The Murder of Harriet Lane, the Wainwright Case of 1874.

The Arrest, Trial And Execution Of Henry Wainwright, from Chronicles Of Crime And Criminals by Anonymous.

In the East End of London, in a busy and populous region, the subject of our sketch had done a large business as a brushmaker at No. 215 Whitechapel Road. Up to the time of his arrest nothing was known against his character and he was looked upon as an honest, upright and industrious citizen.

The deed, for which he was tried, and afterwards executed, was very deliberately planned, and diabolically carried out, but the precautions taken to insure concealment, although elaborate, were unsuccessful, partly through his own carelessness, partly through ill luck that will often mar the best combinations.

There was no sort of suspicion against Wainwright.

Although a woman with whom he was on intimate terms had been missing for a year, her disappearance had been explained without the slightest suspicion that a dastardly murder had been done.

Just at this time, September 1874, Wainwright had taken new premises across the river at Southwark, he having met with reverses in business, and bankruptcy, and it was when he sought the assistance of a fellow workman, once in his own employ, to help him in a small job at his old premises, that the fact of foul play was first brought to light.

This man, Stokes by name, accompanied Wainwright to 215 Whitechapel Road and entered the workshop on the ground floor. The job for Stokes was to help carry out a couple of heavy parcels that lay on the floor, wrapped up in black American cloth and covered with strong rope.

"Pick 'em up will you?" said Wainwright. "Only just wait while I see if the land is clear. There's that nagging old Johnston in the court. I don't want to see him!"

Stokes tried the parcels, but protested they were too heavy. Wainwright lent him a hand, and the pair carried them down Vine Court and into the street, as far as the church in the Whitechapel Road.

"Stop! You hold on here while I hail a cab," said Wainwright, and left Stokes alone with the parcels. Long afterwards, just before Wainwright's execution, Stokes wrote him a curious letter, detailing his sensations while waiting by the church. Something within him, he declared, some mysterious voice, some hidden but imperious impulse urged him to examine the parcels.

He was not satisfied about them!

Wainwright had said they contained hair bristles for brush making; had cautioned him not to drop them lest they should break. How could bristles break? They gave off a strong smell. A peculiar, offensive odour. Wainwright had said this was due to there having been so long under the straw. But bristles could never smell this way.

Again, another suspicious circumstance occurred to him, before leaving the workshop in Whitechapel Road Wainwright had given him a spade, a hammer and chopper, and told him to sell them for what they would fetch. There was suspicious stuff on the chopper. A sticky sort of dirt which smelt badly.

A shudder went through him. Was it blood!!

As he stood there irresolute and unhappy the voice kept constantly saying: 

"Open the parcel! Open it, open it, open it!"

He yielded, he could not help himself. He pulled all the wrappers aside and saw - A HUMAN HEAD!

First the crop of light hair, then the entire head. "It must be murder! Nothing less than cruel, bloody, murder!"

This was Stokes' immediate conclusion, and he was so terrified by his shocking discovery that , so he said: "His hair stood on end and his hat fell off."

After the first glimpse he could not resist making a closer scrutiny of the contents. He saw the head again, and more plainly. A severed head. The short hair was much matted and encrusted with earth and dirt.

Nor was the head the only horror within the parcel. Looking a little further he came upon - a human hand and then a human arm. Then Wainwright returned, bringing a cab. Quietly without suspicion, he told Stokes to put the parcels into the cab, saying sharply to the driver: "Now, cabby, to the Commercial Road. And you, Stokes, I'll come round to your place tonight." Stokes had missed his chance!

He should have called the police, and at once given Wainwright into custody. When afterwards asked by the coroner why he did not do so, he confessed he was afraid of Wainwright, who he knew to be a dangerous man. Now Stokes, still urged by the "small, still voice within," decided to pursue the cab.

He ran after it at full speed, and once gained a little as it stopped at Greenfield Street to pick up a woman who was waiting there. This woman, Alice Day, was afterwards arrested as an accomplice, but soon discharged, there being nothing to connect her with the crime.

Again the cab drove on, Stokes growing more and more breathless behind. Down Aldgate High Street, then towards Fenchurch Street, on to Leadenhall Street, and there it branched off to London Bridge and crossed the river.

Stokes was taken as a lunatic as he raced along. Two policemen whom he met only laughed at him derisively as he pointed to the cab ahead and gasped: "That cab - there, ahead. Stop it - murder - parcels - two parcels -!"

He was now all but distanced. But, once more the cab stopped. At the Hop Exchange, in the Borough. Stokes got within ten yards of it. Here there were two policemen, and their sense of duty was stronger than that of their colleagues aforementioned. When Stokes appealed to them they listened and were prepared to act.

"See that man?" said Stokes. He pointed to Wainwright, who had alighted from the cab, and with one parcel had walked on some thirty or forty yards, in the direction of a shop still known as the Hen and Chickens. "See him? Hurry after him. Stop him, he's a murderer, see what he does with it!"

Stokes had done his part; it was now for the police to act. One constable followed promptly; the other took post and watched the cab. When Wainwright entered the Hen and Chickens the first constable came back and rejoined the second at the cab.

Presently Wainwright returned smoking a cigar. He did not appear to notice the policemen, but, lifting out the second parcel walked off again to the Hen and Chickens. The constables were now at his heels, and one asked: " Do you live in here?"

"No"

"Have you possession of the premises?"

"I have, and you haven't," answered Wainwright with much effrontery.

"What is in the parcel? What have you done with the other? You go into the house mate, and see if it's there while I look at this," went on the policeman.

"Don't touch it!" cried Wainwright. "Ask no questions. Let me alone. Let me go. I'll give £50 - £100 - £200, anything, and plank down the money at once - only let me go!"

To offer a policeman a bribe is perhaps the safest way to encourage his suspicion - yes, the murderer's time had come. Within a few seconds the parcel was torn open, and the ghastly contents exposed. Wainwright's arrest followed then and there, and the parcels were taken to the police station.

On examination one was found to contain the trunk of a human body, and the other the remaining parts, the whole forming a ghastly spectacle and gruesome evidence of a dastardly murder.

The remains were those of a female. Two bullet holes were found in the brain, and a third in the back of the head. The throat had also been cut. It was a severe wound, inflicted with great violence. Meanwhile the search of Wainwright's Whitechapel premises had been prosecuted. With one of the keys taken from his pocket the back door was opened and the theatre of this crime entered.

At about twenty feet from the door it was at once seen that a part of the flooring had been taken up and recently, roughly and hastily replaced. The boards were speedily again removed. An open grave, but lately used, yawned beneath. The earth was largely mixed with chlorine of lime.

Illustrated Police News, Saturday 25th December 1875

The murderer had made a fatal mistake. He expected chlorine of lime to have eaten up the evidence of his revolting crime, but it had just the contrary effect. The dismembered parts were effectually preserved. The murderer, by his stupidity and want of knowledge, had forged the chains of guilt around him, and had compassed his own destruction.

Various murderous implements were found on the spot. A new spade, recently used, an open pocket knife, a chopper, or cleaver, on which was much sticky fleshy matter - undoubtedly congealed blood. In the corner just behind the back door, on removing the rubbish, many splotches of blood were found, and every evidence went to prove the certainty and enormity of a great crime.

But who was the woman?

Who was the victim of this foul fiend?

A man named Taylor gave the first clue to the mystery. He thought the remains might be those of his sister in law, Harriet Lane.

Penny Illustrated Paper, Saturday 25th September 1875

She had been missing for about twelve months. She had been intimate with Wainwright. His description of her was minute and particular. The police without hesitation allowed him to view the remains. He at once identified them as those of Harriet Lane.

He also identified various articles of dress found in the grave and in the house. Harriet Lane had worn earrings, and two of these ornaments were picked out of the grate in the fireplace. She wore a ring and keeper. Both these were found in the grave.

A number of Harriet Lane's relatives soon gave corroborative testimony. Now to prove the connection between the murderer and the victim! The chain of identity was complete. It was beyond doubt that Wainwright had been intimate with her for a long time, and that she left her last lodgings in Sydney Square, Mile End, with the avowed intention of going to live with "Wainwright at 215 Whitechapel Road."

This was on the 11th September 1874.

She was never seen alive after that day. Nothing had been heard of her since. Although on good terms with her relatives, she had entirely disappeared.

After a time Mrs Taylor went to Wainwright and asked after her sister. He said he had given her money to go to the seaside for a holiday. Two months later she went again. Wainwright said Harriet had gone off with a gentleman who had come into a fortune.

Old Mr Lane, her father, had also been to Wainwright, demanding his daughter, dead or alive. Wainwright put him off with another story. He produced telegrams to prove his story. But he read them out himself. All these were lies - in plain English, most damnable lies.

The poor victim had long lain in her grave. The telegrams mentioned were proved to have been written by Wainwright's brother, Thomas, who was afterwards tried and sent to penal servitude as an accomplice of this cruel murder. The web was tightening. Long before the trial it had been woven round Henry Wainwright.

Justice was about to be done, and that right speedily. There was proof that he bought a quantity of chloride of lime on the 10th September, the night previous to the cime; also an axe and spade!

A man working in a shed next to 215 Whitechapel Road could swear to hearing reports of pistol shots on the evening of the 11th September. Two shots were fired in rapid succession. The few hairs found on the spade were found to correspond with those of the poor victim' s head, and the sticky matter found on the chopper or cleaver was blood, yes, human blood.

A strange story came out in the course of the investigation which also told against Wainwright, and is another evidence of the keen instinct, or great sagacity of a dog.

In October 1874, while Wainwright still occupied 215 Whitechapel Road for business purposes, his manager owned a dog who was in a state of continued restlessness while in the workshop. He was forever scratching at the boards of the flooring just above the place where the grave had been made. It was supposed the dog was after rats. 

At last the dog disappeared. The manager and his wife went out one evening, leaving the dog with Wainwright, who, without doubt, did away with it, it was never seen again.

There were no signs of apprehension about him; his features showed only a half awakened attention; he occasionally bit his lips, and unconsciously rubbed one hand over the other. At his final arraignment his appearance had totally changed. He had grown haggard and careworn, and was unmistakably anxious for the result.

His trial commenced at the Old Bailey on the 22nd of November, and was finished on December 1st, 1875. His guilt was proven to the satisfaction of the court, and the jury had no hesitation to their verdict.

They unanimously found him guilty, and Lord Chief Justice Cockburn sentenced him to be hanged on 22nd December, on which date this miscreant met the fate he so richly deserved.

Wainwright solemnly declared that he was innocent. He used strong and remarkable language. "I will only say, standing as I do upon the brink of eternity, that I swear I am not the murderer of the remains found in my possession. I swear I have never fired a pistol shot in my life. I swear also that I did not bury the mutilated remains, nor did I exhume them."

Illustrated Police News, Saturday 23rd October 1875

He persisted in this denial almost to the last. Just before going to the scaffold he confessed he deserved his fate, but still he would not admit that he was to the fullest extent guilty of murder.

It was supposed at the time, and the impression has survived, that the crime was not his handiwork alone; and his brother Thomas, who stood with him in the dock, and who was sentenced as an accessory to seven years penal servitude, had take an active part in the murder - had perhaps been the principal in committing the deed.

One curious feature in the Wainwright case was the outward respectability of the accused. He was shown in the course of the trial to be a man of notorious immoral life, yet for years he had posed as a prominent Christian, and member of many religious societies in the East End of London, and was popular in that district for his recitations and amateur performances, on their behalf, in the interest of religion.

Thus perished one of the greatest scoundrels that ever existed and one who had long lived the life of a profound hypocrite. In this case we see, the murder was brought to light almost by chance and the guilty scoundrel punished; but many crimes are committed in the great cities of the world for which no one is ever brought to account, and they pass on as mysteries in the great field of crime.

Other horrible and gruesome crimes.

Many cases have happened where criminals have sought concealment of their victims remains by burial or other modes of disposal, and wonderful cases of the defeat of such attempts have transpired. Just here, perhaps, it will be interesting to note one or two most remarkable cases, not only in London, but in Paris and elsewhere.

Many years ago in London, two boys rowing a boat up the river Thames came upon a carpet bag lying caught upon one of the buttresses of Waterloo Bridge. The carpet bag was hanging just above the water. It had been placed there overnight, or someone from above had thrown the bag down and it had lodged on the buttress of the bridge.

The boys got possession of it, thinking they had got a prize. It was locked and corded, the rope having been trailing in the water when first seen. The cord was cut, the lock forced and the contents of the bag laid bare.

These were the mutilated fragments of a human body. They were chopped up into a number of pieces. The police were called, who took the find to the police station. On examination by a medical man it was found that the parts belonged, all of them, to the same body. There were twenty three pieces in all.

Mostly bones with flesh adhering to them. They had been sawn or chopped into small pieces. Without doubt the mutilation was done to destroy identification. The hands, head, and feet were missing.

There was nothing left that could well assist identification - no marks or peculiarities - nothing beyond the fact that the deceased was a dark hairy man. There was, however, plainly visible a knife stab between the fourth and fifth ribs. Undoubtedly the cause of death, its direction plainly showing that it must have entered the heart.

It was further proved that the remains had been partially boiled, and subsequently salted or placed in brine. The clothes were that of a foreigner. They were much cut and torn, and were all more or less bloodstained. Most of the bloodstains were inside. The knife had penetrated clean straight through the clothes while on the body and into the heart. 

A reward of £300 was offered for the discovery of the murderer, but it was quite without effect. The crime was never brought home to anyone.

The police had reason to believe that the man murdered was a sailor belonging to some ship then lying in the Thames. Nothing that could lead to identification was forthcoming, and, failing this, the mystery was never solved.

Another case in london known as the "Battersea Mystery" happened just prior to the Wainwright murder. A package containing human remains was found upon the mud banks of the Thames near Battersea Waterworks. 

It was pronounced by the doctors to be the mutilated trunk of a female, and to have been barely twelve hours in the water. More discoveries rapidly followed. The lungs were found, one under Battersea Bridge, the other near the Battersea Railway Pier. These all corresponded, and were easily pieced together as part of the same body.

The head had been severed. A sharp knife and saw had been used. The face half of the head had floated down below Limehouse and was there picked up. It was mutilated beyond all recognition.

Other fragments, limbs, and parts of limbs, were found further down river near the Albert Embankment, Rotherhithe, Greenwich, and near Woolwich. The body was put together by a Dr Haydon and pronounced that of a female.

The face, although much battered, bore the trace of a wound on the right temple. It had crushed in the skull and must have caused instantaneous death. The body had evidently been cut up and, piece by piece, thrown into the river.

From that day to this, no one has ever been suspected, much less arrested, for this most undoubted crime, and it adds one more to the long list of Murder Mysteries.

In April 1878, human remains were found in a bedroom of the Hotel Jeanson, Paris, in the Rue Poliveau. Two legs and arms, a woman's, wrapped in black, glazed paper. Other articles were with them, a black petticoat and three shirts in red and blue stripes. The parcel was tied up with thread and old binding.

These remains had been hidden in a cupboard, and lay there just a fortnight.

The fragments and articles were taken to the morgue, and viewed day after day by the public. They were never identified, and the episode has long been forgotten.

One evening in September Madame Thierry, a respectable housewife in the Rue De La Chapelle, Paris, was seated at her doorway enjoying the cool evening when she observed a man on the other side of the street very oddly engaged. He was strewing the roadway with scraps of meat!

At the opening of a sewer he threw down a larger piece, which looked like a whole joint. Her suspicions were aroused, and seeking an acquaintance, they went together to report the circumstances to the Commissary of Police.

A search was at once instituted. The result was the discovery of many fragments, all undoubtedly human remains. Enough nearly to form the body, the head alone being still wanting.

Now Madame Thierry came forward with a strange statement. She had dreamt of nothing but the strange incident and had been haunted perpetually with the shadowy resemblance of the man with someone she knew. It was a police officer, a former neighbour of hers in the Rue Des Rosiers.

"He lived next door," she said. "A tall, stout man, a police sergeant, who, when in plain clothes, was uncommonly like the man I saw the other night."

Now, it was remembered that a stout police officer named Prevost was attached to the division which included Rue Des Rosiers. Prevost was summoned from the police at the very moment he was discussing the recent discovery and was saying, "I would never allow myself to be caught, if I did it. If I killed a man I would disfigure him so that no one would identify him, I'd cut him up and get rid of him in such a way that no one would find the pieces."

He said, "to cover up a crime is very easy," and truly, "that many murders were never discovered." He was confronted with Madame Thierry, who at once identified him!

Further enquiry brought to light the fact that Prevost was absent from duty the night Mrs Thierry had seen the man distributing the scraps of meat. All his assurances left him then and he confessed the crime.

His victim was a jeweller's traveller named Lenoble; and he killed him for a watch and chain and some glittering baubles which Lenoble offered for sale. The head was the sole portion of the murdered man's remains that was still undiscovered.

Prevost was pressed to say what he had done with it. After a pause he pointed silently to the fireplace. The head had been stuffed up the chimney. When it was dragged down it is said to have looked exactly like a barber's block. The face was handsome, the features were perfectly regular, and the complexion was as clear as wax.

To complete the resemblance the dark mustaches were carefully trimmed, and the deep toned chestnut hair was curled closely round the head. Prevost confessed he had intended to boil the head so as to render it quite unrecognisable, but his prompt arrest prevented this.

Extreme surprise was expressed by the police authorities at Prevost's confession. Till now he had borne an exemplary character. But now other suspicions were aroused. It was remembered that a woman whom Prevost was intimate had disappeared soon after paying him a visit. By his confession it was proved Prevost murdered her.

Victor Prevost

The details of dismemberment were much the same as in Lenoble's case. The fragments were distributed in the same way. The head, when severed from the body, was buried in the glacis of the old fortifications. Prevost obliterated the blood stains made in the process of cutting up by pouring ink on them.

There is no doubt that Prevost would have enjoyed absolute immunity over his first crime had he not been so easily led into a second. No doubt, but for the chance recognition of Madame Thierry, he would again have escaped scot free.

By an inscrutable providence, however, he was detected and paid the penalty of his crime under the guillotine.

The Execution of Prevost

In Norwich, England, many years ago a murder was committed which would have remained a mystery forever unsolved but for the voluntary confession of the criminal.

In the year 1851 a tailor resided in Norwich, a man named Sheward, married to a woman older than himself, and they were somewhat strained in their relationship. In the month of June Mrs Sheward disappeared. Sheward gave out that she had left him of her own accord - eloped to London.

This was not accepted as a final explanation by her relatives, yet no steps were taken against Sheward for the reasons to be now set forth.

Very soon after Mrs Shewards disappearance a quantity of human remains were found in a road leading to Lakenham, now a suburb of Norwich. First a hand, and then a foot were found. And on several succeeding days bones and fragments of flesh were picked up in the city, and near Norwich. A number of portions were found and it was presently possible to reconstitute the body for medical examination.

The doctors gave their verdict without hesitation. It was the body of a young woman about 26 years of age. The grounds on which this decision was made were published long afterwards.

A surgeon deposed that the "well filled under structures of the skin, its delicacy, the neatness of the foot, that of a person not accustomed to toil or to wear coarse, heavy shoes, the clean, well trimmed nails of both hands and feet," led him to fix her age between sixteen and twenty six.

Yet this same surgeon admitted at the assizes eighteen years later that these appearances were not inconsistent with much greater age, fifty four even, the age of Mrs Sheward, in fact, at the time she was first missed. Had the medical evidence been more accurate at that early date the man Sheward would hardly escaped stronger suspicion.

It seems a little strange that a closer investigation was not used, seeing that the disappearance of Mrs Sheward and the discovery of the remains were so nearly coincident in time.

But Sheward was esteemed as a mild, inoffensive creature, and his explanation of his wife's departure looked natural and plausible enough. So the murderer was left with his guilt unharrassed and unmolested, but no doubt continually tormented by his own conscience and reminded of his crime.

Only a couple of years after the deed his wife came into some money and he was called upon to produce her. It was easy to realise his terror lest the old lame excuse of her elopement should not be accepted by the relatives and co-beneficiaries. Still he held his ground.

By and bye he married again, and still pursued his old trade. But it was observed he grew more and more depressed, that he took to drinking, that he talked of leaving Norwich for good, and at the last he went to London, and was led, by imperious impulse, to the very spot in Walworth where he had first made the acquaintance of his murdered wife.

Then his crime was so forcibly brought home to him that he resolved to take his own life. "But the Almighty would not let me do it," so he told the authorities, for now he went and gave himself up to the police. Just eighteen years had elapsed since the crime.

At the time of his surrender he had a razor in his pocket, but had not dared to commit suicide. His confession was not at first credited. He was thought deranged, but he persisted in his statements, indicted on his own confession, which he afterwards withdrew. But he was found guilty and in due course executed.

When in his condemned cell he made a clean breast of his crime and described exactly what had occurred. There had been an altercation about money matters. Sheward had grown wild with passion, and attacked her with a razor, which he ran into her throat.

"She never spoke again," he said. "I then threw an apron over her head and went out." That night he slept in the house. Next morning he commenced his horrible task. For several days he worked hard at the gruesome task of preparing for the disposal of the body.

His proceedings were akin to those other murderers of his class, and he tried various processes detailed in other cases. On the fifth day he had completed the dismemberment, and had almost entirely disposed of the remains by throwing them down sewers, or burying them in the suburbs.

He burnt all the clothes and bed linen, last of all "the long hair" - it was light auburn and plentiful. "I cut it up with a pair of scissors into small pieces, and they blew away as I walked along." The mutilations had been so complete that even the ring finger had been cut off.

In this case we see another instance - of many - where medical evidence has been completely astray, yet the incontestable fact remains, that "murder will out," and the cases are comparatively few where the murderer escaped detection and his just reward.

Worthing 1894 - A Skeleton Army Rampage.

The Rival Armies.

The Salvation Army began as the East London Christian Mission which was setup in Whitechapel, London in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth, after a reorganisation in 1878 it became The Salvation Army, with William Booth as it's first General. They built the organisation on quasi military lines with uniforms, a rank system and a flag, they also strictly adhered to the teachings of the protestant Bible.

The Salvation Army was to bring succour to the populace with the slogan Soup, Soap, Salvation! They soon gained support for their work and had several wealthy donors. Salvation Halls sprang up all over the country, spreading the word and helping the poor and destitute. They were very conspicuous in their uniforms, marching bands and outdoor gatherings.

The Skeleton Army began around 1881 in either Exeter or Weston Super Mare, in other parts of Britain they were known variously as The Unconverted Salvation Army or The Opposition Salvation Army, but by the end of 1882 the groups were commonly known as The Skeleton Army. 

In a parody of the Salvationist slogan "Soup, Soap, Salvation" the Skeletons put forth "Beef, Beer, 'Bacca." They also changed the Salvationist statement "Blood and Fire" to "Blood and Thunder."

Trouble Brewing.

The root of the trouble began a month prior to the riot, as the West Sussex County Times explains on the 12th July 1884;

"The usual quietude of our streets on Sundays has of late been sadly disturbed by the unwise determination on the part of The Salvation Army at Worthing to indulge in outdoor manifestations. When they first 'commenced business' here they refrained, at the urgent wish of the authorities, from parading, with noise and clamour, in our public thoroughfares; and their determination in this respect gained them considerable support and goodwill. 

Latterly however, we are sorry to say, other counsels have prevailed, and on Sundays and week days alike, a few misguided boys and girls have been the occasion of disgraceful scenes, which not unlikely may lead ere long to a serious breach of the peace. 

The result of a handful of persons marching through the streets carrying a banner, bawling at the top of their voices, has been the formation of a rival organisation, who also carry banners and bawl more lustily still. The police have set upon this latter body, and some who have taken no part whatever on either side have complained of being attacked by them.

For some hours last Sunday our streets were in a disgraceful state of disorder, and there were several encounters with the police. A meeting in regard to the matter was since held. A resolution was called to the Directors of Montague Hall to discontinue letting their hall to The Salvation Army. This was carried unanimously, as was also a further motion proposed by Mr Spinks, draper, that the Salvationists be respectfully requested to discontinue their Sunday processions. If this was done then the Skeleton Army would cease to exist."

A week later more trouble flared up when an outdoor Salvationist meeting was surrounded by Skeletons and a fight broke out, one man, a local tradesman and Salvationist, was roughed up and the Salvation Army flag was torn down and ripped.

Later that afternoon the Skeleton Army marched, in the front were two men carrying sticks, behind them a couple of banners were held up saying "Worthing Excelsior Skeleton Club," and "Long Live The Queen." They sang a song that went, "We'll fight beneath our colours till we die, And drop on old ..... (the name of the tradesman roughed up that morning) by and bye." The police did not interfere.

Just as the procession was breaking up a young Salvationist was seen leaving Montague Hall, he was quickly surrounded by the mob, he fell to his knees in prayer and was saved by an old man who took pity on him.

The roughed up Salvationist tradesman tried to take the Skeletons to task and a summons was applied for. Unfortunately for him the magistrates came to the conclusion that The Salvation Army brought the trouble on themselves, saying, "It is a desecration of the Sabbath, and you provoke this riotous behaviour." The tradesman left empty handed.

Riot!

And so it was for the next few weeks, an uneasy truce, with the Salvationists keeping to their barracks. But it couldn't last, the Salvation Army would not be silenced! A procession was planned for the next Sunday and the Skeletons were ready.

On the Sunday morning the Salvationists marched through the town singing hymns and making for Montague Hall, a large flag bearing the legend "Blood And Fire" led the way. Opposing them came the Skeletons with a banner showing a white skeleton on a black background, following the Skeletons was a huge crowd, their yelling and shouting drowned out the Salvationist hymns.

Turning into Montague Street the Salvationist procession encountered a vast dense crowd, the police were now out in great numbers and were trying to afford safe passage for the marchers. At his point the Skeletons surged forward and rushed the Salvationists, the police were caught off guard and pandemonium broke out.

The police faced a tide of violence, helmets were knocked off and officers punched and kicked, the Skeleton banner was almost taken by the police but it was wrested back with great force. But the Skeletons did not have it all their own way, truncheons found their mark and fists were flying on both sides.

The Salvation Army saw their chance and ran for Montague Hall, and thus escaped serious injury, leaving, as the Midhurst and Steyning Express (19th August) said, "the police to fight the battle they themselves provoked."

All of those arrested were taken to the police station to the great excitement of the crowd, it was generally believed that if the Salvationists carried on marching on a Sunday the trouble would get worse.

Following on from the fight on Sunday the Skeletons were out again on the Tuesday, at midnight. They assembled in front of the premises of George Head, who was an ironmonger of Montague Street and a leading member of the Salvation Army.

At first they threw stones and broke his windows, realising there was no police activity occurring they got bolder, smashing their way into the shop they destroyed everything they could find, almost all of the poor man's stock was damaged.

Eventually Mr Head made an appearance armed with a spade, but he was hopelessly outnumbered and he was driven back. Undeterred Head then reappeared armed with a revolver and proceeded to fire seve shots into the crowd wounding several men, one grazed a Mr Eldridge in the face, and another hit Zulu War veteran Arthur Read, who was shot through the hand. 

Head later said he fired over their heads to frighten them but a cry rang out and he realised he had hit someone, fortunately he didn't kill anyone, but one of those wounded was his own son who was shot in the arm, the bullet was extracted by a local surgeon. After the shots were fired the mob fell back, and a barrage of stones filled the air. Finally, two hours later the mob dispersed.

The handful of police feared for their own safety and did not leave the station, they believed they would be easily overwhelmed and the prisoners taken the previous Sunday would have been liberated by the mob.

The next day those prisoners found themselves in front of the local magistrates charged with assault on both the police and the Salvation Army. Six prisoners were sentenced to one months hard labour each and several were fined various sums. A large crowd assembled outside and threw stones at the two policemen standing guard outside, although the police had been re enforced there still wasn't enough of them to stop the Skeletons making a terrible din the whole time the magistrates were sitting. This was getting out of hand, with the escalation to firearms it was time to contact the army.

Soldiers.

The police could not move the prisoners to the railway station and thence off to Portsmouth Gaol as they were surrounded by Skeletons, the police station was being pelted with stones, one elderly gentleman was hit on the head with a stone and needed medical attention.

A party of Skeletons were parading around Worthing with their "Worthing Excelsior Skeleton Club" banner, and so many had come to see the spectacle that every thoroughfare was clogged up and at a standstill. Things looked desperate, at length a telegram was sent from Lt Col Wisden J.P. to Preston Barracks, Brighton.

Thirty six rank and file of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons set out for Worthing under the command of Captain Walton and Lieutenants Law and Shakespeare. According to the South Eastern Advertiser;

"When the detachment of the 4th Dragoon Guards had been drawn up before the Town Hall some time, Lt Col Wisden J.P., who was mounted, addressed the mass of people assembled, advising them to go home quietly, and stating that the military has arrived to disperse them unless they did so. 

He concluded with an observation which caused great dissatisfaction, and despite repeated appeals to the mob, the crowd lingered, cheering the soldiers and singing 'Rule Britannia,' 'We Won't Go Home Till Morning,' ect. At about half past eleven the Colonel called for silence, and the Riot Act was read.

The Dragoons soon cleared the street, the crowd would move on to occupy another area, the police moved them again with truncheons drawn, again the crowd appeared at another location, sometimes throwing stones and other missiles. After midnight the situation calmed and eventually fizzled out, the Dragoons and police patrolled for the rest of the night.

Carry On Regardless.

Once again Worthing was quiet, but not for long. Two weeks later an altercation took place by Montague Hall between a police constable and a member of the Skeleton Army.

It would seem that the man had been lingering outside the Salvation Army headquarters, a policeman told him to move on and pushed him forward, the man responded by punching the policeman whereupon a struggle ensued. Soon another policeman appeared and the pair of them subdued their assailant, the assaulted policeman had blood running down his face.

Later other members of the Skeleton Army attempted to rescue their comrade, three of them were arrested for their trouble. Soon a huge crowd had assembled, the banner was raised, and once again shouts and yells echoed around Worthing.

Police were rushed into the town from all over the county. Once again the windows of the police station were smashed, Mr Head's ironmonger shop was again targeted and damaged, as was Montague Hall, the headquarters of the Salvation Army.

The Skeletons paraded through the town with great excitement, the town was crowded with people, eventually they stopped near the beach, sang the National Anthem and dispersed.

The magistrates needed to retake the streets, their response was to swear in 120  special constables for the duration of 14 days. The Dragoons were returned to Preston Barracks with thanks for their aid and assistance. The Salvation Army had other plans.

The Salvation Army vowed to continue their processions, the Skeleton Army let them know they would be waiting. That Sunday all of the special constables were on duty from an early hour, the two magistrates were out mounted on horseback supervising deployment. More auxiliary police were guarding Montague Hall.

At ten o'clock the Salvationists marched from their headquarters, and were immediately followed by the Skeletons. The Salvationists sang hymns, the Skeletons bawled insults and sang baudy songs, when passing a church the Skeletons, at a signal from their leader, stopped making any noise and the Skeleton banner was lowered, the Salvationists were called out to show respect, but they carried on singing regardless.

The Skeletons then paraded down to the beach and broke up in good order, no arrests were made, and no more disorder was experienced.

By early September the riotous assemblies were a thing of the past, the Salvation Army carried on their Sunday parades and the Skeleton Army followed them yelling, hooting and kicking them if they got a chance. However, the violence was not over, even at the pleading with the Salvation Army headquarters in London to stop the Sunday parading, it fell on deaf ears.

In mid September the Salvationists had been turned out of their Montague Hall headquarters and now operated from their barracks, Sunday parades carried on and the dreadful din of counter parades assaulted the ears.

Skeletons in many other towns were now attacking Salvation Army premises and parades, Brighton, Hastings, St Leonards and Eastbourne to name a few were experiencing violent actions.

The first Sunday in October saw a lacklustre Salvationist parade, but this was enough for the Skeletons to launch soot bombs and eggshells filled with blue paint on the resilient soldiers. Loud hooting and singing drowned out the Salvationist hymns, but the violence was kept at a minimum, only one Salvationist lost his hat, it was never to be seen again.

Eight Skeletons put before the magistrates received fines, seven of them 10s and one chap who had a previous conviction had to pay 20s plus costs.

Two weeks later the Salvation Army were at it again, this time the parade started an hour early, so as to get "the drop" on the Skeletons. The procession was accompanied by the police, and around 500 Skeletons turned up to protest. The women of the Skeletons had adopted the colour yellow to show their allegiance, one lady had a captured Salvation Army bonnet with a yellow ribbon around it. 

On the route of the parade yellow ribbons were flying out of many households, which just shows the sympathy of a great many Worthing inhabitants. Some fireworks were set off, there was a lot of noise, but no violence.

An inhabitant of Worthing wrote in the Hastings and St. Leonards News; 

"....I am no opponent of the Salvation Army, if they will leave off annoying me. In fact I will subscribe to them with all my heart, if they will conduct only the worship of God. At the same time if they continue their noisy proceedings I shall uphold the Skeleton Army. No doubt remains in my mind I have a great deal to thank the Skeletons for. The man who was shouting or squalling on Sabbath morning last was in my opinion worse than a maniac."

In court that November for the attack on Mr George Head's establishment Arthur Reed, Edward Eldridge and E. Standen were found guilty of demolishing the premises, which was a felony and could have landed them in prison for seven years, however, the judge took pity and ruled it a misdemeanor, so they were sentenced to four months with hard labour.

George Head was indicted for unlawfully wounding Edmund Oliver with his revolver, without hearing any evidence, and in a very short time, he was acquitted "on the grounds that he had no malicious intent, and was justified in his conduct."

With that the Worthing Skeleton riot slipped into the history books, the Salvation Army, of course, still exists and carries on it's work. In Worthing they have not forgotten, in fact, it would seem that they are very proud of their Skeleton Army ancestors.

The Skeleton Army in East London 1880 - 1884.

The Salvation Army.

The East London Christian Mission was setup in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth, after a reorganisation in 1878 it became The Salvation Army, with William Booth as it's first General. They built the organisation on quasi military lines with uniforms, a rank system and a flag, they also strictly adhered to the teachings of the protestant Bible.

The Salvation Army was to bring the good word to the poor and wicked people of the East End with the slogan Soup, Soap, Salvation! They soon gained support for their work and had several wealthy donors. The crusade save the drink sodden, gambling, and fallen populace with few morals was on, but did they all want to be saved? As it turns out, not everyone.

According to a report in The Times from 1882, it was stated; "The Salvation Army is not altogether a pleasant phenomenon. Natural as it and it's success must be conceded to be, it is overbearing, conceited, and unreal.

Its solitary weapon for enticing recruits and subduing enemies is a series of gusts of spiritual intoxication. No fruitful ideas underlie its war cries. It has no laws by which to administer territory it has conquered, or rules for the correction and elevation of hearts and souls." Stern words indeed! 

The Unconverted Salvation Army and Other Travellers.

The first headquarters of the new movement was at 272, Whitechapel Road, this building would be the focus of local discontent. The East London Observer, Saturday 7th August 1880 reported;

"Robert Blandfield and Thomas Thorpe were charged with disorderly conduct at the headquarters of the Salvation Army, High Street, Whitechapel. They were further charged with assaulting George Gates, a gatekeeper at the place. After hearing the evidence Mr Saunders fined Thorpe 20s, or fourteen days; and Blandfield 5s, or five days."

Salvation Army HQ, Whitechapel.

According to the Salvation Army's own newspaper War Cry of the 21st August 1880; 

"We have got an opposition here, in the shape of a Devil's regiment, calling itself 'The Unconverted Salvation Army,' which they wear in printed characters on their hats and march in procession, and hold open air meetings in our fashion."

The proto Skeletons of the Unconverted Salvation Army were becoming more violent, in November 1880 a Salvation Army procession was attacked in West Ferry Road, Millwall by a gang, Captain John Richardson was struck in the face, all charges were dropped, the attackers faced fines and were bound over to keep the peace.

East London Observer - Saturday 17th September 1881;

"Police constable Samuel Dutch 328H, said that about 8.30 on Sunday night he was on duty in the Whitechapel Road, near the London Hospital, when he noticed a large crowd of persons, numbering over a thousand, in the road.

The traffic was completely stopped, there being no less than three tram cars and two omnibuses waiting to get by. On proceeding to the spot, he found the prisoner Arnold in front of a detachment of boys and young men, numbering four or five hundred. They were in ranks four deep, and Arnold was waving around a stick as if drilling them, the two other prisoners acting as lieutenants.

Arnold being addressed by the rest as 'Captain.' The whole of the detachment were singing ribald songs at the top of their voices, and witness was informed that they styled themselves 'The Opposition Salvation Army.' He spoke to the gang, and requested them to disperse, but, at the instigation of the prisoners, who were much the worse of the lot, they refused to go, and at last he took the prisoners into custody.

On the road to the station he and some other constables, who came to his assistance, were shouted at and pelted by the mob which followed them. There was a sense of great confusion all along the route until they reached the Arbour Square Station."

Various places were licenced to the Salvation Army for the purpose of preaching, in a railway arch one chap entered smoking a cigar, when he was asked to put it out he annoyed the congregation by shouting "yes, yes" several times. In this congregation some special constables were posted to look out for troublemakers, this chap was arrested after he was asked to leave but then commenced to dance "drunkenly".

It would appear that some policemen were not altogether unbiased, East London Observer - Saturday 8th October 1881;

"A young man came before his worship to make a complaint under the following circumstances :- He stated that about three months ago he was fined 40s, by Mr Lushington for annoying some members of the Salvation Army, whilst they were conducting their services. 

Since then, however, he had taken good care not to have anything to do with them, but, unfortunately, there was a constable who went about with detachments of the army, and who was known as the 'Hallelujah Policeman,'  who would not let him alone, but was constantly interfering with him and threatening to 'run him in' again if he had the chance, and he, therefore, wanted to know what he could do to put a stop to it. Mr Saunders referred the applicant to the police station."

In December 1881 the poor door keeper at the Whitechapel headquarters was assaulted by a Daniel Plansey. He was arrested by PC's 114H Pasco and 40H Haley, Plansey was sentenced to one month's hard labour.

Soon the Salvation Army marched on Limehouse, and with it came trouble, East London Observer - Saturday 18th March 1882;

"A Row At The Limehouse Salvation Hall.

Salvation Hall, Limehouse.

Thomas Bowser was charged with assaulting Cotterill, doorkeeper at the Salvation Hall, Commercial Road, Limehouse. The complainant said that he resided at 40, Northerly Street, and was a soldier of the Salvation Army. About 3.30 on Sunday afternoon he was standing at the door of the hall when a number of young men, who belonged to what was called the 'Opposition Army,' came up and wanted to enter.

As it was known that they only wanted to make a disturbance they were refused admission. Prisoner, who was with them, walked inside, and then the others made a rush to get in. At this moment prisoner struck witness a blow to the face, and he was knocked about by some others of the gang; besides this, the prisoner kicked him on the leg.

Police constable Cole, 208K, who was called to take prisoner into custody, said that there was a crowd outside the place when he got there. Mr Saunders fined the prisoner 20s, and 10s costs."

The Salvation Army At Limehouse.

Sometimes it was the Salvationists who were in trouble, in April 1882 a Captain James Fearless was charged with disorderly conduct and causing an obstruction outside Mr Mitchell's tool manufacturers on the corner of Commercial Road and Salmon Lane, Limehouse. 

A crowd of around 200 were singing loudly outside his shop, he asked them to go away, at this Fearless ordered his soldiers to "fall in" and he marched them round and round, when they passed Mr Mitchell's shop they "waved their banners and shouted louder than ever". The magistrate bound over Fearless to keep the peace for six months.

Another procession through Limehouse was pelted with rubbish, one Alfred Guy was struck in the face with a cabbage stalk thrown by Thomas Donovan, who also used threatening language and egged on the others to throw more rubbish. PC Cole, 208K, was on the scene and arrested Donovan, who got a choice of 5s fine or five days hard labour.

More trouble occurred during a march down Salmon Lane, the Salvationists were pelted with rubbish and stones, one of which hit the standard bearer. PC'S 338K Westerman and 446K Emery saw the three culprits and soon apprehended them, they were all fined.

Meanwhile back in Whitechapel John Russell launched an unprovoked attack on Salvation Army officer Hermann Leepes. Russell and another man had entered the Salvation Hall in Whitechapel Road, sitting down Russell then began to whistle and annoy people. Mr Leepes asked him to be quiet, when it became apparent that he was there for trouble Leepes sent the door keeper to fetch a constable.

In the meantime things became heated and Russell punched Leepes in the eye, blackening it. Soon PC 203H Jackson appeared and marched him off into custody, Russell received one month with hard labour.

One month later in August 1882, James Green was charged with assault and breaking a window at Salvation Hall, Whitechapel. The whole incident happened because Green was refused exit from Salvation Hall, according to Henry Simpson you couldn't leave until the singing had started.

Believing this to be nonsense Green went for the door, Simpson grabbed him and was pushed back by Green, he then fell against a window which broke, a policeman appeared and Green was taken into custody. Magistrate Mr Lushington was having none of it, the window was obviously not broken intentionally, and the Salvation Army had no authority to stop anyone leaving its premises, the prisoner was discharged.

In November 1882 Jacob Chapman was arrested in Berner's Street for throwing stones at a Salvation Army procession. Constable Symes, 167H, stated "on Sunday he was on duty in Berner's Street, when he saw a detachment of the Salvation Army marching along, and several persons throwing stones at them. Prisoner left the door of a public house, picked up a stone, and deliberately threw it amongst the army people." He received the choice of either a 5s fine or five days hard labour.

The Skeleton Army.

Towards the end of 1882 the name Skeleton Army was being mentioned in the East End press. The Skeletons are known to have originated in either Exeter or Weston Super Mare around 1881, the name galvanised the anti Salvation Army elements, they were now all Skeletons. In a parody of the Salvationist slogan "Soup, Soap, Salvation" the Skeletons put forth "Beef, Beer, 'Bacca." They also changed the Salvationist statement "Blood and Fire" to "Blood and Thunder."

East London Observer - Saturday 13th January 1883;

"John Old, 26, labourer and member of the Skeleton Army, was charged with unlawfully wounding Robert McCartney, by stabbing him in the back with a knife. He was also charged with assaulting Alfred Wares. Inspector Shaw, H Division, prosecuted.

Wares stated on Sunday night last he was in Cable Street along with McCartney, when a lot of the Skeleton Army came by. He and McCartney stood for a moment at the corner of Mercer Street, when about twenty or thirty of the Skeletons came round and stared them in the face. McCartney moved away, on which some of the Skeletons called out, 'on to him chaps,' and about a dozen of them ran after McCartney, whilst the others, among whom was the prisoner, came to him and knocked him about, striking him with their belts and kicking him.

Mercer Street no longer exists.

They then ran off, and he afterwards saw that McCartney had been stabbed in the back. He assisted to take him to the London Hospital. He knew the prisoner well, and had seen him before with the army. Sergeant Nathan Lee, 17H, said that on Wednesday night he saw prisoner in the Mile End Road, marching at the head of a detachment of the Skeleton Army."

Old was remanded in custody for the assault, but the stabbing charge was dropped as McCartney would not identify Old as his assailant. Two weeks later Old was sentenced for the assault on Wares, he received two years imprisonment with hard labour.

There was more trouble outside the Salvation Hall, Whitechapel Road on the 20th January, three men were arrested for throwing stones into the porch and pushing people around, they proudly declared their allegiance to The Skeleton Army.

East London Observer - Saturday 27th January 1883;

"The Poplar Branch of The Skeleton Army.

Five young men named Saunders, McGuiness, Peel, Sayes and Meredith, all under twenty years of age, were charged with disorderly conduct and causing an obstruction in the public streets.

The prisoner Saunders, who is a dwarf, was dressed in the uniform of the drummer of a line regiment. He was stated to hold the rank of Captain, whilst the others were privates in the Poplar Skeletons. Considerable amusement was caused in court by the production by the police of a number of 'trophies' which had been captured from the ranks of the 'Army.'

They consisted of about a dozen helmets of various descriptions, some being heavy metal ones with the plume of a dragoon still sticking in them, whilst others were of the kind used by our troops in the late Egyptian campaign. Besides these there were some half dozen flags, of bright colours, and two 'standards,' these latter being of the rudest description; both were ornamented with skulls and crossbones, and bore various devices such as 'Ready, aye Ready,' ect."

Inspector Stephen Chandler of K Division said the boys belonged to a gang who walked out in imitation of the Skeletons, wearing helmets and waving flags like those produced and causing a nuisance. They pushed people off the pavement, blocked traffic and harrassed businesses. 

A crowd of up to a thousand followed the police taking the five young men into custody, shouts and threats to "corpse" anyone giving evidence was heard. When in from of the magistrate they were told that their behaviour was not acceptable, they were all bound over to keep the peace.

The Skeletons seemed to be getting younger! East London Observer - Saturday 3rd February 1883;

"John Kennedy, 10, was charged with disorderly conduct, and throwing missiles in the public streets.

Police constable George Cole, 208K, said that on Sunday afternoon he saw the prisoner pelting a detachment of the Salvation Army with cabbage stalks as they were marching through Limehouse. Some of the members of the army were struck by the rubbish. In reply to the charge, the prisoner said that he was 'werry sorry, but it wasn't him.' Mr Saunders fined Johnny 1s."

With the promise of some active service and some Salvationists to annoy, a large detachment of Skeletons formed up in Islington, this just shows how chaotic and frightening a Skeleton Army march could be.

East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 9th February 1883;

"During the afternoon three bands of loathsome blackguards, whose faces alone would almost compel a jury to find them guilty of any crime, kept the City Road and the side streets in a shameful hubbub. We were informed that they were not the regulars of the Skeleton Army, nothing more than ambitious recruits, acting without orders. Anyhow, they were a peril and an outrage.

They marched in a solid column, six or eight abreast, and each band consisted of about 150 roughs and roughlets, varying from 20 to 12 years of age. A few dirty handkerchiefs were waved, parodies of Salvation songs were howled, and in a rude fashion the disturbers imitated the dancing and gesticulations of Salvationists on the march.

The crowd fell aside to allow these lusty scamps to pass, and often cheered them on. The neighbourhood was thus kept in a deafening din and unbroken suspense till nightfall, and annoyance by the marching roughs were added to by fruit hawkers disposing of their wares by auction; lads and hoydens clambering, screeching, and fighting; the bonneting of respectable looking men, and the insulting of respectable looking women and girls anxious to pass through.

Sometimes a cab, carriage, gig, or omnibus cleft the mob in twain and then arose a diabolical chorus of blasphemy and abuse. The more active roughs, finding that the Salvation Army was not forthcoming, and getting tired of having the field to themselves, betook themselves off shortly after dusk. What they were prepared to do was indicated by the behaviour of a mob of lads who lingered later.

Three persons wearing the peaked caps with scarlet bands of the Salvation Army came out at the close of the afternoon service escorted by policemen, amongst whom were two inspectors, and they were followed up City Road by the roughs, who groaned and hooted, and pelted them with orange refuse, old shoes, and whatever else they could find.

Two 'Hallelujah lasses,' known for their peculiar bonnets of their order, were brutally set upon by a knot of skirmishing vagabonds, and driven for refuge in a shop with their clothes torn. A young man wearing a Salvation cap was surrounded and hustled, the cap was snatched from his head and tossed into the air over the heads of the crowd, amongst boisterous cheering, and having thus furnished amusement for half an hour it was torn to shreds."

By six o'clock it was all over save for a few shouts and yells, the bulk of the Salvationists left the area unmolested.

The beginning of the end?

East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Tuesday 13th February 1883;

"An extraordinary religious service was held on Thursday night, at St. Philip's Church, Mount Street, Bethnal Green; the vicar, the Rev. Robert Loveridge, having invited the leaders and members of the local branches of the Skeleton Army to attend, 'to reason with them before God.' About 600 attended, headed by their band and flag, and wearing their military accoutrements.

St. Philips as shown on the 1875 map of the Old Nichol

Their conduct during the service was very orderly, and they listened with great attention to the expostulations of the vicar, in his sermon, against the habit of swearing, which was proving infectious even to the children of the parish. He dealt with the various reasons they had given, during the interviews he had had with their leaders, for their street demonstrations against the Salvation Army, and assured them that the result of his investigations had been to disprove  the statement that the Salvationists were underselling them in the labour market.

He argued that General Booth's movement was entitled to some respect on the grounds of the labour question, for it's leader had found work for hundreds of men and women who would otherwise have remained a drag on the labour market; and thus a better chance in the battle of life had been given to the members of the Skeleton Army, who could not do better than cease their hostility and join the ranks of Mr Booth.

The service over, the Skeletons retired, without disorder. It is stated that, as one result of Mr Loveridge's intervention, one detachment, the colours, helmets and arms having been handed to the vicar, and the other companies have intimated their willingness to follow the same example."

A Salvation Army March, Ratcliff Highway.

East London Observer - Saturday 31st March 1883;

"Defeating The Skeleton Army.

An amusing scene was witnessed on Monday afternoon on the waste ground in the Mile End Road, when a regiment of the Skeleton Army was put to flight by a detachment of police.

It appears that on Sunday last 'The Army' held a meeting at Victoria Park, when bills were issued announcing a meeting in Mile End Road on the following day. At the appointed hour the 'Skeletons' began to assemble in force, some of them carrying flags, banners, big drums ect.

No sooner, however, had they begun to form into column for marching than a small party of the K Division of police, under Chief Inspector Steed and Inspector Guigley (?) hove in sight, advancing at the double. No sooner did the valiant 'Skeletons' catch sight of the approaching police than they halted, wavered, and then broke up in confusion, running away as fast as they could.

They were followed by the derisive cheers of some thousands of persons, who had assembled to witness what the 'Skeletons' had asserted was to be 'a conflict for the right of public meeting, and a protest against police tyranny.' The constables pursued the retreating army for a few hundred yards, and then gave up the chase."

War Cry - Saturday 26th December 1891.

The Skeleton Army in East London had peaked, stories of their antics in the area decreased dramatically, the thuggery associated with the Skeletons lived on in memory for quite a while, by 1891 the Salvationists were asking 'Where are the Skeletons?" In 1884 a huge riot erupted in Worthing, however, in the East End the police had gained control.

East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Tuesday 23rd September 1884;

"Thomas Saint, described as having lately been leader of the Skeleton Army, Poplar, was charged, at the Thames Police Court, with assaulting William De Banks, landlord of the Mariners' Arms beer house, Grundy Street, Poplar, and also assaulting Mrs Sarah De Banks.

Grundy Street, Poplar.

Between eight and nine o'clock on Tuesday night the prisoner entered the Mariners' Arms and created a disturbance. He was requested several times to quit, but refused, and struck the landlord a violent blow in the neck. He then hurled a pot at Mrs De Banks's head, but it fortunately missed her.

The prisoner was known as a most violent ruffian. Mr Lushington fined the prisoner 40s or a month for the assault on Mrs De Banks, and 21 days' hard labour for the assault on the landlord."

The author, Gordon and his wife Julia bring you a radio show called Cogwebs and Strange, their show specialises in music from the genres Goth, Punk, Psychedelia, Darkwave.