Legal Definitions - pit and gallows

Definition: Pit and gallows was an ancient form of capital punishment in Scots law. It was used for theft, where a condemned woman was drowned in a pit and a condemned man was hanged on a gallows.

Example: In the 16th century, a woman named Janet Douglas was accused of poisoning her husband. She was found guilty and sentenced to pit and gallows. She was drowned in a pit and her body was left to rot. This punishment was considered barbaric and was eventually abolished.

Explanation: The example illustrates how pit and gallows was used as a punishment for crimes such as theft and murder. It shows how brutal and inhumane the punishment was, and how it was eventually abolished due to its cruelty.