Many fictional crime stories are based, in part, on real events, and so have a background of interesting characters. When her first husband and business partner james archer died in 1910, archergilligan was the beneficiary of a. She also convinced 9 elderly women to name her in their wills before poisoning them too. Michael gilligan moved into the archer home during the summer, he was 57years old and in perfect health. Amy archergilligan was a windsor, connecticut nursing home proprietor and serial. But a lesser known contemporary, amy archergilligan, is much more interesting. As more than 2,000 people died during the natural disaster, another silent killer began her own murderous spree. Its clear the writer did some research beyond wiki. Amy archergilligan bio, fact age, bio, book, net worth. Learn about nutrition and wellness including food allergies, food sensitivities, and wellness coaching. Amy archergilligan 1901 to 1928, called sister amy by her patients, was known for her nurturing tonics and nutritional meals at her private nursing home in windsor, connecticut. By then, amy duggan archer was a fixture in the local community.
Duggan, sister, was active for 8 years between 19101917, known to have 10 confirmed 50 possible victims. Scandal rocked windsor in 1917 when amy archergilligan was charged with murdering boarder franklin r. I thought did real interesting that a playwright by the name of joseph kresselring wrote a play called arsenic and old lace based loosely on. The trial of amy archergilligan windsor historical society. Amy archergilligan operated the archer home for elderly people and chronic invalids in windsor, connecticut. Amy archergilligan operated the archer home for elderly people. In a way, amy duggan archer gilligan might be considered a pioneer in health care in connecticut. James archer died from kidney disease in 1910, and amy archer married michael gilligan in 19. Serial killer, amy archergilligan amy gilligan 19011914 ran a private nursing home in windsor, connecticut, and married and killed 5 elderly men. He wis reportedly walthy an interestit in baith amy an in investin in the archer home. It was based on a serial killer named amy archergilliganwho, law enforcement says, murdered between 20 and 100 people, including some of her husbands. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Amy archer gilligan is believed to have killed at least 60 people. Amy archer, wellness rd, registered dietitian nutritionist.
What was thought to be a respectable business run by a pioneering woman was exposed as little more than a murder factory. Amy had taken out an insurance policy on him a few weeks before his death, so she was able to continue running the archer home. Seymours home in newington, connecticut, to take care of him. Amy haed taken oot an insurance policy on him a few weeks afore his daith, sae she wis able tae continue runnin the archer home. Writer seeks records of the killer who inspired arsenic. Summary of the novelthe devils rooming house 968 words.
Amy archergilligan, possibly americas most prolific female serial killer, was the real life inspiration for the story. Amy archer gilligan it wasnt surprising that the residents of amy archer gilligan s windsor, connecticut nursing home passed away. Thanks to diana ross mccain of come home to connecticut for the story last night at the hamden library. Amy archergilligan bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Amy duggan, and her eventual infamy, is only one small part of the book. The devils rooming house is the interesting story of amy archergilligan, americas deadliest female serial killer.
Amy archergilligan, 18731962, american serial killer amy beach 18671944, american composer and pianist amy birnbaum born 1975, american voice actress. Gilligan, amy archer article about gilligan, amy archer. William phelps, tells the shocking, true story of this victorian. Like her second husband, michael gilligan, who died three months after the wedding ceremony.
While i appreciate the information, it was arranged in such strange ways it was difficult to follie. Bill denies access to historic mental health records the day. Infamous serial killer amy archergilligan has been dead for 52 years, but on wednesday the topic of whether some of her medical records should be released came before the state supreme court. Due to the nature of the industry, however, it was some years before local investigators began to ask serious questions about the exorbitantly high death rate coming from the archer. She was raised by both parents who had three other children. Amy archer gilligan may have founded the first forprofit nursing home in the united states, an achievement somewhat diminished when she poisoned five or maybe 48 of her customers in. Amy dispatched two husbands and possibly as many as 66 others in a fashion reminiscent of arsenic and old lace, a broadway play that was loosely based on her case. She ran a cross between a boarding house and a nursing home, and between 1908 and 1916 she murdered somewhere between five and sixtysix people. Amy dispatched two husbands and possibly as many as 66 others in a fashion reminiscent of arsenic and old lace, a broadway play that was loosely based on her case in his new book, m. She was born amy duggan in october of 1873 in the town of milton, connecticut. Amy archergilligan was a multiple murderer who is believed to have murdered at least five people by poisoning them. Amys sensational trial attracted great interest, and phelps wraps the whole dirty business in a delightfully cozy narrative. Devils rooming house by m william phelps hardcover.
That was until it was discovered that she had added arsenic to her recipe, resulting in the deaths of many of her patients and five husbands, all of whom had named her in their wills right before. Amy archergilligan had a knack for caring for the elderly and opened her own private nursing home in 1907 in a large brick house in the town of windsor, ct, with her husband, james archer later on, well redefine knack a bit. Amy archer gilligan is believed to have killed at least 60 people in the rest home she owned between 1907 and 1917, with 48 of those occurring in the 5year period between 1911 and 1916. Records of arsenic and old lace killer to remain secret. After all, many of her boarders were elderly and ailing. The true story of americas deadliest female serial killer. Join facebook to connect with amy archer and others you may know. Amy archergilligan decided to care for the elderly and opened her own private nursing home here in windsor. He was reportedly wealthy and interested in both amy and in investing in the archer home. Amy archergilligan after marrying michael gilligan. William phelps has written the first book to tell the true story of. A woman serial killer in connecticut, amy archergilligan was the inspiration. Amy archer had taken out an insurance policy on him a few weeks before his death.
The policy benefit enabled her to continue operating archer home. This means gain killer lethal caretake victim type. Amy archergilligan was born in 1868 into modest circumstances to james and mary kennedy duggan in milton, connecticut, the eighth of ten. Amy archer has an interesting history as one of the most prolific seriel killers and an inspiration for the popular play and movie arsenic and old lace. Amy archergilligan was born in 1873 in windsor, connecticut. She did so with her husband, james archer who died three years later, as those who were close to amy were wont to do. We are very appreciated with any contribution to make a better and more exactly biography of amy archer gilligan by give us information about amy archer gilligan such as amy archer gilligan bio, amy archer gilligan news, amy archer gilligan. Windsors murder factory connecticut history a cthumanities. The real serial killer behind the play arsenic and old lace. Join facebook to connect with aleksandra skowron and others you may know.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the murder factory. Having spent a significant portion of her professional life caring for those who could not care for themselves, she established a facility where, in return for lump sum payments or for signing over insurance policies, residents received a lifetime of care. Amy archergilligan operated the archer home for elderly people and chronic invalids. Sister amy archergilligan, whod opened the archer home for elderly people and chronic invalids four years earlier, would be accused of murdering both of her husbands and up to sixtysix of her patients with cocktails of lemonade and arsenic. They opened a home for the elderly and began taking boarders. The archers ran the home together until 1910, when james archer died of kidney failure. This serial killer was active in the following countries. That was until it was discovered that she had added arsenic to her recipe, resulting in the deaths of many of her patients and five husbands, all of whom had named her in their wills right before their untimely deaths. William phelps and takes place in nearby windsor, ct. The case of amy is a fascinating one because of her motive, money. Amy archergilligansister amy, she was calledwas a murderess wellenough known to be cited as an inspiration for joseph kesselrings perennial grim farce, arsenic and old lace. Amy archer gilligan pictured died in 1962 a writer telling the story of a serial killer who inspired the play and 1944 movie arsenic and old lace is hoping the connecticut supreme court will. In 1907, the seymour family sold the home and the archers moved to windsor to open the archer home for aged people. At the age of 28 archergilligan moved with her first husband into john d.
Windsor murder factory windsor, connecticut atlas obscura. William phelps, tells the shocking, true story of this victorian murderess. Elderly that lived in her home cops courts corrections 1900s arsenic was banned from being used for embalming all medications must be logged and another staff member must be present media. Amy archer gilligan died in 1962 at age 89 in the connecticut state asylum.
William phelps, tells the shocking, true story of this. She ran a nursing home called sister amys nursing home for the elderly, also known as the archer home. Archergilligan was housed at the weatherfield prison, however in 1923, archergilligan was transferred to a state asylum in connecticut due to nervous fits and the diagnosis of insanity. Its about the abominable amy archergilligan, who is the many, many times removed inspiration for the brewster sisters in arsenic and old lace.
This is the story of amy archergilligan, aka, sister amy, the turnofthecentury nurse who made a career of taking in the elderly for life care, then shortening those lives precipitously. The book is incredibly and thourghly well researched. Supreme court hears arsenic and old lace records case. What is the connection between the amy archergilligan trial and the arsenic and old lace classic movie and play.
Hers is the story upon which arsenic and old lace is based, although unfortunately the reality is much less amusing. This book was slightly more informative than the wikipedia article on amy archergilligan. That last victims family demanded an autopsy which showed clear signs of poisoning, and amy spent the rest of her life in prison. The movie, which stars cary grant, is called arsenic and old lace and was based on a play by the same name. One new bit of evidence for the abiding interest in the amy gilligan story is a book to be published this spring by rainbow press in torrington. Amy duggan archer gilligan, who pleaded guilty to 1916 murder of her.
In 1924, she was declared insane and she was sentenced to life imprisonment. This is a true story based upon the book, the devils rooming house, by m. Beside biography of amy archer gilligan, we also provide a lot of biographies of other famous people. James died three years later, leaving behind a nice insurance settlement, and amy remarried in 19 to michael. Amy archergilligan murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. Amy duggan sister archergilligan 31 october 1873 april 23, 1962 was a nursing home. I had never heard of amy archergillam before reading the story the murder factory.
United states amy archergilligan was born on october 1st 1868 in milton center historic district. The story of amy archer gilligan kindle edition by doyle, jack. At the beginning of the 20th century, amy duggan archer gilligan operated a home for the elderly in windsor, connecticut. William phelps, this book brings to light the story of the woman who ran a murder house over one hundred years ago.
1274 74 1336 1557 425 1380 574 1204 1321 632 15 1437 1508 1249 1522 138 1463 418 1473 14 986 421 990 915 1086 1101 410 186 521 1089 500