On this day, Aug. 3, in 1807, former Vice President Aaron Burr went on trial before a federal court in Richmond, charged with treason.
Burr, who had shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel three years earlier, was accused of conspiring to take over land and form an independent country.
The plan allegedly was to take New Orleans and align with the British. But as Burr collected troops while traveling down the Mississippi River, a chief conspirator reported Burr’s actions to President Thomas Jefferson, who had Burr arrested.
Burr claimed he was taking possession of land in the Texas Territory leased to him by Spain.
At trial, Justice John Marshall insisted on the strict definition of treason in the Constitution, and Burr was acquitted.
– Scott McCabe
