Yesterday I stumbled across a genuinely fascinating site: Proceedings of the Old Bailey. The site, sponsored by the Universities of Herefordshire and Sheffield, has digitized and made searchable the entire proceedings of the court from 1674 through 1834. So far (they’re working on updating the proceeding to cover cases up to 1913).
Here’s the text from the first capital case tried by the court in 1674:
Amongst the Criminals, John Randal may be reckoned one of the most Notorious, who was charged with two Indictments, one for Fellony for stealing several pieces of Plate, and other Goods belonging to Esq; Blacke , and the other for Murder, Killing his House-Keeper . The Case appeared briefly upon Evidence thus; This Randal having been formerly Butler to the Squire, took his opportunity when he and all the rest of his family were out of Town, to visit this woman, and there in the Evening Murthered her, and rifled the House, carrying several pieces of Plate away to his Lodging in White-Cross-Street. And coming two days after to a Rag-Shop, being next Door, he was taken upon Suspicion, and upon search of his Lodging, the Plate was found in his trunck, whereupon he Confessed that he Knockt the woman Down with his fist, and that he committed the Robbery, &c. Yet now at the Bar he Pleaded, Not Guilty, to both Indictments. But upon Reading his aforesaid Confession, at his Examination before the Justice ah Commited him, and the Evidence that he was the last seen go into the House that Night the Murther was Commited, and proof of the taking the stoln Plate in his Trunk as aforesaid, he was Convicted and Sentenced to Dye .
There are a remarkable number of cases involving women accused of killing their newborn infants.
