The Law of Evidence in Victorian England [Paperback]

A 1997 account of the social and intellectual influences on the development of Victorian evidence law.A fascinating account of the political, social and intellectual influences on the development of evidence law during the Victorian period. This book convincingly challenges the traditional view of the significance of Bentham's critique of the state of contemporary evidence law.A fascinating account of the political, social and intellectual influences on the development of evidence law during the Victorian period. This book convincingly challenges the traditional view of the significance of Bentham's critique of the state of contemporary evidence law.In The Law of Evidence in Victorian England, Christopher Allen provides a fascinating account of the political, social and intellectual influences on the development of evidence law during the Victorian period. His book convincingly challenges the traditional view of the significance of Bentham's critique of the state of contemporary evidence law, and describes instead the extent to which ongoing common law developments had already anticipated many of the improvements for which Bentham has usually been credited as the instigator.1. Introduction; 2. Common law developments; 3. Incompetency from defect of religious principle; 4. Incompetency from infamy and interest; 5. The incompetency of the accused; 6. Conclusion. [Allen's] analysis of the arguments put forward in Parliament for and against the various bills and his description of how principled support or opposition for reform combined with practical legislative politics are interesting and well-executed. Allen provides an able and enlightening contribution to an under-researched area, and his book should certainly be of interest to those concerned with the history of the law of evidence, as well as to...Victorian legislative processes. Jennifer L. Mnookin, Law & History Review Combining social, intellectual, and political factors and using a variety of thel“~