The Trial of Governor Picton
The Trial of Governor Picton, A Case of Torture in Trinidad
"Governor Thomas Picton was a British military officer and the governor of Trinidad, which was at that time a colony of the United Kingdom. Picton was tried in London before the Court of King’s Bench on February 24, 1806. At the heart of the trial was Louisa Calderón (1787-1825), a 13 year old girl of mixed racial ancestry who was subjected in 1801 to a kind of torture known as “picketing” — now colloquially called “Picton-ing.” This trial, and the act of torture it highlighted, led to a public sensation throughout the whole of the British Empire, becoming one of the major instances of reform on the use of torture against those living in British colonies...."
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@tomholmberg I wholeheartedly agree. I wouldn't seek to make any excuses, rather try and put it in context. The period was undoubtedly more brutal then we are used to in western society today. Professional policing standards were some way in the future, as was formed specialist police forces. Discipline was often Draconian. The use of corporal punishment was commonplace at all levels of society, in the home, at school, for apprentices as well as judicially. The psychological bar therefore for using physical coercian would be set extremely low.
13 seems incredibly, if not scandalously young today, but it is remembered that there has been a continual expansion of 'childhood'. Child labour was common much younger and many cultures around the world would have treated her as marriageable. Of course, in today's climate much will be made of Louisa's heritage, but bearing in mind the location it is unsurprising. The gender stereotypes of the period certainly seem to have played a part. It is to be wondered if it was a 13 year old boy that it would have come to anyone's notice at the time at all.
Even in modern times, we have seen the use of similar interogation softening techniques being justified, and not just by the usual subjects but in democracies. Picketing sounds horrendous, but in training I've tried out a few stress positions and I can assure you they are also extremely unpleasant. At least it doesn't leave the victim maimed or makes them fear for their life like ducking or water boarding.
Torture was and is always wrong, no matter what form or how brief. It is heartening that this case marks one of the milestones in that becoming accepted.