3.196 resultados
1836ref. 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
1821ref. 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
1841ref. 652231841. The Times Testimonial. London 1841. Rare. The Times Testimonial. London 1841. Rare. One of the Most Detailed Accounts of a Major Nineteenth-Century Financial Swindle Trial. Hughes W. Hughes Editor. "The Times" Testimonial: Report of the Trial of the Action Bogle Versus Lawson For a Libel Published in "The Times" London-Newspaper Tried at the Summer Assizes for the Country of Surrey Held at Croydon Monday August 16 1841 Before the Right Honourable Sir Nicholas Conyngham Tindal Knt. Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas And a Special Jury; Together with the Proceedings of a Public Meeting of Merchants Bankers and Others Held at the Mansion House London Friday October 1 1841 On the Subject of Such Action And of the Committee then Appointed; And Also a List of Subscribers to "The Times" Testimonial. Published by the Committee. London: John Hatchard and Son Henry Butterworth and Pelham Richardson 1841. 179 1 pp. Half-title lacking. Octavo 8-1/4" x 5". Recent quarter cloth over marbled boards printed paper title label to spine. Some toning to text light soiling to title page. A very nice copy. $750. First edition. A sensational case of a million-pound plot to defraud Continental bankers by forged letters of credit or lettres circulaires purporting to have been issued by the bankers Glyn Hallifax Mills & Co. The plot was exposed by a Times of London correspondent in a letter published on 26th May 1840. This case was important because it exposed the largely unregulated banking practices associated with letters of credit which were easy to forge and difficult to police. The naming of Allan George Bogle-who was almost certainly involved-triggered this libel action against John Joseph Lawson the printer and publisher of the Times and resulted in the award of one farthing damages for Bogle but enormous expense and the considerable gratitude of bankers and investors for the Times. The present report is probably the most detailed account of a major financial swindle of this period particularly one involving letters of credit. A second edition was published the same year as the first the third and final edition in 1842. All three are rare. OCLC locates 6 copies worldwide of the first edition 2 in North America Newberry Library Temple University. LibraryHub adds a copy at the Society of Antiquaries. This edition not in Kres. unknown
1817ref. 680751817. False Accusations of Robbery Trial. Kenniston Levi Defendant. Kenniston Laban Defendant. Report of the Evidence at the Trial of Levi & Laban Kenniston Before Hon. Samuel Putnam on an Indictment for the Robbery of Major Elijah P. Goodridge December 19 1816. Salem: Printed by T.C. Cushing 1817. 32 pp. Octavo 9-1/2" x 5-1/2". Stab-stitched pamphlet. Light browning some leaves have light foxing tiny faint mark from paper clip to title and final page. $150. Only edition one of three accounts of this trial all from 1817. "Elijah Goodridge brought charges against a number of individuals whom he accused of robbing him but apparently no robbery had taken place. Goodridge's accusations had been fabricated and the defendants were acquitted after a trial in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court" Cohen. This is one of three accounts of this case. Cohen Bibliography of Early American Law 14018. unknown
1875ref. 832031875. The Mystery of the Headless Skeleton: McDade 633 Trial. Lowell James M. d. 1875 Defendant. Plaisted Harris Merrill 1828-1898 Reporter. Report of the Trial of James M. Lowell Indicted for the Murder of His Wife Mary Elizabeth Lowell Before the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine For Androscoggin County; Containing the Evidence Arguments of the Counsel and the Charge of the Court In Full With the Verdict of the Jury and Sentence of the Prisoner And an Appendix. Portland ME: Published by Dresser McLellan & Co. 1875. 3 ii 260 pp. Frontispiece. Octavo 9" x 5-1/2"; 23 x 14 cm. Contemporary buckram gilt title and publisher name to spine. Light rubbing to spine ends corners bumped. Moderate toning to interior light foxing in a few places brief early annotations to a few leaves minor tears to edges of a few leaves tear to foot of title page with early cellotape repair another cellotape repair to head of rear endleaf. Overall a very good copy. $350. First and only edition. Although the headless skeleton encased in a silk dress was not discovered for more than three years after her murder Lowell was tried and convicted of murdering his wife. The tale is also interesting because the victim's mother foresaw the murder in a dream which is described in the Appendix. Plaisted's preface notes this was "a case of circumstantial evidence.hardly surpassed in the annals of criminal justice." Plaisted was a notable Maine politician who ended his career as a one-term governor of that state. He was Maine's attorney general when he wrote his report of the Lowell trial. McDade The Annals of Murder 633. unknown
1834ref. 734791834. Scottish Criminal Conversation Trial Interesting for Issues Concerning Intercepted Letters Trial. Murray William Defendant. Report of Trial in the Action of Damages for Crim. Con.: Poor Alexander Bell Teacher Dundee Versus William Murray Now or Lately Rector of the Dundee Academy Taken in Short-Hand; Containing a Discussion Upon the Law of Intercepted Correspondence. Edinburgh: s.n. 1834. 63 pp. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5". Stab-stitched pamphlet bound into recent quarter cloth over marbled boards printed title to spine. Light soiling to cloth and negligible wear to corners front hinge cracked rear hinge starting at ends printed shelfmark and residue from removed bookplate to inner front board. Light toning to interior light foxing in a few places. A nice copy of a scarce title. $250. Only edition. This trial involved a teacher who was allegedly cuckolded by the rector of his school. The plaintiff's case rested on the admissibility of a letter said to have been sent by the wife to Murray but not received by him. OCLC locates 14 copies 7 in North American law libraries. Catalogue of the Library of the Harvard Law School 1909 II:1015. unknown
1834ref. 149401834. London: J.B. Nichols & Son 1834. Only edition. London: J.B. Nichols & Son 1834. Only edition. Interesting Trial Concerning Responsibility for Poor Relief Trial. Nicholson Henry John Defendant. Report of the Late Important Trial in the Court of King's Bench In Which Sir Charles Merrik Burrel Bart. Was Plaintiff And Henry John Nicholson the Defendant; Respecting the Parochial Rates Claimed by the Parish of St. Margaret Westminster From the Inhabitants of Richmond Terrace. London: Printed by and for J.B. Nichols & Son 1834. 191 pp. with 191 blanks interleaved. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5-1/4". Contemporary calf lettering piece to spine. Considerable rubbing spine abraded front joint cracked corners worn front joint nearly detached. Light toning to text internally clean. $50. First edition. The plaintiff claimed that Richmond Terrace was not within the parish of St. Margaret. Therefore its inhabitants could not be compelled to contribute to the relief of the poor in that parish. Catalogue of the Library of the Harvard Law School 1909 II:1030. unknown
1856ref. 847541856. Well-Illustrated Contemporary Account of a Famous London Poisoning Trial 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 158 Fleet Street 1856. 184 pp. Folding frontispiece woodcut illustrations throughout text several full-page advertisements to wrappers. Report of the final day of the trial and its verdict clipped from the London Times January 14 1856 laid in. Octavo 8-1/4" x 5-1/2"; 20.95 x 13.97 cm. Stab-stitched pamphlet in printed wrappers. Binding slightly cocked light soiling edgewear and a few tiny stains to wrappers creasing to spine moderate wear to spine ends. Moderate toning to interior light browning to sections light soiling to title page lower corner lacking from frontispiece with minor loss to image. A very good copy overall. $250. Only edition. Also known as the Rugeley Poisoner or the Prince of Poisoners Palmer was a physician who abandoned his practice to own and breed racehorses which often put him in financial difficulty. As a full-blown sociopath he saw murder as a convenient way to restore his finances. In order to collect on their life insurance policies he poisoned his brother wife his mother-in-law and four of his children who were killed before their first birthdays. He also defrauded a friend John Cook when he was poisoning him and cheated his wealthy mother out of thousands of pounds. He was finally convicted in 1855 for murdering Cook and was executed the following year. Davenport-Hines "Palmer William Called the Rugeley Poisoner" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography accessed online. British Museum Catalogue Compact Edition 19:281. unknown
1856ref. 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
1838ref. 664731838. Dedham Mass.: 1838. Dedham Mass.: 1838. 1838 Libel Case in Dedham Massachusetts Due to an Accusation of Adultery Trial. Pond Preston 1792-1868 Defendant. Report of the Case of Rev. Moses Thatcher Vs. Gen Preston Pond For Slander In Charging Him with Committing the Crime of Adultery. Reported for the Dedham Patriot. Dedham MA: Dedham Patriot and Boston Times 1838. 31 pp. Quarto 7-3/4" x 4-1/2". Stab-stitched pamphlet in contemporary thick patterned-paper wrappers hand-lettered title panel to front cover. Some rubbing to extremities with a bit of wear to spine ends and corners a few minor tears to wrappers. Light browning to text occasional light foxing dampstains to a few leaves two leaves have clean tears light soiling to title page. Early annotations and signatures to title page interior otherwise clean. $650. Only edition. "Moses Thacher sometimes spelled Thatcher charged Pond with slander. Pond pleaded not guilty and alleged truth as a defense. The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded $5.00 in damages and $1.25 in costs" Cohen. After the trial Thacher left New England and served as pastor in Wysox Pennsylvania and in Courtland and Cayuga Counties in New York. The trials attracted a fair amount of attention; according to Cohen it was discussed in three pamphlets. All are scarce. OCLC locates 7 copies of the Report in North American law libraries Columbia Harvard Library of Congress Social Law University of Minnesota University of Missouri William and Mary. Cohen Bibliography of Early American Law 12063. unknown
1869ref. 830041869. Manchester NH: Daily Mirror Office 1869. 46 pp. Manchester NH: Daily Mirror Office 1869. 46 pp. A Rare Somnambulism Sleepwalking and Insanity Defense: McDade 770 Trial. Prescott Abraham 1815-1836 Defendant. Report of the Trial of Abraham Prescott For the Murder of Mrs. Sally Cochran Of Pembroke June 23 1833. Executed at Hopkinton January 6 1836. Manchester NH: Daily Mirror Office 1869. 46 pp. Octavo 8-1/4" x 5-1/4"; 21 x 13.3 cm. Stab-stitched pamphlet in self-wrappers. Moderate toning very light foxing light soiling to exterior light edgewear and a few small tears to front wrapper which is separated but secured by thread. $450. First and only edition. Abraham Prescott 18 years old at the time had lived and worked with the Cochran family for several years. In January 1833 he had attacked both Chauncey and Sally Cochran in their sleep with an axe an incident the couple dismissed as an "unhappy occurrence of somnambulism" and did not press charges. Months later in June 1833 Prescott bludgeoned Sally Cochran to death with a wooden stake while they were picking strawberries. Prescott's defense attorneys argued that he committed the murder while sleepwalking and was not mentally responsible for his actions. Extensive testimony from medical experts and family members was presented to support claims of his troubled past history of sleep disturbances and hereditary insanity. Despite a vigorous defense the jury was unconvinced by the sleepwalking plea a novel legal strategy at the time. Prescott was found guilty in two separate trials and sentenced to death. The case garnered significant public attention and the controversy surrounding his mental state and eventual public execution led to the founding of New Hampshire's first mental institution. According to McDade "the defense was one of the best for that time on the subject of insanity" but the jury was unconvinced and Prescott was hanged. McDade notes that there is "much interesting information in this case on the superstitions and treatment of the weak-minded." An historical account offering insight into 19th-century law societal attitudes toward mental illness and the justice system of that era. McDade The Annals of Murder 770. unknown
1801ref. 731851801. Perfidy and Depravity" in Regency High Society: The Sensational 1801 Trial of the Future 5th Duke of Marlborough Trial. Spencer-Churchill George 1766-1840 Defendant. Report of the Cause between Charles Sturt Esq. Plaintiff And the Most Noble The Marquis of Blandford Defendant For Criminal Conversation with the Right Hon. Lady Mary Ann Sturt; Tried in the Court of King's Bench Westminster On Wednesday The 27th May 1801 Before Lord Kenyon And a Special Jury. With an Appendix Containing the Letters of the Parties Which Did Not Appear on the Trial; A Preface And Notes. London: Printed for J. Ridgway 1801. Third and final edition. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; 21 x 14cm. xxiii 1 149 3 pp. With publisher advertisements to last 3 pp. Modern black cloth gilt fillets title and date to spine; endleaves renewed. Light browning and occasional minor foxing to interior. Light edgewear with a few corners chipped; small marginal tears to the last two leaves with no loss to text. A very good copy. $150. Signed in print by the plaintiff Charles Sturt at the conclusion of the preface. This sensational pamphlet details the high-society affair between George Spencer-Churchill then Marquis of Blandford later the 5th Duke of Marlborough and Lady Mary Ann Sturt nee Ashley-Cooper daughter of the 4th Earl of Shaftesbury. Charles Sturt a former Member of Parliament known for his own highly public infidelities brought a civil suit against the Marquis for the exorbitant sum of 20000. He claimed the Marquis's conduct represented a "singular instance of perfidy and depravity." While Lord Kenyon explicitly noted that Sturt's own continuous adultery legally precluded him from recovering substantial damages the special jury compromised by awarding a nominal judgment of one hundred pounds. The included appendix contains highly personal non-trial correspondence leaked to vindicate Sturt's anger. OCLC locates 8 copies of this edition 4 in North America New York Public Library George Washington Law School University of Georgia Law School Harvard Law School. unknown
1822ref. 848091822. The Plaintiff was Represented by Two Distinguished Scottish Jurists Trial. Stevenson Duncan 1776-1867 Defendant. Report of Trial of the Issues In the Action of Damages for Libel in the Beacon James Gibson of Ingliston Esq. Clerk to the Signet- Pursuer Against Duncan Stevenson Printer in Edinburgh Defender. Taken in Short Hand. Edinburgh: Printed for Archibald Constable and Co. London: Hurst Robinson and Co. and James Ridgway 1822. 139 2 pp. With a half-title. Publisher advertisement to recto of final leaf verso blank. Octavo 8-1/4" x 5-1/4"; 20.95 x 13.33 cm. Stab-stitched pamphlet bound into recent watered cloth gilt title to spine endpapers renewed. Negligible light rubbing to binding. Light toning to interior negligible light spotting to a few leaves. A very good copy. $350. Only edition. Gibson 1765-1850 later Sir James Gibson-Craig 1st Baronet was a lawyer government official and Whig politician. An article in The Beacon a Tory newspaper alleged that he passed forged bank notes. Represented by Francis Jeffrey 1773-1850 and Henry Cockburn 1779-1854 two eminent Scottish jurists who were also notable literary figures Gibson prevailed and was awarded 500 in damages. Library Hub locates 3 copies outside of Scotland. Macleod "Craig Sir James Gibson" Moss "Stevenson Duncan" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography accessed online. British Museum Catalogue Compact Edition 24:250. unknown
1822ref. 733861822. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Co. 1822. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Co. 1822. The Plaintiff was Represented by Two Distinguished Scottish Jurists Trial. Stevenson Duncan 1776-1867 Defendant. Report of Trial of the Issues In the Action of Damages for Libel in the Beacon James Gibson of Ingliston Esq. Clerk to the Signet - Pursuer Against Duncan Stevenson Printer in Edinburgh - Defender. Taken in Short Hand. Edinburgh: Printed for Archibald Constable and Co. 1822. vi 139 1 2 2 pp. Publisher advertisement to recto of final leaf verso blank. Octavo 8-1/4" x 5". Recent period-style three-quarter calf over marbled boards by Philip Dusel marbled edges. Moderate toning to interior slightly heavier in a few places illegible early owner signature to rear endleaf. $350. Only edition. Gibson 1765-1850 later Sir James Gibson-Craig 1st Baronet was a lawyer government official and Whig politician. An article in The Beacon a Tory newspaper alledged that he passed forged bank notes. Represented by Francis Jeffrey 1773-1850 and Henry Cockburn 1779-1854 two eminent Scottish jurists who were also notable literary figures Ingliston prevailed and was awarded 500 in damages. Macleod "Craig Sir James Gibson" Moss "Stevenson Duncan" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography accessed online. Macleod "Craig Sir James Gibson" and Moss "Stevenson Duncan" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography accessed online. British Museum Catalogue Compact Edition 24:250. unknown
1815ref. 646021815. London 1815. 1st ed. London 1815. 1st ed. A Hand in the Scuttle Trial. Stocks Michael d. 1836 Defendant. Report of the Trial of Michael Stocks Esq. For Wilful and Corrupt Perjury At the Yorkshire Lent Assizes 1815 Before the Honourable Sir Alexander Thompson Knight Chief Baron of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer And a special jury. Huddersfield England: Printed for the Editor By J. Lancashire 1815. iv 109 1 pp. Octavo 8" x 5". Recent period-style quarter calf over marbled boards gilt title to spine. Moderate toning to text newspaper article "Last Moments of Jonathan Martin" pasted over errata list the verso of p. 109 small newspaper clipping pasted to foot of title page. Early owner annotations to title page and following leaf light soiling and minor edgewear to final two leaves interior otherwise clean. $500. Only edition one of two issues both from 1815. Stocks was accused of stealing and selling 10000 tons of coal from mines in Northowram in the West-Riding of Yorkshire he owned in partnership with two other men. Stocks was not convicted. The trial details the contractual history of the partnership such contentious matters as the exact legal boundaries of neighboring mines and coal-pits and the nature of written and verbal agreements. Including both edition OCLC locates 9 copies in North America 5 in law libraries Harvard Library of Congress Ohio State University of Georgia Yale. Not in the British Museum Catalogue. unknown
1823ref. 642241823. Edinburgh 1823. Only ed. Edinburgh 1823. Only ed. Trial of a Would-Be Scottish Duelist Trial. Vair George Buchan Defendant. Alston Gideon Defendant. Report of the Trial by Jury David Armstrong Against George Buchan Vair and Gideon Alston For Sending a Challenge to Fight a Duel. Taken in Short-Hand. With an Appendix of Letters and Other Documents. Edinburgh: Printed for W. and C. Tait 1823. iv 134 2 pp. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5". Contemporary calf with later rebacking blind fillets to boards gilt title to spine hinges mended. Moderate rubbing to extremities corners bumped and somewhat worn some gatoring along joints. Moderate toning to text light foxing to a few leaves internally clean. $300. First and only edition. Vair a spirit-dealer in Leith was apparently engaged to Miss Dinah Grive "a lady in Dumfries." He objected to inappropriate attentions paid her by David Armstrong a writer. Vair alleged that Armstrong had caused the lady to break off her engagement and was therefore entitled to challenge him to a duel. Armstrong refused the challenge won the court case and was awarded 20 pounds in damages. OCLC locates 4 copies in North American law libraries LA County Library of Congress Social Law University of Pennsylvania. unknown
1846ref. 709871846. Taunton Mass. 1846. Verdict Not Guilty. Taunton Mass. 1846. Verdict Not Guilty. "A House of Human Slaughter" Trial. Williams Benjamin W. Principal Defendant. Report of the Trial of B.W. Williams and Others Editors and Printers of the Dew Drop A Temperance Paper Published at Taunton Mass. For an Alleged Libel Upon William Wilbar A Rumseller of Taunton Before the Supreme Judicial Court at New Bedford At the November Term 1845 His Honor Judge Hubbard on the Bench. Taunton Mass.: Hack & King Printers Dew Drop Office 1846. 60 pp. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5-1/4". Disbound stab stitched pamphlet. Moderate toning light soiling to exterior some rubbing to extremities. Light browning to text faint tick marks in light pencil to margins in a few places light foxing to a few leaves. $450. First edition. In January 1845 the defendant published an article in his temperance paper The Dew Drop that referred to Mr. Wilbar as "the incarnate Devil" with a mouth that emitted "flames of fire" that "withered and scorched all the deluded wretches" who entered his shop "a house of human slaughter." The defendants were acquitted after 45 minutes of deliberation. Although there are many reprint editions available the original 1846 printing is scarce in the marketplace. OCLC locates 7 copies in North American law libraries Harvard Library of Congress Social Law University of Minnesota University of Missouri University of Pennsylvania York University. Not in McCoy Freedom of the Press. Cohen Bibliography of Early American Law 12078. unknown
1862ref. 786631862. A Lethal Dose of Strychnine Intended to Induce Abortion Trial. Hersey George C Defendant. Yerrinton James M.W. Reporter. Report of the Case of Geo. C. Hersey Indicted for the Murder of Betsy Frances Tirrell Before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts; Including the Hearing on the Motion in Arrest of Judgment The Prisoner's Petition For a Commutation of Sentence The Death Warrant Officer's Return Upon It And the Confession. Boston: A. Williams & Co. 1862. 267 pp. Octavo 9-1/2" x 6". Original cloth blind stamped frames to boards gilt title to spine. Light rubbing and a few faint stains to boards moderate rubbing to extremities spine gilt oxidized chipping to spine ends joints starting at ends corners bumped and worn. Light browning to interior faint marginal dampstaining light foxing to a few leaves. $100. First edition. According to McDade "Hersey had been living in Weymouth Massachusetts with the Tirrell family since the sudden death four months before of their daughter and his fiancee Mary Tirrell. A second daughter Betsy became pregnant by him and he gave her a drug which he represented would cause an abortion. Actually it was strychnine which he had obtained in Boston allegedly to poison a dog. He was convicted and hanged. The preface claims this to be the only in 1862 published trial in which strychnine was detected by analysis in the deceased." McDade The Annals of Murder 472. unknown
1800ref. 760161800. A Privilege Withheld from a Catholic Peer Trial. Petre Robert Edward 9th Baron Petre 1742-1801 Complainant Dillon John Joseph Reporter. Report of a Case Argued and Determined in the Court of Exchequer In Easter Term 40 Geo. III. Between the Right Hon. Robert Edward Lord Petre Plaintiff And the Rt. Hon. Ld. Auckland And Lord Gower His Majesty's Postmaster General Defendants With an Appendix. London: Printed by Sampson Low No. 7 Berwick Street Soho; And Sold by E. Booker No. 56 New Bond Street; And E. Brooke Bell Yard Fleet Street 1800. iv 42 xlii pp. Quarto 10-1/2" x 8-1/2". Stab-stitched pamphlet in recent limp marbled wrappers. Light rubbing to extremities lower-outside corner of front wrapper mended. Moderate toning to interior light soiling to title page a few smudges to inside of rear wrapper. $350. Only edition. Dillon a Lincoln's Inn barrister published several works bearing on Catholic persecution. This one reports litigation preventing a Catholic peer from the right to free postage franking a privilege granted to peers in Parliament who were then required to be members of the Church of England. This small matter is used to illuminate a larger issue: the exclusion of Catholics from Parliament. English Short-Title Catalogue T104083. unknown books
1862ref. 786631862. A Lethal Dose of Strychnine Intended to Induce Abortion Trial. Hersey George C Defendant. Yerrinton James M.W. Reporter. Report of the Case of Geo. C. Hersey Indicted for the Murder of Betsy Frances Tirrell Before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts; Including the Hearing on the Motion in Arrest of Judgment The Prisoner's Petition For a Commutation of Sentence The Death Warrant Officer's Return Upon It And the Confession. Boston: A. Williams & Co. 1862. 267 pp. Octavo 9-1/2" x 6". Original cloth blind stamped frames to boards gilt title to spine. Light rubbing and a few faint stains to boards moderate rubbing to extremities spine gilt oxidized chipping to spine ends joints starting at ends corners bumped and worn. Light browning to interior faint marginal dampstaining light foxing to a few leaves. $100. First edition. According to McDade "Hersey had been living in Weymouth Massachusetts with the Tirrell family since the sudden death four months before of their daughter and his fiancee Mary Tirrell. A second daughter Betsy became pregnant by him and he gave her a drug which he represented would cause an abortion. Actually it was strychnine which he had obtained in Boston allegedly to poison a dog. He was convicted and hanged. The preface claims this to be the only in 1862 published trial in which strychnine was detected by analysis in the deceased." McDade The Annals of Murder 472. unknown books
1850ref. 801331850. America's Classic Murder" Trial. Bemis George. Webster John White 1793-1850 Defendant. Report of the Case of John W. Webster Master of Arts and Doctor of Medicine of Harvard University . Indicted for the Murder of George Parkman Master of Arts of Harvard University Doctor of Medicine of the University of Aberdeen And Member of the Massachusetts Medical Society Before The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts; Including the Hearing on the Petition for a Writ of Error The Prisoner's Confessional Statements and Application for a Commutation of Sentence And an Appendix Containing Several Interesting Matters Never Before Published. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown 1850. xii 628 pp. With a tissue-guarded frontispiece. Illustrated. Octavo 9-1/4" x 5-1/4". Later library cloth red and black lettering pieces to spine endpapers renewed cloth hinges. Light soiling and shelfwear to exterior lettering pieces abraded hinges starting small ink stamp William C. Schroeder to front free endpaper which has a small clean tear to its upper gutter. Toning to interior light soiling and tiny faint stains in a few places owner signature of J.H. Anthon dated 1858 to front endleaf and title page along with owner signature of J.B. Coppinger pencil underling and brief annotations to several leaves annotations between pp. 469-498. $85. First edition. As McDade notes "The murder in the Harvard Medical School of Dr. George Parkman a prominent Bostonian and Harvard Alumnus by Professor John W. Webster was in the words of Edmund Pearson 'America's classic murder.'" The present account is "the basic book on the case and contains all the evidence." A two-volume edition appeared the same year and the work was reprinted in 1879. The J.H. Anthon who owned this copy was likely John Hone Anthon 1832-1874 a New York attorney and the son of John Anthon an important American jurist and a founder of the New York Law Institute. J.B. Coppinger may have been John B. Coppinger a first lieutenant and adjutant in the 83d New York Infantry during the Civil War. The pencil annotations which provide brief but often lively commentary do not appear to be in either's hand. McDade The Annals of Murder 1060. unknown books
1838ref. 664731838. Dedham Mass.: 1838. Dedham Mass.: 1838. 1838 Libel Case in Dedham Massachusetts Due to an Accusation of Adultery Trial. Pond Preston 1792-1868 Defendant. Report of the Case of Rev. Moses Thatcher Vs. Gen Preston Pond For Slander In Charging Him with Committing the Crime of Adultery. Reported for the Dedham Patriot. Dedham MA: Dedham Patriot and Boston Times 1838. 31 pp. Quarto 7-3/4" x 4-1/2". Stab-stitched pamphlet in contemporary thick patterned-paper wrappers hand-lettered title panel to front cover. Some rubbing to extremities with a bit of wear to spine ends and corners a few minor tears to wrappers. Light browning to text occasional light foxing dampstains to a few leaves two leaves have clean tears light soiling to title page. Early annotations and signatures to title page interior otherwise clean. $650. Only edition. "Moses Thacher sometimes spelled Thatcher charged Pond with slander. Pond pleaded not guilty and alleged truth as a defense. The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded $5.00 in damages and $1.25 in costs" Cohen. After the trial Thacher left New England and served as pastor in Wysox Pennsylvania and in Courtland and Cayuga Counties in New York. The trials attracted a fair amount of attention; according to Cohen it was discussed in three pamphlets. All are scarce. OCLC locates 7 copies of the Report in North American law libraries Columbia Harvard Library of Congress Social Law University of Minnesota University of Missouri William and Mary. Cohen Bibliography of Early American Law 12063. unknown books
1830ref. 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
1801ref. 731851801. Perfidy and Depravity" in Regency High Society: The Sensational 1801 Trial of the Future 5th Duke of Marlborough Trial. Spencer-Churchill George 1766-1840 Defendant. Report of the Cause between Charles Sturt Esq. Plaintiff And the Most Noble The Marquis of Blandford Defendant For Criminal Conversation with the Right Hon. Lady Mary Ann Sturt; Tried in the Court of King's Bench Westminster On Wednesday The 27th May 1801 Before Lord Kenyon And a Special Jury. With an Appendix Containing the Letters of the Parties Which Did Not Appear on the Trial; A Preface And Notes. London: Printed for J. Ridgway 1801. Third and final edition. Octavo 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; 21 x 14cm. xxiii 1 149 3 pp. With publisher advertisements to last 3 pp. Modern black cloth gilt fillets title and date to spine; endleaves renewed. Light browning and occasional minor foxing to interior. Light edgewear with a few corners chipped; small marginal tears to the last two leaves with no loss to text. A very good copy. $150. Signed in print by the plaintiff Charles Sturt at the conclusion of the preface. This sensational pamphlet details the high-society affair between George Spencer-Churchill then Marquis of Blandford later the 5th Duke of Marlborough and Lady Mary Ann Sturt nee Ashley-Cooper daughter of the 4th Earl of Shaftesbury. Charles Sturt a former Member of Parliament known for his own highly public infidelities brought a civil suit against the Marquis for the exorbitant sum of 20000. He claimed the Marquis's conduct represented a "singular instance of perfidy and depravity." While Lord Kenyon explicitly noted that Sturt's own continuous adultery legally precluded him from recovering substantial damages the special jury compromised by awarding a nominal judgment of one hundred pounds. The included appendix contains highly personal non-trial correspondence leaked to vindicate Sturt's anger. OCLC locates 8 copies of this edition 4 in North America New York Public Library George Washington Law School University of Georgia Law School Harvard Law School. unknown books
1840ref. 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
