American State Trials, Volume 1


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(4.5 stars; 1 reviews)

"A collection of the important and interesting criminal trials which have taken place in the United States from the beginning of our government to the present day".

To the general public this series will certainly appeal as the most interesting and instructive work which has been published in this country for many years. The trial of judicial causes has even more charms than biography and history, for it is a drama of real life. We enter the halls of justice, the judges and jurors are before us, the criminal is brought in, we behold him surrounded by an eager and excited populace; the whole scene passing before the mind's eye as a living and moving picture. There is nothing in the Grecian drama that surpasses, in touching pathos, scenes in the trials and prosecutions of these men and women, sometimes innocent and sometimes guilty, but always awaiting with trembling the verdict of the jury which is to send them back to their families and friends or to the scaffold or prison. Here are the poor and ignorant confronted with their accusers but relying upon their advocates; there the rich and powerful surrounded by a host of counsel and braving even the power of the government to convict them. Sometimes the mere report of the evidence in the case and the verdict gives a complete picture of the crime and criminal but in most cases the full dramatic effect cannot be shown in a narrative, but stands out broadly and as vividly as the actual trial when the witnesses, the counsel, the judge and the prisoner are suffered to speak for themselves. in many cases the great points of interest are the eloquent arguments at the bar by the advocates, and in this collection will be included all the great forensic efforts which have been made in trials in all the States by the orators and leaders of the American Bar from the beginning of American Courts down to the present time. When it is considered how prone our people are to litigation, what a vast number of causes are decided every year, how eagerly the public attention is directed to many of them, what an amount of learning and talent are centered in the legal profession, greater perhaps than in any other, how fond American people are of attending courts, and especially the magnitude of many causes that are tried, it is extraordinary that there should not have appeared up to this time in the country a series of American State Trials. - Summary from the Introduction (37 hr 39 min)

Chapters

Introduction 12:28 Read by InTheDesert
Trial of Levi Weeks for the murder of Gulielma Sands, New York City, 1800 Part 1 35:26 Read by roselbex
Trial of Levi Weeks for the murder of Gulielma Sands, New York City, 1800 Part 2 44:42 Read by roselbex
Trial of Levi Weeks for the murder of Gulielma Sands, New York City, 1800 Part 3 20:40 Read by roselbex
Trial of Levi Weeks for the murder of Gulielma Sands, New York City, 1800 Part 4 26:33 Read by roselbex
Trial of Samuel Tulley and John Dalton for piracy and murder, Boston, Massachus… 15:41 Read by Elsie Selwyn
Trial of Samuel Tulley and John Dalton for piracy and murder, Boston, Massachus… 22:47 Read by Elsie Selwyn
Trial of Francis Mezzars for libel, New York City, 1817 18:52 Read by Elsie Selwyn
Trial of the Rev. Jacob Gruber for inciting slaves to insurrection and rebellio… 23:14 Read by Jddykst
Trial of the Rev. Jacob Gruber for inciting slaves to insurrection and rebellio… 23:48 Read by Jddykst
Trial of the Rev. Jacob Gruber for inciting slaves to insurrection and rebellio… 14:09 Read by Jddykst
Trial of the Rev. Jacob Gruber for inciting slaves to insurrection and rebellio… 33:47 Read by Jddykst
Trial of George Bowen for the murder of Jonathan Jewett, Northampton, Massachus… 13:51 Read by Inkell
Trial of John Ury for inciting Negroes to crime and for being a Romish priest, … 41:57 Read by roselbex
Trial of John Ury for inciting Negroes to crime and for being a Romish priest, … 11:55 Read by roselbex
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 24:45 Read by Chris Pyle
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 40:17 Read by Chris Pyle
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 13:51 Read by Chris Pyle
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 24:27 Read by Chris Pyle
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 28:34 Read by Justin S Barrett
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 41:06 Read by Cbteddy
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 30:16 Read by Remos
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 25:08 Read by MegannDiGenova
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 22:35 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 31:37 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 44:37 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 37:06 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 23:06 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 30:26 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 14:40 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 39:37 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 30:10 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 38:51 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson and John Murdaugh for the murder of Joh… 22:13 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of Francis Wittenburgh for procurement, New York City, 1818 12:24 Read by Inkell
Trial of Alexander W. Holmes for the manslaughter of Francis Askin, Philadelphi… 38:02 Read by roselbex
Trial of Alexander W. Holmes for the manslaughter of Francis Askin, Philadelphi… 36:02 Read by roselbex
Trial of Alexander W. Holmes for the manslaughter of Francis Askin, Philadelphi… 38:06 Read by roselbex
Trial of Alexander W. Holmes for the manslaughter of Francis Askin, Philadelphi… 29:08 Read by roselbex
Trial of Alexander W. Holmes for the manslaughter of Francis Askin, Philadelphi… 20:24 Read by roselbex
Trial of Alexander W. Holmes for the manslaughter of Francis Askin, Philadelphi… 35:21 Read by roselbex
Trial of Simeon L. Crockett for arson, Boston, Massachusetts, 1835 Part 1 35:08 Read by roselbex
Trial of Simeon L. Crockett for arson, Boston, Massachusetts, 1835 Part 2 12:39 Read by roselbex
Trial of John C. Colt for the murder of Samuel Adams, New York City, 1842 Part 1 44:06 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of John C. Colt for the murder of Samuel Adams, New York City, 1842 Part 2 18:28 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of John C. Colt for the murder of Samuel Adams, New York City, 1842 Part 3 32:02 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of John C. Colt for the murder of Samuel Adams, New York City, 1842 Part 4 39:06 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trial of John C. Colt for the murder of Samuel Adams, New York City, 1842 Part 5 15:10 Read by Martha H. Weller
Trials of Bridget Bishop and George Burroughs for witchcraft, Salem, Massachuse… 16:38 Read by Jennifer Fournier
Trials of Bridget Bishop and George Burroughs for witchcraft, Salem, Massachuse… 27:09 Read by Jennifer Fournier
Trial of Commander Alexander S. Mackenzie for murder, before a Naval Court of I… 30:44 Read by roselbex
Trial of Commander Alexander S. Mackenzie for murder, before a Naval Court of I… 25:44 Read by roselbex
Trial of Commander Alexander S. Mackenzie for murder, before a Naval Court of I… 34:49 Read by roselbex
Trial of Commander Alexander S. Mackenzie for murder, before a Naval Court of I… 38:05 Read by roselbex
Trial of Commander Alexander S. Mackenzie for murder, before a Naval Court of I… 43:26 Read by roselbex
Trial of Commander Alexander S. Mackenzie for murder, before a Naval Court of I… 46:30 Read by roselbex
Trial of Commander Alexander S. Mackenzie for murder, before a Naval Court of I… 28:13 Read by roselbex
Trial of Oscar T. Caldwell for embezzlement, Chicago, Illinois, 1855 Part 1 34:29 Read by roselbex
Trial of Oscar T. Caldwell for embezzlement, Chicago, Illinois, 1855 Part 2 49:47 Read by roselbex
Trial of Oscar T. Caldwell for embezzlement, Chicago, Illinois, 1855 Part 3 25:43 Read by roselbex
Trial of Oscar T. Caldwell for embezzlement, Chicago, Illinois, 1855 Part 4 23:00 Read by roselbex
Trial of Oscar T. Caldwell for embezzlement, Chicago, Illinois, 1855 Part 5 41:14 Read by roselbex
Trial of Mordecai M. Noah for breaking open and publishing a letter, New York C… 20:09 Read by TR Love
Trial of Mordecai M. Noah for breaking open and publishing a letter, New York C… 18:16 Read by TR Love
Trial of Alden Spooner for libel, New York City, 1818 21:27 Read by TR Love
Trial of Mordecai M. Noah and Alden Spooner for contempt, New York City, 1818 10:59 Read by TR Love
Trial of Clement L. Vallandigham for sedition and rebellion, Cincinnati, Ohio, … 19:18 Read by Tatiana Chichilla
Trial of Clement L. Vallandigham for sedition and rebellion, Cincinnati, Ohio, … 24:12 Read by roselbex
Trial of Moses Simons for assault and battery, New York City, 1818 11:34 Read by Inkell
Trial of Joel Clough for the murder of Mary W. Hamilton, New Jersey, 1833 Part 1 28:07 Read by roselbex
Trial of Joel Clough for the murder of Mary W. Hamilton, New Jersey, 1833 Part 2 50:30 Read by roselbex
Trial of Joel Clough for the murder of Mary W. Hamilton, New Jersey, 1833 Part 3 27:23 Read by roselbex
Trial of Joel Clough for the murder of Mary W. Hamilton, New Jersey, 1833 Part 4 32:50 Read by roselbex
Trial of Joel Clough for the murder of Mary W. Hamilton, New Jersey, 1833 Part 5 42:58 Read by roselbex
Trial of Christian Smith for the murder of Bornt Lake, New York, 1817 26:52 Read by Martha H. Weller
Action of John M. Trumbull against Thomas Gibbons for libel, New York City, 181… 36:32 Read by roselbex
Action of John M. Trumbull against Thomas Gibbons for libel, New York City, 181… 28:04 Read by roselbex
Trials of the Quakers, William Robinson, Marmaduke Stephenson, Dyer and others,… 30:46 Read by roselbex
Trial of Paterick Blake for the murder of his wife, New York City, 1816 34:54 Read by docdlmartin

Reviews

True Crime!


(4.5 stars)

If you're a fan of true crime narratives, you should enjoy this book. It starts off with a murder trial in New York City--for the defense are Alexander Hamilton And Aaron Burr! The cases are roughly in chronological order, but at some point the author dives back into the 17th Century for an important Boston case, when a couple of Quakers test the Puritan government's resolve. Then back to the 19th Century...Most of the cases are chosen for their ongoing legal impact, or important clients, or downright oddity. I am looking forward to Volume 2!.