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cover of episode The Brutal Death of Berengera Caswell

The Brutal Death of Berengera Caswell

2022/1/11
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Murder, She Told

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Kristen Zevey
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Kristen Zevey: 本集讲述了Berengara Caswell的悲惨故事,她是一位年轻的加拿大女工,在新英格兰寻求更好的生活,却因一次堕胎手术而丧命。本案反映了19世纪美国社会对女性的歧视和堕胎的禁忌,以及社会对女性的道德评判。通过对案件的详细描述,以及对相关人物的分析,本集旨在展现历史背景下女性的困境,以及她们为争取自身权益所付出的代价。同时,本集也探讨了堕胎在当时的社会背景下所面临的伦理和法律问题,以及媒体和社会舆论对案件的影响。 Berengara Caswell: 作为一位年轻的加拿大女工,Berengara Caswell 为了追求独立自主的生活,离开家乡来到美国新英格兰地区工作。她与William Long的恋情以及意外怀孕,让她面临着巨大的社会压力和道德困境。她最终选择堕胎,却因此付出了生命的代价。她的故事反映了当时社会对女性的严苛要求以及她们在面对意外怀孕时所面临的困境。 William Long: 作为Berengara Caswell的恋人,William Long 在得知Berengara怀孕后,与她共同决定进行堕胎。虽然他参与了堕胎的安排,但他并非主谋,也对Berengara的死负有责任。他的证词在审判中因被认定为传闻证据而被排除,这使得我们无法得知Berengara当时的想法和感受。 James Smith: 作为一名植物医生,James Smith 为Berengara Caswell进行了堕胎手术,最终导致她的死亡。他在审判中否认了谋杀指控,但证据表明他为Berengara进行了堕胎手术,并试图掩盖罪行。他的行为反映了当时医疗条件的落后和医疗人员的职业道德问题。 Anne Coveney: 作为James Smith家的女佣,Anne Coveney 是本案的关键证人。她的证词详细描述了Berengara Caswell在James Smith家中的生活情况,以及堕胎手术的过程。她的证词对James Smith的定罪起到了至关重要的作用。 Tice Caswell: 作为Berengara Caswell的妹妹,Tice Caswell 在案件发生后积极参与了寻找姐姐遗体和为姐姐讨回公道的工作。她的证词为案件提供了重要的背景信息,也展现了姐妹间的深厚感情。

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Berengara Caswell and her sisters leave their rural hometown in Quebec for a new life in Lowell, Massachusetts, working in the booming textile industry of the Industrial Revolution. They experience the challenges and freedoms of factory life, including long hours, low pay, and strict living conditions.

Shownotes Transcript

1849 - Saco, Maine.

In April of 1850, as the sun shone on Woodbury Brook in Saco, Maine, a boy made a grisly discovery: the body of a young woman tied to a board. It was soon determined that the woman, known as Mary Bean, was killed during a botched abortion from the local botanic doctor, James Smith.

During the course of the trial, it was revealed that Mary Bean was actually Berengera Caswell, a 21-year-old Canadian factory worker who was trying to make a life for herself in New England.

The murder of Mary Bean was written into a fictional, salacious true crime novella, warning young women against the dangers of promiscuity and the inevitable demise of working mill girls. For years, the death of Berengera Caswell remained buried under the moral parable of her infamous pseudonym... until 2007, when the true identity of Mary Bean was unearthed for the modern era.

This episode discusses and describes abortion in the historical context of the 1850's. Please listen with care.

Read The Murder of Mary Bean Book)

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