Printed Ephemera — 1842
Full and True Account of a most Inhuman and Cruel Murder, committed by Captain Henry Smyth upon the body of Jane Mew whom he basely betrayed
Crime broadside printed with an account of the murder of Jane Mew by Captain Henry Smyth 'whom he basely betrayed'. Jane Mew was seduced by Henry Smyth and then murdered by him after she went to his home in Poole, Dorset to inform him she was pregnant. Printed by James Paul and Company the broadside includes a woodcut engraving depicting Smyth stabbing Jane with a knife together with an account of the crime in verse. This broadside, published over one hundred years after the murder in 1741 reflects the notoriety of this crime. Such broadsides giving detailed accounts of the most gruesome and notorious crimes were extremely popular with Londoners. Mass produced and sold cheaply they were primarily published by a small group of printers such as James Paul and James Catnach located in the Seven Dials area of London. Spelling and grammar was poor and details were often inaccurate.
- Category:
- Printed Ephemera
- Object ID:
- 2002.76/50o
- Object name:
- Full and True Account of a most Inhuman and Cruel Murder, committed by Captain Henry Smyth upon the body of Jane Mew whom he basely betrayed
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- James Paul and Company
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
2-3 Monmouth Court, Seven Dials, Bloomsbury, London [Camden]
- Production date:
- 1842
- Material:
paper
- Measurements/duration:
- H 375 mm, L 260 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.