This exhibit will explore the reports of murder in the Alexandria Gazette in June 1900 and June 1920.
The Alexandria Gazette was published every day except for Sundays. In the 1900s, the daily editions were four pages long and had seven columns per page. By 1920, the newspaper expanded to six to eight pages with seven columns on the first page and one to three columns with ads placed throughout the other pages. The advertisements in the 1920s were larger and contained more pictures and information than the advertisements in the 1900s.
In general, crime reports were found on the front page in both the 1900s and the 1920s, but they could also have appeared on different pages as either a continuation of a front-page story or if it were deemed not as important as the news on the front page.
The stories on Murder varied in length, with an average of 123 words per story. The longest story, at 326 words was from 1920. This story was about a man who had shot and killed his young wife after her family had opposed to their marriage. The shortest stories, both at 17 words was from 1900. One story was about two African American men being hanged by a crowd and the other was about a man who was found not guilty of his wife’s murder.