With special thanks to Michael Stern for his help with this article. Some books convey the impression that large numbers of children were hanged for minor crimes such as theft during the 18th and 19th centuries, but the surviving records, e.g. the Ordinary’s Reports from Newgate, do not support this. However, the laws of the … Read more
The criminal court system in England and Wales was divided into several categories of court, in order of hierarchy as follows: Petty sessions dealt with minor offences and were staffed by non-professional or lay judges, originally known as Justices of the Peace, now known as magistrates.) Quarter sessions were held four times a year and were also presided over by Justices … Read more
In England and Wales during the period 1900 to 1955, 148 women and girls were convicted of capital crimes, 146 for murder and two for espionage. Of these just 15 would be hanged.Louisa Masset was sentenced in 1899 but is included here as she was hanged in 1900 on the 6th of January at Newgate for the … Read more
Under the Prison Act of 1877, the Home Office took control of county prisons that had previously been under the control of county councils and county sheriffs. This led to the setting up of the Prison Commission in that year. Readers interested in studying the history of capital punishment in more depth may find a curated list … Read more
When a person was sentenced to death post 1868 a written copy of the sentence, signed by the Clerk of the Court was sent to the prison, along with the prisoner, as the warrant to admit the prisoner and place them in the condemned cell. This document gave no date for the execution. It should … Read more
