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may have been treated in the same manner as those who commit-
ted ordinary theft.8.4.3 Robbery and Kidnapping
References to the taking of goods or persons by force occur mostly
in the letters from the so-called governor’s archive at Nippur.^230 These
letters reveal that the most common solution was either compensa-
tion or return of the stolen items (OIP 114 8, 24).^231 This appears
to include the kidnapping of slaves (OIP 114 6). As for the kidnap-
ping of free persons, there is very little evidence. One text contains
sworn testimony regarding the forceful abduction of a woman, but
the outcome of the case is not revealed.^2328.4.4 Fraud
In a trial of two men for attempted fraud, they were found guilty
and punished with what the text refers to as a tenfold fine (TCL
13 219).^233 They had tried to swindle another man of two separate
amounts of money, but the penalty was determined in relation only
to the larger of the two amounts. Due to a lack of other evidence,
it is not clear if such a stifffine was typical. Their use of a forged
tablet and their false statements to the judges probably served as
aggravating factors. In another case, a man went on trial for rent-
ing the same slave to two different men for the same time period
(YOS 7 102). The one who was defrauded seems to have brought
the case, but no verdict is recorded.8.4.5 Receiving
Receiving stolen goods from a thief was considered an offense as
serious as theft (YOS 19 98). To be convicted, however, a person
had to know the goods were stolen. Several documents indicate that
defendants were not convicted if they had received goods from a
thief in what appeared to them to be a legitimate transaction (Sack(^230) Cole, Nippur IV...
(^231) There may have been additional penalties in some instances. In one letter,
the writer ordered that a certain robber be expelled from a particular area and
that restrictions be placed on where he could settle (OIP 114 19). At least one
other document (OIP 114 6) may refer to an additional penalty, but the relevant
portions of the tablet are too damaged to be sure.
(^232) Jursa, “†erdu.. .,” 498–99, 511 (BM 64153).
(^233) See Joannès, “Les textes judiciaires.. .,” 227–29.
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