S. M Phillipps

This is an interesting book that has stayed in print for many years. Of course, being in the public domain helps, but a number of different publishers have thought it worth issuing. Samuel March Phillips or Phillips (there seems to be some question of the exact spelling) (1780–1862), was an English civil servant who wrote several books on the law.

In the argument over the validity of circumstantial evidence, Phillips was a skeptic. He begins this volume with an essay on evidence, and then backs up his arguments with 27 cases of the law gone awry following what sometimes seems like very good circumstantial evidence. They vary in length and detail, but some are quite fascinating. Almost all, unfortunately, include the execution of the innocent suspect. Most were framed for the murder, but some were are examples of judicial folly that makes one wonder why more judges aren't impeached. The one where the judge admitted that the convicted murderer was in fact innocent, but pardon simply wasn't possible is perhaps the worst. A few innocent but unsophisticated suspects confessed believing, mistakenly, that it would save them from execution, even if convicted. Phillips' disgust for torture is quite clear.

The fourth and most famous case, and Phillips own favorite, is that of Soren Qvist, a Jutland clergyman who was so convinced by the evidence that he confessed (he was a sleep walker), only to have the supposed victim turn up years later. This is a very famous case in Denmark, and it has inspired a Danish novella and three movies, as well as two American novelists, Mark Twain and Janet Lewis.

Those who enjoy accounts of human folly, or demonstrations of the need to avoid assumptions and haste, should enjoy this book.… (altro)