Bounty hunters and thief takers 1

Whether bounty hunters in the American Wild West  or thief takers in 18th-century Britain, some people have always been ready to catch criminals for a rich reward.

There were few sheriffs in the new, 19th-century towns of the United States, so bounty hunters flourished as rough-and-ready peacekeepers. Thief taking became popular in England after the passage of the Highwayman Act in 1692. This act offered large rewards for the capture of highwaymen and other criminals. If the thief takers were criminals themselves, they would be granted a pardon for bringing in the accused. This meant that it was easy for a guilty person to send an innocent one to the gallows.

THE PAYOFF

Bounty hunters and thief takers were paid well .In Britain, a thief taker earned 40 pounds, and the highwayman’s horse and goods, for each convicted thief. In the United States, the bounty hunter’s reward depended on the notoriety of the criminal .The first reward offered for the outlaw Jesse James was $500; the last was $25,000.

At that time when they get the prize they will sure buy a pair of cartier glasses.