The Murder of Dr. Chapman: The Legendary Trials of Lucretia Chapman and Her Lover

In 1831, Lucretia Winslow Chapman was a Philadelphia wife, mother of five, and founder of one of the city's first boarding schools for girls. Her life changed when Lino Espos y Mina, a Cuban con artist, arrived at her home requesting lodging. He soon began an affair with Lucretia, and within a month, her husband William Chapman—a prominent local scientist—died from poisoning. Lucretia and Lino were arrested and charged with murder, leading to a double trial that became a major event in pre–Civil War America. Linda Wolfe combines court transcripts, love letters, and period accounts to examine the case. The trials produced verdicts that raised questions about sexism and racism, and the case continues to be discussed nearly two hundred years later.