[Rarebooks] fs: Pamphlets on 19th century murder trials...

[Back Creek Books]

Greetings Booklovers,

We are pleased to offer:
~
(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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Today's featured book from our stock at the booksellers' cooperative,
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 Burroughs, John (as reported by Clifton Johnson).  'John Burroughs Talks:
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