1765-1776 The Trial of William Lord Byron [With] The Trial of Lawrence Earl Ferrers for the Murder of John Johnson [With] The Whole Proceedings at Large in a Cause on an Action Brought by The Rt Hon. Richard Lord Grosvenor against His Royal Highness Henry Frederick Duke of Cumberland for Criminal Conversation with Lady Grosvenor. [With] The Trial of Elizabeth Duchess Dowager of Kingston for Bigamy

Description

First Edition, Uncommon

The first edition of all pamphlets, bound together in a lovely quarter calf binding with marbled boards. These trials were all important in society at the time, with several remaining of historical importance. Comprising of: The Trial of William Lord Byron , Printed for Samuel Billingsley, 1765 The Trial of Lawrence Earl Ferrers for the Murder of John Johnson [1760] The Whole Proceedings at Large in a Cause on an Action Brought by The Rt Hon. Richard Lord Grosvenor against His Royal Highness Henry Frederick Duke of Cumberland for Criminal Conversation with Lady Grosvenor, Printed for J Wheble, 1770 The Trial of Elizabeth Duchess Dowager of Kingston for Bigamy, Printed for Charles Bathurst (1776) Collated, 'The Trial of Lawrence Earl Ferrers for the Murder of John Johnson' has been bound without the title page. The first trial regards William Byron, the fifth Baron Byron and great uncle of famed poet George Gordon Byron. This account is of his trial for murder held on Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday the 17th April 1765. He was accused of murdering his cousin and neighbour William Chatworth in a duel that began from an argument over who had the most game on their estates. During this trial he was found guilty of manslaughter, as stated to the title page. The second trial regards Larence Shirley, the 4th Earl Ferrers, who was accused of the murder of John Johnson, his steward. As a result of this trial, Laurence Shirley is noted as being the last peer to be hanged in England. Shirley drunkenly shot his steward, Johnson, following some business conversation and verbal abuse from Shirley. The sentence to be hanged became widely publicised and the tale of a nobleman being hanged, and therefore the equality of the law, continued to be told for centuries. Therefore, this trial is of historical note. The third trial follows Lord Grosvenor suing Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland, in 1769. He was suing the younger brother of George III for his affair with his wife, Lady Grosvenor. The Duke and Lady Grosvenor were caught in the act of their affair and therefore Lord Grosvenor took the Duke to court. It contains evidence verbatim from the witnesses and includes all arguments and speeches from the counsel and court. The fourth and final trial printed to this collection is Elizabeth, Duchess Dowager of Kingston's trial for bigamy. Elizabeth Pierrepont was noted by her contemporaries for her adventurous life style. Her trial was a popular event and attracted 4,000 spectators. Elizabeth Chudleigh secretly married Augustus Hervey in 1744. Their marriage was kept a secret so that Chudleigh could continue her position at court and so that Hervey could rejoin his ship. Chudleigh was mistress to both Frederick the Great and of Evelyn Pierrepont, 2nd Duke of Kingston Upon Hull. Hervey wished to divorce Chudleigh however she did not wish to acknowledge their marriage which lead to a trial in court. Chudleigh swore she was unmarried in court, which then pronounced her a spinster and free to marry. She married Pierrepont in 1769 despite the fact her marriage to Hervey was legitimate. The trial to this pamphlet is a later 1776 trial whereby Pierrepont's nephew, Evelyn Meadows, brought a charge of bigamy against Elizabeth in order to establish a legal rationale for challenging his uncle's will. Elizabeth was found guilty of Bigamy and was tried as a peer in Westminster Hall. A fascinating collection of legal pamphlets bound together which provide an insight into popular trials during eighteenth century society as well as a wider understanding of the legal system at this time.