Shadow of great britain

Amidst the prolonged applause, the sound of the gavel falling sounded again.

The magistrate announced with a smile on his face: "After listening to Officer Arthur's impassioned speech, I believe that everyone has a deeper understanding of the case and is more convinced of your inner judgment. Now, I declare my resignation. The court time is over, please come to your seats, gentlemen and ladies, we are going to continue hearing the case."

The lively court fell silent again. The magistrate looked at Arthur and asked with a smile: "Do you have anything else to add?"

Arthur regained his selfless expression and responded: "The demands of the Metropolitan Police Department have been fully written in the indictment, and we have submitted relevant evidence. I have nothing more to say."

The magistrate nodded and then said to the jury: "The trial process is almost complete. Then please invite the gentlemen and ladies of the jury to discuss outside the court. After the discussion is over, you must give your verdict on guilt or innocence. judgment of sin.

If you declare the defendant guilty, I will give an appropriate sentencing standard based on the defendant's performance in court and from the perspective of social morality and justice, and make a final judgment. "

At this point, the magistrate paused.

He picked up the Bible before his desk and pressed it to his heart.

He solemnly announced to the jury: "Gentlemen and ladies, I swear to God on my honor and faith that I will make a fair sentence that does not violate my conscience. Please believe in my promise."

The jurors understood the magistrate's subtext.

Although Arthur's speech just now successfully moved him, little Adam's criminal behavior was also real, so he hoped that the jury would not make an acquittal decision in violation of the law because of personal emotions.

But he also promised that even if Little Adam is found guilty, the Magistrate Court will definitely consider giving Little Adam a lighter sentence. This nine-year-old child will definitely not be hanged on the gallows.

After hearing this, the jurors were still hesitant. Although they stood up, they did not move out.

Although they knew that little Adam would be given a light sentence, they did not know what the criteria for this light sentence were.

In this era, law is an expensive knowledge that only lawyers and judges can master. Juries obviously do not have such knowledge reserves.

Mrs. Peel saw that there was no way to continue the stalemate, so she asked tactfully.

"Mr. Judge, may I ask you a legal question?"

The magistrate smiled and nodded: "Of course, it is my duty to answer the jury's questions."

Mrs. Peel thought about it for a while, and then she came up with a way of asking the question that would not embarrass the magistrate.

"Then, let me ask you, if a prisoner who has stolen more than five shillings shows a strong intention to repent and has a great sense of guilt during the trial, and he is still a minor, then the court will What kind of verdict will be made?”

"Oh! Great question!"

The magistrate replied seriously.

"I believe that when you listened to Sergeant Arthur's speech just now, you must have noticed an important figure - Lord Samuel Romilly.

Although this name may be unfamiliar to the gentlemen and ladies present, he is a big figure in our legal community and a knowledgeable jurist whom I highly respect.

Although the criminal law reform bill he proposed in 1808 did not receive full support from Parliament, some of its provisions were approved and implemented.

There is an additional exemption for juvenile offenders, which I can explain to you here.

Because juvenile offenders do not yet have complete judgment, for child offenders who commit minor crimes, other measures such as having a gypsy accompany them for a month, flogging, shackles, etc. can be used instead of prison as punishment.

For those children between the ages of 7 and 14 who have committed non-violent felonies but have a strong sense of remorse, they may consider not imposing the death penalty, but may instead be sentenced to a second-level or lower-level punishment such as exile.

But from my personal point of view, if the criminal's physical condition is poor, or he was too young when he committed the crime, which makes him unfit for exile, I will not consider using this punitive measure.

So, if it were me, say, a child offender who was convicted of theft.

If the amount involved exceeds ten shillings, the penalty is eight years' imprisonment.

If the amount involved is between five and ten shillings, the penalty is five years' imprisonment. "

The fat lady in the jury, who claimed to be the mother of three children, asked: "What if it was the theft of seven shillings and sixpence?"

"Ma'am, you are making this a little too difficult for me."

When the magistrate heard this, he hesitated for a long time, and finally answered the question: "Seven shillings and sixpence will be a sentence of four years' imprisonment."

"Four years in prison?"

When the jurors heard this, they hesitated one by one.

They still feel that this sentence is too harsh.

At this moment, Mrs. Peel suddenly spoke.

She took out a white lace parasol from her side and placed it on the table.

"Mr. Judge, could you please compare the parasol in my hand with the evidence in your hand. I suspect they may come from the same place."

"Huh?" The magistrate quickly put on his glasses: "Please hand over the things."

The bailiff quickly placed the parasol and Mrs. Peel's parasol as evidence in front of the judge.

After careful comparison, the magistrate exclaimed: "Oh my God! These two umbrellas are exactly the same. Officer Arthur, didn't the indictment say that this umbrella was only produced in one batch? Did the victim, Ms. Nancy, tell the police Did you commit perjury?"

Arthur didn't understand what was going on.

He frowned and thought, but before he could figure it out, Mrs. Peel spoke again.

"Mr. Judge, Ms. Nancy must have not committed perjury. This umbrella was indeed produced in only one batch.

Because this umbrella was specially customized by Mr. George Morris, who was just elected as a member of the House of Commons, and used it to thank his supporters.

When I saw the evidence just now, I felt it was familiar. Later, when I thought about it carefully, I remembered that on March 25, the day of the incident, I should have attended the same campaign speech rally as Ms. Nancy.

The organizer of that speech rally was Congressman Mr. George Morris. At that time, he distributed a total of one hundred umbrellas of this style to the ladies present.

He also repeatedly stated to us that this was just a small, mediocre gift to express gratitude and was not worth a lot of money. He did not intend to use it to bribe the public.

It was precisely because of Mr. Morris' repeated assurances that I accepted the umbrella.

If he had told me that the umbrella was worth seven shillings and sixpence, I would have done nothing to take it, for it would have been a stain on his innocent reputation.

If you don't believe it, I can write a letter to Mr. Morris now. I believe he will be very willing to come to court and explain the matter clearly. "