Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-01-14

when j. q. got seven years transportation for a
shilling. We could continue almost indefinitely
these chronicles Of the Shallow family We stop
because they arc becoming tedious. 1t is right
however, before turn TO other and more sensible
topics, to point out that the inequalities of punish
ment thus evident arc not to be accounted for by
any theory within the reach Of ordinary logic
They have little, and generally nothing to do with
previous convictions or the merits of the cases
We will show this by one or two other samples
for which We have only to dip our hands into the
bag.
At the Sussex Sessions, Midsummer eighteen
hundred and furty-ninc, S. II. was convicted upon
three several charges for stealing property to the
value Of about eight pounds. lie was sentenced
to three days imprisonment; upon n fourth case
for robbery to the value of three pounds being
proved against him, he was sentenced to six
months imprisonment But at the same Sessions
j. p was sentenced for theft Of four shillings to
one weeks Imprisonment, and, upon the proving
Of second case against him-a theft OF ono
pound, twelve and ninepence--was transported toI
seven years.
At the Norwich Assizes last July, John Brown
who had been previously convicted Of felony, was
indicted with three other persons three separate
charges fer stealing wheat the property Of the
same prosecutor. lie was found guilty on each
Indictment and imprisoned for eighteen months
But at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions last June
John Landimorc, before mentioned, who had never
before been convicted, was indicted with three
others for the same offence in precisely the same
way, and was transported for thirty years.
We have quoted n sentence of ten years, trans
portation for the theft Of faggot. The thief had
certainly lecn once before convicted. But at the
Woodbridge Summer Sessions, Thomas Longford
was proved to have stolen two faggots and to have
been once before convicted. yet only imprison-
cd for six months and at tho East Kent Midsum-
mcr Sessions Thomas Longford, who stole three
faggots and had been twice before convicted,
had only sentence Of twelve months impris-
onment.
At the Norwich City Sessions last July, Thomas
Cudden, for stealing ono pig, was imprisoned for
twelve months; when at the same Sessions, six
months before, Samuel Brighton, who stole seven
pigs, had only been imprisoned nine months,
though he had previously been convicted Of house
breaking and there had been recorded against him
sentence Of death.
Two boys, sixteen years old, were sentenced at
the last York Summer Assizes to transportation
one for fifteen and the other for twenty years, in
punishment for theft of six shillngs and six
pence from tho person. A month afterwards, al
tho Liverpool Assizes, h., D. b., u. and *. were
found guilty Of n serious burglary. H., d., B. and
p had been convicted previously for ielonics. l..
had been convicted before of burglary and suffered
eighteen months imprisonment; had also been
convicted Of felony on one other occasion, siS
times again as a rcputed thief. ID. had been twice
before found guilty of felony, and several times
summarily convicted. p. had been twice convicted
of felony, and once transported for ten years; asC
seven times summarily convicted. Punishments
were distributed among them, varying from twelve
months Imprisonment to twelve years transporta
ten but not one Of them had such bargain as
that allowed to the two boys who got between them
thirty-fvc years of transportation for highway
robbery Of six and sixpencc,
! 1t is not our matter that is now exhausted, bu
our patience. We must quit the Shallo u.s.
When we have found out how to paint lilies roses
we shall have learnt how to comment upon fact,
/ like these.