Gangsters on the Gallows

Joseph "Blueskin" Blake was hanged on 11th November, 1724. His notoriety as a highwayman was due in large part to his network of criminal associates, including ‘London’s most glamorous rogue’ Jack Sheppard (who inspired Gay’s Beggars Opera) and ‘Thief-Taker General’, Jonathan Wilde.

Under the guise of law enforcement, Wilde had charged victims for retrieving their stolen goods, manipulating the criminal justice system so that he profited from crimes he had himself orchestrated. Blake found himself under Wilde's wing as a young pickpocket, but his loyalty didn’t pay off in the end, as Wilde personally apprehended Blake following a botched robbery.

In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain what a ‘Buttock and File’ scheme is; recall how Sheppard’s daring prison escapes captured the public imagination; and explain how an offence as minor as lace theft ultimately brought Wilde to the same grim end as Blueskin…

Further Reading:

• ’Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals: Joseph Blake’ (Hayward, 1735):

https://www.pascalbonenfant.com/18c/newgatecalendar/lives_joseph_blake.html 

• ’The Amazing Escapes of Jack Sheppard’ (Historic UK): https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Amazing-Escapes-of-Jack-Sheppard/

• ’Policing London - The Fall of Jonathan Wild’ (Extra History, 2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9siL4CWTe4

#Crime #London #1700s #Macabre

This episode first premiered in 2023, for members of 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴 - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 100 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!

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The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.

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