Josephine Butler to Dr Carter

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 106 3JBL/10/40
  • Former Reference
      GB 106 3350
  • Dates of Creation
      [Apr 1875]
  • Physical Description
      1 item

Scope and Content

Written from Liverpool. So much interesting news from Italy that she is trying to get some accepted by the general press. Draws his attention to the medical men in Italy entering the lists on both sides; she will send him translations of the three articles written by the doctors opposed to them. Mentions Dr Mireur's book which takes a wide survey of this system in all countries and Lecour's book on prostitution.

Administrative / Biographical History

Saturday evening [? Apr 1875]

'The Aldershot Case'

The Percy Case. This concerned the suicide of a professional singer and actress, Mrs Percy who had lived and worked in the garrison town of Aldershot for the past 20 years. Troubled by the persecution of the special police who administered the CD Acts there she wrote a letter to the Daily Telegraph dated 15 Mar 1875 outlining the facts. The newspaper was too late in acting; Mrs Percy committed suicide but the Daily Telegraph published the letter and the suicide was recounted in the Daily News of 30 Mar 1875. The inquest was reported at length in the local newspaper of 3 Apr 1875. The police were exonerated but the case received much publicity and all the Repeal Societies protested and held meetings. A Conference of representative and influential friends of Repeal from all parts of the country was held on 4 May 1875

'It is too late for your journal'

i.e. the Medical Enquirer see note in letter JB to Mr HJ Wilson 16 Mar 1875

'taking Lecour's facts'

Lecour was the Chef de Bureau of the Paris 'Police des Moeurs'. He wrote a book on Prostitution 'La Prostitution a Londres et a Paris, 2nd ed 1872. Dr Drysdale, physician to the Metropolitan Free Hospital, London, made an analysis of this edition. Dr Mireur's book gives a wide survey of the subject in all countries including England. Published 1875

Biog: M Lecour; Mr Nathan; Dr Drysdale; Dr Carter; Mme Venturi; Mr Hornung; Mr Bligh (Agent); Dr Mireur