From The Monitor, November 6, 1799

Another story from Litchfield is making the news, thanks in part to resources in the Historical Society’s Helga J. Ingraham Memorial Library.  Fordham University Professor Doron Ben-Atar was interviewed about a new book he has co-authored with Richard Brown of the University of Connecticut entitled, The Beast with Two Backs: Sexual Transgression in Early New England.”  Articles from the Litchfield Enquirer, as well as documents from the collection like the order for execution pictured below help inform scholarship.

Court order to execute Gideon Washburn

The newspaper article explains that the execution was delayed.  Washburn actually died in prison prior to the rescheduled execution date.  Archives contain all kinds of evidence of human activity.  Read the article for more details about the case and why it was significant.