Henry Charles Lea

thumb| Henry Charles Lea (September 19, 1825 – October 24, 1909) was an American publisher, civic activist, philanthropist and historian from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Quotes Superstition and Force (1866) Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea The whole process [the Inquisition] was apparently based upon the conviction that it was better that a hundred innocent persons should suffer than that one culprit should escape, and it would not be easy to devise a course of procedure better fitted to render the use of torture universal. Superstition and Force (Philadelphia, 1866), IV. "Torture", p. 350 Witchcraft was considered as peculiarly difficult of proof, and torture consequently became an unfailing resource to the puzzled tribunal, although every legal safeguard was refused to the wretched criminal, and the widest latitude of evidence was allowed. Bodin expressly declares that in so fearful a crime no rules of procedure were to be observed. Sons were admitted to testify against their fathers, and young girls were regarded as the best of witnesses against their mothers; the disrepute of a witness was no bar to the reception of his testimony, and even children of irresponsible age were allowed to swear before they rightly knew the nature of the oath on which hung the life of a fellow creature. Superstition and Force, 2nd ed. (Philadelphia, 1870), IV. "Torture", p. 430 External links Category:1825 births Category:1909 deaths Category:Historians from the United States Category:People from Philadelphia Category:Publishers from the United States Category:Social activists Category:Poets from the United States Category:Philanthropists from the United States Category:Harvard University alumni Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society