Courtroom battles often produce sensational scenes resulting in curious spectators and endless news coverage. From ancient to modern times, trials attract significant attention. This collection explores some of the most-fascinating.
Lizzie incriminates herself by giving testimony which makes little sense to Knowlton, the District Attorney.
Beulahs looks, a good story, publicity for her and Belva, and a young, male jury all play parts in her acquittal.
The judge in Dr. John Webster's murder trial allows the use of body parts as evidence, even though that is not a common practice in the 1850s.
The Tommy Gun (for General Thompson who invents it) becomes famous during the Prohibition-era for its use by gangsters in Chicago.
Clarence Darrow is hired to represent the defendants, and he quickly withdraws the "Not Guilty" plea.
King Bruce wants to atone for his mistakes and orders that upon his death, his heart be cut out and taken on a Crusade.
Joan becomes a hero in history and her accusers become villains; many of those had most-unfortunate endings.
Lizzie is a suspect in the of killing her family because she is home alone, she seems greedy, and her testimony is suspicious.
Although Lizzie's documents still exist, a Supreme Court ruling protects the papers of the deceased from the public.
In 1993, evidence surfaces where James Maybrick claims to be Jack the Ripper.
Jim Crow Laws, named after a character in a minstrel show, become a synonym for legal segregation.
In 1920, the 19th Amendment gives women the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony died before that happened.
Story
Story Brief
Learning Task
Video
Image
Audio
Questions to Ponder
Audio Narration
Document