Wednesday, January 20, 2010
In May 1744, Elizabeth Robinson was sentenced at the Old Bailey in London to transportation to the American colonies for her involvement in the theft of 104 China oranges from a warehouse. She was loaded onto the Justitia that same month and eventually landed in Virginia. She ended up in Maryland, where she reportedly continued [...]
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Outside of murder, burglary and robbery were considered the most egregious crimes in England and colonial America. Since burglars and robbers threaten the well-being and lives of victims while taking their property, they are regarded as worse than thieves, who try to steal without detection or intimidation. Burglary also conjures up feelings of discomfort, fear, [...]
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
In the earliest days of colonial America, burglary was not considered much of a problem. Most people in the community knew each other, and strangers were quickly identified. As more people settled in America and cities grew bigger, however, burglary became a much more frequent occurrence, and it increasingly was treated with harsh punishment.
Massachusetts
Even [...]
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Outside of murder, which cuts to the core of who we are as human beings, burglary is perhaps the ultimate criminal transgression in America, because it violates two strong American principles at the very same time: the protection of property and the right to privacy. It also brings with it a potential for violence, since [...]
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
In order to settle a debate with her boss, Rebecca, a self-described “curious technical writer,” asked Early American Crime, “Were American pickpockets executed in the 1700’s and 1800’s? I know Britain was big on this, but how about America?”
As far as I can tell, pickpockets were not executed in America as they were in [...]
