Philip Sweetser was born in Marlborough, New Hampshire on January 26, 1795.
He would go on to attend Dartmouth College and graduate with a Law Degree in 1819. One of his classmates was future U.S. Congressman, and U.S. Senator Rufus Choate (1799-1859).
After graduation, he practiced briefly in Elkton, Maryland before moving to Madison, Indiana in 1821. He would practice there for a year before moving to Columbus, Indiana in 1822.
It was in Columbus that Philip would became a law partner with James Noble, who was in his third term as the first-ever Senator to represent Indiana. Noble and Sweetser were the first two lawyers to practice in Bartholomew County, in that order.
His first notable case after moving to Columbus involved the Fall Creek Massacre, an incident which occurred on March 22, 1824 near Pendleton, Madison County, Indiana when a camp of nine Native Americans—two men, three women, two boys, and two girls, were brutally slaughtered by seven white men. James Noble was appointed Special Prosecutor for the case and selected Philip Sweetser and Harvey Gregg to assist him in the case.
Six men were apprehended, four of which were sentenced to death by hanging, while the other two testified for the prosecution. Three of the men were hanged for murder, while the fourth, 18 year old James Bridge Jr. was dramatically pardoned by a messenger sent by Indiana Governor James B. Ray, minutes before he was to be hanged.
This was a very significant case in United States History, as this was the first time ever that white men had been convicted, sentenced to capital punishment and executed for the murder of Native Americans under U.S. Law.
Philip would marry James Noble's daughter Rebecca (15 years his junior), in a ceremony held in Franklin County, Indiana on April 2, 1829. Thus, his law partner also became his father-in-law.
Philip Sweetser was also involved in the first two murder trials in Bartholomew County History.
The first stemmed from an incident on March 1, 1831 in which Abraham Ireland shot and killed Samuel Downing in a dispute related to Downing's employer, John Gwin. Sweetser would later resign as prosecuting attorney in order to defend Ireland, and was successful in getting him acquitted.
102 days later, on June 11, 1831, the second murder in county history would happen when John Ray was killed by John Jones on what would become north Washington Street in Columbus. They had been involved in an argument earlier in the day, made up temporarily, then resumed their quarrel on the ride home to Hawcreek Township (NE Bartholomew County), where they both resided. Jones would kill Ray by stabbing him with a knife while they were riding side by side on horseback.
Sweetser would work alone to defend Jones, and was successful in getting second and third trials, but every time his client was found guilty. Jones was ultimately hanged on October 11, 1833, as part of the only judicial execution to ever take place in Bartholomew County.
After having lived in Columbus for fifteen years, Philip Sweetser would move to Indianapolis in 1837 and continue to build upon his great reputation. His practice was so lucrative that he erected a pretentious residence on the northwest corner of Market and Pennsylvania Streets in Indianapolis.
Philip Sweetser would die suddenly at his home in Indianapolis on April 29, 1843 after a mere two day illness, at the age of 48.
Philip was most likely interred first in Greenlawn Cemetery in Indianapolis, and later moved to Crown Hill Cemetery either following the the death of his wife Rebecca in 1878, or the relocation of Greenlawn Cemetery to Crown Hill in the latter part of the 19th century.
He would go on to attend Dartmouth College and graduate with a Law Degree in 1819. One of his classmates was future U.S. Congressman, and U.S. Senator Rufus Choate (1799-1859).
After graduation, he practiced briefly in Elkton, Maryland before moving to Madison, Indiana in 1821. He would practice there for a year before moving to Columbus, Indiana in 1822.
It was in Columbus that Philip would became a law partner with James Noble, who was in his third term as the first-ever Senator to represent Indiana. Noble and Sweetser were the first two lawyers to practice in Bartholomew County, in that order.
His first notable case after moving to Columbus involved the Fall Creek Massacre, an incident which occurred on March 22, 1824 near Pendleton, Madison County, Indiana when a camp of nine Native Americans—two men, three women, two boys, and two girls, were brutally slaughtered by seven white men. James Noble was appointed Special Prosecutor for the case and selected Philip Sweetser and Harvey Gregg to assist him in the case.
Six men were apprehended, four of which were sentenced to death by hanging, while the other two testified for the prosecution. Three of the men were hanged for murder, while the fourth, 18 year old James Bridge Jr. was dramatically pardoned by a messenger sent by Indiana Governor James B. Ray, minutes before he was to be hanged.
This was a very significant case in United States History, as this was the first time ever that white men had been convicted, sentenced to capital punishment and executed for the murder of Native Americans under U.S. Law.
Philip would marry James Noble's daughter Rebecca (15 years his junior), in a ceremony held in Franklin County, Indiana on April 2, 1829. Thus, his law partner also became his father-in-law.
Philip Sweetser was also involved in the first two murder trials in Bartholomew County History.
The first stemmed from an incident on March 1, 1831 in which Abraham Ireland shot and killed Samuel Downing in a dispute related to Downing's employer, John Gwin. Sweetser would later resign as prosecuting attorney in order to defend Ireland, and was successful in getting him acquitted.
102 days later, on June 11, 1831, the second murder in county history would happen when John Ray was killed by John Jones on what would become north Washington Street in Columbus. They had been involved in an argument earlier in the day, made up temporarily, then resumed their quarrel on the ride home to Hawcreek Township (NE Bartholomew County), where they both resided. Jones would kill Ray by stabbing him with a knife while they were riding side by side on horseback.
Sweetser would work alone to defend Jones, and was successful in getting second and third trials, but every time his client was found guilty. Jones was ultimately hanged on October 11, 1833, as part of the only judicial execution to ever take place in Bartholomew County.
After having lived in Columbus for fifteen years, Philip Sweetser would move to Indianapolis in 1837 and continue to build upon his great reputation. His practice was so lucrative that he erected a pretentious residence on the northwest corner of Market and Pennsylvania Streets in Indianapolis.
Philip Sweetser would die suddenly at his home in Indianapolis on April 29, 1843 after a mere two day illness, at the age of 48.
Philip was most likely interred first in Greenlawn Cemetery in Indianapolis, and later moved to Crown Hill Cemetery either following the the death of his wife Rebecca in 1878, or the relocation of Greenlawn Cemetery to Crown Hill in the latter part of the 19th century.
Philip Sweetser was born in Marlborough, New Hampshire on January 26, 1795.
He would go on to attend Dartmouth College and graduate with a Law Degree in 1819. One of his classmates was future U.S. Congressman, and U.S. Senator Rufus Choate (1799-1859).
After graduation, he practiced briefly in Elkton, Maryland before moving to Madison, Indiana in 1821. He would practice there for a year before moving to Columbus, Indiana in 1822.
It was in Columbus that Philip would became a law partner with James Noble, who was in his third term as the first-ever Senator to represent Indiana. Noble and Sweetser were the first two lawyers to practice in Bartholomew County, in that order.
His first notable case after moving to Columbus involved the Fall Creek Massacre, an incident which occurred on March 22, 1824 near Pendleton, Madison County, Indiana when a camp of nine Native Americans—two men, three women, two boys, and two girls, were brutally slaughtered by seven white men. James Noble was appointed Special Prosecutor for the case and selected Philip Sweetser and Harvey Gregg to assist him in the case.
Six men were apprehended, four of which were sentenced to death by hanging, while the other two testified for the prosecution. Three of the men were hanged for murder, while the fourth, 18 year old James Bridge Jr. was dramatically pardoned by a messenger sent by Indiana Governor James B. Ray, minutes before he was to be hanged.
This was a very significant case in United States History, as this was the first time ever that white men had been convicted, sentenced to capital punishment and executed for the murder of Native Americans under U.S. Law.
Philip would marry James Noble's daughter Rebecca (15 years his junior), in a ceremony held in Franklin County, Indiana on April 2, 1829. Thus, his law partner also became his father-in-law.
Philip Sweetser was also involved in the first two murder trials in Bartholomew County History.
The first stemmed from an incident on March 1, 1831 in which Abraham Ireland shot and killed Samuel Downing in a dispute related to Downing's employer, John Gwin. Sweetser would later resign as prosecuting attorney in order to defend Ireland, and was successful in getting him acquitted.
102 days later, on June 11, 1831, the second murder in county history would happen when John Ray was killed by John Jones on what would become north Washington Street in Columbus. They had been involved in an argument earlier in the day, made up temporarily, then resumed their quarrel on the ride home to Hawcreek Township (NE Bartholomew County), where they both resided. Jones would kill Ray by stabbing him with a knife while they were riding side by side on horseback.
Sweetser would work alone to defend Jones, and was successful in getting second and third trials, but every time his client was found guilty. Jones was ultimately hanged on October 11, 1833, as part of the only judicial execution to ever take place in Bartholomew County.
After having lived in Columbus for fifteen years, Philip Sweetser would move to Indianapolis in 1837 and continue to build upon his great reputation. His practice was so lucrative that he erected a pretentious residence on the northwest corner of Market and Pennsylvania Streets in Indianapolis.
Philip Sweetser would die suddenly at his home in Indianapolis on April 29, 1843 after a mere two day illness, at the age of 48.
Philip was most likely interred first in Greenlawn Cemetery in Indianapolis, and later moved to Crown Hill Cemetery either following the the death of his wife Rebecca in 1878, or the relocation of Greenlawn Cemetery to Crown Hill in the latter part of the 19th century.
He would go on to attend Dartmouth College and graduate with a Law Degree in 1819. One of his classmates was future U.S. Congressman, and U.S. Senator Rufus Choate (1799-1859).
After graduation, he practiced briefly in Elkton, Maryland before moving to Madison, Indiana in 1821. He would practice there for a year before moving to Columbus, Indiana in 1822.
It was in Columbus that Philip would became a law partner with James Noble, who was in his third term as the first-ever Senator to represent Indiana. Noble and Sweetser were the first two lawyers to practice in Bartholomew County, in that order.
His first notable case after moving to Columbus involved the Fall Creek Massacre, an incident which occurred on March 22, 1824 near Pendleton, Madison County, Indiana when a camp of nine Native Americans—two men, three women, two boys, and two girls, were brutally slaughtered by seven white men. James Noble was appointed Special Prosecutor for the case and selected Philip Sweetser and Harvey Gregg to assist him in the case.
Six men were apprehended, four of which were sentenced to death by hanging, while the other two testified for the prosecution. Three of the men were hanged for murder, while the fourth, 18 year old James Bridge Jr. was dramatically pardoned by a messenger sent by Indiana Governor James B. Ray, minutes before he was to be hanged.
This was a very significant case in United States History, as this was the first time ever that white men had been convicted, sentenced to capital punishment and executed for the murder of Native Americans under U.S. Law.
Philip would marry James Noble's daughter Rebecca (15 years his junior), in a ceremony held in Franklin County, Indiana on April 2, 1829. Thus, his law partner also became his father-in-law.
Philip Sweetser was also involved in the first two murder trials in Bartholomew County History.
The first stemmed from an incident on March 1, 1831 in which Abraham Ireland shot and killed Samuel Downing in a dispute related to Downing's employer, John Gwin. Sweetser would later resign as prosecuting attorney in order to defend Ireland, and was successful in getting him acquitted.
102 days later, on June 11, 1831, the second murder in county history would happen when John Ray was killed by John Jones on what would become north Washington Street in Columbus. They had been involved in an argument earlier in the day, made up temporarily, then resumed their quarrel on the ride home to Hawcreek Township (NE Bartholomew County), where they both resided. Jones would kill Ray by stabbing him with a knife while they were riding side by side on horseback.
Sweetser would work alone to defend Jones, and was successful in getting second and third trials, but every time his client was found guilty. Jones was ultimately hanged on October 11, 1833, as part of the only judicial execution to ever take place in Bartholomew County.
After having lived in Columbus for fifteen years, Philip Sweetser would move to Indianapolis in 1837 and continue to build upon his great reputation. His practice was so lucrative that he erected a pretentious residence on the northwest corner of Market and Pennsylvania Streets in Indianapolis.
Philip Sweetser would die suddenly at his home in Indianapolis on April 29, 1843 after a mere two day illness, at the age of 48.
Philip was most likely interred first in Greenlawn Cemetery in Indianapolis, and later moved to Crown Hill Cemetery either following the the death of his wife Rebecca in 1878, or the relocation of Greenlawn Cemetery to Crown Hill in the latter part of the 19th century.
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