Christmas has come early for those who enjoy delving into the past and reading all about trials of yore. The Arts and Humanities Research Council has doubled the size of its Old Bailey Proceedings Online website to provide what they claim is the largest single source of searchable information about 'ordinary' British lives and behaviour. The site includes details of more than 197,000 criminal trials held at the famous court, from 1674 to 1913. Highlights include sagas that gripped the nation, including the intriguing trial of Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen, executed for murdering his wife in the early 1900s. Suspicions were raised when Crippen's music hall singer wife disappeared in 1910, and his mistress, Ethel le Neve, moved into the house and started wearing her clothes and jewellery. Crippen and le Neve attempted to escape to Canada - with le Neve disguised as Crippen's son - but were arrested after human remains were found in the cellar. Crippen was hanged and le Neve acquitted.


Yes, all human life (and death) is here. Other ?exotic cases feature: murder by lacing tea with arsenic; an attack on the queen; stealing a body; 'laying hands on a cow with intent'; poisoning royal fish; and 'attempting an abominable crime with a mare' (don't ask). And all this before they had even invented the anti-social behaviour order.