Take ol' John Hancock, for instance. He was already rich when he found himself in trouble for smuggling. Then the lawyer shows up and guess who it was!
The Wealthy Smuggler
Photo credit: John Singleton Copley
In the 18th century, 40 percent of all British exports to the northern American colonies had to enter via the Port of Boston. These exports were protected by the British through a series of trade taxes imposed by the Navigation Acts.
Although John Hancock was a man of enormous wealth (having inherited most of his fortune in his mid-twenties), he avoided paying these duties to the British by illegally smuggling exports such as French molasses, tea, glass, lead, paper, tobacco, rum, and wine.
His fortune grew until the late 1760s when he was formally charged with smuggling. Hancock sought the counsel of John Adams, an attorney who was the cousin of Hancock’s closest friend, Samuel Adams. Although Hancock was guilty, Adams got Hancock relieved of all charges.
I reckon this is one of those times when crime does pay, especially when you know the right folks!
Coffee inside this morning 'cause it's raining again outside!
Gee, that sounds familiar! If you are rich and "know the right people" you get OFF. Guess if I am going to commit a crime I had better get rich and know (or buy off) some important people. Good post today.
ReplyDeleteHey Linda...
ReplyDeleteI reckon that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Sounds like politics to me!
Thanks for stopping by today!
They say the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Money can buy lots of things especialy a good attorney.
ReplyDeleteThis weather is so crazy this year. I need to go respray the weeds after the rain came the same night I sprayed. never did see in a forcast anywhere.
Sounds like dirty politics and tricks to me. Nothing has changed, still going on today and it is even worse now than then.
ReplyDelete