1817
by Broadside; Execution; Archer, William
1817. Only Known Copy. Oxford, 1817. 9-3/4" x 7-1/2. Only Known Copy. Oxford, 1817. 9-3/4" x 7-1/2" Only Known Copy of This Oxford Execution Broadside [Broadside]. [Execution]. Archer, William [d.1817]. A Short Account of William Archer, Who was Executed at Oxford, March 24th, 1817, For Setting Fire to Two Ricks, At Great Bourton, In This County. Oxford: [William] Baxter, Printer, [1817]. 9-3/4" x 7-1/2" broadside mounted to 11" x 8-1/4" backing sheet, text in two columns below headline. Moderate toning, light foxing and faint stains in a few places, faint fold lines to broadside, a few, mostly small, clean tears to broadside affecting text without loss to legibility, small chip to upper left corner of backing sheet. $1,500. * Archer, a man "of a hasty disposition," quarreled with a neighbor after the neighbor accused him of trespassing. He publicly threatened to do the neighbor "a secret injury," and stacks of barley and clover were set on fire on the neighbor's farm that night. Archer was arrested and prosecuted for arson. He denied setting the fire, but the circumstantial evidence against him was so strong that he was convicted and hanged. This broadside is rare and appears to be unrecorded. No copies located on OCLC or Library Hub. (Inventory #: 81730)
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