We have been discussing the old West Midlands Police mugshots found in its archives, including what is believed to be the oldest mugshot in British history. Some names and charges were lost to history, including these two dapper gents.
Category: Criminal law
I ran a column yesterday on the release of the report of the Inspector General’s report and its implications. Much of the report was anticipated. However, among the most notable elements, was the final confirmation that the Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal server for State Department business not only contained classified information but was successfully intercepted by at least one foreign intelligence agency. That finding directly contradicts Clinton’s repeated denials through the campaign. The media however has barely noted the finding despite widely repeating Clinton’s prior denials of both classified content and any interception by foreign powers.
Douglas Kelly, 49, can rest assured that he was not ripped off. Kelly was convinced that a dealer had sold him fake drugs so he went to police to bring charges. He gave the police a bag of meth that he said did not feel right. The police tested the meth and found it was genuine . . . and then arrested Kelly.
We have been looking at vintage mugshots recently discovered in the archives of the West Midlands Police Department, including the oldest mugshot in British history. Today’s Victorian featured felon is William Smith, who is depicted in one of the oldest existing mugshots of a murderer.Continue reading “Victorian Mugshots: Meet William Smith, Murderer”
Much of the impetus for the current Special Counsel investigation can be attributed to two equally disastrous decisions: the decision to fire FBI Director James Comey in the midst of the Russian Investigation and the meeting of Donald Trump Jr. with Russians promising dirt on Hillary Clinton. While I continue to doubt that the meeting (or the later misleading statement issued by Trump Jr.) constituted any type of crime, I have previously written that it was an astonishingly dumb decision to go (with both Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort) to this meeting. I have little doubt that the Clintons would have eagerly accepted the same information, but they would have used surrogates as they did with the Steele dossier. Now Trump Jr. is dismissing the very idea that his father would sit down with Mueller. While this is certainly a good-faith disagreement among lawyers, Trump Jr. is wrong again about a meeting. There are perfectly good reasons for his father to go to such a meeting and interview, but it should have been done months ago as I previously discussed. Continue reading ““I Wouldn’t Do It”: Trump Jr. Declares It Would Be “Stupid” For Trump To Go To Meeting With Mueller”
As we discussed yesterday, the West Midlands Police just released a collection of early mugshots from their archives this month, including what is believed to be the oldest mugshot in British history. We previously discussed Isaac Ellery, who was convicted in March 1853 of stealing “gig’ cushions. Today’s Victorian convict is Sarah Ann Cooper, who was charged with stealing bells and door knobs in September 1861.
Continue reading “Early Mugshot: Sarah Ann Cooper, Door Knob Thief”
It appears that things got ugly in a recent meeting between Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and House oversight staff. Rosenstein reportedly threatened to “subpoena” House committee members if they went after him with a contempt sanction for failing to turn over material on the FBI’s investigation of Trump campaign officials. If the account is true, it was a mistake by Rosenstein. To quote The Godfather, oversight is not personal, its oversight business. Continue reading “It’s Not Personal, Mr. Rosenstein, Its Strictly Government Business”
I periodically post old mugshots which offer a gritty insight into criminal history. The West Midlands Police just released some gems from their archives including what is believed to be the oldest mugshot in British history. That distinction rests with Isaac Ellery who was convicted in March 1853 and sentenced to seven years transportation for stealing four ‘gig’ cushions.
Continue reading “First Ever Mugshot In Britain Released: Isaac Ellery, Cushion Thief”
In torts, there is a doctrine called the “egg shell thin skull rule” where a defendant can be sued for the full damages of a tort even though the victim was especially susceptible to injury. It is the concept that “you take your victim as you find him.” Blaine Manalle, 20, is now personally familiar with the criminal counterpart to that rule. She is facing a second-degree murder charge after allegedly hitting Jeffery Howell in the head. Howell just had brain surgery and the blow fell on the still healing surgery incision behind his ear.
Rachel Camille Calhoun, 24, in Forestdale, Alabama allegedly had a novel way to to rob the Regions Bank in Forestdale. Police say that she gave the bank manager a stark choice: Given her $6,000 and accept sex in return or she would accuse him of sexual assault. He opted for the third option and called police.
We have been discussing the growing number of idiots who are leaving graffiti and destroying national and state parks (here and here and here and here and here). Now some teenager has defaced the incredible Colorado National Monument with juvenile graffiti meant to convince a girl to go to the prom. The stunt could cost the culprit six months in jail. Indeed, until judges hand down some serious jail time, people like this will continue to deface our national parks. Continue reading “High-School Student Defaces the Colorado National Monument With Graffiti”
Below is my column in The Hill newspaper on the implications of the indictment of James Wolfe for lying to federal investigators. I have very serious concerns over the targeting of a journalist for surveillance in this case, particularly because there seems ample alternatives to the intrusion into confidential communications of a reporter. However, the most obvious threat may be to Andrew McCabe who is still awaiting word on whether he will be criminally charged and recently sought immunity from Congress. Continue reading “The Wolfe Indictment: Is Andrew McCabe Next In Line For Prosecution?”
Constance Koulmey has been awarded over $100,000 after she was hit by a bowl of pasta thrown by lawyer James Sweeney. She alleged that she received a head injury from the bowl that Sweeney threw at another restaurant customer. That left an al dente on her head that was enough for the Waterbury, Connecticut jury to find in favor of her battery claim.
There is a tragic case out of Panama City Beach, Florida where two dogs died in the case of Jason Matthew Reece, 39. Reece however did not return to his van because police arrested him for disorderly conduct. While Reece still allegedly left the dogs in the van to go drinking, it would raise an interesting defense that the police contributed to the tragedy by taking him directly to jail. It is not clear whether he informed the police of the animals.
There has been continued controversy over the penchant of President Donald Trump to pardon celebrities or political figures or, most recently, a woman who was championed by Kim Kardashian. Today Trump announced that he is considering a pardon for the late boxing sensation Muhammad Ali — not long after he granted a posthumous pardon to boxing legend Jack Johnson (who was advocated for by celebrity Sylvester Stallone). This case however raises the added curiosity that Ali’s conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in Clay v. United States, 403 U.S. 698 (1971)(when Ali was still under his birth name of Cassius Clay). Obviously, there is no conviction to pardon or commute in this case. In addition to the overturning of the conviction, draft dodgers were given amnesty previously by both Ford and Carter. Continue reading “A Pardon For Muhammad Ali Is Neither Needed Nor Warranted”