Publication
NYRB Classics (2000), Edition: Main, 576 pages
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Description
Dorothy Sayers called William Roughead "the best showman who ever stood before the door of the chamber of horrors," and his true crime stories, written in the early 1900s, are among the glories of the genre. Displaying a meticulous command of evidence and unerring dramatic flair, Roughead brings to life some of the most notorious crimes and extraordinary trials of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century England and Scotland. Utterly engrossing, these accounts of pre-meditated mayhem and miscarried justice also cast a powerful light on the evil that human beings, and human institutions, find both tempting to contemplate and all too easy to do.
User reviews
LibraryThing member quinncannon
For true crime and mystery buffs, especially those with an interest in legal trials and arguments. Mr. Roughead was a Scottish solicitor who wrote extensively on Scotland's most infamous and famous criminals. This collection includes Burke and Hare, Madeleine Smith and Dr. Pritchard, and 9 other
"It is hard to account for the spell which even unto this day Madeleine Smith unquestionably casts upon her votaries. Hers was an unlovely nature; false, self-centred, wholly regardless of the rights and feelings of others, so far as these conflicted with her own desires; and her treatment of her blameless suitor, Mr. Minnoch, was flagrantly perfidious." If, like me, you like your facts presented with a strong adjectival sauce, and just can't live without a dash of "perfidy", then you'll have a great, ghoulish time.
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cases primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries. Will you enjoy it? Try this sample of Mr. Roughead's writing style:"It is hard to account for the spell which even unto this day Madeleine Smith unquestionably casts upon her votaries. Hers was an unlovely nature; false, self-centred, wholly regardless of the rights and feelings of others, so far as these conflicted with her own desires; and her treatment of her blameless suitor, Mr. Minnoch, was flagrantly perfidious." If, like me, you like your facts presented with a strong adjectival sauce, and just can't live without a dash of "perfidy", then you'll have a great, ghoulish time.
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LibraryThing member MapleSophia
I really enjoyed this book. It's a bit of a long haul to read all the way through, but individually the stories are fun and give a great glimpse into crime and punishment of the past. There were several cases that I would wanted to know more about, which I suppose is the best possible endorsement
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for true crime lovers. Show Less
LibraryThing member Pencils
In the early 20th century, solicitor William Roughead reported on notable British trials of the past and present. In Classic Crimes he provides interesting and detailed accounts of the people, actions and events leading up to each crime; moving on to the investigation, presentation of evidence,
On the topic of his main preoccupations - justice and the law - he is fierce; he is outraged at the misuse and abuse of justice, whether at the hands of the accused, witnesses, police, counsel or judge. This is particularly evident in his reporting of 'The Slater Case'.
HIs narrative is a like a long rambling legal after dinner story; he's also fond of using commas and lengthy sentences. It gives the writing a Victorian air which I liked, as if Mr Rattisbon jumped out a Ngaio Marsh novel, a little bit tipsy, and began to tell you a story.
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legal arguments and results at trial. He seems to be careful to only present established facts, but it is always clear what his own opinion is and where his sympathies lie. I found his sly wit and biting observations entertaining. On the topic of his main preoccupations - justice and the law - he is fierce; he is outraged at the misuse and abuse of justice, whether at the hands of the accused, witnesses, police, counsel or judge. This is particularly evident in his reporting of 'The Slater Case'.
HIs narrative is a like a long rambling legal after dinner story; he's also fond of using commas and lengthy sentences. It gives the writing a Victorian air which I liked, as if Mr Rattisbon jumped out a Ngaio Marsh novel, a little bit tipsy, and began to tell you a story.
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LibraryThing member arubabookwoman
Read 1/12
"They say that even of a good thing you can have too much. But I doubt it...{T}o my mind, one cannot have too much of a good murder."
Roughead was a crime reporter in Edinburgh for many years in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During that time he attended every criminal trial of
I found much of each narrative to be repetitive. For each of the major witnesses, Roughead reports, often verbatim, what the witness initially told investigators, what he said in later interviews (sometimes several), what he said to others, and what he said at trial. Very often there is only a little variation, as Roughead painstakingly analyzes and compares the similarities and differences of all the various witnesses. As an attorney, I understand that the specific words used by a witness, and all the nuances of various statements are important in establishing the credibility of or impeaching a witness. And perhaps in contemporaneous day-to-day reportage this type of detail was appropriate. However, in a compilation such as this, I would have preferred perhaps a little more amalgamation of the various statements and testimony, with the author briefly commenting on similarities and discrepancies, instead of reciting numerous statements word-for-word. This repetitiveness made it difficult for me to maintain my concentration on the book.
There are some very interesting facts included in the book. For example, I learned that trials used to proceed non-stop, 24 hours a day, until resolved. Some cases went on for days, which meant that basically no one would be paying attention for large portions of the trial. I was also disconcerted to learn that a defendant could be found guilty and sentenced to death on a jury verdict of 8--guilty, 7--not proven.
I also was much taken with Roughead's literary style. He uses formal Victorian/Edwardian language, and we are never quite sure when he is being intentionally humorous and pulling our leg, or when he is serious. For the most part, I think the humor was intentional and this kept me reading. For example:
"Although in her private capacity of friend and relative of the prisoners {the witness} had told extra-judicially everything she could against them.., she is said to have shrunk from the painful necessity of swearing to her story in the witness box. She therefore disappeared from the Ken of the Lord Advocate...."
or the delightfully understated:
"To poison a person in such a condition seems, to the lay mind, a superfluity of naughtiness."
and
"No sooner had he insured this mansion against fire than it was burnt down. Such accidents will happen in the best of families."
or one of my favorites, describing the two criminals who murdered, and sold the cadavers to a medical school for dissection:
"The firm of Burke and Hare--purveyors-extraordinary to Surgeon's Square, began business in earnest. During the nine months of their joint adventure they successfully carried through sixteen capital transactions. These at least were all that their natural modesty would allow them to claim, but there is reason to believe that they had other affairs to their credit. The firm kept no books...."
"They say that even of a good thing you can have too much. But I doubt it...{T}o my mind, one cannot have too much of a good murder."
Roughead was a crime reporter in Edinburgh for many years in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During that time he attended every criminal trial of
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significance in that city. This book includes his analysis of many of those trials, as well as of other earlier notorious crimes. The book is arranged in chapters, each devoted to a particular crime, roughly arranged in chronological order. I found much of each narrative to be repetitive. For each of the major witnesses, Roughead reports, often verbatim, what the witness initially told investigators, what he said in later interviews (sometimes several), what he said to others, and what he said at trial. Very often there is only a little variation, as Roughead painstakingly analyzes and compares the similarities and differences of all the various witnesses. As an attorney, I understand that the specific words used by a witness, and all the nuances of various statements are important in establishing the credibility of or impeaching a witness. And perhaps in contemporaneous day-to-day reportage this type of detail was appropriate. However, in a compilation such as this, I would have preferred perhaps a little more amalgamation of the various statements and testimony, with the author briefly commenting on similarities and discrepancies, instead of reciting numerous statements word-for-word. This repetitiveness made it difficult for me to maintain my concentration on the book.
There are some very interesting facts included in the book. For example, I learned that trials used to proceed non-stop, 24 hours a day, until resolved. Some cases went on for days, which meant that basically no one would be paying attention for large portions of the trial. I was also disconcerted to learn that a defendant could be found guilty and sentenced to death on a jury verdict of 8--guilty, 7--not proven.
I also was much taken with Roughead's literary style. He uses formal Victorian/Edwardian language, and we are never quite sure when he is being intentionally humorous and pulling our leg, or when he is serious. For the most part, I think the humor was intentional and this kept me reading. For example:
"Although in her private capacity of friend and relative of the prisoners {the witness} had told extra-judicially everything she could against them.., she is said to have shrunk from the painful necessity of swearing to her story in the witness box. She therefore disappeared from the Ken of the Lord Advocate...."
or the delightfully understated:
"To poison a person in such a condition seems, to the lay mind, a superfluity of naughtiness."
and
"No sooner had he insured this mansion against fire than it was burnt down. Such accidents will happen in the best of families."
or one of my favorites, describing the two criminals who murdered, and sold the cadavers to a medical school for dissection:
"The firm of Burke and Hare--purveyors-extraordinary to Surgeon's Square, began business in earnest. During the nine months of their joint adventure they successfully carried through sixteen capital transactions. These at least were all that their natural modesty would allow them to claim, but there is reason to believe that they had other affairs to their credit. The firm kept no books...."
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0940322463 / 9780940322462
Physical description
576 p.; 5.02 inches
Pages
576