attorney who accidently shot himself in court

Who shot himself in Victorian Strangeness?

Victorian Strangeness: The lawyer who shot himself proving his case. Author Jeremy Clay tells the strange story of the 19th Century lawyer who accidentally shot himself while demonstrating the innocence of a defendant in a murder trial. "I have foolishly shot myself," winced Clement Vallandigham, sinking into a chair in his hotel room in ...

Who wrote the book "I have foolishly shot myself"?

Author Jeremy Clay tells the strange story of the 19th Century lawyer who accidentally shot himself while demonstrating the innocence of a defendant in a murder trial. "I have foolishly shot myself," winced Clement Vallandigham, sinking into a chair in his hotel room in a mixture of pain and mortification.

What did Mr. Vallandigham do?

On the evening after the prosecution had closed their arguments, Mr Vallandigham took a piece of muslin from his hotel, headed out for open land, and conducted his own CSI Ohio experiment to establish the levels of residue left by a shot fired at point-blank range.

What was at stake in the Christmas Eve scene?

At stake was a man's life. The Christmas Eve before, a rough and ready character called Thomas Myers had been playing cards in a private room above a bar in nearby Hamilton when five thugs burst in and a huge brawl broke out. image copyright. US LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

The case

Clement Vallandigham’s client, Thomas McGehean, was standing trial for the murder of Thomas Myers.

The uncanny defense

The case eventually went to trial in 1871, where Clement Vallandigham came to the aid of McGehean’s defense.

Aftermath

Doctors attempted to remove the bullet but were unable to find it. The good counsel died of inflammation the very next day.