Marion Ira Stout. "The Last Writing" of Marion Ira Stout; Containing his Confession, Revelations, and his "So Called" Principles of Philosophy and Religion. Rochester, New York: H. Aillixk Mweeill, 1858.

8vo, 38 pages. Original illustrated wrappers. FIRST EDITION. Sabin 92358. 

A very scarce and fascinating piece of macabre Americana. 

One of the most sensational murder trials of the 19th century was that of Marion Ira Stout (1835-1858), who was hanged on 22 October 1858 for the murder of Charles Littles.

The Stout family had lived in Rochester, New York, since 1852. Margaret Stout, the family matriarch, often claimed her husband, Orange Stout, had abandoned the family and that she was unsure of his whereabouts. The truth was more likely that he was "on the lam." Members of the Stout family were often in trouble with the law. Orange was a known member of a gang of forgers and counterfeiters. Both husband and wife had been previously arrested for passing counterfeit money. At the time of his son's murder trial, Orange Stout was serving a 7-1/2-year sentence in Auburn State Prison for his part in robbing and burning down a retail store in Pennsylvania.

Ira (the name he preferred) also admitted participation in the crime and received a 4-1/2-year sentence, also in the Pennsylvania State Penitentiary. When Ira Stout was released from prison in August 1858, he settled back in with his family. Living at the family home in addition to Ira and his mother were his older brother Eli and his wife Jane, his younger sister Sarah, and her husband Charles Littles.

It quickly became apparent to Ira that the marriage between Sarah and Charles was disastrous. He was reportedly a serial philanderer with no inclination to hide his infidelities. Sarah became depressed and even considered moving West to escape. Ira suggested that "if Littles should some time be put out of the way, there would be no need of her going West to get rid of him!"

Ira also had his own reasons to fear his brother-in-law and hasten his departure from the scene. Only his family and Littles were aware of his recent imprisonment. Eager to gain respectability, Ira worried that Littles could destroy his burgeoning reputation by revealing his checkered past. To allay his fears, Ira established a friendship with him, frequently calling at his office and playing pool together. In reality, however, Ira despised Littles. 

Allegedly, Ira and Sarah grew closer through the situation, which led to accusations of incest. At the later trial, Eli Stout's wife, Jane, who also lived in the same house, testified at the trial that she often saw Ira and Sarah in bed together. 

Ira was enraged at Littles's mistreatment of Sarah, writing later that "a man who would abuse a pure and beautiful woman, is not fit to live." He vowed to "do away" with Charles Littles, once and for all. 

The plan for the murder was straightforward. Late at night, Ira would lure Littles to Falls Field, on the north side of High Falls, on the false pretext that Sarah was going to meet another man. Once there, Ira would hit Littles on the head with a hammer and throw him into the gorge, allowing the strong current to sweep his body downriver and into the lake.

Unfortunately for Ira and Sarah, the plan went awry. When Ira had Littles in the proper position near the edge of the bank, Ira struck him a sudden blow with an iron mallet, smashing his skull and killing him instantly. Stout then threw the body over the wall, supposing that it would fall into the river and be swept into the lake. Instead, it landed on a ledge 30 feet below the upper level. Sensing that there had been some failure in the matter, Ira started to go down a narrow path that led sideways along the cliff, but in the darkness, he missed his footing and fell headlong, breaking his left arm in the descent and landing beside the corpse. Summoning all his remaining strength, he was just able to push the body over the bank, then fell into a dead faint.

The body of Charles Littles was discovered floating in the river the following morning by a group of young boys, with the hapless and unconscious Ira lying not a few feet away. Ira was subsequently charged with the murder of Charles Little.

His trial began in April and lasted only a week. On 24 April 1858, the jury rendered a unanimous verdict of guilty and sentenced him to hang. The day of the hanging soon came, and Ira said his final goodbyes to his family. At 2 p.m., he was led to the gallows. In the presence of 100 invited dignitaries, the rope was placed around his neck and a cap drawn over his face. Ira was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Section D of Mount Hope Cemetery, where, curiously, he lies directly beside another of Rochester's most infamous killers, Octavius Barron, the murderer of William Lyman. 

An excellent early pamphlet for the time crime enthusiast. 

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Soiled, chipping, and some brown staining.