The Jones Case was a typical fugitive slave case in the USA. George Jones, a respectable black man, was arrested in New York in 1836, on a fictitious charge of assault and battery. He was taken before Recorder Riker and was released to his kidnappers as their property, their word being taken as sufficient evidence. This was a favourite method of kidnapping blacks for selling as slaves. Research Jones Case
Phrenology (craniology) is the study of the external form of the humanskull, as indicative of mental powers and moral qualities. It was propounded by Franz Gall, a German physician around 1796, who enumerated some thirty faculties of the humanmind. He believed the configuration of the skull to correspond closely with that of the brain, and declared that mental characteristics are recorded in relief upon the outer surface of the cranial bones. Johann Spurzheim, a disciple of Franz Gall, constructed a scalp chart, showing thirty-five areas, each of which he supposed to be associated with a special faculty. In 1807 a commission appointed by the Paris Institute to investigate the claims of Franz Gall and Johann Spurzheim reported unfavourably; but Dr George Combe of Edinburgh became a convert, and contributed largely to the temporary popularity of Franz Gall's doctrines. Franz Gall was a skilful anatomist and a careful recorder of clinical and pathological observations, and his deductions stimulated research, and in a manner led to the more accurate localisation of brain functions. Research Phrenology
Allan Gibson Steel was an English cricketer. He was born in 1858 and died in 1914. Educated at Marlborough and Trinity Hall, Cambridge he played cricket for his school and university, being captain of Cambridge in 1880, and then of the Lancashire eleven. On nine occasions he represented England against Australia, and also toured in Australia. Both a batsman and a bowler, he scored 135 and 148 not out against Australia, and in 1879 bowled unchanged throughout both innings for the Gentleman against the Players. In 1883 he became a barrister, in 1901 a KC and in 1904 recorder at Oldham. Research Allan Steel
The Common Serjeant is an ancient law officer of the City of London next in rank to the recorder. He aids the recorder at the Central Criminal Court, acts as judge at the Mayor's Court and legal adviser and counsel to the City Corporation, and performs certain functions at the election of city officers. The post is a Crown nomination. Research Common Serjeant
Sir Edward Coke was an English judge. He was born in 1552 and died in 1634. He was known as the greatest common lawyer of all time. The son of a Norfolkshire gentleman, after finishing his education at Cambridge he went to London, and entered the Inner Temple. His reputation and practice rapidly increased. He was chosen recorder of the cities of Norwich and of Coventry, knight of the shire for his county, and, in spite of the rivalship of Bacon, attorney-general. As such he conducted the prosecutions for the crown in all great state cases, notably those of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh, which Edward Coke conducted with great rancour and asperity. In 1613 he became Chief-justice of the Court of King's Bench; but his rough temper and staunch support of constitutional liberties brought him into disfavour with King James and his courtiers. In 1621 he was committed to the Tower, and soon after expelled from the privy-council.
In 1628 he was chosen member of parliament for Buckinghamshire, and greatly distinguished himself by his vindication of the rights of the Commons, and by proposing and framing the famous Petition of Rights. This was the last of his public acts. On the dissolution of the parliament he retired to his seat in Buckinghamshire, where he died. His principal works are Reports, from 1600 to 1615; Institutes of the Laws of England, in four parts; the first of which contains the celebrated commentary on Littleton's Tenures ('Coke upon Littleton'); A Treatise of Bail and Mainprise, Complete Copyholder. Research Edward Coke
Frederick Douglass was an American Negro abolitionist. He was born in 1817 at Maryland and died in 1895. He escaped from slavery in 1838 and was educated by WilliamLloyd Garrison and lectured for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society in America from 1841 until 1845 and in Europe from 1845 until 1847. He edited an abolitionist newspaper. In 1871 he was commissioner for the District of Columbia, and in 1872 was Presidential elector-at-large for New York. He was US Marshal for the District of Columbia from 1876 to 1881, and Recorder of Deeds from 1881 until 1886. From 1889 to 1891 he was US Minister to Haiti. During the American Civil War he organised two regiments of Massachusetts blacks, before writing his autobiography in 1882. Research Frederick Douglass
George Jeffreys (Baron Jeffreys, also known as Judge Jeffreys) was an English lawyer. He was born in 1648 at Acton, Denbighshire and died in 1689. Educated at St Paul's and Westminster schools and at Trinity College, Cambridge he was called to the bar in 1668 and in 1678 became recorder of the city of London, whence he was the leading figure in the persecution of the figures involved in the 'Popish Plot', the trials of the 'Rye House' plotters and of Titus Oates. In 1683 he became chief justice of the king's bench and in 1685 was made a baron. Following the revolution of 1688 he was captured while trying to flee the country and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Research George Jeffreys
Sir William Blackstone was an English jurist. He was born in 1723 at London and died in 1780. He was educated at the Charterhouse and Pembroke College, Oxford, and became fellow of All-Souls. He entered the Middle Temple in 1741, and in 1746 was called to the bar, but made little progress in the courts, though he became recorder of Wallingford. At Oxford he gave lectures on law, which suggested to Mr. Viner the idea of founding a professorship of common law at Oxford ; and Blackstone was in 1758 chosen the first Vinerian professor. In 1759 he published a new edition of the Great Charter and Charter of the Forest; and during the same year resumed his attendance at Westminster Hall with abundant success. In 1761 he was elected member of parliament for Hindon, made king's counsel and solicitor-general to the queen. He was also appointed principal of New Inn Hall; which office, with the Vinerian professorship, he soon resigned. In 1765 he published the first volume of his famous Commentaries on the Laws of England, the other three volumes being produced at intervals during the next four years. Its merits as an exposition made it for a long period the principal text-book of English law. In 1770 he was offered the post of solicitor-general, and, declining it, was knighted and made one of the justices of Common Pleas, continuing in office until his death in 1780. Research William Blackstone
The Bofors 40 Mk3 gun is a 40 mm Naval multipurpose gun with the capability to engage all types of targets. This extremely accurate gun is capable of firing any 40 mm L/70 ammunition, but the highest performance is achieved when using Bofors 40 mm 3P ammunition. The ready-to-use magazine holds a total of 101 rounds, enough for between ten and twenty engagements without reloading. The two magazine compartments can be loaded with different types of ammunition. The operator can, within a split second, switch from one compartment to the other. The Gun Main Computer (GMC) has a built-in event/activity recorder which continuously monitors all the gun-sensors, power supplies and other vital gun functions. The gun is designed for total remote control from the ship Fire Control System. Internal communication within the gun, as well as communication with other units outside the gun, is conducted via a data bus MIL-STD-1553 B. The gun features a sophisticated local control back-up mode using a low-light TV sight. Research Bofors 40 MK3
The OpTex Pen Cam is a covert surveillance camera inserted in a chunky ball pen casing, with the lens next to the pocketclip and the microphone on the top of the cap. The Pen Cam incorporates a 3. 7mm pinhole lens, a 1/3' inter line colour CCD-camera and an FET amplified microphone. The output signal travels down a cable attached to the bottom of the pen casing, which can be passed through a hole in the pocket where the pen is placed, allowing it to be concealed inside the lining of the jacket. The video and audio signals can be fed directly into a recorder or via one of the OpTex miniature 10 mW, 60 mW or 400 mW microwave transmission systems for remote parallel surveillance and/ or recording. Research OpTex Pen Cam
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Jones Case
