We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode The Murder of Helen Jewett (New York)

The Murder of Helen Jewett (New York)

2023/1/30
logo of podcast Dark Downeast

Dark Downeast
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
播
播音员
主持著名true crime播客《Crime Junkie》的播音员和创始人。
Topics
本集讲述了1836年发生在纽约市的震惊社会的性工作者海伦·朱厄特谋杀案。案件的媒体报道使性工作和卖淫这个禁忌话题进入公众视野，引发了各种评论和偏见，甚至影响了司法程序。海伦·朱厄特原名多卡斯·多延，经常改名，在19世纪的社会背景下，她被认为是妓女，但结合当时的社会认知和她的年龄，她所经历的更应被定义为儿童性侵犯。案发后，警方逮捕了理查德·罗宾逊（化名弗兰克·里弗斯），但他最终被宣告无罪释放，这引发了公众对司法公正的质疑。案件中，控方主要依靠妓院老板和另一位妓院女性的证词以及在案发现场附近发现的斗篷和斧头作为证据，但辩方质疑了斧头的证据链，并为罗宾逊提供了不在场证明。法官在对陪审团的指示中带有明显的偏见，暗示妓院女性的证词不可信。最终，罗宾逊被无罪释放，这被许多人视为司法不公。多年后，警方发现的信件显示了罗宾逊和海伦之间日益紧张的关系，以及海伦威胁要揭露罗宾逊的行动，进一步加剧了人们对罗宾逊有罪的猜测。然而，罗宾逊仍然逍遥法外，甚至变得富有。为罗宾逊提供不在场证明的证人弗隆在罗宾逊被无罪释放后不久破产，并被怀疑自杀。本案也反映了19世纪美国社会对性工作者的偏见和歧视，以及司法系统中存在的权力和特权问题。海伦·朱厄特案不仅是一起谋杀案，更是一起反映社会问题和司法缺陷的案例，其影响深远，至今仍值得人们反思。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Helen Jewett, a well-known sex worker in 1836 New York City, was found dead in her brothel room after a fire. Her murder brought the taboo subject of sex into the public sphere, inviting commentary and bias.

Shownotes Transcript

NEW YORK CITY, 1836: In the early morning hours of April 10, 1836, the madam of a New York City brothel awoke to find 22-year old Helen Jewett's bedroom filled with smoke and flames.

Helen Jewett, born Dorcas Doyen in Augusta, Maine, was considered a well-known sex worker in New York City. As her case became sensationalized and publicized around the world, it brought the taboo subject of sex into the prudish public sphere of the 1800s, inviting commentary, opinion and bias, even among those tasked with the pursuit of justice on Helen's behalf.

  • Helen Jewett's Known Aliases: Maria Benson, Maria Stanley, Helen Mar, and Ellen Jewett
  • Richard R. Robinson's Known Aliases: Frank Rivers, Richard Parmalee
  • To learn more about sex work issues and advocacy, visit decriminalizesex.work).

View source material and photos for this episode at darkdowneast.com/helenjewett)

 

Dark Downeast is an audiochuck and Kylie Media production hosted by Kylie Low.