| Windsor, Connecticut owns the legacy of | | | | did not take the stand. The all-male jury (women |
| America's deadliest female serial killer, Amy | | | | didn't begin serving jury duty until later that year) |
| Archer. Between 1908 and 1916, Archer, | | | | convicted her of first-degree murder. She was |
| murdered at least 22 people. True Crime author, | | | | sentenced to hang at a Connecticut state prison; |
| M. William Phelps chronicles Archer's life and crimes | | | | only to have her fate commuted by the |
| in The Devil's Rooming House: The True Story of | | | | Governor. A second trial found Archer using the |
| America's Deadliest Female Serial Killer. | | | | insanity plea. Another twist not present in the |
| Amy and James Archer opened the Archer Home | | | | original proceedings allowed Archer lifelong |
| for Elderly People and Chronic Invalids in 1907. | | | | institutionalization vs. execution. |
| Pioneers in the Connecticut home healthcare field, | | | | Phelps not only details Archer's story, but |
| they offered "Life care for $1,000," or weekly | | | | concurrent events that shaped New England's |
| rates between $7 and $25 for food, shelter and | | | | history. The region experienced a record-breaking |
| medical care. Then, patients in asylums, institutions | | | | heat wave the first two weeks of July 1911. To |
| and similar facilities were often referred to as | | | | avoid pain, residents slept outside on their |
| "inmates." | | | | mattresses, businesses closed and people |
| Archer walked the town as a Bible-carrying | | | | drowned. An estimated 2,000 deaths were |
| Christian reinforcing the community's admiration | | | | attributed to the crisis. Reading Phelps's account of |
| for her caretaker calling. Townspeople called her | | | | the heat wave makes you appreciate today's |
| "Sister Amy." Truth was, Archer had no interest | | | | ubiquitous air conditioning; which wasn't |
| in religion and, as time would tell, had no formal | | | | commonplace in the US until after World War II. |
| training as a nurse. Inmates at the Archer Home | | | | Imagine too the extra discomfort Archer's |
| were dying at unprecedented rates. Archer's | | | | inmates must have experienced in addition to |
| husband James expired mysteriously in February | | | | subpar care. |
| 1910. Most of Archer's victims succumbed to a | | | | Sixteen pages of black and white photos |
| deadly elixir of freshly squeezed lemons, warm | | | | complement Phelps's narrative. They depict key |
| water, a touch of sugar to liberate the | | | | characters, including Archer, the general store |
| bitterness-and arsenic. Archer killed residents to | | | | where the arsenic was purchased and Archer's |
| create faster bed turnover to increase revenues | | | | would-be hanging room. |
| and help her chronic debt challenges. Bodies were | | | | In 1941, playwright Joseph Kesselring debuted |
| removed in the night and swiftly embalmed to | | | | Arsenic and Old Lace on Broadway; which was |
| prevent investigation. | | | | based on Archer's story. His literary genius |
| Michael Gilligan, a respected townsman and twenty | | | | created a comedic account of an historical |
| years senior to Archer, became smitten with her; | | | | tragedy. Reading Phelps's conclusion where he |
| and they soon married. He too died an untimely | | | | chronicles the 66 "reported" Archer Home deaths; |
| death; allowing Amy to quickly file a claim in | | | | you realize Archer's actions were no laughing |
| Probate Court for his assets. | | | | matter. It's a powerful visual to see her |
| Carlan Hollister Goslee, was a twenty-two-year-old | | | | murderous trail on paper. |
| freelance reporter for the local newspaper.A | | | | In March 1962, Archer died at a Connecticut state |
| friend of the Archer's, he was the first to suspect | | | | institution where she'd lived for almost 40 years. |
| Amy's crimes. Clifton Sherman, editor of the | | | | Interestingly, the local newspaper ran her obituary |
| paper knew Goslee's story was big. He displayed | | | | on page 6, almost as an afterthought. |
| utmost professionalism, refraining from printing | | | | Phelps has written several books about serial |
| the expose' until undeniable evidence was | | | | killers and 8 books covering female murderers. He |
| discovered, which took years. | | | | admits, through time, some details of the Archer |
| May 8 1916 brought Archer's arrest at her home. | | | | case were lost. Still, his nearly six-years of |
| By now, "Sister Amy" had become the "Witch of | | | | thorough research rewards you with a captivating |
| Windsor." Her trial began in June 1917; and Archer | | | | account of America's deadliest female serial killer. |