Part 30 (1/2)

For the purpose of elucidating these suggestions, it may be useful to examine the different offences which const.i.tute the aggregate of the charges made against criminals arraigned at the Old Bailey, in the course of a year.

With this view the following statement is offered to the consideration of the Reader.--It refers to a period of profound peace (as most likely to exhibit a true average) and contains a register of the trials, published by authority, including eight sessions from September 1790 to 1791. From this it appears that 1088 prisoners were tried for different offences in that year, and that 711 were _discharged_! and yet, striking as this may appear, it may be a.s.serted on good grounds, that the following melancholy Catalogue (extensive as it seems to be) does not probably contain even _one-tenth part_ of the offences which are actually committed!

6 For Treason in making false money .

_A reward in money on conviction amounting for each to_ 40

81 Highway Robberies _A reward (besides the highwayman's property) for each_ 40

41 Burglaries _A reward 40l. besides a Tyburn ticket worth 20l._ 60

10 House Breaking in the day time _A reward 40l. besides a Tyburn ticket worth 20l._ 60

23 Stealing goods to the value of 5_s._ from a shop, &c.

_A Tyburn ticket value as above, average_ 20

3 Coining Copper Money _A reward in money_ 10

17 Horse stealing _A reward in a Tyburn ticket, average value_ 20

10 For Stealing Cattle and Sheep _A reward in money_ 10

2 Returning from Transportation _A reward in money_ 20 --- 193 Prisoners tried for offences ent.i.tling the apprehenders to --- rewards on conviction; and 895 also tried, for which no rewards are allowed, _viz._

10 for Murders 4 Arson 10 Forgeries 2 Piracies 4 Rapes 642 Grand Larcenies[115]

32 Stealing privately from persons 13 Shop-lifting under 5_s._ 16 Ripping and stealing Lead 12 Stealing Pewter Pots 22 Stealing from furnished Lodgings 1 Stealing Letters 1 Stealing a Child 22 Receiving Stolen Goods 9 for Dealing in and uttering base Money 1 Sodomy 7 Bigamy 6 Perjuries 6 Conspiracies 3 Fraudulent Bankrupts 15 Frauds 9 Misdemeanors 1 a.s.saulting, and cutting Clothes 1 Smuggling 7 Obstructing Revenue Officers 1 Wounding a Horse maliciously 38 a.s.saults --- 89, Total.

193 For which rewards were paid.

445 Prisoners from the late Sheriffs.

--- Aggregate number 1533

[Footnote 115: Grand Larceny is defined to be a felonious and fraudulent taking away by any person, of the mere personal goods of another, above the value of _twelve pence_.--1 _Hawk. P.C._ _c._ 33. -- 1.]

_Disposed of as follows, viz._

Executed 32 Died 25 Sent to the Hulks 2 Transported 517 Removed to other Prisons 95 Transferred to the new Sheriffs 151 Discharged upon the town 711 ---- 1533

Thus it appears that murders, as well as several other very atrocious crimes, are committed, where officers of justice are not ent.i.tled to any reward for their trouble and risque in apprehending the offenders.

Receivers of stolen Goods in particular, who, as has been repeatedly stated, are _the nourishers and supporters of thieves_, and who, of all other offenders, are of that cla.s.s where the greatest benefit to the public is to arise from their discovery and apprehension, seem to be totally overlooked.

If it should be thought too loose a system to allow rewards _not exceeding a certain sum in any one case_, to be distributed according to the discretion of the Judges who try the offence; perhaps it might be possible _to form a scale of premiums_ from _one guinea up to fifty pounds_, which, by holding out certain encouragement _in all cases whatsoever_, might not only excite a desire on the part of men of some property and respectability to become Officers of Justice: but would create that species of _constant vigilance and attention_ to the means of apprehending every cla.s.s of offenders, which cannot be expected at present, while the rewards are so limited.

The _Officers of Justice_, (parochial and stipendiary) who are appointed to watch over the Police of the Metropolis and its environs, in keeping the peace, and in detecting and apprehending offenders, amount at present (as near as possible) to 1040 individuals, under five separate jurisdictions, _and are arranged as follows_:

OFFICERS, &c.

_London, 1st._ { The City of London in } City Marshals 2 { 25 Wards, exclusive of } Marshals' Men 6 { Bridge Without. } Beadles 36