The accounts of over 100,000 criminal trials held at London’s central criminal court, the Old Bailey, are now fully searchable on a new Web site. Posted by academics from the universities of Hertfordshire and Sheffield, the site has records of every trial to have taken place at the Old Bailey from 1674 to 1834.

Academics say the project seeks to give school pupils an “opportunity to develop the skills of historical inquiry, provide an insight into crime and the law in the 18th century and to help gain valuable skills that can be used across the curriculum.”

The site also covers the origins of the proceedings, as well as highlighting notable trials in a number of categories, such as breaking the peace, deception, killing, offences against the King (Queen), sexual offences and theft. All original documents have been reproduced as GIF files, providing a fascinating insight to as to how legal proceedings were annotated through the years.

For instance, taken from the case of John Read, deception: fraud, 12 Jul 1721: “John Read, was indicted for a Misdemeanour, in defrauding Richard Rickey of 40s. under pretence of procuring him to be made Free of the Barber Surgeons Company. Mrs. Rickey deposed, that the Prisner came to her at the Still-Yard and askt her what Business she had to shave; she told him that her Husband had a Right having been a Soldier many Years; that he told her she could not Shave unless, her Husband was Free of the Barber’s Company; that he was a Chamberlain’s Officer, and had an Action against her Husband for what she had done: that he pretended to be their Friend, and said he would procure her Husband his Freedom of that Company only paying the Charges of taking it up, which would be very small. That she saw her Husband give him half a Guinea, and she her self raised 30s. more and gave him on that Account. The Jury found him Guilty. Fined 20 Marks, and to suffer Three Months Imprisonment.”

There also documentation on crime, policing, punishments, London life, community histories, gender throughout the ages and much more.

Rob Christian, Mar 05, 03 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Educational