Buffalo Law Review Volume 24 Number 1 Article 5 10-1-1974 Notes Toward a History of American Justice Lawrence M. Friedman Stanford University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/buffalolawreview Part of the Comparative and Foreign Law Commons, Criminal Law Commons, and the Legal History Commons Recommended Citation Lawrence M. Friedman, Notes Toward a History of American Justice, 24 Buff. L. Rev. 111 (1974). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/buffalolawreview/vol24/iss1/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Buffalo Law Review by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. NOTES TOWARD A HISTORY OF AMERICAN JUSTICE* LAWRRENCE M. FRIEDMAN** n Kent County, Delaware, in 1703, Adam Latham, a laborer, and Joan Mills, wife of a laborer named Andrew Mills, were brought before the county court. The grand jury presented Joan Mills for adultery. She pleaded guilty to the charge. For punishment, the court ordered her to be publicly whipped-21 lashes on her bare back, well applied; and she was also sentenced to prison, at hard labor, for one year. Adam Latham was convicted of fornication. He was sentenced to receive 20 lashes on his bare back, well laid on, in full public view. He was also accused of stealing Isaac Freeland's dark brown gelding, worth 2 pounds 10 shillings. Adam pleaded guilty; for this crime he was sentenced to another four lashes, and was further required to pay for the gelding.