Buried Bones – "Into the Woods"

Hosted by Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes
Released: October 1, 2025 | Podcast Network: Exactly Right/iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this episode, journalist Kate Winkler Dawson and retired cold case investigator Paul Holes dive into the 1843 murder of Amasa Sprague in Spragueville, Rhode Island. They examine one of the state's most notorious cold cases—an influential man found bludgeoned and shot on New Year's Eve—through the lens of modern forensics, social history, and the perils of prejudice in justice. The conversation explores how scientific limitations and political animus shaped the investigation and the eventual conviction and execution of an Irish immigrant, questioning whether justice was truly served—and what the case tells us about the evolution of forensic science and legal rights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Scene and Early Forensic Limitations

[08:54]

• Case Setup:

  • Kate sets the scene: "This is a case of what they could prove then and what we can prove now. And just the tragedy of it, seeing all of the tools we have now..."

• Discovery: On December 31, 1843, servant Michael Costello discovers Amasa Sprague’s body near a footbridge in Spragueville.

  • Body found face down, blood pooling around the head.
  • Early responders contaminated the scene due to public curiosity.

• Forensic Discussion:

  • Paul: “Just imagine, you know, what they were working with back in the 1800s, and ... how many innocent people probably were incarcerated and, or sentenced to death for something they didn't do.” [08:54]

2. Victim Profile and Motive Theories

[25:09]

• Victimology: Amasa Sprague, local magnate and political powerhouse, known for anti-Catholic/nativist views.
• Possible Motives:
  • Political assassination tied to the Dorr Rebellion (universal male suffrage fight).
  • Revenge by business rivals, notably the Irish immigrant Gordon brothers, who suffered after Sprague had liquor licenses revoked.

3. Crime Scene Evidence and Theories

[13:29], [29:23]

• Physical Evidence:

  • Blood trail (60–80 ft), pistol and musket found near the body, scattered personal effects, significant blunt and gunshot wounds.
  • The body suffered several massive head wounds (possibly from a musket), and a non-fatal pistol shot to the forearm—indicative of a defensive wound.

• Paul’s Analysis:

  • "If that is truly the escape route that the offender took ... Of course, today this is a huge source of evidence that could ultimately be used to identify the offender. In 1843, you know, now they're just going, okay, we have to ... see if that suspect has an injury that's fresh." [17:04]
  • Discusses comparative forensics, how lack of testing led to dubious conclusions.

4. Community Response and Bias

[42:36], [62:54]

• Suspect Focus:
  • Nicholas, John, and William Gordon—the Irish Catholic brothers—targeted amid anti-immigrant prejudice.
  • Villagers quick to link them with circumstantial and unverified evidence; dog and family friend also arrested.
• Justice Context:
  • Kate: "Judges did that. ... [He] encourages the jury, which includes no Irish or Catholic men, to give greater credence to testimonies from the native born witnesses than from the immigrants." [62:54]
  • Political and ethnic animus pervaded every aspect of the trial.

5. Trial, Flaws, and Forensic Blindspots

[64:26], [68:21]

• Key (Mis)Evidence:

  • No definitive proof the Gordon’s gun was the murder weapon—no serial numbers; guns hidden out of fear, not necessarily guilt.
  • Bloody clothing could not be proven to match either victim or suspects; red stains shown likely to be harmless dye from John’s job.
  • Shoe and dog tracks unconvincingly pegged to the Gordons' family through snow, ponds, and swamp.
  • The infamous "O.J. moment": John tries on the bloody coat in court—it's far too big.

• Paul’s Observations:

  • "You need to have evidence that matches with the actual homicide scene. ... These guys were arrested so quickly that you're going to see wounds that you could go, yeah, that, that could be the source of this type of blood trail ... and they don't have that." [67:52]
  • Rebukes the lack of scientific testing and the dangers in relying solely on subjective or biased readings.

6. The Aftermath and Historical Reflection

[70:24], [75:25]

• Trial Outcomes:
  • William Gordon provides an unshakeable alibi and is acquitted.
  • John Gordon is convicted and hanged (despite maintaining innocence to his last rites); Nicholas stands two hung juries and dies before prison.
  • The town later acknowledges a miscarriage of justice.
• Historical Impact:
  • Death penalty abolished in Rhode Island in 1852.
  • In 2011, John Gordon is posthumously pardoned, emblematic of a state grappling with its discriminatory legal past.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the tragedy of old forensic limitations:

  • Kate: “This is a case of what they could prove then and what we can prove now. ... What more are we going to have at our disposal to solve crimes and keep people safe?” [08:54]
  • Paul: "The biggest fear is, did I conclude something that ultimately put the wrong person in prison?" [10:14]

• On law, bias, and in-court guidance:

  • Kate: "[The judge] encourages the jury ... to give greater credence to testimonies from the native born witnesses than from the immigrants." [62:54]

• On absurdity of the era's justice system:

  • Kate: "The dog is arrested." [57:42]
  • Paul (laughing in disbelief): “So was the dog standing guard while Amasa was killed? ... I'd like to see ... the investigator's affidavit supporting probable cause to arrest this canine.” [58:40]

• On injustice and exoneration:

  • Kate: "There is a play called the Murder Trial of John Gordon. ... A resolution to exonerate John posthumously ... is successful. So he's officially pardoned—the one brother who ... was screwed over." [73:36]

• Modern forensic perspective:

  • Paul: "This would be a very easy case to solve today ... with the evidence left behind." [75:10]
  • Kate: “That’s why I started this episode like that. This is an example of what we couldn’t do in the 1840s and what we can do now.” [75:14]

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Title / Focus | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 08:54 | Early forensics; "what could be proved then vs. now" | | 13:29 | Scene setting, body found, and crime scene details | | 25:09 | Victimology: Who was Amasa Sprague? | | 29:23 | Coroner’s report: cause of death and wound analysis | | 42:36 | Political context—Dorr Rebellion and anti-immigrant bias| | 57:42 | Whole Gordon family (and dog) arrested | | 62:54 | Judicial and prosecutorial prejudice | | 64:26 | Missing gun, lack of forensic proof | | 67:46 | O.J. Simpson-style coat demonstration | | 70:24 | Trial verdicts, executions, and post-trial fallout | | 73:36 | 2011 posthumous exoneration of John Gordon | | 75:10 | Reflection: “easy case today,” lessons for future |

Episode Takeaways

• This case illustrates the profound impact of both forensic science advances and sociopolitical attitudes on justice.
• Paul and Kate’s conversation highlights enduring dangers of wrongful conviction—especially against minority groups—when objective forensic science is lacking and prejudice dominates the process.
• The episode underscores that, as methods and mindsets improve, old injustices can be revisited and, sometimes, righted—even after more than a century.
• The humorous and candid rapport between Kate and Paul, amplified by the story of the “arrested dog” and the courtroom O.J. moment, balances the gravity of the case with poignant commentary on progress in criminal justice.

Further Information

• Instagram: @buriedbonespod for case photos and diagrams.
• Books:
  • All That Is: A Gilded Age Story of Murder and the Race to Decode the Criminal Mind – Kate Winkler Dawson
  • Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases – Paul Holes

[This summary omits all non-content and advertisement sections. For detailed source notes, see exactlyrightmedia.com.]