Bio

Frederick L. Small was born in 1866. Very little is known about his early life, including where exactly he was born or what his childhood was like. As an adult, he became a stockbroker and worked in Boston. He was married three times throughout his life.

In March 1916, Frederick and his wife, Florence Aileen Curry Small, took out a joint life insurance policy for $20,000. This policy stated that if one spouse died, the other would receive the money. At that time, Frederick was 49 years old and Florence was 37 years old. They paid a premium of $1,107.60 for the policy.

Before the tragic events in September 1916, Frederick had some notable experiences in his life. In 1909, he sued a man named Arthur Soden, the president of a baseball team called the Boston Beaneaters. Frederick claimed that Soden had interfered with his second marriage. The lawsuit was for $500,000, which was a very large amount at that time. Frederick eventually won the case, and Soden was ordered to pay him $10,000.

Murder Story

Frederick L. Small was charged with the murder of his wife, Florence Aileen Curry Small, in Carroll County, New Hampshire. On September 28, 1916, her body was discovered in the ruins of their burnt cottage at Lake Ossipee. The fire had destroyed most of the cottage, but Florence's body was found in the flooded basement. She suffered multiple injuries, including a crushed skull, a cord around her neck, and a gunshot wound. There was also evidence suggesting she had been chloroformed.

Frederick Small had a solid alibi for the evening of the murder, claiming he was traveling back to Boston. However, investigators uncovered a collection of items, like an alarm clock and hairpins, which indicated he had attempted to create a timed arson device. Known as a tinkerer, Mr. Small was noted for his mechanical skills.

After his arrest the following day, Frederick Small offered a $1,000 reward for information about the murder, which raised suspicion among local authorities. He had previously purchased a joint life insurance policy with Florence for $20,000, which would pay out in the event of one spouse's death.

On January 15, 1918, Frederick Small was executed by hanging for his wife’s murder. Florence is buried at Grant Hill Cemetery in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire. In the years that followed, her grave was honored with a marker, thanks to local efforts to remember her.