indicted, tried, convicted and sentenced to die in spite of the fact
that the principal evidence against him was given by them two women
who were released from jail after they told officers of the confession,
His entire family said that he was at home on the night of the fire but
their alibi was not believed, He was granted one shor respite and on
the day before his execution, he made a confession in which he said tha
he had set the fires but only because Miss Downes had insisted that he
do so because of her hatred for the people in Newburyport who had con-
stantly critigized her conduct, He was hanged at Salem on May LO,
1821, Terrified of his fate, he attempted to bribe the turnkey,
promising him $100 which he probably did not have if allowed to escape.
It was necessary to force him from his cell and drag him to the sca=
ffold to the tune of martial music,
AMERICAN SPATE TRIALS by Lawson, Volume 6, pages 597-670
"., .HANG BY THE NECK..." by Teeters & Hedblom, Page 25
See AMERICAN CRIMINAL CALENDAR, by St. Clair.
Worksheet prepared ‘= Massachusetts, NWU, Bound,
indicted, tried, convicted and sentenced to die in spite of the fact
that the principal evidence against him was given by them two women
who were released from jail after they told officers of the confession,
His entire family said that he was at home on the night of the fire but
their alibi was not believed, He was granted one shor respite and on
the day before his execution, he made a confession in which he said tha{
he had set the fires but only because Miss Downes had insisted that he
do so because of her hatred for the people in Newburyport who had con-
stantly critigized her conduct, He was hanged at Salem on May 10,
1821, ‘Terrified of his fate, he attempted to bribe the turnkey,
promising him $100 which he probably did not have if allowed to escape,
It was necessary to force him from his cell and drag him to the sca-
ffold to the tune of martial music.
AMERICAN STALE TRIALS by Lawson, Volume 6, pages 597-670
,, HANG BY THE NECK..." by Teeters & Hedblom, Page 25
See AMERICAN CRIMINAL CALENDAR, by St. Clair.
Worksheet prepared ‘= Massachusetts, NWU, Bound.
jindicted, tried, convicted and sentenced to die in spite of the fact
that the principal evidence against him was given by then two wom
who were released from jail after they told officers of the conf:
lis entire family said that he was at home on the night of the fire bub
their alibi was not believed, He was granted one shor respite and on
lhe had set the fires but only because Miss Downes had insisted that he
ldo so because of her hatred for the people in Newburyport who had con-
lstantly critieized her conduct, He was hanged at Salem on May 10,
821, Terrified of his fate, he attempted to bribe the turnkey,
Jpromising him $100 which he probably did not have if allowed to escape.
% was necessary to force him from his cell and drag him to the sca~
ffold to the tune of martial msic.
AMERICAN SPATE TRIALS by Lawson, Volume 6, pages 597-670
I"...HANG BY THE NECK,.." by Tecters & Hedblom, Page 25
See AMERICAN CRIMINAL CALENDAR, by St. Clair.
Worksheet prepared = Massachusetts, NU, Bound,
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CLARK, Stephen Merrill
Clark, a white youth born in Newburyport, Mass., on Aug. 20, 180),
was, from early childhood amg a chronic liar who indulged in all
forms of dlinquent activities, His parents tried in every way to
reform him and he was on two occasions bound out as an apprentice
but each time ran away. He began keeping company with Hannah Downes,
a Newburyport prostitute and her friends and her father went to her
on one occasion and told her that she would destroy hts son to which
she replied that she planned to do so, In August, 1820, a number-of
buildings in Newburyport caught fire and it was believed that the
cause wis incendiary, Early on the morning of August 19, a stable
owned by Phebe Cross was discovered ,to be on fire and it rapidly
spread, consuming three dewlling houses and six other buildings,
Clark was arrested on suspicion, but he was released when no evidence
against him could be found and when his father, who afew days earlier
had pleaded with the selectmen to confine him, said that he had been
at home in bed with him when the fire started, Mr, Clark then sent
the boy to Maine to obtain gmemployment, The boy returned shortly
afterwards and was again arrested, _in the meantime, Miss Downes and
OP Sitea rer eNes shad been placed in jail for prostitution and they
smuggled them a note in which he admitted settin
the fire, When told that they had informed on him, he confessed, a
CLARK, Stephen Merrill
Clark, a white youth born in Newburyport, Mass., on Aug. 20, 180),
was, from early childhood am@ a chronic liar who indulged in all
forms of dlinquent activities, His parents tried in every way to
reform him and he was on two occasions bound out as an apprentice
but each time ran away. He began keeping company with Hannah Downes,
a Newburyport prostitute and her friends and her father went to her
on one occasion and told her that she would destroy hts son to which
she replied that she planned to do so, In August, 1820, a number-of
buildings in Newburyport caught fire and it was believed that the
cause wis incendiary, Early on the morning of August 19, a stable
owned by Phebe Cross was discovered,to be on fire and it rapidly
spread, consuming three dewlling houses and six other buildings,
Clark was arrested on suspicion, but he was released when no evidence
against him could be found and when his father, who afew days earlier
had pleaded with the selectmen to confine him, said that he had been
at home in bed with him when the fire started, Mr. Clark then sent
the boy to Maine to obtain mmemployment, The boy returned shortly
ae and aed feet acai eee Hebaghecitd rari eat tcp
2. 0: vr friends had been placed in jail for prostitution an e
ShEsiea iat “he hea smgeled them a note in auiah he admitted geek ae
° en told that they had informed on him, he confessed, was
CLARK, Stephen Merrill
Clark, a white youth born in Newburyport, Mass., on Aug. 20, 180k,
was, from early childhood ami a chronic liar who indulged in all
forms of dlinquent activities. His parents tried in every way to
reform him and he was on two occasions bound out as an apprentice
but each time ran away, He began keeping company with Hannah Downes,
a Newburyport prostitute and her friends and her father went to her
on one occasion and told her that she would destroy hts son to which
she replied that she planned to do so,
Early on the morning of August 19, a stable
owned by Phebe Cross was discovered.to be on fire and it rapidly
spread, consuming three dewlling houses and six other buildings,
Clark was arrested on suspicion, but he was released when no evidence
against him could be found and when his father, who afew days earlier
had pleaded with the selectmen to confine him, said that he had been
at home in bed with him when the fire started, Mr, Clark then sent
the boy to Maine to obtain wmemployment. The boy returned shortly
stteryards and vas again arresteds In,the meantine, Miss Dovnes, and
wengs,had been, placed tn Jail for, prostitution and the
ea "Gilat hS"ha amreiod' thar a nobe in Gaal mitted aan
&
the fire, then told that they had ela on him, he confessed, was
mariners a Seer er
