The Genuine Trial of Thomas Paine for a libel
Type
Book
Authors
Category
Publication Year
1792
Publisher
Tags
Description
The genuine trial of Thomas Paine: for a libel contained in the second part of Rights of man; at Guildhall, London, Dec. 18, 1792, before Lord Kenyon and a special jury: Taken in short-hand by E. Hodgson.
The trial of Thomas Paine was unique in that the defendant was not in custody and not even within the jurisdiction of the trial court. The trial took place in London on December 18, 1792. The indictment charged Paine with the publication of a seditious libel in the form of his pamphlet entitled The Rights of Man." Attorney-general Archibald Macdonald "explained in the trial that he had not prosecuted the first part, because he thought that it would only reach the 'judicious reader.' The second had been industriously circulated in all shapes and sizes. The real reason was obvious. The respectable classes had taken alarm at the events in France. Despite the brilliance of Paine's attorney, Thomas Erskine, Paine was found guilty, declared an outlaw and the Rights of Man contraband.
The trial of Thomas Paine was unique in that the defendant was not in custody and not even within the jurisdiction of the trial court. The trial took place in London on December 18, 1792. The indictment charged Paine with the publication of a seditious libel in the form of his pamphlet entitled The Rights of Man." Attorney-general Archibald Macdonald "explained in the trial that he had not prosecuted the first part, because he thought that it would only reach the 'judicious reader.' The second had been industriously circulated in all shapes and sizes. The real reason was obvious. The respectable classes had taken alarm at the events in France. Despite the brilliance of Paine's attorney, Thomas Erskine, Paine was found guilty, declared an outlaw and the Rights of Man contraband.
Number of Copies
1
