the Shotgun: Thursday, November 5, 1903 143
27. Jack-in-the-Box: Friday, November 6–Saturday, November 7, 1903 147
28. Endgame: Monday, November 9–Tuesday, November 10, 1903 151
29. Verdict: Wednesday, November 11–Friday, November 13, 1903 157
Part 3—The Prisoner
30. From Detroit, with Love: December 1903 167
31. Fingleton’s Folly: Saturday, January 23, 1904 170
32. Things Aren’t Always What They Seem: May 10, 1907 178
33. Model Prisoner: November 6, 1907 185
34. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Flood”: Saturday, December 23, 1916 187
35. Alas, Poor John London! I Knew Him: Epilogue 193
36. Witch or Witch-Hunt: A Reexamination of the Case Against Nancy Jeanette Flood 200
Appendix 1: Affidavit of Jeanette Flood 205
Appendix 2: Jennie Flood’s Crime Scene Sketches 216
Appendix 3: Finding and Losing Jennie 221
Chapter Notes 227
Bibliography 241
Index 243
