The Quality of Mercy

Given the verdicts in many of the cases I'm using from Old Bailey Online, it seems pretty clear that justice was harsh back in the day. However, there are times when mercy makes an appearance. Today's case is an example.

Christopher Peterson, who also goes by the interesting moniker "Jack the Sailor" which is never explained, is accused of shoplifting. He and two others apparently stole some tea, the two others screening Chris as he took it from a shop. One of Chris's partners-in-crime was later transported for stealing two perukes (wigs). The one testifying against him was in Newgate and "bound to an Attorney." I'm not quite sure what that means, but believe he was likely released for turning evidence against Chris.

Chris's defense? "I have nothing at all to say. I leave it in your Hands, my Lord. I have no Friend in the World."

Verdict? Guilty. Sentence? Death.

But then the Jury recommended him for Mercy. Whether that means imprisonment or transportation, I'm not sure. What happened to Chris? I don't know. But clearly, the jury took pity on him. I must say "I have no Friend in the World" struck me as sad. It could be a ploy to gain the jury's sympathy, but it worked on me, too.

A couple of things intrigue me about this case and could be interesting to consider when plotting a story besides Chris's plea and the jury's recommendation.

The first is his nickname. Why Jack, when his name is Christopher? Why the sailor? Was he a sea-faring guy? If so, why not Jack the Seaman? Jack the Tar?

How come he has no friends to vouch for him?

He was clearly hanging out with thieves at one point, but he's certainly no criminal mastermind and the jury obviously didn't see him as a hardened criminal deserving of the noose.

How old was he? There's no way to tell.

So I'm free to imagine Chris as a young man who falls in with the wrong crowd, or is driven to that crowd by poverty. Or maybe it's peer pressure. Maybe he's not broke, but middle-class and this is a lark gone terribly wrong.

Maybe he's a young man who likes taking a walk on the wild side, hence he goes by "Jack the sailor" when he's wandering around the unsavory parts of town. Say he gets drunk and decides to go along with the theft. He thinks it'll be fun. Exciting. Dangerous. Maybe he thinks this will impress his "friends" and perhaps a girl.

Then he's caught. His family are horrified and ashamed. They throw up their hands or disown him. He figures he's doomed -- and justly so, as he realizes the shame he's brought them.

He's alone in the world and might as well die.

But the jury takes pity on him. They give him a chance to live and redeem himself. He goes to prison for a few years, or is transported, and when it's over, returns.

Maybe he wants to find out what happened to the girl he hoped to impress, and the others who were with him during the theft. Maybe they've come to bad ends, or perhaps they've prospered. What about the guy "bound to an attorney?" What if he's made a completely new life for himself and Chris's return threatens that? What if he's married or is about to marry, the girl Chris was so desperate to impress?

What about Chris's family? What if they aren't too thrilled to see him come back? What if some are, but others aren't? What if they thought he was dead?

What if Chris is a woman? What if she calls herself "Jack the Sailor" because she likes to be "one of the boys" and dresses accordingly so people think she is a boy or young man? What if she's the one seeking fun and excitement? What if she's caught and convicted and everybody still thinks she's a guy?

What if, instead of being convicted, she's found innocent, but somebody on the jury, or the judge, realizes she's a young woman? What if they also think she's really guilty but don't want to reveal the truth about her? This person could be the villain, using that knowledge to get her to do as he wants. He could be the hero who wants to help because he doesn't believe she's really guilty, or if she is, she had a good reason to steal. How does he feel when he finds out she was doing it for the thrill? What then? What if he starts off determined to use his realization of her true identity against her, then falls in love with her?

See, even a short, simple case can have plenty of fodder for story ideas. What starts out straightforward and simple can be made complicated, with lots of conflict and drama, by asking "what if?"