Josh Harrelson
@joshharrelson.bsky.social
Probably reading about some obscure historical topic
Awesome, thank you so much! Appreciate you gathering this for me
November 16, 2024 at 2:00 AM
Awesome, thank you so much! Appreciate you gathering this for me
Good stuff as always
November 16, 2024 at 1:52 AM
Good stuff as always
Regarding those podcasts on the Bronze Age collapse...any recommendations?
November 16, 2024 at 1:50 AM
Regarding those podcasts on the Bronze Age collapse...any recommendations?
The case set a significant legal precedent, establishing that necessity is NOT a defense to a charge of murder and providing a definitive ruling on the “custom of the sea.” R v Dudley and Stephens continues to be taught in legal classrooms across the world, over 100 years later.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
The case set a significant legal precedent, establishing that necessity is NOT a defense to a charge of murder and providing a definitive ruling on the “custom of the sea.” R v Dudley and Stephens continues to be taught in legal classrooms across the world, over 100 years later.
Nevertheless, the senior judge felt that two convicted murders could not walk away unscathed. Eventually, a final punishment was decided: the men would be required to serve a six-month prison sentence. Dudley continued to assert that he had done no wrong and never accepted the outcome of the case.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Nevertheless, the senior judge felt that two convicted murders could not walk away unscathed. Eventually, a final punishment was decided: the men would be required to serve a six-month prison sentence. Dudley continued to assert that he had done no wrong and never accepted the outcome of the case.
Dudley and Stephens (the men who actively killed Parker and consumed the lion’s share of his flesh and blood) were sentenced to death. However, due to the unique circumstances of the case, the press expected a pardon to soon follow.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Dudley and Stephens (the men who actively killed Parker and consumed the lion’s share of his flesh and blood) were sentenced to death. However, due to the unique circumstances of the case, the press expected a pardon to soon follow.
Ultimately, the judges ruled that there was no defense of necessity to a charge of murder, neither on the basis of legal precedent nor ethics and morality. "To preserve one’s life is generally speaking a duty, but it may be the plainest and the highest duty to sacrifice it.”
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Ultimately, the judges ruled that there was no defense of necessity to a charge of murder, neither on the basis of legal precedent nor ethics and morality. "To preserve one’s life is generally speaking a duty, but it may be the plainest and the highest duty to sacrifice it.”
The jury was reluctant to pronounce the men guilty and were offered the option of returning a “special verdict,” which would refer the case up to a higher court to be decided by a panel of five judges.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
The jury was reluctant to pronounce the men guilty and were offered the option of returning a “special verdict,” which would refer the case up to a higher court to be decided by a panel of five judges.
Outside of the courtroom, the public strongly favored the Mignonette survivors. Even Richard Parker’s oldest brother, Daniel, publicly shook hands with Dudley and Stephens in a public display of forgiveness.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Outside of the courtroom, the public strongly favored the Mignonette survivors. Even Richard Parker’s oldest brother, Daniel, publicly shook hands with Dudley and Stephens in a public display of forgiveness.
The men were soon detained, and on November 3, faced trial. A defense of insanity was rejected, but the jury was keenly aware that the men might have died had they not cannibalized Parker. The verdict came down to the difficult question mentioned earlier: is necessity a viable excuse for murder?
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
The men were soon detained, and on November 3, faced trial. A defense of insanity was rejected, but the jury was keenly aware that the men might have died had they not cannibalized Parker. The verdict came down to the difficult question mentioned earlier: is necessity a viable excuse for murder?
On July 29th, after 24 days adrift, the men were saved by a German ship. Within a month, they had returned to England where they were required to enter statutory statements (required in the event of a shipping loss). All three men were candid about what happened to Richard Parker.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
On July 29th, after 24 days adrift, the men were saved by a German ship. Within a month, they had returned to England where they were required to enter statutory statements (required in the event of a shipping loss). All three men were candid about what happened to Richard Parker.
Dudley then stabbed Parker’s jugular with his penknife, killing him. The three men then drank Parker’s blood and ate his heart and liver. Strips of Parker’s flesh were set aside, and his body was tossed overboard. Dudley, Stephens, and Brooks survived on Parker’s body for five days.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Dudley then stabbed Parker’s jugular with his penknife, killing him. The three men then drank Parker’s blood and ate his heart and liver. Strips of Parker’s flesh were set aside, and his body was tossed overboard. Dudley, Stephens, and Brooks survived on Parker’s body for five days.
The men never drew lots. Instead, Dudley ordered Stephens to hold down Parker’s legs. In court, Dudley recounted the experience: “I took out my knife…and said to the boy, ‘Richard, your time has come.’ The boy said, ‘What me, Sir?’ I said, ‘Yes, my boy.’”
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
The men never drew lots. Instead, Dudley ordered Stephens to hold down Parker’s legs. In court, Dudley recounted the experience: “I took out my knife…and said to the boy, ‘Richard, your time has come.’ The boy said, ‘What me, Sir?’ I said, ‘Yes, my boy.’”
“The boy is dying,” Dudley asserted to Stephens. “You have a wife and five children, and I have a wife and three children. Human flesh has been eaten before.”
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
“The boy is dying,” Dudley asserted to Stephens. “You have a wife and five children, and I have a wife and three children. Human flesh has been eaten before.”
On July 20th, Richard Parker (the inexperienced 17-year-old) drank seawater, which quickly made him ill and, according to the other men, left him in a state of delirium. In response to Parker’s sickness, Dudley raised the idea of cannibalism once again.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
On July 20th, Richard Parker (the inexperienced 17-year-old) drank seawater, which quickly made him ill and, according to the other men, left him in a state of delirium. In response to Parker’s sickness, Dudley raised the idea of cannibalism once again.
Around July 17th, Dudley cautiously entertained the idea of the ‘custom of the sea,’ - the practice of drawing lots to select a sacrificial victim who could be consumed by the others. However, his crewmates declined to participate.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Around July 17th, Dudley cautiously entertained the idea of the ‘custom of the sea,’ - the practice of drawing lots to select a sacrificial victim who could be consumed by the others. However, his crewmates declined to participate.
The men now faced an even larger dilemma: they were stranded hundreds of miles from land, in a flimsy lifeboat with no water and only two tins of turnips to share between the four of them. They survived on these turnips (and a turtle Stephens caught) for ~12 days, drinking urine to stave off thirst.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
The men now faced an even larger dilemma: they were stranded hundreds of miles from land, in a flimsy lifeboat with no water and only two tins of turnips to share between the four of them. They survived on these turnips (and a turtle Stephens caught) for ~12 days, drinking urine to stave off thirst.
On July 5th, roughly 1600 miles above the Cape of Good Hope, the Mignonette was struck by a large wave just as the men were preparing to go to sleep. Recognizing that the damage was beyond repair, Dudley ordered the men to escape into the boat’s single dinghy.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
On July 5th, roughly 1600 miles above the Cape of Good Hope, the Mignonette was struck by a large wave just as the men were preparing to go to sleep. Recognizing that the damage was beyond repair, Dudley ordered the men to escape into the boat’s single dinghy.
Let’s take a moment to look at the boat itself. The Mignonette was a small vessel, not designed to withstand strong winds or tail waves (aka, long voyages across the ocean were not what the boat was designed for). Still, Dudley and his crew decided to attempt the voyage.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Let’s take a moment to look at the boat itself. The Mignonette was a small vessel, not designed to withstand strong winds or tail waves (aka, long voyages across the ocean were not what the boat was designed for). Still, Dudley and his crew decided to attempt the voyage.
Dudley was accompanied by Edwin Stephens, Edmund Brooks, and Richard Parker. Like Dudley, Stephens and Brooks were accomplished sailors. Parker, however, was a 17-year-old boy with limited experience.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Dudley was accompanied by Edwin Stephens, Edmund Brooks, and Richard Parker. Like Dudley, Stephens and Brooks were accomplished sailors. Parker, however, was a 17-year-old boy with limited experience.
In May 1884, the Mignonette left England and set sail for Sydney, Australia. It was captained by Tom Dudley, a 31-year-old experienced yachtsman who was considering immigrating to the country. Dudley, along with three other men, were tasked with delivering the Mignonette to its new owner.
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
In May 1884, the Mignonette left England and set sail for Sydney, Australia. It was captained by Tom Dudley, a 31-year-old experienced yachtsman who was considering immigrating to the country. Dudley, along with three other men, were tasked with delivering the Mignonette to its new owner.
I should note: I am not a law student but am now aware that practically every law student analyzes this case very early on in their studies. If you’re a law student, just know that I’m covering this for the rest of us, who aren’t as smart as you are (and feel free to correct any of my errors)!
November 16, 2024 at 1:41 AM
I should note: I am not a law student but am now aware that practically every law student analyzes this case very early on in their studies. If you’re a law student, just know that I’m covering this for the rest of us, who aren’t as smart as you are (and feel free to correct any of my errors)!