The Danger of Despising the Divine Counsel Exhibited in a Discourse..

1802. Dedham: Printed and Sold, By Herman Mann, 1802.. Dedham: Printed and Sold, By Herman Mann, 1802. An 1802 Massachusetts Sermon Criticizing Public Executions Thacher, Thomas [1756-1812]. The Danger of Despising the Divine Counsel: Exhibited in a Discourse, Delivered at Dedham, Third Precinct, September 13, 1801, The Lord's Day After the Execution of Jason Fairbanks. Dedham, [Mass.]: Printed and Sold, By Herman Mann, 1802. 29 pp. Octavo (9" x 5-1/2"). Stab-stitched pamphlet with untrimmed edges in later plain wrappers, whip-stitched along spine and edges. Light soiling, wear to wrappers along edges and spine, section lacking from wrapper. Light browning, foxing and occasional faint dampstaining to text, light soiling, moderate edgewear and a few tears to title page, small chips to fore-edges of following two leaves. $950. * First and only edition. This was one of the most sensational trials of the early republic. The parents of Elizabeth Fales objected to Fairbanks's suit, and he, in revenge or frustration, slit Elizabeth's throat in a field, attempting at the same time to commit suicide. When apprehended, he claimed that she tried to kill herself. After his conviction Fairbanks escaped custody and almost reached Canada, but was apprehended in Vermont. He was hanged a short time later. Thacher argues that public executions do not provide religious or moral instruction. OCLC locates 1 copy in a North American law library (Yale). Not in McDade. Cohen, Bibliography of Early American Law 12559.