Hidden History: The Homestead Murders with Richard Withers

300 East Port Marina Drive,Hood River OR 97031

16 June, 2022

Description

Alma Nesbitt and her mother went missing in the Hood River Valley one cold, dark night. Their bodies were never found. The Supreme Court of Oregon decided State v. Williams (April 28, 1905) declaring, in effect, that it was not necessary to produce a body to prove that a murder had been committed. This legal precedent is still cited by courts across the United States more than a century later. Norman Williams was hanged for the murder of Alma Nesbitt on July 26, 1905 - the last person publicly executed in Oregon. The story of the Homestead Murders is much more than an enduring legal precedent: it is a window into the challenges women faced on “the frontier;” an exploration of secrets, lies, forgery, fraud, murder and mystery; and it challenges us to reexamine how we determine truth and what it means to achieve justice. During the presentation you will have an opportunity to meet some fascinating Hood River Valley characters from the turn of the 20th century. Richard Withers is a retired lawyer and is pleased to revisit and share the hidden history of the "Great Homestead Murders" and to expand upon the Cemetery Tale produced in 2017. FREE - $10 Donation appreciated *proof of vaccination required for entry Can't attend in person? Join us via Zoom by registering here: https://bit.ly/3wkbuVv ​ ​ ​ ​ Can't attend in person? Join us via Zoom by registering here: https://bit.ly/3ljLwLz