Session 4: Cilley-Graves Duel

Crime in Congress

Hey Crimestituents! We're gaveling in another session of Crime in Congress, a new true crime podcast with hosts Harley and Sarah that examines the shockingly true crimes and scandals of America’s elected officials throughout history.

This episode details the first fatal congressional duel in United States history.

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Sources:

The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War by Joanne B. Freeman, Chapter 3: The Pull and Power of Violence: The Cilley-Graves Duel (1838)

Judicial Combat (Wikipedia)

The History of Dueling in America (PBS)

Dueling: the Violence of Gentlemen (National Endowment for the Humanities Magazine)

Congressional Globe, 25th Congress, Session 2

Three Pamphlets about the Duel of February 24, 1838, Between Jonathan Cilley of Maine and William J. Graves Kentucky (United States Congress, accessed through Bangor Public Library)

Legislator Misconduct Database (Govtrack.us)

Man who requested trial by combat in custody dispute clears sanity test, requests testing for ex-wife and her attorney (Des Moines Register)

Featuring: the creaks, hums, and sounds of Sarah's house

Gavel strike audio by odditonic

Instrumental music by Dmitry Taras