Linda Hazzard (1867-1938) masqueraded as a physician while starving her patients to death to obtain their sizable estates. For those of you tuning in for the first time, welcome! Here’s the deal: Every weekday, we highlight the stories of iconic women in history you may not know about, but definitely should. We’re talking about women from around the world and throughout history. Each month is themed. This month we’re talking about troublemakers–from women who made “good trouble” to women who thrived in illicit industries to villains in the truest sense of the word.
This month, we're talking about troublemakers–from women who made “good trouble” to women who thrived in illicit industries to villains in the truest sense of the word.
History classes can get a bad wrap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Encyclopedia Womannica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Encyclopedia Womannica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
Encyclopedia Womannica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Sundus Hassan, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, and Ale Tejada. Special thanks to Shira Atkins.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan and this is Womanica.
This month, we’re talking about Troublemakers. We’re covering stories across the spectrum of women who made “good trouble”, to women who thrived in illicit industries, to villains in the truest sense of the word. All of the women we’re covering had a major impact on the societies in which they lived.
Today’s episode is about a villain. If you’re listening with young children you may want to sit this one out.
Our story today takes us to a small unassuming town just a ferry ride away from Seattle, Washington. While not much remains of what the locals called “Starvation Heights”, it was once the site of a hotly contested murder trial in the early 1900s. The villain in question masqueraded as a physician while starving her patients to death to obtain their sizable estates.
We’re talking about Linda Hazzard.
Linda was born in 1867 in Carver County, Minnesota. By the age of 18, she married and had two children. Her children were still young when she left the family to pursue a career in medicine in Minneapolis.
By 1902, Linda was divorced from her first husband. This also coincided with the death of her first patient. The coroner ruled starvation as the cause of death. Linda, however, was not prosecuted because she did not hold a medical license.
Linda had minimal medical experience as an osteopathic nurse. Still, she insisted on calling herself doctor. Her medical ideology revolved around the idea that food was at the root of all illness. Specifically: too much food. She self-published a book called “Fasting for the Cure of Disease” where s he advocated for letting the digestive system “rest” through near-total fasts for extended periods of time.
Around this time, Linda met her second husband Samuel Hazzard. Sam had recently been dismissed from the military for misappropriating Army funds. He was also already married. Following his marriage to Linda, Sam was convicted of bigamy and sentenced to two years in prison.
When Sam was released in 1906, the couple relocated to Washington state where a loophole in state law allowed Linda to practice medicine. They lived on a 40-acre estate on the Olympic peninsula in Olalla [Oh-la-la], Washington. Linda commuted to Seattle by ferry to treat patients and while constructing a sanitarium on their sprawling property.
At the time, alternative and even dangerous medical practices were common. But Linda’s were particularly nefarious. Her fasting regime included daily enemas that went on for hours and what she called “massages” that more accurately resembled beatings.
Linda preyed on wealthy patients. As they reached delirium, she syphoned funds from their estate or swindled jewelry and other valuables.
Linda’s most famous victims were sisters Dorothea and Claire Williamson. They were both in their early thirties, rich and hypochondriacs. Dorothea and Claire saw an ad for Linda’s book in a newspaper and made a trip to visit her in Seattle. In February of 1911, they decided to undergo Linda’s fasting treatment. They did not tell other family members, who were already disdainful of their interest in unorthodox medicines.
For months, Linda fed the two women only thin vegetable broth as they endured daily enemas and beatings. By April, the two sisters were emaciated and nearly delirious. They were then transferred by ambulance to Linda’s home sanitarium in Olalla. Linda’s attorney received a shaky signature from Claire in which Claire agreed to sign over her monthly stipend to Linda.
Fortunately, prior to their move to the sanitarium, one of the sisters had managed to send a cable to their childhood nurse, Margaret Conway. Apparently the cable was so nonsensical that Margaret immediately set sail for the Pacific Northwest on a hunch that the girls were in danger.
She arrived in June of 1911. Sam Hazzard greeted her at the ferry dock where Margaret was informed that Claire Williamson had died. Her sister Dorothea, had gone insane.
When Margaret arrived at the sanitarium in Olalla, she was horrified. Dorothea was only sixty pounds, essentially a human skeleton, living in a wooden shack on the property.
When Margaret tried to have Dorothea released to her care, Linda refused. She informed Margaret that she had received power of attorney and legal guardianship of Dorothea. Linda had been made executor of Claire’s estate and had helped herself to much of the woman’s fortune. Once, while giving Margaret an update on Dorothea’s health, Linda was dressed in one of Claire’s favorite silk gowns.
Desperate to help Dorothea escape, Margaret sent news to Dorothea’s uncle in Portland, Oregon. Also a very rich man, he was able to buy Dorothea’s freedom for roughly a thousand dollars - what would be close to a $27,000 ransom today.
To avenge Claire’s death, Dorothea’s family financed the prosecution against Linda Hazzard. She was arrested in August of 1911 and a courtroom spectacle broke out around the trial.
Linda cried sexism. She claimed she was being persecuted for being a successful woman in a male-dominated field. Despite her lack of credentials, she chastised courtroom reporters for not calling her Dr. Hazzard. She would say, “I have told you time and time again, it is Dr. Hazzard. Mrs. Hazzard is my mother-in-law.” Some of the coverage did blatantly hint at sexism. A headline in the Seattle Daily Times read, “Woman ‘M.D’ Kills Another Patient” implying that Linda’s gender -- rather than her cruel and torturous practices -- was what led to her patient’s death.
Linda was also the beneficiary of sexism at the time. The evidence in the case was damming. An extensive paper trail of her financial dealings as well as a forged diary from Claire claiming she wanted Linda to have her diamonds, led the jury to convict. However, Linda was only convicted of manslaughter, not murder. A lesser crime. The press speculated that Linda was let off easy because she was a woman.
Linda served only two years in prison. Following her release, Linda and Sam relocated to New Zealand where she continued to write books about fasting. By 1920, the couple had financially recovered and returned to Olalla where Linda built her dream sanitarium. No longer able to practice medicine, she called it a “school of health”. She continued to starve people.
In 1935, the sanitarium burned down. As her health started to turn, Linda embarked on her own fast to cure herself. Three years later, Linda died. It’s estimated she starved at least a dozen patients to death.
You can still find Linda’s books online and in some natural healing bookstores. Modern versions of fasting your way into health - like juice cleanses and extreme calorie reduction diets - are still popular to this day.
All month, we’re talking about troublemakers, the good and really bad kinds.
Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.
Talk to you tomorrow!