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.
