Evil stepmother Martha Place used an ax and acid to eliminate her new family.

Martha Garretson Savacool Place’s life was marked by hardship and adversity from an early age. Born into poverty and described as plain, she found herself nearing the age of 30 and facing the prospect of spinsterhood. In a turn of fate, she eventually married but was abandoned by her husband shortly after the birth of their first child, who was subsequently placed in an orphanage.

Several years later, Martha’s domestic skills attracted a second husband, a widower named William Place, who had a young daughter named Ida. However, their relationship took a tumultuous turn, and Martha’s jealousy and resentment led her into the notorious role of a cruel stepmother. Despite her early struggles, Martha Place would ultimately become infamous as she made history on March 20, 1899, as the first woman to be executed by electric chair in the United States.

The crime that led to her execution unfolded on the evening of February 7, 1898. Upon returning home, William Place was greeted by darkness and silence where he expected a warm dinner. Instead, he encountered an atmosphere tainted with suspicion — a heavy odor of gas permeated the home. After calling out for Martha and receiving no response, he was suddenly struck from behind. His cry drew neighbors, but by the time help arrived, a horrific scene had unfolded in the house.

While William survived with injuries sustained from an ax, the lifeless body of Ida was discovered in her bedroom, brutally disfigured. The investigation revealed signs of violence, including acid burns and evidence of a struggle. Subsequently, Martha was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder after she confessed to the attacks, although she denied killing her stepdaughter.

In court, the tale of Martha’s troubled life further emerged. Once a devoted stepmother, her jealousy of Ida, combined with financial disputes and personal grievances, had fueled a toxic household environment. William testified to her resentment toward his daughter’s talents and their shared interests. The jury found her guilty of murder, leading to a death sentence.

Intense public debate surged around Martha’s execution, with many citizens unable to reconcile their views on capital punishment with the specter of executing a woman. Legislative efforts to halt her execution were unsuccessful, and even a final plea to Governor Theodore Roosevelt was met with firm rejection.

On that fateful day in March, the fate of Martha Place was sealed, concluding a life riddled with personal turmoil and tragedy in a few swift moments. She became a significant figure in discussions about female criminals, her legacy officially entrenching her name among the ranks of infamous individuals executed in New York’s electric chair.