Item #00535434 On the Punishment of Death. Thomas Wrightson.

On the Punishment of Death

John Hearne, 1833. First Edition. Hardcover. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" Very Good. Item #00535434

Rare first edition of this early and influential work arguing for the abolition of the death penalty. The auhtor's ingenious argument, at a time when over 200 crimes still carried the death penalty, was that as a result juries were reluctant to convict in manycases because of the harshness of the penalty. Using the government's own statistics, Wrightson showed conclusively that the greater the likelihood that the accused would be hanged if convicted, the greater the likelihood of acquittal. 44 pages, folding plate with 2 tables. Later black cloth stamped in gilt, text entirely uncut (some soiling and wear to text margins; folding plate still crisp). There was a second edition the same year, and a third in 1837, but this first edition is exceptionally rare.

Price: $350.00

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