Еvidence Evaluation in Official Crimes Consideration in the pre-reform Court (based on the Materials of the Vologda Criminal Court Chamber)

The article examines the features of criminal proceedings related to the evidence assessment system in the first half of the 19th century. The research is based on the materials of official crimes considered by the Vologda Criminal Court Chamber in 1802–1855. More than 1,300 crimes were analyzed that allowed not only to obtain statistical data but also to reflect the specifics of the implementation of the criminal proceedings principles as well as to consider evidence assessment practice and the use of specific examples. The study demonstrated that the formal theory of evidence provided ample opportunities to evade responsibility or achieve mitigation of punishment. In the absence of a sincere confession, almost any other evidence could be questioned on formal grounds.