Hannah Mary Tabbs and the Disembodied Torso: A Tale of Race, Sex, and Violence in America

231 Pages·2016·3.428 MB·English

by  Kali Nicole Gross

HannaH Mary Tabbs and THe
diseMbodied Torso

HannaH Mary Tabbs and
THe dise Mbodied Torso
a Tale of race, sex, and Violence in america
Kali nicole Gross
1
1
oxford University Press is a department of the University of oxford. it furthers
the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education
by publishing worldwide. oxford is a registered trade mark of oxford University
Press in the UK and certain other countries.
Published in the United states of america by oxford University Press
198 Madison avenue, new york, ny 10016, United states of america
© oxford University Press 2016
all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted
by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction
rights organization. inquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the
above should be sent to the rights department, oxford University Press, at the
address above.
you must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data
Gross, Kali n., 1972– author.
Hannah Mary Tabbs and the disembodied torso : a tale of race, sex, and violence
in america / Kali nicole Gross.
pages cm
includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978-0-19-024121-6 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Tabbs, Hannah Mary. 2. Murder—Pennsylvania—Philadelphia—Case studies.
3. Family violence—Pennsylvania—Philadelphia—Case studies.
4. african americans—Pennsylvania—Philadelphia—social conditions—19th century.
5. african american women—Pennsylvania—Philadelphia—social conditions—19th century.
6. racially mixed people—Pennsylvania—Philadelphia—social conditions—19th century.
7. United states—race relations—History—19th century. i. Title.
HV6534.P5G76 2016
364.152'3092—dc23 2015032082
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United states of america
on acid-free paper
Printed by sheridan, Usa
For Sylvia E. Neal
1917–2010
I love you. I miss you. I’m glad my daughter got to meet you.
Frontispiece. Map: outline & index Map of 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th & 10th Wards.
From Atlas of the City of Philadelphia. Courtesy of the Historical society of
Pennsylvania (Call #o.728 v.1).

Contents
Prologue 3
Chapter one: Handle with Care 7
Chapter Two: The Woman Found 26
Chapter Three: To do Him bodily Harm 50
Chapter Four: Wavy Hair and nearly White skin 72
Chapter Five: Held for Trial 103
Chapter six: a Most revolting deed 129
epilogue 148
Acknowledgments 153
Notes 157
Bibliography 197
Index 213