At a time when only white men could serve as jurors in America, Maria Ann Bickford was brutally murdered in Boston. Maria, a stunningly beautiful woman, worked and lived in a Boston brothel. Her customers were rich men who paid her well.

One of those rich customers was a married man and father who lived in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Not content just to visit Maria, Albert Tirrell left his home and family to live near her. Not content with just visits, Tirrell wanted Maria to give up her profession. She refused. Her income allowed her to be independent.

On October 27, 1845 Tirrell came to Maria's bedroom after she had spent time with a customer. Tirrell slit her throat so savagely that Maria's head was nearly severed. After he finished brutalizing Maria, Tirrell started three separate fires in the brothel. Perhaps he was trying to hide the evidence of murder. Whatever his motive, he had to be thinking clearly.

The jury didn't think he was thinking at all. Tirrell's famous lawyer, Rufus Choate, had learned that Tirrell was a known sleepwalker. Using that evidence, Choate argued Tirrell was not responsible for his actions because he was sleepwalking when he killed Maria and set the fires. It took the jury less than two hours to agree.

The Boston papers published all the details. Everyone thought Tirrell was guilty. Everyone, that is, except those who counted. Even in a second trial - this one for arson - a separate jury bought the defense of sleepwalking. Tirrell got off with no punishment. By all accounts, he spent the rest of his life a free man.