 There was a widespread belief at the time that women were beyond the law, since any prosecution could only be made against a male who might lie behind a crime; it was commonplace for a husband to be held legally accountable for the actions of his wife (refer to Legal rights of women in history).The women and child rioters removed some grain from the ship by filling their caps and gowns.The local magistracy had been unnerved by the success of the rioting.