The Killing of John Sharpless

The Pennsylvania historian “deftly investigates turn-of-the-century law (such as it was) to find fresh answers” in a controversial 19th century murder ( Main Line Today ). On a stormy November evening in 1885, John Sharpless answered a knock on his door. Less than an hour later, he was found dead in his barn from a blow to the back of the head; his bloodstained hat lay next to him on the ground. A three thousand dollar reward for the killer sparked an overzealous bounty hunt across southeastern