Shotgun Jennie

In the spring of 1903, Nancy Jeanette Flood stood accused of a horrific crime–bewitching two elderly bachelors and luring one of them to his premature doom. Far from a romantic love story of a love triangle gone wrong, Jennie’s is an earthy tale of a desperate woman, a cranky handyman, and a few sizable life insurance policies. Condemned as a ruthless Black Widow by suspicious neighbors and convicted by a sensationalized press, she became known as the woman that area residents loved to hate. This book is a historical investigation of the woman behind the headlines, drawing on archival documents and never-before-seen crime scene sketches to uncover the true story of Jennie Flood and the crime that rocked Michigan at the turn of the century.

Writer and researcher Tobin T. Buhk lives in Jenison, Michigan.

Tobin T. Buhk
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 255
Bibliographic Info: 28 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2025
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9384-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5415-7
Imprint: Exposit

Preface: A Witch or a Witch Hunt? 1

Introduction: The “Real” Ada Witch 2

Key Figures in the Flood Case, April 21, 1903 6

Part 1—The Crime

 1. April Fool’s Day: Tuesday, April 21, 1903 11

 2. Last Supper: Wednesday, April 22, 1903 25

 3. The Chair: Thursday, April 23, 1903 27

 4. Jailbirds: Friday, April 24, 1903 39

 5. The Noose: Saturday, April 25–Sunday, April 26, 1903 46

 6. The Coroner’s Inquest: Tuesday, April 28, 1903 55

 7. Jennie Speaks, Again: Wednesday, April 29, 1903 65

 8. Six Feet Under: Thursday, April 30, 1903 71

 9. Arraignment: Friday, May 1, 1903 73

10. Examination: Monday, May 4, 1903 75

11. If Looks Could Kill: Thursday, May 7, 1903 79

12. ­Humpty-Dumpty: Monday, May 11, 1903 86

13. Double, Double, Toil and Trouble: Tuesday, May 12, 1903 88

14. ­Defense-Less: Wednesday, May 13, 1903 90

15. “TRY HER!”: Saturday, May 16, 1903 92

16. Greetings from the Third Floor: Thursday, October 1, 1903 98

Part 2—The Trial

17. Witness for the Prosecution: Thursday, October 22–Friday, October 23, 1903 103

18. The First Sensation: Saturday, October 24, 1903 113

19. Mrs. Flood Speaks: Monday, October 26–Tuesday, October 27, 1903 118

20. Pettis for the Defense: Wednesday, October 28, 1903 121

21. “The most gruesome relic”: Thursday, October 29 124

22. Chamber of Horrors: Saturday, October 31, 1903 129

23. Case for the Defense: Monday, November 2, 1903 133

24. Justice Is a ­Blood-Streaked Dish: Tuesday, November 3, 1903 137

25. Head Case: Wednesday, November 4, 1903 140

26. The Pen Is Mightier Than the Shotgun: Thursday, November 5, 1903 143

27. ­Jack-in-the-Box: Friday, November 6–Saturday, November 7, 1903 147

28. Endgame: Monday, November 9–Tuesday, November 10, 1903 151

29. Verdict: Wednesday, November 11–Friday, November 13, 1903 157

Part 3—The Prisoner

30. From Detroit, with Love: December 1903 167

31. Fingleton’s Folly: Saturday, January 23, 1904 170

32. Things Aren’t Always What They Seem: May 10, 1907 178

33. Model Prisoner: November 6, 1907 185

34. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Flood”: Saturday, December 23, 1916 187

35. Alas, Poor John London! I Knew Him: Epilogue 193

36. Witch or ­Witch-Hunt: A Reexamination of the Case Against Nancy Jeanette Flood 200

Appendix 1: Affidavit of Jeanette Flood 205

Appendix 2: Jennie Flood’s Crime Scene Sketches 216

Appendix 3: Finding and Losing Jennie 221

Chapter Notes 227

Bibliography 241

Index 243

Description

In the spring of 1903, Nancy Jeanette Flood stood accused of a horrific crime—bewitching two elderly bachelors and luring one of them to his premature doom. Far from a romantic love story of a love triangle gone wrong, Jennie’s is an earthy tale of a desperate woman, a cranky handyman, and a few sizable life insurance policies. Condemned as a ruthless Black Widow by suspicious neighbors and convicted by a sensationalized press, she became known as the woman that area residents loved to hate. This book is a historical investigation of the woman behind the headlines, drawing on archival documents and never-before-seen crime scene sketches to uncover the true story of Jennie Flood and the crime that rocked Michigan at the turn of the century.