FAMOUS CRIMES: Arrest of Guy Fawkes

FAMOUS CRIMES: Arrest of Guy Fawkes

Here is a reprint of the classic true-crime serial from 1903: Famous Crimes Past and Present.

It has 24 pages, is black and white throughout, and is comb-bound with a card back and a plastic front cover.

This one is number 39 and the cover shows the arrest of Guy Fawkes, arguably the most famous British criminal of all time.

The first ten pages deal with the Gunpowder Plot, alongside the famous Guy Fawkes, we learn of Gatesby, Mounteagle, Leigh, Winter, Wright and others. The article contains eight superb illustrations.

Following this there is a three-page article on poison titled “The Mystery of Madeleine Smith” appears, containing three illustrations.

A two page story on the first bank note forgery appears, followed by “The Ways of The Criminal”, an article that shows how criminals steal luggage, both informing the reader of how to avoid luggage theft (and no doubt educating a would-be thief too!).

Two pages are given to “The Murder of Moyse” with an illustration of Moyse, the Liverpool bookseller.

Following this, an article on a noble dog “The Dog of Montargis” is given which is a French legend along the lines of Greyfriars Bobby. A page from this article is to the left.

The moral article on Criminal Problems focuses on Prison Personnel. The inside back page gives the story of William Patterson whose mistreatment of his wife led to her death and his execution.

This issue also contains many adverts from the Edwardian period including pills to help grow a moustache, pills to reduce fatness, cure for hair problems and blushing, and improved health with ‘Bile Beans’.

Famous Crimes was a penny journal. It was published from 1902 and became an instant hit with its sensational journalism and gruesome illustrations. The illustrations really are superb.

Please see my other sales for other Famous Crimes including Charles Peace and Burke and Hare.