Charles Hitchen
Encyclopedia
Charles Hitchen was a "thief-taker
" (unofficial policeman) in 18th century London
who was also famously tried for homosexuality
.
He was from a poor family and was apprenticed as a cabinet maker before he married Elizabeth, daughter of one John Wells, in 1703. Hitchen set up trade as a joiner for a time, and the couple lived on the north side of St. Paul's Churchyard in the City of London
. In 1711, Elizabeth Hitchen's father died, and she inherited property, which she sold. Charles used that money to purchase the position of Under City Marshal for 700 pounds in 1712. There were two city marshals, and each had a staff of six men. Their job was to police the city for prostitutes, vagrants
, and unlicensed tradesmen. For this, they received all paid fines as well as a 100 pound salary from the Lord Mayor of London
. This encouraged the marshals to increase fines, rather than to decrease crime.
bribes from brothels and pickpockets to prevent arrest, and he particularly leaned on the thieves to make them fence
their goods through him. With the growth of paper money transfers, the early draught notices, and "notes of hand" (agreements to pay the bearer), pickpockets were causing larger and larger economic losses to traders and merchants, and Hitchen, like Jonathan Wild
later, acted as a "finder" of stolen merchandise and negotiated a fee for the return of the stolen items. Hitchen regarded this matter as commonplace enough that he began to boast of controlling dozens of thieves and actually try to extort money out of tradesmen to prevent their being robbed (a practice now known as a protection racket
). The complaints were loud and frequent enough that the board of aldermen investigated him in 1712 and relieved him of his duties in 1713 (while keeping him in his title and salary). Hitchen enlisted Jonathan Wild to help him keep control of his thieves while he himself was out of action.
In April of 1714, Hitchen was reinstated. The end of the War of the Spanish Succession
had increased the numbers of former soldiers on the streets, and violent crime was on the rise. However, Jonathan Wild was now Hitchen's chief rival for criminal control. Wild, unlike Hitchen, did not merely receive goods or extort; he made money by informing on thieves (not his own, usually) and apprehending them. He began to cut down on Hitchen's own group of thieves, and Hitchen attempted to expose Wild in 1718 with A True Discovery of the Conduct of Receivers and Thief-Takers in and about the City of London. In it, he called Wild "The Regulator" of crime. He said that Wild hung petty thieves and protected experienced thieves. Wild answered Hitchen with An Answer to a Late Insolent Libel and explained that Hitchen had employed him to run thieves (an activity which he had nothing to do with) and that Hitchen was a customer of molly house
s — which were homosexual brothels. Hitchen attempted to answer with The Regulator, but, by that point, his credibility had been destroyed.
became the master of organized crime
in the City, and Hitchen, although he probably still extorted money from taverns and brothels, continued his position as Under City Marshal. In 1727, however, the end came for both Wild and Hitchen. Wild was caught after performing a violent jail break and stealing jewels from the installation of the Knights of the Garter
ceremony. Hitchen, however, was targeted by the Societies for the Reformation of Manners, which performed a sweep of London attempting to root out "sodomitical practices." Hitchen was caught and put on trial for sodomy
(a capital offence) and attempted sodomy. He was acquitted of the first and convicted of the last. His sentence was to pay 20 pounds, be put in the pillory
for one hour, and then serve six months in prison.
The newspapers carried details of his crime and trial, and they also announced the exact place and time of his pillorying. He was put in the stocks in Katherine Street End in the Strand
on 26 April 1727. The public beat him viciously, and the Under-Sheriff took him down long before the hour was out to save his life. Hitchen then served six months in jail. At the conclusion of his prison term, the Board of Aldermen stripped him of his Under City Marshal position on the grounds of his attempted sodomy and his failure to perform his duties during the six months he had spent in prison.
Hitchen died soon after his release from prison, likely as a result of complications and infections from the beating in the pillory and time in prison, and his wife had to appeal for aid from the City Council. She received a 20 pound annuity.
Thief-taker
In English legal history, a thief-taker was a private individual hired to capture criminals. The widespread establishment of professional police in England did not occur until the 19th century...
" (unofficial policeman) in 18th century London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
who was also famously tried for homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
.
He was from a poor family and was apprenticed as a cabinet maker before he married Elizabeth, daughter of one John Wells, in 1703. Hitchen set up trade as a joiner for a time, and the couple lived on the north side of St. Paul's Churchyard in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. In 1711, Elizabeth Hitchen's father died, and she inherited property, which she sold. Charles used that money to purchase the position of Under City Marshal for 700 pounds in 1712. There were two city marshals, and each had a staff of six men. Their job was to police the city for prostitutes, vagrants
Vagrancy (people)
A vagrant is a person in poverty, who wanders from place to place without a home or regular employment or income.-Definition:A vagrant is "a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging;" vagrancy is the condition of such persons.-History:In...
, and unlicensed tradesmen. For this, they received all paid fines as well as a 100 pound salary from the Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
. This encouraged the marshals to increase fines, rather than to decrease crime.
As Under City Marshal and crime lord
Hitchen was not the first to use his position as a form of legal theft, but he was particularly obvious about it. He began to extortExtortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
bribes from brothels and pickpockets to prevent arrest, and he particularly leaned on the thieves to make them fence
Fence (criminal)
A fence is an individual who knowingly buys stolen property for later resale, sometimes in a legitimate market. The fence thus acts as a middleman between thieves and the eventual buyers of stolen goods who may or may not be aware that the goods are stolen. As a verb, the word describes the...
their goods through him. With the growth of paper money transfers, the early draught notices, and "notes of hand" (agreements to pay the bearer), pickpockets were causing larger and larger economic losses to traders and merchants, and Hitchen, like Jonathan Wild
Jonathan Wild
Jonathan Wild was perhaps the most infamous criminal of London — and possibly Great Britain — during the 18th century, both because of his own actions and the uses novelists, playwrights, and political satirists made of them...
later, acted as a "finder" of stolen merchandise and negotiated a fee for the return of the stolen items. Hitchen regarded this matter as commonplace enough that he began to boast of controlling dozens of thieves and actually try to extort money out of tradesmen to prevent their being robbed (a practice now known as a protection racket
Protection racket
A protection racket is an extortion scheme whereby a criminal group or individual coerces a victim to pay money, supposedly for protection services against violence or property damage. Racketeers coerce reticent potential victims into buying "protection" by demonstrating what will happen if they...
). The complaints were loud and frequent enough that the board of aldermen investigated him in 1712 and relieved him of his duties in 1713 (while keeping him in his title and salary). Hitchen enlisted Jonathan Wild to help him keep control of his thieves while he himself was out of action.
In April of 1714, Hitchen was reinstated. The end of the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
had increased the numbers of former soldiers on the streets, and violent crime was on the rise. However, Jonathan Wild was now Hitchen's chief rival for criminal control. Wild, unlike Hitchen, did not merely receive goods or extort; he made money by informing on thieves (not his own, usually) and apprehending them. He began to cut down on Hitchen's own group of thieves, and Hitchen attempted to expose Wild in 1718 with A True Discovery of the Conduct of Receivers and Thief-Takers in and about the City of London. In it, he called Wild "The Regulator" of crime. He said that Wild hung petty thieves and protected experienced thieves. Wild answered Hitchen with An Answer to a Late Insolent Libel and explained that Hitchen had employed him to run thieves (an activity which he had nothing to do with) and that Hitchen was a customer of molly house
Molly house
A Molly house is an archaic 18th century English term for a tavern or private room where homosexual and cross-dressing men could meet each other and possible sexual partners. Molly houses were one precursor to some types of gay bars....
s — which were homosexual brothels. Hitchen attempted to answer with The Regulator, but, by that point, his credibility had been destroyed.
Downfall and sodomy arrest
Jonathan WildJonathan Wild
Jonathan Wild was perhaps the most infamous criminal of London — and possibly Great Britain — during the 18th century, both because of his own actions and the uses novelists, playwrights, and political satirists made of them...
became the master of organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
in the City, and Hitchen, although he probably still extorted money from taverns and brothels, continued his position as Under City Marshal. In 1727, however, the end came for both Wild and Hitchen. Wild was caught after performing a violent jail break and stealing jewels from the installation of the Knights of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
ceremony. Hitchen, however, was targeted by the Societies for the Reformation of Manners, which performed a sweep of London attempting to root out "sodomitical practices." Hitchen was caught and put on trial for sodomy
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
(a capital offence) and attempted sodomy. He was acquitted of the first and convicted of the last. His sentence was to pay 20 pounds, be put in the pillory
Pillory
The pillory was a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse, sometimes lethal...
for one hour, and then serve six months in prison.
The newspapers carried details of his crime and trial, and they also announced the exact place and time of his pillorying. He was put in the stocks in Katherine Street End in the Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
on 26 April 1727. The public beat him viciously, and the Under-Sheriff took him down long before the hour was out to save his life. Hitchen then served six months in jail. At the conclusion of his prison term, the Board of Aldermen stripped him of his Under City Marshal position on the grounds of his attempted sodomy and his failure to perform his duties during the six months he had spent in prison.
Hitchen died soon after his release from prison, likely as a result of complications and infections from the beating in the pillory and time in prison, and his wife had to appeal for aid from the City Council. She received a 20 pound annuity.