Ebook: Black River Road: an unthinkable crime, an unlikely suspect, and the question of character

In 1869, in the woods just outside of Saint John, a group of berry pickers discovered several badly decomposed bodies. The authorities suspected foul play, but the identities of the victims were as mysterious as that of the perpetrator. From the coroner's inquest an unlikely suspect emerged to stand trial for murder: John Munroe, a renowned architect, well-heeled family man, and pillar of the community. Munroe's lawyer's strategy was as simple as it was revolutionary: Munroe's wealth, education, and exemplary character made him incapable of murder. The press and Saint John's elite vocally supported Munroe, sparking a debate about character and murder that continues to this day. In re-examining a precedent-setting historical crime with fresh eyes, Komar addresses questions that are still relevant more than a century later: is everyone capable of murder, and should character be treated as evidence in homicide trials? 2016.