Carson, Ann (d. 1824)

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Carson, Ann (d. 1824)

American criminal. Born Ann Baker; died in Walnut Street Prison, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in April 1824 (some sources cite 1838); m. John Carson; m. Richard Smith.

After 4-to-5-year absence, husband John Carson was presumed to be lost at sea; married Lieutenant Richard Smith in Philadelphia, only to have Carson reappear (c. 1815); after Carson was shot by Smith (Jan 1816), was charged with murder along with Smith; was acquitted, while Smith was sentenced to death; plotted a series of kidnappings (none of which came to fruition) to force Philadelphia governor Simon Snyder to pardon Smith; was imprisoned for the final kidnapping plan, to kidnap the governor himself, during which time Smith was hanged; released, but imprisoned again for counterfeiting; died after contracting typhoid fever while nursing other prisoners in Philadelphia's Walnut Street Prison.