Shropshire Routes to Roots

The Format of a Quarter Sessions Trial

This page shows the way in which a Quarter Session trial for felony would have been ordered. Teachers may like to use this in conjunction with A Role Play in the Murderous Mapp theme, to create a dramatic re-construction of a trial in the classroom.

1. The court is opened:

   Oyes, Oyes, Oyes
   All manner of person that have anything to do at this General Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden here this day before the Recorder draw near and give your attendance and you shall be heard.

   (Call to open the Quarter Session court)

2. Members of the Jury (of which one member is designated as the Foreman) are sworn in:

   You do solemnly swear that you shall well and truly try and true deliverance make between our Sovereign Lady the Queen and the prisoner at the bar whom you shall have in charge and a true verdict give according to the evidence.

   So help you God.

   (The oath sworn by members of the Jury)

3. The Prosecution outlines details of the case
4. Witnesses for the prosecution are called and sworn in:

   The evidence you shall give to the Court and Jury sworn between our Sovereign Lady the Queen and the Prisoner at the Bar shall be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

   So help you God

   (The oath sworn by a witness)

5. The witnesses give evidence for the prosecution. They can then be questioned (cross examined) by the defence, and questioned again by the prosecution.
6. Witnesses for the defence are called, sworn in (as above), and give evidence for the defence. They can then be questioned (cross-examined) by the prosecution, and requestioned by the defence.
7. The prosecution makes a closing speech.
8. The defence makes a closing speech.
9. The judge sums up the evidence heard by the court.
10. The jury retire to a jury room. The only person from the court who goes with them is the bailiff:

    You swear that you will keep this Jury together without Meat or Drink, Fire or Candle until they be agreed upon their Verdict neither shall you suffer any body to speak to them or speak to them yourself until They be agreed except it be to ask them if They are agreed upon their Verdict -

    So help you God

    (The Oath sworn by the Bailiff when he takes the Jury to the Jury Room)

11. The jury reaches a verdict, and returns to court.
12. The Bailiff and the Foreman of the Jury then hold a dialogue in which the verdict is given:

    Bailiff/Clerk: 'Gentlemen are you all agreed upon your verdict?'
    Foreman: 'Yes' or 'No'
    Bailiff/Clerk: 'How say you. Is the prisoner guilty of this felony whereof he stands indicted, or not guilty?'
    Foreman: 'Guilty' or 'Not Guilty'
    Bailiff/Clerk: 'You say he is, and so say you all'

    (Format followed by the Bailiff or Clerk and the Jury, to deliver a verdict)

13. The judge repeats the verdict, and sentences the prisoner. In the case of issuing the death penalty, he says:

    The court doth order you to be taken from hence to the place from whence you came, and thence to the place of execution, and that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and that your body be afterward buried within the precincts of the prison in which you shall be confined after your conviction. And may the Lord have mercy upon your soul!

    (The Judge pronouncing the death sentence)