W.T. Stead & the Eliza Armstrong Case
“William Thomas Stead..You have been found guilty under two indictments—the one charging you with the abduction of Eliza Armstrong, the other charging you with indecent assault. Now I am prepared to give you credit for good motives from your point of view, but.. I cannot pass anything but a substantial sentence, and that is that you be imprisoned without hard labour for three calendar months..” Mr. Justice Lopes’ Sentence
The Eliza Armstrong Case was the criminal prosecution of W.T Stead and his accomplices for the abduction and indecent assault of thirteen-year-old Eliza Armstrong. A chimney sweep’s daughter from the impoverished Marylebone area of London, Eliza was the real face behind the semi-fictional character of Lily, whose heart-rending story, “A Child of Thirteen Bought for £5” concluded the first installment of The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon.
Having been informed, during his investigations, that some unscrupulous parents were willing to sell their own children into prostitution, Stead sent his agent, reformed prostitute Rebecca Jarrett into Marylebone to purchase a child to show to how easily young girls could be procured. The child eventually procured was Eliza Armstrong, allegedly sold by her own mother for just £5.
Read MoreProceedings at Bow Street
- Introduction
- 1st Day’ Proceedings (Sept. 2, 1885)
- 2nd Day’s Proceedings (Sept. 7, 1885)
- 3rd Day’s Proceedings (Sept. 8, 1885)
Proceedings at the Old Bailey
- Mr. Webster’s Opening Statement (Oct. 23, 1885)
- The Evidence of Mrs. Elizabeth Armstrong (Oct. 23, 1885)
- The Evidence of Mrs. Elizabeth Armstrong (Oct. 24, 1885)
- The Evidence of Mrs. Broughton (Oct. 25, 1885)
- The Evidence of Mr. Charles Armstrong (Oct. 26, 1885)
- W. T. Stead’s Opening Statement (Oct. 28)
- Mr. Charles Russell on Rebecca Jarrett (Oct. 29)
- The Evidence of Rebecca Jarrett (Oct. 29, 1885)
- The Evidence of Rebecca Jarrett (Oct. 30, 1885)
- The Evidence of Rebecca Jarrett (Nov. 2, 1885)
- The Evidence of W. T. Stead (Nov. 2, 1885)
- W. T. Stead’s Closing Statement (Nov. 4, 1885)
- Mr. Webster’s Closing Statement (Nov. 5, 1885)
- Mr. Justice Lopes’ Summing up (Nov. 7, 1885)
- Mr. Justice Lopes’ Sentence (Nov. 10, 1885)
The Press on the Armstrong Case
- A Missing Daughter (July 13, 1885)
- The Press on the Armstrong Case (Nov. 11, 1885)
- Lloyd’s Weekly London Newspaper (Aug. 9, 1885)
- Lloyd’s Weekly London Newspaper (Sept. 27, 1885)
Miscellaneous
- Letter from Eliza Armstrong to Mrs. Comb (1885)
- Mr Stead in Prison (Undated)