This open access book explores the tragic case of the Torquay Murder of 1865, when the body of a young boy was discovered abandoned on the outskirts of Torquay in Devon, England. Having identified the child as threemonthold Thomas Harris, local police arrested the childs mother, Mary Jane Harris, and his nurse, Charlotte Winsor, and charged them both with murder. Through careful analysis of a range of original sources including police and inquest reports, court and prison records, witness depositions, newspaper accounts, census records, medical and legal texts, Home Office documents and letters, Mark Jackson reconstructs the complex story of the Torquay murder and explores the personal and political consequences of Englands first babyfarming scandal. Situating the case within the context of midVictorian concerns over rising rates of illegitimacy and infanticide, debates about the abolition of capital punishment and attempts to regulate childcare and adoption practices, this book examines the impact this landmark trial had on British law and society.The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BYNCND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by University of Exeter, UK.

Binding: Hardcover;296 pages; Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC; Classification: HBLL; Weight: 722 g; Dimensions: 164 x 243 x 25

Something not quite right? You have 21 days from the day you receive it, to send something back.

Please note, we cannot offer refunds on fashion face masks, cosmetics, pierced jewellery, adult toys, and swimwear or lingerie if the hygiene seal is not in place or has been broken.

Items of footwear and/or clothing must be unworn and unwashed with the original labels attached. Also, footwear must be tried on indoors. Items of homeware including bedlinen, mattresses, and toppers, and pillows must be unused and in their original unopened packaging. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Click here to view our full Returns Policy.