1:00 PM
EVENT DETAILS: Thursday, October 23, 2025 1 p.m. ET on Zoom Free and open to the public. Registration is required.
The killer, a Prussian fisherman down on his luck, was quickly captured, convicted in a widely publicized trial, and hanged in an unforgettable gallows spectacle. But he never confessed and, while in prison, gained a circle of admirers whose blind faith in his innocence still casts a shadow of doubt. A fictionalized bestselling novel and a Hollywood film have further clouded the truth.
Historian J. Dennis Robinson’s Mystery of the Isles of Shoals provides a definitive account of the Smuttynose Island ax murders, fleshing out the facts surrounding this tragic robbery gone wrong in a captivating true crime page-turner. Join us as Robinson looks beyond the headlines of the burgeoning yellow press to explore the deeper lessons about American crime, justice, economics, and hero worship. About the presenter: J. Dennis Robinson is the foremost historian on the area of the New Hampsire seacoast and has published numerous books on local history. He lectures frequently and operates SeacoastNH.com, a popular website on local news and history. He resides in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This program is presented as part of our series Notorious: Maine Crime in the Public Eye, 1690–1940, and offered in conjunction with the exhibit of the same name.