LIFE AND DEATH AT THE OLD BAILEY

Hardback. Foreword by R.R. Corder. On October 31, 1934, the Central Criminal Court, always associated in the public mind with the Old Bailey, celebrated its 100th birthday. The Central Criminal Court was established by Act of Parliament on October 31, 1834, to take the place of the old assizes, where prisoners from Newgate were delivered. Stones from the old prison were used in the building of the Old Bailey, which was opened in 1907. Changed laws brought more humane sentences during the previous 100yrs, and if stones could speak, those of old Newgate would fill with grim memories the merciful courts of the Old Bailey, where justice was administered. Cases featured include : Francis Smith (1804); Hannah Dobbs (1879); Governor Wall (1800); Renwick Williams (1790); Milsom and Fowler (1896); Henry Fauntleroy (1824); Thomas Griffiths Wainewright (1837); plus Steinie Morrison, Seddon, Charles Peace, Jack the Ripper (chapter 8), Neill Cream, Major Strangeways (1659), Jack Sheppard + many more. Also includes a chapter on the Black Museum at Scotland Yard (now called The Crime Museum). Illus. + Index. 318pp. 8vo. h/back. With lightly pencilled marginalia and underlining to text, particularly in chapter 8 entitled 'Shadowing the Shadow of a Murderer', which relates to the unsolved Whitechapel murders of 1888, and Jack the Ripper. Lightly browned and foxed edges, small label with previous owner's initial to fep, water staining to fr. cover (see image) and sunned sp. A G. copy of a v. scarce title.