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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:

  1. Anna Belfrage12 November 2015 at 09:13

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

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  2. Unknown14 November 2015 at 01:06

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

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  3. Carol Hedges16 November 2015 at 11:24

    These little snippets are what enlivens one's research!

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  4. Terry Tyler18 November 2015 at 10:59

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

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    Replies
    1. Catherine Curzon6 December 2015 at 12:24

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

      Delete
  5. Stephen Baines6 December 2015 at 11:29

    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!

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  6. Stephen Barker29 February 2016 at 01:26

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

    ReplyDelete