274 risultati
1723rif. 860101723. He Escaped the Tower to Join the Jacobite Rising of 1745 Trial. Kelly George 1688-1762. The Speech of Mr. George Kelly. Spoke at the Bar of the House of Lords on Thursday The 2d of May 1723. In His Defence Against the Bill then Depending For Inflicting Pains and Penalties upon Him. London: Printed for A. Moore near St. Paul's MDCCXXIII 1723. Price One Shilling. 15 1 pp. Folio 13-1/2" x 8-1/2"; 34.3 x 21.6 cm. Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Occasional corner creasing; final leaf partially detached with some marginal fraying. Moderate toning and light dust-soiling. A very good unsophisticated copy. $250. "First edition" one of 13 issued by 5 different presses 2 of them anonymous in 1723 6 with later edition statements ranging from "second" to "seventh." The English Short-Title Catalogue ESTC notes that bookseller's name "A. Moore" is fictitious. Kelly an ordained clergyman who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Hanoverian King George I was implicated in the Atterbury Plot a conspiracy to restore the Stuart monarchy. When the plot was discovered Kelly was arrested. Because the government lacked enough evidence for a traditional treason conviction they passed an Act for Inflicting Pains and Penalties against him which led to the show trial where Kelly delivered the widely-circulated speech recorded in this pamphlet. This specific legislative act sentenced Kelly to life imprisonment and the forfeiture of all his property. Unlike a Bill of Attainder an Act of Pains and Penalties usually stopped short of the death penalty but bypassed the need for a jury trial. After 14 years in the Tower of London Kelly famously escaped in 1736 fled to France. It was a dramatic feat; he reportedly walked out in a disguise after his captors became lax over a decade into his life sentence. His presence as one of the "Seven Men of Moidart"-the small group that accompanied Prince Charles Edward Stuart to Scotland in 1745-cements his role as one of the most persistent and effective Jacobite agents of the 18th century. The imprint "A. Moore" is a classic bibliographical "red herring." During this period printers used fictitious imprints to avoid prosecution for seditious libel. "A. Moore" often punning on "Amour" or simply "more" copies was a common pseudonym used for controversial polit. unknown books
1865rif. 860061865. A Rare Record of Civil War Scandal and Political Warfare Trial. Opdyke George 1805-1880 Defendant. The Great Libel Case. Geo. Opdyke Agt. Thurlow Weed. A Full Report of the Speeches of Counsel Testimony Etc. Etc. New York: The American News Company No. 121 Nassau Street 1865. 156 pp. Octavo 5-3/4" x 9-1/4". Stab-stitched pamphlet in printed wrappers lower section of spine reinforced with cellotape. Light soiling spine abraded wrappers which are partially detached but secure creased and edgeworn. Moderate toning to interior corner folds to margins of title page and following few leaves. A good copy. $150. Only edition of the comprehensive trial report documenting the explosive legal battle between New York City Mayor George Opdyke and Thurlow Weed the powerful editor of the Albany Evening Journal. At the height of the Civil War Weed accused Opdyke of using his office to reap illicit profits from government military contracts-essentially charging the Mayor with war profiteering. The trial which lasted several weeks and featured a "who's who" of New York political and legal elite ultimately ended in a hung jury leaving both reputations permanently scarred. Beyond the legal arguments the testimony offers a raw look at the intersection of private industry and military supply during the Union's most desperate hours. Catalogue of the Library of the Harvard Law School 1909 II:1157. unknown books
1865rif. 860091865. A Rare Glimpse Into a Scandal that Shocked New York City's Elite Trial. Strong v. Strong. Gerry Elbridge T. 1837-1927. The "Strong" Divorce Case. Argument of Mr Elbridge T. Gerry Of Counsel for Mrs. Strong Before Justice Garvin of the Superior Court of the City of New York On a Motion for a Verdict in the Case of Peter R. Strong Agst. Mary E. Strong December 4 1865. December 4 1865. Reported by Warburton & Underhill Stenographers. New York: Wm. C. Bryant & Co. Printers 41 Nassau Street Corner of Liberty 1865. 69 pp. Octavo 9" x 5-3/4"; 22.8 x 14.6 cm. Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet in printed wrappers rear wrapper lacking. Faint vertical crease through center moderate toning faint dampstaing to foot of text block and front wrapper which has some chipping and edgewear light toning to interior. A good copy. $150. Only edition of Elbridge T. Gerry's powerful argument in one of the most sensational legal battles of the 19th century. Spanning 1862-1865 Strong v. Strong titillated New York City's "Knickerbocker" elite exposing a web of adultery and betrayal at the height of the Civil War. As counsel for Mrs. Strong Gerry demonstrates the legal acrobatics required to defend a woman's reputation in an era of strict Victorian morality. This pamphlet printed by the firm of poet William Cullen Bryant serves as a vital primary source for the evolution of American divorce law and the social history of New York's high society. OCLC locates 6 copies in law libraries Columbia Harvard US Supreme Court University of Missouri University of Pennsylvania Yale. unknown books
1765rif. 865801765. London: Printed for J. Almon 1765. London: Printed for J. Almon 1765. A Landmark in the History of Freedom of the Press: The First Edition to Unite Two Landmark Anglo-American Press Trials Zenger and Owen 1765 Trial. Zenger John Peter Defendant. Owen William Defendant. The Trial of John Peter Zenger Of New-York Printer: Who Was Charged with Having Printed and Published a Libel Against the Government; And Acquitted. With a Narrative of His Case. To Which is Now Added Being Never Printed Before The Trial of Mr. William Owen Bookseller Near Temple Bar Who Was Also Charged with the Publication of a Libel Against the Government; Of Which He was Honourably Acquitted by a Jury of Free-Born Englishmen Citizens of London. London: Printed for J. Almon Opposite Burlington-House Piccadilly 1765. 59 1 pp. final page publisher's advertisement. Octavo 9" x 5-1/2"; 22.9 x 14 cm. Contemporary stab-stitched plain paper wrappers title in an elegant contemporary manuscript hand to front wrapper edges untrimmed. Light toning minor dust-soiling to wrappers otherwise a crisp very good copy. Early ownership signature "J. Pickard" to upper margin of title page. An appealing unsophisticated copy preserved in a custom dark green morocco and cloth clamshell box. $5000. First Almon edition and the first edition to combine the celebrated 1735 trial of John Peter Zenger a landmark in the development of freedom of the press in America with the 1752 London libel trial of bookseller William Owen. Prosecuted for printing criticism of New York's royal governor William Cosby Zenger was defended by Andrew Hamilton of Philadelphia who argued that truth should constitute a defense against libel. Although the court rejected this argument the jury acquitted Zenger an influential assertion of the jury's independence in political prosecutions. First published in 1736 the account generally attributed to James Alexander became an enduring statement of resistance to arbitrary government and an important antecedent of the First Amendment. Owen was prosecuted for publishing The Case of Alexander Murray; his acquittal similarly demonstrated the power of juries in prosecutions for political libel. Issued by the prominent London opposition bookseller John Almon during the mounting imperial controversy of 1765 this edition brings together two notable Anglo-American trials illustrating the. unknown books
1794rif. 838791794. The Treason Trial of a Notable Cotton Merchant & Political Radical Trial. Walker Thomas 1749-1817 Primary Defendant. Gurney Joseph 1744-1815 Reporter. The Whole Proceedings on the Trial of Indictment Against Thomas Walker of Manchester Merchant Samuel Jackson James Cheetham Oliver Pearsal Benjamin Booth And Joseph Collier; For a Conspiracy to Overthrow the Constitution and Government And to Aid and Assist the French Being the King's Enemies in Case They Should Invade this Kingdom Tried at the Assizes at Lancaster April 2 1794 Before the Hon. Mr. Justice Heath One of the Judges of His Majesty's Court of Common Pleas. Philadelphia: Printed for Samuel Harrison Smith by W. Woodward 1794. xii 13-104 xix 1 pp. Octavo 8" x 5"; 20.6 x 12.7 cm. Disbound. Moderate toning occasional light foxing title page detaching at foot. A good copy. $500. Only American edition one of two issues. A cotton merchant by trade Walker was a well-connected radical and social reformer. His circle of friends and acquaintances included Thomas Paine Charles James Fox Josiah Wedgwood Joseph Priestley and John Horne Tooke. He and his friends aroused suspicion during the anti-radical hysteria in Great Britain that followed the outbreak of the French Revolution and were tried for treason. This trial is memorable for Lord Erskine's famous cross-examination which discredited the Crown's principal witness and lengthy jury address. Cohen Bibliography of Early American Law 12222. unknown books
rif. 95800Very Good. Single leaf folded to form four pages with list of 83 names on first two pages. Three later horizontal folds probably for filing. Has some pencil markings beside most names -- either a red "x" or an black line. Ink note at top of one of the narrow folded section on last page:Jury of 80 Men for trial of Jorden on Tuesday 28th Inst. Waterstain -- name still quite readable -- a bit wavy but covers about the right third of both leaves as folded. No information as to date or location. Looks like it probably dates sometime in first two-thirds of 19th century. Someone might be able to narrow it down -- most juror names seem common but Plesant W. Ponder probably is not. Later pencil note in unknown hand on last page: possibly Lawrence County Alabama. unknown books
1845rif. 847281845. He "Argued Much from the Bible to Induce Me to Submit to His Base Designs" Trial. Fairchild Joy Hamlet 1790-1859 Defendant. A Full and Accurate Report of the Trial of Rev. Joy H. Fairchild Before the Municipal Court of Boston For Adultery with Miss Rhoda Davidson. Caption title: Mr. Fairchild's Trial. Boston: H.B. Skinner 1845. Octavo 10" x 6"; 25 x 15 cm. 24 pp. Text in parallel columns. Stab-stitched pamphlet with untrimmed edges. Moderate toning occasional light foxing. Lower outside corners of last two leaves lacking with minor loss to text on last leaf. $250. A scarce antebellum legal document of the highly publicized Boston municipal trial of the Reverend Joy Hamlet Fairchild a married Orthodox Congregational minister accused of committing adultery with Rhoda Davidson a young domestic servant of Edgecomb Maine living in his household. After Davidson gave birth to a child and named Fairchild as the father the ensuing scandal captivated the New England public exposing deep anxieties surrounding ministerial morality and the sexual exploitation of working-class women. One of several publications about this celebrated notorious case. Fairchild vigorously defended himself against the adultery charge claiming he was the victim of a malicious conspiracy engineered by rival clergymen intent on framing him as a habitual libertine. This Skinner printing captures the full dramatic tension of the courtroom including Davidson's detailed testimony regarding how Fairchild used perverted biblical arguments to overcome her moral objections: "I asked him if God had not declared that every man should have his own wife and none other. He said that was Paul's language and then argued much from the Bible to induce me to submit to his base designs which he succeeded in accomplishing." It closes with the equally vexing verdicts. Despite his conviction in ecclesiastical court the Boston municipal jury found that he was not guilty of adultery. The trial highlights a fascinating divergence in nineteenth-century American jurisprudence. A compelling artifact documenting the intersection of religion law and public obsession with sexual scandal in New England. As in most other copies we located ours is lacking its wrappers which contained the title and publication information. Accounts of this case are sca. unknown books
1840rif. 848861840. Philadelphia: Printed by W.S. Martien 1840. Philadelphia: Printed by W.S. Martien 1840. A Foundational Text of American Family Law: The 1840 d'Hauteville Habeas Corpus Report Trial. D'Hauteville Custody Case. Sears David et al. Defendants. Report of the d'Hauteville Case: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania At the Suggestion of Paul Daniel Gonsalve Grand d'Hauteville Versus David Sears Miriam C. Sears and Ellen Sears Grand d'Hauteville: Habeas Corpus for the Custody of an Infant Child. Philadelphia: Printed by W.S. Martien 1840. 295 pp. Octavo 8-3/4" x 5-1/2"; 22 x 14 cm. Contemporary three-quarter morocco over marbled boards later repair to head of spine. Light rubbing to boards moderate rubbing to extremities front joint starting corners bumped and lightly worn early owner name "Clara A. Coolidge" to front free endpaper. Moderate toning to interior faint dampstaining to foot of text block. A very good copy. $450. Only edition. The d'Hauteville case was a 19th-century cause celebre that pitted an American heiress against her Swiss aristocratic husband in a battle that transfixed the Atlantic world. When Ellen Sears fled her 'tyrannical' husband to give birth in Philadelphia she challenged the centuries-old legal tradition of patria potestas-the absolute right of the father to his children. This report documents the court's revolutionary decision to prioritize the child's welfare over the father's 'property' rights. It is a cornerstone of American jurisprudence cited for decades as the origin of the 'Tender Years Doctrine' and the shift toward maternal custody for infants. This copy bears the contemporary ownership signature of Clara A. Coolidge likely of the prominent Boston family. Her possession of this specific report is noteworthy as the d'Hauteville case became a rallying cry for elite 19th-century women navigating the restrictive laws of coverture and custodial rights. See Grossberg A Judgment for Solomon: The d'Hauteville Case and Legal Experience in Antebellum America. Cohen Bibliography of Early American Law 11423. unknown books
1824rif. 857701824. The Fatal Consequences of Sports Betting Trial. Thurtell John 1794-1824 & Joseph Hunt d.1825 Defendants. Egan Pierce 1772-1849 Reporter. Pierce Egan's Account of the Trial of John Thurtell and Joseph Hunt. With an Appendix Disclosing Some Extraordinary Facts Exclusively in the Possession of the Editor. With Portraits And Many Other Illustrative Engravings. London: Knight & Lacey Publishers 1824. iv 105 1 pp. With an engraved portrait frontispiece of Thurtell Hunt and William Probert and 6 unnumbered full-page woodcuts as called for. Bound with Egan Pierce. Recollections of John Thurtell Who was Executed at Hertford on Friday The 9th of January 1824.Being an Appendix to His Account of the Trial Which May Now be Had Price 2s. London: Knight & Lacey Publishers 1824. iv 44 pp. With a woodcut frontispiece depicting Thurtell's execution. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5"; 21.4 x 12.7 cm. Contemporary three-quarter calf over marbled boards gilt fillets and lettering piece to spine. Some rubbing to exterior light wear to extremities front joint cracked spine varnished corners bumped rear hinge cracked. Light toning to interior occasional light foxing and soiling unobtrusive faint dampstaining to first three leaves of Account. A good copy. $250. Only editions. John Thurtell an unlucky gambler was deeply in debt to the bookmaker William Weare. Deciding to take revenge Thurtell along with his friends Joseph Hunt and William Probert murdered Weare in a grisly manner and tossed his body into a pond. Thurtell tried to escape conviction. He was hanged. Hunt confessed his involvement and stated that Thurtell was the killer. He was sent to the penal colony in Botany Bay Australia. Charges against Probert were dropped in exchange for his wife's testimony which minimized his role in the crime. Our account of the trial and its aftermath was produced by Pierce Egan a popular journalist and sportswriter. Thurtell himself was an admirer--the chance to read Egan's coverage of a recent prizefight was purportedly among his final wishes. Recollections was issued separately as the appendix which is referenced on the title page of Account. unknown books
1821rif. 849031821. Elizabeth-Town NJ: J. and E. Sanderson 1821. Elizabeth-Town NJ: J. and E. Sanderson 1821. A Schoolteacher Sues to Redeem Her Reputation and Save Her School Trial. Hall Eunice Plaintiff. Rogers Daniel Reporter. Report of the Trial of Eunice Hall vs. Robert Grant For Slander. Tried Before the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Essex In New-Jersey And a Special Jury In June Term 1821. Taken in Short Hand by Daniel Rogers Counsellor at Law. With an Abridgement of the Arguments of Counsel And an Appendix. Elizabeth-Town NJ: Printed by J. and E. Sanderson 1821. 137 pp. Octavo 9-1/2" x 6"; 24.10 x 15.20 cm. Stab-stitched pamphlet in printed wrappers untrimmed edges. Moderate rubbing and faint dampstaining to wrappers heavier rubbing to extremities with wear to spine ends. Moderate toning and light foxing faint dampstaining to sections of text corner folds to several leaves clean tear to leaf 7 pp. 49-50 early owner inscription "Robt. Fitch/ August 29th 1822" to front endleaf. $500. Only edition. Robert Grant a physician who treated one of Hall's students alleged that Hall a teacher was responsible for the student's death which destroyed her reputation and that of the school she kept. Hall sued Grant for fifteen counts of libel; the jury awarded her $250 in damages. The first page has a statement by Grant that indicates his interest in the publication of this pamphlet. OCLC locates 7 copies in law libraries Harvard Library of Congress NYU Nova Southeastern University University of Minnesota University of Missouri Yale. Cohen Bibliography of Early American Law 11981. Felcone New Jersey Books 2nd ed. 1982. unknown books
1846rif. 829311846. Hartford: Published by Elihu Geer 1846. Hartford: Published by Elihu Geer 1846. Marital Homicide and Insanity: McDade 1115 Trial. Woodford Orrin Defendant. Morgan Nathaniel Harris 1805-1881 Reporter. A Full Report of the Trial of Orrin Woodford for the Murder of His Wife Diana Woodford; At Avon Conn. July 22d 1845; At the January Term Of the Superior Court Holden at Hartford 1846. Including the Arguments of Counsel And Accompanied by Plans of the House and Premises Where the Homicide was Committed. Together with an Accurate Portrait of the Prisoner. Hartford: Published by Elihu Geer 1846. 69 pp. Two woodcut illustrations. Main text in parallel columns. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5-3/4"; 21.5 x 14.5 cm. Stab-stitched pamphlet bound into later cloth gilt title to spine. Light rubbing to extremities light fading to edges of boards. Light toning to interior moderate soiling and light edgewear to endleaves light foxing to a few leaves. A very good copy of a scarce title. $500. Only edition. Judged to be insane Woodford was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a term of ten years for stabbing and beating his wife to death. Morgan was the keeper of the Hartford County Jail. This is a scarce title. OCLC locates 11 copies in law libraries. McDade The Annals of Murder 1115. unknown books
1806rif. 829611806. London: M. Gurney Bookseller Holborn-Hill 1806. London: M. Gurney Bookseller Holborn-Hill 1806. With an Interesting Manuscript Note Trial. Patch Richard Defendant c.1770-1806. Gurney Joseph 1744-1815 Reporter. Gurney William Brodie 1777-1855 Reporter. The Trial of Richard Patch for the Wilful Murder of Isaac Blight At Rotherhithe On the 23d of September 1805. At the Session House Newington Surrey On Saturday the Fifth of April 1806. Taken in Short-Hand. London: Sold by M. Gurney Bookseller Holborn-Hill 1806. 197 3 pp. Folding frontispiece "Plan of the Premises of the Late Mr. Blight". Publisher advertisement to verso of final leaf. Octavo 8" x 5"; 20.25 x 12.5 cm. Recent cloth gilt title and publication date to spine marbled edges endpapers renewed. A few faint finger smudges spine ends lightly bumped. Moderate toning and light foxing to interior a few creases and short tears and a corner fold to frontispiece later manuscript leaf in a neat hand affixed to its verso. A very good copy. $250. Second and final edition of two issues. Patch the eldest son of a smuggler had been forced to mortgage his Exeter farm and subsequently fled to London in order to dodge his creditors. While there he met Blight a ship-breaker who proposed that he become a partner in the business. Patch agreed but lacked the money to pay for his share and killed Blight instead. In passing sentence the judge told Patch: "you began this practice in fraud continued it in ingratitude and completed it by shedding the blood of your friend and benefactor." The long manuscript note on the affixed leaf discusses whether "the proposed change allowing the Defence of Prisoners by Counsel is not needed" with reference to this case. Its author rejects this proposal. The note concludes with a reference to the Second Report of the Royal Commission on the Criminal Law 1836. The first Gurney edition was published in 1805 and reissued in 1806. British Museum Catalogue Compact Edition 11:313. unknown books
1796rif. 821781796. A Vermont Estate Case Involving Two Former Mayors of New York City Manuscript. Trial. Vermont. Colden vs. Custis and Morgan. Movnt & Judgment. Woodstock VT September 21 1796. 12-3/4" x 8" 32.4 x 20.3 cm bifolium and 12-3/4" x 8" 32.4 x 20.3 cm leaf which was pinned to bifolium forming 6 pp. document. Text in neat hand to rectos and versos docketed on verso of final leaf. Content in neat hand. Moderate toning light soiling horizontal fold lines rubbing to edges short clean tears along folds pin holes to upper-inside corners. $250. In this post-Revolutionary land dispute the estate of Whitehead Hicks 1728-1780-a prominent Queens landowner judge and pre-Revolutionary Mayor of New York City 1766-1776-was represented by Cadwallader David Colden 1769-1834 a Long Island lawyer future abolitionist and later Mayor of New York City 1818-1821. Acting on behalf of the estate Colden sued two Vermont residents Elias Curtis written as Custis in court records and Isaac Morgan for back rent dating to 1775. The disputed property was located in the colonial-era Gloucester County New York-a territory including Woodstock that was absorbed into the newly declared state of Vermont in 1777. Prepared and intended for official filing this manuscript is divided into two distinct parts: a legal motion and a formal judgment which effectively placed the case on appeal. unknown books
1818rif. 825711818. A Near-Fatal Response to Negative Criticism Trial. Hagerman Henry B. 1786-1853 Defendant. Bacon David Reporter. Trial of Henry B. Hagerman Esq. On an Indictment for an Assault and Battery With Intent to Murder Committed on William Coleman Esq. Editor of the N.Y. Evening Post. Taken in Short Hand by David Bacon. New York: Printed by Oram and Mott 1818. 68 pp. Octavo 8-1/4" x 5-1/4". Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Moderate toning light foxing to most of text small embossed library stamp to final leaf chips to both of its outside corners small de-accession ink stamp of the Long Island Historical Society to title page small chip to its lower outside corner. An appealing copy of an uncommon title. $750. Only edition. Coleman 1766-1829 was the editor of Alexander Hamilton's newspaper The New York Evening Post now the New York Post which opposed to New York's Democratic Party. Shortly after he published a highly critical article about Hagerman a prominent Democrat and state official he was surprised and viciously beaten by Hagerman on a city street. Coleman's recovery took weeks and he suffered bouts of paralysis for the rest of his life. Hagerman pleaded guilty to assault and battery and not guilty to the charge of attempted murder. He was fined and acquitted on the murder charge. In a later civil suit he was ordered to pay Coleman $4000. a notably large award for that time. OCLC locates 8 copies in law libraries Baylor Columbia Harvard Library of Congress LA County Law Library Social Law University of Minnesota U.S. Supreme Court. Cohen Bibliography of Early American Law 13829. unknown books
1892rif. 825691892. 3 woodcut illustrations. Laconia N.H. c.1892. 3 woodcut illustrations. Laconia N.H. c.1892. A Notable Case of Fratricide: McDade 852 Trial. Sawtell Isaac d. 1891 Defendant. The History of the Murder of Hiram Sawtell by His Brother Isaac Sawtell. Illustrated. Laconia NH: John J. Lane c. 1892. 32 pp. 3 woodcut text illustrations portraits. Octavo 9" x 6". Stab-stitched pamphlet in pictorial wrappers. Light soiling and a few minor stains to wrappers light wear and creases to corners of wrappers and text block light wear to spine ends moderate toning to interior. A handsome copy. $350. Only edition. "Isaac was anxious to possess himself of his brother's property. Hiram was enticed into the country and murdered near Berwick Maine though there is some doubt whether the murder was in Maine or New Hampshire. Isaac cut off his brother's head and buried it separately" McDade. OCLC locates 5 copies Harvard Law School New Hampshire Historical Society New Hampshire State Library University of Michigan Yale Law School. We located another copy Cornell Law School. McDade The Annals of Murder 852. unknown books
1836rif. 802841836. A Poisoning in Pennsylvania: McDade 280 Trial. Earls John 1802-1836 Defendant. Packer William F. Reporter Editor. Cummings Alexander Jr. Reporter Editor. Report of the Trial and Conviction of John Earls For the Murder of His Wife Catharine Earls Late of Muncy Creek Township Lycoming County Pennsylvania; In the Court of Oyer and Terminer Held at Williamsport For Lycoming County February Term 1836. Including the Arguments of Counsel At Length; Together with the Confession of the Prisoner. Williamsport PA: Printed by the Publishers Packer and Cummings 1836. iv 188 pp. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5-1/4". Contemporary quarter sheep over paper-covered boards lettering piece and blind fillets to spine. Light soiling spotting and a few minor stains to boards joints cracked wear to spine ends edges of lettering piece and fore-edges of boards edges corners bumped front hinge partially cracked. Moderate toning to interior light browning in places light foxing to a few leaves "G.W. Stout/ from Elisha Allis/ Oct: 5 1870" to front pastedown. $500. Only edition. Earls murdered his wife with poison and this trial account discusses poisons at length. McDade notes: "Earls' motive was the usual other-woman. He gave as his reason for purchasing the poison 'to kill mink and muskrats' an imaginative variant. He poisoned his wife the day after she gave birth." "G.W. Stout" is likely George W. Stout 1830-1906 a prominent Easton Pennsylvania lawyer. The giver is likely Elisha Allis 1832-1893 also a resident of Easton. His wife Sarah was the daughter of William F. Packer 1807-1870 one of the reporters of our account who later became the governor of Pennsylvania. McDade The Annals of Murder 280. unknown books
1752rif. 803961752. The "Love Philter" was Arsenic Trial. Blandy Mary 1720-1752 Defendant. The Tryal of Mary Blandy Spinster; For the Murder of Her Father Francis Blandy Gent. At the Assizes Held at Oxford for the County of Oxford On Saturday the 29th of February 1752 Before the Honourable Heneague Legge Esq; and Sir Sydney Stafford Smythe Knt. Two of the Barons of His Majesty's Court of Exchequer. Published by Permission of the Judges. London: Printed for John and James Rivington At the Bible and Crown In St. Paul's Church Yard 1752. ii 46 pp. Folio 11-3/4" x 7". Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Moderate toning margins trimmed closely with no loss to text. Light soiling to exterior clean tear from a fold near center of lower half of text block early repairs to inner margins of several leaves a few minor tears and chips to edges of title page chips a few tears with minor loss to text to final leaf. $250. Only edition one of three issues the others an octavo issued by Rivington and an octavo issued in Dublin by Faulkner. Blandy was the daughter of a prosperous lawyer. Her father Francis advertised a large dowry of 10000 which attracted many suitors including one who captivated her Captain William Henry Cranstoun the son of a Scottish nobleman. Francis learned later that he was married and a father. Confronted with these facts by Francis Cranstoun claimed his marriage was invalid and made several attempts he claimed to have it annulled. Over time Francis became suspicious about Cranstoun's motives. Sensing danger Cranstoun gave Mary a "love philtre" and told her to mix it into one of her father's meals. He said it would change his behavior towards him. It was actually arsenic. When Mary realized what she had done she foolishly burned Cranstoun's letters and discarded the rest of the arsenic. Cranstoun fled to France. Mary was tried and sentenced to death by hanging. This was a sensational trial and it was covered extensively by the press. It also generated a secondary literature that included several contributions written by Mary such as "Miss Mary Blandy's Own Account of the Affair between Her and Mr. Cranstoun." As indicated by her last request to the execution officials she remained a proper middle-class lady to the end. "For the sake of decency gentlemen" she pleaded "don't hang. unknown books
1795rif. 789051795. Edinburgh: Printed for William Brown 1795. Edinburgh: Printed for William Brown 1795. The Trial of a Would-Be Revolutionary Trial. Watt Robert c.1761-1794 Defendant. Trial of Robert Watt For High Treason Before the Court Under the Special Commission of Oyer and Terminer Held at Edinburgh. Taken in Short Hand by Mr. Blanchard Revised by the Counsel on Both Sides And Published with the Permission of the Court. Edinburgh: Printed for William Brown 1795. ii 364 pp. Folding plate illustrating pikes found in Watt's possession. Octavo 8-1/4" x 4-3/4". Contemporary calf gilt fillets to spine lettering piece lacking blind tooling to board edges. Light rubbing and a few small nicks and scratches to boards which are slightly bowed and separated but secured by cords faint dampstain to front board moderate rubbing to extremities shelf location in ink to foot of spine corners bumped and worn faint offsetting to preliminaries front free endpaper loosening but secure. Light toning to interior light soiling in a few places edgewear and light creasing to folding plate brief recent ink annotation to title page. $250. Only edition. Watt a wine merchant and political radical was the architect of a somewhat confused plot to establish Scotland as an independent country. After a search of his house turned up a number of pikes and the type for a seditious handbill he was arrested and tried for treason. A co-conspirator was pardoned but Watt was not so lucky. He was convicted and sentenced to be hanged and beheaded despite the jury's recommendation of mercy. The sentence reflected the court's opinion of the severity of Watt's crime. It was also intended to be a warning to other radicals. English Short-Title Catalogue N013806. unknown books
1794rif. 788761794. New York: Re-printed by James Carey 1794. New York: Re-printed by James Carey 1794. A Member of the "Scottish Martyrs to Liberty" Trial. Margarot Maurice Defendant 1745-1815. The Trial of Maurice Margarot Before the High Court of Justiciary At Edinburgh On the 13th and 14th of January 1794 On an Indictment for Seditious Practices. Taken in Shorthand by Mr. Ramsey. New York: London: Printed. New-York: Re-Printed by James Carey no. 91 Broad-street 1794. 166 pp. Portrait frontispiece of Margarot. Octavo 8-1/4" x 5". Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Moderate toning light soiling to exterior occasional light foxing frontispiece and title page just starting to separate at head but secure. $250. Only New York edition reprinted from the London edition of the same year. Margarot was one of the founding members of the London Corresponding Society a radical group inspired by the French Revolution to demand parliamentary reform in the late eighteenth century. Due to the wave of anti-radical and anti-French hysteria initiated by the French Revolution he and four other radicals later known as the "Scottish Martyrs to Liberty" were convicted and transported to Australia in May 1794. English Short-Title Catalogue W20960. unknown books
1830rif. 777401830. Dover: Published by Geo. W. Ela 1830. Dover: Published by Geo. W. Ela 1830. Libel and Press Freedom in 1830 New Hampshire Trial. Hill Horatio b.1807 Defendant. Barton Cyrus 1795-1855 Defendant. Report of the Case of Timothy Upham against Hill & Barton Publishers of the New-Hampshire Patriot For Alleged Libels At the Court of Common Pleas Rockingham County March and October Terms.1830. Dover: Published by Geo. W. Ela 1830. 159 pp. Octavo 8-3/4" x 5-1/2". Stab-stitched pamphlet front and rear wrappers lacking later hand-lettered title to spine edges untrimmed. Light browning light edgewear to several leaves light foxing and soiling in a few places light creasing to last few leaves pencil marks and brief annotations to a few pages small tear to title page affecting text without loss to legibility final leaf separated with small tears but secured by thread. $500. Only edition. Hill and Barton publishers of the New Hampshire Patriot and Star Gazette accused Upham of impropriety during his time as Collector of Customs at Portsmouth and "impaired his candidacy for Governor by calling him a smuggler and a federalist" Cohen. Upham sued for damages of $10000; the trial resulted in a hung jury and the case was slated for retrial at the court's next session. OCLC locates 5 copies of this title in law libraries Yale Library of Congress Harvard University of Missouri The Ohio State University. Cohen Bibliography of American Law 12070. McCoy Freedom of the Press U236. unknown books
1794rif. 779351794. New York: Re-printed by James Carey 1794. New York: Re-printed by James Carey 1794. A Member of the "Scottish Martyrs to Liberty" Trial. Margarot Maurice Defendant 1745-1815. The Trial of Maurice Margarot Before the High Court of Justiciary At Edinburgh On the 13th and 14th of January 1794 On an Indictment for Seditious Practices. Taken in Shorthand by Mr. Ramsey. New York: London: Printed.-New-York: Re-Printed by James Carey no. 91 Broad-street 1794. 166 pp. Portrait frontispiece laid-in between pp. 52-53. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5-1/4". Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Light browning occasional light foxing light edgewear to several leaves first and final few leaves separating but secure. $250. Only New York edition reprinted from the London edition of the same year. Margarot was one of the founding members of the London Corresponding Society a radical group inspired by the French Revolution to demand parliamentary reform in the late eighteenth century. Due to the wave of anti-radical and anti-French hysteria initiated by the French Revolution he and four other radicals later known as the "Scottish Martyrs to Liberty" were convicted and transported to Australia in May 1794. English Short-Title Catalogue W20960. unknown books
1755rif. 783201755. Murder or Self-Defense Trial. Turton William Defendant. The Tryal of William Turton Esq; For the Murder of John Holloway At the Assizes Held at Oxford On Thursday The Seventeenth Day of July 1755. Before the Honble. Sir Michael Foster One of the Justices of His Majesty's Court of King's Bench. Being an Exact and Impartial Account of the Evidence Given on Either Side. Taken Down by a Gentleman As Deposed in Court. London: Printed for E. Withers 1755. iv 14 pp. With a half-title; lacking final advertisement leaf. Quarto 8-3/4" x 6-3/4". Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Moderate toning light soiling to exterior small faint dampstain to top-edge not affecting text half-title just starting to separate at ends but secure. $500. Only edition. Thurton was accused of murder after shooting a young boy whom he claimed was part of a mob attacking his coach. The jury found his self-defense argument convincing and he was acquitted. OCLC locates 7 copies of this title 3 in North American law libraries Harvard Yale Library of Congress. English Short-Title Catalogue T113148. unknown books
1803rif. 784691803. Lord Admiral Nelson Testified as a Character Witness Trial. Despard Edward Marcus 1751-1803 Primary Defendant. Gurney Joseph Reporter. Gurney William Brodie Reporter. The Trial of Edward Marcus Despard Esquire. For High Treason At the Session House Newington Surry sic On Monday the Seventh of February 1803. London: Sold by M. Gurney 1803. 271 1 pp. Final page is a publisher advertisement. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5". Contemporary three-quarter calf over marbled boards lettering piece gilt fillets and tiny early shelf label to spine speckled edges. Light rubbing and two small paper fragments from a label to boards moderate rubbing to extremities with wear to spine ends front board beginning to separate but secure rear joint starting at ends corners bumped and somewhat worn early owner bookplate John Smith Esq. to front pastedown rear hinge starting. Moderate toning to interior light foxing to a few leaves. $250. Only edition. After a brilliant military career in the West Indies Colonel Despard was recalled from his command and dismissed on frivolous charges. He tried to clear his name and seek compensation but his complaints led to imprisonment without a trial for two years. Financially ruined and bitter he came to resent the establishment. He joined the radical London Corresponding Society and revolutionary United Irishman and took part in a plot to organize uprisings in London and Ireland. After the plot was foiled Despard and six others were convicted of treason. A highlight during the trial was Lord Admiral Nelson's testimony as a character witness on Despard's behalf. Despard and his co-conspirators share the dubious distinction of being the last men in Great Britain sentenced to be hanged drawn and quartered the form of execution given to convicted traitors since 1283. However the king commuted their sentences to death by hanging followed by decapitation. Catalogue of the Library of the Harvard Law School 1909 II:1061. unknown books
1856rif. 784901856. Five titles in 1 book. Five titles in 1 book. Poisoning and Lunacy Trial. Palmer William 1824-1856 Defendant. Illustrated and Unabridged Edition of The Times Report of the Trial of William Palmer for Poisoning John Parsons Cook At Rugeley. From the Short-Hand Notes Taken in the Central Court from Day to Day. London: Ward and Lock 1856. 184 pp. With numerous woodcut illustrations and a folding frontispiece. Bound with Trial. Windham William Frederick b.1840 Defendant. The Great Lunacy Case of Mr. W.F. Windham. Reported by a Solicitor. London: H. Vickers 1862. 60 pp. 2 pp. publisher advertisements. And Richardson James. Studies from the Antique. Edinburgh: John Baxter 1862. 62 pp. And Runciman David 1803-1872. Marriage and Married Life; A Week Day Homily. Glasgow: Printed by Robert Anderson 1862. 32 pp. And Cooper James Fenimore 1789-1851. The Water Witch; Or The Skimmer of the Seas. A Tale. London: Published by J. Cunningham 1839. 136 pp. Together 5 titles in 1 volume. Octavo 8" x 5-1/2"; 20.3 x 14 cm trim size of Windham trial 7-1/2" x 5"/19 x 12.5 cm. Stab-stitched pamphlets bound in contemporary cloth gilt title to spine early manuscript table of contents to front endleaf. Light rubbing to extremities light fading to spine spine ends and corners bumped and lightly worn faint offsetting to endleaves hinges cracked. Light toning to interior a few mostly partial cracks to text block second item loosening very slightly but secure small spots and tiny faint stains to a few leaves folding frontispiece of first item reinforced at right edge not affecting image. $500. This volume contains accounts of two famous nineteenth-century trials. Palmer a first-rate sociopath was tried and convicted for the 1855 murder of his friend John Cook and executed in 1856. Also known as the Rugeley Poisoner or the Prince of Poisoners he was suspected of several other murders including four of his children killed before their first birthdays. The Windham trial was one of the most famous insanity trials of the time and an early example of the use of forensic psychiatry. Windham's uncle a distinguished soldier and M.P. alleged that his nephew was unfit to take possession of the estate. After weeks of testimony the court disagreed and Windham was found sane. The other titl. unknown books
1676rif. 751371676. A Powerful Defense of Habeas Corpus Trial. Shaftesbury Anthony Ashley Cooper Earl of 1621-1683 Defendant. The Case of Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury; As it was Argued before His Majesties Justices of the Kings Bench Trin. Term. 29. Car. 2. Being Upon His Confinement in the Tower &c. With a Speech of this Worthy Earl Pleading His Own Case And the Liberty of the Subject. London: Printed by K.P. for C.R. 1679. 16 pp. Folio 12" x 7-1/2". Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet fore and bottom edges untrimmed. Light toning folio numbers to upper corners in an early hand upper corner of first leaf lacking with minor loss to "E" of "Case" negligible light foxing and soiling to a few pages. $500. Only edition. A founder of the Whig party and an important patron of John Locke Shaftesbury was a prominent English politician during the Interregnum and reign of King Charles II. He frequently clashed with the king and Tory leadership including in 1676 when he and allies argued that the current parliament was illegitimate and were subsequently sent to the Tower. When Shaftesbury's petition for release failed he brought a writ of habeas corpus. "In a very powerful argument he admitted the supreme judicature of the lords but denied their power to commit to indefinite imprisonment on a general warrant. The judges however said that they had no jurisdiction in the case and Shaftesbury was sent back to the Tower" DNB. Dictionary of National Biography accessed online. English Short-Title Catalogue R4010. unknown books
