The Proceedings at Large on the Trial of John Donellan, Esq....
Poisoned with Essence of Laurel Water [Trial]. Donellan, John [d. 1781], Defendant. The Proceedings at Large on the Trial of John Donellan, Esq. For the Wilful Murder (By Poison) of Sir The. Edward Allesley Boughton, Bart. Late of Lawford-Hall, In the County of Warwick. Tried Before Mr. Justice Buller, At the Assizes at Warwick. On Friday the 30th day of March, 1781. Taken in Short-Hand, by Permission of the Judge, By W. Blanchard. London: Printed for J. Almon and J. Debrett, [1781]. [iv], 156 pp. Octavo (7-3/4" x 5"). Contemporary marbled boards, rebacked in calf, morocco lettering piece to spine, endpapers renewed. Binding slightly cocked, moderate rubbing to boards with wear to corners, owner bookplate (of Geoffrey G. Briggs) to front pastedown. Moderate toning to text, negligible light foxing and dampstaining in a few places. $350. * Only edition. "Coveting the estates of Sir Theodosius Boughton, who lived at resplendent Lawford Hall in Warwickshire, England, Captain John Donellan poisoned his host with essence of laurel water in 1780. This was later uncovered at a probing inquest which led to Donellan's conviction and execution; he was hanged at Warwickshire in 1781" (Nash). Sanctioned by its judge, our account of this trial is scarce. OCLC locates 4 copies in North America law libraries (Georgetown, Library of Congress, Social Law, Yale Law School). Nash, Encyclopedia of World Crime II:999. English Short-Title Catalogue T93428.
Price: $350.00
Book number 72829