Book SummaryHell_s Princess, by Harold Schechter

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Hell_s Princess

Belle Gunness's early life and origins.

Humble Norwegian Origins and Family History

Brynhild Paulsdatter Storset's early life was set against the backdrop of the Norwegian countryside.

Brynhild Paulsdatter Storset, who would ultimately become notorious under the name Belle Gunness, hailed from the rural areas of Norway. In the charming village of Inngbya, Selbu district, she grew up as part of a sizeable family, with her father, Paul Pedersen Storset, working as the area's sharecropper, alongside his wife. The family resided simply, making ends meet with the limited income derived from their farm produce and animals. Paul Pedersen Storset made his living as a stone mason but sometimes relied on the generosity of the community for assistance.

Brynhild's early life was molded by the pastoral surroundings of her upbringing, which involved engaging in arduous activities like milking cows and carrying water. She collected the slender, desiccated twigs of the evergreen tree, commonly utilized to ignite flames, a practice that led to the community playfully dubbing her with a moniker. Her religious instructor was greatly impressed by her knowledge and dedication, which became evident when she took part in the rites of confirmation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a fourteen-year-old. She worked as a dairymaid and became known for her knitting skills, particularly for incorporating the unique "rose star" pattern that is characteristic of Selbu. Her neighbors viewed her with disfavor...

Hell_s Princess Summary Belle Gunness orchestrated a series of criminal acts and homicides.

Amidst the complexities of her life, Belle Gunness skillfully maintained a facade of wealth and high social status, even as she committed a series of cold-blooded murders on her Indiana land.

Building a facade of respectability and wealth

Initially failing with a candy store business, Bella and her husband acquired enough funds to purchase a three-story house on Alma Street in the Austin suburb, where they expanded their family by welcoming four additional offspring, whom they named Caroline, Myrtle, Axel, and Lucy, between the years 1896 to 1898. These were children who had either been orphaned or were young ones welcomed into Gunness's care due to the absence of a family to claim them. She ingeniously attracted wealthy individuals seeking companionship to her estate by posing as a well-off widow. She explicitly demanded cash payments, assuring her clients of unmatched protection. She was incredibly tenacious and succeeded in capturing the interest of Andrew Helgelien, a prosperous farmer, by writing him compelling and optimistic letters, in which she advised him to hide his money in his clothing for the sake of discretion. Tellingly, this manipulation involved a noticeable...

Hell_s Princess Summary The events that followed were legal proceedings that stemmed from the investigation into Gunness's actions.

The article delves into the chilling tale of Belle Gunness, beginning with the devastating fire that exposed her heinous crimes, progressing through Ray Lamphere's legal trials, and concluding with the lingering mysteries surrounding her final fate.

The victim was found after the devastating fire.

Joe Maxson, who lived at the Gunness property, was awakened by the terrifying sight of the house engulfed in flames. Efforts to save Belle Gunness and her children were in vain due to the intensity of the fire. Neighbors, including William, who rushed to assist, faced similarly lethal challenges as they attempted to navigate the fiery turmoil.

As the investigation advanced, the officials encountered difficulties in controlling the throngs that had assembled, drawn by the fire. Sheriff Smutzer and his team meticulously inspected the charred remains and quickly determined that the blaze had been deliberately ignited. Suspicions and unease began to center around Ray Lamphere, a former employee of Gunness with whom she had a contentious past. Deputies launched an immediate search as his whereabouts were unknown.

The investigation conducted by Coroner Charles Mack revealed a...