Notable Trials and Court Cases - 1833 to 1882

Law Library - American Law and Legal Information

"Duff" Armstrong Trial: 1858 - Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: William Armstrong Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyer: Abraham Lincoln Chief Prosecutors: Hugh Fullerton and J. Henry Shaw Judge: James Harriot Place: Beardstown, Illinois Date of Trial: May 8, 1858 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: William Armstrong's trial is considered to be Lincoln's most famous case. By introducing an almanac into evidence, Lincoln proved that …

3 minute read

Ableman v. Booth and United States v. Booth - Significance, Joshua Glover Is Saved From The Slave Catchers, Wisconsin Nullifies Federal Laws, Federal Courts Are Supreme Over State Courts

Jeremiah S. Black, U.S. Attorney General; Stephen Ableman Sherman Booth Booth, who had been freed by the Wisconsin State Supreme Court, should serve the sentence imposed by a federal court. Jeremiah S. Black No counsel appeared for the respondent. John Archibald Campbell, John Catron, Nathan Clifford, Peter Vivian Daniel, Robert Cooper Grier, John McLean, Samuel Nelson, Roger Brooke Taney (writing…

less than 1 minute read

Albert Tirrell Trial: 1846 - Rufus Choate Defends Tirrell, The Jury Acquits Tirrell, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: Albert J. Tirrell Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyer: Rufus Choate Chief Prosecutor: Samuel D. Parker Judges: Dewey, Hubbard, and Wilde (No record of first names) Place: Boston, Massachusetts Dates of Trial: March 26-30, 1846 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: Albert Tirrell's trial was the first time in American history that sleepwalking was successfully used as a defense…

1 minute read

Alexander Holmes Trial: 1842 - Holmes Tried For Manslaughter

Defendant: Alexander William Holmes Crime Charged: Manslaughter Chief Defense Lawyer: David Paul Brown Chief Prosecutor: William M.Meredith Judge: Baldwin (historical records do not indicate his first name) Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Dates of Trial: April 13-23, 1842 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: 6 months in prison and a $20 fine SIGNIFICANCE: In the Alexander Holmes trial, the court held that …

2 minute read

Andrew Geddes Court-Martial: 1879 - Geddes, Not Orleman, Is Court-martialed, Conflicting "expert" Testimony

Defendant: Andrew Geddes Crimes Charged: Libel, seduction, attempted abduction Chief Defense Lawyer: George W. Paschal Chief Prosecutor: John Clous Judges: Officers from the army's Texas Division Place: San Antonio, Texas Date of Trial: June 14-August 21, 1879 Verdict: Guilty of all charges except abduction Sentence: Three years in prison and dishonorable discharge; Geddes conviction was ov…

1 minute read

Barron v. Baltimore

The case arose when John Barron, owner of the largest and most profitable wharf in the eastern section of Baltimore, Maryland, sued the city for losses his wharf had allegedly suffered as a result of silting. When Barron had originally purchased the wharf, the wharf enjoyed the deepest waters in the area. However, in 1815 Baltimore had undertaken a major plan to renovate and modernize the city by …

4 minute read

Barron v. Baltimore - Significance, The City Makes Barron's Wharf Useless, The Bill Of Rights Does Not Apply To The States

John Barron The mayor and city council of Baltimore, Maryland The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution required Baltimore to compensate Barron for having "taken" his property by significantly compromising the usefulness of his wharf. Charles Mayer Roger Brooke Taney Gabriel Duvall, William Johnson, John Marshall (writing for the Court), John McLean, Joseph Story, Smith Thompson None (Henry Bal…

less than 1 minute read

Boss Tweed Trials: 1873 - Reformers Fight Back, Tweed Fights Verdict, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: William Marcy Tweed Crimes Charged: 55 criminal offenses relating to embezzlement of public funds Chief Defense Lawyers: David Dudley Field, John Graham, and Elihu Root Chief Prosecutors: Wheeler H. Peckham, Benjamin K. Phelps, and Lyman Tremain Judge: Noah Davis Place: New York, New York Dates of Trials: January 7-November 19, 1873 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: 1 year in prison and a $250 …

2 minute read

Castner Hanway Treason Trial: 1851 - Slave Master Killed Chasing Fugitive, Politics Dictates Treason Charge, Hanway Tried In Test Case, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: Castner Hanway Crime Charged: Treason Chief Defense Lawyers: John M. Read, Joseph J. Lewis, Theodore Cuyler, Thaddeus Stevens, W. Arthur Jackson (David Paul Brown, an attorney for a defendant who was indicted with Hanway, also sat at the defense table) Chief Prosecutors: For the United States: John W. Ashmead, George L.Ashmead, James R. Ludlow; for the State of Maryland: Robert J. Brent…

1 minute read

Charity Lamb Trial: 1854 - Settlers Shocked By Murder, Defendant's Children Testify, The Defense: Insanity, The Verdict

Defendant: Charity Lamb Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: James K. Kelly, Milton Elliot Chief Prosecutor: Noah Huber Judge: Cyrus Olney Place: Oregon City, Oregon Territory Date of Trial: September 11-16, 1854 Verdict: Guiltyof second-degree murder Sentence: Life imprisonment SIGNIFICANCE: Charity Lamb was the Pacific Northwest's first convicted murderess. Her case represents one…

1 minute read

Charles Guiteau Trial: 1881 - Imaginary Insult Prompts Revenge, Was Guiteau Insane?, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: Charles J. Guiteau Crime Charged: Assassinating President James A. Garfield Chief Defense Lawyers: Leigh Robinson and George Scoville Chief Prosecutors: George Corkhill, Walter Davidge, John K. Porter, Elihu Root, and E.B. Smith Judge: Walter Cox Place: Washington, D.C. Dates of Trial: November 14, 1881-January 13, 1882 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: Charles Gu…

1 minute read

Clement L. Vallandigham Court-Martial: 1863 - Conflicting Orders, The Court Martial, An Anti-climactic End, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: Clement L. Vallandigham Crime Charged: Publicly opposing the federal government's prosecution of the war while supporting the enemies of the Union Chief Defense Lawyers Edward A. Ferguson, George H. Pendleton, George E. Pugh Chief Prosecutor: James M. Cutts, Judge Advocate Senior Presiding Officer: Robert B. Potter Court: J.F. DeCourcy, E. R. Goodrich, J. L. Van Buren, J. M. Brow…

1 minute read

Commonwealth v. Aves: 1836 - Slave Or Free?

Name of Respondent: Thomas Aves Cause of Action: Writ of habeas corpus for a slave girl, Med Commonwealth Attorneys: Ellis Gray Loring, Rufus Choate, Samuel Sewall Respondent's Counsel: Benjamin Robbins Curtis, C. P. Curtis Judge: Lemuel Shaw Place: Massachusetts Date of Decision: 1836 Verdict: Med was freed, becoming a ward of the court SIGNIFICANCE: Shaw's opinion in the Aves case …

1 minute read

Cooley v. Board of Wardens - Significance, Further Readings

Aaron B. Cooley Board of Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia Ship master Aaron B. Cooley protested a port regulation making him pay half the normal fee for a pilot although he did not use one. The regulation, Cooley claimed, was an invasion of the exclusive authority of Congress over foreign and interstate commerce. Campbell, Dallas Morris, Tyson John Catron, Benjamin Curtis (writing for the Court…

less than 1 minute read

Dakota Conflict Trials: 1862 - Military Commission Appointed To Try Dakota Warriors, Were The Trials Fair?, President Lincoln Reviews The Dakota Cases

Defendants: 393 Dakota Sioux Indians and people of mixed racial background Crimes Charged: Murder and "other outrages" against citizens of the United States Chief Defense Lawyer: None Chief Prosecutor: None Judges: Military Commission Officers Lieutenant Rollin Olin (judge advocate), Colonel William Crooks, Colonel William Marshall, Captain Hiram Grant, Captain Hiram Bailey, and Majo…

3 minute read

Daniel McFarland Trial: 1870 - Not The First Time, The Libertine's Letter, Insanity Defense, … In The Day Of Vengeance"

Defendant: Daniel McFarland Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Elbridge T. Gerry, John Graham, Charles Spencer Chief Prosecutors: Noah Davis, Samuel Garvin Judge: (No record of first name) Hackett Place: New York, New York Date of Trial: April 4-May 10, 1870 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: This trial underscores several points that seem just as relevant today as they were more than…

1 minute read

Daniel Sickles Trial: 1859 - Lafayefte Park Killing, Mobilizing The Defense, Cold-blooded Murder Or Justifiable Homicide?, Public Opinion Turns Against Sickles

Defendant: Daniel Sickles Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: James T. Brady, John Graham, and Edwin M.Stanton Chief Prosecutor: Robert Ould Judge: Crawford (First nameunavailable) Place: Washington, D.C. Dates of Trial: April 4-26, 1859 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: The first use of a plea of temporary insanity by a criminal defendant and the unabashed appeal to the "unwritten…

1 minute read

Dr. John Webster Trial: 1850 - Webster Kills Dr. Parkman, Webster's Trial Rocks Boston Society, Corpus Delicti Issue Decides Webster's Fate

Defendant: Harvard Professor Dr. John Webster Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Pliny Merrick and Edward D. Sohier Chief Prosecutors: George Bemis and John H. Clifford Judges: LemuelShaw, Charles A. Dewey, Thomas Metcalf, and Samuel Wilde Place: Boston, Massachusetts Dates of Trial: March 19—April 1, 1850 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: Because Dr. John W…

1 minute read

Dr. Samuel Mudd Trial: 1865 - Troops Search For Booth And His Co-conspirators, Mudd And Conspirators Tried, Was Mudd Really Guilty?

Defendant: Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Crimes Charged: Treason and conspiracy Chief Defense Lawyer: General Thomas Ewing Chief Prosecutor: Judge Advocate Joseph Holt Judges: Military commission officers Lieutenant Colonel David Clendenim, Brevet Brigadier General James Ekin, Brigadier General Robert Foster, Brigadier General T. M. Harris, Major General David Hunter, Brigadier General Alvin Howe, Brevet Maj…

1 minute read

Dred Scott Decision: 1856 - Scott Sues For Freedom, Scott Tries Federal Courts, Victory For Slavery, Defeat For Scott

Appellant: Dred Scott Defendant: John F.A. Sanford Plaintiff Claim: That Scott, who was a slave, had become a free man whenhis owner had taken him to a state designated as "free" under the 1820 Missouri Compromise Chief Defense Lawyers: Hugh A. Garland, H.S.Geyer, George W. Goode, Reverdy Johnson, and Lyman D Norris Chief Lawyers for Appellant Samuel M. Bay, Montgomery Blair, George …

2 minute read

Emma Cunningham Trail: 1857 - Cunningham Makes Startling Announcement, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: Emma Augusta Cunningham Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyer: Henry L. Clinton Chief Prosecutor: A. Oakley Hall Judge: Recorder Smith (historical records do not indicate first name) Place: New York, New York Dates of Trial: May 6-May 9, 1857 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: Emma Augusta Cunningham was acquitted of Dr. Harvey Burdell's murder, and nearly succeeded in her at…

2 minute read

Ephraim Avery Trial: 1833 - A Victim Of Questionable Morals?, A Crime In A Changing New England, Suicide Or Murder?

Defendant: Ephraim Avery Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Jeremiah Mason, Richard Randolf, George Turner, Henry Cranston, Joseph Hathaway, Joseph Blake (Nathaniel Bullock assisted with pretrial matters) Chief Prosecutors: Albert C. Greene, Dutee J. Pearce(William Staples assisted with pretrial matters) Judges: Samuel Eddy, Charles Brayton, Job Durfee Place: Newport, Rhode Island Date o…

1 minute read

Ex parte Garland - Significance

Augustus H. Garland United States That the act of Congress of 24 January 1865, which required all lawyers who practiced before a federal court to swear that they had no sympathy toward the Confederacy, was unconstitutional. Matthew H. Carpenter, Reverdy Johnson Henry Stanbery, U.S. Attorney General; James Speed Nathan Clifford, Stephen Johnson Field (writing for the Court), Robert Cooper Grier, Sa…

less than 1 minute read

Ex Parte McCardle - Significance, Congress Denies Mccardle Access To Supreme Court, Congress Could Not Be Denied, Reconstruction

United States William H. McCardle That McCardle had incited insurrection and impeded post-Civil War Reconstruction. Matthew H. Carpenter, Lyman Trumbull Jeremiah S. Black, David Dudley Field, Charles O'Conor, W. L. Sharkey, Robert J. Walker Salmon Portland Chase (writing for the Court), Nathan Clifford, David Davis, Robert Cooper Grier, Stephen Johnson Field, Samuel Freeman Miller, Samuel Nelson, …

1 minute read

Ex Parte McCardle: 1868 - Congress Denies Mccardle Access To Supreme Court, Congress Could Not Be Denied

Defendant: William H. McCardle Crimes Charged: Inciting insurrection and impeding post-Civil Was Reconstruction Chief Defense Lawyers: Jeremiah S. Black, David Dudley Field, Charles O'Conor, W. L. Sharkey, and Robert J. Walker Chief Prosecutors: Mathew H. Carpenter and Lyman Trumbull Justices: Salmon P. Chase, Nathan Clifford, David Davis, Robert Cooper Grier, Stephen, J. Field, Samuel F. M…

1 minute read

Ex parte Milligan - Significance, Further Readings

Lambdin P. Milligan United States A military commission was not a competent tribunal for the trial of the petitioner, a military commission may not try nor convict him, and the petitioner should be released. J. S. Black, J. E. McDonald, J. A. Garfield, David Dudley Field, A. L. Roache, John R. Coffuth James Speed; Henry Stanbery, U.S. Attorney General; Benjamin F. Butler Salmon Portland Chase, Nat…

less than 1 minute read

Ex Parte Siebold - Significance, Stuffing The Ballot Box, Who Is In Charge?, The Court Fights Back

Albert Siebold, Walter Tucker, Martin C. Burns, Lewis Coleman, Henry Bowers State of Maryland The petitioners were all election judges from Baltimore who had been convicted in federal court and subsequently sentenced to prison for stuffing ballot boxes and related incidents of election fraud in a congressional election in Maryland. They sought a writ of habeas corpus "to be relieved from imprisonm…

1 minute read

Fitz-John Porter Court-Martial: 1862-63 - Porter's Retreat At Second Manassas, Court-martial Follows Lincoln—pope Meeting, Porter Found Guilty On Key Charges

Defendant: Fitz-John Porter Crimes Charged: Disobedience of orders in violation of the Ninth Article of War; misbehavior before the enemy by shamefully retreating, in violation of the Fifty-second Article of War Presiding Officer: D. Hunter Court: E. A. Hitchcock; Rufus King; M.Prentiss; James B. Ricketts; Silas Casey; James A. Garfield; N. B. Buford;J. P. Slough. Chief Prosecutor: J. Holt, Judge-…

1 minute read

George Armstrong Custer Court-Martial: 1867 - The Court-martial, The Aftermath

Defendant: George Armstrong Custer Crimes Charged: Absence without leave from his command; conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline. In addition to three formal charges, there were eight detailed specifications. Defense Lawyer: Charles C. Parsons Prosecutor: Captain Robert Chandler, Judge Advocate Presiding Officer: William Hoffman Court: Benjamin Grierson, Pitcain Morrison, Micha…

3 minute read

Hansley v. Hansley: 1849 - North American Colonies And Divorce Laws, Mr. Hansley's Sudden Change, Jury Agrees With Mrs. Hansley

Plaintiff: Ruthey Ann Hansley Defendant: Samuel G. Hansley Plaintiff's Claim: Seeking divorce Chief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Robert Strange Chief Defense Lawyer: William Henry Haywood, Jr. Judges: Thomas Ruffin, Frederic Nash, Richmond M. Pearson Place: Raleigh, North Carolina Date of Decision: December 1849 Verdict: Divorce Denied SIGNIFICANCE: This case showed just how difficult it was for a…

1 minute read

Henry Flipper Court-Martial: 1881 - A Different Kind Of Trial, The Court-martial, Flipper's Later Fate, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: Henry Flipper Crimes: Embezzlement and conduct unbecoming an officer Chief Defense Lawyer: Merritt Barber Chief Prosecutor: John W. Clous, Judge Advocate Presiding Officer: G. Pennypacker Court: J. F. Wade, G. W. Schofield, W. E. Waters, William Fletcher, W. N. Tisdall, R.G. Heiner, E.S. Ewing, W.V. Richards Place: Fort Davis, Texas Date of Trial: September 15; November 1-December 13, 1…

1 minute read

Henry Wirz Trial: 1865 - Wirz Tried For War Crimes, Union Prisoners' Testimony Destroys Wirz, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: Captain Henry Wirz Crimes Charged: 13 counts of murder, assault, battery, torture and other offenses against Union prisoners Chief Defense Lawyer: Louis Schade Chief Prosecutor: Judge Advocate Colonel N. P. Chipman Judges: Military Commission officers Brevet Colonel T. Allcock, Brevet Brigadier General John F. Ballior, Brigadier General A. S. Bragg, Brigadier General Francis Fessenden, …

2 minute read

Hester Vaughan Trial: 1868 - Sentenced To Die

Defendant: Hester Vaughan Crime Charged: First-degree murder Chief Defense Lawyer: Guforth (No first name listed.) Chief Prosecutor: No record. Judge: Ludlow (No first name listed) Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Dates of Trial: June 10—July 2, 1868 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death SIGNIFICANCE: When the teenaged Hester Vaughan allegedly murdered her newborn infant, she was prosecuted by a…

2 minute read

James Fenimore Cooper Libel Trials: 1839-45 - The First Trespassers, The Legal Suits, Sideshows And Footnotes, Settling Up, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendants: Andrew M. Barber, Park Benjamin, Theodore S. Gold, Horace Greeley, Thomas McElrath, Elius Pellet, William Leete Stone, James Watson Webb, Thurlow Weed Plaintiff Claim: Libel Chief Defense Lawyers: Joshua Spencer (for Barber) Peter Clark (for Greeley); Willis Hall, R. G. Wheaton, L.S. Chaffield (for Weed); L.J. Walworth and Ambrose Jordan (for Webb); A. B. Conger, William H. Seward (for…

1 minute read

Jennie Cramer Murder Trial: 1882 - An Inquest's Second Thoughts, The Elm City Tragedy

Defendants: Blanche Douglass, James Malley Jr., Walter Mal ley Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Samuel F. Jones, Levi N. Blydenburgh, William C. Case, Timothy J. Fox (both Malleys); Louis C. Cassidy (James Malley); Edwin C. Dow, William B. Stoddard (Douglass) Chief Prosecutors: Tilton E. Doolittle, Charles Bush Judge: Miles T. Granger Place: New Haven, Connecticut Date of Trial: April …

2 minute read

John Brown Trial: 1859 - Brown Raises Sword Of Abolition, Virginia Tries Brown For Treason, Brown's Lawyers Search For A Defense

Defendant: John Brown Crime Charged: Insurrection and murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Lawson Botts, Thomas C. Green, Samuel Chilton, and Hiram Griswold Chief Prosecutor Andrew Hunter Judge: Richard Parker Place: Charles Town, Virginia Dates of Trial: October 27-November 2, 1859 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: Tried for leading a famous but unsuccessful raid on the federal…

1 minute read

John Charles Frémont Court-Martial: 1847-48 - The Showdown, The Trial

Defendant: John Charles Frémont Crime: Mutiny, disobedience, conduct prejudicing good order and military discipline Chief Defense Lawyers: Thomas H. Benton, William Carey Jones Chief Prosecutor: John Fitzgerald Lee, Judge Advocate Presiding Officer: G. M. Brooke Court: De Russey, T. F. Hunt Place: District of Columbia (Washington Arsenal) Date of Trial: November 2, 1847-January 31, 1848 Verdi…

1 minute read

John Colt Trial: 1842 - The Colt Family's Black Sheep, Confusion Over Murder Weapons, A Strange "confession"

Defendant: John C. Colt Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Dudley Selden, John Morrill, Robert Emmett Chief Prosecutor: James Whiting Judge: William Kent Place: New York, New York Date of Trial: January 19-31, 1842 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: The murder trial of John Colt, brother of repeating arms inventor Samuel Colt, began as a missing persons case and cul…

less than 1 minute read

John "Jack" McCall Trials: 1876 - A Western Boomtown, The First Trial, A Federal Trial For Mccall

Defendant: John ("Jack") McCall Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: First Trial: "Judge" Miller; Second Trial: Oliver Shannon and William Henry Harrison Beadle Chief Prosecutors: First Trial:"Colonel" George May; Second Trial: William Pound Judges: First Trial:William L. Kuykendall; Second Trial: Peter C. Shannon Place: First Trial:Deadwood, Dakot…

less than 1 minute read

Kendall v. United States - Significance, A Carriage And A Pair Of Horses, The President Fails To Intervene, The Separation Of Powers

Amos Kendall, U.S. Postmaster General United States That Kendall should not have to order the Post Office Department to pay certain funds to a firm that did business with them, even though a federal court had ordered him to, if he himself, in his official capacity, did not believe the funds should be awarded. Francis Scott Key; Benjamin F. Butler, U.S. Attorney General Richard S. Coxe, Reverdy Joh…

1 minute read

Kentucky v. Dennison - Significance, Who Decides?, A Slave Girl And The Man Who Helped Her, On The Eve Of The Civil War

State of Kentucky William Dennison, Governor of Ohio That Governor Dennison should return to Kentucky the man, Willis Lago, who had allegedly helped a slave to escape and who had been indicted in Kentucky for what was a crime under the laws of that state. John W. Stevenson, Humphrey Marshall Ohio Attorney General Christopher P. Wolcott John Archibald Campbell, John Catron, Nathan Clifford, Robert …

less than 1 minute read

Kilbourn v. Thompson - Significance, An Uncooperative Witness, Preserving The Separation Of Powers, Congressional Immunity, Samuel R. Lowery, African American Lawyer

Hallett Kilbourn John G. Thompson, Michael C. Kerr, John M. Glover, Jeptha D. New, Burwell P. Lewis, A. Herr Smith Kilbourn objected to the fact that he had been called before a committee of Congress, and, refusing to answer questions, had been jailed for contempt of Congress. He brought suit against Thompson, the sergeant-at-arms, as well as against the five members of the congressional committee…

1 minute read

Luther v. Borden - Significance, Insurrection In Providence, Which Was The Rightful Government?, Political Vs. Natural Rights

Martin Luther Luther M. Borden Luther M. Borden, acting under the martial law that had been declared by the state of Rhode Island, had invaded and searched Martin Luther's home. Martin Luther claimed that the government, under which Borden had acted, was not the legitimate government of Rhode Island. Therefore, Borden was guilty of trespass. Benjamin F. Hallett; Nathan Clifford, U.S. Attorney Gene…

1 minute read

Mackenzie Court-Martial: 1843

Defendant: Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie Crimes Charged: 5 criminal offenses, including murder, for having executed 3 seamen suspected of mutiny Chief Defense Lawyer: None Chief Prosecutor: Judge Advocate William H. Norris Judges: Captains William C. Bolton, John Downes, John Gwinn, Isaac McKeever, Benjamin Page, George C. Read, John D. Sloat, Joseph Smith, George W. Storer, Daniel Turner,…

4 minute read

Martinez v. Del Valle: 1877 - Choate Cross-examines Martinez

Plaintiff: Eugenie Martinez Defendant: Juan Del Valle Plaintiff Claim: That Del Valle broke his promise to marry the plaintiff Chief Defense Lawyer: Joseph H. Choate Chief Lawyer for Plaintiff: William H. Beach Judge: Donohue (historical records do not indicate first name) Place: New York, New York Date of Trial: 1877 January Term Decision: Jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff for damages of …

1 minute read

Mary Todd Lincoln Insanity Trial: 1875 - A Long Line Of Tragedies, Robert Lincoln Begins Insanity Proceedings, A Civil Jury Hears The Case

Defendant: Mary Todd Lincoln Petitioner: Robert Todd Lincoln Relief Sought: Declaration that Mary Todd Lincoln was insane and the appointment of a conservator to handle her estate Chief Defense Lawyers: Isaac Newton Arnold Chief Attorney for Petitioner: Benjamin F. Ayers; Leonard T. Swett handled all of the pretrial preparation Judge: Marion R. M. Wallace Place: Chicago, Illinois Date of Trial: Ma…

1 minute read

Minor v. Happersett - Significance, The "new Departure", A Constitutional Approach, All Or Nothing, The Fourteenth Amendment

Virginia Minor (with Francis Minor, her husband, as required by Missouri law, which did not permit married women to bring suit on their own) Reese Happersett That Virginia Minor's constitutional rights were violated by Happersett's refusal to register her to vote in the election of 1872. Francis Minor, John M. Rum, John B. Henderson No opposing counsel Joseph P. Bradley, Nathan Clifford, David Dav…

less than 1 minute read

Munn v. Illinois - Setting The Boundary Between State And Federal Regulation, Further Readings

Munn & Scott State of Illinois That the state law of Illinois requiring that a warehouse operate under a state license and that it conform to state-set rates violated the due process guarantee of the Fourteenth Amendment. W. C. Goudy, John N.Jewett Attorney General of Illinois Joseph P. Bradley, Nathan Clifford, David Davis, Ward Hunt, Samuel Freeman Miller, Noah Haynes Swayne, Morrison Remick Wai…

1 minute read

Packard v. Packard: 1864 - Reverend Packard Presents His Case, Elizabeth Packard Defends Her Sanity, Verdict Takes Seven Minutes, Suggestions For Further Reading

Plaintiff: Reverend Theophilus Packard, Jr. Defendant: Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard Plaintiff Claim: That his wife was insane and that he was therefore entitled to confine her at home Chief Defense Lawyers: Stephen Moore and John W. Orr Chief Lawyer for Plaintiff: No record Judge: Charles R. Starr Place: Kankakee, Illinois Dates of Trial: January 13-18, 1864 Verdict: Elizabeth Packard declared s…

1 minute read

President Andrew Johnson Impeachment Trial: 1868 - Johnson Becomes An Unpopular President, Senate Tries President Johnson, Senate Republicans Thwart Johnson's Defense

Defendant: President Andrew Johnson Crime Charged: "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" within the meaning of Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution Chief Defense Lawyers: William Maxwell Evarts and Benjamin R. Curtis Chief Prosecutors: Seven "trial managers" from the House of Representatives Judges: U.S. Senate, with Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presiding Place: Washingt…

1 minute read

Prigg v. Pennsylvania - Significance, Owing Service, Federal Supremacy, Impact, Further Readings

Edward Prigg State of Pennsylvania That laws passed by the U.S. Congress regulating interstate retrieval of fugitive slaves take precedence over state laws on the same subject. Meredith, Nelson Johnson, Attorney General of Pennsylvania Henry Baldwin, John Catron, Peter Vivian Daniel, John McKinley, Joseph Story (writing for the Court), Roger Brooke Taney, Smith Thompson, James Moore Wayne John McL…

less than 1 minute read

Prince v. Prince - A Step Up, An Informal Marriage, The Court Investigates, Prenuptial Agreements

Sarah Prince George Prince That she should be provided alimony and child support after her husband deserted her, even when he had no property or fixed or permanent income. Elliott Magrath, Yeadon Benjamin Faneuil Dunkin, Johnson Charleston, South Carolina March 1845 A husband, when he has the income, is responsible for alimony and child support. South Carolina took a fresh look at the idea of supp…

less than 1 minute read

Prize Cases - The Issue Of Belligerency, The Captured Ships, Further Readings

Owners of four ships as claimants: Hiawatha, Crenshaw, Amy Warwick, and Brilliante United States That the seizure of these ships for violation of blockade was illegal, because the war was a civil war, not an international war. Charles Edwards Richard Henry Dana, Jr. David Davis, Robert Cooper Grier (writing for the Court), Samuel Freeman Miller, Noah Haynes Swayne, James Moore Wayne John Catron, N…

less than 1 minute read

Proprietors of the Charles River Bridge v. the Proprietors of the Warren Bridge - Significance, Two Bridges In Boston, Taney's Defense Of "happiness And Well Being"

The proprietors of the Charles River Bridge The proprietors of the Warren Bridge That it held an exclusive charter to operate a toll bridge, and the state of Massachusetts violated the Contract Clause of the Constitution by granting a charter to another bridge company. Warren Dutton, Daniel Webster Simon Greenleaf, John Davis Henry Baldwin, Philip Pendleton Barbour, Roger Brooke Taney (writing for…

less than 1 minute read

Rendition Hearing Of Anthony Burns: 1854 - Tracked Down In Boston, Dana For The Defense, Abolitionists Mobilize, Judge's Rulings Favor Master

Defendant: Anthony Burns Crime Charged: Being a fugitive slave Claimant: Charles Suttle Chief Defense Lawyers: Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Charles Mayo Ellis Claimant's Lawyer: Seth J. Thomas Judge: Edward Greeley Loring Place: Boston, Massachusetts Dates of Hearing: May 25-June 2, 1854 Decision: Anthony Burns was the property of Charles Suttle and was returned to him. SIGNIFICANCE: The Anthon…

1 minute read

Reynolds v. U.S.: 1879 - Congress Strengthens Anti-bigamy Law, The Supreme Court Destroys Mormons' Hopes, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: George Reynolds Crime Charged: Bigamy Chief Defense Lawyers: George W. Biddle and Ben Sheeks Chief Prosecutor: William Carey Judge: Alexander White Place: Salt Lake City, Utah Dates of Trial: October 30-December 10, 1875 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Two years imprisonment and a$500 fine SIGNIFICANCE: The Mormons, who settled Utah, permitted members of their religion to practice polygamy.…

1 minute read

Richard Parmelee Robinson Trial: 1836 - Bill Easy And Frank Rivers, … Well Known To Every Pedestrian …", Hatchet, Cloak, And Tassel

Defendant: Richard Parmelee Robinson Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Ogden Hoffman, Hugh Maxwell, William Price Chief Prosecutors: Thomas Phoenix, Robert H. Morris Judge: Ogden Edwards Place: New York, New York Date of Trial: June 2-7, 1836 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: Perhaps the first of the sex-sin-and-mayhem cases that have come to dominate much of the daily news, the Helen J…

1 minute read

Roberts v. City of Boston: 1848-49 - Suit Challenges Segregated Schools, Court Backs Segregation, Suggestions For Further Reading

Plaintiffs: Sarah Roberts, Benjamin F. Roberts Defendant: Boston, Massachusetts Plaintiff's Lawyer: Charles Sumner Defendant's Lawyer: Peleg Chandler Judge: Lemuel Shaw Place: Boston, Massachusetts Date of Trial: 1848-1849 Decision: The court nonsuited the plaintiff, in effect dismissing the case SIGNIFICANCE: The Roberts case established the principle of "separate but equal&#…

1 minute read

Scott v. Sandford - Significance, Scott Sues For Freedom, Scott Tries Federal Courts, Victory For Slavery, Defeat For Scott

Dred Scott John F. A. Sanford That Scott, who was a slave, had become a free man when his owner had taken him to a state designated as "free" under the 1820 Missouri Compromise. Samuel M. Bay, Montgomery Blair, George Ticknor Curtis, Alexander P. Field, Roswell M. Field, David N. Hall Hugh A. Garland, H. S. Geyer, George W. Goode, Reverdy Johnson, Lyman D. Norris John Archibald Campbell, John Catr…

less than 1 minute read

Slaughterhouse Cases - The Slaughterhouse Monopoly, Monopoly As "servitude", Equal Protection, Further Readings

Butchers' Benevolent Association of New Orleans; The Livestock Dealers' and Butchers' Association of New Orleans The Crescent City Live Stock Landing and Slaughter House Company; State of Louisiana That the state's establishment of a monopoly in stock slaughtering violated the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments. John Campbell, J. Q. A. Fellows T. J. Durant Salmon Portland Chase, Nathan Clifford,…

1 minute read

South Carolina Ku Klux Klan Trials: 1871-72 - The South Carolina Klan, The Ku Klux Klan Act, The Trials Begin, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendants: Robert Hayes Mitchell, John W. Mitchell, Thomas B. Whitesides, John S. Millar (Miller), Edward T. Avery Crimes Charged: Conspiracy to prevent blacks from voting; conspiracy to oppress, threaten, and intimidate blacks who had exercised their right to vote in 1870 Chief Defense Lawyers: Reverdy Johnson, Henry Stanbery, James F. Hart, C. D. Melton, W. B. Wilson and F. W. McMaster Chief Pr…

2 minute read

a Slave State of Missouri v. Celia: 1855 - Celia Speaks, The Trial Begins, On To The Missouri Supreme Court, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendant: Celia, a Slave Charge: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Isaac M. Boulware, John Jameson, and Nathan Chapman Kouns Chief Prosecutor: Robert Prewitt Judge: William Hall Place: Calloway County, Missouri Dates of Trial: October 9-10, 1855 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Hanging SIGNIFICANCE: This case graphically illustrates that enslaved women had no legal recourse when raped by their masters. Alth…

2 minute read

Strauder v. West Virginia - "a Brand Upon Them", African Americans And The Jury System, Further Readings

Taylor Strauder State of West Virginia That a West Virginia statute allowing only whites to serve on juries prevented Strauder from enjoying due process and full protection under the law. George O. Davenport; Charles Devens, U.S. Attorney General Robert White; J. W. Green Joseph P. Bradley, John Marshall Harlan I, Ward Hunt, Samuel Freeman Miller, William Strong (writing for the Court), Noah Hayne…

less than 1 minute read

Swift v. Tyson - Significance, The Need For A Uniform System Of Commerce, Impact

John Swift George W. Tyson In a federal case based on diversity jurisdiction, the common law of the locus state should govern the tender of a negotiable instrument, not common law developed by a federal court. Fessenden Dana Henry Baldwin, John Catron, Peter Vivian Daniel, John McKinley, John McLean, Joseph Story (writing for the Court), Roger Brooke Taney, Smith Thompson, James Moore Wayne None W…

less than 1 minute read

Swift v. Tyson

The question of assignments was at the heart of Swift. A third-party assignee of a bill of exchange drawn in New York presented it for payment and was refused. The third party, who was not a New York resident, sued in New York federal district court. The New York common law held that a bill of exchange could not be assigned, and the federal judge ruled accordingly. Because New York was the leading…

3 minute read

Texas v. White - The Missing Bonds, Political Fact Or Legal Fiction, Further Readings

State of Texas George W. White, John Chiles, et al. That securities sold to the appellees by a Confederate military board were the property of the state of Texas and should be returned. R. T. Merrick, George W. Pascal P. Phillips, J. M. Carlisle, S. S. Cox, J. W. Moore Salmon Portland Chase (writing for the Court), Nathan Clifford, David Davis, Stephen Johnson Field, Samuel Nelson Robert Cooper Gr…

less than 1 minute read

Thomas Wilson Dorr Trial: 1844 - Reformers Draft A "people's Constitution", Reformers Attempt To Seize State Arsenal, Dorr's Treason Trial

Defendant: Thomas Wilson Dorr Crime Charged: Treason Chief Defense Lawyers: Thomas W. Dorr, representing himself, assisted bySamuel Y. Atwell, George Turner, Walter S. Burges Chief Prosecutors: Joseph W. Blake, Alfred Bosworth Judges: Job Durfee, Levi Haile, William R. Staples, and George A. Brayton Place: Newport, Rhode Island Date of Trial: April 26-May 7, 1844 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Life imp…

1 minute read

Tilton v. Beecher: 1875 - Plymouth Church Clears Beecher, Mrs. Tilton Never Testifies, Suggestions For Further Reading

Plaintiff: Theodore Tilton Defendant: Henry Ward Beecher Plaintiff Claim: That Beecher had committed adultery with Tilton's wife Chief Defense Lawyers: William M. Evarts, John L. Hill, John K. Porter, Thomas G. Shearman, and Benjamin F. Tracy Chief Lawyers for Plaintiff: W. Fullerton, Samuel D. Morris, and Roger A. Pryor Judge: Neilson (historical records do not indicate first name) Place:…

2 minute read

U.S. v. Cinque: 1839 - Cinque Goes On Trial, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendants: Joseph Cinque and others Crimes Charged: Murder and piracy Chief Defense Lawyers: John Quincy Adams, Roger S. Baldwin, Joshua Leavitt, and Seth Staples Chief Prosecutor: William S. Holabird Judges: Andrew T. Judson and Smith Thompson Place: New Haven, Connecticut Dates of Trial: November 19, 1839-January 13, 1840 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: When the courts refused to convict slav…

2 minute read

U.S. v. Cruikshank: 1875 - Southern Racism Makes A Comeback, Supreme Court Delivers A Crushing Blow, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendants: William J. Cruikshank and others Crimes Charged: 16 violations of federal law relating to the defendants' involvement in lynching two black men, including violating the victims' "right and privilege peaceably to assemble together." Chief Defense Lawyers: E. John Ellis, David Dudley Field, Reverdy Johnson, R.H. Marr, Philip Phillips, and W.R. Whitaker Chief…

2 minute read

U.S. v. Susan B. Anthony: 1873 - "i Have Been Gone Done It!", Stumping Before The Trial, Trial Begins June 17

Defendant: Susan B. Anthony Crime Charged: Unlawful Voting Chief Defense Lawyers: Henry R. Selden and John Van Voorhis Chief Prosecutor: Richard Crowley Judge: Ward Hunt Place: Canandaigua, New York Dates of Trial: June 17-18, 1873 Verdict: Guilty SIGNIFICANCE: This was one of the first in a series of decisions—including two rendered by the Supreme Court—which found that Section 1 of…

1 minute read

United States ex rel. Standing Bear v. Crook - Significance, Indians Are "persons", Impact, The Dawes Severalty Act, Further Readings

Standing Bear and other Ponca Indians George Crook, U.S. Army General That confinement of American Indians by the U.S. Army violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. John L. Webster, Andrew J. Poppleton Genio M. Lambertson Elmer S. Dundy Lincoln, Nebraska 12 May 1879 The Court upheld Standing Bear's claim and ordered the Poncas released from U.S. custody. Bacon, Donald C., et al…

less than 1 minute read

United States v. Cruikshank - Significance, Southern Racism Makes A Comeback, The Supreme Court Delivers A Crushing Blow, Hate Crimes

United States William J. Cruikshank, et al. That the defendants should be convicted of violations of 16 federal laws, including involvement in the lynching of two black men and the violation of the victims' "right and privilege peaceably to assemble together." Edwards Pierrepont, Attorney General; Samuel F. Phillips, Solicitor General David Dudley Field, Reverdy Johnson, R. H. Marr, Philip Phillip…

less than 1 minute read

United States V. Don Pedro Leon Lujan et al.: 1851-52 - A Well-established Slave Trade, Lujan Ordered Not To Trade With Indians, Traders Brought To Trial

Defendants: Don Pedro Lujan Crimes Charged: Violation of the Trade and Intercourse Act of 1834, libel and indebtedness to the United States Chief Defense Lawyers: George A. Smith (chief counsel), Josiah Slayton, William Pickett Chief Prosecutor: Seth M. Blair Judge: Zerubbabel Snow Place: Great Salt Lake City, Utah Dates of Trials: December 30, 1851-January 1, 1852; January 15-17, 1852 Verdict: Gu…

1 minute read

The Whitman Massacre Trial: 1850 - Five Cayuse Braves Arrested, The Trial Begins, Passionate Closing Arguments, The Sentence Is Death

Defendants: Telokite, Tomahas, Kiamasumkin, Isiaasheluckas, Clokomas Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyer: Kintzing Pritchette Chief Prosecutor: Amory Holbrook Judge: Orville C. Pratt Place: Oregon City, Oregon Territory Dates of Trial: May 21-24, 1850 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: This trial was the foremost attempt by the newly created Oregon Territory to move aw…

1 minute read

Wyatt Earp Trial: 1881 - A Mysterious Stage Coach Robbery, Trouble Brewing, Shootout, The Hearing, Aftermath, Suggestions For Further Reading

Defendants: Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, John "Doc" Holliday Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyer: Thomas Fitch Chief Prosecutor: Lyttleton Price Judge: Wells Spicer Place: Tombstone, Arizona Date of Trial: October 31-November 29, 1881 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: The month-long trial—actually a preliminary hearing—made possible an American legend. …

2 minute read

Wynehamer v. the People - The Temperance Movement, Prohibition And Property

James Wynehamer People of the State of New York That the law prohibiting the sale of alcohol under which Wynehamer was indicted was unconstitutional, because it abridged his constitutional right to dispose of his own property as he saw fit. A. J. Parker A. Sawin Chief Justice Denio, Justices Comstock (writing for the court), Hubbard, Johnson, Johnson, Mitchell, Selden, Wright None Albany, New York…

1 minute read