#old bailey

According to the less-than-reliable record of the Newgate Calendar, a witness told the court that Constantine Boone had been raised as a girl and taught needlework until she ran away to sea as a 12-year-old boy. Catherine Jones said in her defence that Constantine Boone had been exhibited as a hermaphrodite at Bartholomew Fair and other places. Constantine Boone confirmed that this was true, and other witnesses said that Constantine Boone tended to be more female than male. The jury accepted the defence – that there was no marriage since Constantine Boone was a hermaphrodite, and released Catherine Jones from the charge of bigamy.

 ‘In a dramatic escalation of tensions over the role of juries in criminal trials, a Crown Court Judge has referred 24 people, including doctors, a priest, an Olympic Gold medallist, a retired Detective Sergeant and a former Government lawyer, to the Attorney General for contempt of court for holding up signs outside court. If prosecuted and convicted the 24 could now face up to 2 years’ imprisonment.’

The signs in question simply stated:

 “Jurors have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to their conscience.”

This message is simply quoting a plaque in the Old Bailey commemorating the historic decision in the Court of Common Pleas that judges “may try to open the eyes of juries, but not lead them by the nose.” This  case “established the right of juries to give their verdict according to their convictions”.

So, although there is a plaque within the precincts of the Old Bailey for ALL to read, a judge has deemed it unlawful for the same words to be held up on placards outside the Old Bailey!

Why would a judge feel so strongly about this?

Back in February –March this year, three climate change protestors were given prison sentences. Serves then right, some would say – blocking the roads, causing a nuisance, disrupting ordinary peoples everyday business they deserve to be punished. Maybe, maybe not, but that wasn’t what they were imprisoned for.

They were imprisoned not for protesting, but for refusing to obey the judges ruling that they could not tell the jury WHY they were protesting, The judge refused them the right to explain to the jury that CLIMATE CRISIS was their motivation for protesting. When they ignored his instructions they were imprisoned for contempt of court.

It is a very sad day when a defendant cannot tell a jury the motives behind his or her actions.

 It is even more worrying when holding up a sign quoting words on display within the Old Bailey itself also becomes a criminal offence.

#OTD in 1750 – Death of highwayman, “Captain” James MacLaine.

Born in Co Monaghan, MacLaine was a notorious highwayman with his accomplice William Plunkett. He was known as the “Gentleman Highwayman” as a result of his courteous behaviour during his robberies. He famously robbed Horace Walpole, and was eventually hanged at Tyburn. The film Plunkett and Macleane was based loosely on his exploits. MacLaine was the second of two sons of an Irish Presbyterian…

ATTENTION A TALE OF TWO CITIES ENJOYERS

ALT