ARTICLE: Trial By Newspaper in 1823

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It’s been a while, so I thought I would bring you another dastardly tale from the collection of ‘notable trial’ books I discovered. Originally published just before the First World War, each one was selected for its wider importance as well as the crime. This one was picked as it ‘was almost the last famous trial to take place under the old Tudor procedure, rightly described by the presiding judge as "inquisitorial." It was also arguably the first trial to have been impacted by the press. It was certainly the first one to fraise the question of press responsibilities in covering such a trial.

So without further ado, I bring you the tale of John Thurtell, ‘like many another graceless scamps, ‘the son of well-to-do, preeminently respectable, God-fearing parents of the middle class…’

(Wikipedia)

The quotes get better, so I’ll use as many as possible. Born in 1794 on the outskirts of Norwich, he was, ‘as the worst behaved child generally is, the favourite of his mother.’ If he was educated, it didn’t really take, as his later correspondence revealed a low level of literacy. ‘Throughout life he was choleric, vindictive, generally silent in company, and with no conversation beyond bawdy and blasphemy.’

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