Exhibition explores justice of yore
Until September, the Château Ramezay Museum invites history fans to Justice in New France: Crime and Punishment, an interactive exhibition exploring the legal system of New France — one that differs greatly from that of Quebec today.
Since the Penal Law practiced in New France was the customary law of Paris instituted by Louis XIV in 1667, visitors will be acquainted with the French justice system of the day. This system was not based on the presumption of innocence, as ours is. Rather, an accused person was considered guilty until proven innocent.
Visitors are encouraged to participate in the exhibition: they will be asked what punishments they deem most appropriate for the offences of criminals of the time, and will be able to compare sentences imposed by the colonial system to those of our own Canadian Criminal Code. Finally, several devices of punishment used in New France, such as iron collars and torture wheels, will be on exhibition to illustrate what justice meant centuries ago.
The museum is at 280 Notre-Dame St. E. Info: (514) 861-3708.
