# Abraham Thornton — The Humbugs of the World character guide

> Abraham Thornton in The Humbugs of the World by P. T. Barnum.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Thornton

**First appearance:** 0041-xxxii

## Who they are

A man tried for murder, who used a legal humbug to escape.

## In the story

### [Ordeals—Duels—Wager of Battle—Abraham Thornton—Red Hot Iron—Boiling Water—Swimming—Swearing—Corsned—Pagan Ordeals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/chapters/xlix)

Murdered his sweetheart Mary Ashford, was acquitted due to lack of proof, then challenged his accuser to mortal combat under the obsolete 'assize of battle,' leading to his discharge.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/characters/abraham_thornton
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/characters