American Justice In The 1800's

Lynch mobs, posses, noon showdowns....clearly, lawsto track hundreds of criminals to see justice served,
have changed considerably over the last twoincluding Jesse James, Butch Cassidy and the
centuries. In the 19th century as the American frontierSundance Kid, and the Irish Molly Maguires. At one time
was expanding, many times there were simply notthe agency employed more agents than the U.S. Army
enough lawmen to enforce the laws, or peoplehad soldiers, and it had more mug shots than any other
decided to take matters into their own hands. At anylaw enforcement agency in the country. Besides their
rate, the justice system of the 1800s had somefine detective skills, the Pinkertons were also
significant differences than the one of today, bothwell-known for their diligence in tracking and capturing
formally and informally. Following are three examplesknown criminals, even following some across the
of the different ways that justice was obtained, fromseveral states. The detectives worked hard to see
civil means to downright barbaric acts, in the 19thjustice served, and it paid off. Though the agency no
century.longer exists today as it did then, it is remembered as
The lynching of Henry Smith - The lynch mobs of thea successful law enforcement group that worked
1800s provide one of the best examples chaotic andtirelessly to defend the rights and freedoms of
ruthless vigilante justice that has ever been shown.law-abiding citizens and give criminals their due.
Barbaric by nature, these acts were often committedThe murder trial of Octavius Barron - When Octavius
in the heat of the moment, when anger levels wereBarron murdered William Lyman in 1837, he was
high and the need for revenge was great. Sadly, manygranted a fair trial by the public in Rochester, New
of the people executed were not even guilty of theYork. On the night of October 20, 18-year-old Barron
offenses with which they had been charged, or theirpointed his pistol at the back of Lyman's head and
crimes were certainly not enough to warrant such afired at point blank range. It didn't take long for
punishment. One of the most famous lynchings duringauthorities to piece together what Barron had done;
this time period was that of Henry Smith in 1893. Smithwith his open bragging of the crime, his reputation as a
was an ex-slave living in Texas when he wasless than respectable citizen, and even eye witness
accused of the murder of a 3-year-old white girl, theaccounts, police officers were quick to find and arrest
daughter of a policeman. Though his role in the child'sthe young man. Charged with murder, Barron faced a
murder was not certain, there would be no trial fortrial that was scheduled to begin on May 28, 1838.
Smith; once he was found, he would be forced toThough it lasted only 10 days, the trial was a spectacle
endure one of the most horrific acts of tortureto behold for the citizens of Rochester, who packed
recorded in American history. Before of a crowd ofthe courthouse daily. Eager to hear all the details, jurors,
10,000 people eager to watch Smith suffer, he wasattorneys, court employees, and the public listened
tortured relentlessly before being burned alive. With hisintently to hours of argument from both the
body lifeless on the ground, the crowd cheered theirprosecution and the defense. All the while, Barron
joy at justice having been served.maintained his plea of not guilty. The jury spent only 15
The work of Pinkerton detectives - The Pinkertonminutes deciding the young man's fate; he was guilty
National Detective Agency provided another means towith a sentence to die. After his execution on July 25,
bring criminals to justice. Founded in 1850, the1838, the majority opinion was that justice had been
Pinkertons, as the detectives were known, managedserved - a life for a life.