Book #75504
Item #75504 Billings Trial, Beach's Argument, Ballston Spa, NY, 1890. Manuscript, Jesse Billings, Jr, Beach. William A.
Billings Trial, Beach's Argument, Ballston Spa, NY, 1890.
Billings Trial, Beach's Argument, Ballston Spa, NY, 1890.
Billings Trial, Beach's Argument, Ballston Spa, NY, 1890.
Billings Trial, Beach's Argument, Ballston Spa, NY, 1890.

Billings Trial, Beach's Argument, Ballston Spa, NY, 1890.

Manuscript Relating to a Sensational Murder Case in Ballston Spa, NY [Manuscript]. [Billings, Jesse, Jr.] [Beach, William A.]. Billings Trial, Beach's Argument [Spine Title]. [Ballston Spa, NY, 1880]. [v], 252 ff. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5-1/4"). Contemporary three-quarter calf over marbled boards, raised bands and gilt title and fillets to spine, marbled endpapers. Moderate rubbing to extremities, corners bumped and somewhat worn, front hinge cracked. Moderate toning to interior, text to rectos in neat hand. $1,000. * Billings, a wealthy and influential businessman in Saratoga County, NY, was accused of murdering his wife in 1878. There was a large body of evidence that showed he was the murderer. What's more, he had motives for the act: his marriage had a been acrimonious for decades and he appeared to have a mistress. (Devout Methodists, Billings and his wife were forbidden by church edict to get a divorce.) Billings was tried twice. The first trial, in 1878, ended with a hung jury; the second, in 1880, with an acquittal. It is clear that Billings escaped justice due to his wealth, social clout and first-class legal defense. A sensational case with elements of intrigue, marital strife, wealth, power and adultery, it was given a fair amount of press coverage. However, it produced little documentation. There is a printed version of the final prosecution's final argument in the first case (Albany, 1879) and a multi-volume manuscript account of both trials compiled by the prosecutor from shorthand records, which is held by Cornell Law School. Our manuscript, which contains the defense's final argument in the second case, along with a brief summary of the trial, appears to be from a similar multi-volume manuscript compiled by another lawyer involved in the case.

Price: $1,000.00

Book number 75504