[Rarebooks] fs: Foul murder - several 19th c. cases

[Back Creek Books]

Greetings All,

For your consideration:
~
(No. 7630 )  [Selfridge, Thomas O.; Robert M. Goodwin; Singleton Mercer;
Jereboam O. Beauchamp; John Stump; and Robert Swan (defendants)]. CRIMINAL
TRIALS [SPINE TITLE] (GROUP OF SIX SEPARATE 19TH CENTURY TEXTS ON MURDER
TRIALS BOUND INTO A SINGLE VOLUME).
[various places]: [various publishers], [1806-1852]. Leather, Octavo, see
below.
      This volume consists of original 19th century pamphlets, books, or
parts of books which were separately published but bound together here,
probably for ease of reference. The common theme is murder, or more
specifically, some historic American arguments made in defense of it. The
cases range from the serious to the sensational, and I have been able to
identify most of them in references though, with the exception of the
Selfridge item, none can be found in auction records back to 1975. They are:

**1) Trial of Thomas O. Selfridge, Attorney-at-Law, before the Hon. Isaac
Parker, Esquire, for Killing Charles Austin, on the Public Exchange, in
Boston, August 4th, 1806; Boston: Russell and Cutler, 1807; 168 pages, table
of contents, map, and errata sheet present. Lacks title page.
    Paul Revere was on the jury that acquitted Selfridge, and this case
became an authority on the law of self-defense. See MCDADE #861; SABIN
#79011.
**2) Summary of the Trial of Robert M. Goodwin, for the Killing of James
Stoughton
Taken in Short Hand; New-York, 1820; 45 pages, title page present.
    Tried before New York Mayor Cadwallader D. Colden in March of 1820. Hung
jury, but case then went to New York State Supreme Court. See SABIN #27951.
**3) The Case of Robert M. Goodwin, Charged with Killing James Stoughton,
Esq. Containing the Whole of the Proceedings, Arguments, Motions and Points
of Law and Practice; New-York: Elam Bliss, 1821; Printed by James & John
Harper.
    The text of this particular book is not complete. The title page is
present, followed by the table of contents, followed by pages 191 through
290. The included section covers the case as it was argued before the New
York State Supreme Court. Includes index, map, errata. No references found.
**4) A Full and Complete Account of the Heberton Tragedy: To Which is Added
Beauchamp, or the Kentucky Tragedy; New York: Published for the Trade,
[1849?]; 68 pages.
    In the first case Singleton Mercer is acquitted for murdering Mahlon
Heberton, who had seduced Singleton's young sister. The second case relates
the case of Jereboam O. Beauchamp, who murdered Col. Solomon P. Sharp at the
request of his wife. Beauchamp was hanged and his wife committed suicide in
prison. Woodcut on title page. See MCDADE #677.
**5) Argument of Coleman Yellott, of Baltimore, in Defence of John Stump,
Indicted for the Murder of Henry L. Hammond; [Baltimore, ca. 1851]; 14
pages.
    Stump murders his uncle to avenge his simple-minded sister, whom the
uncle "had made a victim of a villain's lust." Stump is ultimately acquitted
(His brilliant attorney, Coleman Yellott would eventually abandon a senate
seat in the Maryland legislature and defect to the Confederacy early in the
Civil War). Lacks title page. See MCDADE #949.
**6) Trial of Robert Swan Charged with the Murder of William O. Sprigg, of
Jos. Circuit Court for Allegany County, April Term, 1852; Cumberland:
Printed at the Miners' Journal Office, 1852; 26 pages, double column.
    Swan killed Sprigg in Cumberland on 11 February 1852 after the latter
spit in his face--a month earlier. Despite the time delay Swan was
acquitted. See MCDADE #956.

Condition: overall volume is bound in contemporary calf with gilt title on
black title block on spine, heavy scuffing and rubs to binding. Endpapers
cracked but hinges remain strong, remnants of a prior owner bookplate on
front pastedown, 1" split at top of upper joint, boards a bit cupped. The
texts have varying amounts of foxing and some have marginalia in pencil or
contemporary ink.    $500.00
See photo: http://www.backcreekbooks.com/bookphotos/7630.jpg

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Thank you for your interest.

Best regards,

Rock Toews
Back Creek Books
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