# "On this day in 1724..." Old Bailey Proceedings On-line - Rumpole would be Proud **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 13, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230 "2003-07-13T20:42:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/1 "2003-07-13T20:42:44Z")
Four decades worth of the 18th century proceedings of the Old Bailey, London’s main criminal court, are now available on-line: [The Proceedings of the Old Bailey On-line](http://www.oldbaileyonline.org.uk/). You can search the proceedings of the main London criminal court from nearly three centuries ago and find out all sorts of neat stuff. I particularly like their “On this day in …” feature. For example, on July 8, 1724: > [@](#): > > Lawrence Simpson , of the Parish of St. Sepulchres, was indicted for privately stealing a Hat and Wig, value 20 s. from the Person of Christopher Longwood the 25th of May last. The Prosecutor depos’d, that as he was going down Cow-Lane, about Eleven a-Clock at Night, he stopp’d to make Water. and his Hat and Wig were snatch’d off from his Head, he turn’d and saw the Prisoner running, he pursu’d the Prisoner, and saw him throw it into the Sheep pens, but he overtook him, and apprehended him. Nehemiah Richardson confirm’d the former Evidence, and that the Hat and Wig were found in the Sheep-pens, where the Prisoner had thrown them. The Prisoner deny’d the Fact, and call’d a great many to his Reputation, who gave him a good Character. The Jury acquitted him. There’s a story right there: why was Christopher Longwood “making water” in an alley at 11 o’clock at night? one too many ales at the ale-house? a weak bladder? was he cogitating on what the missus would say when he got home? And why did the jury acquit? Did they trust the character witnesses? just didn’t like something in the prosecutor’s story? Were the Hat and Wig any good after being thrown in the sheep-pens? I intend further browsing… ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/2 "2003-07-13T23:15:34Z")
You done good. I posted the link to the American Dialect Society Mailing List, to which no one had previously offered this link. How, praytell, did you discover it? Again, good job. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/3 "2003-07-13T23:23:10Z")
Brilliant site. I eagerly await the addition of the cases from the latter half of the 18th century. Thanks for the heads-up, **Northern Piper**! ---
**Author:** ![Publius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Publius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Publius)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/4 "2003-07-13T23:25:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Northern Piper \* > \*\* > And why did the jury acquit? Did they trust the character witnesses? \*\* Maybe they didn’t actually believe he was innocent, but didn’t want to hang a man who otherwise seemed to be an agreeable fellow. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/5 "2003-07-13T23:49:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \* > \*\*How, praytell, did you discover it? > > Again, good job. \*\* Can’t claim any special credit - a friend e-mailed it to me. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/6 "2003-07-14T00:20:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe they didn’t actually believe he was innocent, but didn’t want to hang a man who otherwise seemed to be an agreeable fellow. Makes you want to reconsider the “trial by your peers” almost. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/7 "2003-07-14T02:17:40Z")
Terrific link! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/8 "2003-07-14T02:33:16Z")
Luke Piper, theft; Richard Piper, simple grand larceny; Samuel Piper, highway robbery; Norther Piper, lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/9 "2003-07-14T02:37:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Northern Piper \* > \*\*And why did the jury acquit? \*\* Given the abusurdly harsh sentences of the time, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were often acquittals simply to avoid such sentences. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/10 "2003-07-14T03:44:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muffin \* > \*\*Luke Piper, theft; > Richard Piper, simple grand larceny; > Samuel Piper, highway robbery; > Northern Piper, lawyer. \*\* hmm - I’m not sure I like the trend… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/11 "2003-07-14T11:55:57Z")
## quote: ## Originally posted by Muffin Luke Piper, theft; Richard Piper, simple grand larceny; Samuel Piper, highway robbery; Northern Piper, lawyer. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Northern Piper \* > \*\*hmm - I’m not sure I like the trend… \*\* Have you ever noticed **Northern Piper** ’s beady, close-set lil eyes? 😃 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/12 "2003-07-14T12:44:29Z")
Great link, **Northern Piper**. The article on [punishments](http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/history/crime/punishment.html) is both horrifying and fascinating. > [@](#): > > \*\*People convicted of notorious crimes such as attempted sodomy, seditious words, extortion, fraud, and perjury were punished publicly in the pillory as a way of destroying the reputation of the convict and signalling public distaste for the crime. > > … > > In some cases of seditious words, however, the crowd applauded the convict, pelted him with flowers, and collected money to present to him after his release. \*\*Hee! ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/13 "2003-07-14T15:21:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muffin \* > \*\*Given the abusurdly harsh sentences of the time, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were often acquittals simply to avoid such sentences. \*\* Jury nullification flourished in the 17- and 1800’s during the period of “The Bloody Code,” which mandated a death sentence for many crimes, including the theft (even without violence) of more than 40 pounds in cash or goods. (The traditional view is that this widespread nullification eventually caused the reform of the penal law, although some current researchers believe that the reform was independently motiviated and not related to the frequent nullification.) But IIRC the Bloody Code wasn’t enacted until the 1730’s. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-this-day-in-1724-old-bailey-proceedings-on-line-rumpole-would-be-proud/188230/14 "2003-07-14T16:02:10Z")
Thank you for the link. Some lottery money well spent.