Trials Documents

Courtroom battles often produce sensational scenes resulting in curious spectators and endless news coverage. From ancient to modern times, trials attract significant attention. This collection explores some of the most-fascinating.

John Cass - from Elmira, New York - testified during the trial of John Surratt.  He told the jury he saw John Surratt in Elmira, New York on Apri...

How did his contemporaries view the job performed by Judge Isaac Parker (sometimes known as "The Haning Judge" of Ft. Smith, Arkansas? Take a look at ...

This map depicts the country of Libya, home of Simon of Cyrene (who helped Jesus carry the cross to the hill of execution). Click on the image for a ...

Questioning by District Attorney Hosea Knowlton: Q. Give me your full name. A Lizzie Andrew Borden. Q. Is it Lizzie or Elizabeth? A Lizzie. Q. You we...

This extract, from Appendix F in Edward Payson Evan's book The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals, reflects the prosecution of loc...

Nelson Mandela, known as "The First Accused" at the Rivonia treason trial, gave this opening statement (on his own behalf) at the beginning of the tri...

This extract, from Appendix F in E.P. Evan's book The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals, reflects the prosecution of May Bugs (Co...

This table is the first of twenty-five similar tables summarizing court cases in which animals were tried as criminal defendants.  The first comp...

  Mrs. Kennedy testified before the Warren Commission on June 5, 1964.  The following is her entire testimony which she gave at her home. ...

A Naval Court of Inquiry was convened to determine whether the United States Navy, or any of its members, were responsible for America's failure to pr...

PROCEEDINGS OF NAVY COURT OF INQUIRY 341A witness called by the judge advocate entered. was duly sworn, and was informed of the subject matter of the ...

This document gives notice to the Sheriff of Boston that John W. Webster was scheduled for execution on the 30th of August, 1850. It also notes that ...

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