...In 1959, the execution of Starkweather was the only use of the electric chair for another thirty years. As for Caril Ann Fugate, she spent eighteen years in prison and wasn’t paroled until 1976. She broke up with Starkweather a couple days before the murder spree began. Information states that Fugate came home from school one day and found Starkweather in her home. He had been holding her family captive and threatened to kill her family if she refused to do everything he said. In the end, Charles Starkweather killed her mom, two-year-old sister, and stepfather. Fugate was not aware until she was put in prison. Fugate was fourteen when she went on the mass murder spree with Charles Starkweather. She is now seventy years old. In my opinion,...
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...Since 1973 over 130 people have been released from death row due to wrongful convictions, and that is only the tip of the iceberg. If you take into account; the multiple decades that many innocent people have sat behind bars awaiting their execution and add in the billions of dollars spent above what non-death penalty cases cost, the benefits of abolishing the death penalty outweighs the risk. Most of those, who oppose abolishing the death penalty, also feel there should be much higher standards for those who are eligible for capital punishment, however, there is no way to increase the maximum penalty for someone after they are convicted of a Capital crime. The most plausible way to prevent wrongful death penalty convictions is to abolish the death penalty completely. If we eliminate capital punishment, then we also eliminate the possibility of potentially taking an innocent life, it will also save millions of dollars every year in almost every state that still uses capital punishment, as well as save the many victims of the death penalty. It doesn't only effect those who are accused of the crime but also their; parents, children, spouses, friends ect. The cost of the death penalty is a major reason it should be abolished. The cost begins with the original trial. Jury selection alone can take over a month and there is extensive questioning about views on the death penalty to look for any bias that may become a factor in how they vote after the trial. They will...
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...Geoffrey Robertson’s, The Tyrannicide Brief is a very compelling story of a lawyer who can be attributed to shaping some very important precedents to modern laws. Robertson guides readers through the career of John Cooke. John Cooke is an attorney that is given the task of bringing charges to one of the most powerful men in the country, The King. John Cooke takes on the role of an attorney who must prove that his lord and commander is guilty of treason. John Cooke takes the opposite route in comparison to his colleagues. Rather than shy away from the duty of laying charges to Charles I, Cooke embraces this opportunity. The Tyrannicide Brief at surface appears to be about charging and eventually executing Charles I, but with the turn of each...
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...penalty is handed down for first-degree, premeditated murder. There are different forms of execution that are used today: Lethal Injection, gas chamber, electrocution, hanging, and the firing squad. Today, (USDOJ, 2010) Hanging is the oldest method of execution in the United States, and was replaced by electrocution as the most common method. There have been only 3 executions by hanging since 1977: Westley Dodd (WA, 1993), Charles Campbell (WA, 1994), and Billy Bailey (DE, 1998). “The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon, which codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes. The death penalty was also part of the Fourteenth Century B.C.'s Hittite Code; in the Seventh Century B.C.'s Draconian Code of Athens, which made death the only punishment for all crimes; and in the Fifth Century B.C.'s Roman law of the Twelve Tablets. Death sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement.” http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-i-history-death-penalty During the 1960’s, there was challenges regarding whether or not the death penalty was legal. Many believed that under the Eighth Amendment, this was considered to be “cruel and unusual punishment. Oklahoma became the first state to authorize lethal injection - currently the most common form of execution. Texas believed that lethal...
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...He put Christianity and execution hand in hand. If you didn’t believe in what he did you weren’t worthy your life. Many people were killed under his perception. He sent out pastors to the rest of Europe hoping to get more followers behind him. The Puritans were a big supporter of his teaching. There group is surrounded by the ways of Calvinism. Calvinism is a very strict, high moral and strong work ethic type of living. John Calvin ultimately created many different groups including Presbyterian and Reform church throughout the country. Many of these groups traveled to America to practice freely meaning gaining many new settlers in America, which created an even bigger mixing pot of religions to...
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...The Murder of Charles Becker Susi Robinson Brandman University Instructor: Prof Gilbertson 20 October 2012 Abstract Lt Charles Becker was a police officer in New York City during the late 19th century and early 20th century who extorted money from local brothels and gambling houses (“casinos”) located within what is now the New York Times Square. He did so all while working in internal affairs and receiving promotions. The action which led to making Lt Becker’s activities public was when a local gambler and bookmaker, “Beansie” Rosenthal got tired of Lt Becker harassing him and he went to the press and accused Lt Becker of extortion. Two days later, Mr. Rosenthal was killed. Lt Becker was accused of the murder and brought to trial and found guilty of first degree murder. The scandal surrounding him and his other illegal activities, led to his execution in the electric chair in New York’s Sing Sing Prison in 1915. He was the first police officer to be put to death for murder. In addition, the revelation of his activities led to the shock and acknowledgment of the public to the corrupt activities of police. To this day, he is the only New York City police officer put to death for murder. A. Life of Charles Becker Charles Becker was born to a German-American family in the village of Calicoon Center, Sullivan County, New York. He arrived in New York City in 1890 and went to work as a bouncer in a German beer hall...
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... the removal of the personal rule of Charles I, the increased role of parliament in conjunction with Charles, the growing support for the king, the religious divisions within parliament and the final breakdown of relations between the two branches of government were all prominent events between 1640 to 1642. The primary short term significance of the Long Parliament was the removal of the king’s ‘evil counsellors’ Strafford and Laud. Despite the impeachment of Archbishop Laud (December 1640) being important, the Strafford crisis was a much more pivotal short term consequence of the Long Parliament. Many of those in parliament and ordinary citizens were displeased with their actions such as the tyrannical imposition of the ‘Thorough’ or absolutist rule – they were men of ‘arrogant pride...deep policy, stern resolution and ambitious zeal.’ Albeit this view belongs to devout puritans Lucy and John Hutchinson, opinions from royalists concur with this as Lord Digby proves in the trial of Strafford (April 1641)that he believed him ‘to be the most dangerous minister’; hence proving that Strafford’s actions were abhorred by a variety of people, even those who supported the king. However there was some negligible support for Strafford as the introduction of the Bill of Attainder implied ‘without question they will acquit him’. The Strafford crisis and actions taken by parliament to impeach him were what made this a short term significance; Charles was stripped of his favourite minister...
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...“The world turned upside down”, explain how much you think Britain underwent a revolution in the period 1642 to 1660 After the execution of Charles I, things in radically changed. With no monarch, England had now become a republic called the Commonwealth, something the people of England had never experienced. This left many people frightened due to the extreme change, however, some embraced their freedom and began doing in what they believed in, such as forming new religious groups/cults, something they had been unable to do in the past. Many historians believe that this period was very important in British history as for the first time a monarchy was not in charge and a ‘revolution’ had taken place. In this essay I will explain why Britain underwent a revolution. Firstly, the most important change was the absence of the monarchy. After Charles I’s execution, there was no monarchy and Cromwell and the army took control over England. Also, the Rump parliament had been dismissed when Cromwell had enough of their control. This left poor stability in England, as without a leader, people didn’t know who to listen to. Cromwell became Lord Protector and didn’t rule like a usual monarch. Firstly, he rejected the crown as he didn’t believe in monarchies, Jews (which had been expelled in the 1200’s) were allowed back into England and finally, although a strict Puritan, he was tolerant to many new groups and the beliefs of others e.g. the Quakers. This showed how much Britain itself...
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...The Fall of King Charles I of England Idrees Kazi 500577940 HST 632 Dr. John Morgan Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Charles I remains one of the most debated monarchs of English history. His turbulent reign ended with a public execution. It seems as though the answer is simple, that he was a terrible king. And yet, historians argue many sides, some even favoring Charles. In fact, the reason behind Charles’ beheading is still kind of unclear. Of course he made mistakes, but then so does every monarch. Yet, Charles was the first king to be legally tried and executed. And in the 17th century, when the King was seen as God’s lieutenant on earth, executing one was unimaginable. This essay will explain why the regicides executed Charles. But first, it’s important to know a bit about Charles. Charles is known to be rigid and insensitive1 and the reason for this is partly because of his extreme belief in the Divine right of kings. He thought that God would always protect him. This can even be proven because of his inflexibility during the civil war, even while he was losing. “No matter how generous the terms or desperate his condition, the king refused to yield.”2 Charles’ personality and thinking caused more problems than they solved, and this will be proven in this essay. For now, it is important to know that the regicides believed it was necessary to kill Charles I because of his tyrannical rule, which can easily be proven by looking at his Personal Rule. The infamous...
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...over the murder and piracy charges because the offenses occurred in a Spanish ship, sailing in Spanish waters. They only gave this ruling because the Africans didn’t speak English. Once the Africans found an interpreter and told their horrific story to the judge. After that, the judge ruled that the Amistad Africans were "born free and ever since have been and still of right are free and not slaves." The United States attorney filed an immediate appeal, and the case of the Amistad was destined for the United States Supreme Court. http://www.hlla.com/reference/lawinamerica.html Charles Manson Trial A: With the Charles Manson Trails, there were the four defendants of Charles Manson, Patricia Krenwinkel ("Katie"), Leslie Van Houten and Susan Atkins (aka Sadie Mae Glutz) http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/manson/mansondefendants.html B: Charles Manson, Patricia Krenwinkel ("Katie"), Leslie Van Houten and Susan Atkins (aka Sadie Mae Glutz) were all charged with the murders of the Tate/LaBiana Trial of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Voytek Frykowski, Abigail Folger, and Steven Parent. Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were then the next two to be murdered....
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...family member? In The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, many characters are shown to be “recalled to life”. However, one man distinctly embodies this rejuvenation three times throughout the book. Charles Darnay, with the aid of his comrades, is recalled to life while on trial for treason in three individual circumstances. When Darnay is first introduced, he is on trial in England for allegedly plotting with the French and Americans against England. The general opinion in the courtroom is in agreement with this claim, and the situation does not bode well for young Darnay. Should he be pronounced guilty, any dreams or goals for his future would be shattered, for his punishment would be certain death. However, the public judgment sways after hearing the testimony of Lucie Manette, an earlier acquaintance of the accused who vouches for his kindness and honesty. Furthermore, when the lawyer for the defense reveals that a Mr. Sidney Carton bears a striking resemblance to Darnay, the accusations against the prisoner are crushed and he is acquitted of all charges. As Jerry Cruncher so aptly puts it: “Mr. Lorry handed him a paper through the throng. “Quick! Have you got it?” “Yes, sir.” Hastily written on the paper was the word “ACQUITTED.” “If you had sent the message, 'Recalled to Life,' again,” muttered Jerry, as he turned, “I should have known what you meant, this time” (Dickens) After his acquittal, Charles Darnay begins to court the idea of marrying...
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...John Milton (1608-74) Biographical notes Born into a strict Protestant family in London, Milton received an excellent education which he completed at Cambridge University. After Cambridge he dismissed a career in the Church, shocked by the corruption he saw there, and decided to concentrate on writing and studying the classics. In 1638 he travelled to France and Italy to further enhance his education and culture but returned to England after just over a year when he heard of the outbreak of the Civil War. Milton was a passionate Puritan and saw in Oliver Cromwell, leader of the Parliamentarians, not only a figure intent on suppressing Catholicism once and for all, but also one who would challenge the monarchy's belief in its divine right to rule. He was so supportive of Cromwell's cause that he gladly took office for him as Secretary for Foreign Tongues for the Commonwealth after the Parliamentarian victory. Following the Restoration, however, having been publicly on the side of the Parliamentarians during the war, he was in danger of prosecution. He was in fact imprisoned for a short period but was eventually granted a full pardon. By this time his eyesight had already begun to fail him and by 1652 he became completely blind and could continue writing only with the help of secretaries. This makes the completion of his greatest works, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, in these later years, even more extraordinary. In his final years he was cared for by his daughters...
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...viewpoints in the poem, to know the morale present in the story, and things alike. Initially, Andrew Marvell was born on March 31, 1621. His father, Reverend Andrew Marvell, was a lecturer at Holy Trinity Church and a master of the Charterhouse. He was one of the metaphysical poets during his time. Along with John Milton, Thomas Browne and others, Andrew Marvell was considered as one of the prominent English writers in the seventeenth century. In fact, he was also the assistant of John Milton, Latin Secretary for the Commonwealth. John Milton could have also influenced Marvell in writing his masterpieces. As what I have learned in our English and American Literature subject, seventeenth century encompassed several events like the succession to the throne of James, son of Mary Stuart, an outsider, after the death of Queen Elizabeth; the execution of Charles I, the son of King James, because of his overindulgence in luxury; and other events. It was also discussed to us that the writers of this period took an undeviating...
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...King Charles I's trial and, rather "sudden" death in 1649 after Parliament’s victory during the time of the Civil War was led and customarily viewed as the outstanding beginning of an age that reigns that ended with the recovery of the sovereignty in 1660. In Tyrannicide Brief, Geoffrey Robertson says, " But it has been the British way to vaguely ignore the Republic, to deplore the prosecution of the King and to pretend that the whole liberty dates from what is dubbed.. ‘the Glorious Revolution’ of 1689..." (24) Which was a great reminder of the prejudice times that were occurring that involved the significance of Charles. For a brief outcome, the days before the French Revolution, Geoffrey Robertson construed the legitimate democracy that was portrayed in England in those times, which included all of the constitutional guarantees for religious and governmental freedom. Many democracies during the twentieth century were completely involved with the court of parliament and the independence from irrational arrest. In the 1640s, the pressure that occurred at intervals of the court and king over the tariff drove them to the appeal of the Magna Carta and the independence of those individuals involved with the law that lied beneath it. When Charles adequately affirmed war on his own, he caused the...
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...British History 1550-1650 During 1550 and 1650 there were many important events in the United Kingdom. Because of the many rulers there were at the time, there were many disagreements and problems between the British people and other kingdoms. There were some changes which made people have to change their ways and even religions just to fit in with ruler’s rules. There were more difficult times than good times during the 1550 and 1650’s in the United Kingdom but it was the most important era for them. Mary I (1553-1558), Elizabeth I (1558-1603), and James I (1603-1625) were very important rulers during the 1550’s. Mary I was known because of her attempt to reverse the English Reformation and because of the many executions she made during her era. Elizabeth I was known because of the many successes achieved during her era, it was known as the “Golden Era”. James I was mostly known for being the first monarch to rule England, Ireland, and Scotland. He was also known because of the family of rulers he came from. These rulers changed many things in the United Kingdom but these were mostly successful times....
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