Nether World: Crime and the Police Courts in Victorian London

A new account of urban Victorian life told through the dubious day-to-day of London's police courts. Nether World presents a rich, often humorous glimpse into everyday life in Victorian London through a revealing account of nineteenth-century police courts. People of all classes brought complaints to this court about those who had hurt, abused, or stolen from them--drunks, pickpockets, wife-beaters, and fraudsters--who were each in their turn judged by magistrates wielding broad summary powers. Delving into underexamined court records and the pages of a fast-developing newspaper industry, Drew D. Gray offers a fresh description of a vibrant, ever-changing metropolis and considers ongoing issues such as poverty, homelessness, violence, substance abuse, prostitution, and--of course--crime. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Introduction and Themes 1. The Police, Drink and the Working Classes 2. Regulating the Capital’s Streets and Businesses 3. Thieves and Swindlers 4. Violence and Homicide 5. Juveniles in the Police Courts 6. Prostitution and the Police Courts 7. Poverty and Homelessness 8. Politics, Riot and Trade Unionism Conclusion: The People’s Courts? References Suggested Reading Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index