The People vs. Mary ‘Polly’ Bodine Mock Trial

Friday May 17
6:30-9:30pm
$35 | $25 members

Court is in session!

Historic Richmond Town is hosting a mock trial, reenacting the People vs. Mary ‘Polly’ Bodine. Join us for this special educational event in which actors and jurists will bring the text and drama of the famous trial that rocked Staten Island to life.

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On Christmas Day, 1843, Emeline Houseman, and her daughter Ann Eliza were found dead in a horrible fire on Staten Island. Weeks later, Emeline’s sister-in-law, Mary ‘Polly’ Bodine, was charged with her and Ann Eliza’s murder. In 1844, the first of several trials of Polly Bodine took place in the 3rd County Courthouse, now the Visitor Center of Historic Richmond Town. 

This shocking crime and dramatic court proceedings drew great attention to the sleepy village of Richmond, and the story spread far and wide with sensational journalistic reporting on the event. In many ways, our modern consumption of law and order media can be traced back to this case. This mock trial will be a presentation of those proceedings, based on court transcripts from 1843, with real people playing the characters in this courtroom drama.

This special one-night-only event is made possible by the creative direction and support of Alex Hortis, author of The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Cursed Birth of Tabloid Justice. This year marks the 180th anniversary of this story that still captivates our imagination. Take your seat and bear witness to this fascinating history.