Defendant: Thomas Wilson DorrCrime Charged: TreasonChief Defense Lawyers: Thomas W. Dorr, representing himself, assisted bySamuel Y. Atwell, George Turner, Walter S. BurgesChief Prosecutors: Joseph W. Blake, Alfred BosworthJudges: Job Durfee, Levi Haile, William R. Staples, and George A. BraytonPlace: Newport, Rhode IslandDate of Trial: April 26-May 7, 1844Verdict: GuiltySentence: Life imprisonmen…
Defendant: Albert J. TirrellCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyer: Rufus ChoateChief Prosecutor: Samuel D. ParkerJudges: Dewey, Hubbard, and Wilde (No record of first names)Place: Boston, MassachusettsDates of Trial: March 26-30, 1846Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: Albert Tirrell's trial was the first time in American history that sleepwalking was successfully used as a defense to a m…
Defendant: John Charles FrémontCrime: Mutiny, disobedience, conduct prejudicing good order and military disciplineChief Defense Lawyers: Thomas H. Benton, William Carey JonesChief Prosecutor: John Fitzgerald Lee, Judge AdvocatePresiding Officer: G. M. BrookeCourt: De Russey, T. F. HuntPlace: District of Columbia (Washington Arsenal)Date of Trial: November 2, 1847-January 31, 1848Verdict: Guil…
Plaintiffs: Sarah Roberts, Benjamin F. RobertsDefendant: Boston, MassachusettsPlaintiff's Lawyer: Charles SumnerDefendant's Lawyer: Peleg ChandlerJudge: Lemuel ShawPlace: Boston, MassachusettsDate of Trial: 1848-1849Decision: The court nonsuited the plaintiff, in effect dismissing the case SIGNIFICANCE: The Roberts case established the principle of "separate but equal" …
Plaintiff: Ruthey Ann HansleyDefendant: Samuel G. HansleyPlaintiff's Claim: Seeking divorceChief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Robert StrangeChief Defense Lawyer: William Henry Haywood, Jr.Judges: Thomas Ruffin, Frederic Nash, Richmond M. PearsonPlace: Raleigh, North CarolinaDate of Decision: December 1849Verdict: Divorce Denied SIGNIFICANCE: This case showed just how difficult it was for a woman t…
Defendant: Harvard Professor Dr. John WebsterCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: Pliny Merrick and Edward D. SohierChief Prosecutors: George Bemis and John H. CliffordJudges: LemuelShaw, Charles A. Dewey, Thomas Metcalf, and Samuel WildePlace: Boston, MassachusettsDates of Trial: March 19—April 1, 1850Verdict: GuiltySentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: Because Dr. John Webster h…
Defendants: Telokite, Tomahas, Kiamasumkin, Isiaasheluckas, ClokomasCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyer: Kintzing PritchetteChief Prosecutor: Amory HolbrookJudge: Orville C. PrattPlace: Oregon City, Oregon TerritoryDates of Trial: May 21-24, 1850Verdict: GuiltySentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: This trial was the foremost attempt by the newly created Oregon Territory to move away from …
Defendant: Castner HanwayCrime Charged: TreasonChief 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, Z…
Defendants: Don Pedro LujanCrimes Charged: Violation of the Trade and Intercourse Act of 1834, libel and indebtedness to the United StatesChief Defense Lawyers: George A. Smith (chief counsel), Josiah Slayton, William PickettChief Prosecutor: Seth M. BlairJudge: Zerubbabel SnowPlace: Great Salt Lake City, UtahDates of Trials: December 30, 1851-January 1, 1852; January 15-17, 1852Verdict: Guilty SI…
Defendant: Anthony BurnsCrime Charged: Being a fugitive slaveClaimant: Charles SuttleChief Defense Lawyers: Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Charles Mayo EllisClaimant's Lawyer: Seth J. ThomasJudge: Edward Greeley LoringPlace: Boston, MassachusettsDates of Hearing: May 25-June 2, 1854Decision: Anthony Burns was the property of Charles Suttle and was returned to him. SIGNIFICANCE: The Anthony Burns …
Defendant: Charity LambCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: James K. Kelly, Milton ElliotChief Prosecutor: Noah HuberJudge: Cyrus OlneyPlace: Oregon City, Oregon TerritoryDate of Trial: September 11-16, 1854Verdict: Guiltyof second-degree murderSentence: Life imprisonment SIGNIFICANCE: Charity Lamb was the Pacific Northwest's first convicted murderess. Her case represents one of the …
Defendant: Celia, a SlaveCharge: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: Isaac M. Boulware, John Jameson, and Nathan Chapman KounsChief Prosecutor: Robert PrewittJudge: William HallPlace: Calloway County, MissouriDates of Trial: October 9-10, 1855Verdict: GuiltySentence: Hanging SIGNIFICANCE: This case graphically illustrates that enslaved women had no legal recourse when raped by their masters. Although the…
Appellant: Dred ScottDefendant: John F.A. SanfordPlaintiff 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 CompromiseChief Defense Lawyers: Hugh A. Garland, H.S.Geyer, George W. Goode, Reverdy Johnson, and Lyman D NorrisChief Lawyers for Appellant Samuel M. Bay, Montgomery Blair, George Tick…
Defendant: Emma Augusta CunninghamCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyer: Henry L. ClintonChief Prosecutor: A. Oakley HallJudge: Recorder Smith (historical records do not indicate first name)Place: New York, New YorkDates of Trial: May 6-May 9, 1857Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: Emma Augusta Cunningham was acquitted of Dr. Harvey Burdell's murder, and nearly succeeded in her attempt t…
Defendant: William ArmstrongCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyer: Abraham LincolnChief Prosecutors: Hugh Fullerton and J. Henry ShawJudge: James HarriotPlace: Beardstown, IllinoisDate of Trial: May 8, 1858Verdict: 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 the wit…
Defendant: Daniel SicklesCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: James T. Brady, John Graham, and Edwin M.StantonChief Prosecutor: Robert OuldJudge: Crawford (First nameunavailable)Place: Washington, D.C.Dates of Trial: April 4-26, 1859Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: The first use of a plea of temporary insanity by a criminal defendant and the unabashed appeal to the "unwritten law&#x…
Defendant: John BrownCrime Charged: Insurrection and murderChief Defense Lawyers: Lawson Botts, Thomas C. Green, Samuel Chilton, and Hiram Griswold Chief Prosecutor Andrew Hunter Judge: Richard Parker Place: Charles Town, VirginiaDates of Trial: October 27-November 2, 1859Verdict: GuiltySentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: Tried for leading a famous but unsuccessful raid on the federal arsenal…
Defendants: 393 Dakota Sioux Indians and people of mixed racial backgroundCrimes Charged: Murder and "other outrages" against citizens of the United StatesChief Defense Lawyer: NoneChief Prosecutor: NoneJudges: Military Commission Officers Lieutenant Rollin Olin (judge advocate), Colonel William Crooks, Colonel William Marshall, Captain Hiram Grant, Captain Hiram Bailey, and Major Ge…
Defendant: Fitz-John PorterCrimes 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 WarPresiding Officer: D. HunterCourt: 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-Advoc…
Defendant: Clement L. VallandighamCrime Charged: Publicly opposing the federal government's prosecution of the war while supporting the enemies of the UnionChief Defense Lawyers Edward A. Ferguson, George H. Pendleton, George E. PughChief Prosecutor: James M. Cutts, Judge AdvocateSenior Presiding Officer: Robert B. PotterCourt: J.F. DeCourcy, E. R. Goodrich, J. L. Van Buren, J. M. Brown, A.…
Plaintiff: Reverend Theophilus Packard, Jr.Defendant: Elizabeth Parsons Ware PackardPlaintiff Claim: That his wife was insane and that he was therefore entitled to confine her at homeChief Defense Lawyers: Stephen Moore and John W. OrrChief Lawyer for Plaintiff: No recordJudge: Charles R. StarrPlace: Kankakee, IllinoisDates of Trial: January 13-18, 1864Verdict: Elizabeth Packard declared sane and …
Defendant: Dr. Samuel A. MuddCrimes Charged: Treason and conspiracyChief Defense Lawyer: General Thomas EwingChief Prosecutor: Judge Advocate Joseph HoltJudges: 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 Major G…
Defendant: Captain Henry WirzCrimes Charged: 13 counts of murder, assault, battery, torture and other offenses against Union prisonersChief Defense Lawyer: Louis SchadeChief Prosecutor: Judge Advocate Colonel N. P. ChipmanJudges: Military Commission officers Brevet Colonel T. Allcock, Brevet Brigadier General John F. Ballior, Brigadier General A. S. Bragg, Brigadier General Francis Fessenden, Brev…
Defendant: George Armstrong CusterCrimes 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. ParsonsProsecutor: Captain Robert Chandler, Judge AdvocatePresiding Officer: William HoffmanCourt: Benjamin Grierson, Pitcain Morrison, Michael Mo…
Defendant: President Andrew JohnsonCrime Charged: "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" within the meaning of Article II, Section 4 of the ConstitutionChief Defense Lawyers: William Maxwell Evarts and Benjamin R. CurtisChief Prosecutors: Seven "trial managers" from the House of RepresentativesJudges: U.S. Senate, with Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presidingPlace: Washington, D…
Defendant: Hester VaughanCrime Charged: First-degree murderChief Defense Lawyer: Guforth (No first name listed.)Chief Prosecutor: No record.Judge: Ludlow (No first name listed)Place: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDates of Trial: June 10—July 2, 1868Verdict: GuiltySentence: Death SIGNIFICANCE: When the teenaged Hester Vaughan allegedly murdered her newborn infant, she was prosecuted by a male di…
Defendant: William H. McCardleCrimes Charged: Inciting insurrection and impeding post-Civil Was ReconstructionChief Defense Lawyers: Jeremiah S. Black, David Dudley Field, Charles O'Conor, W. L. Sharkey, and Robert J. WalkerChief Prosecutors: Mathew H. Carpenter and Lyman TrumbullJustices: Salmon P. Chase, Nathan Clifford, David Davis, Robert Cooper Grier, Stephen, J. Field, Samuel F. Mille…
Defendant: Daniel McFarlandCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: Elbridge T. Gerry, John Graham, Charles SpencerChief 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 13 dec…
Defendants: Robert Hayes Mitchell, John W. Mitchell, Thomas B. Whitesides, John S. Millar (Miller), Edward T. AveryCrimes Charged: Conspiracy to prevent blacks from voting; conspiracy to oppress, threaten, and intimidate blacks who had exercised their right to vote in 1870Chief Defense Lawyers: Reverdy Johnson, Henry Stanbery, James F. Hart, C. D. Melton, W. B. Wilson and F. W. McMasterChief Prose…
Defendant: William Marcy TweedCrimes Charged: 55 criminal offenses relating to embezzlement of public fundsChief Defense Lawyers: David Dudley Field, John Graham, and Elihu RootChief Prosecutors: Wheeler H. Peckham, Benjamin K. Phelps, and Lyman TremainJudge: Noah DavisPlace: New York, New YorkDates of Trials: January 7-November 19, 1873Verdict: GuiltySentence: 1 year in prison and a $250 fine SIG…
Defendant: Susan B. AnthonyCrime Charged: Unlawful VotingChief Defense Lawyers: Henry R. Selden and John Van VoorhisChief Prosecutor: Richard CrowleyJudge: Ward HuntPlace: Canandaigua, New YorkDates of Trial: June 17-18, 1873Verdict: 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 the Fo…
Plaintiff: Theodore TiltonDefendant: Henry Ward BeecherPlaintiff Claim: That Beecher had committed adultery with Tilton's wifeChief Defense Lawyers: William M. Evarts, John L. Hill, John K. Porter, Thomas G. Shearman, and Benjamin F. TracyChief Lawyers for Plaintiff: W. Fullerton, Samuel D. Morris, and Roger A. Pryor Judge: Neilson (historical records do not indicate first name)Place: Brook…
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. WhitakerChief Pr…
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 …
Defendant: Mary Todd LincolnPetitioner: Robert Todd LincolnRelief Sought: Declaration that Mary Todd Lincoln was insane and the appointment of a conservator to handle her estateChief Defense Lawyers: Isaac Newton ArnoldChief Attorney for Petitioner: Benjamin F. Ayers; Leonard T. Swett handled all of the pretrial preparationJudge: Marion R. M. WallacePlace: Chicago, IllinoisDate of Trial: May 19, 1…
Defendant: John ("Jack") McCallCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: First Trial: "Judge" Miller; Second Trial: Oliver Shannon and William Henry Harrison BeadleChief Prosecutors: First Trial:"Colonel" George May; Second Trial: William PoundJudges: First Trial:William L. Kuykendall; Second Trial: Peter C. ShannonPlace: First Trial:Deadwood, Dakota Ter…
Plaintiff: Eugenie Martinez Defendant: Juan Del Valle Plaintiff Claim: That Del Valle broke his promise to marry the plaintiff Chief Defense Lawyer: Joseph H. ChoateChief Lawyer for Plaintiff: William H. BeachJudge: Donohue (historical records do not indicate first name)Place: New York, New YorkDate of Trial: 1877 January TermDecision: Jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff for damages of $50 SIGN…
Defendant: Andrew GeddesCrimes Charged: Libel, seduction, attempted abductionChief Defense Lawyer: George W. PaschalChief Prosecutor: John ClousJudges: Officers from the army's Texas DivisionPlace: San Antonio, TexasDate of Trial: June 14-August 21, 1879Verdict: Guilty of all charges except abductionSentence: Three years in prison and dishonorable discharge; Geddes conviction was overturned…
Defendant: George ReynoldsCrime Charged: BigamyChief Defense Lawyers: George W. Biddle and Ben SheeksChief Prosecutor: William Carey Judge: Alexander WhitePlace: Salt Lake City, UtahDates of Trial: October 30-December 10, 1875Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Two years imprisonment and a$500 fine SIGNIFICANCE: The Mormons, who settled Utah, permitted members of their religion to practice polygamy. In Reyn…
Defendants: Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, John "Doc" HollidayCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyer: Thomas FitchChief Prosecutor: Lyttleton PriceJudge: Wells Spicer Place: Tombstone, ArizonaDate of Trial: October 31-November 29, 1881Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: The month-long trial—actually a preliminary hearing—made possible an American legend. Nearly …
Defendant: Henry FlipperCrimes: Embezzlement and conduct unbecoming an officerChief Defense Lawyer: Merritt BarberChief Prosecutor: John W. Clous, Judge AdvocatePresiding Officer: G. PennypackerCourt: J. F. Wade, G. W. Schofield, W. E. Waters, William Fletcher, W. N. Tisdall, R.G. Heiner, E.S. Ewing, W.V. RichardsPlace: Fort Davis, TexasDate of Trial: September 15; November 1-December 13, 1881Verd…
Defendant: Charles J. GuiteauCrime Charged: Assassinating President James A. GarfieldChief Defense Lawyers: Leigh Robinson and George ScovilleChief Prosecutors: George Corkhill, Walter Davidge, John K. Porter, Elihu Root, and E.B. SmithJudge: Walter CoxPlace: Washington, D.C.Dates of Trial: November 14, 1881-January 13, 1882Verdict: GuiltySentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: Charles Guiteau&#x…
Defendants: Blanche Douglass, James Malley Jr., Walter Mal leyCrime Charged: MurderChief 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 BushJudge: Miles T. GrangerPlace: New Haven, ConnecticutDate of Trial: April 25-Jun…
Defendant: Ephraim AveryCrime Charged: MurderChief 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 DurfeePlace: Newport, Rhode IslandDate of Tria…
Name of Respondent: Thomas AvesCause of Action: Writ of habeas corpus for a slave girl, MedCommonwealth Attorneys: Ellis Gray Loring, Rufus Choate, Samuel SewallRespondent's Counsel: Benjamin Robbins Curtis, C. P. CurtisJudge: Lemuel ShawPlace: MassachusettsDate of Decision: 1836Verdict: Med was freed, becoming a ward of the court SIGNIFICANCE: Shaw's opinion in the Aves case establi…
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…
Defendant: Richard Parmelee RobinsonCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: Ogden Hoffman, Hugh Maxwell, William PriceChief Prosecutors: Thomas Phoenix, Robert H. MorrisJudge: Ogden EdwardsPlace: New York, New YorkDate of Trial: June 2-7, 1836Verdict: 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 Jewett m…
Defendants: Andrew M. Barber, Park Benjamin, Theodore S. Gold, Horace Greeley, Thomas McElrath, Elius Pellet, William Leete Stone, James Watson Webb, Thurlow WeedPlaintiff Claim: LibelChief 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 G…
Defendants: Joseph Cinque and othersCrimes Charged: Murder and piracyChief Defense Lawyers: John Quincy Adams, Roger S. Baldwin, Joshua Leavitt, and Seth StaplesChief Prosecutor: William S. HolabirdJudges: Andrew T. Judson and Smith ThompsonPlace: New Haven, ConnecticutDates of Trial: November 19, 1839-January 13, 1840Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: When the courts refused to convict slaves from…
Defendant: John C. ColtCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: Dudley Selden, John Morrill, Robert EmmettChief Prosecutor: James WhitingJudge: William KentPlace: New York, New YorkDate of Trial: January 19-31, 1842Verdict: GuiltySentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: The murder trial of John Colt, brother of repeating arms inventor Samuel Colt, began as a missing persons case and culminated …
Defendant: Alexander William HolmesCrime Charged: ManslaughterChief Defense Lawyer: David Paul BrownChief Prosecutor: William M.MeredithJudge: Baldwin (historical records do not indicate his first name)Place: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDates of Trial: April 13-23, 1842Verdict: GuiltySentence: 6 months in prison and a $20 fine SIGNIFICANCE: In the Alexander Holmes trial, the court held that self-pre…
Defendant: Commander Alexander Slidell MackenzieCrimes Charged: 5 criminal offenses, including murder, for having executed 3 seamen suspected of mutinyChief Defense Lawyer: NoneChief Prosecutor: Judge Advocate William H. NorrisJudges: 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, and…
