On 21 April 1680, the Old Bailey heard two serious cases: Edward Harrison was convicted of manslaughter after a deadly dispute, while William Harding was found guilty of the rape of a young child. Both men were sentenced to death, reflecting the severity of justice in 17th-century London.
Tag Archives: historical crime london
This Day in History: April 13th, 1743
In 1743, apprentice Elizabeth Cannon and lodger Ann Ellard robbed their bedridden mistress after a night of drunken planning. Caught within hours, they confessed and were sentenced to death. This tragic Old Bailey case reveals how quickly crime, drink, and desperation could lead to the gallows in Georgian London.
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