The History of the Last Trial by Jury for Atheism in England: A Fragment of Autobiography Submitted for the Perusal of Her Majesty's Attorney-General and the British ClergyHolyoake, George Jacob
Philosophy
The History of the Last Trial by Jury for Atheism in England: A Fragment of Autobiography Submitted for the Perusal of Her Majesty's Attorney-General and the British Clergy
Holyoake, George Jacob
Atheism -- England; Holyoake, George Jacob, 1817-1906 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Blasphemy) -- England
The preliminary proceedings at the trial I shall render as Mr. Hunt gave
them, in the third person--adding what, from various causes, was omitted
at the time.
On the morning of the trial the Court-house at Gloucester was very
crowded. Many ladies were present from all parts of the county: the
wives of clergymen, and some of the nobility, were among them, attracted
by curiosity, and by the opportunity which might never occur to them
again of hearing, without loss of caste, a little heresy defended in
person. The audience continued undiminished till ten o'clock at night.
As the name of George Jacob Holyoake was called, he advanced and entered
the dock. Mr. Ogden, the turnkey in charge of prisoners, directed him
with the usual air of official impatience to take his place at the bar.
Mr. Holyoake. Do not be in a hurry. First hand me my books.
Mr. Ogden. (Looking indignantly at a large corded box lying outside the
dock.) You can't have that box here. You must go to the bar and plead.
Mr. Holyoake. Nonsense. Hand me the box.
It being reluctantly handed up, Mr. Holyoake applied to the judge, Mr.
Justice Erskine, for the use of a table.
Mr. Justice Erskine. There is one. (He referred to some boarding behind
the bar), and there Mr. Holyoake proceeded to arrange his books and
papers--although the situation was not advantageous, it being lower than
the bar where the prisoners usually stand. Mr. Holyoake employed twenty
minutes in this operation, and when he had done, the dock resembled,
a young bookseller's stall. Mr. Holyoake then advanced to the bar and
bowed to the court.
Mr. Justice Erskine (who had waited with great patience). Are you ready?
Mr. Holyoake replied affirmatively, and the clerk proceeded to read the
indictment as follows:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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