The Enigma Woman: The Death Sentence of Nellie May Madison (Women in the West)

“Crack shot.” “Enigma woman.” “Good with ponies and pistols.” “A much-married woman.” What if such an unconventional woman—and the press unanimously agreed that Nellie May Madison was indeed unconventional—were to get away with murder? Shortly after her husband’s bullet-riddled body was found in the couple’s Burbank apartment, police issued an all-points bulletin for the “beautiful, dark-haired widow.” The ensuing drama unfolded with all the strange twists and turns of a noir crime novel. In this intriguing cultural history, Kathleen A. Cairns tells the true tale of the first woman sentenced to death in California, Nellie May Madison. Her story offers a glimpse into law and disorder in 1930s Los Angeles while bringing to life a remarkable character whose plight reflects on the status of woman, the workings of the media and the judiciary system, and the stratification of society in her time. An intriguing cultural history, Cairns’s re-creation of the case from murder to trial to aftermath casts an eye forward to our own love-hate affair with celebrity crimes and our abiding ambivalence about domestic violence abuse as a defense for murder. (20080609) "Crack shot." "Enigma woman." "Good with ponies and pistols." "A much-married woman." What if such an unconventional woman - and the press unanimously agreed that Nellie May Madison was indeed unconventional - were to get away with murder? Shortly after her husband's bullet-riddled body was found in the couple's Burbank apartment, police issued an all-points bulletin for the "beautiful, dark-haired widow." The ensuing drama unfolded with all the strange twists and turns of a noir crime novel. In this intriguing cultural history, Kathleen A. Cairns tells the true tale of the first woman sentenced to death in California, Nellie May Madison. Her story offers a glimpse into law and disorder in 1930s Los Angeles while bringing to life a remarkable character whose plight reflects on the status of woman, the workings of the media and the judiciary system, and the stratification of society in her time.; An intriguing cultural history, Cairns' re-creation of the case from murder to trial to aftermath casts an eye forward to our own love-hate affair with celebrity crimes and our abiding ambivalence about domestic violence abuse as a defense for murder In This Intriguing Cultural History, Kathleen A. Cairns Tells The True Tale Of The First Woman Sentenced To Death In California, Nellie May Madison. Her Story Offers A Glimpse Into Law And Disorder In 1930s Los Angeles While Bringing To Life A Remarkable Character Whose Plight Reflects On The Status Of Woman, The Workings Of The Media And The Judiciary System, And The Stratification Of Society In Her Time. An Intriguing Cultural History, Cairns's Re-creation Of The Case From Murder To Trial To Aftermath Casts An Eye Forward To Our Own Love-hate Affair With Celebrity Crimes And Our Abiding Ambivalence About Domestic Violence Abuse As A Defense For Murder -- Publisher Website (november 2007). A Girl From Montana -- Midnight Alibi -- Outlaw Woman -- Enigma Woman -- The Ultimate Penalty -- The People V. Nellie Madison -- The Defense -- Lady Macbeth -- The Verdict -- A Condemned Woman -- An Abused Woman -- The Reprieve -- Life In Prison -- A Traditional Woman. Kathleen A. Cairns. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 249-288) And Index. Contents......Page 8 Illustrations......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Prologue......Page 14 1. A Girl from Montana......Page 41 2. Midnight Alibi......Page 61 3. Outlaw Woman......Page 75 4. Enigma Woman......Page 89 5. The Ultimate Penalty......Page 107 6. The People v. Nellie Madison......Page 125 7. The Defense......Page 145 8. Lady Macbeth......Page 163 9. The Verdict......Page 175 10. A Condemned Woman......Page 189 11. An Abused Woman......Page 209 12. The Reprieve......Page 229 13. Life in Prison......Page 249 14. A Traditional Woman......Page 271 Notes......Page 279 Bibliographic Essay......Page 299 Index......Page 319