Arizona's Murdered Madams: Death in the Red-Light Districts - Paperback

by Merry Gordon (Author)

The true stories of the lost queens of vice

Territorial Arizona was a rough-and-tumble place, but three resilient women carved out places for themselves on the Western frontier. Minnie Powers, a former Mormon, ruled early Phoenix's red-light district, while "Dutch May" Prescott's scandalous Flagstaff sex show drew in crowds from miles around. In Jerome, "Belgian Jennie" Bauters lost her brothel to fire more than once, but she rose from the ashes every time. Their grit and determination to make the best of their new homes weren't the only things they had in common. They might have survived the local gossip and notoriety with aplomb, but all three were gunned down in cold blood. Where their scandalous livelihoods once dominated headlines, now they're remembered, if at all, for their sensational murders.

Author Merry Gordon delves into the lives--and deaths--of three of Arizona's most infamous madams.

Author Biography

Merry Gordon is a writer, editor, and teacher who brakes for obscure roadside attractions and historic cemeteries. She is the author of Shutterbug, a children's book exploring Hollywood's Golden Age, as well as a contributor to essay compilations on Louisa May Alcott and Jane Austen. Passionate about preserving the past, she serves as a site steward with Arizona's State Historic Preservation Office and holds memberships in various local historical associations.