To: Liatris Spicata who wrote (7338 ) 10/24/2001 5:27:18 PM From: Bilow Read Replies (1) | Respond to Hi Larry T. Sherwood; Re hanging kids for stealing. Thanks for the correction. Obviously growing up in the US has left me with some indoctrinated prejudices against the British. In these kinds of things we sometimes have the option of deciding for ourself whether we think something was likely or not, and I think that in this case my statement was unlikely. But for those who want to accuse the British of hanging children there are plenty of links:English Resources (UK)Children did not have any rights or protection under the law until later in the century. Parents could do what they pleased with their children, since they thought of them as their property. Children could be bought or sold at a whim: boys into a trade such as chimney sweeping, or girls into prostitution. The law treated children equally as harshly as adults. Once past the age of seven, children might be hanged for committing a crime. The theories vary greatly on how widespread these torturous types of treatment were. "englishresources.co.uk [page 9]Before Victorian times no distinction was made between criminals of any age. Accordingly, young children could be sent to an adult prison. There are records of children aged 12 being hanged. "learningcurve.pro.gov.uk They hanged a boy of twelve in 1299 for killing a girl of five, but that was wildly untypical. In fact, medieval lawyers laid the foundations of modern practice, that children up to fourteen should normally be incapable of punishment for crimes. "ex.ac.uk
