Sylvester Thornton's Case
| Jurisdiction | England & Wales |
| Judgment Date | 01 January 1824 |
| Date | 01 January 1824 |
| Court | Crown Court |
English Reports Citation: 168 E.R. 955
Crown Cases
S. C. 1 Mood. C. C. 27. Referred to, R. v. Gilles, 1866, 14 W R 845; Ibrahim v. R., [1914] A C 599
Lancaster Sp. Assizea, 1824. sylvester thobnton's case (A confession obtained from a person in illegal custody admitted ) [S. C. 1 Mood. C. C. 27. Keferred to, R. v. GiUes, I860, 14 W R 845 ; Ibrahim v. R., [1914] A C 599 ] Prisoner, a boy of fourteen years of age, was indicted for arson, and convicted n his own confession. The circumstances under which the confession was obtained were as follows .- The prisoner was apprehended without any warrant, between twelve and one o'clock in the day, and was carried to the police office about one [50] Tne magistrates were then sitting near at hand, and continued to sit till between two and three ; but the prisoner was not carried before them, because the police office! was engaged elsewhere. Between four and five, the officer, of his own authority, ordered the prisoner to Bridewell; and, between five and six, he said to the prisoner, that, in consequence of the falsehood he had told him, and the prevarications he had made, there was no doubt he had set the premises on fire , and he, therefore, asked him, if any person had been concerned with him, or induced him to do it. The prisoner said he had not done it. The police officer replied, that he could not have told so many falsehoods as he had, if he had not been concerned in it; and he again asked him if any body had induced him to do it. In speaking of the falsehoods, the police...
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R v Silvester Thornton
... ... In Trinity Term, 1824, the Judges met and considered this case, and the majority of the Judges present, viz. Abbott Ld. C J , Alexander C. B , Graham B , Park J., ... ...