Particulars of the Behaviour, Confession, And Last Dying Words..

1823. A Robbery Turned to "Wilful Murder" - One Copy Located [Broadside]. [Execution]. Coleman, John [d.1823]. Particulars of the Behaviour, Confession, And Last Dying Words of John Colemam [sic], Who Was Executed This Day on Penenden Heath, For the Wilful Murder of Mr. James Smith, At Lewisham. [Strood, Kent, England]: Sweets, Printers, [1823]. 14-3/4" x 9-3/4" broadside, text in two columns below headline and woodcut vignette of execution. Moderate toning, horizontal and vertical fold lines, light foxing, soiling and edgewear, minor creasing in places, upper right corner lacking without loss to text. $2,350. * Coleman, a blacksmith, broke into the house of James Smith, apparently at the request of Smith's two nephews Robert and James. When Smith spotted the burglars, Coleman shot him; he died a few days later after identifying Coleman as the perpetrator. This broadside, mostly detailing Coleman's confession, is rare. OCLC and Library Hub locate 1 copy (Harvard Law School).