The Bloody Register

Part sensationalist crime literature, part police and witness reports, and part accounts of judicial proceedings, these four volumes were originally published in 1764 and cover over sixty years of crimes in England, from 1700 to 1764. It is a collection of the most remarkable trials for
* murder
* treason
* rape
* sodomy
* highway robbery
* piracy
* house-breaking
* perjury
* forgery and other crimes and misdemeanors.
Not only do the volumes make fascinating reading, they also give a remarkable insight into issues that are still pertinent today, such as the effectiveness of trial by jury, the extent of a judge's power in court, and the role gender plays in getting a fair trial or being treated as a reliable witness.