HEBRON — Annette Vance Dorey recently briefed the Hebron Historical society on her book, “Maine Mothers Who Murdered.”

Intrigued by a newspaper article about a woman serving time in Thomaston for murder, Dorey began a four-year investigation to find out what other mothers had been convicted and sent to the Maine State Prison. Her research started with an 1877 case in Bethel involving two women charged with disposing of a child.

Dorey’s book details 32 cases over a 50-year span. Approximately one-quarter of those mothers were unmarried, one-quarter married, one-quarter widowed and one-quarter were cohabiting. Seventy-three percent of the victims were less than one year old.

Virtually all of these women were poor, rural and uneducated. The jurors in those days were all male and in each case the trials brought out huge crowds to witness the proceedings.

The society’s next meeting will feature Norma Salway and Dottie Adams presenting a “History of Vintage Aprons,” including a large collection of historic handmade aprons. Attendees are urged to bring unique aprons they wish to show. This will be at the Town Office, 351 Paris Road, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 24. The public is invited.