[Lyon, Patrick]:

$600 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

ROBBERY OF THE BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA IN 1798. THE TRIAL IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. An important case relating to the robbery of the Bank of Pennsylvania in 1798. Robbers entered the bank in early September 1798, during one of the periodic outbreaks of Yellow Fever in Philadelphia. Because no evidence of forcible entry was detected, suspicion immediately fell on blacksmith Patrick Lyon, a British mechanic who had fashioned various iron fittings for the bank building, including the locks. He claimed to have been out of town with his son to avoid the fever, when the robbery took place, but he was nonetheless arrested and imprisoned. The case was a city sensation, and the press took up Lyon's cause, which eventually led to his being freed.This work reports the trial of the president of the bank, a cashier, one of the bank directors (who was also an alderman of Philadelphia), and a high constable, who were all sued for damages by Lyon on the charge of false imprisonment. The officers of the bank were sentenced to pay Patrick Lyon $12,000 for false and malicious prosecution without reasonable cause. Described as "Very Scarce" in the Brinley catalog.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.