more on courts and crime

but with the pleasurable distance of a few centuries. Through the New York Times this morning I found The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, London 1674 to 1834, where there are records of over 100,000 criminal trials. If I didn't have 200 more pages to proof of the textbook that will not come to life, I would be there for a few more good hours.

It doesn't take long, however, to find that even over a few centuries not much changes, as with my preceding post:

"There was a French Man also tryed for a Rape; pretended to be Committed on his Maid-Servant, upon the Tryal she gave Evidence that she was one Morning about her business, and her Master arose and as she said took her Virginity from her, being askt what she meant by that, she answered her Maidenhead; but it appearing to the Court, that she had not acquainted any one of it till three days after it was pretended to be done, nor had not accused her Master for it till above three weeks after, he was found not Guilty, and so acquitted."

Man, sexual offences : rape, 29th April, 1674.

And I am back to proofreading, with less lilt and more extended memory.