[Rarebooks] fs: Six 19th c. pamphlets on murder, the defense of

[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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