Henry Hagert: Prosecuting Catto's Accused Killer

All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories #082, Part 2

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Henry Hagert: Prosecuting Catto's Accused Killer

Octavius Valentine Catto was a pioneering African American leader and activist in Philadelphia during the Reconstruction era, advocating for civil rights, voting rights, and racial integration. His assassination in 1871 during violent election-day riots marked a significant and tragic moment in Black American history. The prosecution of his alleged killer, Frank Kelly, was led by Henry S. Hagert, a distinguished Philadelphia lawyer and district attorney known for his meticulous legal skills.