cchris

I came across this and found it interesting to say the least.
Posted only to see viewpoints expressed and as an item of importance in history.

A fully searchable online edition of the largest body of texts detailing the lives of non-elite people ever published, containing accounts of over 100,000 criminal trials held at London's central criminal court.

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The period from 1674 to 1834 witnessed the transformation of policing in London from a system reliant on private individuals and part-time officials for apprehending criminals to the development of salaried officials and semi-official "thief-takers", and eventually a modern professionalised police system. In the process the mechanisms by which the people tried at the Old Bailey were identified and apprehended was radically transformed, and ultimately brought under the control of the state.

Non Compos Mentis
Defendants could argue in their defence that they were not responsible for the crime, owing to the fact that they were not of sound mind, and therefore could not be held responsible for their actions. In order for this argument to be accepted, the defendant had to have a total lack of reason and understanding, to be totally unable to understand the difference between right and wrong. Jurors accepted this argument in approximately half the cases in which it was made, leading to this verdict. After 1800 the standards applied in such cases became less rigorous, and acquittal rates increased. For example, it became accepted that even if a crime was rationally planned, the defendant could still be found not guilty if he didn't understand right from wrong. In a small number of such trials medical testimony was provided.



ON THIS DAY IN 1737.
Hans MacConnel allegedly murdered a woman and child by nearly cutting their heads off.

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The Proceedings of the Old Bailey London

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There's a fine line between participation and mockery

YourNeverThere

strange, being a thief-taker must have been cool

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The Above post is a direct quote from Shakespeare

krwlz

Its not all that differant here and today. Look at OJ....

Mad_Gecko

Funny thing is, I think they want to also supplement our beleagured Police Force by "encouraging" (no money, just a pat on the back and a "good citizen" star) private citizens to report their neighbours. What a crock of shit. One of the things I loved about the UK when I first moved here that it was so "keep yourself to yourself". When I was in college we'd have a spliff on the buses or in the street and no-one would run to a copper or make too much of a fuss. Funny how the gov. are trying to go back to how it was instead of looking forward.

Would really hate it to become a "puritanical" ethos again.

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[color=bright blue]W[/color]e Stick To Glass

"If three of us travel together, I shall find two teachers."
Confucious