Human history has always recorded special cases. The New York murders of 1800 were one of them. After more than 200 years, it remains an unsolved mystery, and goes down in history as the first criminal case to be tried in the United States.
Manhattan Well – the place to witness historical crimes
Levi Weeks was born in 1776 in Greenwich, Massachusetts. In 1798, he went to New York to work for his brother Ezra Weeks – one of the most successful, wealthy and powerful construction contractors in New York at that time.
Today’s Manhattan Well – where the murder took place in 1799
With his brother’s immense wealth and strong appearance, Levi Weeks quickly found himself surrounded by girls. One of them is Gulielma “Elma” Sands. They were passionately in love, at least with Levi. Even as late as 1799, they planned to get married.
But that wedding never happened. On the night of December 22, 1799, Elma left the house. She had previously informed her cousin Catherine Sands that she was getting married to Levi Weeks. But Elma did not return. In the days that followed, Gulielma “Elma” Sands was nowhere to be found. Some of Elma’s jewelry was found near the Manhattan well. And on January 2, 1800, the body of that unfortunate girl surfaced in the amazement and panic of New Yorkers.
Levi Weeks immediately became the number 1 suspect. There are many motives for him to become a murderer. Later, during the trial, it was discovered that Levi was able to kill his fiancée in a fit of jealousy. Levi suspects that Elma and the owner of the inn where she is staying are having an affair.
Levi Weeks – Number 1 suspect in the murder of Gulielma “Elma” Sands
Other evidence also goes against Levi Weeks. Just half an hour after Elma left the house with Levi, her screams were heard near the Manhattan well. But the surprising thing is that, when Elma left at 8 pm, about 10 o’clock, he came to Elma’s inn and expressed his surprise, and denied that he had gone with her, even though her maidservant was with her. Elma believes her mistress has gone with her fiancé. That evening, New York was covered in snow. She was seen accompanied by two men in a chariot – described as identical to her brother Ezra Weeks.
After the recovery of Elma’s body from the Manhattan well, an investigation and autopsy was conducted. The jury ruled that Gulielma “Elma” Sands was murdered, and brought Levi Weeks to trial on suspicion of murder. Meanwhile, Richard Croucher, who lives in an inn with Elma, actively spreads the story of how Levi was the one who killed Elma on that fateful night.
How spectacularly did Levi Weeks escape the death penalty?
But her older brother Ezra Weeks possessed something of unparalleled power. That’s money. As a major contractor in New York, Ezra has close relationships and owns the most property in this growing city. He immediately hired a team of lawyers of famous names to save his brother.
The trial of the murder suspect Levi Weeks
The bar association included former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, who later became its Vice President, and Brockholst Livingston, who later also served on the US Supreme Court. Aaron Burr is also the director of the Manhattan Company – which owns the Manhattan well – where the body of Gulielma “Elma” Sands was found. Because of that, Burr had to work harder to protect Levi during the trial.
The legal team presented evidence to the judge to prove their client’s innocence – including precise details, about Elma’s relationship with motel roommate Richard Croucher as well as the landlord. Accordingly, there was a love triangle between Elma and the landlord, they even slept together. Meanwhile, Richard is extremely infatuated with Elma and jealous. Besides, the theory of Elma’s suicide was also taken into account.
The trial took place on March 31, 1800, at the Oyer Terminer & General Gaol Delivery Court. The chairman was John Lansing – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New York and mayor – a business friend of Levi Weeks’ famous brother. And after two days of litigation with outdated scientific methods in the 1800s, everything was slow to the fatigue of the judges. At 2 a.m. on April 2, after only 5 minutes of deliberation, the judges ruled that Levi Weeks was innocent.
However, New Yorkers do not believe in the unjust ruling. They boycotted Levi Weeks, sending him to Mississippi. Like his brother, Levi later became a famous construction contractor in this land, lived a full life, married and had 4 children.
