Prominent Murder Trials in the Early 1800s

A courtroom trial is much like a play; there are actors with lines, there is an audience, and there’s plenty of drama. In a play, however, the actors and audience get to go home with the knowledge they’ve just seen a story that will have no real effect on their lives; a trial, on the other hand, can vastly alter the lives of those involved. Murder trials, in particular, will inevitably change lives, and there are times the outcome of the trial will result in another death. The 19th century justice system was similar to the one of today in many ways, with judges and juries deciding the fate of criminals based on hard evidence. Here are two examples of that justice system at work, covering some of the more well-known murder trials of the time.

The Trial of Reverend Avery – Sarah Cornell was a spinster by most standards in 1832, 30 years old and unmarried with no prospects. Living in Fall River, Massachusetts and working as a factory girl, Cornell was living with a secret that would damage reputations and create a public outcry if it were revealed. She was pregnant, and the child was fathered by a prominent Methodist reverend, a married man with several children. When her body was found hanging from a haystack by a local farmer, her death was initially ruled a suicide. However, the discovery of a note in Cornell’s belongings made authorities question their ruling; the note read, "if I should be missing enquire of the Rev Mr Avery of Bristol he will know where I am….S M Cornell." Cornell’s body was exhumed and her 5-month pregnancy revealed, increasing speculation that her death may not have been a self-inflicted. Her body also bore signs of attempted abortions. As directed, some townspeople of Fall River gathered together and immediately sought Reverend Avery for questioning. The churchman, of Bristol, Rhode Island, was accused in connection to the death of Cornell, but Bristol authorities refused to extradite Avery. Perhaps it was the negative attention he was receiving, or possibly guilt over his involvement in Cornell’s life and possibly her death, but for reasons not completely clear, the Reverend fled Bristol and went into hiding. This act angered the people of Fall River considerably, and they demanded an arrest warrant for Avery, which they received. Avery was tracked and brought before the Rhode Island Supreme Court on charges of murder. The trial began in May of 1833 and lasted for nearly a month. News coverage on the trial was considerable, given the nature of the crime and the enormous public interest. While the prosecution displayed mostly circumstantial evidence against Avery, his defense worked diligently tarnishing Cornell’s character to convince the jury that the woman had, in fact, committed suicide. In the end, Avery’s defense team presented a stronger case, and the Reverend was acquitted of all charges. With his freedom from prison, however, Avery found himself bound in other ways; he could no longer live the life he had. Forced to give up preaching, he eventually left New England and spent the remainder of his days as a farmer in Ohio. As for Sarah Cornell, her fate had been determined long before, but her death remained a mystery to many.

The Trial of Octavius Barron – Not too many years had passed after the Avery trial that public attention shifted to another murder trial. This time, Octavius Barron was the man on defense after he was charged with the killing of William Lyman. The year was 1838, and public fascination was again high. On the night of October 20, 1837, Barron was alleged to have fired a gun into the back of William Lyman’s head before robbing him and leaving him for dead in Rochester, New York. The murder shocked the citizens of this growing city; it was the first they’d ever had, and the victim was a respected family man and business associate. Gathering clues and hearing witness accounts immediately following the killing, authorities were able to piece together what had happened and who might be behind the heinous deed. Only hours after pulling the trigger, Octavius Barron was in custody and being charged with murder. Housed at Sing Sing prison until his trial was scheduled to begin in May of 1838, the case against Barron was built by prosecutors. When the trial date arrived, hundreds of people packed the courtroom and the city, eager to see the show. Barron entered a plea of not guilty, but the evidence was against him. With compelling eye witnesses, Lyman’s money in Barron’s pockets, and no believable alibi, Barron’s fate was sealed. Guilty of murder, the young man hung for his crimes on July 25, 1838.

There is much more to the story of Octavius Barron and William Lyman. For all the surprising details, go to www.ad-hoc-productions.com. The fascinating documentary "Visions: True Stories of the Supernatural" tells the full story of these men, plus much more.

Michael Keene is the producer of a number of independent historical documentaries including Visions: True Stories of the Supernatural.