When Animals went to Court and Were Put on Trial

During the Middle Ages, it was a quite common practice to put animals on trial, in a court of law, for their part in alleged crimes. A book called The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals, published first in 1906, outlined many such cases. In that same year of 1906, a murder was committed by a man, Scherrer and his son, with the cooperation of their dog. Scherrer and son received life sentences and the dog was sentenced to death.

Even insects were not immune to the forces of the law, as a caterpillar or fly could be charged with a variety of crimes. Even murder.

Pigs, however, seemed to be of the most marauding variety in the dark ages, as there are many cases of pigs at the centre of elaborate trials and being hung at the gallows, same as any human felon. Animals were also served with the same pre-trial rights, charged the same fees and given their daily bread ration.

Have Mercy, Your Honour!

In 1494, a menacing pig of the French variety was charged with having “strangled and defaced a child in its cradle”. Witnesses testified against the pig and it was duly sentenced to death by the judge, to be strangled on a gibbet of wood.

Also, in France, a donkey went to trial, when a man was charged with having.....let us say romantic relations with this donkey. The man was hanged, but the donkey was given a reprieve , as it was decided that the donkey was not a willing victim.

The level of craziness must have been pretty high during the Middle Ages, as many alleged werewolves went on trial, as did animals deemed to be harbouring evil spirits and Satan himself.

Trial of a sow and pigs at Lavegny 

Books To Read

Animal Farm, by George Orwell - an allegorical novella and political satire, in the guise of an animal fable.