Our Victorian mugshot of the day is Samuel Crowley, who was charged with “having skeleton keys” in October 1862. We have been reviewing some of the earlier mugshots in England from West Midlands. These Birmingham mugshots offer a unique insights into the period.
Two days ago, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was effectively chased from a restaurant by protesters screaming at her and her companion. The scene at MXDC Cocina Mexicana was shocking to most of us who have decried the loss of civility in today’s political discourse. One person clearly not shocked was Rep. Jackie Speier (D., Cal.) who defended the protesters and blamed it on Trump’s divisive political rhetoric. While the protest seemed clearly organized, Speier portrayed it as a spontaneous expression of anger by citizens in her interview on CNN. The scene was very disturbing as was the apparent impunity exercised by the protesters in shutting down a restaurant. It now appears that it was a protest by the Democratic Socialists of America and one of those participating was a DOJ employee, Allison Hrabar. Hrabar is reportedly a paralegal specialist and her participation could raise again our long-standing debate over the punishment of employees for comments or actions taken outside of the workplace.
Below is my column in The Hill newspaper on the recent hearing before the Senate Judiciary on the Inspector General’s investigation into the Clinton email controversy.
Here is the column :
Continue reading “The Troubling Lesson Learned By The FBI From The IG Report”
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. These photos come from Birmingham England. This is James Freeth who was pictured in 1861 for an unknown crime. Continue reading “Victorian Mugshot: James Freeth”
Last night, the blog hit another milestone today with over 35,000,000 views. We have also passed 50,000 followers on Twitter. We relish these “little engine that could” moments to take stock in our expanding base of readers. The blog shows that there is still an interest in a place for passionate but civil discourse on legal and policy issues of our time (and perhaps a few wacky stories). As always, I want to offer special thanks for our weekend contributors and particularly Darren Smith who continues help up with periodic technical problems etc).
Shamon West, 21, may want to look a bit more closely at the stolen ids of his victims. West stole the purse of Flora Lunsford from her car while she was getting gas. Two days later, he gave the card back to Lunsford after claiming to be her to pay for his meal. She called the police instead.
This is John Williams who is depicted in one of the recently discovered Victorian era mugshots that we have been featuring on our blog. They include the oldest mugshots in Britain and were taken at the Moor Street staton in Birmingham between the 1850s and 1870s. West Midlands Police heritage lead Corinne Brazier and her colleagues did a great service in ensuring the preservation of these remarkable mugshots. Continue reading “Victorian Mugshots: John Williams”
One of the funnier Farside cartoons featured a deer with a target on its chest and the other deer saying “Bummer birthmark Hal.” The same sentiment could be expressed about Michael Vines and his forehead tattoo after he was arrested for . . . you guess it . . . unlawfully carrying of a firearm in Greenville, South Carolina.
Continue reading “South Carolina Man’s Tattoo Is More Admission Than Art After Arrest”
Washington Examiner reporter Kelly Cohen’s reaction in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was exactly what many expected from the blockbuster report on the investigation of the FBI. The problem is that Cohen was actually responding to something most DC citizens consider far, far more serious: the stepping down of the Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz. Continue reading “Reporter’s Reaction In Senate IG Hearing Captures The Public Shock At The Disclosure Of . . .”
According to The Sunday Times, shocking report shows that only four percent of robberies in England and Wales in 2017 were solved. Only three percent of burglaries were solved. That is a dismal record and indicates that criminals can effectively act with impunity in victimizing citizens.
Dr. Betsy Nabel, the president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School has decided to sanitize the school’s Bornstein Amphitheater . . . of white men. Nabel declared recently that she decided that all of the portraits of the historical leaders of the hospitals made minority students and visitors uncomfortable because they are white and male. Nabel therefore ordered their removal and was celebrated for her race-based cleansing of history. Continue reading “Harvard Hospital President Removes Historical Portraits Of White Doctors In The Name Of Diversity”
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. This is a strangely captivating picture of Joseph Martin from August 5, 1862. Continue reading “Victorian Mugshots: Joseph Martin”
Below is my column in The Hill newspaper on Giuliani’s statement that the President may “clean up” the entire Mueller investigation with a slew of pardons at the end. After causing an outcry, Giuliani later said that the President would not pardon anyone under investigation. That led to utter confusion, again, about what Giuliani is saying and whether the original statement remains valid for pardons after the investigation.
Here is the column: Continue reading “The Pardon Power Is Not A ShamWow For Presidential Scandals”
Many academics have been been following the long-running litigation over Harvard’s admissions criteria. The University has steadfastly resisted efforts to review its admissions statistics and criteria by both litigants and even the Department of Education. It has had to turn over that information and the results are a bit stunning, particularly with regard to the treatment of Asian students. A federal case has revealed what challengers claim is a sizable bias against Asian students and in favor of African American students with much lower scores. This includes a systemic downgrading of Asian students on a “personal” category that many have suggested is an effort to conceal an effective race-based quota or affirmative action system.
Continue reading “Harvard Accused Of Anti-Asian Bias In Admissions”
We continue our posting of Victorian mugshots from West Midlands with some of the earliest such police photos ever taken. Today’s suspect is Catherine Legg, who was arrested in May 1858 at a fair in Dudley, West Midlands.