Creation Date

1894

Description

Two-piece, black, wool dress. The skirt is floor-length with a train and black, braided lace trim. Shirt is black silk with ivory stripes, has long sleeves and ties at waist. There is black beadwork at the neckline. This dress was donated in 1967 by Marabeth Hobbs of Minneapolis. The dress was made for Helen Y. Hobbs, who was married to Waldo W. Hobbs, the principal of Minneapolis North High School from 1892-1934. The dress was made for Mrs. Hobbs by the dressmaker Catherine Ging. On the evening of December 3rd, 1894 Catherine Ging was murdered near Bde Maka Ska (known as Lake Calhoun at the time). Her murder led to one of the most sensational trials in Hennepin County History. The morning after the body was discovered, Harry Hayward went to the Sheriffs and volunteered his opinion that Catherine Ging had been murdered for money. Hayward was swiftly implicated and arrested. After a seven month trial he was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. He was executed on December 11th, 1895 for planning the murder of Catherine Ging. Clause Blixt, the hired killer, was imprisoned at Stillwater prison until his death on August 21st, 1925, at the age of 72. 
Hobbs, Marabeth Hobbs, Helen Y. Ging, Catherine Hayward, Harry