Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis

The 1892 murder of 17-year-old Freda Ward by her 19-year-old fiancé Alice Mitchell in Memphis, Tennessee was one of the sensational crimes of its era. The central question was whether “sexual inversion” (lesbianism wasn't a common term at the time) was a factor. The courts found Mitchell not guilty by reason of insanity, and she was remanded to the Tennessee State Insane Asylum at Bolivar, Tennessee, where she died under disputed circumstances a few years later. Author Alexis Coe has recently written a book about the tragic story of Alice and Freda, incorporating maps, artifacts, and over 100 illustrated love letters. Saturday, October 25th, at 4pm she'll be at BookCourt in Cobble Hill for a reading, Q&A, and book signing.