In December of 1900, John Hossack was found murdered in his bed. His skull had been crushed in as his wife, Margaret, lay next to him in bed. She claimed she slept through the entire attack that killed her husband, but did she? Or did she take an axe and give her husband a couple of whacks?
Listen to this episode where I discuss my process of how I wrote 'Mama Margaret Took an Axe'. Also, go check out my other podcast all about writing called 'Fighting for Writing' - available wherever you get your podcasts. Check out my Instagram at tatepresents. My website at tatesapb.com and subscribe and share.
30 Oct 2023
My Thoughts
What do I think about the murder of John Hossack and the trial of Margaret Hossack? Do I think she was guilty? Who do I think murdered John? Listen here to find out my thoughts on everything about this case.
If you liked this episode, please subscribe and share. You
can follow my production channel on Instagram @tatepresents.
Sources: Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America’s
Heartland by Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf. Their website is here: https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html (https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html)
Susan Glaspell’s (reporter present at the trial) writings - https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf (https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf)
Short Description - https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/ (https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/)
23 Oct 2023
The End
What happened to Margaret Hossack and her family after her trial and verdict? Listen here to find out.
If you liked this episode, please subscribe and share. You
can follow my production channel on Instagram @tatepresents.
Sources: Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America’s
Heartland by Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf. Their website is here: https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html (https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html)
Susan Glaspell’s (reporter present at the trial) writings - https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf (https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf)
Short Description - https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/ (https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/)
16 Oct 2023
The Trial
Margaret Hossack is put on trial for the murder of her husband John, but what will the jury think? Did she brutally murder her husband in their bed after thirty-two years of marriage, or was she an innocent woman?
If you liked this episode, please subscribe and share. You
can follow my production channel on Instagram @tatepresents.
Sources: Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America’s
Heartland by Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf. Their website is here: https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html (https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html)
Susan Glaspell’s (reporter present at the trial) writings - https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf (https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf)
Short Description of case - https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/ (https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/)
9 Oct 2023
The Murder
John Hossack awoke on the morning of December 1, 1900, expecting it to be like any other day. And it was. Until he was murdered in his bed. Learn all about that day, the murder, and the immediate aftermath in the second episode of Mama Margaret Took an Axe.
If you liked this episode, please subscribe and share. You can follow my production channel on Instagram @tatepresents.
Sources: Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America’s Heartland by Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf. Their website is here: https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html (https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html)
Susan Glaspell’s (reporter present at the trial) writings - https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf (https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf)
Short description - https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/ (https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/)
Record of John’s brother - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X1DZ-N7C (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X1DZ-N7C)
2 Oct 2023
The Beginning
The Beginning – All John Hossack ever wanted was his own
land, farm, and family, and by the year 1900 he had achieved that. But had he pressed his family too far in his journey to establish himself? Learn all about the Hossack family and their history leading up to the night of John Hossack’s murder. Welcome to the beginning of Mama Margaret Took an Axe.
If you liked this episode, please subscribe and share. You
can follow my production channel on Instagram @tatepresents.
Sources: Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America’s
Heartland by Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf. Their website is here: https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html (https://www.midnightassassin.com/index.html)
Susan Glaspell’s (reporter present at the trial) writings - https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf (https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Glaspell_Hossack_Murder.pdf)
Short description - https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/ (https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/john-hossack/)
Record of John’s brother - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X1DZ-N7C (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X1DZ-N7C)
25 Sept 2023
Introducing: Mama Margaret Took an Axe
In December of 1900, John Hossack was found murdered in his bed. His skull had been crushed in and his wife, Margaret, claimed she had slept through the entire attack. But did she? Or did she, like Lizzie Borden, take an axe and give her husband a couple of whacks?
Premiering October 2, 2023.
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