Murders & Misdemeanours

Pamela Shields' latest book is about Hertfordshire's many connections with royalty. Within these pages you find murder, mayhem, intrigue, scandal, love, hate, war and sometimes, even peace. She comes to her subject not as an academic historian but as a journalist with a passion for history and a populist eye for anecdotes and local myths and legends which surround some of the most famous of names. Quirky, insightful, entertaining, sometimes irreverent it is also, of course, full of fascinating facts such as: in 1361 the Prince of Wales spent his honeymoon in Berkhamsted and that his new Duchess of Cornwall was an older woman with a past; how Henry VIII's children (all future monarchs) were brought up; where James I was when he received news of the Gunpowder Plot and where George VI, father of the present Queen, fell madly in love with Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. We read about Edward II and his lover Piers Gaveston; how Henry Bolingbroke had his cousin Richard II murdered and why he buried him in Kings Langley. We discover that The Three Lions on English football shirts are far from English and the famous Tudor dynasty was started by a Welsh servant. Pamela takes a modern approach to the shenanigans of kings and queens throughout history. Some were brave, some greedy, some cruel, others gentle, all are fascinating.

Frome was historically one of the largest towns in Somerset and is rapidly growing today. Its wealth was built on wool and cloth industries, later metalworking and printing, bringing many people into the town. Agricultural work was also the way of life for many. As these industries rose and fell, the fortunes of many fluctuated and in periods of decline life was often hard. In Frome Murders and Misdemeanours authors Mick Davis and David Lassman delve into local records to reveal the dark side of life for ordinary people through the ages, including tales of bewitchment, counterfeiting, revenge and vicious murder. The stories include a trial for witchcraft and the role of the vicar of Frome, a sadistic murder of a serving girl by her mistress and her mistress' daughter, the parish constable's account of his day-to-day dealings with domestic violence, drunkenness and general disorder in Regency Frome, an ageing playboy shot dead by a jealous husband who then shot himself, a farm labourer stabbed to death by his uncle and a triple tragedy of father, wife and son discovered dead in their home by a milkman on his rounds. This collection of true-life crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in Frome in previous centuries. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime as well as those who want to know more about the history of Frome and the south-west of England.

A look at the dark side of life, Victorian-style, when nothing was quite as it seemed and a public execution could be an entertaining family day out. Murderers, poachers, thieves, pickpockets and vagabonds all went about their business with impunity. Crime took place on the streets, on public transport, in homes, pubs, prisons, asylums, workhouses and brothels - it was all part of everyday life in Yarmouth in the late 1800s. Naturally the punishments awarded varied considerably, depending upon the crimes committed. Murderers and thieves - particularly horse thieves - could expect the rope, though others could hope for a reprieve. Such a remission would automatically add them to list of convicts to be deported to the penal colonies in Australia. Alternatively, convicts might expect to spend time in gaol or a House of Correction, with hard labour and floggings often thrown in for good measure. This collection of real life crimes vividly recreates the events surrounding them, offering an insight not only into criminal law but also into the social history attached to crime as society evolved and adapted to meet changing industries and class structures. A must have book for any arm chair detective and anyone interested in the social mores of the day.

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Cheshire was a thriving part of the north-west of England. Bordered by Liverpool and Manchester to the north, much of the county was rural and agricultural, centred on the historic county city of Chester, the market towns of Macclesfield, Winsford and Northwich and also the industrial towns of Warrington, Crewe, Widnes, Runcorn and Ellesmere Port. It was a period of great social change as people from all walks of life moved with their families in search of work. Deprivation and poverty could often be found cheek by jowl with more affluent sections of society, and crime, as always, knew no boundaries. The stories were often chronicled in detail in local press at the time and in this book authors Paul and Rose Hurley have delved into the historical records to reveal the dark side of life of everyday people of Cheshire, which could turn to murder and death by execution. This collection of true-life crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in Cheshire in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime, as well as those who want to know more about the history of this area of the North West.

- New title in our growing Murders & Misdemeanours series. - Potential for review coverage in local press and media as well as specialized true crime publications. - Author lives locally and is available to promote the book.

Manchester in the century between 1850 and 1950 witnessed extraordinary growth and changes. In the mid-nineteenth century, Manchester was the world's first industrialised city, home of the Industrial Revolution and known as 'Cottonopolis'. It was a city of immigrants from the countryside, Ireland, Scotland and further afield, where slums and poverty existed in close proximity to great wealth. The unique conditions in the city made it a breeding ground for crimes of all kinds, from the 'high crimes' of murder and large-scale robberies, frauds and theft, to 'low-level' crimes such as pickpocketing, mugging and other street crimes. 'Snoozer' gangs robbed hotels in Victorian Manchester and the city was home to numerous jewel thieves over the years including 'Lucky Edgar'. Some crimes were even politically motivated, such as the suffragette law breaking, while others such as youth crime, which is often portrayed as a recent phenomenon, actually has a long history stretching back to the teenage scuttler gangs of the late nineteenth century. This collection of true-life crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in Manchester in years gone by. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime, as well as those who want to know more about the history of Manchester.

Yorkshire Murders & Misdemeanours invites the reader to take a look at the dark side of life. This gruesome collection of historical murders and misdemeanours vividly brings to life a selection of true crimes; crimes which took place on the streets, on public transport, in homes, pubs, prisons, workhouses and brothels. The reader will be introduced to characters such as Joseph Wooler whose wife died in 1855 in mysterious circumstances; the question is, was Joseph responsible for poisoning his wife, Jane, with arsenic or was her body simply unable to cope with the medication she was taking for her weak constitution? We are also introduced to the case of James Smith, the keeper of the toll house at Hebden Bridge in 1850, who was found with his throat cut. Was the man arrested for this crime the right man? This collection of real life crimes vividly recreates the events surrounding them. A must have book for any armchair detective!

A look at the dark side of life, Victorian-style, when nothing was quite as it seemed and a public execution could be an entertaining family day out. Murderers, poachers, thieves, pickpockets and vagabonds all went about their business with impunity. Crime took place on the streets, on public transport, in homes, pubs, prisons, asylums, workhouses and brothels - it was all part of everyday life in Chichester in the late 1800s. It was madness and mayhem in those weird and wonderful times - and it's brought vividly to life by Philip MacDougall in Chichester Murders and Misdemeanours.

A look at the dark side of life, Victorian-style, when nothing was quite as it seemed and a public execution could be an entertaining family day out. Murderers, poachers, thieves, pickpockets and vagabonds all went about their business with impunity. Crime took place on the streets, on public transport, in homes, pubs, prisons, asylums, workhouses and brothels - it was all part of everyday life in Brighton and Hove in the late 1800s. Read about the notorious railway murderer, Percy Lefroy, who appeared at his trial in full evening dress and went to the gallows in an old brown suit. Gasp at the audacity of a temptress who fell in love with a doctor and tried to poison his wife, with strychnine laced chocolate. Then there's little Emily, a girl who received imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a few tempting pieces of gingerbread while a gaggle of disruptive young women loved causing a riot, flirting with men and smashing windows. It was madness and mayhem in those weird and wonderful times - and it's brought vividly to life by Janet Cameron in Brighton and Hove - Murder and Misdemeanours.

'We never needed to lock our doors in the past ...our door was always open, even if we were out ...you could walk the streets safely in those days ...Nobody bothered you.' This is what Laurie Curry's grandmother used to say when she was comparing her times to modern times. But how true was it? Laurie started to research into these good old days by trawling through the archives of the local history section of the Central Library in South Shields. He also looked through back copies of the Shields Gazette. He was looking for the ordinary Shields person, not the rich and famous, and what he found confirmed his thoughts. It was not all good old days, there were quite a lot of bad old days too. His research drew his curiosity to the criminal element in the town's past and here are the results of his research. Read about the South Shields Cannibal, Death by Dirt, Battered to Death and Murder on Board.

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Jarrow was a thriving shipbuilding town. People from all walks of life moved to the area in search of work and a new beginning, bringing their families – and often their troubles – with them. A local newspaper, The Jarrow Express, was circulated from 1873 to 1918 and published everyday stories, gossip and news about the local population, and author Natasha Windham has delved into the archives and other local records to reveal the dark side of life of the ordinary people of Jarrow at this time, including tales of vicious murder, revenge, manslaughter and suicide. The stories include a one-legged arsonist who later became a well-known comedian and dancer, an absentee from the army who, in a bid to evade capture, jumped in the River Tyne and drowned, and a police inspector who was murdered by one of his former officers who had been suspected of leading a bombing campaign. 'The Murder of Maggie' is the sad tale of a woman killed by a single blow to the head in 1886. Another more amusing tale tells of three women armed with a poker, a frying pan and a children's chair who in 1881 chased two bailiffs down the street and were subsequently fined for their actions. This collection of true crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in Jarrow. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime as well as those who want to know more about the history of Jarrow and the north-east of England.

A look at the dark side of life, Victorian-style, when nothing was quite as it seemed and a public execution could be an entertaining family day out. Murderers, poachers, thieves, pickpockets and vagabonds all went about their business with impunity. Crime took place on the streets, on public transport, in homes, pubs, prisons, asylums, workhouses and brothels - it was all part of everyday life in Durham in the late 1800s. Naturally the punishments awarded varied considerably, depending upon the crimes committed. Murderers and thieves - particularly horse thieves - could expect the rope, though others could hope for a reprieve. Such a remission would automatically add them to list of convicts to be deported to the penal colonies in Australia. Alternatively, convicts might expect to spend time in gaol or a House of Correction, with hard labour and floggings often thrown in for good measure. This collection of real life crimes vividly recreates the events surrounding them, offering an insight not only into criminal law but also into the social history attached to crime as society evolved and adapted to meet changing industries and class structures. A must have book for any arm chair detective and anyone interested in the social mores of the day.

Edinburgh is a city rightly famed world-wide. It is perhaps the only large British city which can be described as beautiful. It always seems to have been at the centre of major events, many of them turbulent. The innumerable murky legends of murder, misdemeanour and mayhem have perhaps taken root because of the topography and architecture of the Old Town with its maze of ill-lit and menacing wynds, closes and courts. Leading off the High Street and the Cowgate there are still places redolent of the atmosphere of past Edinburgh. In this simple introduction to the dark side of Edinburgh's history, the authors have brough together some well-known and other more obscure tales of dark deeds. They can reveal that it did not all take place in the Old Town.

In the Middle Ages, Norwich was the largest city in England apart from London. It maintained this position until the eighteenth-century, when it was overtaken by Bristol. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries Norwich became known as a county town with a market and wide range of industries. This colourful history is one that inevitably embraces its share of murders and misdemeanours. The history of crime and punishment has played out here as much as in London or any other city. One aspect of criminality remained unchanged from the twelfth to the nineteenth century, the role of Norwich Castle as a prison; it was a place where criminals were kept while awaiting trial, not a place for locking them up afterwards. The major crimes were: theft, rape, murder and the occasional case of forgery or treason. If you committed a major crime, how long you waited in prison for your trial would depend on when the assize judges were next in town. All cases were heard before a jury of landowners, no women were allowed to serve as jurors. The consequences of this are explored several times in this book; the defence council might appeal to male prejudices by attempting to impugn the moral qualities of a female victim. Norwich Murders & Misdemeanours offers a fascinating insight into the darker side of Norwich.

A Preston Chronicle newspaper headline in 1866 of 'Thievery, Knavery & Harlotry in Preston' described a town struggling with crime and its consequences. Justice had been swift from the days of horse thieves and highwaymen, when the gloom of the gallows or transportation brought fear to the less fortunate who lived among poverty and pestilence. Some would earn notoriety for their dreadful deeds, while others received pity for their plight. In Preston Murders and Misdemeanours, local author Keith Johnson brings together a collection of tales from the court archives to chronicle the events that occupied the courts and brought criminals to justice. Judges and justices, coroners and court clerks, barristers and briefs all played their part in a time when justice was swift and often delivered harshly with unflinching retribution. The poacher, the pickpocket, the prostitute and the pilfering thief were all punished for their crimes – whether petty or paramount. Keith Johnson tells of those who were murdered, poisoned, mistreated or cheated. He reveals the killers, thieves, swindlers and fraudsters who faced the glare of the courtroom and felt the long arm of the law. This journey through the justice system in this Lancashire city exposes the harsh realities of life and the curiosities of the past that are both compelling and thought-provoking.

This book brings to life a selection of the most notorious, and grimmest, murders and other crimes in and around Liverpool from the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries.The tales include 'Fire in the Menagerie', 'Murderous Propaganda Against Prostitution', 'HMS Thetis - A Floating Tomb', and 'The Mass Graves of Old Swan'. Alongside these the author examines lesser-known cases such as 'The Hope Street Bodysnatchers', 'The Telltale Brooch' (the Liverpool pub landlady who was the main catalyst for the capture of Dr Crippen) and 'The Prime Minister's Assassin' - when Spencer Percival was murdered in the House of Commons by a disgruntled Liverpudlian civil servant. Unusual crimes also feature including 'The Man in the Iron Coffin', 'The Cheapside Vampire', and the family of extremely violent Victorian muggers, 'The Murderous Mulveys'. The story continues into the early twentieth century with the Edwardian gangs of Liverpool (the original Teddy boys) and the 'Tithebarn Street Outrage'.The author also describes methods of punishing criminals in Liverpool through the ages and the role of the grisly Castle and Tower of Liverpool, where public hangings took place outside its walls and which became the disease-ridden town gaol in the nineteenth century. When the last hangings took place in Britain in the 1960s, one of them was carried out in Liverpool prison. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime, as well as those who want to know more about the story of Liverpool.

Bristol Murders brings together numerous murderous tales that shocked not only the city but also made national headlines. Contained within the pages of this book are the stories behind some of the most heinous crimes ever committed in Bristol. Many of these cases have not been examined before, and Michael Posner has spent many hours identifying the most shocking events to record here. This carefully researched, well-illustrated and enthralling text will appeal to anyone interested in the shady side of Bristol's history, and should give much food for thought.

In relating the cases heard in the Courts of the County Assize in Gloucestershire nearly two centuries ago this book offers a variety of examples of the sins and sinners of those days, together with a fascinating insight into the consequences of those wrongdoings. The punishments awarded varied considerably, from time spent in Gloucester Gaol or a House of Correction, where hard labour or floggings could be expected, to deportation or, the ultimate penalty, hanging. The reports reproduced in this book come from the Gloucester Journal, the local newspaper of the day. They introduce the reader to all of the characters in each case: the eloquent counsel, the equally eloquent judges, the many witnesses and the condemned themselves.

A look at the dark side of life, Victorian-style, when nothing was quite as it seemed and a public execution could be an entertaining family day out. Murderers, poachers, thieves, pickpockets and vagabonds all went about their business with impunity. Crime took place on the streets, on public transport, in homes, pubs, prisons, asylums, workhouses and brothels - it was all part of everyday life. Naturally the punishments awarded varied considerably, depending upon the crimes committed. Murderers and thieves - particularly horse thieves - could expect the rope, though others could hope for a reprieve. Such a remission would automatically add them to list of convicts to be deported to the penal colonies in Australia. Alternatively, convicts might expect to spend time in gaol or a House of Correction, with hard labour and floggings often thrown in for good measure. This collection of real life crimes vividly recreates the events surrounding them, offering an insight not only into criminal law but also into the social history attached to crime as society evolved and adapted to meet changing industries and class structures. A must have book for any arm chair detective and anyone interested in the social mores of the day.

Monmouthshire may have a reputation as a quaint, idyllic, rural county but scratch the surface and you'll find a past riddled with scandal, strife and murder most foul. In Monmouthshire Murders and Misdemeanours Tim Butters digs up and throws new light on criminal cases long since buried, but still capable of making our modern minds recoil in horror.Among these tales of terror and woe you'll find the wretched account of a child who callously murdered other children with the calculated ease of a born psychopath, a penniless and alcoholic prostitute butchered by the hand of a disease-riddled madman, a wandering vagabond with a penchant for opportunistic butchery, and a Spanish sailor who killed an entire family on a whim.This hellish history also contains tragic tales from those condemned to the desolate confines of the workhouse, the delirium of the asylum, the despair of the prison cell, and the unforgiving grasp of the hangman's noose. So step right this way for a chilling tour of Monmouthshire's brutal and bloody past. Dare you take a walk on the dark side of this fair county?

- The latest in Amberley's 'Murders and Misdemeanours' series - Author is available to promote the book - Potential for review coverage in local press and media as well as true crime publications and websites

Portsmouth's position on the south coast of England has meant it has been an important port for centuries, and the heavily fortified home of the Royal Navy. Industries surrounding the naval docks and shipbuilding led Portsmouth to become one of the most heavily industrialised areas in the country during the nineteenth century, and today this part of Hampshire is Britain's most densely populated urban area. In Portsmouth Murders and Misdemeanours author Dean Hollands explores the history of serious crime in Portsmouth from medieval times to the twentieth century. He looks at how the punishments for crimes evolved, including the use of corporal and capital punishment and the sites of these grisly events. Tales include murder in many guises, crimes of passion, highwaymen, robbers and motor bandits, a conviction for witchcraft during the Second World War, arson and terrorism, and mutiny – most famously the trial of the crew of Captain Bligh's Bounty, as well as the assassination of George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, and the Bishop of Chichester. This collection of true life crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in historic Portsmouth. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime, as well as those who want to know more about the history of the city.

The ancient city of Bath has always attracted visitors, flourishing in the Georgian era and becoming home for the fashionable and wealthy. The city was rebuilt to reflect its new status and although areas were devastated by aerial attacks in the Second World War and the misguided destruction of the 1960s, Bath today is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. In Bath Murders and Misdemeanours author Mick Davis has delved into local records to reveal the dark side of life in the golden city. From highwaymen to grave robbers and murderers, poisoners to suicides, psychopaths to major disasters, the author has researched and examined a number of little-known crimes that rocked the city in days gone by. This collection of true-life crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in Bath in previous centuries. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime as well as those who want to know more about the history of Bath and the south-west of England.