Old Bailey records, 1674-1834

By Cory Doctorow at 10:04 pm Monday, Jul 14

Long before Rumpole haunted London's Old Bailey in John Mortimer's brilliant series of short stories (Rumpole kicks John Grisham's ass to hell and back, with his Chateau Thames Embankment and his wife, "She Who Must Be Obeyed" and his snide asides about judges and juries), British lawyers argued criminal cases before the bench. Now the full text of the proceedings of the Old Bailey from 1674 to 1834 has been put online, along with scans of the original court records:

10, 11. William Howard and James Harrison , were indicted for stealing a Pewter-Dish, value 3 s. a Pewter Bason, value 12 d. 3 Copper Sance-pans, value 10 s. 2 Copper Stew-pans, value 10 s. a Copper Tea-kettle, value 5 s. the Goods of Jacob Kendall , in the Parish of St. Botolph Aldgate, July 15.

Jacob Kendall I charge the Prisoners with breaking open a Door, and robbing me of a Pewter Bason and Dish, and other Things, between 3 and 4 in the Morning; they had moved 3 Sauce-pans, 2 Stew-pans, and a Tea-kettle, in order to carry them off. The Door they broke was adjacent to the Kitchen, and was lock'd fast. The Pewter Dish and Bason they had carry'd off a good Way. - I swear they were in my Wash-house between 3 and 4 in the Morning.

Link Discuss (Thanks, Pat!)