| Although on occasion the Bow Street Runners, the | | | | on their estates, much of the injustices continued |
| then law enforcers of London, traveled into the | | | | until reforms came in during the Victorian period. |
| country where one of their criminal cases might lead | | | | Returning soldiers from the Peninsular wars, who |
| them, the country areas were policed by magistrates. | | | | lacked family, and could afford fares to the country, |
| These in turn appointed constables, who jailed and | | | | unable to find employment, were caught up in |
| bound criminals over to said magistrates. Justices of | | | | poaching. Sabbath breaking was frowned upon, so |
| the Peace dealt with minor offences at the Petty | | | | that drinkers and gamblers caught thus were placed |
| Sessions. More severe cases were held four times a | | | | in stocks on the public 'green' for one and all to see. |
| year at the Quarter Sessions. The most severe | | | | Abuses occurred in the northern areas of England, |
| cases were referred by the Quarter Sessions to the | | | | for example mining, where workers were paid by |
| sitting judges to hear at the Assizes. | | | | food or goods rather than money well into the |
| The Magistrates were appointed by the Crown and | | | | Victorian period. |
| drawn from the landowning aristocracy, the country | | | | Compared to London, the dangers in the country |
| gentry, and the Anglican clergy, who were often | | | | were less. Despite this, some biased magistrates still |
| related to noble houses. | | | | treated vagrancy with transportation. Usually this |
| According to Roger Swift, who wrote about the | | | | punishment was for seven years, but in the case of |
| Magistracy in Nineteenth century England, (see below | | | | children, mothers' hearts were torn apart--for if their |
| for full title of Abstract), the country magistrates | | | | children survived the journey by ship, they were |
| wielded considerable power. Many towns were as | | | | never seen again. It was said that the work amongst |
| yet incorporated, so these and the country were the | | | | the gangs of Botany Bay was hard. Only the strong |
| province of the magistrate. "The magistracy | | | | survived, and few made it back to England. |
| exercised a wide range of administrative | | | | The Regency world of England for the poor, |
| responsibilities which included the licensing of | | | | disadvantaged, and trespassers, was truly a |
| alehouses, the inspection of prisons and lunatic | | | | dangerous place. My heros and heroines had much to |
| asylums, the superintendence of roads, public buildings | | | | contend with in their fight against oppression. |
| and charitable institutions, and the application of laws | | | | Abstract: The English Urban Magistracy and the |
| against vagrancy...(and they) adjudicated in the | | | | Administration of Justice During the Early Nineteenth |
| settlement of disputes...." (p.75) | | | | Century: Wolverhampton 1815-1860. By Roger Swift, |
| These men presumably saw to justice, but the poor | | | | Chester College of Higher Education |
| suffered greatly and biased magistrates had children | | | | From: R. E. Swift. 'Crime, Law and Order in Two |
| transported to Australia for stealing bread for their | | | | English Towns during the Early Nineteenth Century: |
| sick mothers. Poaching, carried on to feed starving | | | | the experience of Exeter and Wolverhampton, |
| families whose land had been enclosed by their | | | | 1815-56' (University of Birmingham Ph.D. Thesis. 1981), |
| wealthy neighbors, was severely punished. | | | | 322-51. |
| Transportation and hanging were common. Although | | | | Published in: Midland History, the principal Journal |
| many landowners of the nobility employed the poor | | | | covering the History of the English Midlands. |