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Browsing: Legal Papers of John Adams, Volume 3
Paine's Minutes of Auchmuty's Argument for the Defense1
27 October 1770
Docno: LJA03d010
Date: 1770-10-27
Auchmuty.
Something horrid in agitation by the Bells ringing.
I have but little Charity for those that can only see on one side.
{p. 89}
Palmes Evidence may be opposed to all the Crown Evidence.
Positive Evidence always outweighs negative.
Persons Surrounded by threatening People may in Certain Cases defend themselves.
1 H. p. 71, ch. 28, §14. Killing dangerous Rioters is Lawful.2
§23. In endeavouring to defend himself and in suppressing dangerous Rioters.3
Ch. 29, §13 Hom, se defen.4
§165
They were on their duty, and in extremity.
Foster p. 292. Steadman's Case.6
Key. 135. bott[om]. If one man in angry words.7
1 H.H.C. 485. 6. Harcot's Case.8
Cr. Char. 538. Coke Case.9
1. Paine Massacre Notes. See Descriptive List of Sources and Documents. JA's much less complete minutes follow (MHi: MS I):
“Mr. Auchmuty's Authorities.
“1. Hawk. c. 28. §14. page 71. §23. §21.
“1. Hawk. c. 29. §13. Homicide se defendendo.
“Foster 292. Stedmans Case.”
2. 1 Hawkins, pleas of the Crown
71, c. 28, §14.
3. See note
29
115
above.
4. 1 Hawkins, Pleas of the Crown
74–75, c. 29, §13:
“Homicide se defendendo . . . seems to be where one, who has no other possible Means of preserving his Life from one who combats with him on a sudden Quarrel, or of defending his Person from one who attempts to beat him, (especially if such Attempt be made upon him in his own House,) kills the Person by whom he is reduced to such an inevitable Necessity.”
5. 1 Hawkins, pleas of the Crown
75, c. 29, §16: “[A]n Officer who kills one that resists him in the Execution of his Office, and even a private Person, that kills one who feloniously assaults him in the Highway, may justify the Fact without ever giving back at all.”
6. Foster, Crown Cases
292, reports Rex v. Stedman (Old Bailey 1704), which holds that a soldier struck by a woman in the face with an iron patten so that the blood ran, was guilty of no more than manslaughter for subsequently killing her. “The Smart of the Man's Wound, and the Effusion of Blood might possibly keep his Indignation boiling to the Moment of the Fact.”
8. 1 Hale, Pleas of the Crown
485–486, discusses Harcourt's Case, holding that one who from within a house kills another who is attempting to enter, is guilty of manslaughter (and not entitled to plead self-defence) because his life was not endangered by those on the outside.
Cite web page as: Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses, ed.C. James Taylor. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2007.
http://www.masshist.org/ff/
http://www.masshist.org/ff/