Aug 11, 2012 2 min read

In the winter of 1907, the front pages of newspapers all around the country revealed steamy details from the sensational murder trial of Harry Thaw, accused of killing New York architect Stanford White in December 1906. The deadly love triangle involving Thaw’s wife, Evelyn Nesbit, later provided the background for E.L. Doctorow’s novel, “Ragtime.”

But in February 1907, the body of a young woman was hastily removed from the room where she died above Washington’s first theater to a building next door. The attempt to cover up her death failed, and the Lyric Theatre and its manager, a member of one of the town’s most prominent families, were soon targeted by citizens outraged by the prostitution, debauchery and drunkenness that were destroying their community. Something had to be done.

The six-part weekly serial that begins today tells a true story – a tragic tale of Frances Martin’s troubled life and the profound effect her death would have on so many lives for years to come. It is based on newspaper reports of the day, Washington County court and coroner’s records, city directories, Washington Cemetery records and other documents.

The serial was a popular newspaper feature in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and it seems an appropriate way to offer “A Death in the Lyric” to our readers. The serial is written by Park Burroughs, executive editor, whose historical pieces, “Early Bird” and “Life of Enos,” were previously published in the Observer-Reporter in serial form. Editorial intern Sally Scheidt assisted with research, as did staff writer Barbara Miller.

“A Death in the Lyric” will appear in Sunday’s Living section through Sept. 16.