A nip of rum too many – Bell’s New Weekly Messenger 04 April 1847: A BAREFACED THIEF.-An Irish lumper (docker), named Thomas Maguire, was brought up before the Liverpool police Magistrate on Saturday, under the following circumstances:- The prisoner, with...
The court-room is meant to be a serious place but people being people, humour is not far from the surface. Hystericals – Liverpool Echo 30 April 1918: When two women were summoned at Bootle to-day for assault, the following interesting passage took place:-...
Threatening payback – Worcester Journal 18 April 1850: ASSAULT.-Jones v Evans- The defendant in this case (who is a half-witted broker, or “general dealer,” better known by the appellation of “greasy pockets,”) had evaded their service of...
A very useful witness who could not remember dates – Illustrated London News 16 December 1899: An amusing dialogue occurred at an inquest held in the Westminster Coroner’s Court, Horseferry Road, by Mr John Troutbeck. An elderly female witness was giving...
An Irish Tea Party! – Illustrated London News 14 May 1842: A brace of Irish ladies came before Mr. Hardwick with all the evidences upon them of having been recently engaged in pugilistic contest. The complainant in particular had her face so tatooed by the nails...
Oh, you naughty villain! – Morning Chronicler 24 July 1820: SURREY SESSIONS. – July 22. Bigamy. – Wm Thomas, a old decrepit man, who is so deformed that he has been from his birth unable either to dress or undress himself, having neither hands nor...
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