Ruth Lott

The Retelling of the Trial of the Century Ruth Lott

The farmers, millworkers and blacksmiths of rural Gloucester County, New Jersey began another busy day. It's April 1820 and this quiet community was seldom disturbed by crime or violence. The churches and Quaker meetinghouses were filled on Sundays. But suddenly, a loud shot was heard. People start yelling and familiar figures began gathering on the main road to town. Soon the tragic news spread-a farm worker named John Gooby had shot and killed his neighbor, George Tiller. Gooby was arrested and charged with murder. He did not deny killing his former friend. His trial and eventual execution became an early American "Crime of the Century." A decade later, one of the eyewitnesses to these tragic events tried to explain them to his curious children. The author of this book is a direct descendant of that eyewitness. -- Robert H. Penn, Penn Family Historian