The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals

A historical account written in the early 20th century. The book delves into the fascinating, if bizarre, legal practices of prosecuting animals for crimes in medieval and early modern Europe, exploring the absurdity and seriousness with which these cases were handled. It investigates the implications of these trials within the contexts of societal norms, religion, and the evolution of legal thought. The opening of the work outlines the origins of animal trials and the varying perspectives on their legality, notably the distinctions made between different types of prosecutions—those for domestic animals versus vermin. Evans introduces Bartholomew Chassenée, a jurist famous for defending rats charged with crop destruction, illustrating the lengths to which legal arguments were stretched to defend these creatures. He also discusses the interplay between secular and ecclesiastical courts in such cases, underscoring the peculiar belief that animals could be held accountable for their actions as if they were human actors in the legal system. Overall, this section sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the cultural and legal ramifications of treating animals as subjects of criminal law.