"A Rogue's Paradise": Crime and Punishment in Antebellum Florida, 1821-1861

"The pervasive influence of the frontier is fundamental to an understanding of antebellum Florida. James M. Denham traces the growth and social development of this sparsely settled region through its experience with crime and punishment." "Using court records, government documents, newspapers, and personal papers, Denham explores how crime affected ordinary Floridians - whites and blacks, perpetrators, victims, and enforcers. He contends that although the frontier determined the enforcement and administration of the law, the ethic of honor dominated human relationships. Although indictments for crimes against persons were far more frequent than those for crimes against property, the punishment for the latter was more severe (except for murder) because such crimes violated the South's cherished code of honor. A sparse, rural agricultural population valued a personal integrity that included a strong sense of economic morality. Honesty and truthfulness were traits not only desired but demanded. Stealing was a violation of that trust and received society's sternest punishment."--BOOK JACKET Preface -- Chapter 1-crime, The Law And Society -- Chapter 2-crime And Its Causes -- Chapter 3-courts, Judges, And Law Enforcement Officers -- Chapter 4-receptacles Of Crime: Florida's Judicial Circuits -- Chapter 5-crime Against Person -- Chapter 6-violating The Domestic Sphere: Women, Violence, And Crime -- Chapter 7-crime Against Property -- Chapter 8-crime Against Public Order And Morality -- Chapter 9-blacks, Crime, And The Law -- Chapter 10-florida's Antebellum Lawman -- Chapter 11-catching Criminals On The Antebellum Frontier -- Chapter 12-jails And Escapes -- Chapter 13-outlaw Gangs, Lynch Mobs, And Regulators: Policing The Antebellum Frontier -- Chapter 14-our Violent Past: A Heritage Of Honor And Frontiers -- Appendix 1: Legal And Extralegal Executions -- Appendix 2: County Seats And Superior/circuit Courts -- Appendix 3: Law And Judicial Officers -- Appendix 4: Prosecution Tables By Ccounty -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index. James M. Denham. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 339-369) And Index. A revealing portrait of law-breaking and law enforcement on the Florida frontier The pervasive influence of the frontier is fundamental to an understanding of antebellum Florida. James M. Denham traces the growth and social development of this sparsely settled region through its experience with crime and punishment. He examines such issues as Florida's criminal code, its judicial and law enforcement officers, the accommodation of criminals in jails and courts, outlaw gangs, patterns of punishment, and the attitude of the public toward lawbreakers. Using court records, government documents, newspapers, and personal papers, Denham explores how crime affected ordinary Floridianswhites and blacks, perpetrators, victims, and enforcers. He contends that although the frontier determined the enforcement and administration of the law, the ethic of honor dominated human relationships. This text traces the growth and social development of the Florida frontier through its experience with crime and punishment. Using court records, government documents, newspapers and personal papers, it explores how crime affected ordinary citizens in antebellum Florida.