> >> Thomas Jefferson said that it was better for 100 guilty men to go > >> free than for one innocent man to be imprisoned. We've > lost sight of > >> that these days. > >> > >> Bob > > > > Sir William Blackstone, an approximate contemporary of > Jefferson, is > > to have said: > > > > "Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one > innocent suffer." > > > > Same sentiment. No matter who may have said it first, I'm > with you, > > Bob. > > > > > I got the quote from my niece, a curator at Monticello, Jefferson's > Virginia home. > > Bob
Blackstone and Jefferson weren't the first to express the same sentiment: Abraham came forward and said, "Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? 24 What if there should be fifty innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?" 26 And the Lord answered, "If I find within the city of Sodom fifty innocent ones, I will forgive the whole place for their sake." 27 Abraham spoke up, saying, "Here I venture to speak to my Lord, I who am but dust and ashes: 28 What if the fifty innocent should lack five? Will You destroy the whole city for want of the five?" And He answered, "I will not destroy if I find forty-five there." 29 But he spoke to Him again, and said, "What if forty should be found there?" And He answered, "I will not do it, for the sake of the forty." 30 And he said, "Let not my Lord be angry if I go on: What if thirty should be found there?" And He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." 31 And he said, "I venture again to speak to my Lord: What if twenty should be found there?" And He answered, "I will not destroy, for the sake of the twenty." 32 And he said, "Let not my Lord be angry if I speak but this last time: What if ten should be found there?" And He answered, "I will not destroy, for the sake of the ten."
