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CHAPTER XIII. THE NEGRO CRIMINAL. 37. History of Negro Crime in the City.l-B~rom his earliest advent the Negro, as was natural, has figured largely in the criminal annals of Philadelphia. Only such superficial study of the American Negro as dates his beginning with 1863 can neglect this past record of crime in studying the present. Crime is a phenomenon of organized social life, and is the open rebellion of an individual against his social environment. Naturally then, if men are suddenly transported from one environment to another, the result is lack of harmony with the new conditions; lack of harmony with the new physical surroundings leading to disease and death or modification of physique; lack of harmony with social surroundings leading to crime. Thus very early in the history of the colony characteristic complaints of the disorder of the Negro slaves is heard. In 1693, July II, the Governor and Council approved an ordinance, "Upon the Request of some of the members of Council, that an order be made by the Court of Quarter Sessions for the Countie of philadelphia, the 4t.h July instant (proceeding upon a presentment of the Grand Jurie for the bodie of the sd countie), agt the tumultuous gatherings of the Negroes of the towne of philadelphia, on the 1 Throughout this chapter the basis of induction is the number of prisoners received at different institutions and not the prison population at particular times. This avoids the mistakes and distortions of the latter method. (Cf. Falkner: "Crime and the Census," Publications of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, No. 190)Many writers on Crime among Negroes, as e. g., F. L. Hoffman, and all who use the Eleventh Census uncritically, have fallen into numerous mistakes and exaggerations by carelessness on this point. (235) The Negro Criminal. [Chap. XIII. first dayes of the weeke, ordering the Constables of philadelphia , or anie other person whatsoever, to have power to take up Negroes, male or female, whom they should find gadding abroad on the said first dayes of the weeke, without a ticket from their Mr. or Mris., or not in their Cornpa, or to carry them to gaole, there to remain that night, and that without meat or drink, and to Cause them to be publickly whipt next morning with 39 Lashes, well Laid on, on their bare backs, for which their sd. Mr. or Mris. should pay ISd. to the whipper," etc. 2 Penn himself introduced a law for the special trial and punishment of Negroes very early in the history of the colony, as has been noted before." The slave code finally adopted was mild compared with the legislation of the period, but it was severe enough to show the unruly character of many of the imported slaves. 4 Especially in Philadelphia did the Negroes continue to give general trouble, not so much by serious crime as by disorder. In 1732, under Mayor Hasel, the City Council " taking under Consideration the frequent and tumultuous meetings of the Negro Slaves, especially on Sunday, Gaming , Cursing, Swearing, and committing many other Disorders , to the great Terror and Disquiet of the Inhabitants of this city," ordered an ordinance to be drawn up against such disturbances." Again, six years later, we hear of the draft of another city ordinance for "the more Effectual suppressing Tumultuous meetings and other disorderly doings of the Negroes, Mulattos and Indian servts. and slaves." 6 And in 1741, August 17, "frequent complaints having been made to the Board that many disorderly persons meet every ev'g about the Court house of this city, 2 "Pennsylvania Colonial Records, n I, 38o- 8r. 3See Chapter III, and Appendix B. 4 Cf. "Pennsylvania Statutes at Large," Ch, 56. 5 Watson's 'Annals," I, 62. 6 Ibid. 6.255.127] Project MUSE (2024-04-25 03:04 GMT) Sect. 37.] History 0/ Negro Crime. 237 and great numbers of Negroes and others sit there with milk pails and other things late at night, and many disorders are there committed against the peace and good government of this city," Council ordered the place to be cleared " in half an hour after sunset." 7 Of the graver crimes by Negroes we have only reports here and there which do not make it clear how frequently such crimes occurred. In 1706 a slave is arrested for setting fire to a dwelling; in 1738 three Negroes are hanged in neighboring parts of New Jersey for poisoning people...

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