The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt.

Goodell, Abner Cheney, 1831-1914Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 2.9

Word count: 95K words
Chapters: 10

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt.Author: Goodell, Abner Cheney, 1831-1914,Language: English, Class: KF: Law in general, Comparative and uniform law, Jurisprudence: United States, Release Date: Aug 28, 2008

Editor's review

This book centers on the case of Mark and Phillis, two slaves tried and executed for petit treason, and belongs to the specialized literature on American legal history and slavery. Its value lies in presenting court procedure, the determination of the charge, and the execution in a single text, allowing readers to see how the law was used to handle conflict between slaves and masters, and how the charge of petit treason operated in a concrete case. Its strength is its focus and brevity, making it suitable as a case text for papers or classroom discussion, read alongside secondary literature on early American legal history and slavery. Readers should attend to the arguments of prosecution and defense, the basis of the charge, and the logic of the verdict, rather than expecting a full account of the historical background; those unfamiliar with common-law terminology will need to look things up as they read.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students and scholars of early American legal history, slavery, and the relationship between slavery and the courts
Readers who need case materials for classroom discussion or as examples in papers
History readers interested in court records, the history of criminal charges, and execution narratives

Not a good fit for

Readers unfamiliar with common-law terminology who want light historical storytelling
Beginners seeking a complete general history of slavery or broad background
Readers uncomfortable with judicial violence and execution details

Reading tips

First clarify the meaning of petit treason and the legal context of the time, then turn to the case text.
As you read, use a table to sort out the prosecution's claims, the basis of the charge, the verdict, and the execution.
Read alongside secondary scholarship on early American slavery and legal history to avoid isolated interpretation.
After finishing, write a short review distinguishing textual facts from later interpretation.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a complete historical monograph?

No. It is closer to a topical text built around a specific case, concentrating on materials related to the trial and execution rather than offering a general history covering all of slavery. It is suitable as case material; for broad background, consult secondary works on early American legal history and slavery.

What legal concepts should I understand before reading?

At minimum, you should understand the classification of felonies in common law, especially the difference between petit treason and ordinary murder or treason, as well as the legal status of slaves in court at the time. Otherwise it is easy to confuse the charge with the logic of the verdict. Look up terminology in legal-history reference works or relevant papers before turning to the text.

Is it suitable for classroom or book-club use?

Yes. The case is focused and the length manageable, making it easy to assign and discuss. Discussion can center on whether the charge was valid, whether court procedure was fair, and how the legal status of slaves affected the trial; instructors should supplement historical background and terminology so that discussion does not stop at shock over the execution.

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About the author

Goodell, Abner Cheney, 1831-1914 Author · American · 1831–1914

Abner Cheney Goodell (1831–1914) was an American lawyer and antiquarian. Public information about his life is limited, and his reputation rests chiefly on the scholarly works he left behind. One work by him is held in this collection: The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. It examines the early case in which Mark and Phillis, two enslaved people, were tried and executed for petit treason. With a lawyer's rigor, Goodell worked through the trial records and legal proceedings, setting the criminal trial within the social and judicial history of the colonial period. His writing is grounded in documents and procedure, reflecting his enduring interest in early American criminal law and historical archives. The work is still cited in studies of the case and of early criminal justice in North America.