Charges Of Treason Research Articles

At the Murderer's Touch

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ.' The popular superstition that the blood of a murdered person would flow when the corpse was touched by the murderer was wide spread and is not yet dead. In an interesting Scottish case, the alleged flow of blood of a dead man was adduced as evidence to procure the conviction of the son of the deceased for Treason and Abetting Murder. On February 6, 1688, Philip Stansfield was arraigned at Edinburgh before the Earl of Linlithgow, Lord Justice General, and the other Lords Commissioners on a charge of High Treason that he did in the Kitchen of New-Milns, as a most Villainous and avowed Traytor, begin a Health to the Confusion of His Majesty (King James VII) his Native Sovereign and cause others . . . to drink the same. He was charged the same Indictment with Murder under Trust . . . punishable as Treason, as well as with Cursing . . . his Father . . . punishable with Death.2

Curious charge of treason

Curious charge of treason

Curious charge of treason

Curious charge of treason

Curious charge of treason

Curious charge of treason