CRIME AT EL ESCORIAL The 1892 Child Murder, The Press and The Jury

Softcover. In 1892, in a small Spanish village, the 3yr old blond, blue-eyed son of a poor family was abducted, sexually abused and murdered. The sensational coverage of the case in the press quickly mobilised the country's attention and led to a widespread controversy over the jury system. The author presents a comparative social and judicial analysis of the case. Drawing from newspaper archives as well as historical documents, the author discusses the role of Spain's intellectual elite in crystallising dissatisfaction with the jury through its criticism of crime reporting and mass readers, the significance of journalists' use of terrorific fiction in their representation of the Escorial crime, and the subsequent controversy over the jury. The first studies of 19th century crime in Spain to draw attention to the social and legal significance of the murder, this book will prove compelling reading not only to students and teachers of criminal justice, but also to historians and journalists. Illus., Selected Bibliog., + Index. 261pp. trade size softcover (card wraps). From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. F. Extremely scarce.