Saturday, August 24, 2019

Duel with the Devil

December 1799, New York City

A few days before news of George Washington's death, Elma Sands went out for the evening and did not return.  The landlord's wife heard Elma leave with a man, presumably Levi Weeks.  Also a tenant at the boarding house, Levi claimed no knowledge of Elma's whereabouts; he had been at his brother's house that night.  In early January, Elma's body was found in Manhattan Well and fingers soon pointed at Levi.  Levi's older brother, Ezra, was a successful builder.  In fact, he was involved in designing and building Gracie Mansion, the home of the mayor.  He was also working on Hamilton Grange for Alexander Hamilton and had ties with Aaron Burr.  Both men were indebted to him and he called on both to defend his brother.  The political rivals joined forces to clear Levi's name.  The author, Paul Collins, proposes that Richard Croucher, another boarder who had testified against Weeks, was the true culprit.  Hamilton himself suggested that in the trial.  The book continues after the trial, thus including the biographies of many of the characters.  Of course, Hamilton and Burr have the duel.  Despite being acquitted, Levi was unable to remain in New York and relocated to Natchez, Mississippi.  The judge of the trial was later elected mayor.  Henry Brockholst Livingston, the third member of the defense dream team, went on to be a Supreme Court Justice.
 
A true story, the book reads more like a history book than a novel.  The events are described but the characters are flat.  This is more a narration of specific events than a novelization of true events.  Nonetheless, it is engaging and provides a broad look at the city of New York at the time and a sense of the era.
 
Thumbs up.

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