Details
BOONE, DANIEL. Autograph document signed ("Daniel Boone"), a legal document regarding a frontier murder case, Femme Osage District, Louisiana Territory [now western Missouri], 31 August 1806. 1 page, 4to, 196 x 162mm. (7 3/4 x 6 3/8 in.), matted with a portrait and engraved descriptive text, in an elaborate giltwood frame. Unexamined out of frame.
DANIEL BOONE AND THE TRIAL OF A FRIEND FOR THE MURDER OF BOONE'S SON-IN-LAW
A highly unusual record of a frontier murder trial. Boone was syndic of the territory charged with overseeing legal affairs (his office combined the roles of sheriff, marshall and judge) and in this role he was well-known for conducting court in the shade of an elm tree. Boone here itemizes costs incurred in conducting the trial of James Davis, accused of the murder of Boone's son-in-law, William Hayes. The case must have been a particularly sensitive one for Boone since the defendant was a close personal friend, and the victim was the husband of his daughter Susannah. Hayes and Davis had quarrelled over money Hayes owed Davis for the repair of a pair of shoes. Hayes drew his gun, but Davis's return fire proved fatal.
The manuscript, whose text is full of the quirky spellings for which Boone is well known, sets out expenses incurred in summoning witnesses to give testimony in the case. It is headed, "Mr. Joseph Haynes fee Bill against Willeam [sic], Hayes Senr. as Cunstable [sic] for the serving dif[f]erent Warrents and Sum[m]onses to wit." Beneath, Boone lists 2 summons "ordered by James Davis," "1 for David Durst," "1 for Jemiah Calaway," "1 Sumens [sic] for Haighward as Witness," "1 for George Crump against Hay[e]s," and "1 Warrent [sic] sarved [sic] on Hayes ..." The last item on the list is "for Riding to Little Coats," presumably to serve a court summons. These expenses total nine dollars and the document is signed by Boone at bottom as "then Commander of the femm osage district." On the verso are endorsements in which a justice of the peace, G. Kubby, records that Joseph Haines had personally appeared before him and sworn to the accuracy of the account as rendered by Boone.
Following an initial hearing, Boone bound Davis over for trial by Grand Jury, to be held at St. Charles, Missouri. Davis was eventually acquitted on a verdict of self-defense.
DANIEL BOONE AND THE TRIAL OF A FRIEND FOR THE MURDER OF BOONE'S SON-IN-LAW
A highly unusual record of a frontier murder trial. Boone was syndic of the territory charged with overseeing legal affairs (his office combined the roles of sheriff, marshall and judge) and in this role he was well-known for conducting court in the shade of an elm tree. Boone here itemizes costs incurred in conducting the trial of James Davis, accused of the murder of Boone's son-in-law, William Hayes. The case must have been a particularly sensitive one for Boone since the defendant was a close personal friend, and the victim was the husband of his daughter Susannah. Hayes and Davis had quarrelled over money Hayes owed Davis for the repair of a pair of shoes. Hayes drew his gun, but Davis's return fire proved fatal.
The manuscript, whose text is full of the quirky spellings for which Boone is well known, sets out expenses incurred in summoning witnesses to give testimony in the case. It is headed, "Mr. Joseph Haynes fee Bill against Willeam [sic], Hayes Senr. as Cunstable [sic] for the serving dif[f]erent Warrents and Sum[m]onses to wit." Beneath, Boone lists 2 summons "ordered by James Davis," "1 for David Durst," "1 for Jemiah Calaway," "1 Sumens [sic] for Haighward as Witness," "1 for George Crump against Hay[e]s," and "1 Warrent [sic] sarved [sic] on Hayes ..." The last item on the list is "for Riding to Little Coats," presumably to serve a court summons. These expenses total nine dollars and the document is signed by Boone at bottom as "then Commander of the femm osage district." On the verso are endorsements in which a justice of the peace, G. Kubby, records that Joseph Haines had personally appeared before him and sworn to the accuracy of the account as rendered by Boone.
Following an initial hearing, Boone bound Davis over for trial by Grand Jury, to be held at St. Charles, Missouri. Davis was eventually acquitted on a verdict of self-defense.