James M. Denham traces the growth and social development of this sparsely settled region through its experience with crime and punishment. Along the way, he examines such issues as Florida's criminal code, its judicial and law enforcement officers, the accommodation of criminals in jails and courts, outlaw gangs, patterns of punishment, and the attitude of the public toward lawbreakers. He tells much of this story through the lives of those who participated in Florida's criminal justice system at all levels: criminal, constable, sheriff, judge, jury member, and victim.

Brings together the reminiscences of two pioneers who came of age in antebellum Florida's Columbia County and the nearby Suwannee River Valley. Though they held markedly different positions in society, the two shared the adventure, hardship and tragedy that characterized Florida's pioneer era.

Succeeds in lifting the veil to capture the daily drama, excitement, and importance of one federal district court s work all within the framework of the legal and political developments of the time. This fascinating and invaluable narrative history is a must-read for all serious students of Florida s federal judiciary, as well as of the general history of the state. Walter W. Manley II, coeditor of The Supreme Court of Florida and Its Predecessor Courts, 1821 1917
On any day, America s courts are a trove of human interest, significant drama, and the making of public policy....