Stories of historical murders on the South Shore

John F. Gallagher

A Monument to Her Grief

The Sturtevant Murders of Halifax, Massachusetts

Nearly 150 years ago, the Massachusetts state constabulary launched an investigation into the brutal murders of three elderly people at their farmhouse on Thompson Street in rural Halifax. The story of the murders and the aftermath has been passed down through the generations and has become part of local lore. Until now, no comprehensive, definitive account has been published.

To fully disclose what happened, and why, required extensive research into the holdings of the Halifax Historical Society and Museum, contemporaneous news accounts, court and prison records, town histories, census returns, vital records, archival manuscripts, case law, and other documentary evidence. A genealogical study of the principal characters in the story helped in sorting out the intertwined relationships common to small communities of the era, giving shape to the characters’ lives leading up to the murders, and lending context to the hard facts of the case.

"Having read his first book, I could have guessed that author John Gallagher had served over 30 years on the Boston Police Department and served as the Chief of Detectives. In his research he left no stone unturned in pursuing the cases. He relayed the stories in context of the limits of the law and forensics available in each time period and explored the differences."

Douglas Paul Ulwick, President - The Historical Society of Old Abington