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United States V. Hodges: Treason, Jury Trials, And The War Of 1812, Jennifer Elisa Smith
United States V. Hodges: Treason, Jury Trials, And The War Of 1812, Jennifer Elisa Smith
Legal History Publications
In August 1814 a number of British soldiers were arrested as stragglers or deserters in the town of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Upon learning of the soldiers’ absences the British military took local physician, Dr. William Beanes, and two other residents into custody and threatened to burn Upper Marlboro if the British soldiers were not returned. John Hodges, a local attorney, arranged the soldiers’ return to the British military. For this, Hodges was charged with high treason for “adhering to [the] enemies, giving them aid and comfort.” The resulting jury trial was presided over by Justice Gabriel Duvall, a Supreme Court …
Baltimore's Piratical Patriot Privateers: The Arrogante Barcelones, 20 U.S. 496 (1822), Shannon Byrne
Baltimore's Piratical Patriot Privateers: The Arrogante Barcelones, 20 U.S. 496 (1822), Shannon Byrne
Legal History Publications
The case of The Arrogante Barcelones involved a complicated story of facts, due in part to the cunningness of one of the main players, Joseph Almeida. Almeida’s maneuvers make sense when viewed through the lens of nineteenth century Baltimore, the War of 1812, and U.S. citizens’ involvement in South American privateering. At first glance, this case seems to hinge on issues regarding the validity of Almeida’s commission, the authority of the condemnation, and the sufficiency of the documentation produced to prove it. However, the United States Supreme Court ultimately avoids untangling those maritime issues and instead bases its opinion in …
Kennedy V. The Baltimore Insurance Company, 3 H. & J. 367 (1813): The Story Of One Baltimore Merchant Among Many Fighting An Insurance Company In Times Of War, Jon F. Watson
Legal History Publications
The Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800’s resulted in many Baltimore merchants obtaining insurance for their vessels and cargo. During this period of unrest, Lemuel Taylor and John F. Kennedy insured a Baltimore vessel which was subsequently captured by the British. This paper contextualizes the case of Kennedy v. The Baltimore Insurance Company within this period and illustrates the struggles faced by many merchants who sought to be reimbursed for their losses. I also tried to focus on the historical backgrounds of the key players to the case, especially Lemuel Taylor and John F. Kennedy. All together, the case of …