All articles by James Morton – Page 5
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NewsVexing case of law’s serial suer
While there is doubtless fierce competition for the title of most annoying lawyer, the winner – by a margin – must be one-time Bedford Row solicitor Alexander Chaffers.
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NewsOut of Africa and back for a coup
I arrived on an overnight plane to observe trials in a country where a coup had been thwarted.
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NewsBar’s jimmer in the box seat
Jimmering – to get a free or better seat than that paid for – seems to have begun in the 1930s.
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NewsBench jury trials for the lockdown
The outcry against the idea of three-day jury trials during the lockdown was justified. Would jurors, sitting in what seem generally to be regarded as insanitary conditions, have become vulnerable after only 21 hours in court plus a few hours in their room? With the greatest respect (as we ...
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NewsTwiss in the tale of criminal libel
In 1871 a Bedford Row solicitor began hounding the wife of an international lawyer.
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NewsStumped for justice in Africa
Monidipa Fouzder’s summary eviction from a court reminds me of difficulties I encountered when trying to observe trials in an African jurisdiction.
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NewsThe problem with experts
Some expert witnesses are lured into giving evidence they live to regret. Others simply find themselves in the wrong case.
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NewsBattle of writs in trial showdown
In 1817, an acquitted man rearrested in connection with a rape and murder elected Trial by Battle.
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NewsQueen of crime does a runner
The lawyers of New York receiver Marm Mandelbaum weren’t baffled by their client’s disappearance in 1884 - they orchestrated it.
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NewsStreetwise stipes clubbing together
London magistrates liked their clubs, making sure their lists finished by 12.30.
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NewsBite mark leaves clue to murder
A half-eaten apple was found in the room of actress and prostitute Clara Buswell, who was stabbed to death on Christmas Eve 1872.
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NewsA tale of two squirrels
How should we react to the suggestion that the dying breed of grey squirrels (‘lay justices’) should be given a transplant by the creation of a sub-breed (‘paid lay justice’)?
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NewsDown and out at the law crammer
My old alma mater, of which I am apparently one of the oldest living graduates, appears to have moved up in the world.
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NewsTrickster painted into a corner
19th century 'spiritualist' met her match in the form of great New York criminal lawyer ‘Big Bill’ Howe.
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NewsHangman’s brush with the law
Born in Rochdale in 1874, hangman John Ellis took his duties seriously. In July 1910, when only an assistant, he fought with Henry Pierrepoint who turned up drunk at Chelmsford for the execution of Frederick Foreman.
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NewsOld Fox’s silver lining for Liberace
Shabby silk Gilbert ‘Old Fox’ Beyfus wasn’t to be underestimated.
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NewsArsenic and an old case
As a recent fraud case proved, expert witnesses can cause great trouble.
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NewsRinger with a nose for villainy
For sheer villainy on the turf nothing can really compare to the 1844 running of the Derby for three-year-olds.