[Charles Spear, editor]. The Hangman. Vol. I, No. 6. Boston, Massachusetts, 7 May 1845. 4 pages, folio, 12 1/2 x 17 1/8 in., disbound.

A fascinating newspaper published by Charles Spear (1801-1863) to advocate abolishing the death penalty. Only published in 1845, the articles include essays on anti-death penalty philosophy, articles on the laws in other countries, and reports on recent instances of capital punishment. Notably, page 2 features a report on the execution of Samuel Zephon, "a poor colored man" who was the victim of a botched hanging. A graphically arresting article on page 3, titled "Under Sentence of Death!" with thick black borders, lists several people on "Death Row," including "Babe, the pirate" in New York and "Pauline, the slave" in Louisiana. Babe the Pirate would go on to have their sentence commuted by First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler. (Anthony, First Ladies, p. 130).

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