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Crime and Punishment in the 19th - 20th Centuries

Created on Jul 12, 2017 by Kathy Pinna

Discover photos of U.S. citizens who committed crimes in the 1800's and early 1900's.

Most of the crimes for which they were arrested are very different from current offenses - selling liquor (for which you could be imprisoned for life), anarchy, fighting for women's rights, pickpocketing, train robbing - and at least one is still rampant today: murder.

There's even a photo of the first documented serial murderer in the United States. Click on any of the photos to read more about these notorious people and their crimes.

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Photos of our notorious ancestors

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The first modern serial killer was a capitalist...

Possibly up to 27 people were the victims of the first documented serial killer Dr. Henry Howard Holmes from Chicago. He not only had a custom torture chamber in his building, but also sold the skeletons of his victims for a healthy sum of money to various medical practices. Read more about Dr. H. H. Holmes

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Chain gang prisoners and guards
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Delaware, 1905

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They still used whips and stocks.

J.B. Black, "bogus checks"

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No, he's not dead!

Taking a mug shot

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In 1906 New York City

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Adam Worth, "Master Criminal"

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Click on the photo to read about this "Napoleon of the criminal world"

Mary Moriarity, pickpocket

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AKA "Kitty the Welch woman"

Rube Burrow, train robber, in his coffin

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After being killed, thousands viewed his body and took souvenirs.

This is "prison garb"?

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Catherine O'Neill

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Joseph Chancellor

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A Pinkerton's National Detective Agency identification card.

Unknown outlaws of the Old West

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Yes, they are dead!

1940 San Quentin

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Photo of Seara Louviere Seara Louviere
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shared on 08/17/2012

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