Summary

“1922” begins with a letter dated April 11, 1930. Wilfred Leland James writes a confession “to whom it may concern” from the Magnolia Hotel in Omaha. In his second sentences, he confesses that he murdered his wife, Arlette, in June of 1922 with the help of his 14-year-old son, Henry, who he coerced.

Wilfred explains that he killed his wife over 100 acres of land, which had been left to Arlette by her father. Wilfred wanted to add the acres to his freehold farm, but Arlette wanted to sell the land to the Farrington Company, who intended to build a hog butchery upriver from Wilfred’s farm. Arlette wanted to use the money to move to Omaha, but Wilfred hated the city and loved his land. They argued all through the winter and spring. Their son, Henry, was caught in the middle, though he loved the land just like...