Humour was rarely in evidence at the assizes, however almost 200 years ago, after receiving the sentence of 14 years’ transportation, the recipient, a very old man undaunted by the sentence passed upon him, chose to introduce a note of levity into the proceedings. The Proceedings of the Old Bailey website, provides further information on the variety of punishments imposed at London’s Central Criminal Court.
“At the conclusion of the Lancashire assizes, Baron Richards passed sentence of death on no less than forty four prisoners.
At the above assizes, a very old man, an Irishman, was found guilty of an offence for which he was sentenced to 14 years’ transportation. On receiving sentence, he bowed profoundly to the Court, and thanked his Lordship, for, ‘Indeed, (said he) I did not think I had so long to live, till your Lordship told me.'”
Stamford Mercury, 16th April 1819