Terror to the wicked : America's first murder trial by jury that ended a war and helped to form a nation / Tobey Pearl.
"A brutal killing, an all-out manhunt, and a riveting account of the first murder trial in U.S. history--set in the 1600s in colonial New England against the backdrop of the Pequot War (between the Pequot tribe and the colonists of Massachusetts Bay), an explosive trial whose outcome changed the course of history, ended a two-year war, and brought about a peace that allowed the colonies to become a full-blown nation. The year: 1638. The setting: Providence, Plymouth Colony. A young Nipmuc tribesman, returning home from trading beaver pelts, is fatally stabbed in a robbery in the woods near Plymouth Colony, by a white runaway servant and fellow rogues. The young tribesman, fighting for his life, is able, with his final breaths, to reveal the details of the attack to Providence's governor, Roger Williams. A frantic manhunt by the fledgling government of Plymouth ensues, followed by the convening of the first trial, with Plymouth's governor Thomas Prence presiding as judge. The jury: local settlers (white) whose allegiance seems more likely to be with the accused than with the murdered (a native) . . . Tobey Pearl, piecing together a fascinating narrative through original research and first-rate detective work, re-creates in detail the full and startling, pivotal moment in pre-revolutionary America, as she examines the evolution of our nascent civil liberties and the role of the jury as a safeguard against injustice"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781101871713
- Physical Description: xiv, 264 pages ; 24 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Pantheon Books, 2021.
Content descriptions
Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Trials (Murder) > New England > History > 17th century. Murder > New England > History > 17th century. Criminal procedure > New England > History > 17th century. Jury selection > New England > History > 17th century. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Lawrence County Federated Library System. (Show)
- 1 of 1 copy available at New Castle Public Library.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Castle Public Library | 364.152 Pearl (Text)
Bookplate:
Purchased with Funds Provided by the Friends of the Library.
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31902005419528 | NWCM Non-Fiction | Available | - |