Murder of Helen Jewett Sexualized

¶ … Murder of Helen Jewett

Sexualized murder or men-women power relations had not yet found their place in anthropological or sociological discourse in the 19th century and hence Helen Jewett's received an easy acquittal despite vast circumsatantical evidence against him. This is the primary thesis of Patricia Cohen's book, "The Murder of Helen Jewett" which skillfully reconstructs the mysterious life of a New York City prostitute.

Helen Jewett's life was intensely eventful and her death equally mysterious. That is what a reader would gather from Patricia Cohen's account of Jewett's life which is carefully rebuilt from available information, most of which was at best ambiguous. Cohen sorts through heaps of misleading and vague information to unearth the facts suitable enough to reconstruct a largely elusive story of Jewett's early life in Maine and the circumstances that led to her arrival in a brothel.

The murder of Helen Jewett revolves around the life and tragic death of a young prostitute whose murder attracted wide media attention because of high contacts that Helen had established during her "career." It is unclear why she was murdered but several theories emerged as the main person of interest, Richard P. Robinson, was linked with the murder on the basis of serious circumstantial evidence. The main question raised by Patricia Cohen is this: why did Helen's death became such sensational news when she was but just a prostitute. The answers are grounded in the life story of Helen, however short it was.

Accounts of her early life shows that despite being a young prostitute who had attained tremendous success in an otherwise unacceptable occupation, Helen was not an ordinary woman. She was unlike other prostitutes of her days as she had had the opportunity to attain good education during her early life as a servant at some very respectable houses. The masters and mistresses at these places taught her all that she needed to learn to be called educated. She received as good an education as most respectable girls of elite class and hence considered herself a class apart from other prostitutes.

How she turned to this profession after being a servant for many years is unknown since history doesn't reveal any concrete reasons for her expulsion from servant-hood. However it is believed that her sexual expression may have extended to some of the male figures of the households where she worked and this may have led to her expulsion. However this is only an assumption, unsupported by available evidence.

Cohen does a commendable job in unearthing the evidence and separating facts from fiction to present a highly reliable account of Helen Jewett's life and murder. Her book relies on some primary and numerous secondary sources including the letters written to Robinson during her affair with this young man. These letters were presented as the primary evidence in her case to hold Robinson responsible for her untimely and tragic death. Robinson had apparently embezzled some money from Helen which she knew nothing of for some time. However once she learned of the truth, she decided to end her relationship with him which many believe enraged Robinson to the point that she killed her.

Cohen's main thesis revolves around the personality and career success of Helen who was quite unlike others in her profession for she was very well read and could assert herself confidently in various situations. Cohen appears to like Helen despite her career choice as she saw her as a financially independent woman who chose not to sell herself short by charging quite a hefty sum for her services. Helen was also very eloquent as her letters to her customers reveal. To one potential client, she wrote: "You do not know what a pleasure your acquaintance is to me . . . A single oasis in the vast desert of wretchedness, shame, guilt, blighted prospects and perverted powers which I am compelled to call my life." This was her way of generating adequate interest to make the final purpose clear: "Come and see me as soon as you can; I shall expect you every evening."

Helen's manipulative ways and her seduction skills met their match in a young man, Robinson who had come to New York to work as a clerk. Richard Robinson came from a rather affluent family of Connecticut. His highly passionate though tempestuous affair with Helen was an indication of how things would end between them. After months of exchanging love letters and spending time together, Helen was found dead on a cold day in 1836. Richard Robinson was an immediate suspect.