The Black Sisters and the Murder of Ocey Snead | Morbid | Podcast

When East Orange, New Jersey police were called to the home of Virginia Wardlaw in late November 1909, they knew only that there had been an accident involving Virginia’s niece, Ocey Snead. Once they’d arrived, however, officers discovered Ocey’s body in an upstairs bathtub, dead from what appeared to be suicide by drowning.
After just a few weeks of investigation, it became clear that Ocey’s death was no accident. Suspicion quickly fell on Virginia and her two sisters, who were soon charged with Ocey’s murder, which investigators believed was committed in order to collect on a large insurance policy.
The murder of Ocey Snead was an undeniable tragedy, but her death was only the beginning of what would become one of the early twentieth century’s most captivating crime stories. As detectives and the press dug deeper into the background of the three women accused of starving and drowning their niece, a bizarre story emerged that sounded as though it had been pulled directly from the pages of a classic southern gothic horror novel. And like any good gothic horror story, the trial of Virginia Wardlaw and her sisters was full of unbelievable twists and culminated in a shocking conclusion.
Thank you to the Wondrous Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!
References
New York Times. 1910. "Alienists declare Mrs. Martin insane." New York Times, September 21: 6.
-. 1909. "Bathtub mystery no murder, she says." New York Times, December 2: 2.
-. 1909. "Bathtub principals are twice indicted ." New York Times, December 23: 4.
-. 1910. "Miss Wardlaw dies; starved herself." New York Times, August 12: 1.
-. 1911. "Mrs. Martin pleads to manslaughter ." New York Times, January 10: 2.
-. 1910. "Mrs. Martin's cries halt lunacy trial." New York Times, November 8: 7.
-. 1909. "Mrs. Snead's family full of fatalities." New York Times, December 9: 20.
-. 1910. "Ocey Snead was drugged ." New York Times, January 21: 1.
-. 1910. "Say Miss Wardlaw is dying." New York Times, August 11: 4.
-. 1909. "The Snead msytery." New York Times, December 18: 12.
Rife, Luanne. 2016. "The Black Sisters." Roanoke Times, December 1: 116.
Roanoke Times. 1909. "Christiansburg woman is held." Roanoke Times, December 3: 1.
West, Mike. 2009. "Fearless Confederate died mysteriously in NYC." Murfreesboro Post, February 15: 8.
-. 2009. "'Sisters in Black' sour Ocey's domestic bliss." Murfreesboro Post, February 22: 8.
Zierold, Norman. 1968. Three Sisters in Black. New York, NY: Little, Brown.
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yall are some real ones for thanking your viewers like you did in the beginning

[@ashleymarie3153]

First time listener and I’m hooked already at only 14 minutes in . When y’all talked about breaking into students rooms I lost it 😂

[@zachS614]

HEY YOU WANT THIS BUILDING That’s a T-shirt

[@KittyCatDonut]

I know the feeling of meeting a celeb like I went to a Comic-Con afraid to meet any due to horror stories of how mean they can be… William shatner was so sweet to meet

[@autumnbee7936]

Thanks for all the content keeping me busy at work! Hi from MN!

[@madisonappenfelder]

One of the best episodes in awhile! Had me laughing so hard lol. You guys rock 😂❤

[@Grandmama-Rainey]

This was a freaky one! Oh, good Goddess! This was so bizzare! 💜 from Ut. PS: My sister and my nephew saw your show here and didn't invite me.👿 They won't make that mistake again.😮

[@MizzayDizzay01]

Oh wow a story from where I live crazy

[@pawsmaster7522]

W Dr Petit 🙌🏼

[@SamiDale-pq9yi]

Damn I live 15 minutes from christiansburg Va, I worked at the Montgomery hospital

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[@Brezzy369]

❤

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Formerly chucks

[@jenniferraymond3846]

She was born September 20