MINUTES OF A CONSPIRACY; against the Liberties of America
first edition
1865 · Philacelphia
by (HICKEY PLOT)
Philacelphia: John Campbell, 1865. First Edition, # 37 of 250 copies. 8vo, pp. xiv, iv, 114. Original printed wrappers (chipped) with later tape rebacking, untrimmed, a very good copy. Sabin 48386-7. Most of the text is taken from the London, 1786 edition which was published with the following title: Minutes of the Trial and Examination of Certain Persons, in the Province of New York, charged with being engaged in a Conspiracy against the Authority of the Congress, and the Liberties of America. From Wikipedia: "Thomas Hickey was a private in the Commander-in-Chief's Guard, a unit formed on 12 March 1776 to protect Gen. George Washington, his official papers and the Continental Army's cash. That spring Hickey and another soldier were arrested for passing counterfeit money. While incarcerated into Bridewell prison, Hickey revealed to another prisoner, Isaac Ketchum, that he was part of a wider conspiracy of soldiers who were prepared to defect to the British once the expected invasion came. Arrested by civilian authorities, Hickey was turned over to the Continental Army for trial. He was court-martialed and found guilty of mutiny and sedition. He was hanged on June 28, 1776 at the corner of Chrystie and Grand Streets before a crowd of 20,000 spectators in New York. Hickey was the only person put on trial for the conspiracy (Inventory #: 57620)