NEW YORK CITY
In mid 1860’s through late 1890’s, the frequency of street crimes increased gradually. Most often types of crimes committed were petty criminal acts such pick pocketing and stealing. These types of crimes were most often caught. Some instances of robberies were also committed, and the criminals were caught somehow or the other way. The most interesting thing that one can find is the lack of proof one needed to prove a small criminal act. The criminals, who were found guilty by the word of the victim, were sentenced without any other proof or evidence that the suspect committed the felony. On the other hand, there were also some cases of shootings, murders and suicides, where the criminals were caught red-handed. These criminal were sentenced to prison time depending on the degree of that criminal activity. The amount of serious felonies committed in this era, period between 1865 and 1900, were far more serious that any other. On the contrary, there were lots of instances of assault and robberies, stabbing, shooting and murdering. One example of stabbing was on July 7th of 1865. A Frenchman by the name of Mr. J. Paridaens was stabbed by a fellow Frenchman named Emil Santoni. Santoni “had disputed with Mr. J. Paridaens, of No. 258 Third-avenue, also a native of France, lay in waiting for him and as he was passing a dark alley darted forth and stabbed him in the side with a dagger, inflicting a serious wound.” (Frenchman Stabbed, July 7, 1865).