Description: SEWARD, William. Argument of William Seaward in Defence of William Freeman, on His Trial for Murder, at Auburn, July 21st and 22nd, 1846. NY: Auburn: H. Oliphant, 1846. 31pp., with the chart of mental capacities, called “Spencer’s Intellectual Chart”, complete, original stitching, lacking yellow(?) wrappers, internally clean and bright, overall VERY GOOD. We can locate several printings all in 1846 by two different printers with unknown priority though one clearly states “Fourth Edition”. This aside RBH locates only 1 copy by each printer ever appearing at auction 2016 & this printer 1996. AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT CASE INFLUENTIAL IN BRINGING THE INSANITY PLEA INTO AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE. One of Seward's most "striking" criminal trials. The case "involved the death sentence on a poor imbecile Negro, Freeman, in whose defense Seward made in 1846 one of the most eloquent of his speeches; this he afterwards declared he would have repeated without the alteration of a word." DAB. This is the stated fourth edition, all having been printed in 1846. The "trial, and particularly his defense by former Governor William H. Seward, aroused great excitement because of the plea of insanity" [McDade]. Demonstrating his formidable talents as a trial lawyer in this closing argument, he defends Freeman, a black man accused of murdering a whole family - John Van Nest, his wife [who was pregnant], their child, and her mother. Seward says the slayings, "if a crime at all," are among the worst imaginable. His defense: Freeman is insane. Insanity, he says in this early definition of the term, is a "derangement of the mind, character and conduct, resulting from bodily disease." Seward urges the jury to set aside racial prejudices. "You, gentlemen, have, or ought to have, lifted up your souls above the bondage of prejudices so narrow and so mean as these. The color of the prisoner's skin, and the form of his features, are not impressed upon the spiritual, immortal mind which works beneath. Hold him then to be a MAN." "The case did much to insure a better hearing for the insane who, until then, received small consideration in the courts." - McDade. McDade 325 - II Harvard Law Cat. 565 - Sabin 79503. Who we are - D&D Galleries was founded in 1985. We are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), and the Provincial Bookfair Association of Great Britain (PBFA). So bid and buy with confidence. Our inventory (largely English language only) is slightly eclectic and ranges from the 16th through the 20th centuries with sub-specialties in S.T.C. and Wing books, Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens, presentation and association material as well as 17th and 18th C. British history, sets and bindings. Terms - Any item(s) may be returned with 7 days for a full refund if found to be not authentic or substantially at odds with our description or pictures. Items returned must be received in the same condition and completeness as sent.
Price: 800 USD
Location: Somerville, New Jersey
End Time: 2025-01-05T20:16:22.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Origin: English
Binding: Softcover, Wraps
Modified Item: No
Subject: Law & Government
Year Printed: 1846
