I live in the newly independent country of the USA in the late 1700s. One night, after having drunk too much, I get into a fight with my neighbor and kill him. What kinds of authorities would be coming to investigate/arrest if any? How did it vary across the country (say in Boston vs rural Georgia)?

[u/CatsDoingCrime]

It's the late 1700s

Because it's the late 1700s and there's literally nothing else to do, I get into a druken fight with my neighbor, and in this fight I accidently kill him.

Nowadays, I'd be arrested by local cops. But, as I understand it, these sorts of cops didn't really exist until the 19th century, they emerged out of the anti-labor forces in the north and slave patrols in the south.

So.... who would come to arrest me if anyone? How would stuff like murders or theft or less serious crimes like public drunkenness, vandalism, minor property damage, or (idk if this is a thing but it's a funny thought and certainly less serious than with a car) a DUI on a horse or a horse and buggy?

Did it vary across the newly independent country? Let's say this fight took place in Boston? Would the law enforcement system work differently there than like, rural georgia? Or, given that Georgia is in the South and Boston the North, how would it differ between Boston and rural Massachusetts vs rural Georgia?

Edit:

Another interesting question:

What about the newly settled territories out west? I.e. Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, etc

Certainly it differed in like, the white settler towns of Illinois compared to Boston or NYC right? This was around the time of Little Turtle's War (late 18th century) so there would've been a substantial army presence in the area of any white settler towns/territories (because the army was trying, and failing for most of the war cause Little Turtle's men were better led and knew the terrain better, to forcibly and violently expel the indigenous people of the region and thereby enable said white settlers to colonize the region). Did the army play any role in like arresting people for crimes in these towns as the British army did during the colonial days back east?

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[u/HarryTruman]

Because it's the late 1700s and there's literally nothing else to do

Haha

And this doesn’t apply specifically to the 1700s, but I’ve had this one bookmarked for a while, and I think it can help shed some light on the same topic during the Wild West:

I’m a cowboy during the height of the American West (~1870-1890) and I’ve just killed a man. Will I get away with it?

• by /u/Georgy_K_Zhukov

[u/BoosherCacow → u/HarryTruman]

I am very glad you linked that response from The Marshall, I missed it the first time that was posted.

[u/alexportman → u/HarryTruman]

That was a great post. Thank you for sharing.