The British nation a history / by George MWrong . the men in each com-munity were well informed of local doings,when any one was accused, his neighbours were sum-moned to say what they knew about him. They were the jury supposed atr---nf ^;i:.tt?MaM first to judge fromtheir own knowledge,but in time they heardthe evidence of otherson points of which theywere jsersonally igno-rant, and thus the juryas wo know it was de-veloped. It was indeedrather as to personalcharacter than as tothe facts that the firstjurors gave testimony,and many a man washanged more for liisgeneral bad characterthan on ev
The British nation a history / by George MWrong . the men in each com-munity were well informed of local doings,when any one was accused, his neighbours were sum-moned to say what they knew about him. They were the jury supposed atr---nf ^;i:.tt?MaM first to judge fromtheir own knowledge,but in time they heardthe evidence of otherson points of which theywere jsersonally igno-rant, and thus the juryas wo know it was de-veloped. It was indeedrather as to personalcharacter than as tothe facts that the firstjurors gave testimony,and many a man washanged more for liisgeneral bad characterthan on evidence connecting liim with a crime. The or-deal fell into disuse after 1215, and then conviction byTrial by J^^^T ^^^ common, though the accused still jury general had tho right to refuse this kind of force his consent he was sometimes halfstarved, sometimes heavy weiglits were placed upon hisnaked cliest until from this peine forte et dure heyielded, or perhaps, died. Xot only in criminal but alsoin civil cases juries Avere . ]> CIVILIZATION IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY 145 Human life was but little respected, death was thepenalty for even trifling theft and there were holocaustsTlie frequence ^^ victims; in every year hundreds, perhapsof the death thousands, were hanged. Cattle and horsepenalty. stealing was then, as it is now in the more unsettled parts of America, a common olfence. For basercrimes there was heavier punishment than hanging. Theman who tampered with the kings coin was torn to pieces
Size: 1472px × 1698px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidc3britishnatiowest00wron
