PORTSMOUTH – Podcaster Kate Winkler Dawson has taken the time machine to new heights. She takes listeners back three and a half centuries, telling the story of the controversial death of Rebecca Briggs Cornell, one of the town's founders.
The six-part story/investigation titled “Fire and Brimstone” will air as Season 11 of Winkler Dawson’s podcast “Tenfold More Wicked.” Winkler Dawson, a journalism professor at the University of Texas, combines nonfiction storytelling and investigative reporting to present true crime stories. Almost 100 years ago, this was the furthest back that Winkler Dawson went with “Tenfold More Wicked.”
“This isn't about entertainment for me,” Boston University graduate Winkler-Dawson said in a recent phone interview from Austin, Texas. “This is a way to introduce someone to a theme that we see repeatedly in real crimes. And in the case of Rebecca Briggs Cornell, there's a lot of talk about elder abuse. There's bad forensics, there's bad arson. There is also forensics. There are many layers of complexity – 17-year-old male masculinity.th century new england.
“It takes people back to that time. But it's like 70 percent honey and 30 percent medicine.”
What happened to Rebecca Briggs Cornell?
Rebecca's Briggs Cornell's son, Thomas Cornell Jr., was tried, found guilty of his mother's murder, and hanged.
According to the Rhode Island Historical Society website, one of Thomas Cornell's sons discovered Rebecca's burning body in the house where she, Thomas, and their family lived. It was February 8, 1673.
The original house burned down in 1889, and a nearly carbon copy was built in its place. That building is now the Valley Inn restaurant on West Main Road.
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Rebecca's death was initially ruled an accident. According to the RIHS website, the official ruling was based on testimony from a man who said Rebecca feared for his life, and a deposition from John Briggs, who said a spirit visited her at night and told her: It is stated that it was changed shortly after. “I'm your sister Cornell, and Twice said, look how I've been burned.”
Rebecca's body was re-examined by a second medical examiner who found “strange wounds” on her abdomen, the RIHS website said.
Local history indicates that Thomas Cornell Jr. and his mother had a very strained relationship. In his will, Thomas Cornell Sr. left his family's property to Rebecca, who was to rent it to Thomas Jr. Rebecca had the first floor to herself, and Thomas Jr., his wife and children lived on the second floor. Some speculate that Thomas Jr. may have been behind on lease payments.
How was “Fire and Brimstone” born?
Winkler-Dawson said she learned about the well-known case in the area through Carrie Nolte. Mr. Nolte is said to be a descendant of Rebecca of the Briggs family. Winkler-Dawson solicits ideas from listeners at the end of the podcast. Nolte is listed as a researcher of “fire and brimstone.''
The RIHS site describes Rebecca's Briggs origins as “ambiguous at best,” with some believing that Thomas Cornell Jr.'s accuser John Briggs is Rebecca's biological brother. He said that some people believe that they are related by blood only through marriage, while others claim that they are related by blood. Both by blood and marriage.
Nolte is one of the voices heard on the podcast “Fire and Brimstone.” Winkler-Dawson said she likes having relatives represent her family on the podcast.
“Fire and Brimstone” podcast episodes begin April 1st, with subsequent episodes published every Monday.
Dawson Winkler said her “Tenfold” podcast is more about journalistic investigation than entertainment, but people are clearly finding it entertaining.
She said the podcast explores multiple tentacles of a larger story, not just the culprit. Even if someone actually did it, it's basic.
Fall River's most famous murder suspect, the connection to Lizzie Borden
According to the RIHS site, Thomas Cornell Jr. was likely executed on May 23, 1673, when his second wife Sarah gave birth to his last daughter, whom she named Innocent.
This leads to a real crime connection that Hollywood couldn't fabricate.
According to the site, her great-granddaughter, who married into the Borden family, is Lizzie Borden, who was accused (and found not guilty) of murdering her parents near Fall River, Massachusetts. It has worldwide recognition.
Asked to comment on whether Thomas Cornell Jr. was guilty or not guilty of killing his mother, Winkler-Dawson said he was leaning toward the latter, citing the accidental death. She said she interviewed a forensic scientist who explained to her that it is very difficult to kill someone by setting them on fire, and that fire is perhaps the most unpredictable murder weapon.
But she added that neither her producer nor Nolte are in the same position.
“People will have to judge for themselves,” said Winkler Dawson, host of “Tenfold More Wicked Presents: Wicked Words” and co-host of another podcast, “Buried Bones.” Ta. “I'm a journalist, so I'm a skeptic. And I feel like you have to have a lot of evidence of murder to convince me. But that's not always the case.
“The jury's out. And we're going to see what the jury, my listeners, say.”
