Frederick Small

Name

Frederick Small

Status and outcome

Frederick L. Small was executed by hanging on January 15, 1918.

Background

Frederick L. Small (d. January 15, 1918) was convicted of killing his wife in New Hampshire. He was 49 and his wife, Florence Aileen Curry Small, was 37.

Frederick Small was employed as a stock broker in Boston. He was married three times.

In 1909, Small sued Arthur Soden, described as the president/part owner of the baseball team, Boston Beaneaters of the National League, for $500,000 USD. He claimed that Soden had alienated the affections of Small’s second wife. The damage amount of the lawsuit was described as the largest amount in United States history. The equivalent was stated as almost 12 million today’s US dollars. Soden was ordered to pay Small a judgment of $10,000.

The offence

Frederick Small and Florence Aileen Curry Small took out a joint life insurance policy of $20,000 USD on March 16, 1916 from the John Hancock Company of Boston. The policy stated that the other spouse would collect if the other spouse died. After Florence’s death, evidence included crushed skull injuries, a cord wrapped around her neck, and a shooting.

Florence Small’s body was found in the ruins of her burnt Lake Ossipee two-story cottage on September 28, 1916. Frederick Small had been at the cottage that evening but was traveling back to Boston when the body was found. The body was found floating in the flooded basement. The narrative stated that the body would have been destroyed by the fire except that the fire had compromised the floor of the cottage.

The narrative also stated that there was evidence Florence Small was chloroformed.

Investigation

At first, the alibi of being in Boston was a good one. Investigators later discovered items used to make a timed arson device: an alarm clock, spark plug, fire screen, clock spring, and some hairpins.

Frederick Small had been known to be a tinkerer who enjoyed mechanical projects.

After Frederick Small was taken into custody, he offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the murderer.

Trial

Frederick Small was convicted of killing his wife in New Hampshire.

Sentencing

The State of New Hampshire executed Frederick Small by hanging on January 15, 1918.

Aftermath

Florence Small was buried in the Grant Hill Cemetery in Center Ossipee. Through the efforts of the Ossipee Historical Society and citizens of Ossipee, Florence Small was given proper ceremony on the 91st anniversary of her death, and her site was identified with a marker.

Other details

Literature

Petrie, Janice S. C., PERFECTION TO A FAULT: A SMALL MURDER IN OSSIPEE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1916, Seatales Publishing Company, Topsfield, MA, (2000), 152pp, good, wraps (softcover) signed by the author, ISBN 0970551002