Key Stage 3: Britain 1750 - 1900 Task 1

Stealing onions: the case of John Walker

Thief or poor man?

Watch the case reconstruction of the trial. In groups, or as a class, discuss the following:

• Why, given the evidence, would it have been useless for Walker to plead "not guilty"?

Check this by looking at the trial document - the evidence of Robert Cooper and recording your findings on

Cooper's evidence
Cooper's evidence continued

Now look at the gaol record for Walker.

• What were his previous convictions?
  
• Does this make it more or less likely that he was more of a thief than a poor man with a hungry family?
  
• Give points for and against Walker, using datasheet 2.

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