But by far the most common topic Wodehouse tackles, over and over again, is crime. Wodehouse seemingly could not get enough of America's criminals, especially the less successful ones. More than 30 of the 70 columns discuss some sort of lawbreaking. We also meet people who steal dinosaur eggs , church pews, and bridges over rivers. This particular concentration on the criminal element, when Wodehouse admittedly lived in a quiet, crime-free neighborhood, highlights again the author's method of gathering material.
Newspapers tend to focus on crime and criminals.
Since papers were Plum's primary sources for the column, a focus on crime news is not surprising. Had Wodehouse received more speeding tickets in his life, he might not have found them quite as funny. More unexpected, though, is the inclusion of a strong element of retribution, via the courtroom. Almost every described crime in the column is followed by a scene of the criminal standing before the bar, receiving a juicy reprimand from the judge. The scenes often end with the passing of sentence, as well as a phrase commenting on the impending incarceration of the miscreant.