Life of Michael Powers, Now Under Sentence of Death for the Murder of Timothy Kennedy, Dictated by Himself
Boston: Russell & Gardner, 1820.
First Edition. 24 pp, disbound. Lacking rear wrapper, some foxing, archival repairs; good. Sabin 64799. Powers was an Irish immigrant who settled in Boston in 1802, found steady work as a laborer, and lived frugally. He volunteered to finance the migration of several of his Irish cousins, with the understanding that they would repay him from their wages as soon as they found employment. After one of them, Timothy Kennedy, failed to follow through, Powers had him arrested. At trial, however, Kennedy's story was believed over Powers', which "enraged him beyond measure." Powers murdered Kennedy with an axe buried him in a cellar. Although defended by the great Daniel Webster, he was convicted and condemned to death. Despite being a convicted axe murder, Powers was senstitive to criticism and dictated this pamphlet in order to counteract all of the "idle and cruel reports" about him, "each one ornamented with so many horrors." McDade 767.
Item #19787
Price: $250.00