[fso301]

Sounds like the ones to go in first were the lucky ones.

To me, this is curious.

When you throw multiple people into a well as a criminal act, my guess is you do it for several reasons; One, you don't want to dig holes. Two, you don't want the bodies discovered/recovered without considerable difficulty. Three, to make sure the well whether dry, or not can not be used for drawing water and Four, unlike a lynching which can be viewed from a distance and the dangling body serve as both a trophy and a lasting warning, you don't want your act seen from a distance.

If the person is alive at the time you throw them in, you are also seeking to inflict a measure of pain and suffering on the hapless person as well as intimidate fellow mob members and onlookers.

The only way I could see these people being thrown in as a non-criminal acti is if they had already died of disease, famine or fire. If that was the case, the only reason for throwing them into a well would be because the well had long been known as being dry and offered the quickest means of disposal.

The question for a history detective should be:

1. what was the approximate date
2. were any incidents of mob violence recorded during this period? If yes, were any such acts of mob violence against Jews
3. was throwing victims into wells a recorded act of mob violence in Medeival times?

[rmlew]

1144 riot after William of Norwich died. First Blood Libel in Medieval Europe.

[Sawdring]

Do you smoke a pipe and wear a deer stalker hat?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks fso301.