Death in a Hansom Cab

This is the story about two lovers riding in a hansom cab in New York City on June 4 1904. A single shot rang out and Caesar Young was dead. Nan Patterson soon came to be charged with murder in the first degree. Three trials followed; three mistrials ensued. But the trials of the 21-year-old woman weren’t so much about establishing the “facts” about Young’s death as they were about persecuting a young woman. Editorials were often printing pointing out that Nan deserved to be punished, regardless of the Young death. In their view she needed to be punished for her so-called moral lapses. She committed adultery and she was a home wrecker, a charge not leveled at Young. She was an actor and they were held in low esteem, especially the females, who were all immoral. Also, she stayed out late and participated in champagne suppers.

The story is about appalling media coverage that alternated between publishing smear pieces about the young woman, and making up tales about interviews with Nan that had not happened. It is about a poor quality prosecution that consisted mainly of lies and fanciful, bizarre theories about the death of Young. It is about the state refusing to grant bail and to set speedy trial dates. The story of Nan Patterson is the story of the persecution of a young woman under the guise of prosecution.