Part 74 (1/2)
A return of crimes reported during the month of January, I beg leave to enclose, and at the same time, to congratulate your Honor on the vast diminution of all minor misdemeanors, and of the continued total absence of capital offences.”
_Superintendent's office_, _Antigua, April 4th_, 1836.
”SIR--I am happy to remark, for the information of your Honor, that the Easter holidays have pa.s.sed off, without the occurrence of any violation of the existing laws sufficiently serious to merit particular observation.”[A]
_Signed, &c_.
[Footnote A: This and the other reports concern, not St. John's merely, but the entire population of the island.]
_Extract from the Report for May, 1836._
”It affords me great satisfaction in being able to report that the continued tranquillity prevailing throughout the island, prevents the necessity of my calling the particular attention of your Honor to the existence of any serious or flagrant offence.
The crop season having far advanced, I have much pleasure in remarking the continued steady and settled disposition, which on most properties appear to be reciprocally established between the proprietors and their agricultural laborers; and I do also venture to offer as my opinion, that a considerable improvement has taken place, in the behavior of domestic, as well as other laborers, not immediately employed in husbandry.”
We quote the following table of offences as a specimen of the monthly reports:
_Police Office, St. John's, 1836._
RETURN OF OFFENCES REPORTED AT THE POLICE STATIONS FROM 1ST TO 31ST MAY.
NATURE OF St. E. Par- John- Total. More Less OFFENSES. John's. Har- ham. ston's than than bour. Point. last last month. month.
a.s.saults. 2 2 4 5 Do. and Batteries. 2 3 5 10 8
Breach of Contract. 4 11 59 74 16
Burglaries. 2 3 5 2
Commitments under Vagrant Act. 4 1 5 10 Do. for Fines. 5 5 2 Do under amended Porter's and Jobber's Act. 7
Felonies. 2 2 2
Injury to property. 4 9 7 20 5
Larcenies. 4 4 4
Misdemeanors.3 12 15 15
Murders.
Petty Thefts. 1 1 10
Trespa.s.ses. 1 2 2 5