Rape in Regency London

Fitzroy Square London c.1800

   We've recently been told that less than 5 per cent of rapes reported in England today lead to prosecution. In Regency England, it was very different. A man accused of rape could face such severe penalties as the reproach of his wife -- a fearsome deterrent!

East Fitzroy Square, London 1807

This case was reported in 1817 as taking place in Fitzroy Square in the heart of Mayfair. The accuser, or "prosecutrix" as she was called in court, was a fourteen-year-old servant girl and the man she accused was her employer, a butcher in Fitzroy Market. 

    The newspaper report ran:-

WEDNESDAY. - Clark, a butcher, in Fitzroy-market, was indicted for a rape on Leah Edwards. The prosecutrix deposed, that she is 14 years of age. Her mother resides in Grafton-street, Fitzroy-square, and she herself was servant to the prisoner, who is a married man.

     On the night of the 13th of March, the prisoner was from home, his wife went to bed, and witness sat up to let the prisoner in. He came home at half past 11 o'clock and seized witness suddenly, as soon as she had shut the door. He was sober at the time; he took her round the waist, put her on his lap, and thrust his hand under her clothes. He did nothing more that night, except to threaten that he would take a knife and cut her throat, if she if she ever told her mother or her mistress. She was prevented from calling out, because he put his hand on her mouth. 

       Next night witness again sat up for the prisoner, his wife having again gone to bed. When he came home he repeated the conduct of the former night, and finally effected his purpose.

      But there appearing some variation in the evidence the girl had now given, and that which she had deposed before a Magistrate, the Common Serjeant directed the Jury to acquit the prisoner, which they did accordingly.

      The Common Serjeant, then said to the prisoner, that it was evident he had effected an abominable seduction of this poor girl, while in his service, and who ought to have been protected by him; and he trusted his (the prisoner's) wife would every day remind him of his offence."

A hawker of old clothes in Fitzroy Square 1817.

 Source: Johnson's Sunday Monitor, Sunday 27th April 1817, p.4.