Mary Jeffries
Encyclopedia
Mary Jeffries was a madam
and procuress
in London
's underworld
during the late 19th century. During the 1870s, she ran one of the few brothel
s in Victorian-era London which catered exclusively to many of the city's elite including the prominent businessmen and politicians including at least one member of the House of Lords
and a titled Guards officer as well as aristocrats such as Leopold II
. She was also involved in white slavery
and child prostitution, often arranging the abduction of children by offering to watch children while parents went to collect luggage or purchase train tickets.
Among her brothels in Church Street
and Kensington
as well as a flagellation
house in Hampstead
, included a "chamber of horrors" in Gray's Inn Road
where a room was designed for the purposes of sado-masochism as described by journalist William Thomas Stead
in a series of articles for the Pall Mall Gazette
exposing prostitution in the city during the Eliza Armstrong case
. Although never proven, she may have operated a white slave house along the river near Kew
, from which women were abducted and smuggled to foreign countries.
In 1884, the Alfred Dyer's London Committee obtained evidence of a high class Chelsea
brothel operated by Jeffries. An investigation by a former police inspector, who had resigned from the Metropolitan Police
when senior officials refused to prosecute against Jeffries, had been amassing evidence against Jeffries during the year until the London Commission began a private prosecution in March 1885.
Although unable to charge Jeffries with any serious offence apart from keeping a disorderly house
, the Commission expected much publicity from the case when presenting their evidence which included the testimony of a former housemaid who would testify that she witnessed an assault on a 13-year-old girl who had been whipped by a belt and rape
d by a customer.
Appearing in court on May 5, accompanied by several wealthy army officers, she paid a fine of £200 after arranging with the court to plead guilty in order to have the evidence against her remain undisclosed. As she left the courthouse, a guard of honour was formed around her by her young escorts.
Madam
Madam, or madame, is a polite title used for women which, in English, is the equivalent of Mrs. or Ms., and is often found abbreviated as "ma'am", and less frequently as "ma'm". It is derived from the French madame, which means "my lady", the feminine form of lord; the plural of ma dame in this...
and procuress
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's underworld
Underworld
The Underworld is a region which is thought to be under the surface of the earth in some religions and in mythologies. It could be a place where the souls of the recently departed go, and in some traditions it is identified with Hell or the realm of death...
during the late 19th century. During the 1870s, she ran one of the few brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
s in Victorian-era London which catered exclusively to many of the city's elite including the prominent businessmen and politicians including at least one member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and a titled Guards officer as well as aristocrats such as Leopold II
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
. She was also involved in white slavery
Sexual slavery
Sexual slavery is when unwilling people are coerced into slavery for sexual exploitation. The incidence of sexual slavery by country has been studied and tabulated by UNESCO, with the cooperation of various international agencies...
and child prostitution, often arranging the abduction of children by offering to watch children while parents went to collect luggage or purchase train tickets.
Among her brothels in Church Street
Church Street
-Streets:* Church Street, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom* Church Street , New York City, New York, United States* Church Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia* Church Street , England, United Kingdom...
and Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
as well as a flagellation
Flagellation
Flagellation or flogging is the act of methodically beating or whipping the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails and the sjambok...
house in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, included a "chamber of horrors" in Gray's Inn Road
Gray's Inn Road
Gray's Inn Road, formerly Gray's Inn Lane, is a major road in central London, in the London Borough of Camden. It is named after Gray's Inn, one of the main Inns of Court. The road starts in Holborn, near Chancery Lane tube station and the boundaries of the City of London and the London Borough...
where a room was designed for the purposes of sado-masochism as described by journalist William Thomas Stead
William Thomas Stead
William Thomas Stead was an English journalist and editor who, as one of the early pioneers of investigative journalism, became one of the most controversial figures of the Victorian era. His 'New Journalism' paved the way for today's tabloid press...
in a series of articles for the Pall Mall Gazette
Pall Mall Gazette
The Pall Mall Gazette was an evening newspaper founded in London on 7 February 1865 by George Murray Smith; its first editor was Frederick Greenwood...
exposing prostitution in the city during the Eliza Armstrong case
Eliza Armstrong case
The Eliza Armstrong case was a major scandal in the United Kingdom involving a child supposedly bought for prostitution for the purpose of exposing the evils of white slavery...
. Although never proven, she may have operated a white slave house along the river near Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
, from which women were abducted and smuggled to foreign countries.
In 1884, the Alfred Dyer's London Committee obtained evidence of a high class Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
brothel operated by Jeffries. An investigation by a former police inspector, who had resigned from the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
when senior officials refused to prosecute against Jeffries, had been amassing evidence against Jeffries during the year until the London Commission began a private prosecution in March 1885.
Although unable to charge Jeffries with any serious offence apart from keeping a disorderly house
Disorderly house
In English criminal law a disorderly house is a house in which the conduct of its inhabitants is such as to become a public nuisance, or outrages public decency, or tends to corrupt or deprave, or injures the public interest; or a house where persons congregate to the probable disturbance of the...
, the Commission expected much publicity from the case when presenting their evidence which included the testimony of a former housemaid who would testify that she witnessed an assault on a 13-year-old girl who had been whipped by a belt and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d by a customer.
Appearing in court on May 5, accompanied by several wealthy army officers, she paid a fine of £200 after arranging with the court to plead guilty in order to have the evidence against her remain undisclosed. As she left the courthouse, a guard of honour was formed around her by her young escorts.
External links
- Mary Jeffries at Probert Encyclopedia