Wednesday 11 November 2015

A Report of Bigamy

Whilst doing a little research recently I cam across a marvellously pithy bit of journalism. From the Portsmouth Telegraph or Mottley's Naval and Military Journal, 5th May 1800, the gentlemen of the press give us their take on the matter of a suitable punishment for bigamy.
A man, named London, at Coventry, was lately sentenced to two years solitary confinement for Bigamy. They certainly have allowed him time for repentance; but as this is an offence and growing magnitude, might it not have been wise to render the punishment proportionable terrible, and locked up his three wives with him?
I shall refrain from any further comment...


Clipping

12 comments:

Anna Belfrage said...

That would have been a sight...three women who would probably have banded together :)

Catherine Curzon said...

Serves him right!

Unknown said...

It think the experience would deter him from further crime :) Love your cuttings!

Catherine Curzon said...

There're some wonderful stories!

Carol Hedges said...

These little snippets are what enlivens one's research!

Catherine Curzon said...

And cheer the day!

Terry Tyler said...

That's hilarious!!!! Trouble is, it makes me want to know what happened next :)

Stephen Baines said...

18th-century newspapers were full of such whimsical comments, as this trigamy cutting shows. Some people imagine there were no such quasi-frivolous quasi-serious contributions before Facebook!

Catherine Curzon said...

Oh, I know! Sadly, I haven't been able to find any mention of them after this date.

Catherine Curzon said...

I can lose many, many hours in the newspapers!

Stephen Barker said...

That is the problem with newspapers you start reading them and get sidetracked with minor but interesting stories.

Catherine Curzon said...

It happens to me *all* the time...