On Sat, 8 Mar 2008 01:44:53 GMT, "Jim Heckman"
<rot13(reply-to)@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>On 6-Mar-2008, Joe <skyking995@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>wrote in message <4gsvs31k271s9afodq1d1gvg70ti7dburr@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>:
>
>> On Wed, 5 Mar 2008 23:31:38 GMT, "Jim Heckman"
>> <rot13(reply-to)@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>
>> >On 4-Mar-2008, David Downing <David.H.Downing@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>> >wrote in message
>> ><fdeb4bbe-d3de-4efd-9609-39fc46131057@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>:
>> >
>> >> I'm now watching (on DVD) the 1840 storyline, and I just got to the
>> >> part where it turns out there's an obscure law dating from the 1600s
>> >> that allows someone -- Quentin, in this case -- to be tried for
>> >> witchcraft by a tribunal. Does anyone know whether this is a real
law.
>> >> I was wondering because they even quoted the law word for word.
>> >
>> >I have no idea, but the notion that the US Constitution didn't
>> >apply because it was ratified after the law was passed was, to put
>> >it mildly, the most ludicrous legal argument I've ever heard on any
>> >TV show, bar none.
>>
>> THe constitution doesnt say anything about not trying someone because
>> of witchcraft. THere are a lot of strange laws on the books today
>> from years ago that still exist. Not enforced but exists. Could such a
>> thing happen ie someone tried for witchcraft in 1840? Maybe but it is
>> very unlikely, and I do mean very unlikely, that a very wealthy person
>> from a well known family fall into such a position.
>
>Oh, I don't think the problem was with a witchcraft trial, per se.
>Didn't the judge(s) deny Quentin something guaranteed in the Bill
>of Rights, or some such? Maybe a trial by a jury of one's peers?
>(David Downing mentioned a tribunal.)
I think they said that the law that was still on the books said that a
witchcraft trial had to be done by a tribunal or some such nonsense.
Yes the constitution does guarantee a trial by jury unless the person
on trial waves that right. Also the constitution overrules any local
law.
My point was that all of the postering was not as unbelievable as a
wealthy person from a well know family being on trial for witchcraft.
That is a very unlikely thing to happen. Impossible in my opinion for
that day and age.
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