
← Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast17 oct · 19 min
The Dowry of Death: The Case of Benjamin Burton
The Dowry of Death: The Case of Benjamin Burton
He was one Rhode Island's richest Black entrepreneurs. His death sent shockwaves into the small, coastal community of Newport. Initially ruled a suicide, rumors of family disputes, financial mismanagement, and concerns about a new addition to the household prompted authorities to dive deeper. What they exposed was a horrific story of greed and manipulation. Prepare yourself for the Gilded Age case of Benjamin J. Burton. And check out the novel A Harbor of Deceit mentioned during the epi...