ABSTRACT
This chapter explores one case study of homicide in 1770 that involved the murder of a watchman on Westminster Bridge by the sons of a wealthy businessman. While a conviction for murder was agreed upon by an Old Bailey jury and capital sentences pronounced, the culprits ultimately escaped with their lives. This was in no small part due to the connections their family had to persons of influence in high political office. This caused considerable discussion in the print media and brought the pardoning process into a very unwelcome spotlight.
