This trial was the result of a conflict between the Michigan Central Railroad, who refused to pay full value of farmers’ cattle killed by its trains, and farmers in Jackson county who were accused of having sabotaged the railroad in retaliation. There were initially 50 defendants in southern Jackson county, led by Abel Fitch of Michigan Center. Fitch and a couple of others died in prison during the trial.

William H. Seward, who would later serve as Lincoln’s Secretary of State, represented the defendants.