At the Exeter Guildhall in March, 1853:
"JANE WILLIAMS, a prostitute. was charged with using indecent language in the public streets. P.C. Moore heard the cry of 'Stop Thief," whilst on duty in High-street; and presently he saw the defendant turn the corner of Paris-street, in full speed after a gentleman, who took refuge in the Bude Haven Hotel. The door was shut, and defendant evinced great violence in attempting to push it open. Mr. Southcott, landlord of the Bude Haven, stated that the defendant's conduct was very violent, and that it had caused much annoyance to his lodgers.
"In her defence, Williams said that she had accosted the gentleman in the street, who instead of replying to her kind enquiries after his health, had struck her twice across the head with his stick. Being enraged at this assault upon her she followed the gentleman, who ran into the Bude Haven; and she now expressed contrition for having evinced such violent behaviour.
"The Bench fined her 5s and the expenses, informing her that if she came there again for a similar offence. she would be imprisoned, without being afforded the opportunity of paying a fine."
These days we are more considerate of sex-workers. The policeman, the landlord and the Bench seem to have been oblivious to the fact that an assault was alleged to have taken place. They did not for a moment consider asking the 'gentleman', who perhaps was an incipient Jack the Ripper who got his kicks by hitting the women-of-the-streets over the head with a stick and then running like smoke to escape their wrath, to account for his extraordinary behaviour.
Source: The Western Times, 5th March 1853.
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