Murdrum

English Law: Murdrum in the Past

During the times of the Danes and afterwards till the reign of Edward III, murdrum was the killing of a man in a secret way and in that it differed from simple homicide.

Developments

When a man was therefore, killed and he was unknown, by the laws of Canute he was presumed to be a Dane and the vill was compelled to pay forty marks for his death. After tlie conquest, a similar law was made in favor of Frenchmen, which was abolished by 3 Edw. III.

Details

By murdrum was also understood the fine formerly imposed in England (see more about this legal system) upon a person who had committed homicide perinfortunium or se defendendo. Prin. Pen. 219, note r. [1][rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

Resources

Notes and References

1. Partialy, this information about murdrum is based on the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, 1848 edition. There is a list of terms of the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, including murdrum.

See Also