THE RAVEN STREAM CRIME: A CASE STUDY IN MIDDLE CLASS MORALISM, GENDER, AND MURDER IN VICTORIAN AMERICA
Implications of the crime
Listed and explained chronologically, this section explores the case through its representation in the press. While the murder of Rose Ambler was undoubtedly a tragedy with Rose and her family the clear victims, the way in which the investigation was conducted and the subsequent newspaper articles that were published spin the story around to fit various narratives. These articles are indicative of the social expectations of the time and offer an understanding of how people from all over the country thought of and what they expected from women, men, and mothers.
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Articles Through the Feminine Lens:
New York Times, “The Mystery Solved.: No Clue to the Murderer of Mrs. Rose Ambler. Boston White: Shown to Be Innocent and Norman Ambler Not Connected with the Crime”, September 6th, 1883.
This NYT piece eliminates Boston White, the young ‘suspicious’ black man, as a suspect and describes possible animosity between William Lewis and Norman Ambler; the importance of this article is unveiled in the way in which Rose’s mother is depicted. Mrs. Clark was brought in to the jury-room to testify, when she broke down into sobs; the article describes the scene, “[Mrs. Ambler] told pathetically the story of her unfortunate daughter’s life”[1]. Later in the article, when asked to share what she knew about the threats Norman Ambler had apparently made against her daughter Mrs. Clark said, “Of [my knowledge], [I] know nothing]”[2]. These quotes make it clear that Mrs. Clark was not thought to be a reliable source and imply that Mrs. Clark did not pay very much attention to her daughter. The article also encourages the assumption that Mrs. Clark is not a very good mother and twists the story into a cautionary tale, warning mothers everywhere that if one does not pay enough attention to her daughters, then they could end up murdered in the street.
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https://www-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/94140019/755C9A9C3FBB4F2APQ/2?accountid=10920
The Atlanta Constitution, “Rose Clark Ambler: The Story of an Unfaithful Wife Who Fell Victim to her Wiles”, September 13th, 1883.
This article immediately attacks Rose from the subheading; it goes on to tell a romanticized version of Rose’s life and her murder that depicts Rose as a beautiful girl that gets corrupted by her desires after her divorce. The article first describes her as, “a beautiful girl. She had blue eyes, faultless features…her manners were very engaging”[3]but as it continues, the author gets exceedingly more derogative in his description; the author starts to imply that Rose was a bad mother and that she behaved inappropriately and promiscuously, “[Rose] left her baby with Norman’s mother, and it is said that from that day to this she has never visited it”[4]. This attacks Rose’s role as a mother, making her less desirable in the eyes of the public. At this time, being a good mother and a good wife were the defining characteristics of femininity. Rose not being a present mother to her child puts her character in question for everyone that reads this article. When detailing the divorce, the author is also sure to mention that Norman Ambler “seemed to have tenderly loved his wife” and also mentions the openness that Rose expressed her relationship with Lewis after her divorce[5]. Both of these details imply that Rose was a bad wife and combined with the attacks on her role as a mother, insinuate that she deserved what happened to her.
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https://www-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/494862464?accountid=10920
Atlanta Constitution, “Closing Around Lewis, Rose Ambler’s Sweetheart Caught in the Meshes”, September 26th, 1883.
This article describes some of the case’s key players (Rose and her family, Norman Ambler, William Lewis) from the perspective of Stratford’s town gossip. The article’s main source is described as “an old lady with a white shawl and a penchant for gossip”[6]and she soliloquizes to the Constitution a dramatic fairytale-likes story that paints Rose Ambler as a damsel in distress that was spurned by jealous men. The article describes Rose as, “The Belle of Stratford, [Connecticut]” who had, “a dozen suitors seeking her favor”[7]. This depiction of Rose encourages the implication that women were in need of men and were powerless when presented with men’s aggressive jealousy and anger. The overly dramatic telling of the narrative also turns her story into a fairytale for consumption rather than an account of facts.
The National Police Gazette, “Rose Ambler’s Romance”, December 1st, 1883.
This is another damsel in distress depiction of Rose Ambler’s tragic death, one that warns young girls against falling in love and portrays them as weak and corruptible. In the second paragraph, the author describes Rose as a child, “a girl in her teens…a bright happy…. child, who frolicked about the wild and beautiful country”[8]. This depiction is giving readers a limited view of Rose, one that connects Rose with a perfect young child that was powerless against men. Though the article doesn’t describe her death, the story is well-known by now, the readers having read about the murder over the months leading up to this article’s publication. By depicting Rose as a damsel in distress, the author is emphasizing the idea that women are in need of saving.
https://www-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/127597144/755C9A9C3FBB4F2APQ/12?accountid=10920
Articles Through the Masculine Lens:
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New York Times, “William Lewis a Hero: How he Grows Rich While Under Suspicion. New Patrons Flocking to Rose Ambler’s Lover—More Talk of Fresh Evidence and a Significant Interview.”, September 21, 1883.
This piece explains that Rose’s suitor, William Lewis, found a lot of financial success while he was being investigated for Rose’s Murder. It shows that men and women were held to very different expectations. While the press was ridiculing Rose for her promiscuous and non-mothering ways, Lewis was being treated like a celebrity, attracting new customers and economic prosperity. The article speaks to his popularity, stating, “Everybody wants to see the fellow and everybody wants to talk to him”[9]. Lewis’s character and personality is also praised as he is quoted, speaking about himself, “a man of less nerve than himself, or one with-out a phenomenally clear conscience would probably have succumbed to the wearing experiences of the past fortnight”[10]. This man is being investigated for murder and yet, is being treated with kindness and acceptance. The economic success of men is obviously important in this time and it is seen as a symbol of masculinity. Also, it seems that men were given more freedom in regards to the public’s judgement. While Rose’s every action is examined under a microscope, the men that could have murdered her walk around like celebrities.
https://www-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/94111114?accountid=10920
New York Times, “New Haven’s Pulpit Detective.: The Rev. Mr. Houghton Again Solves the Rose Ambler Mystery.” October 1, 1883.
This article attacks the masculinity of William Lewis and asserts that he is the one that murdered Rose. These assertions come from Reverend Houghton and criticize Lewis’s lack of religion and morals, the article states the Reverend’s motivations for accusing Lewis, “My purpose was to go back of the face of the murder and look into the life of this suspected man, and see if there were a good reason for thinking him the murderer, because of a shameful lack of moral principles and virtuous instinct”[11]. Men at the time, while not disenfranchised in anyway, were still expected to behave a certain way. Respected men were financially successful, religious, and family oriented. Lewis’s supposed lack of some of these qualities made him a likely suspect in the eyes of the public. Because this case remains unsolved, the court of public opinion becomes even more important when looking at the social implications.
https://www-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/94048757?accountid=10920
[1]“The Mystery Solved.: No Clue to the Murderer of Mrs. Rose Ambler. Boston White: Shown to Be Innocent and Norman Ambler Not Connected with the Crime”, New York Times, September 6th, 1883.
[2]“The Mystery Solved”, New York Times.
[3]“Rose Clark Ambler: The Story of an Unfaithful Wife Who Fell Victim to her Wiles”, Atlanta Constitution, September 13th, 1883.
[4]Ibid.
[5]Ibid.
[6]“Closing Around Lewis, Rose Ambler’s Sweetheart Caught in the Meshes”, Atlanta Constitution, Sept. 26th, 1883.
[7]Ibid.
[8]“Rose Ambler’s Romance”, National Police Gazette, September 26th, 1883.
[9]“William Lewis a Hero: How he Grows Rich While Under Suspicion. New Patrons Flocking to Rose Ambler’s Lover—More Talk of Fresh Evidence and a Significant Interview.”, New York Times, September 21, 1883.
[10]Ibid.
[11]“New Haven’s Pulpit Detective.: The Rev. Mr. Houghton Again Solves the Rose Ambler Mystery.”, New York Times, October 1, 1883.