Trials of Masculinity
Trials of Masculinity
Trials of Masculinity
Pageii
TheChicagoSeriesonSexuality,History,andSociety
EditedbyJohnC.Fout
Alsointheseries:
ImproperAdvances
RapeandHeterosexualConflictintheOntario,18801929
byKarenDubinsky
APrescriptionforMurderer
TheVictorianSerialKillingsofDr.ThomasNeillCream
byAngusMcLaren
TheLanguageofSex
FiveVoicesfromNorthernFrancearound1200
byJohnW.Baldwin
CrossingovertheLine
LegislatingMoralityandtheMannAct
byDavidJ.Langum
LoveBetweenWomen
EarlyChristianResponsestoFemaleHomoeroticism
byBernadetteJ.Brooten
SitesofDesire/EconomiesofPleasure
SexualitiesinAsiaandthePacific
editedbyLenoreMandersonandMargaretJolly
TheInventionofSodomyinChristianTheology
byMarkD.Jordan
Pageiii
TheTrialsofMasculinity
PolicingSexualBoundaries18701930
AngusMcLaren
Pageiv
AngusMcLarenisprofessorofhistoryattheUniversityofVictoria.Heistheauthorofseveralbooksincluding:APrescriptionforMurder:TheVictorianSerial
KillingsofDr.ThomasNeillCream(UniversityofChicagoPress,1993)OurOwnMasterRace:EugenicsinCanada(McClelland&Stewart,1990)andA
HistoryofContraception(Blackwell,1990).
TheUniversityofChicagoPress,Chicago60637TheUniversityofChicagoPress,Ltd.,London
1997byTheUniversityofChicagoAllrightsreserved.Published1997
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
0605040302010099989754321
ISBN(cloth):0226500675
LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
McLaren,Angus.
Thetrialsofmasculinity:policingsexualboundaries,18701930
/AngusMcLaren.
p.cm.(Chicagoseriesonsexuality,history,andsociety)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN0226500675(cloth:acidfreepaper)
1.MenHistorySources.2.Masculinity(Psychology)History
Sources.3.SexroleHistorySources.I.Title.II.Series.
HQ1090.M3971997
305.31'09dc21
9629523
CIP
ThepaperusedinthispublicationmeetstheminimumrequirementsoftheAmericanNationalStandardforInformationSciencesPermanenceofPaperforPrinted
LibraryMaterials,ANSIZ39.481984.
Pagev
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction 1
PartOne:Masculinities II
One 13
Deviants
PartTwo:LegalDiscourses:Men,Melodrama,AndCriminality 37
Two 39
Fools
Three 59
CADS
Four 89
Gentlemen
Five 111
Murderers
PartThree:MedicalDiscourses: 133
WeakMenandPerverts
Six 137
Weaklings
Seven 158
Sadists
Eight 182
Exhibitionist
Nine 207
Transvestites
Conclusion 233
Notes 239
Index 297
Illustrationsfollowpage132
Pagevii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Inthecourseofthenineteenthcentury,manymenmadeapointofbecomingbiggerandfattertoadvertisetheirwealthandpower.Evengenius,claimedThophile
Gautier,manifesteditselfinaman'sgirth.ItwastakenashighpraisetostatethatBalzachadabarrellikebody,thatRossiniresembledahippopotamus,thatLablache
waselephantine.ThecultofcorpulencehadworshipersonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.Whenin1908WilliamHowardTaftwaselectedpresidentoftheUnitedStates,
heweighedinat332pounds.Attheturnofthecentury,asE.L.DoctorownotedinRagtime,"theconsumptionoffoodwasasacramentofsuccess.Amanwho
carriedagreatstomachbeforehimwasthoughttobeinhisprime."PerhapsbecauseIhaveaslightbuildmyself,Ilongwonderedhowitcouldbethatsuchbloated
behemothswereoncetakenasparagonsofmasculinity.Andwhowerethesebigmenmosttryingtointimidate,womenorlessermen?
Thesesortsofapparentlyinconsequentialquestionsstartedmeonanexplorationofevolvingmodelsofmanhood.RegretfullyIfoundthattocometoasatisfying
understandingofhowconceptsofnormalanddeviantmasculinitywereworkedoutinthepastIhadtoabandontheentertainmentprovidedbynineteenthcentury
saloonsandchophousesforthemorerestrainedtheatricsthatcourtsandconsultingroomsoffered.Ihad,however,verygoodcompany.Thosewhocontributedto
makingthisbookpossibleincludeJudithAllen,PeterBailey,LeonardBerlanstein,VernBullough,WilliamBynum,AlainCorbin,ChristineDelphy,KarenDubinsky,
JohnDuder,RichardEvans,MarvinGlasser,JohnGillis,AnnaleeGolz,LesleyHall,JohnFout,AnitaFellman,ChristopherFriedrichs,GingerFrost,PhilippaLevine,
ArleneTigarMcLaren,JohnMcLaren,FrancisRonsin,MartineSegalen,MaryLynnStewart,andCornelieUsborne.Usefulfeedbackonportionsoftheworkwas
providedbyparticipantsata"GenderandCrime"conferenceheldattheRoehamptonInstitute,a"History
Pageviii
oftheBody"conferencesponsoredbytheSocietyfortheSocialHistoryofMedicineatUniversityCollegeLondon,ahistoryworkshopattheUniversityofBritish
Columbia,andbytheaudiencesataseriesoflecturesgivenatIndianaUniversity.Portionsofchapters4and6appearedinMedicalHistoryandtheJournalof
SocialHistoryIamgratefultotheTrustee,theWellcomeTrust,andtheeditorsandpublishersforpermissiontoreprintthismaterial.IowespecialthankstoBrian
DippieandRobertNye,whoreadtheentiremanuscriptandofferedtrenchantcriticism.SaraSmithdidevenmore.Inadditiontosavagingafirstdraft,shepeppered
mewithasteadystreamofreferencesandcitations.
IwouldalsoliketoexpressmygratitudetotheSocialSciencesandHumanitiesResearchCouncilofCanada,whosegenerositymadepossiblethenumerousresearch
tripsthatthisprojectrequired.AthomeattheUniversityofVictoria,IreceivedessentialsupportfromboththesecretariesandmycolleaguesintheHistory
DepartmentandthelibrariansatMcPhersonLibrary.SusanJohnstonwasanincrediblyinsightfulandindustriousresearchassistant.WhenIwasontheroad,thestaffs
oftheWellcomeInstitutefortheHistoryofMedicine,theBritishLibrary,theBibliothqueNationale,thePublicArchivesofBritishColumbia,andtheWoodward
MedicalLibraryattheUniversityofBritishColumbiawere,asalways,enormouslyhelpful.JohnFontproddedmeintolaunchingthisstudyandDouglasMitchell,
MatthewHoward,andDavidBlairmadecompletingitapleasure.
InVictoriaJuneBulldidawonderfuljobinrescuingmefromthevariouscatastrophescausedbyarelianceonanancientthatistosay,fiveyearoldcomputer.In
Paris,whenthesaidlaptopfinallycrashed,ChristineDelphykindlyofferedtheuseofherownmachine.ArleneandJessekepttheprojectonanevenkeelArleneby
continuallyimpressinguponmethenecessityofappreciatingtheinsightsoffeministscholarshipJessebydemonstratinghowinherentlyfascinatingthepassagetoyoung
manhoodis.
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INTRODUCTION
AreadingoftheOxfordEnglishDictionary'sentriesunderthesubject"man"servesasaforcefulreminderofhowcentralsexandgendernormsweretopowerand
culturalcategoriesattheturnofthecentury.Tohavea"mantomantalk,"wearetold,wastospeakdirectly"tobeone'sownman"wastobeinfullpossessionof
one'sfacultiesto"playtheman"wastoactcourageouslytobe"theman''wastobetheoneincharge.Theseweremorethansimplefiguresofspeech.Around1930
amanwhokilled"likeaman"wasapplaudedbyspectatorsandsetfreeinonecourtroom,whileinanotherthejudgesentencedtheaccused,whoseonlycrimehad
beentodresslikeawoman,toaprisontermofeighteenmonths'hardlabor.Suchcasesdramaticallydemonstratedtheimportanceearlytwentiethcenturysociety
assignedtothequestionofsexualidentity.Westernculturehad,ofcourse,alwaysstressedmaleandfemaledifferences.Butinrelativelyrecenttimes,genderhad
becomeprivileged,ofteneclipsingone'srank,status,profession,race,orreligionasthekeydeterminantofpersonality.1
Thebody,PierreBourdieuremindsus,carriesthe"fundamentalprinciplesofthearbitrarycontentoftheculture."For"nothingseemsmoreineffable,more
incommunicable,moreinimitable,and,therefore,moreprecious,thanthevaluesgiven[the]body,theprocesswherebymaleandfemalebodiesaresplitismystified."2
ThisstudyseekstorevealhowtheprocessofconstructionofwhatmanyintheWestnowassumetobenatural,timelessmaleandfemalegenderstookplacebetween
theeighteenthandthetwentiethcenturies.Thebookfocusesparticularlyontheperiodbetween1870and1930,whenextremeclaimsforsexualincommensurability
weremade.Thereismuchgoodevidence,asanumberofhistorianshavedemonstrated,thatnewscientificnormsofmaleandfemalesexualitywerepropoundedin
thelatenineteenthcenturybysexologistsandpsychiatristsbecausesocialtransformations(suchasthechangingnatureofmen's
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work,theriseofthewhitecollarservicesector,thereductionofthebirthrate,andwomen'sentryintohighereducationandtheprofessions)appearedintheeyesof
anxiousobserverstohaveunderminedtheexplanatorypowersofoldernotionsofmasculinityandfemininity.3
Manyofthescholarswhofirstexaminedtheemergenceofthelatenineteenthcenturypreoccupationwithsexandgenderpresenteditasapositive,progressive
refashioningofourthinkingabouthumansexuality.4 MichelFoucaultcounteredsuchoptimism,arguingthatthefreshlycreatedsexualcategoriesandgendernormsof
thenineteenthcenturyunderlayyetanothersystemofpower.Theprofessionalsinmedicine,criminology,pedagogy,andthelaw,heasserted,tookovertheregulatory
andpunitivefunctionsoftheabsolutiststateandelaboratednewmechanismsofconstraint.Theexperts'ultimategoalwastoorganizepoweroverthesocialbody
throughtheagencyofhumanbodies.5 Inessence,malepowerwasrevivedandnowbuttressedbybiologism.AuthorswhohavefolloweduponmanyofFoucault's
insightswhileseekingtoavoidthenotionofasimpleconflictbetweentheforcesoffreedomandoppressionincludeThomasLaqueur,LawrenceBirken,andCynthia
EagleRussettwiththeirimportantstudiesofmodelsofsexualityRuthHarris,JudithWalkowitz,andCarollSmithRosenbergwhoinvestigatedthepolicingof
femininityJeffreyWeeks,whoanalyzedtheconstructionofhomosexualityandRobertNye,E.AnthonyRotundo,LesleyHall,andKevinWhite,whodealt
particularlywiththerefashioningofnotionsofheterosexuality.6
Thisbookhasasitsfocustheturnofthecenturymappingoftheboundariesofmasculinity.7 Thegoalistoshowthatthenormsofmaleheterosexualitywerenot
innate,butsociallyandculturallyconstructed.Theintentistoshattertheillusionofpermanenceandnaturalnesswithwhichexpertsendowedlatenineteenthcentury
genderrelations.Wedosobyrevealingthewaysinwhichnewboundariesofnormalmaleandfemalebehaviorwerefreshlyestablishedbydoctors,sexologists,
magistrates,andsexreformersbetween1870and1930.Thefocusisprimarilyonhowsuchexpertsexploitedthestereotypeofavirile,heterosexual,andaggressive
masculinity.Theydidnotsomuch"create"thestereotypeitwouldbemoreaccuratetosaythattheyselectedanddeclaredpreeminentoneparticularmodelof
masculinityfromanexistingrangeofmalegenderroles.
Anexaminationoftheseprofessionals'preoccupationshelpsustoseethatmenweregenderedsubjectsandthatmasculinityhadavarietyofchangingforms.The
approachadoptedhereistoaskwhysomesexroleswerenaturalizedandothersdisqualified,whytherewereinclusionsand
Page3
exclusions.Thistackallowsahistoricizingofarangeofpurportedlyvaluefreepsychological,sexological,andpsychoanalyticconcepts.Itallowstheneurasthenicmale
tobeseenastheproductofdefinitehistoricaltypeofsociety,theexhibitionistorserialkillerasthecreationofaspecificculture.8
Socially,Iexaminenotionsofmasculinityinboththeworkingclassandmiddleclass.Thesameauthorities,incondemninglaborers'brawlsasirrationaloutburstswhile
turningablindeyetogentlemen'sduels,wereimplicitlyacknowledgingthat"thetypologiesdesignatinghonorableanddishonourablemasculinitywerehighlyclass
specific."9 WhatisofspecialinterestisJoanScott'spointthatinterclassreferencestosexuality"seemtobepartofamorecomplicatedprocessof'classconstruction'
inwhichdefinitionsofthemiddleclassinvolvenotionsofsexualselfcontroland...dependonnegativeexamplesor'socialothers.'Inthiscasethesocial'other'isthe
workingclassits'otherness'isindicatedbyrepresentingitaswoman."10GeographicallyIdealprimarilywithdevelopmentsinEnglandandFrance,butIalsodrawon
sexologicaldiscussionsincentralEuropeandchangingnormsofmanhoodinNorthAmerica.Thestudypurposelytendstoa''geographicaleclecticism."Toomany
studiesofsexualityhave,asTheodoreZeldinhaspointedout,unthinkinglyembracedthenotionofnationalstereotypesthatnineteenthcenturyEnglishmenwere
giventoflogging,Italianstocrimesofpassion,Germanstosadism,andFrenchmentoduelingandphilandering.11Iamsuggestingnotthatstrongnationaltraditionsdid
notexistbutthatapreoccupationwiththemcanblindustomoreimportantsexandgendertraditionsandconventionsthatthenationsofwesternEuropeandNorth
Americashared.NonWesternsocieties,however,obviouslydidhavedifferentunderstandingsofmasculinity.Topursuethatquestionwouldbetobroachan
enormoustopic.Inthisbriefstudy,wehavetorestrictourselvestonomorethantheoddpassingreferencetotheimportantrelationshipsofraceandgender.12
Becausesomanyexcellentstudiesofthecreationofmodelsofmodernfemininityhavebeenproduced,Idevotemostofmyattentiontothepolicingofmasculinity.
Women'srolehaslongbeenregardedasproblematicalandthereforeworthyofinvestigationandregulation.Men,incontrast,havebeenregardedasunchangingand
thereforetheirsexualityhasnotwarrantedexamination.Freud'sfamousquestion"Whatdowomenwant?"hasgarneredagooddealofindignantattention.Fewhave
observedthathedidnotask"Whatdomenwant?"theassumptionbeingthateveryoneknew.
Womenwillnotbeignoredinthefollowingchapterssincemasculinity
Page4
wasalwaysdefinedincontrasttofemininity,theoneconcepthavingnomeaninginisolationfromtheother.Thisbookseekstocomplement,noteclipsethestudyof
femininityitspremiseisthatitisessentialthattherelationalaspectsofgendernotbelostsightof.Accordingly,inthecourseofthebook,wewilllookatawouldbe
gentlemantryingtomarryhiswayoutofhardwork,butalsoathisfemalecounterparttracethecareersofboththebounderandthebarmaidandexaminetheways
inwhichboththegentlemanandtheladyemployedimagesofappropriategenderrolestoavoidentanglementswiththelaw.
Alargethoughrecentliteratureontheemergenceinthelatenineteenthcenturyofthehomosexualidentityalsoexists.Whilehomosexualityisnotthefocusofthis
study,anyaccountoftheconceptofnineteenthcentury"normal"heterosexualmasculinitycanonlybeunderstoodinrelationshiptocontemporaryideasconcerningits
"inversion"homosexuality.Anumberofpioneeringstudiesofthehistoryofhomosexualityhaveappearedinthelastdecadethisbookinasenseservesastheir
complement.13Itlooksattheshiftingdefinitionofnormality,atthelinesthatweredrawnandredrawntoseparatethedeviantfromthenormal,themalefromthe
female.Gayhistoryishelpingustounderstandhowtheselinesweremade,blurred,andreimposed,butamoreselfconsciousunderstandingof"normal"malenessand
heterosexualityalsohastobeprovided.
Settingthegoalsofthebookwasonethingdeterminingthemethodologywasanother.WhatIwantedtodowastofindwaysofrevealingandtestingtheprocessby
whichconceptsofmasculinitywerepropounded.Freudoncesaidthatthehystericcanbecomparedtothecriminal.Thecriminalhasasecretthathetriestoguard
thehysterichasasecretofwhichheishimselfunaware.Itisthissecretthatthedeterminedpsychoanalyst,liketheruthlessjuged'instruction,hasthetaskofextracting
fromhisunwillinginterlocutor.Itoofoundthatformypurposesanexploitationofboththemedicalandlegaldiscoursesonsexualityworkedwell.Ibeganby
examiningmuchofthemedicalandpsychologicalwritingofthetimeandthenturnedtotrialrecords.Ironically,thesameagethatgenderedabstractqualitiessuchas
"strength"and"independence"asmaledeclareditsallmalecourtsystemtobeobjectiveandgenderfree.14Nevertheless,Ifoundthattrialrecordswereaninvaluable
meansofgaugingthepublicimpactoftheconceptsofnormalandabnormalsexuality.Fewsourcessostronglydistinguishedbetweenthesexes.
Thisstudyisabouttwospecificsortsof"trials"ofmasculinity.Thefirstweretheformalcourtroomdramaswheregreatimportancewasplacedupondetermining
whetherornottheaccusedhadactedina"manly"fash
Page5
ion.MikhailBakhtinhassuggestedthatthelawcourtisasitefortheproductionofmeaninginasmuchastrialshavealwaysfulfilledacriticalroleinlinkingthelawto
generalculture.15Infollowingupthisinsight,thefirstportionofthisprojectmightbelikenedtotheworksofGuidoRuggiero.16Itooappreciatetheenormousvalue
oflegalrecordswhiletryingtobesensitivetothefactthattrialstendedtoreifyboundaries,artificiallyandneatlydividethenormalfromtheabnormal.
IrelyheavilyonlegaldocumentationbecausemycentralworkinghypothesismuchlikeSanderGilman'sisthatunderstandinghowpreviousgenerationsconceived
ofthe"normal"issoftenmostdramaticallydemonstratedbyanalyzingtheirtreatmentofthe"other."17Theprosecutionofsexcrimes"forcedtheissue"ininteresting
waysforinthecourtroomsocietyhadtomakeclearwheretheboundarieslaybetweennormalanddeviantbehavior.Itcouldbesaidthatmy"hardcases"arenot
representative,reflectonlyextremesofbehavior,andrelyonsensationalevidenceandassuchcannottellusabout''ordinary"men.Butthesetrialsalsoofferthe
differinginterpretationscontemporariesmadeoftheevidenceintroducedandthusrevealnotonebutseveralcompetingdiscoursesofdoctors,lawyers,journalists,
politicians,radicals,laymen.
Sincethisstudyexploitsanumberofcriminalcases,itnecessarilydealswiththesubjectofmaleviolence.Criminologists,whileknowingthatmenarefarmorelikely
thanwomentocommitviolentcrimes,surprisinglyseenoneedtoinvestigatemasculinity.18Evensomeofthemorerecenthistoricalstudiesofmasculinityare
amazinglysilentontheissueofforce.19Yetanthropologiststellusthatthemoreviolentthesocietythemoreitismaledominated.20Itistemptingtoarguethatif
femalesexualitywaspolicedinthenineteenthcentury,malesexualitywasaswell.Butitwouldbesimplistictosuggestthattheresultwassomesortofsymmetry.
RoperandToshmakethepointthatmasculinityisalways"shapedaroundmalepower"and"relativetofemininity."Inotherwordsmalescanalwayshaverecourseto
violencesuchactionsenjoyculturallegitimacy.The"policing"ofmasculinityinthenineteenthcenturywasnotonlyrepressiveaswillbeseen,itincludedthe
sanctioningofcertainformsofmaleviolence,therebyacknowledgingthatgenderrelationshipswerealsopowerrelationships.Ifmanyofthemeninthefollowing
chapterswere"losers,"thefateofthefewscapegoatsorsacrificiallambsshouldnotblindustothefactthatthepowerofmostofthemaleflockwasenhanced.
Thesecondsortsof"trials"ofmasculinityexaminedinthisbookarethoseinwhichdoctorsplayedakeyrole.Psychiatristsandsexologists,employingbiologicaland
psychologicalargumentsthatstressedsexualin
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commensurability,emergedinthelastcenturydeclaringthemselvestobetheexpertsbestequippedtounderstandandbuttressessentialgenderdifferences.Toanswer
thequestionofwhenandwhymedicinetookoverasarbiteroftheperversions,thelatterportionofthestudyisdevotedtothehistoricalconstructionofthemalesex
pervert.21Inasensetheterm"malepervert"isredundant.Sexologists,untilFreud,althoughtheycataloguedfemaleformsofdeviancysuchasnymphomaniaand
lesbianism,definedtheperverseinsuchawaythatonlythemalecouldbea"real"pervert.Ostensiblysocietypolicedsuchmisfitstoprotectwomenandchildrenfrom
sexualdanger,butitwasneverthatsimple.First,"policing"included,asFoucaultsuggests,thedevelopmentofvariousformsofregulationincludingtherapy.Second,
theconstructionofnewsexrolesinvolvedshiftsinrealpower.
ThestudyinexaminingbothmedicalandlegalregulationfollowsatrailblazedbyMichelFoucaultandisinspiredbyamodestmeasureofpostmodernism.The
projectisnottryingtosimplycontrastthe"whatoughttobe"ofthemedicalandprescriptivetexts,withthe"whatwas"ofthecourtroom.Rather,amorecomplex
pictureissought.Ontheonehand,Iamsuggestingthattherewasanintriguing"real"materialpowerinthemedicaldiscourses.Ontheotherhand,severalchapters
shouldleadonetobecynicalaboutthesupposed"realness"ofthecriminalcourttranscripts.The''textlike"andconstructednatureoftheirdeliberationswereoften
onlytooobvious.Courtsweretheaters.22AndrGide,whosatonajuryin1912,wasfascinatedbytheimpactthattheaccused's"performance"couldhaveonthe
proceedings.23Tounderstandtherolesthatwereeitherappropriatedbyorattributedtoprisoners,wewillnecessarilyhavetodrawattimesonthestandardcastof
malecharactersportrayedinpopularcontemporaryplaysandnovels.
Inshortthisstudyinparticularthechapteronmedicalconfidentialityallowsustoseelawandmedicinemeetingandthedifficultiesofseparatingprescriptive
literaturefrompositivescience.Inwidertermsthebookseekstopointupthevalueofexploitingarangeofdiscoursesratherthanhivingoffforexaminationsimplyone
setofrecordsandregulatorysystems.Therewasnotonerightandonewrongdiscourse.Thereweremultiplediscourses,eachofwhichhastobeappreciatedto
understandthecomplexitywithwhichgenderexpectationswerewoven.Powerwasnotunifiedbutdispersed,notcoherentbutbrokenupintodifferentsocial"fields
offorce."24
Itisaccordinglytoostarkaquestiontoaskwhowonandwholost.Thecastofcharactersinthisstudyincludeinadditiontothefrequentlycited
Page7
sexologists,psychologists,magistrates,andpublicmoralistsmurderers,sadists,transvestites,abortionists,exhibitionists,fraudartists,andsexradicals.Mycentral
argumentisthattheboundariesofmasculinecomportment,normalsexualbehavior,andmalegenderidentitywereconstructedandmaintainedbylaw,medicine,
politics,andpopularritual.25Whenrespectablesocietystigmatizedwhatittooktobedangerousformsofmalesexualbehavior,itwasnotprimarilypreoccupiedwith
protectingpotentialfemalevictims.Thefirsteffectofthenewmodelsofheterosexualitywastoshoreupthepowerof"normal"men.Thisexplorationofadiscoursein
whichexpertslamentedthepassivityofpervertswhilesanctioningaggressivemalesexualityaccordinglypromisestodeepenourunderstandingofboththerealitiesand
perceptionsofearlytwentiethcenturygenderrelations.
Thestudyofmasculinityorrathervariousmasculinitiesthatevolvedovertimeisanimmenseundertakingthatscholarshaveonlyjustbegun.Itwouldtakeateamof
researcherstomastersimplytheenormousliteratureproducedbytheEuropeansexologists.Themodestambitionofthisbookistoprovideanumberofcasestudies
toilluminatethekeyforcesthatwereatworkinthechangingconstructionsofappropriatemalesexualbehavior.Itseekstomapouttheculturalgridofconflictingand
overlappingaccountsofwhatitmeanttobeaman.Wewillbetracingboththerapidityoftheemergenceoftheideologyof"hegemonicmasculinity"andtheslowness
andunevennessofimposingsuchnewgendernorms.
Thebook'sargumentproceedsinsynchronicratherthanchronologicalorder,withthevariousnarrativespertainingtocriminalityandperversioncirclingaroundthe
centralquestionofmasculinity.PartOneofthestudybeginswiththequestionofwhyinthewesternworldattheturnofthecenturytheissueofsexualidentitytookon
suchgreatimportance.Whatwasa"realman"or"realwoman"?Thesewerenottimelessnotions,buttiedtotheparticularsocialandideologicalpreoccupations.Part
Twoshiftsfromtheprescriptiveliterature,whichsaidhowmenshouldbehave,totheactualboundariesofsexualityimposedbythelaw.Anumberofcaseswillbe
presentedtorevealthecontestedprocessbywhichmasculinitywasshaped.Thelawwasactivelyinvolvedintheconstructionofmaleandfemaleroles,thoughthe
boundariesthemselveswereflexible,bendingunderclass,gender,andethnicpressures.Indeed,thefourchaptersshowthatevenfictionalrepresentationsofhow
malesweresupposedtoacthadadirectimpactonthefateofmeninvolvedinlegalentanglementsresultingfromcourtship,seduction,abortion,andfinallymurder.26
Byexploitingthelegalwranglingsofamatrimonialagencywhosecase
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Istumbledupon,Ishowinchapter2howlowerclassmentriedtoapeupperclassmodelstorepresentthemselvesaseligiblemarriagepartners.Classconcerns
requiredthatthepresumptuousnessofmarginalmalesbepunishedbytheirsuperiors.Humorandlaughterfiguredcentrallyinthisasinothercasesasaweapon
employedbyelitemalestowardoffthreatsthatstruckclosetohome.Tomovetheanalysisfromcourtshiptoseduction,Iemployinchapter3bigamyandabortion
trialrecords.Thetreatmentofmalebigamistsisexaminedtodeterminewhyremarriagewasdeemedbytherespectabletobemoremorallydangerousthanadultery.
Andabortionlawsareexploredbecause,thoughtheyareusuallybelievedtohavepenalizedonlywomen,aseriesofEnglishcasesinthe1890srevealstheextentto
whichmenwhodidnotplaytheappropriatemasculinerolewereatrisk.Theselattertrialsdealingwiththeinducementofmiscarriageareofparticularinterestinthat
theyprecipitatedthefirstpublicdefensebymenofabortioninEnglish.
Genderandcomportmentwereintimatelyrelatedinthe1890s.Inchapter4Iturntotherecordsofthenineteenthcentury'smostfamoustrialpertainingtotheissueof
professionalconfidentialitytoshowhowanappreciationoftheway"ladies"and"gentleman"weresupposedtobehavecouldbeexploitedbydaringindividualsforthe
subversivepurposeofturningattentionawayfromwhatwereineffectimmoralandillegalpractices.Theultimateformofthepolicingofmalegenderroleswastheuse
ofdeadlyforcebyeithertheindividualorthestate.Chapter5providesananalysisofseveralhundredhomicidescarriedoutby"normal"Canadianmeninthefirsttwo
decadesofthiscentury.Thepurposeistoshowthat,ifitwasaquestionofdefendingone's"manhood,"societymightevenpermitanindividualtherighttokill.
Sexualityanddangerwerelinked.Whetherornotoneacted"likeaman''wasamatteroflifeordeathamurdererhadfewbetterdefensesthantoclaimthathisvictim
wasahomosexualortheseducerofhiswife.
ThemendiscussedinPartTwowhofellfoulofthelawwerechastisedfornotlivinguptothehegemonicmodelofmasculinity,buttheywerenotcondemnedby
societyasperverts.Theyweredeclaredbadnotmad.Whattheydid,thoughwrong,washeldtobeunderstandable.InPartThreeImovethediscussionof
masculinitybeyondthemarginsof"normal"malebehavior.WetendtothinkofVictorianwomen'ssexualitybeingconstrained.Transgressivemalebodies,incontrast,
havereceivedlittleattentionfromhistorians.Butattheturnofthecentury,the"pervert"wasconstructedsexualpractices(asWeeksandothershavenoted)once
con
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sideredmoralchoicesbecameregardedbythebourgeoisieassymptomsofbiologicalorpsychologicalflaws.FollowingArnoldDavidson'ssuggestivecomments,I
demonstratehowthecreationofnewlabelssadist,masochist,exhibitionist,homosexualmarginalizedsomemalesinthecommunitywhileempoweringothers.27
Whatconstitutednormalandabnormalsexualityattheturnofthecentury?Wesetthescenewithananalysisinchapter6ofboththeearlyscientificstudiesofsexuality
suchasthoseproducedbySigmundFreudandthepopularsexmanualslikethoseof"Dr.Jaf"togaugehowwidespreadwereboththenew,vulgarizednotionsofthe
sexologistsandoldersexualbeliefs.Newknowledgebutalsonewworrieswereintroducedtothepublicbysuchwritings.Insuchbooksreaderswerefamiliarized
withthedangersposedbysexualperversions.Whenandwhythepervertwascreatedisexaminedinthefollowingthreechapters.
Schoolbirchingsandprisonfloggingshadmanyrespectabledefendersinthelatenineteenthcenturywhowouldhavebeenoutragedbysuggestionsthatsuchactshad
anysexualcoloring.Wheredoesthesadist,acreationofthelatenineteenthcentury,fitintothesocialconstructionofmasculinity?Thequestionposedinchapter7isif
inconstructingthesadistthemanwhoinpursuitofsexualpleasureinflictedan"irrational"amountofpainsexologistswere,inabackhandedfashionalso
legitimatingthe"reasonable"amountofpainthenormalmanmightinflict.Theexhibitionistwasalsoa"creation"ofthenineteenthcenturymedicalexperts.Inchapter8
ananalysisofwhyexhibitionism,likevoyeurism,wasbydefinitionsaidtobeonlyamalecomplaintprovidesuswithsomeinsightsintotherestrictionsplacedon
exposureofthemalebody.Theexhibitionistthreatenedwomen,butoneisstruckbythefacttheexpertsdidnotlabeltheobviouslyfarmoredangerousrapistasa
"pervert."Therapistwas"normal''totheextentthathesoughtactualintercoursetheexhibitionist,becausehedidnot,wasdeviant.Thelatter,byhisridiculousactions,
endangerednewnineteenthcenturynotionsoftheselfcontrolledmale.
Thefinalaffronttomasculinitywasposedbythemanwhowantedtobeawoman.Thequestionsofwhysuchdesiresweremedicalizedandpathologizedandwhyit
wasconsideredmoredangerousforamantoputonwomen'sclothingthanforawomantoputonmen'saregrappledwithinchapter9.Transvestismobviouslybuilt
onanunderstandingofdifferencesofgenderandsexualitybutcalledtheseverysamecategoriesintoquestion.Anexaminationofanumberoftrialsoftransvestitesthat
drewtheattentionoftheBritishSocietyfortheStudyofSexPsychologytellsusmuch
Page10
aboutbothshiftingattitudestowardhomosexualityandthemedicalizationofdeviancy.
Thisbookrangesfromananalysisofhowcommonmalemurdererscouldhope,byforegroundingtheirmasculinity,togetawaywiththeircrimestoadiscussionof
whymaletransvestitesdeniedtheirmaleness.Thegoalistodemystifyanynotionofsexualessentialismbyshowinghowconceptsofmasculinitywerecreated,
maintained,andpoliced.Thestudy'scentralargumentisthat"dominant"formsofmasculinitywereconstitutedoutofasetof"negative"varietiesthatappearedin
everydaydiscourseandpracticethatinacertainsenseitwaseasierforsocietytonotethebadexamplesratherthantheexemplarsofthemanlyideal.Thelegal,
medical,andpsychologicalexperts,indescribingdeviantmales,weredefininginnegativeterms"normal''men,thoughattimestheseexpertscouldbedetected
protectingontothe"other"theirownrepresseddesires.28Thebookwilltraceshiftsbothingenderidentitiesandinthosewhopolicedtheirboundaries.Inreviewing
theturnofthecenturyconstructionofsuchsexualidentities,weareremindedthat,althoughthediscoursesonsexualityweremaledominated,menwerealsosubject
tothem.Yetnormsandcommunityexpectationswerenevercarvedinstonetheskillfulcouldfindwaysofturningthemtotheiradvantage.Theveryconceptofwhatit
wastobea"man"wasopentoquestion.Byexaminingthemotivesthatlaybehindtheconstructionofanewrangeofsexualidentities,weareprovidedwithaclearer
notionofthesocialandculturalanxietiesoftheage.Doctorsandmagistrates,indiscussingwhatwerepurportedlyissuesofsexandgender,neversucceededin
disentanglingprivateactsfrompublicpreoccupations.Thenasnow,asoneobserverhasaptlynoted,"itisnotsexualitywhichhauntssociety,butsocietywhichhaunts
thebody'ssexuality."29
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PARTONE
MASCULINITIES
BrianDippie,inTheVanishingAmerican,1 hasprovidedabrilliantaccountofthepervasivebeliefheldbymanylatenineteenthcenturyNorthAmericansthatthe
indigenouspopulationwasdyingout.ThenativepeoplesoftheNewWorld,claimedseveralgenerationsofinvestigators,simplycouldnotsurvivetheravagesofdrink,
disease,andthegeneralpressuresexertedbymodernsociety.Somelamentedthedisappearanceofthe"RedMan,"butwithhindsightonecanseethattherewasa
gooddealofwishfulfillmentinsuchprophecies.Itwouldnotbenecessarytotakeactivemeanstoeliminateculturesthatstoodinthewayofprogressinthepitiless
Darwinianworld,theywereintheprocessofeliminatingthemselves.
Thatwhitesshouldhaveconvincedthemselvesoftheallbutcertaindisappearanceofa"lesserrace"seemshardlysurprising.Hardertoexplainisthatinthesame
decadesobserverssuchasTeddyRooseveltwereraisingthespecterofWesternculturescommitting"racesuicide."Healthy,decent,whitemeninbothwestern
EuropeandNorthAmericawere,ifoneweretobelievethesensationalisttitlesofafloodoflectures,books,andpamphlets,membersofanendangeredspecies.In
France,F.A.Vuillermetchallengedhisreadersto''bemen."InBritain,GeneralFrederickMauriceclaimedthatthearmyfacedthedifficultyof"WheretogetMen."
DanielCarterBeard,creatoroftheAmericanBoyScouts,gloomilyentitledhisautobiography,HardlyaManIsNowAlive.
Whatsuchwritersmeant,ofcourse,wasnotthattherewasanyshortageofmalesintheWesternworld.Theywerearguingthattheproblemwasthatthereweretoo
manymenofthe"wrongtype."WilliamJamesalertedhisreaderstothestrategyemployedbythosewhosoughttoincreasetheirownpowerbydenigratingothermen
asunfit."Callamana'cad'andyou'vesettledhissocialstatus.Callhima'degenerate,'andyou'vegroupedhimwiththemostloathsomespecimensoftherace."2
Page12
Jamesdidnotexplainwhy,atthefindesicle,suchnamecallingshouldhavereachedsuchacrescendo.Tounderstandtheprocessesbywhichconceptsofboth
healthyanddiseasedmasculinitywerecreatedandthefunctionstheyserved,wewillbegininchapter1byexaminingcloselythesocialandculturalpreoccupationsof
thepessimistic.
Page13
One
Deviants
Inthecourseofthe1912LondonSessions,thechairmanofthecourtsentencedthirtymentobenotonlyimprisonedbutflogged.InwesternEurope'smostliberal
nation,whatsortsofcriminalswouldwarrantsuchbarbarictreatment?Elevenwerewhippedforsolicitingandsixforlivingontheearningsofprostitutes,fivefor
indecentexposure,oneforshowingobscenepictures,threeforbeing"incorrigiblerogues,"twofordamagetoaworkhouse,oneforassaultingaworkhouseofficial,
andoneforfailingtosupporthiswifeandfamily.1 Thesemen'sbackswerebloodiedasadirectresultofthelatenineteenthcenturycampaigntoreintroducecorporal
punishment.Respectablesociety,indeclaringthatmaleprostitutes,pimps,vagrants,andexhibitionistsdeservedascourgingthatevenmalemurderersandrapistswere
sparedwasnotonlyattemptingtodrawaclearlinebetweenthecriminalandnoncriminalworldsitwasalsorespondingtotheideathatcertaintypesofmenhad
forfeitedtherighttobetreatedashumanbeings.Thedangerposedbymaleviolenceandsexualdeviancy,accordingtoselfdeclared"normalmen,"hadbecomesuch
athreatanditswickednesssoexceededcommoncriminalitythatitwarrantedextraordinarypenalties.Anexaminationofthis"moralpanic,"whichjournalistsand
parliamentarianswhippedupoutofthenotionthatwomenandchildrenwerebeingpreyedonbyuntoldnumbersofbrutesandperverts,providesanexcellentpointof
entryintothenineteenthcenturydiscussionofthecrisisinmasculinity.TherecoursetofloggingwasapeculiarlyAngloSaxonresponse,butaswillbedemonstratedin
whatfollows,largenumbersofcommentatorsinbothEuropeandNorthAmericawereequallyshrillintheircondemnationofthethreatsposedtohealthysocietyby
maledeviants.
Corporalpunishmentthatistheadministrationofthelash,cat,orbirchhadlongbeenappliedtocriminalsacrosstheWesternworld,maleandfemale,youngand
old.2 Intheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturiesit
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wasacommonpunishmentformisdemeanors,butinthenineteenthcenturyprisonsentencesincreasinglyreplacedtherecoursetoexecutions,transportations,and
floggings.Thenewpenitentiariesprovidedconcreteevidenceofprogressives'optimisticbeliefinenlightenedcustodians'abilitiestoreformthefelonandtomake
punishmentsfitboththecrimeandthespecificageandgenderspecificationsofthecriminal.3 Accordingly,fromthe1820sonward,flogginginBritainwasrestricted
tomenanewsensitivitytogendermadeitunthinkablethatwomenbesubjectedtosuchpain.Andeventhemensochastisedafter1832hadtheirpunishmentscarried
outinprivate.4
Britainwasnotaloneincarryingoutsuchreforms.Inthecourseofthenineteenthcentury,resorttoallformsofcorporalpunishmentdeclinedacrossEurope.In
Englandhumiliatingcorporalpunishmentssuchasbirchingswereincreasinglythoughtfitonlyforboysandby1848werelittleusedforadults.5 ThePunishmentBill,
introducedin1859,soughttoretaintheuseofcorporalpunishmentonlyfortheviolatorsofTreasonActof1842.InScotlandthelastfloggingsentencewashanded
downin1833recoursetoitwasabsolutelyforbiddenin1862.Progressivethinkersimaginedthatfloggingswouldsoonbelookeduponasarelicofthebarbarian
past.Butinthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury,theuseofthelashwasreintroducedinEnglandandWales.Thereturntosuchabrutalpracticewasrationalizedby
itsproponentsonthegroundsthat"normalpunishments"werenotfelttobeadequateretributionforsomecrimes.Presumablyhardenedpoliticians,magistrates,and
policemenweredeclaringthatindealingwithsomeassaultstheywereovercomebyfeelingsofrevulsion.Thesecrimeswerenot,asonemighthaveanticipated,those
thatresultedinthegreatestsheddingofbloodbut,astheverdictshandeddownatthe1912LondonSessionsdemonstrated,ahodgepodgeofsordidmisdemeanors
thatoffendedanewsenseofbourgeoissexualdecorum.
RadzinowiczandHall,whoproducedthemostthoroughlegalanalysisoftheresurgenceofcorporalpunishmentinlatenineteenthcenturyEngland,notedthatthose
subjectedtofloggingcamefromwhatcouldberegardedasdisparatecategories:maleprostitutes,pimps,transvestites,andvagrants.Sincetheauthorsdidnotattempt
agenderanalysisofthecampaign,theydidnotnotewhatallthesecriminalshadsostrikinglyincommonafailuretoliveuptonewlycreatedstandardsof
masculinity.Thesignificanceofthecorporalpunishmentcampaignisitsrevelationthatattheturnofthecenturyafewmeninpositionsofpowerdeclaredmarginalized
mensexualpervertsandvagrantstobeinsomewaysworsethan
Page15
themostviolentofcriminalsandsodeservingofthemosthumiliatingofpunishments.Thoughsuchfearswerenodoubtsincerelyfeltbysome,theyweresimply
exploitedbyothers.Inbothcasestheresultswerethesame,thecreationofthemasculine"other"oroutsider.
Theresurgenceoffloggingwasinitiallyduetothe"garroting"panicof1862causedbyshortlivedrashofLondonstreetrobberiesthatthepressplayedup.6 Choking,
suffocating,orstranglingtocommitarobberywasheldtobesounmanlyandsoprevalentadeedastorequirethespecialpunishmentspecifiedintheGarrotingAct.
Thehighpointforfloggingforthoseconvictedofrobberywithviolenceoccurredin1894,whensixtymenwerefloggedsuchpunishmentsthereaftersharplydeclined
only130weresochastisedbetween1900and1913.7 Manymembersofthelawabidingpublicnodoubtfeltbetterwhentheyreadofthefatethatawaitedsuch
felons,butnostatisticalproofoftheeffectivenessoffloggingasadeterrentwaseveradvanced.8
Inthelatterdecadesofthenineteenthcentury,fearsofrobberywanedandthecampaigntoextendfloggingtomoralcrimeswaspursued.Attemptsweremadein
1853,1856,and1857tohavethe"cat"appliedtothoseconvictedofassaultsonwomenandchildren.Manyjudgesclaimedthatthelashwasneededwhenacrime
involvedaman's"baseness,depravityorcowardlyabuseofstrength."9 YetintheUnitedKingdom,fourwifebeatingbillsweredefeated.Thekeycounterargument,
advancedbythemorecautiousmagistrates,wasthatsuchapenaltywouldmakeitevenharderthanitalreadywastogetaconvictions.10
IntheUnitedStatesin1885,abillwasintroducedinMassachusettstopunishwifebeatingwiththewhippingpost.LucyStone,theearlywomen'srightsadvocate,
organizedsupportinitsfavor.11ItpassedintheHousebutlostintheSenate.Whipping,authorizedbytheoriginal1790actofCongressasapunishmentforcrimes,
hadbeenabolishedin1839.12WiththeCivilWar,itwasendedintheAmericanarmyandinthenavyasnolongerasuitableformofdisciplinefor"freemen."13Yet
somestatesretaineditespeciallyfordealingwithboys.TheRepublicansledthecampaignbetween1876and1906foritsreintroductionaspartofageneraldesireto
legislateonmorality.InNewYorkandChicago,attemptsweremadetohavechildmolesters,perpetratorsofincest,andhabitualcriminalsflogged.Thecampaigns
linkeduptheinterestsofthoseinvolvedinchildrescue,temperance,socialpurity,andwomen'srights,whocalledonthestatetostepinasamoralfatherandpunish
the"brutishsoninlaw."14
InEnglandtheattempttohaverapepunishedbyfloggingwasnarrowly
Page16
defeatedin1864,buttheoutcrythatfollowedW.T.Stead'sexposofchildprostitutionin"TheMaidenTributeofModernBabylon"ledtothe1885CriminalLaw
AmendmentAct,whichraisedtheageofconsenttosixteen,madeprocurationofwomenandchildrenacriminaloffensepunishedbyatermnotexceedingtwoyears
andintroducedfloggingasapenaltyforyouthsundersixteenconvictedofassaultingagirlunderthirteen.15Inthelate1880sand1890s,grandjuries,Quarter
Sessions,magistrates,andtowncouncilscontinuedtocallfortheextensionofcorporalpunishmenttoawiderangeofsexualoffenses.16ConservativeMPsin
particularpushedforactionagainst"abominablecrimes,"bywhichtheyhintedatbestialityandsodomy.17
Suchagoalwastoanextentachieved,notbyproducingnewlawsbutbyextendingtheprovisionsoftheexistingVagrancyAct.UndertheVagrancyActof1744,
"incorrigiblerogues"weretobewhippedinpublicbeforebeingreturnedtotheirplaceofsettlement.TherevisedActof1824,whichretainedwhippingasaprovision
forthoseconvictedasecondtime,wasaimedatmiserabledownandoutersnotbrutalcriminals.Itsfloggingprovisionswereusedinfrequentlythoughnever
abandoned.18In1904,forexample,fiveoldmenwerewhippedformerelybeggingandsleepingrough.Suchscandalsenragedlaborsupporters,revealingastheydid
thatthechiefeffectofthevagrancyactwastocriminalizepoverty.
TheoriginalityoftheamendedVagrancyActof1898wasthatitheldthatthosesummarilyconvictedofmalesexualdeviancysuchaspimps,maleprostitutes,and
exhibitionistswouldbepunishedinthesamemannerasvagrants.19Suchanamalgamationmightatfirsthandappearbizarre,buttrampswerethoughtbymanyto
posebothasocialandsexualthreat.IntheUnitedStates,accordingtotheReverendFrankCharlesLaubach,itwassocommonforaboytobe"enslavedbyatramp
forimmoralpurposes"thatthelatterwentbythewellknownappellationof"jocker."Theterm"punk,"whichintheeighteenthcenturywasusedtorefertorotten
woodorsomethingequallyworthless,attheendofthenineteenthcenturydesignatedapassivemalehomosexual,inparticularatramp'syoungcompanion.Some
minorcriminalswerelikable,concededLaubach,but"Thepervertisfarontowardinsanity,andisusuallyloathsome."20
TheEnglish1898vagrancyact,inallowingmagistratestodealsummarilywitharangeofmenchargedwithminorsexcrimes,deprivedthelatteroftherightsaccorded
moreseriouscriminals.IftheywerefoundguiltyundertheVagrancyActofindecentassault,livingontheearningsofprostitutes,or"masqueradinginfemaleattire,"
theywereconvictedas
Page17
"incorrigiblerogues."Floggingwasallowedasapunishmentforsuchimmoralactsinparticularfor"solicitationbyamalepersonforimmoralpurposes."21JudgeA.J.
LawrieatLondonSessionspassedanumberofsuchpunishmentsagainstmaleprostitutesandmaletransvestites.Thecruelironyofthesituationwasthathomosexual
acts,thoughcondemnedbythelaw,werenotthemselvespunishablebyflogging,butsolicitationwas
Mendrivenbyexhibitionistictendenciesweresimilarlyflogged.TheLeedsMercuryof10April1914reportedthataman,convictedsixorseventimespreviouslyfor
thesameoffenseofexposinghimself,hadjustbeengiventwelvestrokes.22Floggingwasused"incasesofindecentexposureandsimilaroffences,"butthesewere,
accordingtomanyobservers,reallycasesofdiseaseorimbecility.23DoctorsagreedthatthecompulsionwasrelatedtomentalimbalanceandtheHomeOfficewasin
factawarethattheexhibitionistwasnotasseriousathreatasthemanwhocommittedanindecentassault,yettheHomeSecretarycontinuedtoregardfloggingasan
appropriateformofpunishmentfortheformer.24Itwasnotendeduntil1948.25
Thosewhoexposedthemselvesorassaultedgirlswere,thoughtaprogressivemindedobserverlikeJosephCollinsonoftheHumanitarianLeague,"miserable
specimensofhumanity,allofthemtobepitied,andsomeofthemfitsubjectsforalunaticasylum."26Butinfacttheydidnotevenreceivethetreatmentmetedoutto
commoncriminals.Undermodernlawfloggingwasnotallowedforserioussexualcrimes,andthosesotriedusuallyhadtheprivilegeoftrialbyjury.Thisdidnothold
ifasinthecaseofexhibitionistsormaleprostitutestheyweretriedundertheVagrancyAct.27Moreover,untilthecreationoftheCourtofCriminalAppealin
1908,theaccusedhadnorighttoappealtheirsentences.Thoughcrimesofviolencesuchasrapeandindecentassaultwerepunishedwithlongprisonterms,minor
malemoraloffensesweretreatedasiftheywereinsomesenseworse.
ThecorporalpunishmentcrusadepeakedwiththeWhiteSlavePanicof1912.28Inasensationalistcampaignjournalistsandpoliticianssucceededinconvincingthe
generalpublicthatEnglishwomenwereatriskofbeingdruggedorseducedintoprostitutionbyhoardsofforeignprocurers.29The1898VagrancyActhadalready
includedwhippingsfor"souteneurs."butalarmisttalkaboutwomenbeingshanghaiedintothesextradewasrevivedin1911bypeoplesuchasLordAberdeen,who
inatalktotheNationalVigilanceAssociationcalledforthewhippingofprocurers.30In1912the
Page18
LiberalgovernmentwiththesupportofallpartiespassedtheCriminalLawAmendmentActbetterknownastheWhiteSlaveTrafficBillwhichmandatedthe
floggingofmensummarilyconvictedofbeingpimps.InboththeHouseofCommonsandLords,referenceswereevenmadetobranding,crucifying,andexterminating
suchmiscreants.31Asitwas,nomaximumnumberofstrokeswasfixedfortheirfloggingsunlikeasintheprovisionsoftheGarrotersAct,thenumberwaslefttothe
discretionofthecourts.32Thegovernmentthusleftthepublicwiththeimpressionthatthesafetyofsocietywasmoreendangeredbythepimpthanbythestrangler.33
ItclearlysalvedtheBritishconsciencetobelievethatwomenwereforcedintoprostitutionbybulliesratherthanbysheereconomicnecessity.Infactitwasraretofind
casesofprocurement.Onlyeightayearhadbeenbroughttocourtduringtheperiod19001909.UnderthestimulusoftheWhiteSlavePanic,thenumberjumpedto
seventythreein1913,thenfelltofortyonein1914,andby1929wasfinallybacktofiveorsixayear.34Somezealotswantedtogostillfartherintrackingdown
thosewhoviolatedthestandardsofmaledecency.ADutyandDisciplineSocietywasformedtoadvancetheuseofthecat,rod,andbirch.TheBritishAntiMormon
League,reportedtheDailySketch,soughtthefloggingofMormonelders.35WilliamTallack,oftheJohnHowardSociety,calledforuseofthelashagainstanarchists
whohad"scattereddeathandmiseryamongstpeaceablecitizensbymeansofdynamiteorsimilarexplosives."36Dr.H.C.Millersoughtthefloggingofmale
drunkards.TheyellowpresscouldalwaysbereliedupontodemandtheextensionoffloggingtoyoungmenfrequentingHydeParkforimmoralpurposesorfor
perpetratorsofincest.Yetoncethe1912actwaspassed,themoralpanicsubsided.Althoughin1913thefivethousandtelephone"girls"inLondonwerewarnedby
theirsuperiorstolookoutfordruggedchocolates,theoutbreakofWorldWarIturnedthereadingpublic'sattentionfromquestionsofseductiontofarmoreserious
issues.37
Explainingthesuccessofthecorporalpunishmentcampaigninitiallyposesachallenge,counteringasitdoesthegenerallyacceptedaccountofnineteenthcentury
criminalsbeingsubjectedtoevermore"humane,"rational,andreformistpunishments."Itisnoteasy,"theauthorsofthefullestaccountoftheBritishfloggingcraze
state,"toputtheadvocatesandopponentsoffloggingintoneatcategories."38Predictablymostconservativessupportedsuchactions,thoughsomedidnot.Less
predictablewasthesupportgivenfloggingbyLiberalsand"progressives"includingJohnStuartMillandHarrietMartineau.Althoughheconsideredalmostanypunish
Page19
mentpreferabletoflogging,Millstated,"Inthecase,however,ofcertaingravemoraldelinquencies,chieflythosewhichareeitherofacowardlyorbrutalcharacter,
corporalpunishmentinthatorsomeequivalentformmaybeadmissible."39EvenmembersoftheJohnHowardSociety,manyopponentsofcapitalpunishment,and
thesupportersofthereformatorymovement,thoughcriticalofthecrueltyoftheprisonsystem,backedthecallforthelash,thelattergroupbecauseitwouldatleast
keepboysoutofprison.
Ontherationallevel,theproponentsoffloggingarguedthatprisonsexpensiveandenslavingdidnotalwaysworkthatliberalreformershadgonetoofarin
coddlingprisonersthatbyprovidingthemwithfood,lodging,andtraining,thesoftheartedpositivelyencouragedthecrimesofruffians,evildoers,andhoodlumsand
finallythatsocietyneededtobeeffectivelyprotected.40SimeonBaldwin,theleadingAmericanadvocateofthewhipandlatergovernorofRhodeIslandprovided
areportonthesubjectfortheAmericanBarAssociationin1886.Baldwinarguedthatfloggingwaslesscostlythanimprisonmentandthecharityneededtosuccorthe
felon'sfamilyshouldhebejailed.41Otherproponentsoffloggingpresenteditasarationalresponsetomoraloutragesandlikeneditsopponentsintheirsentimentalism
totheantivivisectionistfaddistsopposedtotheadvanceofscientificmedicine.
Buttherealimpactoftheargumentoftheproponentsofcorporalpunishmentlayinwhatmightbecalledthe"irrational"sideoftheirargument,theirsensationalist
portrayalsofthevictimsandperpetratorsofviolence:"theparticularclassofcruelandbrutalmenwhoareapttodespiseotherinfluences,andfromwhomitis
necessarythattheirordinaryvictims,weakwomenandtenderchildren,shallbemoreeffectuallyprotected."42ThesensationalistdeviceexploitedbyHenry
Labouchre,theLiberalM.P.,inhisnewspaperTruth,wastopublishweeklyaccountscomparingtheseverepunishmentsleveledagainstthoseconvictedofproperty
crimesandthelaxonesagainstthoseconvictedofbrutalcrimes.TypicalexamplesweretheWarwickshiremanwhoassaultedasevenyearoldgirlandwasfinedten
shillingswhileanotherwhostolefourshirtsreceivedthreeyears,andtheGloucestershiremanwhorepeatedlymadeindecentassaultsonamarriedwomanand
receivedsixweeksinjailwhileonewhostolenailsgotfiveyearspenalservitude."Apparentlyverylittleimportanceisattachedtoachild'spurity,orawoman's
honor,"anoutragedLabouchrelamented.43Societyhadtoprotectitselflikewise,declaredWilliamTallack,secretaryoftheJohnHowardSociety,against"aruffian
whohasviolatedyoungchildrenorbrutallymaimedweakwomen."44
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Sexualfearsdominatedsuchmelodramaticarguments.Ifanywoman"fell,"claimedthecampaigners,itwasduetothemachinationsofsuchruffians,neverbyherown
volition.Thelashpromisedtocowsuchbrutesandsoendforeverthesocialblightofprostitution."ButsolongasBritish,AmericanandContinentallawpermits,as
hitherto,thenastiestandvilestofhumankindtoderiveaprofitabletradefromtheruinoffemalevirtueandthecausationofcruelestmiserytomyriadsofpitiable
creatures,solongwillprostitutionflourish."45Theuseoftheimageofthechildvictimwasanevenmoreeffectiveploy.SoTallackclimaxedalonglistofhorrible
assaultscommittedonwomenwithachillingassertion:"ThereisacrimestillmeanerthanthattowhichIhavealluded,thatamancancommittowardstheweakersex.
Itiswhenheluresachildintodishonor."46
Thecorporalpunishmentcampaignersplayedofftheimageofthesaintlychildorwomanvictimagainstastylizedvillain.Theycontinuallyharpedonthenotionthatthe
ruffian'sgreatestfailingwashislackofmanliness.Thosesubjectedtothelashweredescribednotasmenbutas"humandogs,""despicablemiscreants,""inhuman
foes,""monsters,"''cowardsandbullies."Inthewordsofonepolitician,thesewerethecruelandcowardly,"comparedwithwhomtheordinarythiefisaparagonof
virtue."Suchbruteshadforfeitedanyrighttobetreatedashumansandhadtobesubjected,aswereanimals,tothewhip."Itisabsurdtotalkabout'degrading'them
bythisinfliction.TheyhavealreadydegradedthemselvestotheUttermost.Anyprocessoftreatmentwhicheithercheckstheircrimes,orbringsthemtosomesenseof
wholesomefearorshame,isatonceanElevationandaMercy."47
Notsurprisingly,suchproponentsoffloggingplayedonracialfears,attributingsexualassaultsonwhitewomenandchildrentotheclassicoutsiders,the"Negroesand
Jews,"the"sleek,softlivingdegenerates,"and"diseasedcreatures"whohauntedcitycenters.48Theroleofthepimporprocurer,claimedArthurLee,theleading
parliamentarysupporteroftheWhiteSlavebill,wassomethingthatnohealthyEnglishmancouldembrace."Averylargeproportionofthem,Iamgladtosay,arenot
Englishmen.Iregretthatsomeare,butifthehon.Memberscouldseenotmerelyforeigners.notmerelydebasedEnglishmen,butdozensofnegroesintheWestEnd
ofLondonrunningwhiteEnglishgirlsonthestreets,theycouldseeatwhomwewishtoget."49
SuchtalkwasalsoresponsibleforthesuccessofthewhippingcampaignintheUnitedStates.WiththeWhiteCapsactiveinIndianaandtheKuKluxKlaninthe
South,someAmericanproponentsoffloggingpresented
Page21
themselvesashumanitarians,arguingthattheoptionoffloggingblacksmightbeturnedtobywhitesasanalternativetolynching.50Buttheproponentsalsoclaimed
thatblackmenenjoyedimprisonment,offeringasitdidfoodandlodging.Moredisturbingly,prisonheldouttheappealtoblackmenofbeingtheoneplaceinAmerica
wheretheymightfindsomethingapproximatingracialequality."Theyfindthere[intheprison]theonlygroundwheretheycanminglewiththeirwhitefellowcitizenson
termsofsocialequality.Buttheyaresensitivetophysicalpain.Afloggingtheydreadjustasaboydreadsawhippingfromhisfather,becauseithurts."51The
AmericandebateoverfloggingwhichwassuccessfullyintroducedinMarylandin1882,Delawarein1901,andOregon1905wasthusasymptomofanew
racismthatfocusedonthedangerousblackfreedman.52TheBritishalsoemployedfloggingtokeepdownasubjectracetheuseoftherattancanewasacommon
meansofpunishmentinIndiathroughoutthenineteenthcentury.In1878alone75,223suchwhippingswereadministered.53Fewpunishmentsbettersymbolizedthe
attemptsofthe"mothercountry"toinfantilizerestiveandunrulynatives.
Afewproponentsofcorporalpunishmentweresoconcernedbytheissueofprotectingtheracefromdangerousmenthattheytookthenextlogicalstepand
embracedthenotionofsterilizingorcastratingvagrantsandsexualdeviants.SimeonBaldwin,citingthesupportofvariousdoctorsandtheWomen'sChristian
TemperanceUnion,arguedthatcastrationwasasuitablepunishmentforsodomyandrape.
Itiswhatmanysociologistsaregravelyconsideringasapossibleandpermissiblemodeofpreventingthepropagationofadegenerateclassofimbecilesorpaupers.It
iswhat,infact,isbeingactuallydoneinaquietwaybynotafewofthemedicalprofessionwhoareinchargeofalmshousesandotherpublicinstitutionsinwhichare
feeblemindedchildren,theprogenyofaworthlessstock.Theircastrationissometimesdeemedanappropriateremedytowhichtoresorttopreventtheirfallinginto
vicesordisorders,towhichtheirnaturemakesitdifficultforthemtoofferanyeffectualresistanceandnonethelessappropriate,becauseitwillendthelineofafamily
whichismisusingtheearth.54
InEnglandWilliamHarbuttDawson,whohadgivenevidencebeforethe1904DepartmentalCommitteeofInquiryonthepoorlawreform,likewisehintedonly
sterilizationwouldendthemultiplicationoftheidle,theprofessionalloafers,andthesocialparasiteswholivedbybegging,blackmail
Page22
ing,andpillagingandenjoyedonlythe"parody"ofafamilylife.55Frenchproponentsofsterilizationhailedthis"American"formofchastisementitwasfirstenacted
inIndianain1907asadefenseweaponthatcouldbeusedagainstmenwholackedanysenseofmoralityandpersonaldignity.56
Howisonetointerpretthecorporalpunishmentcampaign?ClassandracepreoccupationswereclearlyinvolvedinthesuccessofthemovementinbothAmericaand
England.Viewedinthecontextofthe1890sdepressionandrisingworkermilitancy,thesurgingfloggingcrusade,inexploitingthespecterofincreasednumbersof
habitualcriminals,tramps,andperverts,whoonlyfearedthelash,markedaclearresurgenceofsocialconservatism.Theclassbiasofthelawswasobvious.Tories
wereawarethattheywereaccusedofindulging"inthecongenialtaskoffloggingtheworkingman."57Inthedebateoverfloggingprocurers,onehostileM.P.pointed
outthatitwasridiculoustoclaimthatthelawappliedtoboththerichandpoor."Howcoulditbepossibleforapoorwomantobekeepingamanwhohadmillionsof
money?Thethingisutterlyabsurd,andwhatwearelegislatingfor,andwhatweareprovidingpunishmentfor,isaspecialsetofcriminalswhohappentobepoor
men,whilethereisabsolutelynopossiblechanceofyoursecuringconvictionsagainstwealthypersonsemployedinthistrade."Anotherpointedoutthatthelawwas
nowgoingtoforceapoormantoprovehewasnotlivingontheavailsofprostitutionjustasithadpreviouslyforcedpoorwomentoprovetheywerenot
prostitutes.58
Thewayinwhichclass,race,andgenderpreoccupationsoverlappedwasmadeespeciallyclearwhen,intheHouseofCommonsdebateovertheWhiteSlaveAct,
attemptsweremadetodeclareintercoursewithanyfeeblemindedwomanstatutoryrape.Thattheintentwasnotsomuchtoprotectwomenfrommalelustasto
sparesocietytheneedforcaringfortheresulting"unfit"offspringwasindicatedwhenthequestionwasaskedhowonedefined"feeblemindedness."Animbecilewas,
Dr.Chappleansweredcrisply,obviouslyanywomanlivingoncharitywhohadmorethanoneillegitimatechild.59
Atfirstglancethereintroductionoffloggingmightbetakenasasignofasensitivitytotheturnofthecenturygrowingfeministagitationinfavorofequalrights.
Protectionofwomenandchildrenwascertainlyusedasabannerbytheproponentsofcorporalpunishment,butmanywereinfactextremesocialconservativesand
accordinglyopposedtowomen'semancipation.Someoftheiropponentswereneverthelesstakeninbytheirrhetoric.LawsonTait,inatalktotheHumanitarian
League,attributedthecallforthelashtoa"cliqueofoldfashionedwomansuffragists."60Suffragistswerenotadversetotakingadvantageofthewhiteslavery
agitation,but
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Mrs.Pankhurst,theirmostradicalleader,pointedoutthehypocrisyoftheproponentsofthelash:theyclaimedtobeopposedtoprostitution,buttheyonlywanted
pimpstobewhipped,nottheprostitutes'customers.61
Opponentsofthelash,inanefforttopointouttheillogicalitiesoftheargumentsinfavorofflogging,askedwhythosewhopresentedthemselvesasdefendersof
childrendidnotaskforthefloggingofwomenafterall,theycommittedmanyoftheattacksontheyoung.Andotherswonderedwhyonlymenweretobepunished
forprocuringwhenmanybrothelswererunbywomen.62MoreseriouslytheHumanitarianLeaguepointedoutthattheLiberalgovernment,seekingtowardoff
suffragistdemands,wasexploitingthefloggingcrazeinordertosilence,notrespondto,thespokespersonsofwomen'srights:"Theywillnotgivewomenthevote,
whichwouldbeinaccordancewithLiberalprinciples,buttheytrytoconsolethembywhippingWhiteSlavetraffickers,whichisinviolationwiththoseprinciples.As
theParliamentarycorrespondentoftheDailyNewsshrewdlyremarked:'AnyonewhohaswatchedthetreatmentofthissortofBillcanhardlyavoidtheconclusion
thatthedefeatoftheweakeningamendmentsisthedirectresultofthefranchisemovement.'"63Indeedsomeoftheproponentsofthewhipblatantlyrevealedtheir
antifeministcolors.ErnestVizetelleyintheDailyTelegraphrecommendedthatthebirchbeusedonmilitantsuffragettes.Mr.JusticeDayexpressedhisregretthathe
couldnotflogwomen.64Proponentsoffloggingsawthemselvesaschivalrouslycomingtotherescueofladiesindistresstheywerenotabouttoletwomenhelp
themselves.
TheWhiteSlaveTrafficActof1912wasahighlyemotionalresponsetothefearthat,withoutthehelpofspeciallaws,Britishwomencouldnotbekept"pure."The
moralpuritysupportersoffloggingclungtothenotionsofanolder,simplerworldinwhichhelplessfemalesnaturallyturnedtomenforprotection.Thedangerouscity,
withitsforeigners,drugs,cinemas,andautomobiles,wasthearenainwhichtousethewordsoftheArchbishopofCanterbury"silly"and"credulous"butinnocent
womenweremostatrisk.65Thosewomenwhoinsistedonleadingmoreindependentliveswereregardedbytheproponentsoffloggingaspartoftheproblem.
Protectingyouthsandwomenmeantmoreeffectivelycontrollingthem.TeresaBillingtonGreig,anactivesuffragist,wasenragedthattheimplicitmessageofthe
''neuropathsandprudes"whosowedtheseedsoftheWhiteSlavePanicwasthatwomencoulddonothingtohelpthemselvestheyhadtorelyontheprotectionof
males.Asawomanwhohadrunawayfromhomeatseventeen,shewasindignantthatfearmongersslanderedbothmenandwomeninclaimingthateverymissinggirl
hadbeenkidnapped.
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"Itispositivelynauseatingthatweshouldhavecasesandstatisticsofgirlsmissingfromhomequotedwithsolemntoneandfingerpointingtothebrothel,asthough
thereandonlytherecouldtheybe."66
Theideathatwomenwereatriskoncetheyventuredforthfromthehomewashardlynew.Thekeyinsightofferedbyagenderedanalysisofthefloggingcampaignis
thatitconjuredupthespecterofnewvillainstribesofmaledeviantswhoposednewdangerstotheweakandinnocent.Womenwerealwayswomen,butsomemen
werefailingthechallengeto"beaman."Churchmen,defending"Christianmanliness"maintainedthatthe''dignityofBritishmanhood"couldonlybeassertedbythe
whip.67Enthusiasticsupportersofthelash,suchasColonelLockwood,declaredtheywereatwarnotwithamanbutananimal,onewhose"manlikeinstinctshave
vanished,"whohaslost"allideasofhonorandallideasofanythingwhichmakesamanaman."68Lytteltonassertedthatprocurerswere"menwhohavenotthe
natureofman."69Suchoverheatedrhetoricwasnodoubtcoloredbycontemporaryliteraryaccountsthatplayedupthefrighteningprospectsofthedangersposedby
anunleashingofthedarksideofthemalepsyche.RobertLouisStevenson'sStrangeCaseofDr.JekyllandMr.Hydehadpresentedthe"apelike"and"dwarfish"
Hydeasabeingmarkedby"completemoralinsensibility."OscarWilde'sPortraitofDorianGray,anotherclassicman'sstoryallaboutmen,likewiseconcluded
withtheportrait,whichinmirroringonlytheinfluencesofthepassions,hadbecomea"monstrousandloathsomething."70Similarlytheauthorsofmodernhorrortales,
suchasDracula(1897)anddetectivestories,whichhadrecentlyemergedasanimportantnewliterarygenre,enjoyedgreatsuccessinasmuchastheyprojectedelite
males'sexualfearsandanxietiesontothe"other."71
Thisexaggeratedhatredthat"normal"mensovociferouslydeclaredtheyhadofthe"abnormal"haddisturbingsexualundertones,whichthoseinthecampaignagainst
floggingcouldnothelpbutnotice.72OppositionwasledbytheHumanitarianLeagueunderitssecretaryJosephCollinsonwiththesupportofsuchintellectualsas
EdwardCarpenter,HenrySalt,andGeorgeBernardShaw.73Thatmanyofthesesamemenwereinterestedinsexreformwasnoaccident.74Theysuspectedthatthe
corporalpunishmentcampaignwaslargelyfueledbyconservativemales'fears,notofthethreatthatmaledeviantsposedwomenandchildrenbutthethreatthey
posed"normal"men.Andthesethreatsinturncouldbedetectedtobeatleastinparttherepresseddesiresoftherespectableprojectedontothe"other."75
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ThomasdeQuinceyearlierinthecenturyhadpointedtothesexualnatureoftheflogger'smotivationwhenhedeclaredthatfloggingwastomaleswhatrapewasto
females.AfternotingthatJohnDonnehaddefendedanoblewoman'spreferencefordeathtothedishonorofrape,Quinceyassertedthat"withregardtotheother
sex,corporalpunishmentisitspeculiarandsexualdegradationand,ifeverthedistinctionofDonnecanbeappliedsafelytoanycase,itwillbetothecaseofhimwho
choosestodieratherthantosubmittothatignominy."76Thelusttoinflictpainandseebloodflowwaspalpableinmanyofthepronouncementsoftheflogginglobby.
"Themanwhogratifieshisownpassionsattheexpenseofacruelandhumiliatinginsultinflictedonanotherishimselfshamefullyandpainfullyhumiliated,"declared
JamesFitzjamesStephen,clearlyobliviousofthefactthatasadefenderofthewhiphewasdescribinghimself.77Onecolonelwasnotembarrassedtocryoutin
debate,"IwanttoseethemarksofgoodBritishmuscleontheirbacks!"78AnotherM.P.saidhewaswillingtodothewhippinghimself.AnopposingM.P.warned
thatsuchoutburstsrevealedanunsavorysadisticbentthatwarrantedexamination.Hehadhimselfwitnessedafloggingandrecalledthatthewarderwhohadfirst
shrankfromthebloodheshedsoon"seemedtobetakenwithabloodlust,andcouldhardlystophimselffrominflictingthepunishment.''79But,inthispreFreudian
age,theselfdeclaredopponentsofsexualdeviancywerehappytocontinuetoacknowledgetheirmorbiddesireswithstartlingcandor.
GeorgeBernardShaw,inalectureof24March1898on"Flagellomania,"pointedoutthatfloggingwasaformofdebauchery,amaniabased"onasensualinstinct"
anda"specialdisorderoftheimagination."80Hereturnedtotheissueina1912article,spellingoutthefactthatthoseinfavorofthelashignoredorpretendednotto
knowthatthedesiretoflogorbefloggedwasavice.Butraidsonbrothelsalwaysuncoveredwhippingparaphernalia.TheresaBerkeley'sfamousestablishmentwas
reportedin1899tohouseaspecial"horse."NewspaperssuchastheNewsoftheWorldfrequentlyreportedprostitutes'useofbirchesonwillingclients.81Yet
sexualignoranceshouldnotbefullydiscounted.Somenewspaperproprietorsweresodense,accordingtoSalt,thatin1909theyprintedalongseriesofletterstothe
editoronthebirchingofgirls,notrealizingthattheywerebeingexploitedbythosewithaprurientinterestinindecency.Thecorrespondencewasonlydroppedwhena
perceptivecolleaguealertedtheeditor.
Salt,likeShaw,dweltontheironythatthelashwasdefendedbythe
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purifiersofmoralsandtracedthe"psychopathicside"ofthequestionfromJeanJacquesRousseau'sConfessionsthroughtothecontemporaryanalysesofsadismand
masochismprovidedbyEllis,Bloch,andMoll.Saltwasnotopposedtovoluntaryandharmlesssexualpracticesbutattackedenforcedflogging,whichheasserted,
was"thegrossestandmostsensual"formofphysicalviolence.Thecampaignagainstthewhiteslavetradewould,Shawagreed,createyetanotherrushofmentothe
brothelstodemandtheservicesthattheyreadaboutinthenewspapers."TheAct,"heconcluded,"isafinaltriumphoftheviceitpretendstorepress."82Salt
concurred:"thegoodpeoplewhothinktheycanputdownvicebyhavingrecoursetotheimplementsofthebrothelareunintentionallydoingmoretopromote
immoralitythantorepressit.''83
Thefloggingcampaignersattemptedtodividemenintotwocampsthegoodandthebad.Theyowedtheirsuccesstothefeelingmanyinrespectablesocietyhadat
theturnofthecenturythatthenumbersofthelatterwereincreasingandtheywereinexorablyenteringanewanddangerouslysexualizedworld.AnEnglishM.P.,
whoin1912askedhimselfwhathadresultedfromalltheattemptsmadeinthepastseveraldecadestocontrolvice,replied."Anincrease,Iamsorrytosay,of
juveniledepravity,ofincest,andsodomy.ThepaintedboyhasmadehisappearanceintheLondonstreets.Hewasnotknownagenerationago."84Thiswas
nonsense.YeteveniftheknowledgeablehadpointedoutthatsuchyouthshadhauntedDruryLaneandCoventGardenacenturyearlier,itwouldhavehadlittle
effect.ThesuccessofthefloggingcampaigndemonstratedthatintheAngloSaxonworldsuchthreatswerethoughttohavesosuddenlyandsoseriouslyrisenthatthe
"normal"hadtoturntothewhiptobeatthemback.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
ThefloggingcampaignwasapeculiarlyAngloSaxonresponsetothepurportedthreatmalevagrantsandpervertsposedtherespectable,butviewedinthelarger
culturalcontextofthelatenineteenthcentury,itcanalsobeseenasasymptomofamoregeneralshoringupofthedefinitionof"normal"masculinity.85Themodern
senseofwhatitmeant"tobeaman,"whichwashammeredoutinthelatterdecadesofthenineteenthcentury,wasindeedbasednotsomuchonpositiveassertionsas
onthecastigationofthosemalesdeclaredtobe"unmanly."AstheWhiteSlavePanicdemonstrated,itwaseasierforjournalistsandpoliticianstodecrywhatthey
tooktobealackof"manliness"thantoagreeonthespecifics
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oftruemasculinity.AndwellbeyondBritain'sshore,thosepreoccupiedbymanlinesscarriedoutasimilarprocessofconstructingimagesofdangerousmaleoutsiders.
Toserveascontrasttohealthymasculinity,latenineteenthcenturypropagandistscreatedanumberofstockcountertypes.Firstcametheprocurerorpimp,the
favoritetargetoftheBritishcorporalpunishmentlobby.IntheUnitedStates,theMannActwaspassedtotargetsuchindividuals.86Thecontinentalregulationist
states,suchasFranceandGermany,whichcontrolledandpolicedprostitutioncouldnot,forobviousreasons,becomequiteasarousedbysuchacharacter.87
Nevertheless,underthepressureofmoralityleaguesandfearsofvenerealdisease,theyjoinedthecampaignagainst"whiteslavery,"salvingtheirconscienceby
implyingthatvicewastheresponsibilityofthe"other."88
MoreoverinFranceapanicovertheactivitiesofgangsofyoungworkingclasspettycriminalsdubbedbythepopularpress"Apaches"becausetheircruelty
supposedlymirroredthatoftheIndianssubduedbytheUnitedStatesmilitaryinthe1880scomplementedtheEnglishwhiteslaveagitation.89Thestereotypeofthe
urbanloutcanbefoundinDr.Lejeune'ssensationalworkFautilfouetterlesApaches?(1910).Londonhaditshooligans,Romeitsteppisti,andParis,Lejeune
warned,haditsApaches.90TheApache'slackofmanlinesswasmadeapparentbyhisuseofknives,hiscruelty,hiscowardlyattacksonthedefenseless,andmostall
byhissexualexploitationofwomen.Hewasadegeneratewhoborethestigmataofvenerealdisease,alcoholism,andan"almostfeminine"slightnessofbuild.91
DefendersofthelashinFrance,suchasthecontributorstothepopularjournalLeMatin,arguedthatitssuccessinEnglandandtheUnitedStatesandDenmark's
returnedtothe''bastonnade"in1905showedthatthedangerousyoungmalescould,ifdealtwithseverely,besubdued.92
AlexandreLacassagne,professorofcriminalanthropologyatLyon,wasFrance'smosteminentproponentofthewhip.Theguillotinewasusedlessfrequently,and
prisons,heargued,hadincreasinglylosttheirpowertoinspirefear,particularlyinthatabnormal5percentoftheschoolpopulationthatwasproducedbyalcoholic
parents.Antcoloniessanelysacrificedtheiruselessmembersinmodernhumansocietiesthesoftheartedinsisteddeviantsbespared.Lacassagneconcludedthat
France,facedwiththirtythousandprecocious,drunkenloutswhoonlyrespectedthewhip,hadnooptionbuttoturntothe"manireforte"ofcorporalpunishment.93
Thesecondstockmalecountertypewasthevagrant.Thevagrantwas
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themanwho,likethewoman,purportedlydidnotwork.Theimagesofthefecklessvagrant,thelyinggypsy,thehomelesstramp,andthethoughtlessnomad,ran
completelycountertobourgeoismoralizingontheupliftingnatureofworkandthrift.Thesewanderersappearedasincreasinglyfrighteningandsinisterfiguresinan
evermoresettledurbanlandscape.Moreoverthevaguedefinitionsgivenvagabondagehadtheeffectofblurringthelinebetweencrimeandunemployment.
Observers,inreferringtoitinerantworkersas"tribes"ofsavagesandriffraff,exploitedthefearsthat"honestworkmen"couldbesomehowdraggedbackdownthe
evolutionaryscalebyassociationwithsuchdegenerates.
CesareLombroso,theItaliancriminologistwhopresentedthetrampasabiologicalthrowback,anatavisticbeing,settheinitialtermsofthelatenineteenthcentury
discussionofvagrancy.94InAmericathehoboinitiallyenjoyedamoreromanticimage,yeteventherethetenorofthetimescouldbedetectedinJosiahFlynt's
openingstatementinTrampingwithTramps(1899)thathewasinspiredtolookat"humanparasites"and"criminals"ontheroadafterobservinghislaboratory
colleagues'investigationofvermin.95Unmanlinessapparentlycouldbecontagious.HiscountrymantheReverendFrankCharlesLaubachdeclaredthatrealmen
workedvagrancywastherefugeof"cowards"giventodrugs,drink,gambling,andsexualimmorality.Theproximityofsuchmeninjuredanddefiledhonest
laborers.96AccordinglyturnofthecenturylaborunrestwasattributedbyAmericanconservativestotheinfluenceofanarchisticforeigntrashwhereasAmerican
populistsbelievedthatthecountrywasbeingdividedbetweentrampsandmillionaires.
InFrancethe"chemineaux,"inparticularItalianbeggars,werelikewisecalledtheenemyofthepeasants.97Gypsiesweresingledoutbytheapprehensiveasthieves.98
Magistratesworriedthatwiththeendingofthe"livret"orworkerspassbookin1890itwouldbehardertokeepthepoorundersurveillance.Urbanworkersneeded
identificationpaperstoobtainjobs,buttrampsdidnot.Jailingofferednoremedy,soitwasclaimed,asvagrantsactuallywanted,atleastduringthewintermonths,to
beimprisoned.99JudgemileFourquet,theleadingFrenchexperton"lesvagabondscriminels."raisedthespecterofanomadicarmyoffourhundredthousandmen,
the"roulans''who,despiteworkopportunitiesthatcouldput"luxuries"withinthereachoftheindustrious,prowledthecountryside.100Theappealoftheroad,withits
dissipationsanddistractions,inevitablyledtodemoralization.CitingasanexamplethecareerofVacher,theserialsexkiller,Fourquetattributedapurportedlate
nineteenthcenturysurgeinmurders,thefts,rapes,andassaultsonchildrentotramps.101Vagrancywas
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presentedbysuchexpertsasapsychological,ratherthanaeconomicproblem.Tramps,likeswindlers,accordingtotheGermanpsychiatristEmileKraeplin,suffered
fromadisordermarkedbyahyperactivityoftheimagination,aninaccuracyofmemory,andaninstabilityoftheemotions.102
Thethirdstockmalecountertypewasthepervert.Insubjectinganumberofmalesexcriminalspimps,transvestites,maleprostitutes,exhibitionists,andpurveyorsof
pornographicmaterialtothelash,theEnglishwererespondingtoawidespreadfearofmalesexualdeviancy.Suchsickindividuals,claimedtheanxious,posedthe
greatestthreatstothevirtueofbothyoungmenandyoungwomen.Attentionwasthusdeflectedawayfromthemaleheterosexualwhoserapesandassaultswere
implicitly"normalized."103Thefactthatbythe1890ssomecommoncriminalswereseekingtojustifytheirassaultsbyclaimingtheirvictimswerehomosexualsshows
howquicklythisnewrankingofasocialbehaviorwaspopularized.
Europeanexpertsinsexuality,whileacknowledgingthedifferentmoresofancientGreeksandEasterncultures,assertedthathealthymalesexualityhad,withthe
advanceofWesternculture,becomeresolutelyheterosexual.Accordinglyevidenceofanyerosionofthenaturalgenderboundarieswasattributedtothe"decadence"
oftheupperclassesorthe"degeneration"ofthelower.PaoloMantegazza,theItaliansexologist,employingthepopularnotionthatontogenyrecapitulatedphylogeny,
arguedthatthegenderdifferencesnecessarilyincreasedwithageandcivilization.Butwitholdagetherewassomeunavoidableslippageelderlymen,forexample,
withtheirembarrassingtempertantrumsandunseemlyflightiness,actedmoreandmoreliketheirfemalecounterparts.104Dandyismandhomosexualitywerecitedby
othersasevidencethateventheyoungermalecouldslipintofemininity.IncentralEuropeOttoWeiningerlamentedtheappearanceofmasculinewomenandfeminine
meninViennaKarlKrauscondemnedhisageasoneofconfusionandbisexuality.
Popularnotionsofthepossibilityofevolution"goingbackward"wereconstantlyexploitedbythoseseekingtoexplaintheapparentlysuddenemergenceofdeviancy.
HenryMaudsley,thepioneeringEnglishpsychiatrist,notedthatmanytalkedofevolution,butdegenerationwasasnaturalandasmuchanongoingprocess.Justas
somenewchemicalproductswereonlymadepossiblebydecompositionofcompounds,
sonewproductsofanasocialorantisocialkindareformedintheretrogrademetamorphosisofthehumankindwhereforeitisthatwemeetwithnotonlydegeneratevarietiesof
thekind,suchasidiotsandlunatics,butalsowithagreatmanyformsandvarietiesofdegradationinpersonswhoareneitheridiotsnorlunatics....
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Theingenuityofvicewhichhe[man]hasachievedinthatrespecthasreachedthelimitofitsvarietyonlyinthelimitsofthephysicalcapacitiesofhisbodilymechanism
sothat,thesehavingbeennowexhausted,happilynoone,howsoevergreathispracticalgenius,willbeabletoinventanewviceofthatsort.105
Manusedhisreasontomultiplyandgratifyselfish,animalpassions,whichanimalsdidnot.Soman,accordingtoMaudsley,wouldnotreturntohisoriginsasa
monkeybutdescendtotherankofaslaveringidiot.
Theemergenceofthehomosexualthetermwasonlycoinedinthe1860swasboththecauseandtheeffectofthegrowingfearofthemale"other."106Untilthe
latterhalfofthenineteenthcentury,thepublicwastoldbyexpertsthatmalelustwas"natural"andunchangeable.Therewasnosuchthingasthehomosexual,although
thereweremenwhoperformedperverseacts.107ThelastsodomitetobeburnedaliveinFranceperishedin1783.Thenineteenthcenturysawashiftawayfroma
concernforparticularsexualactsandtowardthenotionofparticular"types"ofmaledeviants.108InParispoliceofficialssuchasTardieu,Carlier,andMaccreated
andpopularizedtheimageofthehomosexualasthespawnofdegenerativeforces,atavisticurges,andcongenitaldefects.109Theextentofsuchbeliefscanbegauged
byFriedrichEngels'responsewhenKarlMarxsenthimacallforhomosexualrightsthathadbeenwrittenin1869byKarlHeinrichUlrichs:"ThePederastsare
startingtotakestockandtofindthattheyconstituteapowerinthestate.Asyet,anorganizationismissingeventhoughsecretlyitexistsalready....itisluckythat
weourselvesaretoooldtowitnessthevictoryoftheircauseandtopaythepricewithourownbodies.''110
InEnglandLabouchre'samendmenttotheCriminalLawAmendmentActof1885,addedinthefirstplacetoprotecttheyoungofbothsexesfrompredatoryolder
men,hadthechiefeffectofhittingmalesamesexrelations.111Thelegislationcreatedthedeviantsitpoliced.Suddenlyparentsofsonswerealertedbylegislatorsthat
thenewsexualtypesofthepederastandinvertposedaserioussexualdanger.W.T.Stead,themuckrakingjournalist,notedpointedlyatthetimeofOscarWilde's
1895trialthatthevirtueoftheyoungmalewasnowdeclaredsacrosancttheyoungfemalewasstillfairgame."IfOscarWilde,insteadofindulgingindirtytrickswith
boysandmen,hadruinedthelivesofhalfadozensimpletonsofgirls,orhadbrokenupthehomeofhisfriend'swife,noonewouldhavelaidafingeronhim."112
Latenineteenthcenturysocialobserversofyouthworriedmoreabout
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boysthanaboutgirls.Youngwomen,itwasassumed,simplyhadtobepreparedformarriagewhereasyoungmenhadtobetrainedformoreimportantandcomplex
rolesintheworldsoflabor,themilitary,andpolitics.113PsychologistssuchasG.StanleyHallwhocoinedthetermadolescentraisedthealarmthatboyswere
putatriskinurbanenvironmentjustwhentheyweremostimpressionable.114Suchnewpreoccupationswithprotectingyoungmenfueledthelatenineteenthcentury
campaignsagainstsmoking,dancing,drinking,luriddimenovels,andwhatoneobservercalledthe"gangreneofpornography."115MoralentrepreneurssuchasRen
BerangerinFranceandAnthonyComstockintheUnitedStatescreatedrepressiveleaguescallingforcensorship.116InFrancepornographywasparticularlyseenas
fuelingthethreatsofnationaldegenerationanddepopulation.117Ifonewastobelievesuchpropagandists,youngmenonthecontinentwereexposedoutsidelyces
andat"ftespatronales,"cafs,concerts,andtheaterstoaconstantbarrageoftemptationsandseductions.Salaciousmaterialcameintheformsofcards,
photographs,newspapers,books,stereoscopes,andcinematographes.Boyswereoffered,inpublicationsthatcarriedadvertisementsfor"moyensanticonceptionnels"
andabortifacients,thepurchaseofeverythingfromlewdslidestofullyinflatablerubberwomen.118Immoralityledtodebaucheryoverexcitationtosadism,
heterosexualexcessesfinallytohomosexuality.Pornographywasdeclaredtobeevenmoredangerousthanantimilitaristicpropagandatonewnationsthedebauched
notonlyfailedtoreproduce,theybecamerebelsor''Apaches"whodriftedintocriminality.Fortherepublictosurvive,claimedthemoralpurists,letaloneproveits
moralsuperioritytootherregimes,itwasnecessarytosilencethoseseekingtodragyoungmendownintoimmorality.119
Thelastthreattotheidealofmasculinitytowhichthefloggingcrazedrewattentionwasnottheunmanlymanbuttheunwomanlywoman.InEngland,asnotedabove,
someoftheproponentsoffloggingsuggestedthatsuffragettesbesubjectedtothelash.Suchangerwasevidenceofthefeelingsthatmanymenharboredattheturnof
thecentury,thesensethatiftherewereacrisisinmasculinityitwasprimarilyduetothefactthatwomenwereunilaterallyredefiningthemselvesandtherebythe
relationsofbothsexes.Onthecontinentfromthe1870sonward,ahostofmalewriters,playingonstrongmisogynisticculturalthemes,launchedabacklashagainst
themodestadvanceswomenhadmadeinworkandeducation.InFranceAlexandreDumas,mileZolaandOctaveMirbeauaddedtheirnewmisogynisticmusingsto
theoldertheoriesoffemininesubordination
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thathadbeenearlierworkedoutbyJulesMichelet,AugusteComte,andPierreJosephProudhon.Suchwriterspresentedmenasthetrulydispossessedsexand
vulgarlylabeledVictorMarguerite,JulesBois,andLopoldLacour,whomtheyjudgedtobetraitorouslysympathetictowomen'splight,"lesvaginards."120
Misogynyseemedtoadvancewithwomen'semancipation.FreudreportedfromViennathatitwascommontofindthataman"onlydevelopsfullpotencywhenheis
withadebasedsexualobject."121ThiswouldhavemadenosensetoaconfirmedbachelorlikeHenryMaudsley,whoaskedwhatcouldbemoreunworthyofa
manarationalbeingthantobetransportedbythetouch"ofanotherbeinglessrationalthanhimself."122IncentralEurope,asJacquesLeRiderhaspointedout,
themisogynyofSchopenhauer,Nietszche,andWeiningerreachedunparalleledheights.123Therewomenwerecommonlycomparedbytheirdenigratorsinacademic
circlestoJews,blacks,andnativeAmericanIndians.AbooklikePaulJuliusMoebius'sSurl'imbecilitphysiologiquedelafemme(1900)wasabestseller.
Moebius,whoassertedthatwomenweremoreinstinctual,egotistical,anddegeneratethanmales,calledforanewmasculineculturethatwouldheraldthe
"emancipationofmen."ThisphrasewastheactualtitleofabookNorbertGrabowsky'sDieBestimmungdesMenschenpublishedin1897.124
EveninAmericathe"newwoman"wasoftenpresentedbyherfoesasanandrogyneorlesbian.Shewasregardedincollegesneitherasamannorasatraditional
woman.125Maleprofessionalpsychiatristsandpsychologists,inshiftingthedefinitionoffemaledeviancefromrejectionofmotherhoodtorejectionofmen,
increasinglyclassedindependentwomenassomethingakintoanintermediatesex.126SuchconcernswouldfindaplaceintheAmericannovel,wherethethemeofthe
wellmeaningmanleavingtheconfusingworldofwomenforthesimplerhomosocialworldofmenwasalreadywellestablished.127
Itmadesenseforthoseattackingthe"newwomen"tobelievethatonceuponatimethemeaningsofbothmasculinityandfemininityhadbeenclear,unquestioned,and
naturalasopposedtotheconfusedstateinwhichtheywerenowfound.Thegenderdebatehadacenturieslongpedigree,butaparticularconstellationofpolitical,
social,andculturalforcesinthelatenineteenthcenturymadethediscussionofappropriatemaleandfemalerolesanespeciallysensitiveissue.Intheincreasingly
democraticworldofcitizens,theoldstatusdivisionsthathadonceseparatedallsubjectsintogradedrankswereeroded.Indeedasbothpoliticalandindustrial
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revolutionsseemedtosweepawaytheartificialbarriersseparatingpeoples,theonly"natural"waysinwhichtocategorizeindividualsappearedtobeaccordingtoage
andgender.Thefearsvoicedbyalineofthemost"progressive"thinkersfromRousseauthroughtoProudhonandbeyondthatthesexesmightbeconfusedthat
womenwouldencroachonmaleprerogativeswasbutoneindicatorofthenewpoliticalimportanceaccordedmasculinity.128Intheselfconsciouslyscientific,
positivisticworldofthenineteenthcentury,biologicalargumentsabout"real"differencesplayedanevergreaterroleinjustifyingsocialhierarchiesandone'ssex
necessarilybecamemoreimportant,a"privileged"signofsocialidentification.
"Manly,"whichintheeighteenthcenturywasprimarilyusedtomeantheoppositeoftheboyishorchildish,wasintheVictorianageincreasinglyemployedasthe
antonymofthefeminineoreffeminate.Thenineteenthcenturybourgeoisieweresoconcernedthatthe"naturally"differentgendersofmenandwomennotbeconfused
thattheydemarcatedassharplyaspossiblethelinessplittingthefemalefromthemaleworldthehomefromtheworkplace,theprivatefromthepublic.129Seeninthis
context,thebourgeoisie'sstressonthevirilenatureofworkandlaborcanmoreeasilybeunderstood.MiddleclasspropagandistssuchasCobdenandBright
declaredthattotaketheidlearistocrat,fop,orrouasamalerolemodelwasathingofthepast.Manlinesswasnowdemonstratedbyone'sindustryandcompetence
notbychance.130Followingtheargumentofthenaturalseparationofspheres,menworkedandwomendidnotoratleastnotoutsideofthehome.Tradeunionists
inturndefendedthenotionofthemale"breadwinner"wageonthegroundsthatonlyitwouldallowworkingclassmentheincomerequiredtokeeptheirwomenfolk
athome.ThesongsoftheGermansocialistmovementhadtitleslike"BrothersEmbracetheLeague,"''NowStandTogether,MantoMan,"and"ManofLabor,
AwakenandRecognizeyourStrength."InEngland,aselsewhere,workingmen,toprovetheirvirility,shunneddomesticwork:"If,onoccasion,theyhadtolenda
hand...theylockedthedoorsfirstsothattheneighbourswouldnotsee.Thosehusbandswhowerecaughtintheactofscrubbingafloor,washing,orcookingwere
apttobecalledderisivenamessuchas'moprag'or'diddyman.'"131
ThenineteenthcenturyreadingpublicwasledfromthestressonChristianmanlinessthatmarkedthefictionalworksofCharlesKingsleyandThomasHughesto
HentyandH.RiderHaggard'sdepictionofrobustheroesdrivenbybrutalenergyanddominatingwills.132Tobeamanrequired
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effortandlaborthatwasnotrequiredofwomen.Onedidnotgoadonafemalebyforceofwillto"beawoman"shewasbornone.Exertionandactivitywas
requiredto"beaman."133Ineffectthepublicacceptedimplicitlythenotionthatmanlinesswasaconstructedidentitybecauseamalehadto"prove"repeatedlyat
workandatplaythathewasa"man.''Butwithtechnologicaladvancessuchargumentsincreasinglyranghollowmuchofurbanmen'sworknolongerposedthesorts
ofchallengesthatonceweededouttheindolentandweakfromtheindustriousandbrawny.Bytheendofthecentury,anarmyofwhiteblousedwomenworkers
emergedasteachers,secretaries,telephoneoperators,andnurses.Lowermiddleclassmen,whooccupiedsimilarpositions,tookthebruntofpublicsarcasmas
thosewhoseonlyambitionwastoachievesecurity.InFranceBarrsmockedfunctionariesas"demimles,"whileinBritainlaborerscruellyjokedaboutthefellow
who"wasbornamanbutdiedaclerk."134
PierredeCoubertinrespondedtosuchconcernsbyattemptingtoturnFrancetoathleticism.In1888theLiguenationaledel'ducationphysiquewonthesupportof
suchpublicfiguresasMarcellinBerthelot,GeorgesClemenceau,LouisPasteur,andJulesVerne,andin1895CoubertincreatedtheInternationalOlympic
Committee.135IntheUnitedStates,TheodoreRooseveltpubliclyembracedthestrenuouslife,exaltingtheneedfor
therougher,manliervirtues,andaboveallthevirtueofpersonalcourage,physicalaswellasmoral.Ifwewishtodogoodworkforourcountrywemustbeunselfish,
disinterested...butinadditionwemustbevigorousinmindandbody,abletoholdourowninroughconflictwithourfellows,abletosufferpunishmentwithoutflinching,andat
need,torepayitinkindwithfullinterest.Apeacefulandcommercialcivilizationisalwaysindangerofsufferingthelossofthevirilefightingqualitieswithoutwhichnonation,
howevercultured,howeverrefined,howeverthriftyandprosperous,caneveramounttoanything.136
BernarrA.MacFaddenstruckthesamechord,promisingmaleofficeworkersthatphysicaleducationcouldsaveboththeirmindsandbodies.137InEnglandRobert
BadenPowell,alarmedthaturbanizationwasproducingmenwhowere"stunted,narrowchested,easilyweariedyetvoluble,excitable,withlittleballast,stamina,or
endurance,"launchedthescoutingmovement.138Bodilyvigor,suchactivistsasserted,wasanindicatorofmoralvigorphysicalandmoralstrengthwereequated.
Attemptswereevenmadetomasculinizereligion.Christ,BillySundayinformedhis1890s
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Americancongregations,was"nodoughfaced,lickspittleproposition.Jesuswasthegreatestscrapperthateverlived."139Moreseriousthinkersbelievedthatmore
thanmuscleswasneededtomakeaman.AFrenchCatholicwriter,F.A.Vuillermet,beganSoyezdeshommes:laconqutedelavirilit(1909)withthe
dramaticassertion,"Therearenomoremen!"Forhimrealvirilityhadbeenunderminedbytheforcesofmaterialismandirreligion.140ArthurLautrec,inLaFindu
mondeprochainementattributedthesorrystateofcurrentmoralitytothe"invasion"ofFrancebyJews,socialism,FreeMasonry,andthe''cultedelafemme."141
Whatisonetomakeofthissenseofmanhoodundersiege?TheimportanceofthefloggingcrazeinEnglandisthatitdrawsourattentiontothewaysinwhich,by
conjuringupacastofcharactersagainstwhicharealmanhadtobattle,masculinitywasreconstituted.Masculinitywasattheturnofthecenturyobviouslygoing
throughaperiodofdeconstructionandreconstruction.Thecontextwasoneinwhichtheolderdisciplinarymechanismsemployedbyelitemalestocontrolwomen,
workers,andyoungpeopleessentiallythoseofthechurch,family,shop,andfarmwerebreakingdownandbeingreplacedbyteachers,policemen,anddoctors.
Theseprofessionalsdisciplinedthedeviantstheythemselveswereintheprocessofinventingordiscovering.Forexample,inFrancethemythofthemenaceposedthe
racebymalesubnormalswhowouldinevitablydriftintovagabondageandcrimewascreatedbythefirstgenerationofeducatorswhocarriedoutculturallybiased
formsofschooltesting.142SimilarlythenumberofmenwhocommittedsexualoffensesagainstfemalesappearedtoriseinEnglandoncetheChildren'sActof1908
allowedanindecentassaultuponayoungpersontobetriedsummarily.143
SaveforafewperceptivegadfliessuchasGeorgeBernardShaw,mostcontemporariesfounditdifficulttoplacetheapparentemergenceofdisturbing,newformsof
malesexualityinsocialperspective.Defendersofbourgeoissocietyassumedthatthoseonthemarginshomosexuals,Jews,vagrantswerelackinginmanliness.
Andtakingitasagiventhateverythingthatwasrational,productive,andorderlywasnecessarilyanaspectofmanliness,theybewailedasasymptomofemasculation
whateversucceedingsocialoreconomicthreatcurrentlypreoccupiedthem.AccordinglyFrance'sdecliningbirthrate,Britain'slossofindustrialsupremacy,and
Germany'slaborunrestwereineachcaseattributedtowaningvirility.PessimisticAmericansbelievedthatwiththeendoffrontieringtheywouldmeetthesamefate.
Viewedinthislight,thediplomaticrhetoricoftheturnofthecenturybecomesmoreunderstandable."Muchofthelanguageofcom
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pensatorybellicositywasinfactsexual.Thevirtuesofstrength,militarypreparedness,courage,hardness,aggression,vitality,comradeship,productivity,andsoforth
wereallvirtuesassociatedwithmasculinity."144
Andyetatthelevelofindividualcasestheideaofmanlinessremainedveryflexible,reflectingtheobserver'sclass,race,andculturalpreoccupations.Inthesameyears
thattheAmericantrampwasturnedintoafearfulfigure,theAmericancowboyyetanotheritinerant,unskilledlaboreremergedasamodelmale.145Menwho
claimedtobealarmedatthethreatposedbyhomosexualityforcedontheirsonsnotonlywesternsbutthebooksofH.RiderHaggardandJulesVernewiththeir
suspiciouslyallmalecastsofpurportedbachelors.146TheverysamereaderswhowereappalledattheideathatsocialdegenerativeforcescouldreturnEuropean
mentotheleveloftheapeswerethrilledbyEdgarRiceBurroughs'sTarzanstories.147AndamoralistlikeDr.Lejeune,whodeclaredhimselfrevoltedbythe
senselesscrimescommittedbytheApachesofParis,wasnotashamedtoadmitthatthecaseofamankillinghiswifeinafitofjealousy"acrimeofpassion"was
somethinghecouldunderstand.
Theturnofthecenturycampaignforthereintroductionoffloggingsignaledthatunmanlybehaviorhadcometoberegardedbymanyasposingaseriousdangerto
respectablesociety.Asawayoffurthertestingandexposingsuchgenderexpectationsinwhatfollowswewillturntoavarietyofothercourtcasesthatcoverawide
rangeofmaleconduct.Westernculturecreated,maintainedandpolicedconceptsofmasculinityincountlessways.Thenotionthatthereweretwodistinctand
oppositesexeswassowellinculcatedthatwhatitmeanttobeamanwasrarelyproblematizedmalenesswasrenderedalmostinvisible.Thetrialsthatinvolvedthose
perceivedtoberogueordeviantmalesareaccordinglyinvaluablesourcesbecausetheymadeexplicit,ascontemporariessuchasDr.Lejeunevaguelyperceived,the
vitalthoughoftenchangingnuancesoftheinjunction"beaman."
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PARTTWO
LEGALDISCOURSES:MEN,MELODRAMA,ANDCRIMINALITY
Totracethewaysinwhichthecourtsparticipatedinthepolicingofmasculinity,weanalyzeinthefollowingsectionaseriesoftrialsinwhichthequestionofthe
manlinessofthedefendantfiguredcentrally.Theissuesthatprecipitatedthesecourtroomdramashavebeenpurposelychosenfromawiderangeofcases:fromthe
relativelyinconsequentialthelosingofafewpoundsasaresultofafailedcourtshiptothemostseriousmurderandmanslaughter.Judgesandjuries,giventhat
theydealtwithsuchvitalissuesasanindividual'slife,liberty,andproperty,soughttoimpressuponthecommunitythattheirfindingswerebasednotonprejudicebut
onthefactsofthecaseandthedictatesofthelaw.Yetincaseaftercase,assoonastheelusivebutvitalquestionofgenderreareditshead,thecourtfounditself
forcedtosquareappealstothepotent,albeitintangible,conceptof"manhood"withreferencestomattersof"fact."
Themixingoffactandfantasy,whichplayedsuchanobviousroleintheWhiteSlaveryPanic,couldbeexpectedtobeencounteredwhenevertheissueof"manliness"
emergedinlegalconfrontations.Inthetheatricalenvironmentoftheturnofthecenturycourtroom,defendantsandplaintiffsinevitablyfoundthemselvesassumingthe
roleofoneofthestandardcharactersintheplayofmasculinity.TheserolestendedtofollowtheconventionsoftheVictorianmelodramaonewaseitheraheroor
villain.Themelodrama,itwillberecalled,emergedinearlynineteenthcenturyEuropeasapopulartheatricalformthatreflected,inanoverheatedfashion,concerns
fortheclassandsexualexploitationofthelowerorders.InsuchbreathlessclassicsasLondonbyNight(1844),ThePoorofNewYork(1857),andUnderthe
Gaslight(1867),theaudiencewastoldthatbeneaththeorderlyappearancesofeverydaylifelurkedsomedangeroussecret,whichtheheartlessvillainwouldtryto
turntohisadvantage.1 Theblackguard'susualintentwastohavehiswaywithsomeunwillingwomantheclosertheheroinecametosuccumbingtotheassaultson
hervirtue,the
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greaterthetensionoftheplay.Onlyinthelastactdidthevirtuoushero,bysomestrokeofluck,rescuetheinnocentfemalevictimfromthelonganticipatedrapeor
seduction.2
Melodrama,despiteitsformulaicabsurditiesandexaggerations,createdacastofstockcharacterswhowouldliveinthepublic'simaginationwellintothetwentieth
century.Thesimple,starkmoralclaimssuchcharactersmadegavethemenormousappeal.Sincethecourtswerebelievedtodealwithissuesofrightandwrong,it
wasnotsurprisingthatthepublicthatfollowedtheirproceedingsusednotionsdrawnfromthemelodramatomakesenseoutofanincreasinglycomplexworld.3 Such
anapportioningofrolesworkedperfectlyintheWhiteSlavePanic.Thesocialpurityactivistscouldbeeasilytakenandcertainlysawthemselvesasaudacious
heroes,theprostitutesaspassivevictims,andthepimpsasvillains.Inmanycriminaltrialsandinmostcivildisputes,however,thepowerrelationsoftheaccusedand
plaintiffwouldnotfromtheoutsetbeasasymmetrical.Insuchcasestherewouldensuefromtheverystartastruggleoverthequestionofwhohadtherightto
appropriatetheroleof"hero"andtherebyrelegatetheirantagonisttothepositionof"villain."Andiftheparticipantsinthetrialdidnotimmediatelymakesuch
identifications,thepopularpresscouldusuallybecountedontomakethemonbehalfofitsreadership.Inknowingthattheaccusedhadactedlikea"gentleman"ora
"cad,''a"decentfellow"ora"bounder,"thenewspaperpublichadafairlygoodideaofthetrial'sfinaloutcome.Asthefollowingfourchaptersdemonstrate,an
individual'smanliness,whichplayedavitalroleintheoutcomeofsuchcontests,wasnotsimplya"fact."Itwassomethingthatamanincourt,byturningtohis
purposesthemelodramaticnarrativeofsexualdanger,hadtoprove.
Page39
Two
FOOLS
On11November1895,theoperatorsoftheWorld'sGreatMarriageAssociation(Limited)ofLondonanditsmagazine,theMatrimonialHerald,werechargedat
theBowStreetMagistrate'sCourtwithfraud.Inthecourseofthelongcourtprocess,whichdraggedonuntilMarchofthefollowingyear,itcameoutthattheaccused
had,byofferingtoarrangeadvantageousmarriages,bilkedcountlessmenandwomenoflargesumsofmoney.Thecurioustrialproceedingsare,likemostreportsof
successfulconspiracyfrauds,inherentlyinteresting,butforthehistorianofnineteenthcenturygenderandsexuality,themoststrikingaspectoftheaffairisthelightthat
itcastsonVictorians'viewsofmenandmarriage.
Matrimony,theassumptionholds,hasbeenchieflyawoman'sconcern.Accordingtothetiredoldjoke,amanchasesawomanuntilheiscaught.Womenseek
marriagemenavoidit.Yetuntilthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury,middleandupperclassmaleswerequitecandidaboutboththeirinterestsinmarriageandthe
amountsofwealththatmadeawomananespeciallysuitablematrimonialprospect.Writingtohissisterin1862,ayoungCanadianendedhisglowingaccountofhis
intendedbride'saccomplishmentswiththenotuntypicalobservation"andbestofall[she]ispossessedofproperty,andhasnohangerson.Nowthereissomethingfor
youtoreflecton."Onlyinthe1890scouldthemiddleclasses"beheardtodenouncethismaterialistichuntasunworthyofanidealizedunion,whichshouldbea
blendingofheartsratherthanatransferoffunds."1 Andeventhensomeretortedthatthecurrentattacksonthe"marriagemarket"weremerecant.2
Whatoccurredatthelowerlevelsofthesocialhierarchy?Storiesoftheoccasionalpredatorymiddleclassmalefortunehunterfromwhoseadvancesheiresseshadto
beprotectedhavebeentold,butlittlehasbeensaidofthewaysinwhichlowermiddleandworkingclassmenperceivedmarriageaspossiblyofferinganeconomic
"opportunity."3 Areviewofthe
Page40
MatrimonialHeraldtrialservestheusefulpurposeofremindingusthatinVictorianEnglanditwasassumedthatmenofallsocialclasseswouldmakesuch
calculations.4 Thevictimsinthiscasecametogrief,sothereadersofthepopularpressweretold,notbecausetheysoughttomakereasonablyadvantageous
matches,butbecauseintheirgreedtheyreachedtoofar.Fortheirmiscalculationstheyweredoublypunishedfirstbyfraudulentbusinessmenwhotooktheirmoney
andthenbybettersituatedmiddleclassmaleswhobothinandoutofcourtcruellyenjoyedwhattheytooktobeahilariousaccountofhowsimplemindedlower
classmen,inseekingtousethemarriagemarkettomovebeyondtheirappointedstationinlife,hadcomeacropper.
ThedeclaredgoaloftheMatrimonialHeraldandFashionableMarriageGazette,whichranfrom1884to1895,wastoprovide"highclassmatches."butits
readerswereassuredthatnorequestforassistancewasconsideredtoomodest.5 ThepagesoftheHeraldcontainedlittlebeyondadvertisementsformenandwomen
seekingpartners.Suchqueriescouldbeplacedinitscolumnsatacostoffourshillingsforfiftywordslettersinresponseweresentcareoftheeditor.TheHeraldand
theassociationclaimedthattheiradvertisementsappearedinlocalpapersthroughouttheUnitedKingdomandthatresponseswerereceivedfromaroundtheworld.
Theassociationguaranteedthatabsolutediscretionwasassuredbyitslargestaff,whichworkedwith"celerityandfacility."
Matrimonialadvertisementshadbeenplacedinnewspapersbyindividualsfromtheeighteenthcenturyonward.6 Commercialagencieswereactivebythemid
nineteenthcenturyandwerefromthebeginningsuspectedoffraud.In1934GeorgeOrwellwrotetoafriendthathehadjustpurchasedayear'sissueofan
unidentified1851weeklypaper.
Theyranamongotherthingsamatrimonialagency,andthecorrespondencerelatingtothisiswellworthreading."Floraistwentyone,tall,withrichchestnuthairandasilvery
laugh,andmakesexcellentpastry.Shewouldliketoenterintocorrespondencewithaprofessionalgentlemanbetweentheagesoftwentyandthirty,preferablywithauburn
whiskersandoftheEstablishedChurch."Theinterestingthingtomeisthatthesepeople,sincetheytrytogetmarriedthroughamatrimonialagency,haveevidentlyfailedmany
timeselsewhere,andyetassoonastheyadvertiseinthispaper,theygethalfadozenoffers.Thewomen'sdescriptionsofthemselvesarealwaysmostflattering,andImustsay
thatsomeofthecasesmakemedistinctlysuspiciousforofcoursethatwasthegreatageoffortunehunting.7
Page41
TheactualworkoftendingtotheenormouscorrespondenceelicitedbytheHeraldwascarriedoutattheWorld'sGreatMarriageAssociation,locatedat103New
OxfordStreet.Thosewhopreferrednottoadvertiseopenlycouldworkthroughitsmanagementandarrangecontactsby"privateoverture."Afeeoffiveshillingswas
chargedforaconsultationandadditionalsumswereleviedforintroductions.Theownersaffirmedthat,bya"lavishoutlayofcapital"andthroughtheintercessionof
theagency'smany"ambassadors"whomovedinsociety,countlesshappyunionswerecreated.IndeedtheHeraldassertedthattheassociationproducedmatches
thatworkedaswellandindeedwereoftenhappierthanthosethatresultedfrom"promiscuousmeetings."By1895theHeraldwasboastingthatinrespondingtothe
demandsofitsclientswith''anenormousandungrudgedexpense"itwasleadingthecontemporarymovementtoward"rationalmarriage."Itsstaff,soitclaimed,
numberedfiftyitssuccessfulclientsincludedontheonehandthousandsofyoung,beautiful,richwomenwithestatesandresidencesandontheotherthe
representativesofthe"sternersex"whorangedfrompeersandprofessionalsdowntocommonwaiters.A"PamphletofExtracts"ofthetestimonialsproducedby
satisfiedcustomers,declaredtheHerald,wasavailableonrequest.8
TheHerald'sactivities,thoughknowntomany,werebroadcasttotheentirenationwhenitsownersappearedatapreliminaryhearingatBowStreetbeforeMr.
Lushingtonon11November1895chargedwithconspiracytodefraud.InthedocksatMortimerDanielSkates(aliasDanielMortimer),proprietoroftheWorld's
GreatMarriageAssociationhisbrotherJohnCharlesSkates(aliasCharlesBarrington)hisfatherinlawJohnAbrahams(aliasDanielMortimeraliasJohnCharles
SkatesaliasCharlesBarrington)theSkates'snephewNormanGoldingHannah,secretaryoftheassociationandAnthonyMaddows,editoroftheMatrimonial
Herald.
Actingonnumerouscomplaints,thepolicehaddescendedontheofficesoftheassociationwhichprovedtoconsistofelevenclerks,allbutonewhowere
shareholdersatOxfordStreetandMecklenburghSquare,seizingbooks,registers,andthousandsoflettersandphotographs.WhenDetectiveSergeantMcCarthy
readthewarrant,theSkatesesprotestedthatatleastoneofthecomplainantshadalreadybeengivenhismoneyback.Thepolicerespondedthatthisrestitutionhad
onlybeenprovidedafterthecomplainthadbeenlodgedandproceedingsbegun.9 ItsooncameoutthatforthepreviousseveralyearsScotlandYardhadreceived
reportsthattheagencyplacedbogusadvertisementsinnewspaperstodrawinvictimsfromwhomitextractedregistrationfees,feestobecomeamember,andafter
marriagesubscriptions,allthetimehavingnointention,oratleastfailing,
Page42
toprovidethecontactsitpromised.10Butitwasonlynowthatwitnesseswerewillingtolaycharges.11Afteralengthypreliminaryhearing,thedefendantswereon29
January1896committedtotrial,whichtookplaceinMarchintheRecorder'sCourtoftheOldBailey.12
Howhadthefraudsbeenperpetrated?Clients,mostofwhomappearedtobemen,wereluredintocontactingtheWorld'sGreatMarriageAssociationthrough
advertisementsinlocalpaperspurportedlyplacedbywealthyindividualsseekingspouses.13Menwhorespondedweretoldbyreturnmailthattheycouldbebest
servedbyjoiningtheassociationnormallysuchamembershipcost1010s.butgiventhelargenumberofeligibleladiesontheregister,thefeewouldbereducedto
55s.,orevenaslowas12s.6d.Onreceiptoffees,moredummydescriptionsofwealthyyoungwomenweresentout.Oncethemenwerewellinvolvedintheir
romanticcorrespondenceswiththeseprizecatches,theassociationinformedthemthatiftheymarriedtheywouldhavetopaytheagencyanadditionalfeeof21/2
percentofthewoman'sestate,butiftheypaidinadvancea12,10s."freeassociatemembershipfee."alladditionaldutieswouldbewaived.Presumablymenwho
wereconvincedtheywereabouttosuccessfullysnaganheiressfeltitwasasmallpricetopay.Butoncetheassociationwasassuredthatithadobtainedallthemen's
availablemoney,themysteriouswealthywomenwhohadbeenusedasbaittodrawinthemaleclientssuddenlywentabroadorregretfullybrokeoffthe
correspondence.
Theassociationwasshrewdenoughtorealizethatitcouldnotsimplytakeitsclients'moneyandrun.Itremainedinbusinessformorethantenyearsbecauseit
provided,inadditiontoitsfictitiousheiresses,somebonafideintroductions.Whenitsmaleclientshadbeenclearlymilkedofallthemoneytheywerewillingtohazard,
theagencybegantosendthemthenamesandaddressesofrealwomenthatithadonitsregister,andcontactswereactuallymade.Butthesewomen,muchtothe
disappointmentofthefortunehunters,turnedoutnottobeheiressesbutdomesticservantsorpoorgovernesseswhohadthemselvessentofftheirmeagersavingsto
theassociationinhopesofmarryingoneoftherichgentlemenwhoseadvertisementsappearedintheHerald.Thesadironywasthatthedupedmaleandfemale
clientsoftheassociationhadmuchincommon:theysharedthesamemodestsocialclassbackgrounds,theirhopesforupwardmobilityviamarriagehadledtotheir
entrapment,andwhentheymettheirprospectivepartnerstheexpectationsofbothwerecruellydisappointed.
Nodoubtsomemarriagesdidresultfromtheagency'sactivities.Mr.Lushington,thepresidingmagistrateatthepreliminaryhearing,mentioned
Page43
havingreceivedlettersfromsuchpeople.14Butingivingtheirclientsintroductionstorealindividuals,theassociationwasprimarilyconcernedwithprovidingitselfwith
alegalcover.Evenso,therewerecountlessdisgruntledclientswhenJohnCharlesSkateswasarrested,hehadonhispersonnineteenletterscomplainingof"delusive
advertising"andonedemandingarefund.15Butclientsobviouslyhadtothinktwicebeforecomplainingtothepolice.Afteralltheyhadbeengivensomebonafide
introductions,andifitcametoacourtcasetheywouldbeobligedtodeclaretotheworldtheirowngullibilityandsordidcalculations.
Becauseofitscarefulplanning,theassociationhadalongandprosperouscareer.Socomplicatedwereitsmachinationstheaccusednotonlyposedasfictitious
clientsbutimpersonatedeachother,hencethemanyaliasthatittookweeksforthecrowntoworkoutexactlywhathadbeendoneandtowhom.Thepolicefound
ontheassociation'spremisesaseriesofthirteenindexbookscontainingthenamesofthirtythousandmenandwomen.Anadvertisementbooklistedthemanydummy
noticesplacedinprovincialnewspapers.Somewereespeciallysuccessful.Threehundredandfiftysixletterswerereceivedinreplytoanadvertisementsigned"Cecil"
and163wereaddressedtoa"Mrs.Huntley."TheowneroftheLamb'sConduitStreetstationer'sshop,whichserveduntil1895astheassociation'sletterdrop,said
hereceived100to150lettersadayaddressedtotheeditor"or"negotiator."16Inthefirsttenmonthsof1895thereceiptsoftheassociation'sregistrationdepartment
totaled3,375thoseofthe"freemarriagedepartment''2,095.JohnCharlesSkates,asmanagingdirector,skimmedoffthehandsomesalaryofonethousand
poundsayear.17
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
WhatdoesthisfraudrevealaboutVictorianconceptsofmasculinity?Thesuccessfulfraudartistnecessarilyhastoknowmorethanmostaboutthedesires,ambitions,
and"greatexpectations"ofthegullible.Theobviousinterestofthiscaseisthatthroughitsanalysiswecanseewhatconfidencemenknewofboththefantasiesandthe
realitiesoflatenineteenthcenturymatrimony.LetusbeginwiththefantasiesonwhichtheSkatesesandtheirassociatesplayed.Inperusingthetrumpedup
advertisements,oneisfirstprovidedwithwhattheeditorsoftheHeraldassumedwouldlooktotheirreaderslikeprizecatches.Typicalmen'sadvertisementsread:
Abuilder,clearingover2000ayear,wouldliketocorrespondwithadarkhandsomeyounglady,ofgoodfamily,withaviewto
Page44
marriage.Advertiserisfortyfive,ofkinddisposition,butisveryshrewdinbusiness.Ifcorrespondentcanplaythepiano,somuchthebetter.
AmerchantintheWestIndies,makingabout3000ayear,onaccountofhissister,whohasforsomeyearsactedashishousekeeper,beingabouttomarry,wisheswithaviewto
matrimony,tomaketheacquaintanceofarefined,cultured,prepossessingyounglady.
Thepurportedeligiblemaleswerepresentedaskindly,prosperous,andmature.Whyhadsucheminentlymarriageablemennotalreadybeenpickedoff?Inexplaining
theirrecoursetoadvertising,theyweregivenavarietyofstockanswersnotinfrequentlyitwasthattheyhadbeenrecentlywidowedoronlylatelyhadreturnedfrom
India.Thesefictionalbachelorsfurtherfittedtheromanticcontemporarymalestereotypeoftherugged,successfulmale.Therepeatedassertionoftheirbeing"kind"
seemstohavebeenacodewordfor"Iwillnotasserttheright,whichasamanIhave,tochastisephysicallymyspouse."Theyappearedtobelargelyindifferentto
theirpotentialspouse'sfinancialsituationyethadsetideasaboutthephysicalattractionssheshouldpossessmostmenhopedshewouldbeyoungbut"domesticated,"
andmanywentontodescribethecolorofhairandshapeoffiguretheypreferred.
Theadvertisementspurportedlywrittenbyfemaleclients,thoughtheyfrequentlyexpressedapreferenceforapartnerwithtasteandapositioninlife,were,incontrast
tothemen's,strikinglyundemanding.18
Caroline,twentythree,ablonde,thoroughlyaccomplished,prepossessing,withgood,welldevelopedfigure,andpossessingaprivateincomeof300perannum,wouldbe
pleasedtohearfromagentlemanresidingintheneighborhoodofLeeds,whomustnotexceedtheageofthirtyfive.
Anorphanyoungladyoflargemeans,whohavingjustlostheragedparents,whomshehaddevotedlyattendedintheirdyingdays,wasanxioustoassuagehergrief
bymeetingwithagentleman,bachelororwidower,withthesamemaritalobjecttofollow.19
"Prepossessing"perfectlydescribedthemodelVictorianfemale.Whereasamandidnotsufferfrombeinginitiallydifficultorgruff,awomanwassupposedtomakean
agreeablefirstimpressionandbeobviouslyattractive.Suchyoungbeautieshadjust,soitwascommonlyclaimed,enteredthe
Page45
marriagemarket.Somewereprovidedwithassertionsthat,havingrecentlybeenorphanedorhavingquarreledwiththeirfamily,theynowsuddenlyhadtothinkof
matrimony.Othersblushinglyconfessedthat,dutifullycaringforinvalidrelatives,theyhadhithertovirtuouslyputoffmarriage.
ThedescriptionsprovidedbytheHerald'sadvertisementsdrewdirectlyfromtheidealVictorianmaleandfemalestereotypesofpowerfulmenanddemurewomen.
Theadvertisersappeartohavesteppedfromthepagesofcheapnovelsorfromthestagesofpopularmelodramas.Butaspatentlyartificialandrepetitiveastheymay
appeartoday,atthetimetheysuccessfullyservedtheSkatesesandtheirassociatesasbrilliantlureswithwhichtohookthousandsofenterprising,ifnaive,menand
women.Ofcourse,mostreadersofsuchadvertisementsrecognizedthemforwhattheywereandturnedthepage.Butmanyrereadthem,hesitantthoughhopeful,
wonderingifthiswasnottheopportunitytheyhadbeenwaitingfor.Whatstrugglingyoungclerkmakingdoonayearlysalaryof80didnotdreamofmeetinga
"Caroline"withherwelldevelopedfigureand300perannum?20
TheHerald'senterprisingproprietorsexploitednotonlysuchdreamsbutthegapthatseparatedsparklingfantasyfromdrabreality.Assumingthattheirreadership
includedmanymaleswho,becauseofsomeslightcorrectableproblemwiththeirappearance,hadnotyetbeenromanticallysuccessful,theyofferedavarietyof
invaluableproductsandservices.Inadditiontocarryingnoticesofwhereonemightcontractaquietwedding.theHeraldranadvertisementsforobesitymedicines,
curesforthedeaf,hairdyes,malecorsets,shoeelevators,RestauroTonics,andelectropathicbeltsguaranteedtoprovidelifeandvigor.AlexRoss,aparticularly
prolificinventor,usedtheHeraldtoboastoftheefficacyofSpanishFlytogrowhair,a"SkinTightener,"a"NoseMachine,"andfor10s.6d."Ross'sEarMachine,
forplacingtheearsclosetothehead."21IfthecommercialadvertisementsintheHeraldconjuredupthedepressingpictureofamassmalereadershipofshort,deaf,
balding,whitehaired,overweight,impotent,jugearedmen,itisonlyfairtonotethatitsnoticesforArsenicWafers(toimprovethecomplexion),abortifacient
solutions,anddiscreteadoptionservicessuggestedthatitsfemalereaderswerealsofarfromperfect.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Somuchforthefantasies.ItiswhenweturnfromtheHeraldtothetrialaccountsofitsproprietorsthatwearegivenasenseofthe
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brutalrealitiesmenhadtofacewhenattemptingtopenetratetheVictorianmarriagemarket.
Theaccusedreallyhadnodefense.ThomasHenryGurrin,ahandwritingexpertcalledbythecrown,declaredthattheletterspurportedlysignedbyavarietyoffemale
advertiserswereallwrittenbythesameindividuals.22Thedefense'sweakresponsewastoadmitthatsomeladies'nameshadbeenfalsified,butonlyinorderto
protectsuchwomenuntilthemeninterestedinthemhadtheirbackgroundschecked.Evenoneofthevictims,Bason,acknowledgedthatheassumedthatsomeladies
woulduseanomdeplume.Butatthetrial,thedefensewasfinallyforcedtoconcedethatmanyletterswereinfactwrittenbytheproprietorsandtofallbackonthe
argumentthatonlythosewhowantedtobedupedcouldhavebeentakeninsincetherewasnoattemptatdisguisingthehandwriting.
Thedefense'ssecondlineofargument,whichitfirstannouncedatthepreliminaryhearinginJanuary1896,wasthatitwould,ifforced,subpoenalargenumbersof
wealthymenandwomenwhohadmarriedthroughtheagency.Thefactthatsomeclientssuccessfullymarried,socounselclaimed,providedtheassociationwitha
reasonablebeliefthatotherswouldtoo.Asitwouldobviouslytakesometimetotrackdownthewitnesseswhowouldestablishthecharacterofthedefendants,the
defensecalledforanadjournment.ButLushington,thepresidingmagistrate,wasnottakeninbytheargumentthattheassociation'scharactercouldbedemonstrated
byshowingthatsomeofitsserviceshadnotbeenfraudulent.Heinsistedthatthedefenseonlycallwitnessespertainingtotheactualcasescomplainedofevidence
drawnfromothercaseswouldnotbeadmissible.23Toprovethattheadvertisementswerenotfraudulent,thedefensecalledatthepreliminaryhearingonewoman,
whosenamewasnotreleased,whotestifiedthatshehadinfactcorrespondedwithtwoofthecomplainants.Shewasstilllookingforahusbandwortha1,000a
yearandadmittedtohavingwrittentooverahundredmen.24Hertestimonydidnotcounterthecomplaintsoftheotherplaintiffs,andatthetrialthedefensechoseto
callneitherhernoranyotherwitness.
WhenthecasewasheardattheOldBailey,thecounselsretainedbytheproprietorsoftheWorld'sGreatMarriageAssociationrealizedthattheyonlyhadonehope
ofmountinganeffectivedefense.Thathopelayinappealingtothesocialsuperiorityofthejudgeandtheallmalejurybyattackingthecomplainantsassocially
marginalcharacterswho,stupidlybelievingintheimpossible,didnotdeservetheprotectionofthelaw.Presumablytheproprietorsoftheassociationhadlong
harboredtheideaofsuchanargumentbecausewhenarrestedJohnCharlesSkatesimmediately
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exclaimed,"Wegetalotoftheseoutsidersthatpayusapoundortwoandexpectustofindthemawifewithafortuneinaweekortwo."25
Thecrownwasforitspartverymuchawareoftheproblemposedbywitnessesinsuchfraudcasesbeingtooembarrassedtocomeforward.Manywhoknewthey
hadbeentakenadvantageofwouldundernocircumstancesenterthewitnessboxtobemadethebuttsofthedefensecounsels.Nevertheless,atthepreliminary
hearingandthefinaltrial,adozenwitnessesappearedforthecrown,alltellingmuchthesamestoryofvictimization.
Thedefense'sstrategywasnottodenythefactsofthecasebutsimplytopourridiculeonthosewhorelatedthem.Indoingsoitwasappealingtothecommon
Victorianassumptionthatlikeshouldmarrylike,thatanyreasonablemanseekingmarriagewouldconfinehisambitionstothoseofasimilarsocialstatus."Afooland
hismoneyaresoonparted"ranthecommonsaw.Thedefense'sgoalwastoportraythecomplainantsasjustsuchfoolswhomthelawcouldneverhopetoprotect.
Thedefensefirstridiculedthewitnessesforbelievingtheycouldmarryabovethemselves.ThetreatmentmetedouttoAlfredJordan,Brightontobacconistandself
proclaimedthreetimeEnglishchampiondraughtsplayer,wastypical.HehadrepliedtoanadvertisementinthePeopleandwassenttheHerald.26Hestipulatedthat
hesoughtaladywho,inadditiontohaving200ayear,shouldbe"abouttwentyyearsofage,withbrowneyes,darkhair,heightabout5ft.6in.,goodlooking,good
teethandcomplexion,abletoseeandhearwithoutartificialaid,spinster,middleclass,mustbeEnglishandbelongtotheChurchofEngland,andmustbedomestic,
musical,welleducated,fondoftennisandgamesofskillandabletoswim,shouldtakeaninterestinsociology,temperance,dressreform,hygiene,&c,andifshe
wouldbeabletointerestherselfindraughts,cricket,orbilliardssomuchthebetter."27
Jordanwastohisjoyputintouchwith"AliceMay,"atwentytwoyearoldbrowneyedheiress,whowastakenbyhisphotographanddeclaredherselftobe
"especiallyinterestedinhispositionintheworldofdraughts."28ButonceJordanpaidhismoney,theyoungwoman,though"made"forhim(inmorewaysthanone)
brokeoffthecorrespondence.AtthetrialLockwood,forthedefense,laughinglywonderedifJordanreallybelievedthatthesortofaparagonthathesoughtcould
haveactuallyexisted.PlayingupthenotionthatJordanmusthavebeenfantasizing,thedefensefurtheraskedtheembarrassingquestionifitwerenottruethatJordan
hadevengonesofarastorequestawomanwith''filbertnails."
Similargrillingsweregiventheothercomplainants.Whenthedefense
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askedAdolphGruenfeld,aWigmoreStreettailor'scutter,whosoughtaladywith300to400ayear,howhecouldclaimtobeworth200ayear,Gruenfeldcould
notanswer.29CharlesOtto,anelectricianofVincentSquare,Westminster,paidafeeof212s.6d.andaskedforawifewithanincomeofabout1000ayear.
DefensecounselsmirkinglyinquiredwhyOtto,whoonlyearned3aweekatSiemensBrothers,hadthetemerityofexpectingtowedaheiressoratleastbuyonefor
212s.6d.Flustered,Ottoprotestedthathereadofsuchcasesinthepapersandbelievedthemtobetrue.30WilliamG.Pitcher,whosawhisfirstadvertisementin
theNorfolkNews,claimedtohaveanincomeof40ayearbutwhenpressedadmittedtolivingwithhisbrotherinlawandhavingnoincome."Anddidyou,"asked
defensecounselWarburtonwithfeignedastonishment,"reallythinkthatyou22yearsofage,earningnothing,andwith40capitalonlycouldgetawife?"31
Pitcherrepliedthathebelievedhecould.RobertBrocket,aScottishforesterwhosoughtawifewithanincomeof500ayear,similarlyadmittedtoearningthepaltry
sumof18shillingsaweek.32AndfinallythedefenseextortedfromHenrySuttontheconfessionthatalthoughhedemandedawomanworthatleast100ayearhe
didnottellhiscorrespondentsthathewasearningameretenshillingsaweekandboard,anadmissionthatelicitedloudguffawsincourt.
Havingrevealedthepresumptuousnessofworkingandlowermiddleclassmenseekingtowedwealthywomen,thedefensethenturneditsattackonthe
complainants'crassness.Hereweremenwhothoughttheycouldstipulatewhatsortofwomantheywouldmarry.CounselpointedoutthatOttohadthepoortasteof
requestinga"spinster,orphanpreferred"asonemightorderamealinarestaurant."Mr.Warburton'Oh,soyoudidnotwishforamotherinlaw?No.'"33Aletter
wasreadincourtthatJordanwrotetotheassociationstating,"Idon'texpecttogetexactlywhatIwant,butyoumaytakeitasageneralrulethatthebiggerthe
incomethelessparticularaboutlooks,etc.,Ishallbe,andviceversa."34Andthedefense,innotingthatJohnCharlesGeorge,ahousedecoratorofMexborough,
Yorkshire,joinedtheassociationinAugustbutwasaskingforhismoneybackinOctober,commentedthatheseemedtothinkamarriagecouldbearranged
immediately.35Allthisevidence,thedefenseargued,revealedthecomplainantstobeunsympatheticbumblingboorsforwhomfewcouldfeelmuchpity.
Thepresumptuousnessandcrudityofthewitnesseswasallthemoregalling,impliedthedefense,whenonesawthatmen,whohadthemisplacednotionofmarrying
beautifulyoungwomen,werethemselvesso
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lackinginpersonalcharm.DefensecounselpointedlyaskedJosephAvery,anelderlymanwhohadbeenmarriedtwicebefore,"Doesitnotstrikeyouthatyouwith
130to150ayear,awidowerwell,notinthefirstbloomofyouthandwithfourchildren,werenotaverygreatcatch?"36Averyhadnoanswer.
HenrySutton,aBowclerk,describedhimselfinhislettersashavinga"slim,militaryappearance."ThepressdidnotsaywhatSuttonactuallylookedlike,buthisself
appraisalwassofaroffthemarkthatwhenitwasreadatthepreliminaryhearingitelicitedaburstoflaughter.37DefensecounselWarburton,knowinghewasontoa
goodthing,inquiredaboutSutton'sotherattemptsatcourtship.
AmItounderstandthatthesenegotiationswerenotsuccessful?Theywerenotsuccessful.
Inspiteofyourmilitaryappearance?(Laughter.)
GeorgeBason,ashort,baldNorthamptonmachinistearning80ayearansweredanadvertisementintheWeeklyTimesandEchoandwasthusentrappedbythe
Herald.Healso,defensecounselclearlyimplied,wasnoAdonis.
ByMr.Cook.YousentyourphototoMissBurfordatherrequest?Yes.
Anditwasafterreceivingitthatsheceasedtowriteyou?Yes.(Laughter.)38
Atthepreliminaryhearing,defensecounselfurthersuggestedthatBasonliedabouthisageandreceivednoresponsetothequestionofwhetherhereallybelievedhis
selfdescriptionof"44lookyounger."PoorBasonbecamesodistraughtbythemockingcrossexaminationthathefaintedandhadtobecarriedfromthecourt.Upon
hisreturntheheartlessdefensecounselinsistedthatoneofhislettersbereadincourt,whichincludedtheline"Iknowthatsomeladiesdon'tliketoomutch[sic]
loving,buttheladymustexpectitfromme."Theintentwasobviouslytoexposethewitness'slackofeducation.Thedefense'soverallargumentwasthatsuchmen
weresolackinginsocialgracesandphysicalattractivenessthatnoone,noteventheproprietorsoftheWorld'sGreatMarriageAssociation,couldbeheldguiltyfor
notfindingthemsuitablemates.
Thedefensewentfurther,bringingupthefactthatthemenhadbeenintroducedtowomenofasimilarstationinlife,whomtheyhadspurned.Warburtonpointedout
thataLondonwitnesswhowouldnothavetesti
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fiedwithoutasubpoenaandwasallowedtogiveevidencewithoutmakinghisnamepublichadbeenputintouchwithmanywomen.39"Oneladyhemethada
100ayear,andifhehadmarriedherhewouldhavehadnothingtocomplainofasregardstheassociation.Theladiesintroducedtohimwereofhisownsocial
standingandoneortwowerefairlygoodlooking."40Butwhatthewitnessstubbornlypursuedwasawomanwithatleast200ayear.Asecondman,whoseidentity
atthepreliminaryhearingwasalsonotdisclosed,hadbeenlookingforawomanwith500perannumandcomplainedhehadbeenintroducedtowomenwithonly
40to70ayear.41TospotlightJordan'sselfservingcalculations,thedefensenotedthathehadnottold"AliceMay"hewascorrespondingwithfiftyoneother
womenatthesametime.AndJordanwasforcedtoadmitthattwentyladieswereinterestedinhimbuthejudgedthatallwere,becauseoftheirlackofmeans,
unsuitable.42Gruenfeldwasvaguebutobviouslyforthesamereasonsfoundthatthetwowomenheactuallymetwerenotsatisfactory.43WhenWarburtonasked
Pitcherwhatwaswrongwiththewomen,mostlydomesticservants,towhomhehadbeenintroduced,Pitcherwhohimselfhadonly40capitalrepliedthatthey
hadnomoney.
Mightnottheyhavesavedatleast40?Yes.
Andcouldyounothavestartedinahumblewaywith80?
ThatwasnotwhatIexpected.Iexpectedatleastathousandortwo.44
AndfinallythedefensepointedoutthatSuttonhadbeenputintouchwithaMissAdams,whomhehadspurned,judginghernesteggof170insufficienttosupport
hisattemptstolaunchamusicalcareer.Thewitnessclumsilyrepliedthatheneededmoney"hisintentionwastopracticethefluteasmuchaspossible(laughter)."45
Outburstsoflaughterrepeatedlypunctuatedthepreliminaryhearingandtrialproceedings.Thecourtroomspectatorsfounditscreaminglyamusingthatlowerclassmen
whohadentertainedideasofmarryingabovethemselveshadcometogrief.Suchmenhadtolearntoaccepttheirappointedplaceinlife.Reiteratingthislesson
LockwoodcruellymockedBasonbyreadingtheselfdescriptionofferedbyoneofthewomentowhomhewasintroduced.
"Tall,welleducated,domesticated,groceryandofflicence"Whatmorecouldyouwantthanthat?(Renewedlaughter.)46
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Thedefenseconcludedafterhavingaccusedthecomplainantsofbeingpresumptuous,crass,unattractive,andhardtopleasefantasistsbypointingoutthatalmost
alloftheminprovidingtheirownselfdescriptionshadlied.Totakeonlyoneexample,DanielDriver,anIrishlawstudent,complainedofhavingbeenledtobelievehe
wascourtingaJ.P.'sdaughterworth800ayear.InhiscrossexaminationthedefensecalledattentiontothefactthatifDriverwascomplainingoffraud,hewasa
fraudhimself.ItwaselicitedfromthewitnessmuchtothenoisyamusementofthejurythatDriverdescribedhimself,notasalawstudentbutasalawyer."Please
moderateyourhilarity,gentlemen,"interjectedtheRecorderinanattempttostifletheoutburstsoflaughter."Thisis,afterall,aseriouscase."47Butthedefensewas
maintainingthatitwasnotaseriouscaseitwasajoke.Whocouldseriouslybelievethatfor5onecouldobtainanheiressworthathousand?
Ashumiliatingastheattacksontheplaintiffsmighthavebeen,intheenditmadenodifferenceinlaw.Thejudge,insummingup,notedthatthecasehadoccasioneda
gooddealofhilarityandthatthedefensehadshrewdlyattemptedtolaughthecaseoutofcourt.Itwasnowhistasktoremindthejurythat"althoughtherehadbeena
largeamountoflaughterattheoutsetitremainedaveryseriouscaseindeed."48Hesummedupstronglyonbehalfoftheprosecutionpointingoutthatsomeofthe
advertisementsandthenamesemployedbytheassociationwereobviouslybogusandthereforefraudhadundoubtedlyoccurred.Afterfortyminutesthejuryfoundthe
SkatesesandAbrahamsguiltyofconspiringandobtainingmoneybyfalsepretenses.Thejudge,incastigatingtheaccusedforhavingpreyedon"simplemindedand
gulliblepeople,"sentencedJohnCharlesSkates,asringleader,tofiveyearspenalservitudeandMortimerDanielSkatesandtheseventyyearoldAbrahamstothree
years.HannahoverwhomthejurydisagreedwasputbacktothenextsessionMaddowswasdischarged.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
GeorgeOrwellwasoneofthefirstscholarstorecognizetheinvaluableinsightsintopopularcultureofferedbypublicationsliketheMatrimonialHerald."Paperslike
theExchangeandMart,forinstance,orCageBirds,ortheOracle,orPrediction,ortheMatrimonialTimes,onlyexistbecausethereisadefinitedemandfor
them,andtheyreflectthemindsoftheirreadersasagreatnationaldailywithacirculationofmillionscannotpossiblydo."49Outburstsoflaughterresultedwhen,
thankstothetesti
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monythatcameoutincourt,thethoughtsdancinginthemindsofaparticularportionofthemalereadershipoftheMatrimonialHeraldwasmadeknowntothe
generalpublic.FewtrialstookplaceinthegloomyconfinesofLondon'sCentralCriminalCourtthattheaudiencefoundsoamusing.Andjokes,asRobertDarnton
hasrecentlyremindedus,usuallydonottravelwellifwehopetofullyunderstandwhatwasthoughttobesofunnyinthisconspiracycase,wehavetounderstandthe
ageinwhichittookplace.50
Thecaserevolvedaroundgenderexpectationsbutalsotellsusagooddealaboutsocialmores.Firstitbringshometousthenewlyrecognizedpowersofthelate
nineteenthcenturypress.ThecharacterspresentedinmostoftheHerald'sadvertisementsappearsostereotypedtheactive,powerfulmaleandtheattractive,
passivefemalethatitishardtoimaginethatanyonecouldhavebelievedintheirreality.Thiswas,ofcourse,theargumentadvancedbythepaper'slegalcounselthe
plaintiffsmusthaveknownitwasallajoke.Butthousandsclearlyeitherbelievedorhalfbelievedwhattheyread.Everyoneknewthatsuchadvertisementsmightnot
revealthewholetruth,butsomethoughtthattheywerenotentirelyfraudulent.Andnodoubtsomereaders,eagertoparticipateinthefantasy,probablydidnotcareif
theadvertisementsweretrueornot.
WastheHerald,whichdidnotinformbutdidatleastentertain,allthatmuchdifferentfromtherestofthetabloidpress?Itwasobviouslyaproductoftheageof
"NewJournalism,"inwhichmasscirculationpapersrelied,notsimplyon"facts,"butincreasinglyonbylines,headlines,pictures,interviewsandmostimportantofall,
thelettersintheircorrespondencecolumns.Whowrotetheseletters?Evenrespectablepapersinthelastdecadesofthenineteenthcenturywhippedupdebateand
increasedtheircirculationsbyhavingjournalistswritetheirowncontroversialletterstotheeditorwiththeintentofluringenragedreadersintoresponding.Anda
muckrakingjournalistlikeW.T.Stead,whopurchasedayounggirltopublicizethescandalofchildprostitution,providedthemostdramaticdemonstrationofhow
newspaperscouldcreateaswellasreportthenews.51Insuchanincreasinglyambiguousculture,howdidoneknowwhatthe"truth"was?Theselfappointedtaskof
somenewspapersseemedtobetomaketheworldmoreratherthanlessmysterious.Viewedinthiscontext.theMatrimonialHeraldcouldbeseenastakingtoits
logicalextremenewspapers'temptationtoblurthelineseparatingfactsfromfictions.
InrevealingthatthirtythousandclientshadturnedtotheWorld'sGreatMarriageAssociation,thiscasealsodemonstratedthefactthatmanyVic
Page53
toriansfoundthemselvesinanincreasinglyanonymousworldinwhichonemighthavetorelyuponprofessionalgobetweensinarrangingwhatoncehadbeenintimate
familymatters.Appealingtothesensitivitiesofthepropertied,thedefenseshrewdlyarguedthatifmatrimonialagenciesweremadeillegalsotooshouldthefirmsthat
providedregistersofservants.Theimplicationwasthattherespectablemiddleclassmightlaughattheideaofabusinessprovidingspousesbutthatittoomoreand
morereliedonsimilarbusinesseswhenitcametothecrucialquestionofengagingstaff.52
ThedefensenotedthatonthecontinentmatrimonialbusinessesflourishedbutacknowledgedthatinEnglandtherewasaprejudiceagainstsuchundertakings.Infact
occasionalscandalsacrossEuropeandNorthAmericarevealedtheseamysideofsuchaffairs.InNewYorkinthe1850s,reportersexposedthefraudulentdealings
ofmatrimonialagents,someofwhomalsopresentedthemselvesasastrologers,phrenologists,clairvoyants,andpurveyorsofpatentmedicines.53InLondonin1890,
seventyyearoldLeslieFraserDuncan,proprietorandeditoroftheMatrimonialNews,wascondemnedinthepressasan"elderlyLothario"forattemptingto
seduceatwentyyearoldclient.Thewoman'ssuccessfulbreachofpromisesuitresultedinanawardoftenthousandpoundsindamages.54FromGermanyand
Franceaswellcameoccasionalreportsofagenciesinvolvedin"l'escroquerieaumariage."55M.GeraywassentencedinParistofiveyearsinprisonin1877andtwo
additionalyearsin1886formanagingfromthemisleadinglynamed"LoyalOffice"afraudulentmarriageagency.56AugusteBebel,theGermansocialistleaderwho
waswellknownforhisinterestinevolvinggenderrelationships,reportedthatthenefariousactivitiesofsuchbusinesseshadalsobeendisclosedincentralEurope.57
NeverthelessinEnglandtheMatrimonialPostandFashionableMarriageAdvertiser,foundedin1860,wasstillgoingstrongwellintothemidtwentiethcentury,
andwastoberivaledfrom1904onbythealmostequallylonglivedMatrimonialTimes.58Unfortunatelyweknowverylittleabouttheextentoftheiractivities
becausetheyavoidedentanglementswiththelaw.HistoriansareindebttotheSkatesesinasmuchasinforcingthepolicetorespondtotheirdisreputableundertakings
theyallowusaglimpseoftheambitionsandaspirationsofsomewhoreliedonsuchfirms.
Thesecondsignificantaspectofthecaseisthatittellsusagooddealaboutthelinkagesofclassandcourtship.Thepropertied,wholaughedattheplaintiffs,
customarilyfailedtounderstandthecourtingcustomsofthelowerclasses.Thelatterwerecondemnedbytheirbettersattimesforhastymarriagesandunthinking
sensualityandatothertimesforactingoutof
Page54
coldcalculation.59Inthiscasetheplaintiffs'goals,althoughtheywereregardedasridiculousbythewelloffpublic,werenotallthatbizarre.Middleclassmaleswere
supposedtopostponemarriageuntiltheyhadestablishedthemselvesprofessionallyforsomemembersofthelowermiddleandworkingclassitwasoftenthe
reverseearlymarriageandtheeconomicaidofaspousemadetheestablishmentofanindependenthouseholdpossible.60
Andweretheunionsoftheupperclassesfreeofsuchcalculations?"Aweddinghasbeenarranged"wasafavoritephrasecommonlyemployedbynewspaperswhen
announcingaforthcomingsocietymarriage.Althoughamiddleclassmallsdignityrequiredhimtofeignindifferencetothemoneyhiswifecouldbringtothemarriage,
suchmonetarysupportwasconsideredessential.Thedowry,assertedonecontemporaryhumorist,couldbestbedefinedasan"exporttax"paidbythefatherofthe
bride.61AlthoughaFrenchreformersuchasLonBlumforthrightlycondemnedmercenarymarriages,aBritishpsychiatristlikeHenryMaudsleyandanItalian
sexologistlikePauloMantegazzaweremorerepresentativeofbourgeoisthinkingininsistingthatbothmarriagesofloveandinterestcouldturnoutequallywell.62
IftheSkateses'attorneyshadbeenmoreforthcomingintheirdefenseofmarriagebrokers,theymighthavesaidthatinEnglandwhatcreatedscandalwasnotsomuch
thequestionofwhethermarriageswerearrangedbuthowtheywerearranged.EnglishandEuropeanmiddleandupperclassparents,althoughtheywerebeginning
toeasetheclosesupervisionoftheirmarriageablechildrenthroughsuchinstitutionsaschaperonage,continuedtoarrangetheirmarriagesbythetriedandtruemethods
ofinformalsurveillanceofschoolandsocialcontacts.63Pridingthemselvesonthesuccessoftheirprivate,informalstratagems,themiddleandupperclassescould
onlyviewpublic,commercialundertakingswithdistaste.Tohavetofallbackonsuchcrudetacticsobviouslyindicatedthatonelaughablylackedbothsavoirfaireand
accesstothebestcirclesofsociety.HenryLeachasixtyyearoldBradfordpainterandhousedecoratorwhowaslookingforaslightlyyounger,wealthywoman
andwhomaintainedtotheendhisbeliefinthenecessityofsuchmarriageagencieswasforthisreasonregardedbythecourtashopelesslycomic."Hestillthought
thatanassociationofthiskindwasoneofthegreatwantsofthepeople.(Laughter.)"64
Thethirdandmostimportantaspectofthecaseiswhatitrevealsaboutgender.Thetrialtellsusagooddealaboutlowerclassmenandwomen's
Page55
marriagestrategies,butparticularlymen's.Whywereonlymeninvolvedintheprosecution?Nodoubtmanywomenlostmoneytotheassociation,buttheshamethey
experienceddeterredthemfromappearingincourt.JohnCharlesSkatestriedtofendoffthepolicewhodescendedupontheAssociation'sofficesbyappealingto
theirchivalry:"Thisisamonstrousthing.Thisisarespectablebusinesswehavethousandsofladiesuponourbooks"65Mr.Lushingtonmentionedduringthe
preliminaryproceedingsthathehadreceived"lettersuponletters"frompeoplewhohadcorrespondedwiththeagencyanddidnotwanttheirnamesmentioned.66
Presumablytheyincludedsomewomen.Butmostoftheevidencesuggeststhatmenweretheassociation'smostlikelyvictims.Menhadmoremoneytoinvestinsuch
schemes,theyhadgreaterfreedomandenduredlesssurveillanceintheircourtships,andtheywerenotasrestrainedbyasenseofdecorumfromplungingintosuch
enterprises.Thesamereasonswouldappeartoholdtrueacenturylater.Manydatingservicesofthe1990sallowwomentoparticipatefree,butchargemenbecause
males'interestinsuchservicessoexceedsfemales'.67
Thecasealsoremindsusthatthemaleworldwassplitnotonlybetweentheworkingandthemiddleclassesbutbetweenthemarriedandtheunmarried.Althoughin
nineteenthcenturymaleculturebachelorhoodwaspraisedandthelossoffreedomsattendantuponmarriagerituallylamented,themanwhoremainedcelibatecould
beregardedbyhispeersasnothavingattainedfulladultstatus.68Theplightofthespinsterwasoftenbewailedbythepress,buttheoldbachelorwhofailedtomarry
herwas,atthebestoftimes,subjectedtogentleridicule.69TheFrench,inemployingthetermsclibataireandvieuxgaron,madeevenclearerhisanomalous
position.IndeedinFrancepronatalistslikeBertillonadvancedtheoverrepresentationofsinglemalesinasylums,prisons,andhospitalsasproofoftheactualsocial
dangersposedbythebachelor.70Durkheimconcurred,warningtheunmarriedmalethathewastwiceaslikelyasthemarriedmantocommitsuicide.71
Themoststrikingaspectofthistrial,however,wasitstheatricality.Thepublicattendingnineteenthcenturycourtcontestsexpectedtobetoldastorythatfolloweda
familiarscriptwiththestereotypicalpassivefemalevictim,bravehero,andnastyvillain.Themelodramaandthesensationalistnovelhadamajorinfluenceinproviding
thenineteenthcenturypublicwithsuchasetofrepresentationswithwhichtomakesenseofchangingrealities.Butifthemelodramahadsuchaninfluence,why,inthis
caseofpoormenbeingdefraudedbydisreputablescoundrels,didthepublicdecidethat
Page56
itwasviewingnotatragedybutacomedy?Theansweristhatthesuccessofamanincourtdepended,aswenotedearlier,ontheextenttowhichhewasableto
appropriatetheroleofhero.TheSkatesesclearlycouldnotassumesucharolebecausetheirguiltwasobvious.Buttheplaintiffs,becauseoftheirstupidityand
mendacity,weredebarredaswell.Attimestheywerealmostrelegatedtothefeminineroleofpassivevictim.Butthepublicrememberedatsomeunconsciouslevel
thatmostmelodramasincludedthecharacterofthe"poorinnocent"or"lepauvreniais."who,whenthetensiongrewtoogreat,wasbroughtonforcomicrelief.72It
wasthisroleofthe"fool"thattheplaintiffsfoundthemselvesplaying.Lowermiddleclassmales,sabotagedbytheirmixofpretensionsandinsecurities,maywellbe
thearchetypal"fools"ofmodernity.Ifthevictimsofthisfraudhadbeenwomen,theycouldhaveembracedtheroleofvictimandthecasewouldhavebeenplayedout
incourtastragedysincetheyweremen,ithadtobeplayedoutasfarce.
Ofcoursemiddleclassmaleswerealwayspreparedtolaughatthefoiblesoflowerclassmen.Thereadersofpopulardetectivestorieswereconstantlyinvitedto
shareinboththeupperclasshero'shatredfortheimmoralityofthevillainandhisamusementattheinherentineptitudeofthelowerorders,personifiedbythebumbling
bobbyorconfusedCockney.73Inthisparticularcase,however,thepopularpressalsojoinedinthelaughter.PeterBaileyhasrecentlyremindedusthat
"knowingness"wasacentralthemeofmusichallcomedy.Workingclassaudienceswantedtolaughatfoolsandbeassuredthattheywerenotamongtheirnumber.
The"swell"whosuccessfullyandmockinglyappropriatedthedressandmannersofgentilitywouldbeapplaudedwhiletheineptandimpoverishedclerkwho
unsuccessfullytriedtopasshimselfoffasa"gent"washootedwithderision.TheplaintiffsintheMatrimonialHeraldtrial,havingbeenexposedforputtingonairs
(afterthefashionofthemusichallwouldbegentleman,"BurlingtonBertiefromBow"),letthemselvesinforexactlythesortofmockingridiculetheworkingclass
reservedforthosewhomthecommunityhaddecidedhadtoohighanopinionofthemselves.74
Thetrialwasusedinavarietyofwaysbyavarietyofactorstopolicebothmalecourtshipandnotionsofmasculinity.Inarecentstudy,JudithWalkowitz
demonstratedhowaseriesofsensationalmediastoriesproducedinthelastdecadesofthenineteenthcentury"bothhighlightedandmanagedtheboundarydisputes
paradigmaticofmetropolitanlife."75Walkowitzdealtprimarilywiththewaysinwhichtheconcernwiththe"prostitutionproblem"wasemployedtorestrictrespectable
women'sfreedoms.
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ThepummelingthatthemalewitnessesintheHeraldcasereceivedatthehandsofthedefensecounselsgleefullyretoldinthepressservedasimilarsortof
purpose.
Anewmasculineidentitywasintheprocessofbeingconstructedinthelatenineteenthcentury.Tobearespectableman,oneideallyhadtoenjoyadegreeof
economicindependence.Suchindependencewasinfactincreasinglydifficultifnotimpossiblefortheworkingmantoachieve,buthecouldatleastaimatwinninga
''breadwinner's"wage,whichmadehimtheproudsolesupportofhiswifeandchildren.76Theyweredeclaredbythemiddleclasstobe"dependents,"andtheir
accesstothelabormarketrestrictedbytheenactmentofcompulsoryeducationandprotectivelaborlegislation.Womenandchildrenhadinthepastmadeessential
contributionstotheworkingclass'sfamilyeconomy,butnowhouseholdsthatreliedtooheavilyontheirincomewerenolongerconsideredentirelyrespectable.77
TheplaintiffsintheMatrimonialHeraldtrial,revealedtobemenwhointendedtoliveofftheirwives,wereaccordinglysavagedforhavingattemptedtoviolatenewly
establishedbutalreadysacrosanctgenderroles.
Thatoneoftheplaintiffsshouldhavefaintedlikeawomanwasalmosttooperfectinasmuchasthedefense'scontentionwasthatnoneofthemhadactedlikereal
men.Suchablurringofgenderwastobeexpectedsinceitwaspopularlybelievedthattheextendedcontinencedemandedoftheunmarriedwasunhealthy,making
womenmasculineandmeneffeminate.78Therewerethusobvioussexualimplicationsinthechortlestowhichtheplaintiffsweresubjected.Inthemusichalls,notfar
fromtheCentralCriminalCourtswherethistrialtookplace,maleimpersonatorssuchasNelliePowerwongalesoflaughterbyexploitingthenotionthatfraudulent
gentswerenotonlysocialshams,theywerelessthanmen.
Andhewearsapennyflowerinhiscoat,lahdidah!
Andapennypapercollararoundhisthroat,lahdidah!
Inhishandapennystick
Inhismouthapennypick.
Andapennyinhispocket,ladidah!79
Socialhistorianshavenotedthat,"likemarriageinotherhierarchicallyarrangedsocieties,Victorianmarriageservedimportantstrategicfunctions:ithelpeddefinelevels
ofsociety,maintainclasspositions,andlocateanindividual'splaceinthesocialstructure."80Itwasnot,ofcourse,acrimeforamanofmodestmeanstotrytocourta
womanofahighersocialstatus,butanywhoharboredsuchideasmusthavehadsecondthoughts
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whenreadingtheMatrimonialHeraldtrialreports.Themeninvolvedwerenottoberememberedforhavingcourageouslyplayedapartinputtingtoanendan
enormousfraudconspiracy.Thebriefmomentoffamethesehumblefellowsenjoyedconsistedofbeingmadethebuttofseveralbarristers'wit.TheSkateseswere
foundguiltysoinawayweretheplaintiffs.Theircrimewastohaveattemptedtomarryabovethemselves.Theirpunishmentwastobemadealaughingstock,
coveredwithscornandderision,andtoldinnouncertaintermstogiveupdreamsofeasyupwardmobility.Untilthenineteenthcentury,ithadbeenthetraditionin
partsofruralEnglandandwesternEuropetosubjectsuchupstartstothepublicmockeryofacharivariorroughmusic.Bythe1890sthecourtsandpresswere
fulfillingthisroleindeclaringthatwealthywomenwerestrictlythepreserveofmenofthesamesocialclasspoacherswouldbeseverelydealtwith.Amanwhowas
caughttryingtobroachclassbarriersriskedhavingbothhismotivesandhismasculinityquestioned.
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Three
Cads
Turnofthecenturysocietyhadatitsdisposalanimpressiverangeofepithetswithwhichtocharacterizethemandeemedguiltyofimmoralbehavior.The"lady
killer"(tombeurdesfemmes)wascreditedwithadangerouspoweroffascinationoverwomen."Towomanize"meant,inthesixteenthcentury,toemasculate,butby
thelatenineteenthhadtakenonitsmodernsense,toconsortillicitlywithwomen,andthe"womanizer''(coureurdesjupons)wasaccordinglythemanwhowassaid
tolookuponallwomenasfairgame.Theterm"rake"(rouordbauch),usedtodesignatethemanofloosehabitsandimmoralcharacter,wasoriginallyappliedto
dissipatedmenoffashionandnevercompletelylostitsupperclassassociations.The"bounder"or"cad"(butororgoujat)was,however,likethefellowsconsidered
inthepreviouschapter,clearlyan"outsider"andnogentleman.In1790a"cad"wasahorseomnibusconductorwhopickeduppassengersforhisownprofitby
Victoriantimesthetermconjuredupimplicationsofimmoralityaswellasworkingclassdishonesty.1 Furtherdowntheclassscale,onecouldlocatethescoundrel
(crapuleorvaurien)andblackguard(canaille).Farmoreexamplescouldbeprovided,butthesesufficetogivesomesenseoftherichnessofthevocabulary
respectableturnofthecenturysocietyappliedtomalevillainy.
Oneisnotonlyimpressedbytherangeoflabelsoneisalsostruckbythefactthattodayallthesetermssoundterriblydated.Thetriumphinthelatetwentiethcentury
ofthebeliefthatwomenarenotpassivebeingswhohavetobe"protected"frommenpresumablyexplainswhyitisnowhardtothinkofanypolitewordcommonly
employedtodesignatethemanwhotakessexualadvantageofawoman.Yetthepowerfulresonancethatwordslikecadorbounderhadattheturnofthecentury
wasmaderepeatedlyevidentincourtcaseaftercourtcase.Judgesandjuriesexplicitlyassertedthatitwastheirtasktodefendboththelawandalargelyunwritten
codeoflegalchivalryaccordingtowhichvirtuouswomenweretobeprotected
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fromevilmen.Thequestionofwhoseinterestswerebestservedbysuchchivalrywarrantsattention.
Aswayofananswerinthischapterweturntotwoarchetypalnineteenthcenturyscoundrelsthebigamistandthemanimplicatedintheabortionofasinglewoman.
ThoughthediscussionofbigamyisdrawnfromaseriesofnineteenthcenturyFrenchtrialsandthatofabortionfromonesensationalEnglishcase,bothrevealthatthe
courtsandthepopularpress,maintainingthepopularstereotypesoftheinnocentfemalevictimandthemaliciousmalevillain,playedupthenotionthatifonlyallmen
adheredtohonorablestandardsofmanlinesswomenwouldbesafe.Thoughtheselfcongratulatorytoneofsuchdeclarationswasobvious,manyofthosewhomade
themwerenodoubtwellintentioned.Neverthelessthechiefeffectoftheseassertionswastoattributethesexualdangersprevalentinmodernsocietytothemoral
failingsofafewwretchesandtodeflectattentionfromthesocialconditionsinwhichbigamousmarriagesanddangerousabortionsoccurred.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
InJanuary1886theParisianpressdevotedanenormousamountofattentiontothetrialofLouisProsperLecouty,the"bigamistofAlfortville."Fiveyearsearlierthis
twentynineyearoldjewelrybrokerhadmarriedEmmaMarie,ayoungdressmaker.In1883,havingbecomeboredbyhismarriage,Lecoutymetandsetoutto
seducesixteenyearoldBlancheLevanneur,whosefamilyresidedinAlfortville.Hepilferedfromhisemployerandhisclientsinordertoshowerherwithgiftsher
parentsignorantofhismaritalstatusfinallyconsentedtohermarriage.Althoughstillresidingwithhisfirstwife,LecoutyhadmarriagebannsreadatMaisonsAlfort
andrentedaweddingoutfit,tellinghiswifehewasgoingtoattendafriend'snuptials.Nosoonerhadhissecondmarriagebeensolemnizedthanhislegitimatewife
discoveredthesubterfuge.Lecoutywasjailed,protestingthathehadactedoutofpassion.Thoughhisfirstwifebeggedforthecourt'sclemency,hewassentencedto
fiveyearsinprison.2
Thiswasthesortofbigamycase,amelodramaticmixtureofsordidcalculations,passion,andbetrayal,thatcaughtthenineteenthcenturybourgeoisreadingpublic's
attention.Bigamistswerethearchetypalnineteenthcenturycads.Giventhestiffprisontermsimposedonthem,oneisgiventheimpressionthattherewerefew
nonviolentcrimesviewedbytherespectableassoloathsome.Bigamywasvileandharmful,thepublicwasrepeatedlyinformed,becauseitbestrepresentedthe
despotismofmales
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andthesubmissionoffemales.Everybigamytrialcouldthereforebeconstruedasyetanotherdemonstrationofrespectablemen'sintenttopreventtheseductionand
abandonmentofinnocencewomenbyimmoralmales.Inrealitymostbigamycases,thoughtheyculminatedinthepunishmentofmen,wereturnedbyelitesmalesto
purposeoflegitimatingtheirrighttopolicethemoralityoftheirsocialinferiors.
Whowerethebigamists?ThestoryofLecouty,thedashingyoungmanmovedbyacrazedpassiontoattempttomaintaintwohouseholdssimultaneously,whichso
fascinatedtheParisianreadingpublic,was,asismadeclearbyaperusaloftheGazettedesTribunaux,hardlytypical.Mostbigamistswere,itistrue,men.They
tended,however,nottobeterriblyyoung.AsamplingofcasesindicatesthattheaverageculpritwasnotadashingyoungLothario.Ofcoursetobeabigamistaman
wouldhavetohavebeenmarriedatleasttwice,whichnormallymeantthattheyoungestwouldbeintheirmidtwenties.Mostmenchargedwereinfactintheirthirties,
forties,orfifties.Fewcrimesweresoheavilyweightedtowardthemiddleaged.Norweretheremanycrimesinwhich100percentoftheperpetratorsweremarried.
Moreoverbigamists'firstmarriageswererarelyasshortasLecouty's,andmanyoftheirsecondmarriageswerequitelengthy.
Lecoutywasalsodifferentinbeing,insocialterms,acutortwoabovemostbigamists.Menchargedwithbigamyincludedtheoddmerchantorofficer,butmost
occupiedmuchhumblersituationstheyincludedrailwayworkers,canalmen,housepainters,shoemakers,cooks,waiters,andhairdressers.Theirfirstandsecond
spouseswererarelyheiressesandweremorelikelydrawnfromtheranksofmaids,seamstresses,marketwomen,andlaundresses.Bigamywasprimarilyaworking
classcrime.Why?Bourgeoisobserversattributedittothelustsandvicesoflowerclassmalesthecadsandbounderswhopreyedonunwittingwomen.
Commentatorsgenerallyoverlookedthesocialcontextinwhichsuchmnagesweresetup.Areadingofbigamycasesremindsusofthetransientnatureofmuchmale,
nineteenthcenturylaboringlife,ofwhichsettled,propertied,middleclassmenhadlittleunderstanding.Thedemandsofworkthatrequiredaspousebeingawayfrom
homeforlongstretchesoftimecouldfractureamarriage.Workmen,becausetheyweremoregeographicallymobilethanwomen,hadtheopportunitytobe
bigamous.JulesBrlaz,alocomotiveengineer,marriedin1874andagainin1882.3 ABelgianrailwayworker,triedin1889,whotoldhissecondwifethathisfirst
wassimplyanoldmistress,remindsoneofthecharacterPecqueux,therailwayfiremaninZola'sLaBtehumaine,whohadwomeninbothLeHavreandParis.4
SylvainDerou
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movedfromtheCreusetoParisandthenfromParistoAlgeria,leavingawifebehindeachtime.5 AmanlodgedintheMazasprisonin1886marriedforthefirsttime
inFrance,thesecondtimeinRomania,andathirdtimeagaininFrance.6 JosephVial,acook,firsttookawifeinItaly,butwhenhecametoworkinthespatownof
Vichyweda"femmedechambre."7 MoreexoticandupperclasswastheMexicanofficerwho,asaresultofbeingcapturedbytheFrenchduringtheirsupportof
emperorMaximilien'sMexicanexpedition,wasbroughtbackasprisonerofwartoTours,wherein1864hebigamouslymarriedthe"picier"withwhomhelodged.8
Onoccasiongeographicmobilitywassimplyusedasacover.OneRouselle,agrocerwholefthiswifeandchildreninParis'sfourteentharrondissenment,letitbe
knowhehadgonetoAmerica.InfactheonlymovedasfarasthenearbysuburbofBoisColombes,wherehesetupanewhouseholdwithawidow.9
EvidenceofthedisruptionscausedworkingclasslivesbyFrance'spoliticalturmoilalsoemergedinthebigamytrials.In1848Bastienlefthisvillagetogooffto
supporttherevolutioninParisasaresultofendinguponthelosingside,hewassentencedtoeightyearsinthe"bagne,"forgetabouthisfirstwife,andonhisrelease
remarried.10AsimilarstorycameoutinthetrialofanoldfedrLouisVictorMarty,afiftyfiveyearoldshoemaker,whosecasecametocourtin1877.Bothhe
andhiswife,FranoiseGaoin,havingmarriedin1868,hadthrownthemselvesintodefendingtheParisCommuneof1871againstthetroopssenttocrushtheshort
livedexperimentinsocialism.FranoisewasseizedwhiledefendingabarricadeontherueMonge.MartywasstationedatthePanthonandprudentlywent
undergroundwhentheVersaillestroopsinvadedthecapital.FranoisewastakeninchainstoVersaillesandin1872sentencedbyaCouncilofWartofiveyears
penalservitudeintheprisonatChartres.Marty,wishingtoremarry,claimedthatshehadbeenshotandwiththefinancialaidofferedbythesistersofSaintVincentde
PaulandtheSocitdeSaintFranoisRgisweddedforasecondtime.Onlyin1875didthetruthabouthisfirstwife'sfateemerge.11
Workingclassmenhadtheopportunitytocommitbigamywhatweretheirmotives?Bourgeoismoralistsportrayedthemascrudesensualistsorcunningfortune
hunters.Thedefensesthatthemenpresentedincourtobviouslyhavetobetakenwithagrainofsalt,buttobefairitmustbenotedthatsomemighthavebeen
confusedastowhatconstitutedlegalmarriage.JosephVialclaimed,forexample,thathisfirstmarriagewasnotlegalsincehehadnotreceivedhisparents'consent.
Someoftheaccusedwereobvi
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ouslynottoobright.Ram,an"ouvrierterrassier,"wasfairlydimwitted,andTaupier,athirtysevenyearoldredheadedfellow,muchamusedspectatorsbydutifully
replyingtoeveryquestionputtohimbythepresidentofthecourteventhemostincriminatingwiththeexpression,"Oui,MonsieurlePrsident."Andifsomedid
notunderstandwhatmadeamarriage,otherswereuncertainabouthowdivorce,onlyreintroducedin1884,wasregulated.Taupierassertedthathehadreasonto
thinkthathehadbeendivorced.12Similarlyitwasclaimedincourtthatabusinessmancharged"lafemmeDuhamel"100francsforapaperthatshebelievedgranted
heralegalseparation.13In1886DavidHertzfeld,whenappearingbeforetheParisassizes,arguedthatthirteenyearsbeforehehadmarriedaccordingtoJewishrites
andthereforeassumedthathehadtherighttorepudiaterituallyhisfirstwife.14
Areviewofpossibleextenuatingcircumstancesisnottobetakenasadenialthatsomemenweredrawnbymercenarymotivestomarrybigamously.Allagreedthat
SylvainDerouwasadrunk,thief,andbigamistofdetestablehabits.MonsieurSimon,anotherdissipatedcharacter,desertedhiswifeofthirtytwoyearstomarrya
twentyyearoldwomanwithadowryoftenthousandfrancs.Hetoldthelatterthattheyshouldbediscreteandlodgeunderafalsenamebecausehewasbeing
stalkedbyanoldmistress,buthismotherinlaw'ssuspicionswereraised,andhewaseventuallyarrested.15AlcideCrouzire,athirtytwoyearoldpainter
decoratordescribedinthepressasagoodlookingfellow,hadpurportedlydupedmany.Aprofessionalconfidenceman,hecalledhimselfabaronandmemberofthe
Acadmiefranaise.Forbuyingjewelsoncreditandpawningthem,hehadalreadybeencondemnedfourtimesforabuseofconfidence.Tendaysafterhismarriagein
February1892hewasarrestedinSaintLunaire(IlleetVilaine).Evidencewasproducedthatin1885hehadmarriedatTeste(Gironde)oneMarieCondom,whom
hedesertedin1891.Heclaimedthatshetoldhimshehadobtainedadivorceandthathehadsimplymarriedhissecondwifetolegitimatethechildshewasexpecting.
Bothwomendeclaredincourtthattheywerestillinlovewithhim.16
Mencouldcommitbigamymorereadilythanwomenbecausetheycouldmovemoreeasilybothsociallyandgeographically.Womenemergedfromthemajorityofthe
pressreportsrepresentedsimplyasseducedandabandonedvictims.Yetsomewivesdiddeserttheirhusbands.SuchasituationwasreportedinthecaseofPaul
AntoineHenry,anastyandjealousman,whosewifewentofftoRussiain1873withheremployer,a"grandecouturire."Elevenyearslaterhemarriedforasecond
timehisfirstwife
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foundoutandlodgedacomplaint.Despitehisclaimingthathethoughtshewasdeadandhissecondwife'spleasthatshelovedhim,hewassentencedtothreeyearsin
prison.17MoretypicalwasthecaseofBrlaz,wholefthisfirstwifein1874andin1882marriedaseamstress.Tenyearslater,havingsiredfivechildren,hewas
triedforbigamy.Hisfirstwifehadonlydiscoveredhissecondmarriagebecauseshesoughtproofofhisdeathsothatshecouldmarryabaker.18Likewisethewifeof
Mastien,whohaddesertedherin1848,wantedtoremarryandintryingtoobtainhisdeathcertificateunintentionallyunearthedhisnewmnage.Thefiguresavailable
onseparationsshowthatwomenwere,ifanything,moreintentthanmenongettingoutofunsuccessfulmarriages.Inthethirdquarterofthenineteenthcentury,85
percentofrequestsforjudicialseparationscamefromwives.19Itfollowsthatwomenwerepresumablyaslikelyasmentowanttoremarry,butbecausetheytended
toremainintheirhomecommunityandhadtokeepuptheirreputations,theycouldnotflouttherulesofmatrimonyaseasilyastheirabsentspouses.
Accordingtothemoralists'scenario,thebigamistwasalmostbydefinitiontheman,andthevictimthewoman,butthepressdidreportthetrialsofsomefemale
bigamists.In1868AmlieArnoult,alaundress,marriedamonsieurThomas.ShelefthimforafellowbythenameofHametin1872,depositinghertwochildreninan
orphanage.Nineteenyearslater,inordertoregularizehersituation,sheusedhersister'sbirthcertificatetopretendthatshewaswidowedsothatsheandHametcould
bemarriedatthemairieofParis'seighteentharrondissement.UnfortunatelywitnessescameforwardtotestifythatThomaswasstillaliveAmliewassentencedto
threeyearsinprisonandahundredfrancfine.20
Women,accordingtothepress,werelesssensualthanmenandthereforelesspronetopursueasecondspouse.Ignoredwerethemoreobvious,practicalreasons
notedabovewhytheywouldbelesslikelythanmentocommitbigamy,andoneisnotsurprisedtofindthatthecourtrecordssuggestthattheymadeuplessthana
quarterofthosecharged.Itcouldbethecase,however,thatthejudicialfiguresdidnotprovideatruereflectionofrealityinasmuchasmenweremorelikelythan
womentobeprosecutedforbigamy.Abandonedwivesweresometimesdriventofilechargessincetheyandtheirchildrenneededtheeconomicsupportofaman.A
desertedhusbandrarelyhadanyeconomicincentivetotrackdownawaywardwife.Itisunlikelythatwomenwerehappierthanmenwiththeirweddedlot.A
proportionofwomenstayedinunhappymarriagesortriedtomaintainthemoutofsheereconomicnecessity.21Yetasfarasthepresswasconcerned,thescaleof
femalebigamywasreallyofnogreatimportance.Male
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journalistssimplydidnotfindfemalebigamistsveryinterestingandknewtheirreaderswereunlikelytobeenthralledbythemundane,unromanticcalculationsof
impoverishedwivesandmothers.
Thebourgeoispressridiculedandderidedthemeninvolvedinbigamytrialsas"levolage"(theflightyorinconstantspouse),"leftard"(themerrymaker),and"le
fricoteur"(thewomanizer),butnotesofvoyeuristicmaleenvycanoftenbedetectedintheseaccounts.Suchwasthecaseinthepress'sdescriptionofIsraelBernard
who,withtwohouseholdsoneithersideofParis,waspresentedastryingtoeatattwotroughsatthesametime.Hehadoriginallyabjuredhisfaithtomarrya
mademoiselleChassangandlaterexchangedvowswithamademoiselleFourny.Foratimeheastonishedhiswiveswithhishecticdays,whichstartedatfiveinthe
morningandtookhimfromMontrougetoBatignolles.Theingeniousfashionbywhichhetriedtomaintainbothmnages,whenitcameoutincourt,obviouslypiqued
theimaginationofthenewspaperreadingpublic.Unfortunatelyaninquisitivemotherinlawprovedhisundoing.HiscareerfinallyendedinacellintheMazasprisonin
1897.22IntheEnglishspeakingworld,asimilarvoyeuristicbourgeoisfascinationwiththetakingofmorethanonewifeunderlaytheinterestheldbytheMormons
andarticleswithtitleslike"TheMostSuccessfulBigamistonRecord."23
Whatmostinterestedthepublicwasthemalebigamists'initialsordidseductionandthenthestory'smelodramaticdnouement.Howwasthemancaught?Intheory,
sincebigamywasaseriouscrime,thecommunityshouldhavedenouncedtheculprit.Inpracticetheonusoffilingachargewasusuallyplacedontheaggrieved
spouse.Thecustomaryscenariowasforthefirstwifetolodgeacomplaintwhilethesecondwife,whohadeverythingtoloseifherhusbandwasfoundguilty,stuckby
herman.Sometimes,however,bothwivesactedinconcert.24Occasionallyagrownchildofafirstmarriage,ajiltedmistress,oramotherinlawbeganthe
prosecution.Inthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury,itwasconservativelyestimatedthatabouttwobigamousmarriagesamonthwereperformedinthedepartment
oftheSeine.25FourorfivewenttotrialinallofFranceeachyear.Between1885and1894,thereweresixtysevenchargeslaidandfiftytwocondemnations,thatis
tosayafairlyhighconvictionrateofabout78percent.26Thelawconsideredthechildrenofthesecondmarriagetobeinnocentvictims,and,aslongastherewas
proofthatoneparent(presumablythemother)hadactedingoodfaith,theywerelegitimatedandenjoyedrightsofsuccession.Secondmarriageswereautomatically
nullifiedbythecourt,butifinthemeantimethefirstspousediedthesecondmarriagecouldbemaintained,theintentagainbeingtolegitimateresultingchil
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dren.27Sentencesforthemenfoundguiltyrangedfromtwotoeightyearsimprisonment,withtheaveragebeingaboutfouryears.AmonsieurHermantwhomarried
nearToulouse,remarriedinParis,andthenreturnedtohisfirstspouseandconfessed,receivedalighttwoyearterm.28Theheaviestpunishmentseightyearprison
termswereimposedonmenwhohadbeeninvolvedintheCommuneandtheRevolutionof1848,whichsuggeststhatthecourtswereusingthelawonbigamytodo
morethansimplyprotectthefamily.
Whydidthelawtreatbigamistssoharshly?In1920asoldierwhohadbeentakenprisonerin1914andthenuponhisreleaseattheendofthewarhadmarried
bigamouslyappearedincourt.Hislawyer,whileadmittingthathisclientmighthaveactedoutofignorance,insistedthathewasnofortunehunterandhadnocriminal
intention.Hisdeedwasmoreridiculousthanodious.Moreover,why,thelawyerasked,wasbigamyacrimewhenadulterywasnotanddivorcewasnowfreely
available?29LawsagainstbigamywerefirstpassedbytheemperorAugustuswiththeavowedpurposeofshoringuptheRomanfamily.InChristianEuropebigamy
waslumpedinwiththemostodiousofcrimes.30InEnglanditwasmadeafelonyforthefirsttimein1604thoughthelawwasinitiallyfairlylenient,itlatertreatedthe
crimeasacapitaloffense.ThefatethatawaitedthemaincharacterinNatalieZemonDavis'sTheReturnofMartinGuerreremindsusthattheCatholicchurchinthe
earlymodernperiodwasverymuchconcernedbybreachofpromiseandbigamycases.31TheCouncilofTrentsoughttopreventclandestinemarriagesbyinsisting
thatweddingsbepublicizedandtheblessingofmarriagebemadeobligatory.Bigamywasregardedbychurchmenasworsethanadulterysinceitwaslongerlasting.
Moreoverthebigamist,liketheheretic,profanedthesacraments.Inthesixteenthcentury,thedeathpenaltywasfrequentlyimposedonbigamistsotherswere
whippedandbanished.ThelastcaseinFranceofbigamybeingpunishedbydeathoccurredin1626a1658edictformallyendedthisextremeformofpunishment.32
Thereafteraconvictedmanwascustomarilycondemnedtoappearforthreedaysbeforethepublicinanironcollarhungwithadistaffforeachofhiswivesa
convictedwomanhadtowearastrawhatforeachofherhusbands.InEnglandtheguiltywerebrandedonthehand.InFrance,aftertheirpublicpenance,theywere
eitherbanishedor,ifmen,senttothegalleys,whilethewomenwerelockedupinconvents.Despitesuchharshpenalties,itishighlylikelythatthenumberofbigamous
marriageswasquitelarge.33
Althoughitisimpossibletotabulatetheexactnumber,theeasewithwhichmencoulddeserttheirfamiliesandtheabsenceofdivorceleadsone
Page67
toexpectthattherateofbigamyuntilthelatenineteenthcenturyhadtohavebeenhigh.Thefactthatfewcaseswerereportedsuggeststhatonlywhenabigamous
marriagewasoffensivetothecommunitydiditcreateapublicscandalthatthenledtoatrial.34Neighborhoodsympathyandanindividual'sdiscretionweremore
importantthanthelaw.Eveninthenineteenthcentury,marriagescontinuedinthefirstinstancetobepolicedbythefamily.Ramwaiteduntilhisparentsweredead
andthenabandonedhislaundresswifeandmarriedanother.35PaulAntoineHenryalsotookthepassingofhisfatherandmotherasthesignalthatitwassafeto
remarry.AlcideCrouzireclaimedhisparentsweredead,buttothedelightofthecourthisfatheranoldrevolutionarywhohadbeenproscribedforopposing
NapoleonIII'sseizureofpowerin1851turneduptotestify.36
FollowingtheFrenchRevolution,thepenalcodeof25September1791decriminalizedadultery,andin1792divorcewasestablishedthoughitwasonlytolastuntil
1815.37Withthegeneralmovementtowardtheliberalizingofthecriminallaw,itcomesasasurprisetodiscoverthatArticle33ofthe1791codecalledforbigamyto
continuetobepunishedbyharshprisontermsofuptotwelveyears.UnderArticle310ofNapoleon's1810CriminalCode,thepenaltywasonlyreducedtobetween
eightandtenyears.Christianmoralistshadcalledforstiffpenaltiesbecausetheyregardedbigamyasbothaviolationofthesacramentofmarriageandasortof
"continuousadultery."Inaliberal,bourgeoisworld,someofthismoralizingwasmaintained,buttheirreligiousnatureofbigamywasnolongerregardedasitsprimary
danger.LawmenassertedthatFrancenowwasanindividualisticsocietymadeupoffreeindividualsheldtogetherbyfreelyenteredcontracts.Insuchacontext,
bigamyhadtobeconsideredastheworstsortoffraudinasmuchasitwasadastardlyviolationofacontract,indeedthecommunity'smostimportantcontract
marriagethatestablishedfamilies,whichwerethenaturalbuildingblocksofsociety.38
Yetifmarriagewasacontract,itwasanunusualonegiventheabsenceofdivorceinFrancebetween1815and1884inthatitwasindissoluble.Bourgeoismales,
ratherthanacknowledgingthatthepressuresimposedonthelowerclassessometimesledtobigamy,insistedthatitwasbigamythatcreateddisorderinworkingclass
communities.Ingivingrisetopublicscandal,bigamywas,inthewordsofpubliccommentators,a"socialcrime."Bigamywasamanifestationoftheworstsortof
deceitanddeceptioninsowingconfusioninfamiliesitunderminedsocialorder.Workingclassmales,sotheirbettersagreed,hadtobetrainedtoacceptandrespect
thesortofclearcontractsemployedbythemiddleclasses.39
Whatthesesortsofassertionsfailedtotakeintoaccountwasthatthere
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werepracticalreasonswhybourgeoisandworkingclassmaleswouldhavedifferentviewsonmarriageandtheestablishmentofhouseholds.40Commonlaw
marriage,or"concubinage"asitsdetractorscalledit,wascommoninpoorerneighborhoods.41Itistruethatitcouldleadtoconfusionthattheunscrupulouscould
exploit.JeanBaptisteLain,forexample,claimedthathisfirstwifewasonlyhisconcubinewhenhemarriedasecondtime.42Inthe1890sitwasestimatedthatthere
wereaboutfortythousand"unionslibres"inthecityofParisalone.Workersoftenlackedthetimeandmoneytoassemblethedossierrequiredtomarry.Catholic
charitiesliketheSocitdeSaintFranoisRgishadastheirmissionthegoaloftryingtoconvinceworkerslivingincommonlawrelationshipsofthemoraladvantages
oflegalmarriage.TheSocitwasfirstestablishedtohelpsoldiersundertheFirstEmpire.By1850ithadfinanciallyassistedfortytwothousandcouples.Thecharity
recognizedthedifficultiesposedworkersbyexistingmarriagelawsthatrequiredbirthcertificates,deathcertificates,andtheconsentofparents.43Severalbigamists,
suchasJeanBaptisteDufour,turnedtothisverycharityforaidwhencommittingtheir"crime."Manyothermenmarriedbigamouslywomenwithwhomtheyhadbeen
livingforyears.Theironywasthatiftheyhadcontinuedtolive"insin,"theywouldhavegoneunmolested.Bytryingtoformalizeadomesticarrangementandassure
thelegitimacyoftheirchildren,theybecamecriminals.
Membersoftheworkingclassalsohadtheirownideasaboutwhatterminatedonemarriageandallowedanother.Bigamyinthenineteenthcenturywas,asone
historianhasnoted,aworkingclassfactoflife.44Membersofthelowerclassestookpermanentseparation,traditionallyasevenyearsilence,asanindicationofthe
moralendingofamaritalrelationship.Forexample,inEnglandin1807,aSomersetrectorwhenaskedbyawomanifhewouldhaveherbannsread,repliedthathe
hadbeentoldshehadalivinghusband."ShesaiditwasallfalsewhatfolkssaidabouthisbeingalivethathewenttotheEastIndiesasasoldierupwardsofseven
yearsago,andhadneverbeenheardofsince."45InBritainthelowerclassesalsoemployedthe"saleofwives"asaformofpopulardivorce.46Whatthecourts
representedasbigamousmarriagesmighthaveresultedfromamicableseparations,butbylawsuchinformalarrangements,thoughtheysuitedtheindividualsinvolved,
couldnotbepermitted.Bastienwascaughteighteenyearsafterhisfirstmarriageandgivenafiveyearsentence.Lainwasarrestedtwentynineyearsafterhisfirst
marriage.Adecadeofasecondhappymarriagewastakenintoaccountbythejury,whichwantedto
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showitsleniencyinthecaseofBrlaz.Abigamytrialcouldaccordinglydestroysimultaneouslytwohouseholds.AlfredBloquel,forexample,acoiffeurfromPassy,
hadbeendesertedbyhisfirstwifein1872whenhewasinjail.Hewashappilymarriedin1886toaClsteEvrard,whoranafruitstall.Fourteenyearsafterthe
endingofhisfirstmarriage,avindictiveexmistressinformedthepolicethathewasalreadymarried,investigationswerecarriedout,andtheauthoritiesfoundhisfirst
wifelivingpeacefullyinRouenwithanotherman.47DivorceinFrancewasnotavailableuntil1884.48Andevendivorce,whichhaditsownlegalcostsand
complications,couldnotbeexpectedtoeliminateworkers'recoursetobigamy.
Prosecutorsinbigamycasesrepeatedlystressedtheneedtodefendthefamily,thecornerstoneofsociety.Itwasthereforeasomewhatcurioussituationthatmenwho
wereseekingtocreateafamily,toformalizearelationshipandlegitimatetheirchildrenshouldbelockedawayforuptoeightyears.Thebigamylaw,purportedly
designedtoprotectfamilies,wouldinpracticeoftenbeusedtobreakthemup.Itshouldberemembered,however,thatthesamelogicwasfollowedundernineteenth
centurydivorcelawinbothEnglandandFrance,whichheldthataspousefoundguiltyofadulterywasnottobeallowedtomarryhisorherlover.Thenotionthatvice
wasnottoberewardedwasmoreimportanttomoraliststhanassuringthehappinessofanewfamily.AsimilarmoralismwasmanifestedbytheCatholiccharitiesthat
soughttoencouragetheworkingclasstoenterformalmarriages.Priestsactuallycondemnedthestablecommonlawpartnershipsofworkerswhichsometimeshad
resultedingrandchildrenasmoresinful,sincelongerlasting,thanshorttermpromiscuity.
Theclassandmoralpreoccupationsofthedefendersofthelawonbigamywereclear.Forourpurposesthemostinterestingaspectofthediscussionofbigamyisthe
lightitshedsonnineteenthcenturynotionsofmasculinity.Bigamy,claimedmiddleclasslawmen,wasanevilinasmuchitwasnakeddemonstrationofthedespotismof
malesandthesubmissionoffemales.Thecourtsarguedthatthemostcommoncaseusuallyconsistedofaman'sbasedesire,bytheemploymentofodiouslies,to
seizethemodesteconomiesofsomepoorgirl.Thecrimewasconsideredsonoxiousthatmarriedwomen,normallyonlyallowedtolaunchaprosecutionafterthey
receivedtheirhusband'spermission,wereinthecaseofbigamygrantedexceptionalfreedoms.49Followingasimilarlogic,children,whoweregenerallyharanguedto
respecttheirparentsinallthings,wereinbigamycasespermittedsomelatitude.Achildofafirstmarriagewasallowedtolaunchasuitofnullityagainsthisfather'snew
marriageinordertoensurethathe
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obtainedhisrightfulinheritances.50Bysoarmingwomenandchildrenagainsttheirhusbandsandfathers,thestatecouldbeseenasstrikingablowagainstpatriarchy.
Inrealityupperclassmen,whocontrolledthejudicialsystem,wereemployingthelawagainstlowerclassmales.Bigamousmalesnodoubtfrequentlytookadvantage
oflesspowerfulfemales.Thecriminalcodewasemployed,however,notsomuchtospeaktotheneedsofsuchwomenbutrathertobringthelowerclasseswithinthe
paleofthelaw,toimposeonthemthemoralstandardsoftheirsocialsuperiors.
Mostofthediscussionofbigamyconsistedofbourgeoismaleslamentingthelowermoralstandardsoftheworkingclassman,buttheywerenotbeyondfinding
amusementinsomepoorfellow'sentanglementwiththelaw.Bigamytrials,accordingtothePetitParisien,usuallyelicitedamixtureoftearsandlaughter.Thetears
wereobviouslyshedbythemembersofthefamilyorfamiliesdevastatedbythecourt'sfindings.Thelaughtercamefromthemiddleclassobservers.Suchhilarityburst
forthinthetrialofJeanBaptisteDufour,describedasafiftyyearold''Lovelace."HehadmarriedinBne(Algeria)in1853,inLeHavrein1868,andinAlgiersin
1871.Alargeaudiencecameouttoseethe1874trialatLeHavreofthe"polygamist."Awigmakerrecentlywidowedwithwhomheworkedreportedthathehad
proposedtoher."QuestionYouwouldhaveconsentedtomarryhim?Answer(confidently)Oh,yessir,aftertheninemonths[ofmourning](generalhilarity)."51
Amusementinmoretypicaltrialswasprovidedbywhatthecourtreporterspresentedastheparadeofsheepishorcontritehusbandsandthegenerousorfoolishwives
willingtotakebacktheirstrayingspouses.Whenthesecondhusbandofawomantriedforbigamydied,thereporteroftheusuallystaidGazettedesTribunaux
quippedthatonehusbandwaslostbutanotherfound.Onecanthinkoffewotheroccasionsinwhichwomeninmourningweremadethebuttofbadjokes.52
Journalistscoveringthetrialsoftheworkingclassfeltthatsensitivitywasnotrequiredbecausepassionwasrarelythecauseofbigamyworkingclassmenwere
understoodtobemovedbybaserinstincts.BourgeoismalesfoundtheideaofamanlikeAlfredBloquellivingoffhiswifeparticularlydisgusting.53EvenLecoutywas
ridiculedbythejudgeforclaimingtoberichthoughhavingtorentclothesforhiswedding.Bigamywasundoubtedlyaformoffraudthatwasoftenemployedbymen
tovictimizewomen.ButasinthecaseofthetrialoftheownersoftheWorld'sGreatMarriageAssociation,thecourts,whendealingwithbigamy,seizedthe
opportunitytodenigratethemoralityandmanlinessoftheworkingclassesandexaltthesuperiorityofbourgeoisnormsofmasculinity.
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Thepolicingofmeninvolvedintheabortionofsinglewomenwasturnedtosimilarpurposes.InMarch1896anEnglishjudgepronouncedthedeathsentenceonJohn
Hindson,afortythreeoldcommercialtravelerwhohadhelpedawomanfriendprocuretheinducementofmiscarriagefromwhichsheultimatelydied.Itcomesas
somethingofashocktorealizethatlessthanacenturyagothosewhoassistedwomenseekingtoendapregnancycouldbesubjectedtotheharshestsentences
Englishcourtshadathand.In1803theinducementofmiscarriagehadforthefirsttimebeenmadeastatutorycriminaloffenseintheUnitedKingdom,abortionbeing
theoneoperationspecificallyprohibitedbystatute.Inthecourseofthenineteenthcentury,thelawwasrepeatedlyamendedforthepurposesofsimplifyingits
enforcement,andbythetimeofthe1861OffensesAgainstthePersonActanabortionconvictioncouldresultinamaximumpenaltyoflifeimprisonment.Itcouldbe
argued,however,thatthelawhadlittlerealimpact.Anumberofhistorianshaveconcludedthat,giventheincreasedsocialpressuresonfamiliestorestrictfertilityin
thelatenineteenthcentury,abortionratesactuallysoared.Iffewabortionswerereported,itwasbecausemanymembersofthelawandmedicalprofessionsfeltthere
waslittletobegainedinprosecutingdesperatewomenwhosoughtbydangerousmeanstoendtheirpregnancies.54
Thegeneralpicturepaintedbyhistoriansofthelatenineteenthcenturyabortionlawisthatittargetedwomenbutwasinfrequentlyemployedthatitfacedmuch
popularoppositionbutthatseriouscallsforitsreformorrepealhadtowaituntilthetwentiethcentury.TheinterestofferedbyareviewoftheHindsoncaseisthatit
forcesustorevisetosomeextentsuchviews.First,theprosecutionofJohnHindsonprovidesevidencethattheabortionlawwasusedtopolicethemoralityofmen
aswellasthatofwomen.Second,Hindsonwaschargedwithmurder.Thisservesasareminderthatabortionattemptsweremostlikelytocometotheauthorities'
attentionwhensomethingwentseriouslywrongbutthatinsuchcasesthelawcouldrespondwithferociousvigor.Englishcourtsrepeatedlylevieddeathsentences
afterinducedmiscarriagesresultedinunintendedmortalconsequences.Third,theHindsontrialprecipitatedanunprecedenteddiscussionofbothabortionlawandthe
moralityofabortionitself.Inthecontextofthisdebate,thefirstpublicdefenseofabortionbymenwaspublishedinanEnglishjournalprecedingthewritingsofStella
BrownebytwentyyearsandtheactivitiesoftheAbortionLawReformSocietyby
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morethanforty.AreviewoftheHindsoncaseisaccordinglyofobviousinterest,promisingasitdoestorevealwhobecameimplicatedincriminalabortions,howthe
lawagainstthemwasenforced,andwhycallsweremadeforitsreform.Despitethepurportedconcernforthe"unbornchild"brandishedbytheopponentsof
abortion,thiscasemakesitclearthattheabortionlawwasnotjustaboutreproductionbutemployedtopolicegender.Assuchabortionlawsplayedanunexpected
roleindefiningmasculinity.
Hindson'stroublesbeganinOctober1895whenSarahEden,afiftysevenyearoldAstonmidwife,wasindictedforthedeathofbothRebeccaSimister,aneighbor,
andthatofMabelGordon,ayoungwomanwhohadworkedasabarmaidandbookkeeperattheAlbionHotelinLeeds.On12Septemberadoctorhadinformed
Gordonthatshewaspregnant.Theyoungwomanbegantakinglargequantitiesofpatentmedicinestoinduceamiscarriage,buttheydidnogood.Shethenturnedto
JohnMillarHindsonforassistance.Alltheevidencesuggeststhathehadimpregnatedher.Hindson,amarried,fortythreeyearoldcommercialtravelerofTorry
Street,Hull,wasdepictedinthepressasapparentlythearchetypalsleazytravelingsalesmanwhohadawomanfriendineverytown.Subsequentpoliceinvestigations
revealedthathewason"Intimateterms"withIsabellaPirieinAberdeen,MatildaManninginBirmingham,andMabelGordoninLeeds.IsabellaPiriewasatonetime
engagedtoHindsonforeightweeksandbelieved,aspresumablydidtheotherwomen,thathewassingle.Hindsonwasobviouslynota"gentleman"asthetermwas
understoodatthetime,buthedidnotabandonthepregnantMabelGordon.HewroteIsabellaPirieinAberdeenthatMabelGordonhadbeenbetrayedbysomeman
andthatshehadthereforeturnedtohim"tokeepher.''Hethensetaboutarrangingacomplicatedplanbywhichthebarmaidcouldsavebothherreputationandhis
own.HindsonwenttoBirmingham,fromwherehewrotePiriethathehadfoundaplacewhereanabortion"couldbebroughtoffallright."55Heconcludedby
sendingPirieloveandkissesandtherequestshedestroyhisletter.ToPirie'ssuspiciousquestion,"Whyyou?"Hindsonreiteratedthathewasnotresponsiblefor
Gordon'spregnancyandwasjustbeingagoodfriend.
HindsonaskedPirietoposeasarelativeofGordon'sandsendatelegramtoLeedssayingGordonhadtoreturntoAberdeen.ThiswouldallowGordontogetaway
fromheremployerforaweekorsoandhaveherabortioninsecret.56ThisPiriedid.On15OctoberMabelGordonshowedtotheAlbionHotelhousekeeperthe
telegramsayingshehadtoreturnhome
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toAberdeen.TherusepermittedhertotravelsecretlytoBirmingham.ItwasnotbychancethatHindsonhadarrangedforMabelGordontogotoBirminghamtostay
withMatildaManning.HindsonhadknownManningforsixyearsandwhenintheBirminghamarealodgedatherhome.Hewasonextremelygoodtermswithher,
addressingherinlettersas"MydarlingTillie"andconcludingthemlikethelettershewrotetoIsabellaPiriewith"loveandkisses."Hindsoninitiallydidnottell
MabelGordonofhisrelationshipwithMatildaManningbuteventuallyhadto.
MabelGordonarrivedatNewStreetStation,Birminghamat11:20on16October.Gordon,accordingtoManning,claimedthatshehadbeenseducedbyaLeeds
bookmaker.ThenextdayManningtookGordontonearbyAstontomeetthelocalmidwifethesameSarahEdenwhoattendedRebeccaSimister.Edenprovided
anabortionforwhichafeeoffivepoundswascharged.GordonreturnedtoboardatMatildaManning's,whereon18Octobershefellill,butitseemsthatHindson
wasinformedbypostthattheoperationwasasuccess.On22OctoberhewroteIsabellaPirietoreportthateverythinghadgoneoffasplanned.Butafewdayslater
Gordon,muchenfeebled,returnedbytraintoLeeds,whereshediedofbloodpoisoningon26October.57
ThemidwifeSarahEdenaccordinglyfoundherselfinDecemberchargedwiththemurderofRebeccaSimisterandindictedalongwithMatildaManningforthe
manslaughterdeathofMabelGordon.ThelesserchargewasleviedinthecaseofGordon'sdeathbecausetheLeedscoroner'sjurywasoftheopinionthattheyoung
womanmighthavelivedhadshereceivedbettermedicalcare.58SarahEdenwastriedforthemurderofRebeccaSimisterbeforeMr.JusticeJohnDayintheShire
Hall,Warwick,attheWarwickAssizesoftheMidlandCircuit,on10December1895.59Thetrialtookonlyafewhours.Thedefensearguedthatnoevidencewas
advancedbytheprosecutiontoconnectEdendirectlytotheoperationof23OctoberthatSimisterunderwent.DoctorsfurthertestifiedthatSimistercouldhave
possiblyinducedherownmiscarriage.ButMr.JusticeDaysummedupstronglyagainstEden,andafteramerefourminutesthejuryreturnedwiththeverdictthat
Edenwasguiltyofwillfulmurder.
ThereporterfortheDailyNewsclaimedthatthejury'sfindingshockedmostofthespectators,butMr.JusticeDaycongratulateditonitsacumen,insistingthatno
otherverdictwaspossible.Day,turningtotheprisoner,whohadbeenrenderedhalfunconsciousbytheunexpectedverdict,sanctimoniouslywarnedherthatshe
shouldnotlooktohisintercession,butratherseekmercywhereitwasonlytrulyfound:"atthefeetoftheSavior
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whoifapproachedwithtruesorrowandcontrition,wouldreceiveher."60HethensentencedSarahEden,atremblingwomanoffiftyseven,todeath.Edencollapsed
andwascarriedawayinafaint.
Mr.JusticeDaywasnotfinished.HavingdealtwithEden,henowpresidedoverthetrialofMatildaManning,thethirtyeightyearolddressmakerwhohadbeen
indictedforthemanslaughterofMabelGordon.Manning,aswasnoted,hadtakenGordonalongtomeetSarahEden.EdenhadbeenindictedwithManningfor
Gordon'sdeath,butsinceEdenhadalreadybeenconvictedofRebeccaSimister'smurder,EdenwasnottriedwithManningonthesecondcount.Thecrown'scase
againstMatildaManningwasweak.ManningstucktoherstorythatshehadnothingtodowithMabelGordon'sabortionandhonestlybelievedthatGordonhad
cometoBirminghamsimplytoarrangeforherconfinement.Manning'strialendedinanabruptandmostunexpectedmannerbutnotbecauseofeithertheclumsiness
ofthecrowncounselortheskillofManning'sbarrister.ThefirstwitnesscalledwasJohnMillarHindson,themanwhohadarrangedforGordontogotoMatilda
Manning'stoseekanabortion.Notappreciatingthedangeroussituationinwhichhefoundhimself,Hindsonshockedthecourtbytestifyinginacool,nonchalant
manneraboutGordon'seffortstofreeherselfofherpregnancy.DespiteMr.JusticeDay'smutteredwarningthatheneednotgiveselfincriminatingevidence,Hindson
moreoverfreelyadmittedthathewrotelettersonMabelGordon'sbehalftotheaccused.Whenaskedwhyhedestroyedotherpossiblyincriminatinglettersfrom
womenfriends,heflippantlyreplied:"Ialwaysdo."61
Hindson'scrossexaminationhadnosoonerbegunthanajuryman,perhapstakenabackbythewitness'scandor,collapsedinafit.Thetrialwashaltedanda
conferenceofthecounselsheld.TheprosecutiondecidedtodropitsweakcircumstantialcaseagainstManning.Mr.JusticeDaygrudginglyconcludedthat
"consideringherposition"hewouldgivethewomanalightsentenceandshewasreleasedwithacaution.ButonceManning'strialwasconcluded,Day,outragedby
whathehadheardofHindson'spromiscuousprivatelifeandnowoutforblood,orderedthepolicetoarrestthecommercialtravelerforthemurderofMabelGordon.
HindsonwasseizedashetriedtoleavetheShireHall.62Hewasnaturallyshockedatbeingchargedwithamurderthattookplacemilesawayfromwherehehad
been."Iwasneverneartheplace,"heprotestedtothepolice,''andIcanproveit."63
Theunexpectedturnofeventswasplayedupbythepress.TheDailyChronicle,undertheheadline"TheWarwickSensation,"reportedthat
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JohnMillarHindson,afamilyman,waschargedwithprocuringtheabortionservicesofMatildaManningandSarahEdenandwiththemurderofMabelGordon.64
Hindsonwasformallycharged23DecemberinMarch1896aGrandJuryissuedatruebillagainsthimforGordon'sdeath,andhewascommittedfortrialonthe
chargeofwillfulmurder.65HewastriedattheWarwickAssizesbeforeMr.JusticeJamesMathewon8March1896.TheBirminghamDailyGazettegavea
discreetversionofthetrial,notingthatthesubjecthadalreadybeendealtwith"anditwasnotnecessary,andcertainlynotdesirable,todiscussthedetailsofavery
painfulcase."66Afullaccountwasmadeavailablebyother,lessprudishnewspapers.TheyreportedthatEdenandManningtestifiedtoHindsonactingforthemand
MabelGordonasagobetween.SarahEden'stestimonydrew"muchinterest"asshewasthewomanwhoafewmonthsearlierhadbeencondemnedtodeath.She
spokeveryquietly,forwhichshewasadmonished,againinsistingthatshehaddonenothingillegaltoGordonwho,Edenreported,hadconfessedtospendingthreeto
fourpoundsonabortifacientpillsbeforecomingtoBirmingham.AsregardsHindson,Edenassertedthatshedidnotknowhimandhadnevermethim.
Dr.Green,themedicalwitness,testifiedthattherewasevidencethatsuggestedMabelGordonmighthavemiscarriedbefore.Regardingherdeathhereportedthatan
instrumenthadbeenusedonherbutthedrugsshetookandthejostlingrailwaytripbackfromBirminghamtoLeedsinherweakenedconditioncouldhaveplayeda
contributingpartinprecipitatingherfinalcollapse.Thedefensepointedoutthat,whateverthecauseofGordon'sdeath,therewasnoevidenceofHindson'sbeing
directlyinvolvedineithermurderoranillegaloperation.SarahEden,whooperatedonGordon,didnotevenknowhimhehadbeenahundredmilesawaywhenthe
operationactuallytookplace.67
ThejudgeobviouslyviewedHindsonasMabelGordon'sseducer,askingwhyhewenttosuchextremesinofferingtohelptheyoungwoman.ButHindsoncouldnot,
bylaw,provideadirectanswer.Mr.JusticeMathewnotedthattheaccusedincriminalcaseswasnotinfactallowedtotestifyonhisorherbehalf.Abillallowingthe
accusedsototestifyhadjustpassedtheLordsandhadbeensentontotheCommons.Mathew,presumablyregrettingnothearingwhatHindsonmighthavetosay,
declaredthatitwasabadlyneededreform,whichwouldhelpjudgesindeterminingappropriatepunishments.68AlthoughMathewseemedtowanttoappeartobe
fair,heneverthelesssummedupstronglyagainsttheprisoner.Afterabrieffifteenminutes,thejuryreturnedwiththeverdictofguilty,thoughthefore
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man,stating"weareallsorryforhim,"passedonthejury'srecommendationformercy."Withoutapauseofanysort"notedthepress,"thejudgepassedthesentence
ofdeath."69
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Thesearethe"facts"ofthesecasesastheywerepresentedinthetrials.Whatdotheytellusaboutnineteenthcenturyabortionlawanditsrelationtothepolicingof
masculinity?Presumablythemainintentofthecourtsinenforcingthelawwastopreventwomenfrominducingtheirmiscarriages.Onreflectiononecanseethatthis
goalwasonlyachievedinanindirectfashion.Womenwhosoughtabortionswererarelyprosecuted.Foradoctor,evenoneviolentlyopposedtosuchpractices,to
bringtothenoticeoftheauthoritiesapatient'ssuccessfulinductionofmiscarriagewasalsoveryunusual.Andmostnewspapers,includingmanywhichdecriedany
attemptatfertilitycontrol,carriedadvertisementsforawiderangeofthesortofreputedabortifacientsthatMabelGordonhadconsumed.AsingleissueofthePenny
IllustratedPaperof30April1892,forexample,puffed"Dr.Mackay'sMarvelousRemedies,""ABlessingtoLadies""TheFrenchRemedy,""MadameLeno's
Remedy,''"Kelsey'sWidowWelchesFemalePills,""NurseBayley'sWorldRenownedSpecific,"andthe"Ladies'MissionTheGreatInfallibleRemedy."70
Abortion,throughacrime,waswidespread,andthelawagainstitbothdifficulttoapplyandhalfheartedlyenforced.Juriessimplywouldneitherindictnorconvicta
womanwhoinducedherownmiscarriage,theassumptionbeingthatshehadsufferedenough.Itwastheabortionist,notthewomanwhoaborted,whowasinevitably
charged.AndeventhenprosecutionsundertheOffensesAgainstthePersonActof1861usuallytookplacewhenawomanhaddied.Inshortthelawwasprimarily
concerned,notsomuchwithwhohadabortionsbutwithwhoprovidedthem.Therewere,ofcourse,someinthecommunitywholamentedthelaxitywithwhich
abortionwastreated.SuchviewswereclearlyexpressedbyMr.JusticeDay,whoassertedthatitwasnecessarytoimposetheharshestpossiblepenaltiestodeteran
actthatled,soheclaimed,tomanydeaths.Womenweresotemptedtocommitthiscrime,thejudgeobserved,thatithadtobeseverelypunishedwhenproved.He
wentontoconfessthatheevenfeltsome"satisfaction"inpronouncingthedeathsentenceonSarahEden,inasmuchasitwoulddeterothers.71Thepunishment,Day
hoped,wouldactasawarningtothose"whopractisedforhirethiswickedtrade."72TheBirminghamDailyGazetterejoicedinsuchseverity,complainingthatthe
"unlawfuloperation"wasacrimeof"deplorablefrequency."Thenewspapershared
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Day'sviewthatsincesomanyabortionswentundetected"severeandexemplarypunishmentisnecessary."73ThethoughtnevercrossedthemindsofeitherMr.
JusticeDayorhissupportersthatthefactthatsomanywomenweretemptedtocommitsuchacrimeimpliedthattheremightbesomethingwrongnotwithwomenbut
withthelaw.
Abortiontrialspittedmenagainstwomen.Althoughoneoftherationalesatthebeginningofthenineteenthcenturyformakingtheprovidingofabortionastatutory
crimewastoprotectwomenfromdangerouspractitioners,itremainedacrimethatwomenmostlycommittedandmenalonepunished.ThetrialofSarahEden
providedacleardemonstrationofthisalignmentofpowerandgender.Thejudge,police,andjurywere,ofcourse,allmales,asweremostofthespectators.Indeed
insomeabortioncases,theevidencerelatingtowomen'sreproductiveorganswasthoughtsounsavorythatthejudgeorderedall"ladies"toleavethecourt.74An
occasionaldoctorwasimplicated,buttheabortioniststriedwere,likeSarahEden,usuallyolderneighborhoodwomenwhoactedsometimesinpursuitofmonetary
gainsometimesoutofkindness.Theyincludedin1890thirtyfiveyearoldDinahClapp,midwifein1891ElizabethBerryandDorothyDavis,midwivesin1892
LizzieAnnMitchell,herbalistin1893MaryAnnBaker,dressmakerandAnnieStewart,midwifein1899sixtysevenyearoldJaneWhite,midwifein1900forty
eightyearoldErnestineKatz,midwife.75Almostinevitablythesefemalepractitionershadtofacethehostiletestimonyofmaledoctorswho,thoughalarmedbythe
dangersillegaloperationsposed,wereespeciallyconcernedtousethelawagainstabortiontoeliminatecompetingmedicalservices.
ButtheHindsontrialalsopointsoutthepatriarchalnatureofthelawthatis,itsusebypowerfulmentocontrolnotjustwomenbutother,marginalmen.Theattempt
bySarahSimister,amarriedwoman,touseabortiontolimitfamilysizedidnotseizetheVictorianreadingpublic'simagination.Thepolicingofhersexualitywas
assumedtobetheresponsibilityofherhusband.Inthenineteenthcentury,thementionofabortionwasfarmorelikelytoconjureuptheimageofaMabelGordon,a
seduced,singleyoungwomanseekingtoprotectherhonor.Insuchcasestheabortionlawwasobviouslyusedbythecourtstopolicefemalesexualitybymaking
intercourseoutofwedlockdangerous.AstheHindsoncaserevealed,thelawwasalsoemployedtopolicethesexualityofmalesinvolvedinsuchextraorpremarital
relationships.ThehusbandsofwomenlikeSimister,whoaborted,evenwhensuchmenclearlyactedasaccessories,wererarelyprosecuted.Unmarriedmalesoften
were.76
Hindsonsimplydidnotunderstandwhyhewasbeingprosecuted.He
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wrotetothepressprotestinghissentence,claimingthathehadnotbeenonimmoraltermswithMabelGordonandthattheLeedscoroner'sjuryhadestablishedthe
paternityofherchild.MoreimportantlyheaskedhowitwaspossibleforhimtobefoundguiltyofagreatercrimethaneitherEdenorManning.77Hedidnotrealize
thathehadbeensentencedtodeathnotjustbecauseofanabortiondeathbutbecauseofitslinktohispromiscuity.Mr.JusticeMathewnotedwithdistastethatwhat
thetrialhadrevealedwas"theremarkableinfluencesomemenhadoverwomen."78ThenewspaperpressportrayedHindsonasalicentious,calculatingcharacter,a
marriedmanbutwithunbridledpassions."Oneofthoselooseliving,selfindulgent,recklesscharacters,"reportedtheBirminghamDailyGazette,whosesoleaim
wastocorruptwomen.79TheBirminghamDailyMaildescribedhimas"athoroughlyloathsomefellow,aLothariowithoutscruple,ascoundrelwithoutashredof
conscience."Themoralsofthis"low,libidinousblackguard"hadledtothenoose.80TheYorkshireEveningPost,whilespeculatingthatHindson'sdeathsentence
wouldbeultimatelycommuted,concludedwithselfsatisfactionthatas''aheartlesssensualist,hewillberightfullypunishedwitha'lifer.'"81
WhatnoonesaidbutfewcouldhaveignoredwasthatifHindsonhadsimplywalkedawayfromGordonafterhefoundoutthatshewaspregnanthewouldbeafree
man.Hewasinprisonnotbecauseheseducedherbutbecausehehelpedherobtainanabortionfromwhichshedied.Thenotsohiddenmessagethecourtwas
givingtomenwasthatthesexualexploitationofbarmaidscouldbewinkedatamanonlyputhimselfseriouslyatlegalriskifinadditionheinvolvedhimselfinassisting
suchawomantoinduceamiscarriage.AndasHindson'snamewasblackened,MabelGordon'sreputationwasconverselyrescued.Weknowverylittleabouther,
butatfirstglancethistransformationappearsrathersurprising.Itmightberememberedthatthebarmaidwasinthenineteenthcenturythearchetypalmalesexual
fantasyfigure,creditedbyheroglerswithhavingaloosermoralcodethanmostwomen.82MoreoverevidencehadactuallybeenheardincourtthatGordonmight
haveabortedonapreviousoccasion.NeverthelessthelogicheldthatifHindsonweretobeportrayedasvillain,Gordonwouldhavetoemergeashisinnocentvictim.
Whatwasthepublicreactiontothesetrials?Inthe1890sonlyahandfulofmurderersinEnglandwereexecutedeachyear.83Thepassingoftwodeathsentencesin
thecourseoffourmonthsintwoabortiontrialsnotsurprisinglyprecipitatedagooddealofheateddiscussion.Inonecaseamidwifehadbeenbeggedbyafriendto
provokeamiscarriageintheothertheprisonerhadassistedafemalefriendindistressandbeenahundred
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milesawaywhenshedied.Dideitherwarrantthedeathpenalty?Treatingabortiondeathsasmurderobviouslybotheredmanyinthecommunity.InHindson'scasethe
connectionwasespeciallytenuous.Butseveritydidhaveitsdefenders.TheBirminghamDailyGazette,withoutopenlymentioningabortion,arguedthatthe"law"
washard,butonreflectiononecouldseethatsuchalawwas"necessary."Acrimethatresultedindeathhadtobetreatedthesameasmurder.84TheBirmingham
DailyMailsimilarlyfeltobligedtoreminditsreadersthat,accordingtoLordBramwell,aidinganother,evenwithherconsent,toabortifitledtodeathwasmurder.85
AttheLiverpoolWinterAssizesin1858,BramwellhadheldintheStadtmhlercasethatifapersonforanunlawfulpurposeuseddangerousinstrumentsormedicine
toinducemiscarriageanddeathensued,thiswaswillfulmurder.86ButStadtmhler,unlikeHindson,wasactuallypresentandassistedatanabortion.
MuchofthepublicdiscussionnecessarilycenteredonMr.JusticeDay,who,theBirminghamDailyGazetteadmiringlynoted,hadinthepastbuiltupareputationas
ascourgeofcriminality.Day(18261908)beganhislegalcareerasasuccessfulandhighlypaidbarrister.In1882,attheageoffiftysix,hewasmadeajudge.He
wasnotashamedofhisoldfashionedviewsand,accordingtohisson,wasapointedcriticofcontemporaryenthusiasmsforEuropeancriminalanthropologyand
"pseudoscientificsentimentalism.""ItmusthavebeenearlyinhisjudicialcareerthatMr.JusticeDaydecidedthathewoud[sic]domostgoodbydevotinghismain
energiestoenforcingthemorallaw,andtodeterringcriminalsfromfurtheroffensesagainstGodandsocietybymeansofseveresentencesincluding,whenpossible,
theuseofthelash."87ButDay,sohissonclaimed,havingterrorizedpoorwretcheswiththeprospectofcorporalpunishment,oftenultimatelyreducedtheharsh
sentencesthathehadimposed.
In1886Mr.JusticeDayclinchedhisreputationasonewhoenjoyedadministeringa"lawofterror."Atthatyear'sNovemberAssizesinLiverpool,intenton
impressingthelocalcitizenrywiththedignityofthelaw,hesentencedtwentyyoungrobberstotwentytothirtystrokesofthecat.Andtoensurethatthememoryofthe
degradationremainedfresh,Dayorderedthatthelastapplicationsofthelashweretobeinflictedjustbeforetheunfortunatesfinishedtheirprisonsentences.Onalater
occasionheregrettednotbeingabletohavefloggedanothergangofyoungthievesknowing,asheclaimed,thatyouthscaredonlyfortheirskins.88Infourteenyears
Dayinflicted3,766strokesofthelashon137prisoners."Showyourbacktoyourdissolutefriendswhenyoucomeout,"washiscustomaryadvicetosuchcriminals.
Thelipsmackingpleasurewithwhichthejudge
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imposedsuchsentenceswasboundtoelicitcriticisms.Wasthatthewayagentlemanbehaved?ThechiefconstableofLiverpoolrememberedDayasacarefuljudge,
"thoughundoubtedlyaverysevereone."89EvenDay'ssonhadtoadmit,withalargemeasureofunderstatement,thathisfather"wasnotgiftedNewmanlike,witha
trueapprehensionofthefeelingsofothers."90Day'sinfatuationwithfloggingandhislackofjudicialcalmnesswasattributedbyhiscontemporariestotheferocious
brandofRomanCatholicismthatheembraced.JohnMorley,theLiberalM.P.,on30July1888readtotheHouseofCommonsaletterfromJudgeAdams,oneof
theBelfastCommissioners,whodescribedDayas"amanoftheseventeenthcenturyinhisviews,aCatholicasstrongasTorquemada,aToryoftheoldhighflyer
andnonjurortype."91
SarahEdencouldnothavecomebeforealesssympatheticjudge.Daywasespeciallyprejudicedinsexcases.92Hisreligiousbeliefsnodoubtexplainedhisexpressed
hatredofabortionandthegeneralopinionwasthattheseverityofEden'streatmentwasclearlyduetoDay'spreoccupations.TheDailyNews,whichonearlier
occasionshadattackedDayasabrute,protestedthatEden'sdeathsentencewasagainstjusticeandnatureitwasa"miserablesubjectofjudicialerror"thathadtobe
remediedquickly.ThenewspaperassumedthattheHomeOfficehadbeenalerted,"because,inthematterofcapitalsentencesMr.JusticeDaynotoriouslyneeds
constantwatchfulness.Hehasagloomypassionforseverity,whichmakesitnecessarytobereadytosavehimfromhimself,aswellastosaveculpritsfromthe
consequencesofhispeculiarconceptionsofhisduty."93TheDailyChronicleconcurredthatitwouldbeascandalandacrimeifSarahEdenwereexecuted."Wedo
notbelievethatoneEnglishmaninahundredwouldconsenttoregardheroffenseasoneofwillfulmurder,ortopunishherdeed,gravelyculpableasitwas,withthe
lastdreadsentenceofthelaw.Leastofallcansuchapenaltybeproperlycarriedoutattheinstanceofajudgeholdingtheviewsofpunishmentwhichhavebeenmost
unhappilyillustratedonscoresofoccasionsbyMr.JusticeDay."94Inshort,inattackingDayasa''brute,"theliberalpresswasassumingtheroleofchivalrous
protectorofwomen.EventheBirminghamDailyGazette,anavidsupporteroflawandorder,askedthat"womanhood"begivenmercy.OnlegalgroundsEdenhad
beencorrectlyfoundguilty,butperhaps,thenewspapersuggested,sheignorantlysoughttodogood.Hopefullythejudgewouldsaysomething.ButinfactDay
refusedtorecommendmercythat,hedeclared,wastobedecidedbyhigherauthorities.95
SirJamesCharlesMathew(18301908),Hindson'sjudge,didnotenjoyDay'sreputationforseverity.Mathewwasanardentradical,knownforhis
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facileandhumoroussallies.ButasadevoutRomanCatholic,hehadaslittletimeforsexcrimesasDay.96Hearingthejury'sguiltyverdict,heimmediatelypassed
Hindson'sdeathsentence.Buttraditionallymurderhadtoentail"maliceaforethought."Hindson,theliberalpressprotested,wasclearlynotguiltyof"willfulmurder"to
suggestthatheintendedGordon'sdeathwasabsurd.
Somuchforthejournalists'critiquesofthecourts.Whatofthepublicdiscussionofabortion?MostEnglishnewspaperslamentedtheseverityoftheabortionlawasit
manifesteditselfintheEdenandHindsoncasesfewhadthecouragetoembarkonanydetailedinvestigationofwhytherewasademandforabortion.Oftheleading
dailies,theDailyNewswentfurthestinaskingifinducementofmiscarriagemightnotbe,incertaincircumstances,legitimate."Mrs.Eden,attheearnestsolicitationof
amarriedwomanwhohadreasontodreadtheagonyofaconfinement,consentedtoperformanillegaloperation....Shehadnocorruptmotivesheactedonlyfrom
afeelingofpityandperhapsonsomeconfusedideaofthesimilarityofherministrationstothoseinwhichthelifeofachildunbornissometimesfreelyandblamelessly
sacrificedtosavethelifeofamother."97Thewriterwasexpressingwhatmanynodoubtfelt.Theactofapromiscuoussinglewomantryingtohideevidenceofher
sexualtransgressionswasnotthesamethingasanillmotherseekingtoterminateaseventhpregnancy.Inapplyingthelawonabortion,thecourtshadtotakeinto
accountthecharacteroftheindividualsinvolved.Butthisisasfarastheleadingdailieswouldgo.
Foranactualdefenseofabortion,onehastoturntoanarticlewrittenbyAlexanderCohenentitled"TheCaseforMrs.Eden,"whichappearedinanobscurejournal
calledTheTorchofAnarchy.Cohen'sdefenseofabortion,becauseofitsdaringoriginality,deservesquotationinfull.
JusticeDay,thewellknownworshipperofthe"cat"hasmadehimselfnotoriousoncemore.AtthelastWarwickAssizes,thishighlyrespectableoldfloggermanaged,byhis
summingup,sotodirecttwelveimbecilejurymenthattheyreturnedaverdictofwillfulmurderagainstSarahEden,acharwoman,whobyan"illegaloperation"wasallegedto
havecausedthedeathofawoman,acertainMrs.Sinister[sic].
WedonotintendtodwellonthesentenceofDeathpronouncedbyDay.Butweareanxioustoknowwhatisthemeaningoftheseprosecutions,andinthenameofwhat
"principle"theyareinstituted.
Hereisthecase.Apoorwretchedwoman,whoneglectedto
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prevent,attherightmoment,theconceptionofherchild,obtainedtheservicesofanotherwomantoprocureabortion,inordertospareherselftheanguishofchildbearing,andat
thesametimetosavetheprospectivebabythepainofliving.Theoperationiscarriedout,andthewomandies.
Nowifatanytimethereexistedarightofproperty,thenmostindisputablyitisthatwhichawomanhasoverherunbornchild.Anditwouldbejustasreasonabletohanga
surgeonwho,byamputatingabrokenlimb,causesthedeathofhispatient,astocondemntodeathaSarahEden,underwhosemoreorlessexperiencedhandsawomandiesafter
undergoingasocalledillegalabortion.
Butletuslookatthequestionfromanotherpointofview:themostimportantone.Whyshouldnotwomen,evenwhentheyarenotinaweakstateofhealth,asMrs.Sinister[sic]
issaidtohavebeen,anddonotdreadthephysicalpainofchildbirth,abort,iftheychoosetodoso.How,insuchacase,cantheinterferenceofjudges,asrepresentativesof
Societythatrottenabstractionbejustified?
Forthequestionisnotwhetherawomandiesornotinconsequenceoftheoperation.Ifshedoesnot,sheandthe"operator"areneverthelessprosecutedandcondemned,ifthe
thingbecomesknown.
Womenmustprocreate,womenmustbeprolific,womenmaynotextirpateordestroythefruitoftheirwomb.Sosaysthelaw,andsosaythebrainlessidiotswhoabidebyand
worshipit.
Wesay:Thebringingforthofchildren,solongasthe"joyofliving"cannotreasonablybeexpectedtobetheirfate,isacrime,thegreatestweareabletoconceive.Howmuch
betterwoulditnothavebeenhadthescoresofcursedchildrenwemeetinthestreets,livid,bloodless,andthin,somanyindictmentsagainsttheirrecklessprocreators,iftheir
comingintoexistencehadbeenprevented,ofiftheyhadbeentaken,assoonastheycametothedarknessofthelight,bytheheels,andtheirbrainsbeendashedoutagainstthe
wall?
Wretchedwomen:besterile,closeyourwombs,abort!98
Despiteitsrhetoricalexcesses,thiswasaremarkabledocument.Itsauthor,AlexanderCohen,aDutchanarchistwhohadlivedmuchofhislifeinFrance,earneda
livingtranslatingintoFrenchtheworksofsuchGermanwritersasHugovonHoffmansthal,GerhardtHauptman,andEduardDekker.Cohenwasdeportedfrom
FranceandtriedinabsentiaattheAugust1894procsdetrenteafteranoutbreakofanarchistbombingattacksled
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theFrenchgovernmenttopasslawsthatallowedittotryconspirators.99CohenfoundintheLondonofthe1890salivelyanarchistculture,dominatedbyEuropean
exiles.100TheTorch,whichdeclareditselfajournalof"AnarchistCommunism."wasownedandoperatedbythreeyoungpeopleintheirtwenties,Olivia,Arthur,and
HelenRossetti,theniecesandnephewofDanteGabrielRossetti,thepreRaphaelitepainter.101TheTorchparadedanadvancedsexradicalism.Itattackedas"the
goodygoodyoldcats"theprudeswhoattemptedtoclosetheEmpire,apopularmusichall,102castigatedthepoliceforharassingprostitutes,103andleapttothe
defenseofEdithLanchester,ayoungwomanwhohadbeencommittedtoanasylumbyherparentswhenshesoughttoliveunmarriedwithasocialist.104
TheTorchstressedthatitwasnecessarytounderstand,ifnotcondone,thedesperateactsofwomenwho,givenexistingsocialmores,wereendangeredbytheirown
fertility.ThejournaldefendedMinnieWellsandAmyGregory,whoweresentencedtodeathforhavingcommittedinfanticide.105Wells,atwentythreeyearold
laundryworkerfromReigate,wasdeliveredoftwinsinMay1894evictedfromherhomeandimpoverished,shedrownedhertwobabiesinJune.106InMarch1895
theTorchsimilarlypresentedAmyGregory,whohadstrangledherchild,asavictimofsociety.Wasitanysurprise,itasked,thatGregory,atwentythreeyearold
laundresswhohavinggivenbirthintheworkhouse,starving,turnedoutofherhouseandunemployed,shouldhavekilledherbabydaughtertoprotectherfromalife
ofpain?107Suchdiscussionsprovidedaremarkableexampleofleftistmen,whomtherespectablepresscustomarilydepictedasscoundrelsandblackguards,
appropriatingthediscourseonchivalry.108Mr.JusticeDaywasthecadanarchists,theyasserted,werethetrue"gentlemen"inalonedefendingpoor,persecuted
women.Thisexampleof"anarchistgallantry"remindsonethatmenontheleft,evenwhencondemningtheeconomicandpoliticalaspectsofbourgeoissociety,prided
themselvesontheirstrictadherencetoamasculinecodeofhonor.109
MostoftheTorch'sarticlesonsexissuesweretheproductofFersenheim,aBerlinerwhowroteunderthenameofF.S.Paul.Hefollowedafamiliarleftistlinein
attackingbourgeoismarriageasacrasscommercialtransactionbutalsochidedotheranarchistmalesfornotrecognizingwomen'ssexualneeds.Hesoundedanew
notefortheleftinEnglandindefendingbirthcontrol.110Paul,inanarticleentitled"Malthusianism,"thoughadmittingalargefamilywasstillprobablyaneconomic
advantagetotheworkingclasshousehold,declaredthatanarchistshadnoobjectionsonmoralgroundstothe"useofpreventiveappliances."111Paulprovided
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theTorch'sdefenseofHindson.Hindson,accordingtoPaul,insteadofdenyinghisguilt,shouldhaveforthrightlydeclared:"Everywomanhasaninalienablerighttodo
withherbodywhatevershelikestogiveherselftowhomsoevershelists."Hindsonwould,ofcourse,havebeencrazytohavemadesuchastatementincourt,andfor
PaultomakesuchasuggestionindicatesthathehadlittleunderstandingofEnglishmores.NeverthelessthereisnogainsayingthefactthatPaulwaswillingtostate
whatnoEnglishwriterwould.Hindson,heobserved,"madearrangementswhich,ifsuccessful,wouldallowher[Gordon]tofacethefuturewithalightheart.Andfor
thisheistodie!...Whatafarce,whatatragedytohavetospendalifetimebehindironbarsforthecrimeofhavingbefriendedanunfortunatewoman!"112
InBritaintheTorchwentfarfurtherinitssexradicalismthananyotherleftistjournal.ThenineteenthcenturyBritishsocialistmovementwasfairlyprudish,inpartdue
tothefactthatfertilitycontrolwasassociatedwiththeconservativedoctrinesofMalthus.113Accordinglytheraisingofthesexissuewasregardedbymanyontheleft
notonlyasimmoralbutimpolitic.Thebroachingoftheabortionquestionreflectedanemergingconsciousnessofthesymbolicandpoliticalimportanceofsexuality
amongahandfulofleftists,butdidnotmarkamajorturningpoint.OncetheTorchceasedpublicationin1896andAlexanderCohenreturnedtothecontinent,radical
discussionsofsexissuesbytheEnglishleftflagged.114
Nevertheless,followingtheflurryofnewspaperdiscussions,EdenandHindson'sdeathsentenceswerecommuted.Eden'ssentencerousedgreatpublicinterest.115
TheDailyNewsreportedreceivinginnumerablelettersprotestinghertrial'soutcome.Apetitiononherbehalfultimatelygarneredthirtythousandsignatures.116The
HomeSecretaryannouncedthecommutationofSarahEden'sdeathsentenceinlate1895insteadshewassubjectedtolifeimprisonment.TheBirminghamDaily
GazettepraisedtheHomeOfficeforitsleniencytheBirminghamDailyPostgrudginglyadmittedthatthecommutationwasneededbutinsistedthateveryoneshould
agreethatcrimehadtobebeatenback.TheDailyNews,inreferringtothe"terriblesentence,"statedthatitcouldnotbelievethatthefinalwordhadbeensaid,anda
newpetitionwaslaunchedcallingforthereductionofEden'sprisonterm.117
AsregardsHindson,thepresshadnotedattheoutsetthathisdeathsentencewould"notarousetheemotionalsympathywhichenteredsolargelyintothecaseofMrs.
Eden."118Inotherwordsthediscourseofmalechivalrycouldnotbeturnedtoprotecthim.Indeedhistrialwasdescribed
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byconservativenewspapersashavingrevealeda"nauseoustragedy."119Nevertheless,inmidMarchof1896,theHomeOffice,inresponsetoapetition,replied
thatHindson'sdeathsentencehadalsobeenrespitedwithaviewtoitscommutation.120Hindsonstillprotestedthat,nothavingbeenallowedtospeakincourt,his
sideofthestoryhadnotbeenheard.Andhecontinuedtoaskhowhecouldbeguiltyofthemurderofawomanhehadonlytriedtohelp.121
WhywereEdenandHindsonreprieved?AlthoughthearticlesbyCohenandPaulareofobvioushistoricalsignificance,theHomeOfficewas,ifawareofthem,
obviouslynottobeswayedbythewritingsofafewanarchists.Werethenewspaperreportsandpetitionsinfluential?Perhaps,butattheendofthedaytheHome
Officeactedtostrengthenthelawnotundermineit.Eden'sreprievewashardlyunexpected.GivengenderconcernsinlateVictorianEngland,itwasunusualfora
womantobeexecutedforevenordinarymurder.In1895sixteenmenandthreewomenwerefoundguiltyofmurder.Elevenofthemenandnoneofthewomenwere
executed.122Moretothepoint,noonehadbeenexecutedforanabortionrelateddeathinEnglandsince1875whenAlfredThomasHeapwashangedinKirkdale
Gaol,Liverpool.Heap,amidwife'shusband,fatallyinjuredawomanwhenusingaspindletoprecipitatehermiscarriage.Hehadbeenpreviouslyconvictedand
sentencedtofiveyearsimprisonmentforasimilaroffense.Neverthelessthepublicregardedhis1875deathsentenceasexcessive.ThejuryprotestedtoBaron
Pollock,thepresidingjudge,thatifithadknownitsrecommendationformercywouldbeignoreditwouldnothavefoundHeapguiltyofwillfulmurderbuthave
broughtinamanslaughterconviction.123NeverthelessHeaphanged.
Mr.JusticePhillimoreintheWarkcasespelledoutthelawasitpertainedtoabortiondeathsasfollows.124
Iftheunfortunatewomancausedherownmiscarriage,then,sofarasshewasconcerned,itwasinlawacaseofsuicideorfelodese.Iftheprisonerwereheraccompliceinthat,if
hewerepresentaidingandabettinganillegaloperationwhichcausedherdeath,thoughhedidnotactuallyusetheinstrument,hewasequallyresponsibleforherdeath.Ifhe
werethere,orencouragedorassistedherbygettingaroom,hewouldbewhatthelawcalledaprincipalintheseconddegree.Ifhemerelyurgedorcounselled,andwasnot
himselfpresentattheillegaloperation,hewouldbewhatthelawcalledanaccessorybeforethefact,andwouldstillbeguiltyofmurder.125
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Thistheoryof"constructivemurder"mighthavemadesensetojudges,butthepublicfounditunsatisfactory.FollowingtheHeaptrial,althoughthedeathsentencewas
mandatorywhenthewomandied,thoseconvictedofmurderresultingfromaprocuredabortionweregivenreprievesbytheHomeOffice.126
ForourpurposestheEdenandHindsontrialsareofinterestforseveralreasons.Theyserveasusefulremindersthatthelawonabortion,althoughrarelyused,could
leadtotheimpositionofsavagepunishments,thatithitmenaswellaswomen,andby1895wassubjecttoattack.AsutopianastheanarchistcontributorstoThe
Torchmighthavebeen,theydidatleastrecognizethetruththatanylawagainstabortionwhichpittedmenagainstwomen,thewealthyagainstthepoorwasunjust
andunworkable.Therespectablenewspapersavoidedsuchsocialanalysesandsoughttoindividualizethetragicconsequencesoftheadministrationofthelawby,for
example,blamingSarahEden'sfateontheheartlessnessofthatoldreactionaryMr.JusticeDay.Injusticesoccurredbuttheyweredue,thepressreassuredthepublic,
topersonalratherthantostructuralfaults.Yetdespitesuchcomfortinginterpretations,manyfemalereadersmusthavebeenledtothetroublingconclusion,whichfew
couldorwouldyetvoice,thatthelawspertainingtoreproductionsystematicallypenalizedwomenandthateveryjudgepresidingoveranabortiontrialwasfreeto
administeralawofterror.
Butthesetrialsalsotellusagooddealaboutmen,andinparticular,aboutlatenineteenthcenturynotionsofthemalesexualpredatorandhisrelationshiptothemodel
female.MabelGordondiedbecauseofthelawonabortionnotbecauseofanyactionofHindson.Hewasmadeascapegoatbecauseheforcedhisactionsonthe
noticeofthecourt.Yetthecourtdidnotreallyknowwhattodowithhim,caughtbetweenitsrhetoricanditsreason.Hindson'scrime,asthepressrepeatedly
stressed,wasthathehadactedlikeacadorbounder,butdidthatwarrantthedeathpenalty?
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Applyingpunishmentaccordingtoaculprit'scharacterandmoralswasbynomeansnew.Thetraditionalsummarylegislationfordealingwiththeloose,idle,and
disorderlyledtopeoplebeingimprisonedforwhattheywereratherthanforwhattheydid.Theinterestheldbytheviolentcastigationsoftheseducerthatcameoutin
bigamyandabortiontrialsstemsfromthefactthattheywerearelativelyrecentdevelopment,
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suggestinganevolutioninnineteenthcenturynotionsofmasculinity.TalesofmythicDonJuanfigureshadlongbeenastapleofWesternculture.Eighteenthcentury
novelistslikeRichardson,Laclos,Crebillon,andRestifdelaBretonneplottedthemachinationsoftheseducerinexcruciatingandoftenadmiringdetail.127
Nineteenthcenturybourgeoissocietyresolutelyturneditsbackonsuchthemes.Oronemightmoreaccuratelynote,ashasTonyTanner,thattheVictorianwriter
couldonlyjustifytheportrayalofsexualtransgressionsbymoralisticallyportrayingtheirnecessarilytragicconsequences.128
Onemightprotestthatthereisnoproofthatnineteenthcenturymenwereanylesspromiscuousthantheireighteenthcenturyforebears,butthatisnottheissue.
Representationsofsexualrelationschangedevenifactualbehaviordidnot.Unwedmotherswereregardedwithlesscompassion.129Cuckoldswerenottobe
laughedattheseducerwasnolongerafigureoffun.Inpartbecausethosewhoembracedthenewidealofcompanionatemarriagebasedonaffectiverelationships
necessarilyviewedwithdistastethosediscussionsofextramaritalsexthatoncehadbeensourcesofpopularamusement.130InpartbecausetheDonJuanfigure,who
devotedhisenergytoamorousconquestsratherthantosocialaccomplishments,wasincreasinglycastigatedbyseriousmiddleclassmenasa"feminine"type.
Accordingly"donjuanisme"wastoattracttheattentionofGregorioMaraon,Spain'sforemostsexologist,whowasinterestedintheindecisivenessoftheseducer's
sexuality.131Thenewmasculineheroofamaterialisticagewassupposedtoseekworldlysuccess.Evenyoungromanticadventurers,portrayedinthenovelsof
StendhalandBalzac,whiletheypursuedwomen,hadastheirrealgoalsocialmobility.132Accordingly,tobelabeledaseducer,aLothario,asHindsonandmanyof
thebigamistswere,couldhaveseriousconsequencesattheendofthenineteenthcentury.ThiswasanageinwhichinBritainElliceHopkins'WhiteCrossMovement
wasassertingthatiftherewerenoseducerstherewouldbenoprostitutes,whileinFranceseductionwasinadditionheldresponsibleforahostofsocialillsincluding
poverty,stillbirths,abortion,andinfanticide.133
Butthesetrialsalsoalertustothefactthatmasculinitywasthesubjectofmorethanonediscourse.Duetothepopularityofthemelodramaticnarrativeofsexual
danger,thedominantdiscourseonmasculinitysuccessfullypresentedMabelGordonasthepassivefemalevictimandHindsonasthelibertine.134Yetthedebates
elicitedbytheabortioncasesrevealedthattherewerecounterdiscoursesatworkaswell.Whowasactinglikeatruegentleman?Themanwhoassistedapregnant
womaninfinding
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anabortionist?Thejudgewhosentencedtodeathanelderlymidwife?Theanarchistwhodefendedapoorwoman'srighttocontrolherownbody?Theveryfactthat
suchquestions,wereevenraiseddemonstratesthatalthoughtherewasahegemonicdiscourseonmasculinityitdidnotgoundisputed.
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Four
Gentlemen
Ifthewordbounderhastodayacuriouslyarchaicring,sotoohasthetermgentleman.Yetitwasonlyinthe1800sthattheappellationofgentlemantookonits
specialsignificance.ItsayssomethingofboththenewnessandthesocialimportanceoftheconceptthatthenineteenthcenturyFrench,thoughtheyspokeof"un
hommebienlev"or"bienn"hadnoexactequivalentandsosimplyadoptedtheEnglishexpression,referring,forexample,to"unvraigentleman.''1 Alexisde
TocquevillewasstruckbythefactthatinFranceundertheOldRegime"gentilhomme"wasemployedwhenreferringtoamemberoftherestricted,landed,social
caste,whereasinAmericahefoundthatrespectablemenofeveryclassconsideredthemselves"gentlemen."2 Thatistosay,theybelievedthatthepublicesteem
enjoyedbyamaninamodernnationwasnolongerdirectlydeterminedbyhisbirth.Asocietythatassumedsocialfluiditynecessarilyheldthatthemoralitythataman
exhibitedinhisdailydealingscouldoverrideeventhedisadvantagesofhumblesocialstanding.Andcontrarily,aman,nomatterhowrich,couldbecondemnedbythe
publicshouldhefail"toactlikeagentleman."Whatthisexactlyentailedcouldneverbefullyspelledout,buttheveryvaguenessofthegentlemanlyethicenhancedits
attractivenessasabondingcredoformenwho,despitethepressuresofanincreasinglyindividualisticworld,sawthemselvesstrivingtomaintaincertainidealsof
honestyandgenerosity.Thisethic,inpurportedlysymbolizinganewstandardofmoralitytowhichmostmen,bothrichandpoor,couldadhere,helpedtoserveasa
meansofaccommodationforthewhite,malecitizensofnewacquisitiveandcompetitivesocieties.InAmericaandEnglandinparticular,character,courtesy,and
cultivationweredeclaredbypubliccommentatorstobereplacingbirthandwealthasthehallmarksofthe"naturalgentleman."Middleandlowermiddleclassmen,
thoughoftencontinuingtodreamofaristocraticconnectionsandobsessedbystatusanxieties,wereatthesametimewontotheappeals
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voicedbynovelistsandclergymen,politiciansandprofessionalstoembracethepopulistandfraternalcultofthegentleman.3 Evenworkingclassmenwerenot
immune.Gladstone,theEnglishprimeminister,madeapointofalwaysaddressinghislaboringaudiencesas"gentlemen"inordertoimbuethemwiththeflattering
notionthattheirconcernsweretakenseriouslybytheleadershipoftheLiberalparty.4
Giventhepervasiveadulationofgentlemanlyorchivalrousbehavior,ahostile,publicconfrontationbetweena"lady"anda"gentleman"somethingthatintheory
shouldneveroccurwasboundtocreateasensation.Thesituationwouldbeallthemoreexplosiveifthecontestalsoinvolvedthemenwhostaffedtheprofessionsof
lawandmedicine,epitomizingastheydid,bytheirconcernforthetrustplacedinthembytheirclientsorpatients,thearchetypalvirtuesofthe''scholarand
gentleman."Forthesereasonsinthischapterwefocusonalatenineteenthcenturytrialthatnotonlydramaticallydemonstratedthepowerfulmoralattributionsgiven
bythepublictothetermsladyandgentleman,butalsorevealedhowlawandmedicinetwokeysystemsofgenderregulationcould,becauseofprofessional
rivalries,onoccasionclash.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
ThesensationalKitsonv.Playfairtrialof1896waslongtakentobeBritain'smostpublicizedtestof"privilegedcommunication."Thiscelebratedcasecenteredona
doctor'sdefenseofhisrighttobetrayafemalepatient'sconfidences.5 Forourpurposesthemostimportantaspectofthetrialisthatitshowshowclassandgender
preoccupationsshapedthepracticesofbothlawandmedicine.ThelegalwranglesinKitsonv.Playfairtooksuchsurprisingtwistsandturnspreciselybecausegender
preoccupationswereusedtocounterboththeletterofthelawandthescientificpronouncementsoftheLondonmedicalelite.Thetrialandtheresponsesmadetoit
bothinsideandoutsideofthemedicalprofessionarealsoofinterestinthattheycastarevealinglightonlatenineteenthcenturydoctors'confusedunderstandingof
exactlywhatconfidentialitymeant,aconfusionexacerbatedratherthanclarifiedbycourtrulings.Thecasedemonstrateshowthemedicalprofessionfound,toits
discomfort,thatinhavingasoneofitsrepresentativesamanwhofailedtoactlikeagentleman,itleftitselfopentoattackbyitsoldrival,thelegalprofession.
TheKitsonv.Playfairtrialwasononeleveladomesticdispute.TheKitsonfamilyfortunewasestablishedinthemidnineteenthcenturybyaLeedsironfounderwho
siredthreesonsandonedaughter.In1864Emily
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Kitson,theonlydaughter,marriedDr.WilliamSmoultPlayfair,awellknownobstetrician,whowasonhiswaytobecomingtheroyalaccoucheur.SirJamesKitson
(18351911),theeldestson,ledanactivepubliclifeasLordMayorofLeeds(189697),presidentoftheNationalLiberalAssociation(18831890),andLiberal
memberofParliamentrepresentingColneValley(18921907).AlthougharadicalheconsentedtoconcludinghiscareerasthefirstBaronAiredaleandleftanestate
worthonemillionpounds.6 Hawthorn,thesecondson,lookedafterthefamilybusinessesinYorkshire,whichcenteredonthelocomotiveworksatHunslett.Arthur,
theyoungest,filledtheroleoffamilyne'erdowell,hislife"undoubtedlymarkedbyirregularitiesofconduct."7 Ostensiblyactingashisfather'soverseasagent,hewent
offtoAustraliatomakehisfortune.Therein1881hemarriedanEnglishwoman,LindaDouglas.Shegavebirthtotwodaughtersinquicksuccessionthepregnancies
precipitatedagooddealofillnessfollowedbyaseriesofweakeningmiscarriages.
InOctober1892LindaKitsonandherchildrenreturnedtoEnglandwhileArthur,stilltryingtostrikeitrichandapparentlypursuedbycreditors,setofffromPort
DarwinonaseriesofmysterioustripsinthePacific,includingstopsinHongKongandHawaii.UponLindaKitson'sarrivalinEngland,SirJamesandHawthorn
KitsondecidedtomakeovertoherandherchildrentheallowanceofsomefivehundredpoundsayearthattheyhadhithertosenttoherhusbandinAustralia.The
familyhadapparentlydecidedthatArthurhadledthelifeofaremittancemanlongenoughandwasnowtobelefttosinkorswimonhisown.LindaKitsonsettledina
houseinKensingtonand,herhealthstillfailing,consultedDr.MuzioWilliams.8 Asanobstetricalproblemseemedtobethesourceofherdiscomfort,Williams
suggestedthatDr.Playfair,herbrotherinlaw,becalledinasaconsultant.ShewasinitiallyreluctantbutinJanuary1894agreed.
WilliamSmoultPlayfair(18361903)wasperhapsthebestknownobstetricianinBritain.HehadreceivedhisM.D.fromEdinburghin1856,servedbrieflyinIndia,
andwasappointedprofessorofobstetricsatKing'sCollegeHospitalin1871.Heenjoyedareputationasawellknownsocietyphysician,especiallyforwomen's
complaints,havingintroducedtoEnglandthe"restcure"popularizedintheUnitedStatesbyWeirMitchell.Inthe1890sPlayfairasroyalaccoucheurandrespected
patronoftheartswasatthepeakofhiscareer.Hehadrecentlyturneddownaknighthoodintheconfidentexpectationofultimatelyreceivingabaronetcy.9
Dr.Playfair'spersonalsuccessunfortunatelymadeitdifficultforhimtosympathizewiththemisfortunesofothers.WhenhesawLindaKitsonon
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16January,henotednothingexceptionalarisingfromhisbriefexamination.Butinadditiontoherphysicalproblems,LindaKitsonwasplaguedbyworriesabouther
absenthusband'sfinancialproblems."Lethimstarve."wasPlayfair'scoldresponse."Itwouldbethebestthingthatcouldhappentohim."10
PlayfairattendedthestillailingLindaKitsonagainon24February.ItwasnowrevealedthatshehadnotmenstruatedsinceDecember.Shewasputunderchloroform
byPlayfairwithWilliamspresent,andhercervixdilated(sothecourtwaslatercrudelyinformed)tothesizeofafiveshillingpiece.Accordingtoherlatertestimony
shebecamepartiallyconsciousinthemidstoftheexaminationandheardPlayfairsaying,"Idon'tknowwhatelseitcanbe.Iknowverylittleabouther.Shemusthave
beenuptosomehankypanky."11Williamsprotestedthathecouldnotbelievethisasshehadbeensocandid.Bothdoctorslaterdeniedthatanysuchwordshad
beenuttered.TheirrecollectionwasthatLindaKitsonawoketoaskthemwhattheywereaccusingherofwhentheyhadasyetaccusedherofnothing.12
Whatwassaiddidnotreallymatter.Thepointwasthatbothmen,whohadbeguntheoperationinthebeliefthattheyweredealingwithanintrauterinecancerous
growth,discoveredthatLindaKitsonhadrecentlyhadeitheranaturalmiscarriageorabortion,whichtheyhadtocleanup.13Thismeantthatshemusthavehadsexual
intercoursewithinthepreviousthreemonths,andgiventhefactthatshehadnotseenherhusbandforsomethinglikeayearandahalf,itcouldonlybeconcludedthat
shewasanadulteress.Presumablynodiscoverymadebytheroyalaccoucheurcouldhavebeenmoremortifyingthanstumblinguponevidenceofhissisterinlaw's
promiscuity.14
PlayfairhadtheplacentalmaterialthatheremovedfromLindaKitsonexaminedatKing'sCollegeHospitalbyhiscousin,Dr.HughPlayfair,whoconfirmedhis
suspicions.Playfairimmediatelydeterminedthathecouldnotallowhisunchastesisterinlawtosocializefurtherwithhiswifeandgrownupdaughters,andhehadDr.
Williamsinformherofhisdecision.LindaKitsonfranticallywrotetoPlayfairsayingshecouldnotcommunicatewithhimthroughWilliamsandbeggedforapersonal
interview.Tohisimplicationthatshehadbeenmadepregnantbyanadulterousrelationship,sherespondedwiththeguardedassurance:"Icansayastowhateveritis
youarethinking,thatnonebuttherightoneisthecause.Myheartisbreaking.Thereisonlyonecanclearme,butnotyet."15Whatsheappearedtobeimplyingwas
thatyesshehadbeenmadepregnant,butherhusband,
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whowasresponsible,couldnotforthemomentrevealthathehadsecretlybeeninEngland.
Playfair,evertheprig,coollyrepliedthatsheshoulduseherillnessasanexcusetoleaveLondon.Ifshedidnot,hewouldbedutyboundtoinformhiswifeofthe
facts."Noonewhorespectshimself,hiswifeandhisfamilycansupposeforamomentthatIcanallowsocialrelationsbetweenyouandmyfamilytogoonasthey
werewhenIknowyouhavehadamiscarriage."16Thereensuedaprotractedandconfusingcorrespondence.ThroughoutitLindaKitson,althoughneverdenyingthe
"facts"ofthecase,pleadedfortimetovindicateherself.Sherepeatedlyimpliedthatherhusbandcouldclearhername.Playfairneverreallybelievedher,butdeclared
himselfreadytobeconvinced."IfyouareabletoinformmethatyourhusbandhasbeeninLondonIshallnotonlygreatlycommiserateyou,butbeverysorryforthe
suspicionwhichunderthecircumstanceswasinevitable."17ButLindaKitsonneverprovidedastraightanswershewouldnotsaythatwhichsheinsinuated.Todoso
wouldbetoliebecause,asshelateradmitted,herhusbandhadinfactnotbeeninEngland.
Playfair,notgettingaclearanswerandfacedwiththeprospectofhisfamilyrenewingtheirsocialtieswithLindaKitson,finallywrotetosayhehadnoalternativebut
toinformhiswifeofthesituation.18LindaKitsonnowwrotetoEmilyPlayfairbegginghernottotellherbrother,SirJames.Mrs.Playfair,likeherhusband,askedfor
assurancesthatArthurhadbeeninLondon,thoughshewonderedhowthatcouldbesincethefamilyhadreceivedhistelegramsfromAustralia.19Noclearresponse
againbeingmade,Mrs.PlayfairaskedherhusbandtoinformSirJamesKitsonofthesituation.SirJamesimmediatelywroteLindaKitsonthatallcommunicationwith
thefamilyhadtocease,thatherallowancewasended,butifshereturnedtoAustralia,hewouldprovideasmallmaintenance.
Inthemeantime,allthroughthespringof1894,LindaKitsonhadbeentryingtocontactherhusband,Arthur.AletterfinallyreachedhiminAustraliainJuneby
SeptemberhewasbackinLondondeclaringhimselfreadytofighthisownpeople.Hisfirstmovewastoclaim,falsely,thathehad,ashiswifeimplied,returned
secretlytoEnglandthepreviousDecember.Playfairwasbegrudginglyforcedtoapologize."YourcomingsurreptitiouslytoLondonwithoutinformingthefamilyhas
beenthecauseofallthisannoyance.YourstatementthatyouhavebeeninLondonallowsofthewithdrawalofanyimputationonyourwife."20Kitsonwasnot
appeased,presumablybecausethefamilyallowancewasstillnotrenewed.TakingthisasevidencethatthePlayfairapologywasworthless,LindaKitsoninFebruary
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1895filedsuitforlibelandslanderagainstDr.andMrs.Playfair.Thecase,whichbeganon21March1896,wastriedbeforeaspecialjuryattheQueen'sBench
presidedoverbyMr.JusticeHenryHawkins,betterknownas"Hanging"Hawkins,adevotedopponentofimmorality.
ThePlayfairs'solicitorwasthewellknownSirGeorgeLewisandtheirleadingcounselSirFrankLockwood,Q.C.,theformersolicitorgeneralwhoin1895had
successfullyledtheprosecutionagainstOscarWildeforactsof"grossindecency."Counselpresentedthedefendantswithachoice.Onecourseopentothemwas"to
justify,"thatis,contendthattheslanderwastrue.Truthisanabsolutedefenseagainstthechargeofslander.ButprovingtothesatisfactionofajurythatLindaKitson
hadcommittedadulterytheonlyevidencebeingmedicalwasadauntingchallenge,andPlayfair'scounselwasawarethatifthedistastefulattemptofmakingsucha
dishonorablechargefailed,aniratejurycouldbecountedontoassesspunitivelyhighdamages.
Theapparentlysafercoursewastoarguethat,evenifDr.Playfair'sstoryofLindaKitson'sadulterywasfalse,inthisparticularsituationitwasa"priviledged
communications,"thatistosayacommunicationthatbecauseitonlyoccurredwithintheimmediatefamily,couldnotbeheldaseitherlibelousorslanderous.21
Playfair,ontheadviceofhislegaladvisers,tookthislattercourseofpleadingprivilege.Thedefense'slineofargumentwasthatPlayfair,withnomaliceintended,but
onlytheprotectionoffamilyhonorinmind,hadfeltdutyboundtotellhiswifeofwhathethoughtwasevidenceofLindaKitson'simmorality,andMrs.Playfairinturn
toldherbrother.22
Thedefensehadwhatappearedtobemorethanenoughammunitiontowardoffanunfavorableverdict.DespitethefactthatLockwoodfoughtthecaseonthe
groundsof"privilegedcommunication,"hepresentedincourtagooddealofevidencethatsubstantiatedPlayfair'sbeliefinMrs.Kitson'sadultery.Indeedthemedical
evidencewasalmostwhollyonthesideofthedefendant.OnlyDr.HerbertSpencer,professorofmidwiferyatUniversityCollegeLondon,testifiedonLindaKitson's
behalf.23HemadetheastoundingstatementthathermiscarriageofFebruary1894waspossiblyrelatedtoalegitimateconceptionthatoccurredinOctober1892.But
thoughSpencerassertedthateighteenmonthsafterits"cause"aconditionsuchasLindaKitson'scouldexist,hehadtoadmithehadneverseensuchacasehimself.
JohnBlandSutton,FRCS,repliedforthedefensethatplacentalmaterialcouldnotberetainedforoversixmonths.AndthedefensebackedupitsattackonSpencer's
preposterousargumentbycallingonLon
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don'sleadingobstetricians,who,inadditiontoW.S.PlayfairandHughPlayfair,includedDr.FrancisChampney,lectureratSt.Bart's,andSirWilliamPriestly,
consultantatKing'sCollegeHospital.24AttimesitappearedasthoughtheentiremembershipoftheObstetricalSocietyofLondonwasincourt.Withtheexception
ofSpencer,theyallsupportedPlayfair'sviewthatLindaKitsonhadbeenmadepregnantafewmonthsbeforeFebruary1894.Hercounselrightlyobjectedtothe
lengthy,hostilemedicaltestimony,butMr.JusticeHawkinsallowedittocontinue.Dr.Spencer'sopinionwasclearlylaughedoutofcourtbyPlayfair'smedical
witnesseswhatthejurorsthoughtofitremainedtobeseen.
Lockwood'ssecondlineofdefensewastocallonSirJohnWilliamsandSirWilliamBroadbent,seasonedexpertsinissuesrelatingtoBritishmedicalethics,to
supportthecontentionthatPlayfair'sviolationofhispatient'sconfidenceswas,giventheparticularsituation,warranted.25ThetestimonyofBroadbent,seniorcensor
oftheBoardoftheRoyalCollegeofPhysicians,carriedparticularweight.BothdoctorssaidthatasprofessionalstheycouldenvisagedoingthesameasPlayfair.26
LockwoodlargelyskirtedtheembarrassingquestionofwhyLindaKitsonprevaricatedandwhyArthurKitsonhadinitiallyliedaboutbeinginEnglandinDecember
1893.HewantedtopresentPlayfairasagentlemanwhowasnotouttohumiliatehisrelatives.Inanyevent,heargued,suchdetailswerenotdirectlyrelevanttothe
questionofprivilege.InhissummationLockwoodreturnedtothedefense'sbasiclineofargumentthatPlayfairhadbeenhonorboundtowarnhisfamilyofhissister
inlaw'ssituationandsuchintimateconversations,beingprivileged,werenotactionable.Thesearguments,supportedastheywerebythetestimonyofsomany
eminent"gentlemenandscholars,"shouldpresumablyhavebeensufficienttoimpressanyBritishcourt.
Mr.LawsonWalton,wholedfortheplaintiff,couldhavearguedthecaseonstrictlytechnicalgrounds.TherumorsthatPlayfairtoldothersbesideshisimmediate
familyofhissuspicionsregardingLindaKitsonmighthavebeenusedtounderminethedefenseof"privilegedcommunication."andmalicecouldhavebeeninferred
fromthefactthatPlayfairwasawarethathisdisclosuresjeopardizedLindaKitson'sannualallowanceoffivehundredpounds.27ButWaltonshrewdlyappealedtothe
emotionsratherthantheintellectofthemalejurors.Therealquestion,heargued,waswhetherornotPlayfairhadconductedhimselflikeagentleman.
ThetrialwasbelievedbythepublictohingeonwhatinVictoriansocietycouldonlybeconsideredtherivetingquestionofwhetherornota
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middleclasswoman'sadulteryhadbeenexposedbyamanwhowasbothherphysicianandherbrotherinlaw.Thisiswhatmadetheaffairsosensational.The
defensethoughtitsaferandmoregentlemanlytoavoidsuchavolatileissueandarguesimplyforprivilege.Thisprovedtobeamistakebecauseitpreventedthe
defensefromrespondingdirectlytoWalton'sconstantportrayalofhisclientasaninnocentwomanaladyfightingtoprotectherhonoragainsttheslursofacold
heartedphysicianwhosebasemotivescouldonlybeguessedat.
LindaKitsonwasthepictureoftheaffrontedfemaleattractivebutwrackedbyanxiety,dressedelegantlybutdemurelyinblack,awhiteroseatherthroat.28She
weptsheswooned.Thefirstdayofthetrialshealmostfaintedandhadtobeledbyherhusbandintotheopenair.Thejudgeaskedhertositwhiletestifying.She
spokeinawhisperherwaterglassrattledagainstherteeth.Whenwhatthepressdescribedasthe"ordeal"ofhertestifyingwasover,shewasassistedfromthebox
byherhusband.29Hetoomadeagoodimpressionasthepoorrelativefightinghiswealthyandpowerfulfamilytoprotectthehonorofhiswife.
ThefactthatLindaKitsonhadliedprovednottobeanembarrassment.WaltonskillfullyattributedhertoyingwiththetruthtoPlayfair'sinstigation."Mr.ArthurKitson
hadnotbeeninthecountry,andyethiswifemustassureDr.PlayfairthathehadbeeninEnglandwithinthelastthreemonthsorhaveherfairnameblasted.Dr.
Johnson,inthelastcentury,saidthatifamurdereraskedwhichwayhisvictimhadgone,falsehoodwasjustifiabletoturnhimoffthetrack."30Theinconsistencies,the
insinuationsofLindaKitson,whichonthefaceofitweresodamaging,weretransformedbyWaltontoformanintegralpartofhisportrayalofanhonest,innocent,
impressionablewomandriventodistractionbya"moralinquisitor."31Thecourtallowedhersimplytoapologizeforhavingfalselyandrepeatedlyimpliedthather
husbandwasinLondon,anditwasleftatthat.LindaKitsoninshortmadeanexcellentwitness.SirFrankLockwood,sensingthatthejurysympathizedwithalady
whohadapparentlysufferedmuch,wasafraidofsubjectinghertoanintensecrossexaminationforfearthatitcouldonlywinhermoresupport.Inanyevent,sincethe
defensehaddeclareditwouldnotattempttojustifyPlayfair'sallegations,Mr.JusticeHawkinscouldnothavebeenexpectedtotoleratemuchquestioningalongsuch
lines.
ButthemostimportantwitnessfortheplaintiffprovedtobeDr.Playfair.Undercrossexaminationhewasaskedifhestillretained"anopinionadversetothislady's
honor."Nowitisofprimeimportancetorememberthatthisquestionwasnotatissue.Playfairhadtheintelligencetorecognize
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theimproprietyofthequeryandaskedthejudgeifheshouldanswer.Hawkinsmadethemistakeofsayingheshould,buttheselfrighteousPlayfairmadetheeven
greaterblunderofcoldlyandcategoricallyreplyingtoWaltonthathecontinuedtoviewLindaKitsonasdishonored.Playfair'spublicassertionthathissisterinlaw
wasguiltyof"unchastity"causedasensationinthecourtroom.32LawsonWaltonhadwhathewantedandpounced.Whythen,heaskedindignantly,hadPlayfairnot
been"manenough"tofightouttheissueincourtinsteadofemployingthecowardlydefenseofprivilege?Playfairreplied,honestlyenough,thathehadsimplyfollowed
hiscounsel'sadvice.Thiscouldonlyappearasyetanothermealymouthedanswer.WaltonhadsucceededinindeliblyportrayingPlayfairasacad.33
WaltonproceededtoaskifPlayfairwasnotimpressedbyDr.Spencer'smedicaltestimonyorifinfactanycontrarytestimonycouldmakehimreassesshisviews.
Playfairrepliedthatnonewould.Thoughallofthishadlittletodowiththequestionofprivilege,itfurtherfixedinthejury'smindanimageofPlayfairasadogmatic
moralistwhocouldnotbereasonedwith.
Playfair'skeyassertionthatitwashisdutytoprotecthisfamily'shonorwassimilarlyparriedbyWaltonwiththequestionofhowtheaccusationofsoseriousacharge
astheadulteryofasisterinlawcouldbebasedsimplyonthefindingsofforensicmedicine.
Mr.LawsonWalton:Incomingtothisconclusiondoyourejectallbutmedicalconsiderations,andrejectallmoralones?
Witness:WhenawomanhashadamiscarriageinthefaceofanactualabortionIdorejectthem.34
Walton,skillfullyplayingonPlayfair'spenchantforassertingthathismedicalconclusionswereinfallible,hadteasedoutthenotionthatmedicalpractitionersbelieved
theyhadarighttobasemoraljudgmentsonevidenceunavailabletoothers,anotionmanynineteenthcenturyjurieswereknownnottoshare.35ThepriceofPlayfair
claimingtheinfallibilityofhismedicalopinions,thunderedWalton,hadbeenthesacrificeofalady'shonor.36InsummingupWaltonatlastreturnedtothequestionof
privilegedcommunication.HeconcededthatPlayfairmighthavehadtherighttodivulgeinformationtohiswifebutdeniedthattherightofprivilegedcommunication
couldbeextendedtodefendthepassingonofsuchinformationtoSirJamesKitson.37
Mr.JusticeHawkinsnowhadhissay.Hewasnotregardedinlegalcirclesasparticularlyable,butthatdidnotpreventhimfromplayingan
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activeroleineverytrialoverwhichhepresided.SomejusticeswerecontenttotakenotesHawkinsdeclaredthatitwashis"dutytoseethatthejurydoesnotgo
wrong."38WaltoncouldonlyhavebeenhappythatHawkinsrepeatedlyallowedthecrossexaminationtowanderoffintotherealmofjustificationwhenitshould
havebeenrigidlyrestrictedtoquestionofprivilege.HisdirectionstothejuryalsopleasedWaltonbecausetherewaslittledoubtwhereHawkins'ssympathieslay.He
agreedwiththeplaintiff'scounselinopiningthatifLindaKitsontoyedwiththetruthitwasbecausePlayfairhadputherinatightcorner.Hawkinswasmoreover
clearlyhostiletothedefense'suseofprivilege,whichheconstruedassignifyingadoctor'srighttobetrayhispatient'sconfidenceswheneverhechose.Butmosttelling
ofallwasHawkins'sspiriteddepictionofadoctor'sinformingonawomanwhohadabortedasa"monstrouscruelty,"anissuetowhichwewillreturn.39
InhissummationHawkinsinstructedthejurythatthreequestionshadtobeansweredwerethewordscomplainedofutteredbyPlayfairingoodfaith?Werethey
utteredwithoutmalice?Weretheyuttered,notfromameresenseofduty,butfromsomeindirectmotive?HawkinsremindedthejurymenthatwhetherornotLinda
Kitsonhadbeenunchastewasnotatissuebutthat"iftheyfoundthatshehadplayedthewantontheycouldtakethatintoconsiderationinestimatingthedamages."40
Afterthreehoursthejuryreturnedtofindfortheplaintiffonallthreecounts.TheamountawardedtoLindaKitsonwastwelvethousandpounds,reputedlythelargest
settlementforlibelandslanderevermadeinaBritishcourt.41TheTimesreportedthattheverdictwasgreetedwithloudapplauseinthecourt.Reynold's
Newspaper,amorepopularperiodical,notedapplause,clapping,andstampingoffeet.42
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
TheKitsonPlayfairtriallongenjoyedthereputationofhavingbeenparticularlysignificantinrefiningthemedicolegaldefinitionofprivilegedcommunications.Infactit
leftdoctorsinanethicalmuddle,whichiswhatmakesthecasesointeresting.Thetrialandthediscussionsitprecipitatedrevealedthecomplexwaysinwhichnotions
ofprofessionalconfidentialitywereinextricablyenmeshedinlegal,class,andgenderpreoccupations.Lawnotmedicinedeterminedtheboundariesofconfidentiality.
Playfairwassuednotforbreakingconfidencebutforlibelandslander.Thefactthathewasadoctorwaslegallynotessentialtotheplaintiff'scase.LindaKitsoncould
havesuedanyonewhohadsaidthesamethingasPlayfair.Thedefenseofa"privilegedcommunication"raisedbyhimwaslike
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wisenotspecificallyrelatedtohisstatusasadoctor.Hewassimplyassertingthatwhatahusbandtoldhiswifewasaprivilegedcommunication,andsotoowhata
sistertoldabrother.
InsummationHawkinsstatedthatdoctorsmighthavetheirownrulesregardingconfidentiality,buttheycouldnotimposethemonothersintheendthecourtswould
decide.Adoctorwasnotboundtoinformonapatient,hetoldthejuryitalldependedonthejudge.Hawkinsrefusedhimselftoinstructthejuryonwhetherornota
doctorwhogratuitouslyrevealedapatient'ssecretwasmakinganillegitimatebreachofconfidence.Sothegeneralquestionwasleftunsettled,Hawkinsleavingthe
issueofprivilegedcommunicationsasconfusedasever.TheDailyNewschidedhim,pointingoutthattheissueofprivilegewasamatteroflawthatheshouldhave
decidedon,leavingthequestionofmaliceafacttothejury.43
ThelegaldiscussionofmedicalprivilegebeganinBritainin1776,whenasurgeoninitiallyrefusedtotestifyregardingtheDuchessofKingston'sbigamy.Lord
Mansfieldeventuallyforcedhimtogiveevidence,rulingthatdoctorscouldbecompelledincourttodivulgetheirpatient'sconfidences.44Thoughcriminalactswere
notprivileged,barristersandsolicitorscouldnotbeforcedtotestifythelegalprofession,unlikethemedicalprofession,enjoyedtherightofprivileged
communications.45Absoluteprivilegewasonlygrantedanythingthatwassaideveniffalseormaliciousincourt,inParliament,andbetweenhusbandandwife.
Qualifiedprivilegepertainedtoeveryothersituation.Wordsexchangedindoctors'consultingroomswerenotspecificallyprivilegedevenconfidencesimpartedto
priestswereonlyprivilegedbytradition.Inasuitforbreachofconfidenceandslander,thetrialjudgeusuallydecidediftheparticularoccasionprivilegedthe
communicationofstatementsthatotherwise,ifwillfullyandknowinglydefamatory,wereactionable.46
InFrancearticle378ofthe1810CriminalCodemademedicalsecrecymandatoryformidwivesandpharmacistsaswellasfordoctors.47InNorthAmericathestate
ofNewYorkin1828,aspartofapublichealthcampaign,launchedthefirstdeparturefromthecommonlawruleininstitutingastatuteprotectingtheprivilegeof
medicalcommunications.48Bytheendofthecentury,sixteenotherstateshadfollowedsuit.CharlesMeymottTidy,inenviouslynotingtheAmericanlegislation,
expressedthehopein1882thatinBritainthesameresultswouldbeachievedbyindividualeffort."Itseemsamonstrousthingtorequirethatsecretsaffectingthe
honouroffamilies,andperhapsconfidedinamomentofweakness,shouldbedraggedintothegarishlightofalawcourt,theretobediscussedandmade
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jokeofbyrudetonguesandunsympathetichearts.''49Tidyexpectedthatsomedoctorswouldsacrificetheirlibertyforhonorandgotojailratherthanbetraytheir
patients'secrets.JohnGlaister'smoremodestsuggestionwasthatevenifcourtsforceddoctorstodivulgeinformationtheyshouldalwaysprotestinordertoimpress
onthepublicthejealousywithwhichtheyprotectedtheirpatients'secrets.50Contagiousdiseasesbylawhadtobereported.Sincescarletfever,forexample,was
knowntobeonthelistofsuchdiseases,itsreportagebyadoctorwasnotconsideredaviolationofmedicalsecrecy.Itwasassumedthatthepatient,incomingtoa
doctor,impliedhisorherconsenttosuchdisclosure.51
InshortthegeneraldriftofnineteenthcenturyBritishmedicaldiscussionsofconfidentialitywastowardtheneedforgreatersecrecy.Butwhendoctorswereputonthe
spot,astheywereinthetrialinquestion,theyfrequentlyallowedtheir"moral"preoccupationstocloudtheirunderstandingofwhatsecrecyentailed.Themedical
witnesseswhoappearedforbothPlayfairandKitsoncertainlydidnothaveafirmgraspofwhatmedicalconfidentialityreallymeant.Orperhapsitwouldbemore
accuratetosaythattheywantedtopresentthemedicalprofessionasboththeguardianofthepatient'ssecretsandthedefenderofpublicmorality.Theydidnot
understandthattheycouldnotalwaysbeboth.
Dr.Spencer,whoappearedforLindaKitson,whenaskedbyLockwoodtoexplaintheruleofconfidentiality,repliedthatitcouldonlybebrokentopreventonefrom
beingmadeanaccessorytoacrime.Hewouldnot,forinstance,warnawomanthatherfiancsufferedfromvenerealdiseasesincesuchamarriageviolatednolaw.
Andifaman,toavoidjuryduty,falselyclaimedtobeill,whatwouldSpencerdo?Spencerrepliedhewouldsaythemanwasnotill.Andinsodoing,Lockwood
pointedout,thedoctorwouldbebetrayinghispatient'sconfidence.52Goingfurther,Mr.JusticeHawkinsaskedSirJohnWilliams,aleadingobstetrician,who
appearedforthedefense:
Supposeamedicalmanwerecalledintoattendawoman,andinthecourseofhisprofessionalattendancehediscoversthatshehasattemptedtoprocureanabortion.Thatbeing
acrimeunderthelaw,woulditbehisdutytogoandtellthePublicProsecutor?
Witness:TheansweroftheCollegeofPhysicianstothatveryquestionwas"Yes."
Mr.JusticeHawkins:ThenallIcansayisthatitwillmakemeverycharyintheselectionofmymedicalman.53
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Williamswasnodoubtdumbfoundedthatajudgeshouldupbraidhimforstatingthatacrimeshouldbereported,butHawkins'sdistasteforsuchtaletellingwas
obviouslysharedbythegeneralpublic.Theygrasped,asWilliamsdidnot,thedifferencebetweenthespiritandtheletterofthelaw.Agentlemanwasdiscreet.
Thepressgleefullynotedthepatheticfigurescutbythesocalledexpertsinmedicalethics.Thecase,accordingtoonewriter,hadrevealedthatatthehighestlevelsof
theprofessionwasfoundan"absoluteignoranceoftherulesofprofessionalhonour."54AneditorialistintheDailyNewsreferredtothe"ratherirregularevidence"of
SirJohnWilliamandSirWilliamBroadbentinwhichtheyassertedthatadoctor,inordertoprotecthiswife,hadtherighttobetrayhispatient.Thiswas,the
journalist,declared,an"alarmingproposition."55Suchchidingrepresentedthetraditionalsuspicion,borderingondisdain,thatbarristersandjournalistshadforexpert
witnesses.Playfair'sclaimstomedicalinfallibilityobviouslydidhimnogoodwhatsoever.Reportersrelayedtheclearmessagethatthepublicviewedwithhostilitya
doctorwhoassertedthathismedicalevidencecouldnotbechallengedbutthenrefusedtosubmitsuchevidencetothejudgmentofthecourt.''Thisunscientific
dogmatism."theDailyNewsdeclared,"asoftenfoundinscientificmen,isasdangerousasanypoliticalortheologicalprejudice."56
Incolumnsheaded"WestEndScandal"and"DoctorandHisPatient:ASocietyScandal"thepressheartilyagreedwiththejudgmentandthehugeawardfor
damages.ArestrainedTimeseditorialdeclaredthatthetrialhadbeenanunfortunatespectacletheonlysatisfactionwasthatalessonhadbeentaughttothefewrash
membersofthemedicalprofessionoftheneedforcarefuljudgment,itbeingpreferabletosinbysilencethanby"indiscreetanduncalledforbabbling."57TheEvening
Newstrumpetedthattheverdict"suppliedthemedicalprofessionwithtwelvethousandreasonswhyadoctorshouldkeepthesecretsofhispatientsinviolate."58In
1896judges,barristers,andjournalists,notforthefirstnorthelasttime,hadthegreatpleasureoflecturingdoctorsonwheretheirchiefloyaltiesshouldlie.
TurningfromthelegaltothemedicalresponsestotheKitsonv.Playfairtrial,itcanbeimaginedhowdistressingthemedicalprofessionfoundthecase.Itwasnotjust
aquestionofmedicalexpertisebeingdenigratedofmoreimportancetoaprofessionthatassertedthatitshonorandauthoritywasbasedinpartonitsdignified
treatmentofpatientswasthatarepresentativehadbeenfoundtohavefailedtohaveactedlikeagentleman.59British
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doctorsrespondedinoneoftwoways.Thefirst,representedbytheLancet,wastoconcedethatmistakeshadbeenmade."Wefeelitourpainfuldutytoassentto
thepropositionthatDr.Playfairdidnotactasdiscreetlyashemighthavedone.WasitwisetoplacesuchalternativesbeforeMrs.Kitson?...Whilstwerecognize
hisperilousposition,webelievethatheshouldhavesoughtotherprofessionaladvicetoprovehisdeterminationtoactjustlybetweenmanandman."60Butthislast
linewasmisleading.Afterall,Playfairhadbeensupportedbythemosteminentdoctorsintheland.Howwouldfurtherconsultationshavemadeanydifference?
TheBritishMedicalJournalrepresentedamorepugnaciousresponse,demonstratingfarmoresupportforPlayfairthanhadtheLancet.Playfair,declaredtheBMJ,
hadonlyacted,asanyhonorablemanwould,toprotecthisfamilyandhadbeen"mulcted"fordoingso.61Turningtothejournalisticsnipingwhichmedicalwitnesses
hadtoendure,theBMJridiculedthenotion,popularizedbythepress,thatdoctorsneededtoberemindedofthesacrednessofconfidentiality.Itpointedoutthat
doctorswereforevercaughtinthemiddlepatientswantedtheirsecretskept,butatthesametimethepublicwanteddoctorstoreportcasesofabortionand
overlaying.62Doctorswhousedtheirdiscretionwerepraisedbysomejudgesanddamnedbyothers.Ontheonehandthosewhorefusedtoprovideacourtwith
informationcouldbechargedwithcontemptwhileontheotherthosewhorevealedtheirpatients'secretscouldbesuedforslanderandlibel.63TheBMJconcluded
thattosparephysiciansfurtherhumiliationsanew,definitelawonthesubjectwasneeded.64
ThecomplexitiesofconfidentialitywerefurtherairedintheletterstotheeditorcolumnoftheTimes.AmemberoftheRoyalCollegeofSurgeonsremindedreaders
thatmedical"secrets"werenotpossiblegiventheneedformedicalconsultations.Somewritersrecognizedthatadoctor'sprivilegewasnodifferentfromthegeneral
public'sotherswantedahardandfastrule.65Severalcorrespondentstooktheoccasiontocallforanextensionofthelistofnotifiablediseases.66Turningto
specifics,"E.J.D."askedifthePlayfairjudgmentmeantthatadoctorshouldnotinformthecustomersandemployersofasyphiliticmilkmanofthedangerstheyran.67
"Honorarium"repliedthatthedoctorshouldtellthepatienthewaslegallyandmorallyrequiredtoseektreatmentthedoctorwouldnotbeliableifhesoughttoprotect
thepublicsinceinsodoing,unlikePlayfair,hewouldnotbeattemptingtoservehisowninterests.68Alegallyinformedcontributorconcurredthat"justification"
providedadequateprotectionfromanychargeofviolationofconfidentiality.69"MedicalJurisprudence''tookthe
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highroadindeclaringthatadoctordidnothavetherighttodecidewhattodowiththeinformationhereceivedfromhispatients.CitingtheHippocraticOath,he
pointedoutthatthedoctor'sonlydutywastocureandtartlyconcluded:"Itisindeedpitiableifabodyoflearnedgentlemenshouldhavetobeforcedbypunishmentto
holdtheirtongues."70
Turningtothesocialcontextinwhichthetrialtookplace,thepress'sconstantreferencestothe"ladies"and"gentlemen"involvedmadeitclearthatclassplayedakey
roleincoloringnineteenthcenturynotionsofconfidentiality.Whereonewaslocatedinthesocialhierarchydeterminedhowmuchprivacyonemightlegitimatelyenjoy.
Frenchcommentatorsatthetimespokeofhonorasasortofpropertyanditslossequivalentto"theft."71Playfairwasdamnedwiththeepithetof"moralinquisitor."
Why?Thiswastheageoftemperanceagitation,sabbatarianism,regulationofprostitution,andtheraisingoftheageofsexualconsent.PoorLawandCharity
OrganizationSocietyinvestigatorsprowledthroughworkingclassneighborhoodsreprimandingthedissolute.GiventhefactthattheVictorianspridedthemselveson
theirmoralrectitude,whyshouldPlayfair'sactivitiesnothavebeenapplaudedratherthansoroundlycondemned?Partoftheanswerlayinwhosemoralitywasbeing
policed.TheVictorianconceptofconfidentialitywasverymuchabourgeoisconceitinasmuchasitwaspresumedthatdoctorswouldalertmastersoftheillnessesof
theirservantsandhelpcharitiessortouttheablebodiedfromtheimpotent.72LindaKitson'scasewasobviouslyquitedifferentinthatonewasdealingnotwitha
servantorprostitutebutwithamiddleclasswoman.Strikinglyenoughthepressdeclaredthatalady'scharacterbywhichitmeantamiddleclasswoman's
charactershouldneverbedecidedonmedicalevidencealone.73
Theconceptof"privilegedcommunications"wasrarelyfoughtoutincourt.Ifonerelies,ashasbeendoneinthischapter,onlegalrecords,onewillonlyhearaboutthe
violationoftheconfidencesoftheLindaKitsonsofthisworld.This,ofcourse,doesnotmeanthatonlymiddleclasswomenransuchrisksitmeansthatonlythose
withsufficientmoneytolaunchcostlylegalactionsappearedintherecord.Similarly,whenwesearchforsuitslaunchedbymales,wesurprisinglyfindthattheyoften
pittedonedoctoragainstanother.In1884aDr.CassonunsuccessfullysuedacolleaguefortellingthosewhomCassonservedasclubsurgeonthathisincompetence
wasresponsibleforamember'sdeath.Thejudgeruledthattheseconddoctor'scommunicationtotheclubwasprivilegedandthetrialendedinanonsuit.74In1899a
doctortoldhisassistantthatacolleaguehadbeendrunkandin"abitofafog"whenattendingapatient.Thelatter
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doctorwenttocourtwhereheacceptedanapologyandfortyshillings.75Suchcasessignifiednotthatdoctorswereparticularlypronetobackbitingbutthatthey
werebetterplacedtorespondtoslanderthanweretheirpatients.Membersofthelowerclasseswereeffectivelypreventedfromlaunchingsuchsuitsbecausethey
lackedboththemoneyand,moreimportantly,society'srecognitionthattheirprivacyshouldberespected.
Genderconcernsplayedthemostimportantroleinthisparticularbreachofconfidencesuit.LindaKitsonwonmuchsupportbyperfectlyplayingtheroleofthelady
indistress.AbouttheonlyantifeministresponsetothetrialsurfacedinthepagesoftheMarxistjournalJustice,themouthpieceofH.M.Hyndman'sSocial
DemocraticFederation.Itschiefcontributor,themisogynistE.BelfortBax,havingspentallof1895beratingsupportersofwomen'semancipationincludingEleanor
MarxAvelingwasnotabouttoletthetrialgobywithoutonelastswipeatfemales.Havingnotedthattheverdicthadmetwithgeneralapproval,the"Tattler"went
ontoreflect:"WithoutintheleastattemptingtocondonetheactionofDrPlayfair,however,oneisconstrainedtopointoutthathe,afterall,onlytoldhiswife,andthat,
asusual,itwasawomanwhowasmainlyresponsiblefortheinjurywroughttooneofhersex."76HeconcludedthatLindaKitsoncouldconsiderherself"fortunatein
beingawoman."Nomanwouldeverreceivetwelvethousandpoundsforslander,whichproved,despitethewhiningofsome,howadvantagedwomenwere.Several
femalecorrespondentsimmediatelyrepliedthatJustice,fullasusualofcoarseandtriteantifeministabuse,failedtonotethatthejudgeandjurywereallmen.Women
wantednotspecialtreatmentbut"fairplay."77
AsidefromJusticeandtheBritishMedicalJournaltwounlikelybedfellowsthepresswasoverwhelminglyonthesideofLindaKitson.Aletterthatappearedin
theTimesprovidedinanutshellthepublicperceptionofthetrial."NowwehaveanEnglishmanoftheveryhigheststandingtorturingafeebleandlonelywomanby
threatsofrevealingwhathethoughthehadlearned."78Herewerecombinedalltheclichsoftheblackmailthriller,thesensationalistnovelandtheantivisectionisttract.
Manyofthestockcharactersandsituationsappearedaswellthecrueldoctor(ironicallynamedPlayfair),thedamselindistress,theadministeringofchloroform,the
violationfirstofthewoman'sbodyandthenofhersecrets.79
Waltonplayedupsuchthemesinpresentingthetrialasawoman'sheroicattempt"toescapefromachargewhichreflecteduponherhonour."AlthoughPlayfairwas
theactualdefendant,LindaKitsonneverceasedto
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beregardedbythepublicasthevictim.EvenLockwoodhadtoacknowledgeruefullythatitwashardforthejurytofreetheirmindsoftheimageofLindaKitsonasa
pathetic,terrorizedcreatureandPlayfairasherinquisitor.80
ItwasnotedearlierthatPlayfair'sdecisiontofallbackonthedefenseofprivilegewasanenormousblunder.Lockwoodcouldnotdisentanglethequestionofprivilege
inthepublic'smind,indeedinthemindsofthejudgeandjury,fromtheaspersionscastonLindaKitson.Middleclasssocietyresolutelycondemnedadultery,butwas
evenmorehostiletoanyonewhowouldbeso"unmanly"astoblackenalady'sreputationandthenrefusetobackuphiswords.Waltonrepeatedlyarguedthat
Playfairhadcunninglynotsoughttoprovethechargesofadulterybecauseheknewitwasimpossibleclaimingprivilegewasthecoward'swayout.Hehadactedlike
acad.
InresponseLockwoodappealedtothejurorsas"menofhonourandmenoftheworld"toputthemselvesinPlayfair'splace.WhatelsecouldPlayfairhavehonorably
done?Thiswasanothergravemiscalculationonthepartofthedefensehypotheticalsituationsinspirehypocrisy.Mostmenfelttheycouldhavedonefarbetter,been
farmorecharitable.Indeedtheresponseofthepopularpresswasdominatedbyexpressionsofselfrighteousmaleindignation.TheWeeklyYorkshirePostdoubtedif
thereexisted"twelverationalEnglishmen,withheartsbeneaththeirwaistcoats,whoarecapableoftakingthePlayfairviewofthecase."81
Thetriallargelyrevolvedaroundthewayinwhichmenweresupposedtobehave.Victoriansocietybelievedthatmennecessarilyhadpoweroverwomenbutwere
nottoabuseit.Middleclassmaleswererarelyprosecutedforcoercingwomenitwasrarerstillforadoctortobetriedforintimidatingapatient.Whensuchrare
casescametolight,anexamplewasoftenmadeoftheunluckyculprit.Playfairwasnodoubtjustsuchasacrificiallamb,punishedfornotplayinghispartasthe
chivalrousgentleman.Theimplicationdrawnbythepresswasthatsuchmisdeedswerenotsystemic,nottheresultofanyasymmetryinthepowerwieldedbymenand
women,buttheresultofsomeindividualquirk.Patriarchalpowerwastherebystrengthenedratherthanunderminedbysuchshowtrials,demonstratingastheydidthat
malescouldbereliedupontopolicethemselves.
SostrongwasthemalechorusofsupportforLindaKitsonthatitdrownedoutthefewfemaleexpressionsofsolidarity.Onemighthaveexpectedfeministstohave
seizedupontheKitsontrialasaclassiccaseofmaleoppression,butasfarascanbedetermined,theleadersofthewom
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en'smovementavoidedextensivecomment.Dealingasitdidwiththeadulteryandmiscarriageofamiddleclasswoman,theKitsonaffairperhapshittoocloseto
home.Theleadersofthewomen'smovementtendedtobemorecomfortableindisplacingtheirconcernsaboutsexualityontothetopicofworkingclassprostitution.
82
Nineteenthcenturyfeministshadnotedthatconfidentialitywas"gendered,"mostnotablyundertheContagiousDiseasesAct,whenphysicianswererelieduponto
informauthoritieswhichstreetwalkerswereillandaccordinglyweretobeincarceratedbythepolice.83Maledoctorskeptthesecretsoftheirmalepatients,however,
evenfromtheirwivesorfiances.Doctorscould,ofcourse,beexpectedtoprotecteachother.ThemostextremecaseoccurredwhenDr.Pritchard,theinfamous
medicalmurderer,succeededinpoisoninghiswifebecauseacolleaguebelieveditwasagainstthe"etiquette"oftheprofessiontoreporthissuspicions.84Dr.Spencer,
whoappearedforLindaKitson,waspresentedbyLockwoodwithamorefamiliarscenario.Amalepatientsufferingfromvenerealdiseaseannounceshisintentionto
marrywouldSpencerwarnthewomanandpreventsuchadangerousunionfrombeingforged?Spencerrepliedthathewouldnot.85Protectingmenmeant,bythe
sametoken,betrayingwomen.Thepointhasbeenmademanytimesbeforethatdoctorsoftenkeptnineteenthcenturymiddleclasswomeninignoranceofthe
workingsoftheirownbodiesandthethreatsposedthembyothers.Theclassiccasewouldbethatofthedoctornotinformingawomanthatshesufferedfroma
venerealcomplaintbecausetodosowouldrevealthatherhusbandorherhusbandtobehadbeenunfaithful.86
Butdoctorsalsoprotectedsomewomen'sconfidences.IntheKitsoncase,notdeceptionbutcandorwasthethreat.Playfairplayedtheroleoftheblackmailera
stockbogeymanoftheageininspiringfearbythreateningtorevealratherthansuppressthetruth.87Iftheclassicmalemedicalsecretwasthatonewassuffering
fromvenerealdisease,thefemaleequivalentwastohavehadanabortion.Keepingthesecretofawomanwhoabortedwasmorallylessproblematicalthankeeping
thesecretofamanwhohadavenerealdiseasebecauseshedidnotposeamedicaldangertothosearoundherwhilehedid.Butabortionwasacrimeand
communicationspertainingtocriminalactswerenotprivileged,evenforbarristersandsolicitors.Theconfidencesofthevictimsofcrimessuchasrapeweretobe
protected,notthoseofdefendants.Butabortionwasaspecialcase.Thewoman,althoughpartytothecrime,wasviewedbythecourtsasalsoits"victim,"and
thereforeherphysician'stestimonywasusuallyruledto
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beinadmissible.88Whenonenineteenthcenturydoctor,whopretendedtobeassistingacoupleinprocuringanabortion,betrayedthemandappearedincourtas
bothamedicalexpertandprosecutionwitness,thejudge,insteadoflaudingthephysician'scivicmindedness,damnedhimforhavingactedasanagentprovocateur.89
Mr.JusticeHawkinswentsofarastodeclareinopencourtthatifawomanabortedtosavehercharacter,herreputation,andherlivelihood,hedoubted"very,very,
verymuch"thejustificationofadoctorrunningofftothepolicetosay:"Ihavebeenattendingapoor,youngwomanwhohasbeentryingtoprocureabortionwiththe
assistanceofhersister.Sheisnowprettywell,andisgettingbetter,andinthecourseofafewdaysshewillbeoutagain,butIthinkIoughttoputyouontothe
woman."90That,Hawkinsasserted,wouldbe"amonstrouscruelty."91
Hawkins'swordsserveasausefulreminderofhowtheclassandgenderpreoccupationsofthegentlemanlyethiccouldleadevenajudgetoturnablindeyetocertain
crimes.WhenHawkinsthoughtaboutabortion,heassumed,asdidmostofhiscontemporaries,thatthewomaninquestionwouldbepoor,single,seduced,and
abandoned.Sinceshewasineffectavictimofherowncrimeandheractionsjeopardizedneitherpropertynorgenderrelationships,hisheartcouldgoouttoher.But
howwouldthecourtsrespondtoawealthy,marriedwomanwhosoughtanabortionaspartofherstruggletofreeherselffromahatedhusband?Justsuchacase
surfacedafewyearsaftertheKitsonv.Playfairtrial.In1901JessieM'Ewan,whowasundergoingthetravailsofbothanastymaritalbreakupandanunwanted
pregnancy,calledintheEdinburghsurgeonP.H.Watsontoexamineher.Watson(18321907),anexpertingynecologyandhonorarysurgeoninScotlandtoQueen
Victoria,wastobeknightedforhisservicesin1903.92Inhisprivatenotes,themoralizingWatsontookthetroubletorecordboththebackgroundtothepatient's
marriageproblemsandhisadvicethatJessieM'Ewanbesenttoanursinghometoawaitherdelivery."Thisviewnotpleasingtopatientnortoherfather(whohas
marriedasecondwife),anditseemstheyareallbentuponinducingprematurelaboursoastofreethepatientofanypermanentreminderofthismarriage,and,if
possibleobtainaseparation."93WatsonshowedthesenotestothesolicitorsofJessieM'Ewan'shusbandandwhenthecouplesoughtadivorcein1903appearedas
awitnessonhisbehalf.JessieM'EwansuedWatsonforbreachofconfidenceandslander.ThecasewasfoughtallthewaytotheHouseofLords,whereHalsbury
gavetheleadingjudgmentthatwhatWatsontoldMr.M'Ewan'ssolicitorswasnotaction
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ablebecauseitwasbothtrueandprivileged.94JessieM'Ewanhadtobearboththeheavylegalcostsandthehumiliatingpublicexposureofherprivateaffairs.
TherewasnodoubtthatDr.Watsonhadviolatedtheconfidenceofhispatient.JessieM'Ewanlosthersuitbecausesheemergednotasalongsufferingfemalebutas
anangryandrebelliouswife.ThereisequallylittledoubtaboutLindaKitson'sadultery,butherskilledcounselsimplyconjureditaway.Thepublicwaswilling,inthe
caseofthispretty,persecutedwoman,tobelieveinthepossibilityofasixteenmonthpregnancy.95Claimingallthewhilethatinher"lightheaded"wayshedidnot
knowwhatshewasdoing,LindaKitson,inperfectlyportrayingtheroleofthefemalemartyr,gotawaywithadultery,perhapsabortion,andtwelvethousandpounds
aswell.96
ThepressandlaitythoughtthattheKitsonv.Playfairtrialhadplayedanimportantroleinestablishingaclearerdefinitionofdoctors'dutiesasregardsconfidentiality.97
Thiswas,aswehaveseen,nottrue.Despitethegeneralbeliefthatdoctorsfollowedsomeelaboratesecretcodeofethics,therealitywas,notedone1905
commentator,that"obediencetothedictatesofmedicalethicsimpliesapplicationtotheordinarychancesofprofessionallifeoftherulethatamanshoulddoashe
wouldbedoneby."98
AttheJune1920meetingoftheBritishMedicalAssociation,aresolutionurgeditsmemberstofighttokeepconfidentialwhattheylearnedintheirconsultingrooms.
Doctorsopposedtosuchviewsimmediatelymadetheirvoicesheard.Oneaskedrhetoricallyifthephysicianwastoremainblithelysilentandindifferentwhenheknew
thatamalepatientsufferingfromvenerealdiseaseriskedinfectinghisinnocentfamily."Doesthatresolutionmeanthisthatweare,asaprofession,toallowa
boundertoliveandhiswifeandchildtodie?"99
Inconjuringuptheimageofthechivalrousphysiciangallantlyprotectingawifefromherbrutishhusband,thosearguinginfavorofadoctor'srighttodecidewhenand
iftodivulgeinformationwereturningtoanoldploy.Whocouldfailtorespondtothecalltoprotectwomenandchildren?Butifdoctorsweresimplyrelieduponto
usetheirdiscretionandgoodsenseinsuchmatters,wasitlikelythatmostwouldturntheirknowledgetothepurposesofprotectingtheweakfromthestrong,women
frommen,servantsfromtheirmasters?Doctorswereaskingtobetobetrustedtoactasgentlemen.100Althoughtodayonemightsayitisfarfromclearwhatthis
mightmean,attheturnofthecenturysuchanappealhadrealresonance.
"Theageofchivalryisgone:thatofsophisters,economistsandcalcula
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torshassucceeded:andthegloryofEuropeisextinguished."101SoclaimedEdmundBurkeattheendoftheeighteenthcentury.Yetahundredyearslater,menwere,
ifanything,evenmoreentrancedbythenotionofselflessactsofloyaltyandsacrifice.Manymiddleclassmendreamedofwhatonecommentatorhascalled"areturn
toCamelot"andparadedtheirdistrustof"cleverness"byrankingcharacteraheadofintellect.Inanevermoreindustrializedandbureaucratizedworld,itseemedallthe
moreimportanttobelievethattheamateurcouldoutdothehardenedprofessional.102ChivalrytendedtobedomesticatedinBritainandAmerica,where"muscular
Christians"successfullypromotedsportasasuitabledemonstrationofmasculineaggressionandhardihood.Buteventheenduringpopularityofduelinginturnofthe
centuryFranceandGermanywasonlyanotherexampleofthemoregeneraldesireofimportantsegmentsofthebourgeoisietodemonstratethatheroismwasnot
restrictedtoaristocraticmales.103Onlyacowardwoulddirectsuchaggressivenessatthe"weakersex"indeedaconcernfortheprotectionofthe''ladies"figured
centrallyinappealstochivalry.Thiswasnotjustrhetoric.Oppressivepatriarchalpowerbegantogivewayinthelastdecadesofthenineteenthcenturyasthose
sympathetictowomen'srightscastigatedexamplesofthesortofexcessivemaleviolencethatwereexposedindivorcecourtproceedings.104Giventhiscontextthe
disasterawaitingDr.Playfairwasalmostpredictable.
Itwasonlydecadeslaterthatavarietyofsocialcriticsbegantoassertthattheemploymentofappealstogentlemanmoralitylargelyservedtheinterestofelitemalesas
awayofdefendingexistingsexualandsocialhierarchies.HaroldLaski,inaninsightful1932essayentitled"TheDangersofBeingaGentleman,"pointedoutthatthe
cultofthe"gentleman"flourishedinthesameageasthepoorlawandthesexualdoublestandard.Laskialertedhisreaderstothesocialexclusivenessandanti
intellectualism,theconservatismandhypocrisythatwereinherentcomponentsof"gentlemanly"ethics.105Toassumethattheaccoladeofgentlemanhadanypotency,
thatchivalryhadtobeaninherentpartofsocialinteraction,meantthatonetookasagiven,indeedas"natural,"thatsocietywasdividedonclasslinesbetweenthe
powerfulandtheweak,thepropertiedandthepropertyless,therespectableandtherough,andongenderlinesbetween"gentlemen"and"ladies."
Thecontemporaryembarrassmentexperiencedinemployingsuchtermsasladyandgentlemanmeansthatittakessomeefforttoappreciatethepowerthatthese
wordshadacenturyago.Asthischapterhasindicated,suchwastheirresonancethatthoughtheychieflyservedtojustifytheau
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thorityofestablishedhierarchiestheycouldattimesbeturned,bythecalculating,toserveasacoverforimmoralorillegalpractices.Butsuchstrategiescanhardlybe
consideredsubversiveonthecontraryLindaKitsonwonpreciselybecausesheacceptedtherulesandplayedthegameof"ladiesandgentlemen"moresuccessfully
thanDr.Playfair.
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Five
Murderers
Forcefulnesscontinuedtobehailedbycontemporariesinthelatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturiesasacrucialaspectofmalegenderidentity,whileits
counterpart,acquiescenceorpassivity,wasattributedtothefemale.Butatwhatpointdidtheforcefulmanbecometheviolentbrute?Whencouldalackof
forcefulnessbrandoneaneffeminatecoward?Onewayofansweringsuchquestionsisbyusingcourtrecordsthatchronicledtherecoursetothemostextremeformof
violencemurder.Judgesandjuriesfacedwithsuchactshadtosay,onthebehalfofthecommunity,howfarlegitimateforcecouldbepushed.1
Genderpreoccupationsobviouslycoloredsuchdeliberations.Yetthefactthateveryjurydecisiondidnotwinpublicapprobationforcefullyremindsusthatthecriminal
justicesystemdidnotsimplyrubberstamppublicprejudices.Trialverdictsinvolvingmenwereobviouslynotbasedsolelyonthecommunity'sinterpretationof
masculinity.Thosewhoservedthecourtshadtheirownagendastheirchiefpreoccupationwastoopposethreatstotheruleoflaw.Proofthattheaccusedhad
resortedtovigilantismcouldaccordinglycounteranysympathyhemighthavegarneredbydemonstrationsofmanlyassertiveness.Legalpractitionerswerenaturally
intentondemonstratingthatcasesweredecidednotonthebasisofsimplecommunitypressurebutontheevidencepresented.Butwhenoneexaminesthe"evidence"
advancedinthemostseriouscases,oneisstruckbytheinclusionofbothhardfactsandvaguegenderexpectations.Ata1910murdertrial,onedefensewitness
statedthattheaccusedhad"alwaystreatedhimlikeaman,"asecondtestifiedthatatthetimeofthekillingtheaccusedhadassertedthat"amanhastodefendhis
home,"andtheaccusedhimselfrecollectedthatwhenservedwithawarranthehadaskedthespecialconstable"whyhehadnotproduceditlikeaman."2
Contemporariesconcurredthatevidencethatonehadorhadnotacted''likeaman"wasfrequentlycrucialtoacourt'sdeliberations.
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Inadditiontorevealinghowdegreesoftolerableviolencewerecarefullycalibratedbycommunitiesinthepast,thedocumentationgeneratedbymurdertrialsprovides
unusuallyintimateportrayalsofmaleinteractions.3 Accordingtoanoldmaxim,men,unlikewomen,"donotliketotalk,"butthemosttaciturn,whenputontrialfor
theirlives,becameloquacious.Suchmaterial,thoughobviouslyhavingtobeusedwithcautionoftenthethoughtsandactionsofworkingclassmenbeinginterpreted
forandbymiddleandupperclasslawmenneverthelessprovidesapricelesssourcefortheinvestigationofthemeaningsgivenmanhood.
Intacklingsuchissues,thefollowingchapterdiffersconsiderablyfromtheprevious.Inturningfrombreachofconfidencecasestomurdertrials,wewillbemoving
fromtherelativelymundanetothemostseriousofconflicts.Wewillmoreoverbeexaminingtheconfrontations,notofmenwithwomen,butsimplyofmenwithother
men.Andthesemen,betheymurderersorvictims,willbe,unlikethoseofthepreviouschapters,verymuchalike,almostallbeingworkingclass.Asecureincome
andmembershipinarespectableprofessionrepresentedformiddleclassmenlikeDr.Playfairanimportantaspectoftheirnotionofmanliness.Laborersnecessarily
definedmasculinitydifferently.
BecausesomuchhasalreadybeenwrittenaboutmurderandthemalecodeofhonorinEuropeandthesouthernUnitedStates,wewillfocusonaseriesoftrialsthat
tookplace,sotospeak,ontheperipheryoftheWesternworldinBritishColumbia,Canada'swesternmostprovince.4 Insoabruptlyshiftingscenes,anumberof
purposesareserved.First,thecourtroommelodramasfocusingonmurderpresentthemostdramaticexamplesoftheimportanceoftheaccusedbeingpresentedas
eitherheroorvillain.Second,popularmythologyholdsthatthefrontierwasparticularlypronetoviolence.Wedecidedtochroniclethetreatmentofmurderinthe
PacificNorthwestbecauseitprovidesanespeciallyinterestingexampleofaregionmarkedbyBritishlegaltraditions,EuropeanimmigrationandAmericancultural
influences.If,inthiscasestudy,despitethedramaticchangeinlocale,personae,andcrime,wefindthenowpredictableconstantscourtsbeingswayedbyafamiliar
melodramaticscriptwithitsinvocationoftherightsanddutiesof"manhood"wewillhaveattainedsomeideaoftheextentofthemasculinemystique'spervasivnessin
bothtimeandspace.
LetusbeginwithanotatypicalBritishColumbiankillingthattookplaceinCranbrook,asmallinteriortown,whichliesonthewesternedgeoftheRockyMountain
Trench,fiftymilesnorthoftheMontanaborder.Attheturnofthecentury,mostofitsmaleinhabitantsworkedeitherfortheCanadianPacificRailway,whichmade
thetownadivisionalpointwith
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roundhouseandaccommodationsfortraincrews,orinlumbering.On15September1915,HughMcGill,aCPRshopemployee,beattodeathSamuelWatson,a
formerCPRbrakeman.TheinquestjuryfoundthatWatson"methisdeathfromafracturedskullcausedbyfallingagainstaverandahpostthroughablowstruckby
theaccused,McGill."5 ThechiefofpoliceattributedMcGill'sattacktothefactthatthetwentyfiveyearoldWatson"hadbeenpayingtoomuchattentiontohis
[McGill's]wife."ApparentlyanumberofpeopleinCranbrookknewthatWatsonandNellieMcGilleitherhadorwerehavinganaffair.Theyhadexchangedletters.
Onereadattheinquest,addressedtoSamandsigned"YourdevotedloverNellie,"referredtoapastsexualrelationship.6
McGill,knowingthatWatsonwascomingtovisit,layinwaitontheverandahandlashedoutathisrivalassoonasheknockedonthedoor.Iftherewasafight,itwas
verymuchonesided.Theaccusedwasleftwithmarksonhisknuckles,butnoneonhisface.Theverandahpostandthegroundonwhichthevictimlaywerecovered
inblood.HowhadWatsondied?Amedicalwitnesstestifiedatthepreliminaryhearingthatthoughthevictimhadbeendrinking,fallingfromtheverandahandhitting
hisheadonapostcouldnotalonehavecauseddeath.Anexaminationofthedeceasedsuggestedthathehadbeenhitabouttheheadwithabluntobjectthreeorfour
times.
OnceWatsonwasdowninapoolofblood,McGill'sfirstthoughtwasnottosummonmedicalaid,buttofetchhisfriend,PercyAdams,thechiefofpolice.McGill,
thoughexcited,wasclearheadedenoughtobealreadyframinghisdefense."YourememberthemanItoldyouaboutlastyear?...WellIgothim.Comeandsee
whereheis.Iwillshowyouwhereheis."AdamsonseeingthebodycalledforadoctorandarrestedMcGill.Toldbythepolicethathisvictimhaddiedandwarned
towatchwhathewassaying,McGillreplied:"Itwascomingtohim.Itwasinselfdefense."
TheCranbrookcourthouse,whereMcGill'spreliminaryproceedingsinSeptemberandhistrialinOctobertookplace,waspackedwithhisfriends.7 Thecrown
counselinformedtheattorneygeneral'sofficethattheaccusedenjoyed"agreatdealofpublicsympathy."8 Neverthelesstheprosecutionproceededwiththecase,
arguingthatMcGillhadtopayapriceforbeingtheaggressorinafightthatendedindeath.ThedefensecounteredthatWatsonthoughwarnedhadrefusedtostay
awayfromtheMcGillhouse,madethreats,andonthefatalnightstruckfirstwitharidingcrop.McGillnowclaimedthathesimplydefendedhimselfandintheensuing
meleeWatsonaccidentallyfellbackwardandhithishead.Thespectators,bytheirapplauseforthedefensesummation,madetheirloyaltiesknown.
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Thejurywasoutnomorethanthirtyminutesbeforereturningaverdictofnotguilty.WhyhadMcGillbeenacquitted?Theshortanswerisbecauseheactedinaway
thatthecommunityconsideredappropriateforaman.Murderwasadesperateact,butitwasunderstoodthatinagivensituationamanhadtherighttokill.
AnanalysisofBritishColumbiantrialandinquestreportsfortheyears1900to1923providesafulleranswertothequestionsofhow,where,andwhymenkilled
othermen.Thefirstsectionofthischapterwilldealwiththehowandthewherethatis,accountforthenumber,location.andmeansofkillings.Sectiontwowill
focusonthetrickierissueofwhy.Therecanbelittledoubtthatbecauseofthewaygenderconcernspatternedtheuseofviolence,itwasmore"normal"formenthan
forwomentoresorttodeadlyforce.Beginningwiththepremisethatcertainformsofmaleviolenceweresanctionedbythecourts,wewillseewhatmurdertrialstell
usaboutthesocialconstructionofmasculinity.Whencouldforcefulnessbepushedsofarastojustifyahomicide?Wasmurdernecessarilyacowardlyact?Were
there"manly"waysofkilling?Whatinshortaccordingtojudges,policemen,jurymen,lawmen,andnewspapermendiditmeantobeaman?
DespitethefactthatBritishColumbiaattheturnofthecenturycouldbeconsideredinmanywaysafrontiersociety,itsmurderratewasnotexceptionallyhigh.
GermanyandEngland'srateswerelessthan1per100,000whilethoseintheUnitedStatesrangedfrom6per100,000intheNortheastto28per100,000inthe
Southwest.BritishColumbia'srate,likesouthernEurope's,wasabout5per100,000.9 TheoverwhelmingmajorityofBritishColumbiankillerswere,asintheMcGill
case,men.InwesternCanadaaselsewhere,thenasnow,menwerefarmorelikelythanwomentohaverecoursetoviolence.10Moreover,intheearlydecadesof
thiscentury,BritishColumbia,likeotherpioneeringcommunities,experiencedaserioussexratioimbalance,menfaroutnumberingwomen.11Between1900and
1923,270menandonlyeighteenwomenwerecitedinmurdercases.Malesalsodominatedasvictims.Twohundredandtwentyonemenwerekilled,butonlythirty
fivewomen.
Thisdisparitybetweenmaleandfemalemurderratesisconfirmedbythefiguresdrawnfrominquestrecordsonunsolvedanduntriedmurders.Ofthe205victimswho
diedinsuspiciouscircumstances,164weremenandfortyonewerewomen.Thesexofthemajorityoftheassailants(149)wasunknown,butoftheknownassailants
(whousuallyhadavoidedtrialbyescaping,dyinginjail,orcommittingsuicide)fiftyoneweremenandonlyfourwerewomen.12
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Intheyearswehaveexamined,214menwerethevictimsofmalemurderers.AsintheMcGillcase,men"normally"killedothermenofthesameclassandethnicity.
The"typicalmurder"involvedamale(likelydrunk)killinganacquaintance,friend,orworkmate.Murderswereendogenous.Tokilloutsideofone'sclass,gender,or
ethnicgroupwashighlyunusual.Maleassaultsonwomenobviouslyplayedapartintheconstructionofthemasculinerole,butthedifficultiesfacedbyamanwho
attackedawomanindefininghismanhoodwillnotbetracedhere.13Inwhatfollowsweattempttounderstandthemeaningsgivenmasculinityinearlytwentieth
centuryBritishColumbiabyexaminingthemurdersofmencarriedoutbywhiteworkingclassmales(manyofthemimmigrants),thejustificationstheyprovidedfor
theiracts,andtheresponsesmadetothembythecourtsandthepress.ThemurderscarriedoutbyaboriginalandAsianmenwillnotbetreatedhereexceptin
passing,inpartbecausedifferentethnicgroupsmightwellhavehaddifferentviewsofmasculinity,butprimarilybecausetheprejudicialtreatmentthecourtsaccorded
membersofvisibleminoritiesdeservesmoreextensiveanalysis.Killingsofandbywomenwill,forsimilarreasons,alsobesettooneside.
Whereweremenkilled?BothMcGillandhisvictimworkedfortherailway.Agrandjurynotedin1904thatmurder"may,perhaps,beattributedtothefloating
populationfollowingrailwayconstruction."14Acommonplace,oftenrepeatedbythepress,wasthatamobile,malecultureservedasanaturalbreedinggroundfor
violence.Butthepointusuallymissedbycontemporaryobserverswasthatsuchcommunitiesweremorestablethantheyoftenappearedtooutsiders.Killerswere
rarelystrangersmenweremainlymurderedbythosewhomtheyknewmenwithwhomtheylived,worked,andplayed.Settingasidethecasesinwhichwomen
werethevictimsandthemurderscommittedbynativepeoplesandAsians,thereportsrevealthatin130casestherelationshipofthewhitemalemurderertothemale
victimwas:
Acquaintance 38.5%
Friend,neighbor,boarder 27.7%
Stranger 18.5%
Workmate,employee,employer 12.3%
Relative 3.0%
Mostmenworkedtogetherinwhatwerelargelysinglesexindustries.Thepeacefulworkplacecouldsuddenlybecomeamurdersite.Gunsandknivesthemost
commoninstrumentsofdeathwerereadilyathandinthebush,onhomesteads,andonranches,butfists,boots,andordinary
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toolsalsosufficedasweapons.Minerswerebludgeonedtodeath,fishermenknifedordrowned,loggers'skullssplitbyaxes,soldiersshot.Atypicalscenariosawa
GreekfishermanmeethisfateinaboatinPlumper'sPassoffVancouverIsland.Accordingtotheaccused:"Itoldhimtogetoutandnotcomeintomyboatbutjust
thesamehejumpsintheboatallrightandgrabbedmebythethroatfrombehind.IbentforwardandIwasdrunkmyselfandhehadmedownIhadaknifeinmy
handtheknifeIhadwasonewehadforcuttingbread,cleaningfishoranything,oneweusedontheboat,theknifewasaboutaslongasthissheetofpaper....I
don'tknowhowhegotthecutIwaslyingdownandhewasontopofmeIthinkhemusthavestept[sic]onithimselfintherow."15Murdersattheworkplace
usuallysawlaborersturningoneachother,butfiringanemployeecouldprovokesimilarviolence.AstorehousemanattheEsquimaltNavalYard,dismissedin1903
fornegligence,retaliatedbyemptyinghispistolathissupervisor.16In1912itwastheCanadianNorthernRailwaygangforemanBarneyMulliganwhokilledanirate
worker,whomadethemistakeofscreamingathiminthecampkitchen,"Youoldbullshitter,youarenogood,youcomeoutsideandI'llfixyouupforwhatyoudid
yesterday,youIrishsonofabitch."17Mulligan,whohaddismissedtheworkerthedaybefore,thenstruckhim.
Mennotonlyworkedtogether,manylivedtogether.18Criminologistsoftendrawadistinctionbetween"domestic"murdersinvolvingmenandtheirfamiliesand
"public"murdersinvolvingmainlymen.ButinBritishColumbiaintheearlydecadesofthecentury,suchclearcutdistinctionscouldnotalwaysbemade.Murdertrial
accountsofsixChineseworkerssharingashackinSteveston,sixItalianlaborersbunkingtogetherinahouseinVancouver,andthreedrunkenprospectorsholedup
inacabinatSummitCampcapturedthesuffocatingatmosphereofmenpileduptogetherbothdayandnight,gettingoneachothers'nerves,enjoyinglittleprivacy,and
havingnowheretoescape.Menwerecrammedtogetheronfishboatsandrailwaybunkcarsandinisolatedcabinsandshacks,forcedtoendureeithereachothers'
companyinthesharedaccommodationsofthinwalledroominghousesortheinquisitivenessofthesuspiciousfamilieswithwhomtheyboarded.Largenumbersslept
inthebarracksprovidedforsoldiersandsappersandthebunkhousesforloggers,railwaymen,androadgangs.19Privacywasnotevenfoundinbed.In1915two
RuthenianlaborersworkingontheCanadianNationalRailwaytunnelatMile127,havingoppositeshiftsbutsharingthesamebunk,eventuallycametoblows.20
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SomesenseofhowthedaytodaytensionsofsuchclaustrophobicsituationscouldescalateintoviolencewasconveyedinthediaryofFrederickTrumper,whoin
1907sharedatinycabinatPouceCoupewithanincreasinglycantankeroussixtyyearoldtrapper.
Oct.15th HadtalkwithColemanonhisgrouchiness.
Oct.27th Colemanisononeofhiscrankyspellsagain.
Nov.10th Colemanisonatearagain.
Nov.18th Colemanisnowtalkingofmovingout.
UnfortunatelyforTrumper,ColemandidnotleaveinsteadonNovember25Colemancameathimwitharifle,andinwardinghimoffwithamallet,Trumperdelivered
afatalblow.21
Laborersmaynothavehadthesamedesiresasthemiddleclassforprivacy,butsomesinglemenwouldhavelikedattheleasttheoptionoflivingontheirowngiven
thelackofpublicfacilities,itwasrarelypossible.Theironywasthatthevastexpansesof"frontier"wildernessoftenofferednewcomerslessprivacyoranonymitythan
thelargercitiesofeithertheEastCoastorEurope.
Mennotonlyworkedandlivedtogether,theirleisuretimeactivities,especiallydrinkingandgambling,weremainlysharedwithothermen.22Formany,tobeaman
wastodrink."Thedeceasedwasaprettygoodman,"saidanItalianofacompatriot,"hedrankjustenoughtokeephimingrandshape."23Alcoholplayeda
precipitatingroleinabouthalfthemurders.
Andwheredidmurdersusuallyoffriendsandacquaintancesoccur?Ifnotattheworkplace,shack,orcampsite,thenthelikelihoodwaswhereverliquorwas
available.Thehotelbarorsaloonwasusuallythevillageortown'smostimportantallmaleinstitution.Maleleisurepursuitswerepursuedinpublic.Murdersfrequently
followeddrinkingboutsattheVictoriaHotelinVernon(1901and1908),atthebarroomofStarke'sHotel,Peterborough(1901),outsidetheGermaniaSaloonin
Victoria(1902),attheSt.Elmo'sHotelatTrail(1907),Kirby'sHotelinKeremeos(1907),thePalaceHotelinVancouver(1908),theManhattanSalooninNelson
(1911),theQueen'sHotelinKamloops(1913),theNewTelkwaHotelinTelkwa(1913,1915),andtheEmpressHotelinPrinceGeorge(1921).Bartenders,often
theonlysoberbystandersatsuchencounters,consequentlyfoundthemselvesbeingcalledaswitnessesatinquestsandtrials.24
Thecourtrecordsdescribetheextensivepopularvocabularyemployed
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todescribedrinkingtoexcess.Oneman'sdyingdeclarationbeganwiththeline,"Iamdying.IgotfullthedayafterpaydayandEdMorellathrewarockatmyhead
andnoonesawhimthrowit."25Victimsandmurderersweresaidtobe"full,""onaspree,""wobbly,''"undertheinfluence,""quarrelsomeinhiscups,""maddrunk,"
"fightingdrunk,"and"absolutelyinebriated,goodanddrunk."Participantsinsuchdrinkingsessionscouldnotalwaysbesurethatwhatbeganaspartiesorcelebrations
anddegeneratedintoquarrels,"friendlyscuffles,"andbrawlsmightnotendinmurder.Oneprospectorrecalledthatsevenoreightbottlesofwhiskeywereconsumed
byhalfadozenmenataCariboocountrygettogether."IleftandthatwasthelastIknowofit,exceptthehowlingandscreechingandshootingallnightlongasthere
waslotsofnoise."26Despitethecommotionhewasgenuinelysurprisedtodiscoverthenextmorningthathisfriendsandpartners'partyhadculminatedinbloodshed.
Sotoowastheacquaintanceoftwotrapperswhoexchangedshotsin1911:"theyweregoodfriendsexceptwhentheyweredrinking."27
AlthoughA.W.Vowell,superintendentofIndianAffairsinBritishColumbia,placedtheblameforthehighnumberofnativemurdersonthepresenceofliquor,no
groupseemedtobeimmune.28Buttheimportanceofdrinkwaspossiblyexaggerated.Claimingtohavebeendrunkandnotrememberingwhathadhappenedwasa
convenientexcuseforthosewhocouldthinkofnoother.JamesDaleblameddrinkforhis1906shootingupofthetownofCarmi,whichresultedintwodeaths.29
Likewise,CharlesEganclaimed:"ThefirsttimeIknewamanhadbeenkilledwasthenextdayTuesday.PrisonertoldmeIhadkilledaman.WhenIfirsthearditI
gotsick."30"Igotfull,"claimedathirdmurderer,"andcan'trememberanythingafter."31"Iwasfullatthetime,"lamentedAlbertMcDougal,whohadkilledhis
brother."Idon'trememberhowthisthinghappened."32Suchdefenseswereusuallysuccessfulinatleastreducingachargefrommurdertomanslaughterandwere
accordinglytrottedoutagainandagainthoughawitnesssaidofagunnerwhoin1910killedhiscaptainatVictoria'sWorkPointbarracks,"Itisthedopethatdoes
it."33In1908themanufactureandsaleofopiumwasbannedinCanadabutatleastaslateas1914wasstillfreelyavailable,eveninjail.34
Themostcommontypeofmurderresultedfromfriends'orworkmates'argumentsescalating,undertheinfluenceofdrink,intoatradingofinsultsandfinallyto
violence.SomethingastrivialasarivalryinbanjoplayingledFrederickCollinsin1901tokillArthurDando,betterknownastheBanjoKid.35Sometimesthetension
betweenfriendsroseoverthecourseof
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monthsifnotyearsonotheroccasionsitflaredupafteradrinkortwo.Suchkillingswererarelypremeditated.SevenJanuary1914beganwithSerreCovaland
AndrewCharnot,twoRussiansworkingonrailwayconstructionnearThompson'sCrossing,celebratingRussianOrthodoxChristmasitendedwithCovalshooting
Charnot.36JohnDoherty'slastwords,saidofafellowhospitalorderlyin1919,were,"Itisallright,heisafraidtopressthetrigger."37JohnCasey,asoldierina
forestrybattalion,whentoldin1917thathehadkilledacomrade,drunkenlyretorted,"Oh,he'sallright,he'sonlyfooling."38Buthewasnot."GetupErnie,youson
ofabitch,"bellowedCharlesNeffathisbestfriend,whomheflooredon11August1913withaweldinghammer,"Youarenotdead.''39Buthewas.Scrappingand
fightingwerecustomarymeansbywhichassertionsofmasculinityweremadebymenwhocouldpridethemselvesonlittlemorethantheirmusclepower.Ifsuch
brawlsescalatedandbloodwasshed,theybecameasortoflotterywhomurderedwhomdependedlargelyonchance.Itwaslessamatterofchanceinthecasesof
theoneortwo"psychopaths"whokilledmorethanonce.RoccoFarrante,anobviouslyinsaneItalianB.C.ElectricRailwaylaborer,whowasfoundnotguiltyofthe
shootingdeathofafriendinNovember1915,thenextmonthdecapitatedhisroommate.40In1918JohnWalsh,whohadpreviouslyservedsevenyearsinprisonfor
manslaughterinhisnativeNewBrunswick,wassentencedtodeathforthemurderofafellowlogger.41
Whenstrangersweremurdered,itwasoftentheunintendedconsequenceofplannedbutbungledrobberies.In1911theowneroftheManhattanSalooninNelson
andin1912theownerofaVancouverliquorstoreweremurderedduringrobberyattempts.42MikePopovich'ssuddenprosperityin1914linkedhimtotherobbery
andmurderofaRussianlaborernearEndako.43InVancouverthreeScots'attempttostickupabootleggerendedinthelatter'sdeathin1919,44twoIrishmenkilled
aloggerforhismoneyin1920,45andadeafman'sfailuretounderstandtwothieves'orderto"stick'emup"ledtohisdeathin1921.46Finallytwoteenagemuggers'
"warningshot"killedaVictoriabankclerkin1923.47
Thepolicekilled,ofcourse,butastheirdeedswerenottreatedasmurder,theywillnotbeexaminedhere.Butlawmenwerealsonumberedamongthosekilled.At
twointhemorningof29August1914,adisheveledMickeyMcKillarneytoldafriendthat"hehadashootingscrapeandhethoughthehadcroakedabull."Lawmen
stoodoutastheusualvictimsofthehandfulofmurderscarriedoutbyprofessionalcriminals.WilliamHaney,anAmericanbankandtrainrobber,in1909shotto
deathaspecial
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constableoutsideAshcroftandsuccessfullygotaway.48In1912WalterJameskilledapoliceguardonboardthesteamerOkanaganwhileattemptingtoescape
custody,andconstableLewisJ.ByersdiedinashootoutinVancouver.ThesameyearattheNewWestminsterPenitentiary,twoconvicts,inthecourseofajail
break,murderedaprisonguard.49In1913HenryWagnerandWilliamJulian(AmericanswhowerepurportedlyoldmembersofButchCassidy'sgang)shottodeath
aspecialconstablewhohadsurprisedthemduringarobberyatUnionBay.50InMayof1913aconstablewasthevictimoftwoVancouverrobbersevadingapolice
search.51Oneofthemostfamousmurdersofalawmanoccurredin1914inVancouver,whenfollowingtheKomagataMaruaffair(whichinvolvedtheauthorities'
forciblepreventionofthelandingofaboatloadofSikhimmigrants),MewaSinghgunneddownimmigrationofficerWilliamHopkinsoninthecitycourthouse.52The
secondpolicekillingof1914inVancouvertookplacewhenMickeyMcKillarney,theexconvictnotedabove,shotadetective.53InJune1914apoliceconstable
waskilledinKamloopsbyapersonorpersonsunknown.54In1917MalcolmMcLennan,Vancouver'schiefofpolice,diedinashootoutwithBobTait,asmalltime
AfricanAmericandrugdealer.55FredDeal,anotherblackman,in1922killedaVancouverpoliceofficerwhileresistingarrest.56
Butmurdersresultingfromruninswiththepoliceandbungledrobberiesrepresentedonlyasmallfractionofallcases.Mostkillingswereprecipitated,aswehave
seen,byquarrelsandarguments.Athreattoone'slivelihoodwhichjeopardizedbothaman'spropertyandhonorcouldalsoresultinadeath.Suchstrugglesmight
involvethecontrolofscarceresources.In1908Vernonfarmersfatallyfoughtoverirrigationwater.57LongfeudsbetweenCaribooranchersovergatesandgrazing
rightsendedinbloodshedin1920and1923.58Yetwhenconflictsoverpropertyledtoviolence,theyweremorelikelytobeovertheownershipofsuchthingsas
guns,watches,bottlesofliquor,sacksofpotatoes,andsidesofbeef,inwhichthestrugglebetweenmenwasasmuchifnotmoreoverpower,honor,andselfrespect
thanforthepaltrygoodsinquestion.Generallyspeakingtheftswerenotimportantinprecipitatingdeathsmenmurderedtodefendchallengestotheirmanhood.59
Wehaveseenwheredeathsoccurredandhavesomeideaofwhymenkilledeachother.Oncearrestedwhatargumentsdidtheyemployasjustificationsfortheir
acts?Whatresponsesweremadetothembythecourtsandthepress?Atthisstagewhathadoftenbeenprivateconfrontationsweresuddenlymadepublic.Intheory
thosewhohadnotintendedtokill
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orwhoseassaulthadbeenprovokedshouldhavehadtheirchargereducedfrommurdertomanslaughter.Inpracticethosewhohadmurderedinthecourseofa
robberyorinafightwithalawmancould,nomatterwhattheirdefense,expecttoreceiveshortshrift.Thesixwhitemenwhobetween1900and1923weretriedfor
themurderofalawenforcementofficerwereeachfoundguiltyandsentencedtodeath.60Butwhenitcametomoretypicalmurders,questionsofintentand
provocationwereofcruciallegalimportanceitwasunderstoodthatinstrugglesoverhonorandindefenseofone'sfamilyagoodmanmightbeforcedtokill.Hadthe
accused,thepublicwantedtoknow,beensufficientlyprovoked?Thiswasalifeanddeathquestion.Iftheaccuseddidnotknowwhat"hehadtosay"hewasno
doubtsooninformedbyhiscounsel.Generallyagreedonnotionsofmasculinityplayedakeyroleinthecommunitydeterminingwhetherornottheaccusedhadacted
like"aman"orlikeaneffeminatesneak,whetherheshouldgofreeorbepunished,andifpunished,whetherlightlyorseverely.Suchgenderconcernswereespecially
evidentinsexrelatedmurders,butplayedapartinthepresentationofeveryconflictthatpittedonemanagainstanother.Thecourts,awareofthedangersfrontierlife
posedformen,werenotunsympatheticeventosuchvenerablegambitsasthatessayedbyaDutchpreemptor(orhomesteader)whoshothispartnerin1915:"Idid
notknowthegunwasloaded."61Buttheguiltorinnocenceoftheaccusedlargelydependedwhentheissuesofclassandethnicitywerenotofprimaryconcernon
whatthecourtthoughtofaman'scharacter,thesituationinwhichheclaimedhehadtodefendhimself,thefairnessofthefight,andhisrespectforthelaw.
Courtscarefullyscrutinizedthecharacterofboththeaccusedandthevictim.Howwasaman'scharacterdetermined?Thoughtestimonythattheaccusedwastruthful,
temperate,andlawabidingwasdiligentlyrecorded,thecourtsseemedparticularlytakenbythenotionthataman'smoralitycouldbejudgedbyhisattitudetoward
work.Abadworker,itwasassumed,wasabadman.Suchaspersionswereoftencastonthedead,whowerenottheretodefendthemselves.ArthurDando,shotto
deathin1901,wasdisparaginglydescribedbythechiefconstableofPeterboroughas"formerlyabuglerintheNorthWestMountedPolice,ayoungmanofinferior
characterdislikingwork."62Anothermurdervictimwasreportedtohavebeen"aheavy,powerfulfellow,whodidnowork,butlivedbycardplayingand
'bootlegging'andwasconstantlylookingfortrouble."63AnItalianlaborerchargedwithmurderin1910shrewdlyclaimedthathewasprovokedintofightingbyaman
who,lazilydroppinghistools,hadbragged,"We
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don'tgiveadamnforthejobandIdon'tcaretowork."64Tobeworkshy,itwasunderstood,wasunworthyofarealmanoratleastofanymanwhowas
consideredamemberoftheworkingclass.
Agoodworkerwasassumedtobeagoodman.Witnesseswereconstantlyaskedtocommentontheworkethicoftheaccused.Apolicemanwasquizzedregarding
aprisonerchargedwitha1901Victoriamurder:
Q.Youfoundhimaquietorderlyman?
A.Yes.
Q.Ahardworkingfellow?
A.Yes.
In1915ajudgerecommendedthatabridgeworker,whosesinglepunchhadcausedthedeathofadrinkingpartner,begivenasuspendedsentence.Despitethefact
thattheaccusedhadbeenpreviouslyfinedforfighting,thejudgeconcluded"characterevidenceshows[heisa]goodworkman."65Aconstableata1917inquest
whobeganhistestimonywiththeassertionthattheaccusedwas"ahardworker"appearedtoregrethavingtoadd"but[he]hasacrazystreakinhim."66Tobeable
topresentoneselfas''steadyandindustrious"wasvitallyimportantforanymanontrial.Thepress'sdescriptionoftheaccusedina1921trialas"ayoungmanoffrank
andcleancutfeatures...hardworkingandhonest"wasaclearsignalofthecommunity'sbeliefinhisinnocence.67
Thehardworkingindividualpresumablywouldhaveneitherthetimenorinclinationtogoaboutpickingfights.Butthenotionthatareasonablemancouldnotsimply
walkawayfromeveryprovocationwithfullselfrespectprovidedthebasisfortheargumentofselfdefense."IshotFrankMartin,"declaredtheaccusedina1919
trial,"firstbecauseIwasafraidofhimforhewastwicemysize.Secondly,becausehewasabully.Thirdly,becausehehadthreatenedme,andfourthly,becausehe
wasaproGerman,unscrupulous,andamenacetothecrownandgovernment."68Theprotestationsofnationalistconcern,presumablytackedonbecausetheGreat
Warhadjustended,todayringjarringlyfalse.AmorebelievablepresentationwasmadeonbehalfofMurdockCampbell,whobeattodeathafellowScotsminer.
Campbell,sohisfriendsclaimed,inleavingadrinkingestablishment,hadtriedhisbesttoavoidaconfrontationwithabully."Theabusewasenoughtomakesome
mengetupandfight.Theprisoneringettingupandgoingoutwassubjectinghimselftothetauntofbeingacoward."69Areasonablemancouldonlytakesomuch
thevictiminpursuingCampbellwasatfault.Campbellwasfoundnotguilty.CharlesEgan's
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supporterslikewisetestifiedthathehadbeengoadedintoattackinghisfriendWilliamShiells:"Shiellswasusingbadlanguagecallinghimasonofabitchandacock
sucker.HewastryingtoprovokeCharlietofight."70
Ifthingscametoblows,itwasexpectedthatyouwould"takeyourmedicinelikeaman."Implicitinsuchanattitudewastheegalitariannotionthatinaphysical
confrontationeveryman,nomatterhowhumblehisrankorstatus,hadtheopportunityofprovinghismasculinity.71Buta"fairfight"wasoneinwhichtheoddswere
judgedtobeeven.FrankNicolas,whostabbedafellowGreekfisherman,protested,"IfIhadn'tkilledhim,hewouldhavekilledme."72GuiseppeBianca,astone
masonwhoknifedabricklayer,similarlyarguedthathehadonlydefendedhimself.73Butineachcase,theaccusedhadaknifeandhisvictimdidnot.Nicolaswas
sentencedtofiveyearsinprisonandBiancatoseven.74
Themalecommunityoftenmadeclearitsviewsofsuchmurderousencounters.Mostofthewitnessesweremenwhomayhaveeggedontheparticipantsandatthe
veryleastprovidedanaudiencethatjudgedthemoralityofthemelodramaplayedoutbeforethem.WhenJamesMcGilldesRiviresfornoapparentreasonina
drunkenquarrelstabbedtodeathhisfriendHarryRowand,hisargumentofselfdefensewasaccepted.TheGreenwoodWeeklyTimesexplained,"Publicopinion
hereisstronglyinfavoroftheprisoner."75Thesethingshappened.ButwhenasixtysixyearoldmanshotasixtyyearoldVernonfriendformakingfunofhim,a
witnessnotedthattheaccused"showedmoreangerandexcitementthanthematterwouldwarrant,morethanIhaveeverknowninhim."76Similarnegative
communitysentimentwasexpressedin1913inthesmallCariboovillageofFreeport.ThecigarstorekeeperreportedthatMulvihill"saidheheardIaccusedhimof
shootingKelly.ItoldhimIhadnotexpressedmyopinion...butalltheboysthoughtso."77Thecourtsrespondedtothecommunity'scondemnationandfoundthe
accusedguilty.
Therewaslittlejudicialsympathyforthemanwho,claiminghehadnowhereelsetoturn,actuallylaunchedapremeditatedattack.SuchwasthecasewhenFrederick
Collins,whosehousehadbeenbrokeninto,declared,"IwanttoseeamagistrateasIwantsomesatisfaction.IfIcannotgetsatisfactionfromamagistrate,Ihavegot
meansofsatisfyingmyself."78Hethenkilledthepurportedintruder.SimilarlyaVernonfarmerwhokilledaneighborclaimedhehadnochoice."Hesaidthatthelaw
didnotprotecthimandhewouldhavetoprotecthimself."79Thecourtsmadeclearbyimposingheavypunishmentsthattheydidnotapproveofsuchpreemptive
formsofselfdefense.
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Theaccusedwhomeasureduptothemodelofthehardworkingindividualwhotriedtoavoidviolenceandfoughtfairlywhenhehadnootherrecourse,evenifhehad
causedadeath,stoodagoodchanceofwalkingawayfromcourtafreeman.Hischanceswerefurtherimprovedifitcouldbesuccessfullyarguedthathisadversary's
actionshadthreatenedtheaccused'svery"manhood."
Fearofphysicalviolencewasusedtojustifymurdersotoowasmen'sfearofsexualviolence.EarlytwentiethcenturyBritishColumbiawasverymuchamaleworld,
forsomea"homosocial"world.Eveninbedamancouldbeattacked.AnItalianworkerasleepinabunkhouse,whofoundhimself"pickedupblanketandall"from
hiscot,inarageshottodeaththecampbullyandwentfree.80Thisparticularcasehadnoobvioussexualovertones,butitisnotsurprisingthatreferencesto
homosexualactsshouldoccasionallyemergefromthemurderrecords.Thewayinwhichtheyweretreatedtellsusgooddealabouthowfaronecouldgoindefending
one's.heterosexualmasculinity.
On13October1901inthecanteenoftheWorkPointBarracksjustoutsideVictoria,HaroldGill,atwentyyearoldEnglishsapperintheRoyalEngineers,shotand
killedGarlandClinnick,agunnerintheRoyalGarrisonArtillery.ItwasanaccidentGill,apoorshot,hadmeanttokillgunnerMahoney,whowassittingnexttothe
unfortunateClinnick.Gill'sdefensewasthathehadbeen"goadedintodesperation"byrumorsspreadbyhisfellowsoldiersofahomosexualrelationshiphehadhad
withMahoney.81
GillandMahoney,bothbeingmembersofthegarrisonband,hadparticipatedtheweekbeforeincelebratingtheleavingforEnglandoftheRoyalHorseArtillery.
AfteranallnightdrunkenpartyattheSt.George'sInn,theyhadbeenseenasleeptogetheronacouchwithonlytheirshirtson.Gillwasthereafterunmercifullyteased.
"Lookout,thismanbelongstotheband"and"Lookout,here'sMahoney'spal"greetedtheblushingGillwhereverhewent.Acomradewhoadmittedparticipatingin
thegossipingandteasinglaterprotested"nothingItoldhimwouldleadhimtobelievethatanunnaturaloffensehadbeencommittedagainsthim."NeverthelessGill
brokedownunderhistormentors'relentlesshazingandapparentlybelievedthathehadbeensodomized.Howdoyouprovethatyouareaheterosexual?Gill,inorder
toreasserthismanhood,soughttokillnotthepersecutingtroublemakersbutthefellowvictimofthisgossip,hispurportedhomosexualseducer,Mahoney.Gill,by
attackingMahoney(followingtheadviceofoneortwofriendswhoclearlyputhimuptoit),thoughthecouldtherebydemonstratebeyonddoubtthathewasnota
homosexual.
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Thisincidentsayssomethingabouthowseriousthechargeofbeingahomosexualcouldbetakeninanallmaleenvironment.82Someinthegarrisonnodoubtthought
itwasajokingmatter,butothersbelieveditcouldjustifymurder.Gill,describedimmediatelyaftertheshootingas"excitedandhysterical,"criedthathewould"rather
bedeadthandishonored."Hisdemeanorandrhetoric,impliedobservers,manifestedtheverygenderinversionheclaimedtofearandloath.Hebitterlyregretted
killingClinnickandhadnoqualmsaboutmakingitabundantlyclearthatwhenheraisedhiscarbinehisintentionhadbeentomurderMahoney.Attheensuingtrial,
Gill'sdefenseattorneypursuedtheargumentthatGill'stragicactwasunderstandable,ifnotentirelyforgivable,because"hehadbeenorbelievedhimselftobe,the
victimofamonstrousindignityatMahoney'shands."Indeed,thedefenseargued,Mahoneywastherealculprit,amanwholiedabouttheeventsattheSt.George's
Inn,whosought"toconcealhisguilt.''Gill,whohadsufferedan"outragetohismanhood,"had,hislawyerargued,simplyactedin"ablindinstantofpassion."This
brazenattempttoarguethatahomosexualactwasworsethanmurderdidnotworkforthesimplereasonthattherewasnoproofthatsuchanacthadevertaken
place.Gill,foundguiltyofthemanslaughterdeathofthe"innocent"Clinnick,wassentencedtofifteenyearsimprisonment.83
Theverdictdidnotmeanthattheseriousnessofthe"disgracefulacts"committedbyhomosexualswasinanywaydiminishedintheeyesofthecourt.Sodomywasstill
acrime.Evensomeheterosexualactswereregardedbythebarasperverse.Thejudgeata1906murdertrialrefusedtoallowevidencetobeadmittedofthe
accused's"peculiarsexualdesires"(forcunnilingus).Suchevidence,hislordshipsaid,would"tendtoindicateinsanity."84IntheGillcase,onesuspectsthatifthe
accusedhad,asheintended,killedMahoneyamuchlighterpunishmentwouldhavebeenimposed.WithMahoneynotincourttodefendhimself,askilledcounsel
mightwellhavesucceeded,giventhetauntsandsneersthatthesubjectofhomosexualityelicited,inblamingthevictimforhisownmurder.
Justsuchadefensewascalledintoplayon22October1907,whenEdwardBowen,ayoungEnglishlaborer,shotandkilledParatreapSinghattheSpokane
RoomingHouseinVancouver.ThetwomenhadonlymetthatdayatthebaroftheAlexanderHotel.AfterdrinksthenewfoundfriendsreturnedtoSingh'sroom,a
shotwasheard,andawhitemanwasseenrunningaway.ApolicemantrackedBowendownafewstreetsoverfromSingh'sroominghouse."Andtheboysaidhe
shottheHindoo....Andhesaid'WillIshowyoutheplacewheretheHindoowas?'...AndhetoldmethathehadshottheHindoo,andthattheHindoohadtried
to
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commitanindecentact."85AfriendoftheaccusedcorroboratedthestorythattheHindoo"triedtobuggerhim[Bowen]."Wasthisthecase,orhadBowen
attemptedtorobSinghofthetwohundreddollarshewasreputedtohave?Thepresslaidouttheoptionsinaheadlinereading,"Bowen'sHonororHindusPurse."
Ironically,foratrialthatfocusedonmasculinehonor,thedefenseassertedthat"amanhasthesamerightasawomanandwasjustifiedintakingalifetoprotecthis
honor."86Bowenandhiscounselbelievedthatthecommunity'srevulsionagainsthomosexualitywassuchthattheclaimofhavingbeensexuallyattackedheldoutto
theaccusedthebesthopeofgettingawaywithmurder.87Butonceagain,asintheGillcase,theprosecutionsucceededinshowingthattherewasnoevidenceofa
homosexualattackindeedtherewasmuchtosuggestthatBowen'sstoryhadbeencontrivedtocoverhiscrime.Hewasconvictedofmanslaughterandsentencedto
tenyearsinprison.AsintheGillcase,Bowen'sconvictiondidnotsignifyadownplayingofthedangersposedbyhomosexuality.Thepublicwaslefttounderstand
thatahomosexualadvancemightjustifyrecoursetomurdertheproblemwasthattheattorneysinbothtrialshadfailedtoconvincethejuriesoftherealityofsuch
attacksontheirclients'honor.
Suchquestionsoflossof"honor"morecommonlyfiguredinmen'sstrugglesoverwomen.Somementriedtoseizeothermen'spropertysomementriedtocarryoff
thosewhoincommonparlancewerereferredtoasothermen'swomen.88Althoughbythetwentiethcenturywomenhadbeengrantedpropertyrights,the
commonplaceassumptionstillheldthatamanownedbothhiswife'searningsandthewifeaswell.Latterdaynotionsofchivalry,whichheldthatifamanhadaright
todefendhimselfhehadadutytodefendhiswoman,wererepeatedlyandsuccessfullyusedtojustifymurder.LeoEnglish,foundnotguiltyofmurderin1901,
employedjustavariantofthisdefensewhenchargedwiththeshootingdeathofhisbrotherinlaw.Englishclaimedtobeprotectinghissisterfromherhusband,who
wastreatingherbadly.Thevictim,dislikedinVernonasadangerousdrunk,attackedEnglishwithastickandEnglishshothim.Awitness,althoughaccidentally
woundedinthemelee,backeduptheaccusedwiththeclaim,"IfeveramanhadjustificationEnglishhad,toshoot."89
Moretypicalwasthecaseofahusbandassertingthathehadbeenforcedtokilltoprotecthiswife.In1904LouisGillierwasfoundnotguiltyofthemurderofa
loggerwhomtheFrenchmanhadshottwicewithashotgun.Gillier'sstorywasthatthegunhadgoneoffaccidentallywhilehewasattemptingtofreehiswifefromthe
drunkenembracesofthevictim.90
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In1905OleOleson'sshotgunkillingofGeorgeHolcroftledtoanotguiltyverdictafterOleson'swifetestifiedthatHolcroft"pulledmyclothestopiecesandhitmein
thebreast."91In1921thesameverdictwasrenderedforasimilarcaseonMoresbyIslandinwhichamanforcedhisattentionsonafriend'sspouse.Suchactions
were,declaredthepress,"ampleprovocationforthedesperatedeed."92TheinquestjurywassoimpressedbythetestimonyofaVancouvermanwhoshottodeath
hiswife'sexpimpthathewasnotevenindicted.ThefactthatthevictimwasanAfricanAmericanwhobrokeintotheaccused'shomeandattackedhimnodoubt
playedaroleinthemercyshown.93
Whatif,asinthecaseofadultery,thewifedidnotwanttobeprotectedfromtheotherman?94Ifalovetriangleledtomurder,thehusbandwasusuallythemurderer
andtheloverorwifethevictim,butonoccasionthemaleroleswerereversed.LouisPaquettekilledAlfredLegreinordertoobtainhiswife.Paquette,OliveLegre
testified,"wastellingmethathelovedme.Hehasbeentellingmethatfornearlythreeyears.HetoldmehewasgoingtoshootmethenexttimeIwenttoNotchHill."
Paquette'sstorywasthat"hispassionbecameunbearableandhemadeuphismindtokillthehusbandandwifeandthenkillhimself."95Thisviolationofthefamily
resultedinadeathsentence.Similarly,in1913BrunoCutri,who,whileattemptingtorunoffwithMariaDiatella,killedherbrotherinlaw,wassentencedtodeath.96
Butonoccasiontherewerespecialcircumstancesinwhich"theotherman"wasnotconvicted.In1910HarrietCarlson'sabusivehusbandwasstrangledbysomeone
whobrokeintotheirhouse.Theevidencepointedtoanexlodgerwithwhomshewasfriendly,buttheprosecutioncouldnotproduceenoughevidencetoconvince
thejury.97In1912twentyyearoldHaroldMcNaughtonsuccessfullyavoidedgoingtojailfortheaccidentalbeatingdeathofhiswomanfriend'shusband.
McNaughtonapparentlyhadactedinselfdefensebutwasunwiseenoughtopaytheyoungwomantoleavetown.Givensuchsuspiciousbehavior,whywashe
treatedsoleniently?ThefactthathewasthesonofaleadingVancouversocialiteandoneofthefewmembersofBritishColumbia'smiddleclasstofaceamurder
chargeprobablyhadaneffect.98OnemightalsoassumethathisagehadsomethingtodowithitsinceMcNaughtonwasdescribedinthepressas"aWestEnd
youth."Butclassandagewerelinked.Amiddleclasstwentyyearoldmalewasreferredtoasa"boy"or"youth,''aworkingclasstwentyyearoldasaman.And
McNaughton'ssixteenyearoldwomanfriend,thewifeofanironworker,wasneverreferredtoasa"girl."
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Whenadulteryledtomurder,themostcommonresolutionandthesafestcourseasfarastheaccusedwasconcernedwas,asintheHughMcGillcase,forthe
husbandtokillthelover.In1906CharlesJohnsonwasfoundnearthedeadbodyofhislodgeryelling,soawitnessrecalled,"hewouldlearnsomebodytocome
aroundtotrytofuckhiswife."HildaJohnsontestifiedthatherhusbandhadbeendrinkingallnight:"Myhusbandcameintothefrontroomandthenhecomeandsiton
theedgeofthebedandIwaslayinginthebedandthenhesaid'somebodywillbekilledtonight.'Thenhesaidformetogetupinthemiddleofthefloorandthenhe'll
killmeandthenIjumpedoverthefootofthebed.Whenhewassittingontheedgeofthebedhehadagunandputtwocartridgesintoit....Icalled'Johnbringthe
revolver,he'llkillus....'InaminuteorveryquicklyafterJohncameintotheroomtheshotwentoff."Johnsondidnotdenythefactthathisguncausedthelodger's
death,butheclaimedthathehadbeenhaving"troublewithmywife....ShesaidshehadbeensleepingwithJohn.''Andthatitwasherwho,intryingtograbhisgun,
causedittodischargeandkillthelodger.99Thedefensewassuccessful.
Anevenmoredramaticexampleofthelenienttreatmentaccordedtoanenragedhusbandwasprovidedina1919PrinceGeorgetrial.Theaccused'sstatementwas
clearenough.
IsaidtoMastIunderstandyouaregoingtotakemywifeawayandbreakupmyfamily.HesaiditisnoneofyourdamnedbusinessifIam,andstartedtoabusemeandcallme
namesandcametowardsmewithhisfistsclenchedandsaidhewouldmakemeeatsmokebeforehehaddonewithme.IknewtherewasarifleintheblacksmithshopsoIstepped
insideandtookupthegun,whichwasstandinginthecorner.Whenhesawmewiththegunherantowardsthesleigh,assoonasIsawhimrunningIthrewuptherifleandshot
athim.WhenIfiredhedroppedtothesleighandstartedpullingattheblanketsinthesleighand,asIthoughthewasgettingathisgunIfiredagainandthenathirdtimeatthe
thirdshothefelltotheground.100
Althoughhefiredthreebulletsintohisrival'sback,thefactthatthefarmerimmediatelygavehimselfupwasenoughtoconvincethecourtofhisgoodintentionshewas
foundnotguilty.Insuchcasesthewifewouldoftenbethestarwitness,butonatleastoneoccasionthedefensewassuccessfulinarguingthatshecouldnot,because
ofherstatusundertheCanadaEvidenceAct,testifyagainstherhusband.Heaccordinglywentfree.101
Alltheevidencesuggeststhatahusbandwhomurderedtokeephis
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womanstoodaverygoodchanceofgettingawaywithit.ButtheBritishColumbiacourtsdidnotextendtherightofsurveillanceofthewifeasmighthavebeenthe
caseinotherculturestothehusband'sfriendsorrelatives.
In1922aSwissimmigrantranchingintheKootenays,inorderto"redeemone'swoman'shonor,"shottodeaththemanbotheringhiswife.Whenhewasdeclarednot
guilty,thelocalpressnotedthat"whiletheletterofthelawwaslostsightofbythejurytheirverdictwasajustone."Thejudgewasnotsosureandtoldtheaccused
thatitwas"insomewaysincomprehensibletometheyhavefoundyounotguilty."102Butwhyshouldthejudgehavebeensurprised?Althoughjudgesonmorethan
oneoccasionwarnedthattheydidnotwanttosee''southernjustice"thatis,AmericanvigilantismbecomecommoninCanada,inpracticethecourtsrepeatedly
gavecredencetothenotionthatthe"protectionofthehome"couldjustifymurder.103
Wecanconclude,aswebegan,withtheHughMcGillcase.Initthecourtmadeexplicititsacceptanceofahusband'srighttousedeadlyforcetowardoffsexual
competitors.McGillactedlikea"realman"indefendingthepatriarchalfamilyandhisownershipofhiswifebymurderingthemantowhomshewasattracted.McGills
sanitywasneverquestionedhismoralswereneverdisparaged.IndeedthejudgecongratulatedMcGillonhisacquittaland,incaseanyoneshouldhavemisreadthe
jury'sfindings,remindedthecourtthatthenotguiltyverdictservedas"asalutarywarningtoanymanwhoinfuturesetsoutwiththepurposeofdestroyinganother
man'shome."104
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Parttwoofthisstudyhasbeendevotedtodeterminingthewaysinwhichthecourtscontributedtothesocialconstructionofmasculinity.Inourearlierchapterswe
sawhowthemelodramaticscriptsthatsetthebounderagainstthebarmaidandthegentlemanagainsttheladycouldbeplayedout.Inamurdertrialitwasalso
obviouslycruciallyimportantforthedefendanttoavoidbeingpresentedasthecadorvillain.Themodelmalewhoemergesfromthetrialtranscriptandpressreports
wasthehonorable,hardworking,fairfightingindividualwhowasloathtotakethelawintohisownhands.Butaslawabidingashewas,thecourtswarned
interlopersthatjudgesandjurieswouldbackuphisrighttoemployviolenceagainstthosewhoattackedhishonororviolatedhishome.Thiswas,ofcourse,notnew.
Thesameargumentshadbeenmadeinpreviouscentu
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ries.ThatmeninEuropeandNorthAmericashouldhaveturnedmorereadilythanwomentomurderishardlysurprisingandcertainlydoesnotrequiretheassumption
ofanyinnatemasculineaggressiveness.Menweresupposedtobeforcefultheywererepeatedlyinstructedbythecourtsandthepressthatinsomesituationstheir
recoursetoviolencewouldnotonlybecondonedbutapplauded.
Researcherswhohaveplottedtheevolutionofdefinitionsofmalenesstellusthatinthelatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturiestherewasaperceptibleshiftaway
fromthecultofruggedmasculinityandtowardanewmodelof"masculinedomesticity."105Butthesefindings,thoughsuggestive,arebasedprimarilyonthe
prescriptiveliteraturethatlaidoutthedutiesofthemiddleclass,suburbanizedmale.Didthenewmiddleclassidealsfilterdowntotheworkingclass?Andisone
talkingaboutrealchangesinbehaviororonlyinculturalstereotypes?Aconvincingaccountoftheshiftingboundariesofappropriatemasculinebehaviorisunlikelyto
beattainedaslongasresearchisrestrictedtotraditionalliterarysources.Thesourcesexaminedinthischaptertherecordsgeneratedbythecriminaljustice
systemhaveasyetgonelargelyuntappedbut,dealingastheysooftendidwithmen'suseofviolenceagainstothermen,greatlyenhanceourunderstandingof
popularnotionsofmasculinity.
WehavefoundlittleevidenceinearlytwentiethcenturyBritishColumbiaofthepurportedtransitionfromthecultofruggedmasculinitytothatof"masculine
domesticity."Asofterimageofmasculinitymightwellhavebeenemergingineasternadvicemanuals,butinwesterncourtstherewasmoreevidenceofcontinuitythan
ofchange.Muchaggressiveandviolentmalebehaviorwasjudgednottobedeviantbutnormal.Thatwasperhapstobeexpected,giventhattheranksoftheaccused
werenotfilledbymiddleclass,suburbanizedmales.Moreovertheerosionofsharplinesofgenderdifferentiation,adevelopmentassociatedwiththeriseofsecondary
industryandthegrowthoftheservicesector,wasunlikelytooccurinaregionwherephysicalskillandstrengthwerestillverymuchindemand.Yet,aswenoted,the
province'smurderratewasnotashighasthatofmostpartsoftheUnitedStatesandwasataboutthesamelevelfoundinthecountriesofsouthernEurope.Oneis
moreoverstruckbythefactthateventheurban,middleclassjudgesandjournalistsoftheprovince,indrawingthemoralofwhata"man"mightbeforcedtodo,
rarelyappearedtodiscriminatealongclasslines.ComparedtolawabidingEngland,theCanadianwest,insustaininghighermurderrates,couldbeconstruedas
manifestinga''culturallag,"butitwasverymuchinstepwithmanypartsof
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EuropeandNorthAmericainmaintainingtraditionalnotionsofaggressivemanliness.Viewedinthecontextofwhatwehavealreadyseeninearlierchapters,wecome
awaywiththeimpressionthatintheWesternworldbetween1880and1920thegeneralsocietalexpectationsofhowa"realman"shouldbehave,whenseriously
threatened,hadchangedverylittle.
PartTwoofthisstudyhasfocusedonwhatmightbecalled"badmen"inPartThreewewillmoveontolookat"madmen."Bywayofconcludingourexaminationof
malemurderers,itisworthreiteratingthatthemajoritywereregardedbytheirpeersashavingactedrationally.Recoursetoviolencewas,somenweretoldbythe
pressandthecourts,insomecircumstancesalegitimatemeansbywhichtodefendone'sreputation.Tofailtodosowouldbeasignofdeviancy.Tobeknownas
someonewhoskirtedrisks,avoideddangersandrefusedtocontemplatetheuseofviolencewastoexposeoneselftothechargeofnotbeinga"realman."
Confrontationalhomicidewaslocatednotbeyond,butwithintheboundariesofnormalmasculinity.
Page
12.
PicturesproducedbythesurgeoninchargeoftheUnitedStatesAmbulance
Unitsuggestingthatthehorrorsofwarbroughtoutmen'sdangerous
atavistictraits.GeorgeW.Crile,AMechanisticViewofWarand
Peace
(London:Macmillan,1915).
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PARTTHREE
MEDICALDISCOURSES:WEAKMENANDPERVERTS
Ajudge,inportrayingamanasabullyoracad,abounderorascoundrel,wasmakingcleartothecommunitythattheindividual'sguiltresidednotsomuchinhis
breakingofanylawasinhisfailuretoliveuptotheunwrittencodeofmanliness.Inthelastdecadeofthenineteenthcentury,authorsoftextbooksonlegalmedicine,
sexology,andpsychiatryinintroducingtothepublicanewcastofmalevillainsthehomosexual,thesadist,theexhibitionist,thetransvestitegreatlyexpandedand
modernizedthevocabularydevotedtodescriptionsoftheunmanly.Thequestionofhowandwhycertainmaleformsofsexualbehaviorbecamemedicalizedand
pathologizedisacomplicatedone,involvingasitdidnotsimplythepolicingofsexualactsbutthesurveillanceofdesiresandemotions.
Onestrikingindicationoftheattentionpaidtomaleemotionalitycroppedupinthelatenineteenthcenturydebateoverfloggingwhen,aswenoted,eachsideaccused
theotherofbeing"sentimental."Thesheddingoftearsbygrownmen,acommontropeofromantictheaterandliteratureintheearly1800s,wasbythe1890s
regardedwithembarrassment,ifnotdisgust.1 Educatedmenweresupposedtorestrictsignsofemotiontoappropriateoccasionsthedeathofalovedone,the
raisingoftheregimentalflag.Darwininformedhisreadersthattearswerelargelygivenupbythecivilizedandmorehighlyevolvedthatiswhyidiots,women,and
childrenwerestillpronetoboutsofweepingwhilematuremenreservedtheirenergyforcreativepurposes,whysoppycontinentalswerelessrestrainedthanthe
English.2 Inasocietygovernedbypurereason,wroteHenriBergson,onemightlaughbutnolongercry.3 Thisrepressionofmaleemotionalitydidnotsignifythat
men's"naturalness"or''spontaneity"wassuddenlylostmaletearshadoncebeenobligatory,butitwasnowunderstoodthatoutburstsofmaleemotionswerereserved
fortheprivateworld.Menweretaughttocontroltheiremotionsjustaswomenwereinstructedtoindulgeintheirs.4
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Theinjunctionagainstmaletearswassymptomaticofnewnineteenthcenturygenderdivisionsinthecreationofwhichmedicalscienceclearlyplayedacrucialrole.In
earlymodernEurope,asLaqueurandothershavenoted,doctors'explanationofreproductionwasbasedonabeliefinthe"onesexmodel"thatimpliedthatmales
andfemaleshadroughlysimilarsexualneedsandfeelings.Doctorsbegantodrawradicaldistinctionsbetweenwhatweretobecalledthe"oppositesexes"onlyfrom
theseventeenthcenturyonwards.Indeedwomenbegantobetellinglyreferredtoas"thesex."Awoman'ssexualitythefactthatshehadanuteruswasmagnified
inimportancebynaturalscientistsandphilosophersandtakenasanindicationofboththeprivateandpublicroles"nature''meanthertofulfill.Masculinity'slinkageto
sexualitywasconverselymuchreduced.Men,unlikewomen,werenolongersupposedtobebotheredbysex."Lemleestmlequ'encertainsinstants,lafemelleest
femelletoutesavie,oudumoinstoutesajeunesse."5 ThegeneralassumptionmadebyobserverslikeRousseauandMicheletwasthatmaleswerebasicallyhealthy
andfemalesunhealthythatthemalesexdrivewasunproblematic,theonlyconcernbeingtokeepitincheck.6 Marriageguides,admittedlyprovidingimperfect
reflectionsofmaritalpractices,challengedmiddleclassmentoprovethemselves"athletesofcontinence."Theyinturnweretoinstructtheirsons"astoagentleman's
dutyofselfcontrolandrespecttowardalady,andastotheproperoccasionsforexecutingsuchselfcontrolinthemaritalrelation."7
Inthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury,malesexualitybecameproblematized.Itgoeswithoutsayingthatquacksbasedtheirlucrativepracticesonasuccessful
exploitationofmen'sfearsofdiseasethequestionwhydoctorsadoptedasimilarlyalarmistviewofmalesexualityisexaminedinchapter6.Anervousmancouldby
forceofwill,thedoctorsasserted,holdhimselfbackfromthemostdangeroussexualexcessesthepervertwaslikelylostforever.Thismedicalizationofsexual
deviancywhichwetraceinchapters7to9advancedmostquicklyonthecontinent,wherethetraditionofmagistratescallingontheaidofthe"medicalpolice"to
dealwithprostitutionregardedasapublichealthmatterwasbytheearlynineteenthcenturyalreadywellestablished.Moreoverdoctorswerehappytoappearin
EuropeancourtroomsthatfollowedtheRomanlawsystem.Astheywerecalledonbyjudgesas"experts"toassistthecourtinhavingabetterunderstandingof
difficultmatters,theycouldanticipatebeingtreatedwithrespect.8 SuchwasnotatfirstthecaseintheAngloSaxonworld.Intheadversariallegalsystem,medical
witnessescalledbyeither
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theprosecutionordefensecould,aswenotedinchapter4,besubjectedtoharshandoftenhumiliatingcrossexaminations.DoctorsinBritainandNorthAmerica,
thoughanxioustoassisttheauthoritiesinmaintainingpublicmorality,wereaccordinglywaryoflegalencounters.
Thecourts'treatmentofmalesexualperversionsdoesnotatfirstglanceappeartofollowthemelodramaticscriptthatprovedhelpfulinunderstandingthecasesdealt
withinparttwoofthisstudy.Theveryfactthatthestoriestoldbymaleperverts"madenosense"wasthereasonwhyjudgescalledonthehelpofmedicalmeninthe
firstplace.Yetbyplacingdoctors'constructionofthesadist,theexhibitionist,andthetransvestiteinhistoricalcontext,theenormousinfluencesuchculturalformsas
thedecadentnovel,thecharivari,andpublicshamingritualshadinframingtheapparentlynewfigurethesexpervertbecomeimmediatelyobvious.Madmenrather
thanbadmenwerenowthepurportedtargetsoftheauthorities'sanctions,butdoctorstooktheopportunitytoturnthedescriptionsofthemostidiosyncraticformsof
behaviortothepurposesofdemarcatingtheboundariesof"normal"masculinity.
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Six
Weaklings
InAugust1863MontagueAugustusClarke,acaptainintheFiftiethRegimentstationedatParkhurst,Scotland,perusedtheadvertisementpagesofhislocalpaper.
Therehefoundnoticesforbookson"marriageanditsimpediments"andthe"vigourofyouthregained,"includingDr.Curtis'sMedicalGuidetoMarriageandDr.
La'Mert'sPhysiologyofMarriage,andahostofadvertisementsaimedatmenforavarietyofmedications,includingDr.Brights'SpeedyCure,Dr.Watson'sSelf
CureforDebility,NervineEssence,NerveLozenges,SelfCureforSpermatorrhoea,andtheSilentFriendonMarriage.Oneadvertisementinparticularcaught
Clarke'seye."Dr.Henerymaybeconsultedinallcasesofaprivateandconfidentialnatureincidentaltomaleorfemale.Acureeffectedinafewdays.Nocharge
unlesscured.HoursfromtentilltwoSundaysbeforetwo.ParticularsofthenewdiscoveryforsixstampsAddress52,DorsetStreet,BakerStreetW.''1 Overthe
courseofseveralmonths,ClarkeconsultedHenery,forwhoseserviceshepaidoneguineapervisitandfromwhomhepurchasedatonicwhichonlaterinvestigation
provedtobenothingmorethancoloredwaterat1isperbottle.AltogetherClarkesawHeneryeleventimesandpaidouteightyfivepounds,roughlythe
equivalentinthe1860softwoyearswagesforanunskilledlaborer.
ClarketookthemedicineforfourmonthsandalsofollowedHenery'sadviceregardingexerciseandcoldwaterbathing.Thecaptainappearedtobelievethatthe
treatmentworkedandwroteHenerytosayhefeltstrongerandwasimproving.ButinJulyof1864,whenClarkeceasedhispurchases,Dr.Heneryattemptedto
blackmailhim.AndwhenClarkerefusedtohandover150pounds,thedoctorhadanaccomplicesendhispatientthefollowingthreateningletter.
Now,supposingIweretoinformyouapplicationwillbemadeattheWarOffice,withexplanationofcase,andifweweretodosoyouknowwhattheconsequenceswouldbeor
supposingIwere
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toinformyouthatIexpecttobeinyourneighbourhoodinScotlandnextweek,andthatIdon'tintendleavinghere,intheeventofyourstillpersistinginyourrefusaltopay,
withoutmakingitknownintheneighbourhoodforwhatpurposesIamhere.Iaminnohurry,andwillallowyoutimetoreflectwhetheritwillbebettertopayDrHenery'slegaland
justclaimorsubmittoexposureofyourfilthycase.2
Clarkegavethelettertohisattorney,thepolicewerecalled,andon26November1864"Dr.AlfredFieldHenery"(whoprovedtobeWilliamOsterfieldWray)and
WilliamAndersonof52DorsetStreet,PortmanSquare,weretriedbeforeMr.BaronBramwellattheCentralCriminalCourt.3 Atthetrialitcameoutthatthe
accusedhadforsometimeusedadvertisementswithsuchleadingwordsas"manlyvigourgiven"andcuresfor"youthfulindiscretion"toluremaleclientswhowere
worriedabouttheirdecliningsexualpowers.Theaccusedinsistedonacquiringtheaddressesoftheirpatients,butitisnotclearhowmanymentheyactually
blackmailedorthreatenedtolibel.Inanyevent,becauseofatechnicality,thelibelchargefiledagainstthemintheClarkecasewasultimatelydroppedtheconspiracy
chargewasupheld.Onthe24Novembertheywereconvictedandsentencedtotwoyearshardlabor.4
Themedicalpressplayedupthetrial,theLancetnotingthatmanyothermenlivedinfearofsuchrogues.Indeed,in1857thepolicehadrevealedthataDr.Kahn,
proprietorofanAnatomicalMuseuminCoventryStreet,hadfraudulentlyobtainedmoneyfromthousandsofyoungmen,includingmanymembersoftheclergy.Athis
trialonemanreportedthatwhenheaskedforhismoneybackKahnreplied,"Ifyoudareaskforthat,Ishallaccuseyouofmasturbation."Thistestimonycauseda
sensationinthecourt,thejudgeprotesting,"Oh!evenifitweretrue,itwouldbeamonstrousthingforamedicalmantoassert."5 TheBritishMedicalJournal
insistedthateventhewritersofmelodramasandsensationalistnovelshadneverimaginedvillainsasevilasHeneryandKahn.
Novelwritersofthenewsensationschoolhavenotbeenveryscrupulousintheirresorttothecatalogueofcrimesbuttheyhavefoundorinventednomoreodiouscharacter
thanthatofamanwho,possessingsomefatalsecretofanother'slife,usesittoextortmoneyorgainothersinisterends.Notonlyisrobberycommonlypushedtoaruinous
extent,butthewretchedvictimisreducedtoaconditionofcompletemoralslavery,andsubjectedtoincreasingmoraltorture,whichnocorporalinflictioncanadequately
represent.6
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Worsewastocome.Aninquest,heldattheChequersInn,Higham,Kent,onJamesMiles,agedtwentyfour,whohadbeenfounddrownedon19January1865,
wastoldthatinhispocketswerehandbillsofDr.deRoodofTavistockSquareandDr.SmithofBurtonCrescent.Thelocalsurgeonclaimed,afterlookingatthe
papers,that"Ihavenodoubtwhatevertheywouldcauseagreatdepressionofspirits,andtendtoapersoncommittingsuicide.Personssufferingdiseasearehighly
susceptibleofdepressionofmind.Thepapersarebillsissuedbyquacks.Itisnotunusualforcasesofsuicidetoarisefromreadingpamphletssimilartothose
produced."7 TheLancetdrewthelessonthatbyreadingsuchadvertisementsthatplayedupthedangersposedby"selfabuse,"apoor,weakfellowfell"likeso
manyothers"intothewayofdeath.Immensecirculationswereenjoyedbybooksthat,assertedtheeditor,"containeveryelementofprurience,ofvilesuggestion,and
ofcunningterrorism.''8 Therewasnodoubtthatthetradewasextensive.Quackssentbookstostudents,businessmen,armyandnavyofficers,andmembersofthe
civilservice."Whatafrightfulundercurrentofsecretmiserymustbeunderlyingthefabricoflowerclassmiddle[sic]Englishlife,"thehorrifiededitoroftheLancet
lamented,"tomakeitworththewhileofthesewretchedquackstoexpendsuchenormoussumsinadvertisingtheirabominablewares!"9 Socalledquackshadbeen
denouncedbefore,butthesewerethefirstserioussalvosfiredbyregularphysiciansinwhatwastobeadecadeslongattackonthe"irregulars"whocateredtoa
marketmadeupofmalesworriedthatmasturbation,venerealdisease,andsexualexcessesthreatenedtorenderthemimpotent.10
Recentresearchhasrevealedthatananalysisofobsceneliteraturedoesnotprovideasmanyinsightsintotherolesexualbehaviorplayedinevolvingnineteenth
centurydefinitionsofmasculinityaswasanticipated."Malesexuality,paradoxically,isoneoftheobscureareasinmuchpornography.Althoughearlymodern
pornographywaswrittenbymenforapresumablymaleaudience,itfocusedalmostsinglemindedlyonthedepictionoffemalesexuality,asifmalesexualityweretoo
threateningtocontemplate."11Themedicalliteratureononanismhasincontrastproventobeafruitfulsource.Itisnotnecessarytorehearseherethemuchabused
historyofmasturbation.12Sufficetosaythatthoughchurchmenlongcondemnedthesinof"pollution,"theyhadnotbeenpreoccupiedbyitsphysicalconsequences.
Andearlymodernphysiciansfortheirpartheldthatemissionswerenecessarytomaintainhealth.WiththeappearanceofOnaniainearlyeighteenthcenturyEngland
andtheworksofTissotinFranceinthe1760s,however,themodernpanicoverthemedicaldangersposedbymale"sexualexcesses"wasignited.13Inthenineteenth
century,thismarket,exploited
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bythecommerciallymindedincludingSamuelLa'MertandJ.L.CurtisinEngland,Dr.BrennusandDr.BelliolinFrance,andDr.RetauinGermanynodoubt
expandedbecauseinadditiontoanxiousadolescentstheremusthavebeenmanyamongtheincreasingnumbersofmenwhoemployedthewithdrawalmethodofbirth
control(coitusinterruptusor"conjugalonanism")tocontrolfamilysizeuntilthe1930sthemostcommonformofcontraceptionintheWesternworldwho
wonderedifsuchpracticeswouldhaveanydeleterioussideeffects.14
Doctorswereoutragedbyevidencethatquacksturnedtoblackmail.Butthemedicalprofessionwasnotsatisfiedbythebringingtojusticeofonlyoneortwo
scoundrelslikeHeneryandKahnwhohadactuallycommittedcrimes.Itwantedallquackswhoexploitedthesexualfearsofgulliblemalepatientssilenced.Doctors
offeredamixedmessage.Ontheonehand,themedicalpresscalledfortheMedicalCounciltoacttoenddisplaysofadvertisementsfor"VitalEssences,""Elixirsof
Life,"and"Restoratives"thatclaimedtosuccorwornoutdebauchees.15TheLancetinsistedinparticularthatthegovernmentsilencethe"advertisingscoundrels"
whoseactivitieswereanoutragetomoralsandtotheprofession.Fortyyearslateritwasstillwarningthatquackswerebilkingorblackmailingapublicworriedabout
sexualweaknesses,genitaldisorders,andcontraception.16Medicaljournalslamentedthatthenewspaperpressthesupposedguardianofpublicmoralswas
responsibleforabettingsuchbounders.Butontheotherhand,themedicalpressassertedthatamalepatient'srevelationofsomesexualmalfunctioningshouldnot
entailanyshameorconcealment.Yetthemedicalprofessionwasnotterriblywillingtorespondtotheobviousdemandforinformationonsexualmatters.Many
laymenpointedoutthatthereasonthepublicturnedtoquackswasbecausedoctorswouldoftennotanswertheirpatients'questions.17
MostdoctorsinbothEuropeandNorthAmericawereoftheopinionthattheirprofession,intheprocessofestablishingitself,couldonlysufferifitbecametoo
involvedwithsexualissues,associatedastheywereinthepublicmindwithmidwifery,quackery,andprostitution.18Somenodoubtremainedtruetotheoldnotion
thatamanhadtosowhiswildoats,buttheycouldnolongerexpresssuchopinionsinpublic.Otherscandidlyadmittedthatinanyeventtheyknewnomorethantheir
patientswhenitcametodealingwithsexualproblems.19Mosteitheravoidedsuchissuesorcloakedtheirignoranceinpessimisticmoralizing.20Butasmallnumber
begantotreatmalesexualityasasubjectworthyofseriousinvestigation.Thesedoctors,whofirstturnedtotheproblemsposedby"weakandner
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vousmen,"wereverymuchconsciousoftheneedtodistinguishthemselvesfromirregularpractitioners.Consequentlytheysetouttomakeitcleartoboththeir
professionalbrethrenandthegeneralpublicthattheywerenotlikequacksabouttopandertoamaleclienteleofdebaucheesseekingeasyrelieffromdiscomforts
causedbysexualmisdemeanors.21Theydidsobytheirgloomyprognosticationsandtheirprescribingoffrequentlypainfulandpunitivetherapies.Althoughthey
condemnedirregularsforprayingontheanxietiesoftheirclients,doctors'portrayalofsexualmalfunctioningtendedifanythingtobeevenbleaker.Indeedthe
genealogyofthegrimappraisalofmalesexualitycanbetraceddirectlyfromWilliamActoninthemidnineteenthcenturytoSigmundFreudintheearlytwentieth.22
Acton,whohadhelpedintheprosecutionofKahn,wasthebestknownmidcenturyBritishauthorityonthesubjectofmalesexualdisorders.23Youthneededsexual
education,assertedActon,toinoculateitagainstfalseknowledge.Butthe"education"heofferedpresenteddiseaseasapunishmentforindiscretions,calledforthe
dressingofboysinrestraintstopreventtheirselfabuse,andwarnedmenoftheallimportantneedtoharbortheir"energy."Acton'scomplaintthatotherwiseintelligent
gentlemen,whenplaguedbygenitalproblems,threwthemselvestodisreputableharpieswasmademoreunderstandableonceoneappreciatedthetherapieshe
offered.Hesubjectedhismalepatientstogalvanictreatments,dosesofcantharides,and,ifallelsefailed,painfulcauterizationswithascaldingcausticsolutioninjected
viaasyringeforceduptheurethra.Actonmarveledthatfeweveraskedforaseconddose,apparentlyobliviousofthefactthattheirrigationwassopainfulthatthe
patientoftencouldnotwalkforthreetofourdaysafterward.24Thegooddoctor,inassertingthatthesufferer'sonlytrueremedylayin"selfcontrol,"setamoralistic
lineofargumentthatsubsequentgenerationsofphysicians,atleastwhendealingpubliclywithmalesexualproblems,closelyfollowed.
IntheUnitedStates,GeorgeBeard,whobeganspeakingonthesubjectin1868,declaredthatavarietyofmalegenitalweaknessesincludingdebility,impotence,
spermatorrhea,andprostatedifficultieswereallsymptomsoftension.25Suchtensionwasinturntheresultofacomplexmixtureofstressestowhichmodernmanwas
subjectedbythemarchofprogress.Onthephysicalside,patientsfellpreytoaddictionstoevilhabits,alcohol,andtobaccoandonthepsychologicalsidetosuch
tensionsasthosecreatedbyrailwaytravelandtheshockofbadnews.Suchcombinations,Beardgloomilynoted,couldrendersomemenhysterical.26Hewasthe
firstto
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popularizethenotionthatthepressuresofmodernsocietyweresuchthatthosemenwhocouldnotstanduptothemwereturnedinto"weaklings."
Beardcoinedthetermneurastheniatorefertomalesexualexhaustion.27Doctors,notedBeard,hadinthepastrarelyaskedforthesexualhistoryoftheirmale
patients,somensufferingfromstressweredismissedashypochondriacsjustaswomenoftenhadbeenashysterics.Butnowasgynecologistswereuncovering
women'srealcomplaints,sotoodoctorswhoinvestigatedmen'sdistresseswerealsodiscoveringworryingpractices.Themale'slossof"nervousforce"was,
accordingtoBeard,whatprimarilyledtoirritabilityandnervousness.Nocturnalemissionsandselfabuseifexcessivecouldcauselossofenergyandultimately
impotence."Prolonged"intercoursewashurtfultoo,butbirthcontrolencouragedthemostdamagingexcesses.Andofalltheformsofunnaturalcoitus,withdrawalor
thespillingofmaleseedwastheworst.28Asawarningtohismalereadersagainstsquanderingone'snervousforce,Beardcitedthefrighteningcaseofthe
"Mujerados,"PuebloIndianswhowerereportedlymasturbatedbytheirfellowsuntiltheylostallsexualdesireandtheirorgansshrank.Theywerethereafterdressed
aswomenandplayedareligiousroleinthecommunity.29WhenBeardspokeof"lossofmanhood,"heliterallymeantjustthat.
Asidefrominsistingthathispatientsgiveuptheirdestructivehabits,Beardofferedarangeoftherapiesincludingameatdiettobuildupthepatient'sstrengthwhilehis
rebelliousmemberwasdealtwithbyelectrictherapies,sedatives,andcauterizations.Beardwasparticularlygiventothedangersofthe"redundantprepuce,"whichhe
suggestedbedealtwithbycircumcisionand/or"stretching."Beardalsoexperimentedwiththeuseofplacebos,whichhefoundworkedwellwithbothfunctionaland
organicproblems.Indeedhewasverymuchaproponentofwhathecalled"mentaltherapeutics,"ofappealingtowork,travel,andmarriage.30He,likeActon,
believedthataman'srealrecoverywasaccomplishedbyforceofwillpower."ResolveBeardadvisedhispatients,"tobecomeusefulorfamous."31
Suchattacksonsexualexcesses,particularlyrelatedtomasturbationandcoitusinterruptus,becameacommonplaceofnineteenthcenturymedicalliterature.In
France,FlixRoubauddeclaredthatcoitusinterruptuswasmoredebilitatingforthemalethannormalcoition.32InCanada,M.H.Utley,repeatingTissot'soldline
thatoneounceofsemenwastheequaloffortyouncesofblood,warnedmenofthedangeroflosingtheir"manhood."33InAustria,VictorG.Veckisuggestedarange
ofcuresformasturbationrangingfromdosesofnuxvomicaandcocainetohydrother
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apy,electrotherapy,andhypnotism.34Vecki'sviewthatcoitusinterruptuswas"afruitfulparentofallsortsofnervousandmentalderangements"wassharedby
many.35InBritain,GeorgeSavage,inthemidstofhis1907LumleianLectureson"Insanity,ItsCauseandIncrease,"solemnlydeclared,"Ihavenotimetogointothe
questionofsexualcausesofinsanity,butitwouldnotberightifIdidnotexpressmyopinionthatthetendencytolatemarriagesinmen,thegreatlimitationinthe
numberofchildren,andthedistasteofthemotherstonursetheirchildrenallhavepotentinfluenceinproducingmentalinstability."36
Freud,itisgenerallybelieved,stoodoutfromhiscolleaguesinattributingtheexhaustion,weaknesses,andtimidityofhismalepatientstopsychologicalratherthan
somaticcauses.HenryCampbellandArthurCooper,withtheirdirepredictionsaboutthedangersofmasturbation,andF.W.Mott,withhiswarningsoftheperils
posedbythelossofthe"highlyphosphorizednucleoproteidscontainedinthesperm,"seemfarremovedfromthemeasuredintrospectionofFreud'sbetterknown
works.YetashemadeclearinAnAutobiographicalStudy,his"momentousstep"instartingoutonhisownpathofdiscoverywasmadeinlinkingthehysteriaofhis
patientstotheirsexuallives.37Inthe1890shetoocametotheconclusionthattherewasasomaticsidetoeveryneurosis.Closeobservationmoreoverconvincedhim
thatacentralformofsexualabnormalitywasthepracticeofcoitusinterruptus.Itwasthis"abuse"thatwasthehiddencauseofamultitudeofnervousconditions.
Ithoughtthattheanxietyfromwhichthepatientssuffershouldbelookedonasacontinuationoftheanxietyfeltduringthesexualactthatistosay,thatitwasahysterical
symptom.Indeed,theconnectionbetweentheanxietyneurosisandhysteriaareobviousenough.Twothingsmightgiverisetothefeelingsofanxietyincoitusinterruptus:inthe
woman,afearofbecomingpregnant,inthemantheworrythathis[preventive]devicemightfail.Ithenconvincedmyselffromanumberofcasesthatanxietyneurosisalso
appearswheretherewasnoquestionofthesetwofactors,whereitwasbasicallyofnoimportancetothepeopleconcernedwhethertheyhadababy.38
Anobviousquestionisifthecouplewereunconcernedwhethertheyconceivedachild,whyweretheypracticingcoitusinterruptus?Freudappearstohave
overlookedthisflawinhislogic,andinsummingupthetypesofanxietyarisingfromsexualcausesheaccordinglylistedaftertheabstinentandthevirginal:
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(4)Anxietyofwomenlivingincoitusinterruptus,or,whatissimilarofwomenwhosehusbandssufferfromejaculatiopraecoxofpeople,therefore,inwhomphysicalstimulation
isnotsatisfied.
(5)Anxietyofmenpracticingcoitusinterruptus,evenmoreofmenwhoexcitethemselvesinvariouswaysanddonotemploytheirerectionforcoitus.39
ToappreciatefullyFreud'sattitudetowardcoition,ithastoberecalledthatinhisearlywritingsheasserted,asdidmanyofhiscontemporaries,thatmasturbationwas
itselfacauseofnervousdebility.Contraceptioneitherbycoitusinterruptusorbycondomhepresentedinturnaslittlemorethanasubspeciesofselfabuse.InDraftA
ofthe"AetiologyoftheNeuroses,"writtentowardstheendof1892,heposedthequestion:"Issimplecoitusreservatus(condom)anoxa[danger]atall?"40By
"simple"hemeantasunrelatedtomasturbation.InDraftB,writteninFebruary1893,heansweredintheaffirmative.Thesourceof"neurasthenia"ornervous
exhaustioninyouthswasmasturbationinadultsitwascoitusinterruptusorreservatus.
Thissecondnoxaisonanismusconjugalisincompletecoitioninordertopreventconception.Inthecaseofmenallthemethodsofachievingthisseemtofallintoline:they
operatewithvaryingintensityaccordingtothesubject'sdisposition,butdonotactuallydifferqualitatively.Evennormalcoitionisnottoleratedbythosewithastrong
dispositionorbychronicneurasthenicsandbeyondthis,intoleranceofthecondom,ofextravaginalcoitionandofcoitusinterruptustaketheirtoll.Ahealthymanwilltolerateall
oftheseforquitealongtime,butevensonotindefinitely.Afteracertaintimehebehaveslikethedisposedsubject.Hisonlyadvantageoverthemasturbatoristheprivilegeofa
longerlatencyorthefactthatoneveryoccasionheneedsaprovokingcause.Herecoitusinterruptusprovestobethemainnoxaandproducesitscharacteristiceffectevenin
nondisposedsubjects.41
Relianceuponthewithdrawalmethodrequiredthemaletocontrolhimselfsufficientlythatheclimaxedonlyafterexiting.Thewoman,however,wouldpresumablybe
"lefthanging,"andherfrustrationwouldresultinhysteria.Freudinsistedthathisinvestigationoftheeffectsofcoitusinterruptusledtohismajordiscoverythatallforms
ofanxietystemmedfromalackofsexualrelease.
In1895Freudexpandedhisaccountofthedangersofcontraceptive
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practices.42Masturbationwasthefirstdangeror"noxa"thatanindividualfacedinsexuallifecoitusinterruptuswasthesecond.Theformerpracticeresultedin
neurasthenia,whichcouldinturn"dispose"onetoanxietyneurosisifthelaterpracticewasadopted.Speakingspecificallyofanxietyneurosis,Freudasserted:
Thereisnoquestionbutthatitisacquired,andspeciallybymenandwomeninmarriage,duringthesecondperiodofsexualnoxae,throughcoitusinterruptus.Idonotbelieve
thatdispositionowingtoearlierneurastheniaisnecessaryforthisbutwheredispositionislacking,latencyislonger.Thecausalformulaisthesameasinneurasthenia.Therare
casesofanxietyneurosisoutsidemarriagearemetwithespeciallyinmen.Theyturnouttobecasesofcongressusinterruptusinwhichthemanisstronglyinvolvedphysically
withwomenwhosewellbeingisamatterofconcerntohim.Thisprocedureintheseconditionsisagreaternoxaforamanthencoitusinterruptusinmarriage,forthisisoften
corrected,asitwere,bynormalcoitusoutsidemarriage.43
ItisstrikingthatFreudshouldhavelinkedmasturbationandcoitusinterruptus.Presumablyhewasthinkingthatwhensolitaryyouthsmasturbateandmarriedmen
enactcoitusinterruptustheybothspillseed.Yetthemotivationsareobviouslydifferent,andtheyaresuchdifferentpracticesthefirstinvolvessexualselfexcitementto
ejaculationasquicklyandconclusivelyaspossible,thesecondinvolveswithdrawalandrestraint.Bothmight,fordifferentreasons,produceanxietyevenguiltbut
theoneseemspoortrainingfortheother.
Freudacknowledgedthathistheorywouldbecriticized.Somewouldsaythat"thenumberofpeoplewhopracticecoitusinterruptusandthelikeisincomparably
largerthanthenumberswhoareafflictedwithanxietyneurosis,andthegreatmajorityoftheformertoleratethisnoxaverywall."44Whenitwassuggestedthatsome
menpracticedcoitusinterruptusforyearswithoutanyapparentilleffect,Freudreplied:
Thoseindividualswhoapparentlytoleratecoitusinterruptuswithoutharm,infactbecomedisposedbyittothedisordersofanxietyneurosis,andtheymaybreakoutatsometime
orother,eitherspontaneouslyorafterashocktraumawhichwouldnotordinarilysufficeforthisjustas,bythepathofsummation,achronicalcoholicwillintheenddevelopa
cirrhosisorsomeotherillness,orwill,undertheinfluenceoffever,fallvictimtoadelirium.45
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Freud'suseofalcoholismasananalogywithsexualoverindulgencerevealstheextenttowhichhecouldfallbackonthecommonplacesofhisage.Asmanyhistorians
havenoted,theofficialmoralityofnineteenthcenturyEuropewasheavilyinfluencedbyeconomicconsiderationsinwhichoverexpenditure,beitinmoney,alcohol,or
sex,waspresentedasthreateningthemiddleclassmanwiththedangersofmonetary,physical,andpsychologicalbankruptcy.Freuddidnotescapethistendency.46
Freudwasnodoubtcorrectinholdingthatmanymusthavefoundcoitusinterruptusafrustratingpractice.Butwhatshouldnotbeforgottenisthatheinsistedthatfull
satisfactionwasonlypossiblebypenetration.Orgasmsachievedbyanyothermeanshecondemned.Theideathatnormalintercoursemightbespurnedbypatients
whoemployedcoitusinterruptusandthenproceededbyothermeanstoreachclimaxcould,claimedFreud,onlyleadtofurtherproblems.Forthecoupleorthe
womanherselftofallbackonsomeothermeanssuchasclitoralstimulationwasinhiseyesaretreatfrommaturity.In"Civilized"SexualMorality(1908),he
moroselychronicledtheincreasedemploymentofsuchmaneuvers.
Thesternnessofthedemandsofcivilizationandthedifficultyofthetaskofabstinencehavecombinedtomakeavoidanceoftheunionofthegenitalsofthetwooppositesexes
intothecentralpointofabstinenceandtofavourotherkindsofsexualactivity,which,itmightbesaid,areequivalenttosemiobedience.Sincenormalintercoursehasbeenso
relentlesslypersecutedbymoralityandalso,onaccountofthepossibilitiesofinfection,byhygienewhatareknownasperverseformsofintercoursebetweenthetwosexes,
inwhichotherpartsofthebodytakeovertheroleofthegenitals,haveundoubtedlyincreasedinsocialimportance.Theseactivitiescannot,however,beregardedasbeing
harmlessasanalogousextensions[ofthesexualaim]inloverelationships.Theyareethicallyobjectionable,fortheydegradetherelationshipoflovebetweentwohumanbeings
fromaseriousmattertoaconvenientgame,attendedbynorisksandnospiritualparticipation.47
Thelanguageisrevealing:civilizationmadesterndemands,normalsexwasa"seriousmatter,"nongenitalvariantswere"ethicallyobjectionable"becausetheywere
"attendedbynorisks,"bywhichhemeantthatconceptioncouldnotoccur.IndeedFreudwastogosofarindefending"normalintercourse"thathewaslatertowrite
inhisIntroductoryLectures,"We...describeasexualactivityasperverseifithasgivenuptheaimofreproductionandpursuestheattainmentofpleasureasanaim
independentofit.''48
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Turnofthecenturydoctorsdidnot,ofcourse,speakwithonevoiceonthesubjectofsexuality.Ahandfuldefendedbirthcontrol.Some,likeJamesPagetinEngland,
poohpoohedthedangersofmasturbation.49F.R.Sturgis,professorofmedicineattheCityUniversityofNewYork,whodedicateda1902studytothe"sexual
cripplesoftheUnitedStates"wentsofarastojokeaboutthe"thehomelypleasureofthehand."50Butthemajorityofdoctorsthoughtitsafertoadoptfarmore
conservativepositions.Freud,whodifferedinmanywaysfromhiscolleagues,sharedwithmostthepessimisticnotionthatmenhadtopayapricefortheirunfettered
pursuitofsexualpleasure.
Malepatient'svoicesarerarelyheardinsuchdiscussions,butthereisevidencethatmanymenwerenotimpressedbydoctors'warningsabout"sexualexcesses."The
contributorstotheGrandeDictionnaireduXIXesicleobviouslyfoundthesubjectof"Impotence"alaughingmatter,listingundertheentryastringofamusing
anecdotes.51AndinLondonin1857,themalespectatorsburstoutlaughingwhenthecourtheardthatDr.Kahnhadterrorizedayoungmanwhothoughthehad
spermatorrhoeawiththeassertion,''Yourbrainsarepassingoutintoyourwater,andyouwilldie."52LikewiseaGermanworkerwhowasinformedinthe1890sbya
socialsuperiorthatcoitusinterruptuswashealththreateningretortedthatifthatwasthecase"everyonewouldbesick."53
Suchmenwere,ofcourse,unlikelytohavereadFreudorBeard.ButthankstothetrialofRexversusDesctes,whichtookplaceinMontreal,Canada,on23
December1924,wearegivensomeideaofhowsuchnewsexologicalideaswerevulgarized.54L.A.Desctes,theproprietorofabookstoreat290MontRoyal
Est,waschargedwithsellinganumberofobscenetextsincludingLaPderastie,LaVirginit,LaProstitution,LaPerversionSexuelle,andLaFolierotique,all
theproductsofthepenoftheprolificFrenchauthor,"Dr.Jaf."55JudgeLacroixcouldimaginenocircumstancesinwhichthesaleofsuchbookscouldbedefended
andaccordinglyfoundtheaccusedguiltyascharged,sentencingDesctestotheoptionofeitherimmediatelypayingafiftydollarfineorservingthreemonthsin
prison.56
Wehaveseenthattheofficialnineteenthcenturymedicaldiscussionofsexualitywasdominatedbypiousmoralizing.Whatwasthemessageofthe"obscene"booksof
"Dr.Jaf"andhisilk?Thesignificanceofsuchaliteratureisthatitdocumentsimportantchangesbutalsorevealsremarkablecontinuitiesinsexualbeliefs.Aperusalof
thesebookssuggeststhatthevulgarizationofmodernsexologicalknowledge,takingtheformsthat
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itdid,wasunlikelytohaveprecipitatedeithermen'sdescentintocorruptionasbewailedbyjudgeLacroixorthe"flightintoknowledge"toward"sexualenlightenment"
somelaterhistorianshaveclaimedtodetect.57
"Dr.Jaf"wasthepennameoftheenterprisingandproductiveDr.JeanFauconney,whoalsowrotedozensofbooksundertheanagram"Dr.Caufeynon."Most
appearedinaseriespublishedinParisinthefirstdecadeofthiscenturyentitledthe"Bibliothquepopulairedesconnaissancesmdicales."TheBibliothquepopulaire
boastedofpresentingatthemodestpriceofonefrancpervolumeabsolutelyprecise,scientificfindingsinaclear,simplelanguageaccessibletoall.58
Itisimpossibletosayhowmanyreadthesebooks.Onehastotakewithalargegrainofsalttheauthor'sclaimthatby1926Scuritdesdeuxsexesenamourhad
soldeighthundredthousandcopies.ButwedoknowthatthesebookswerereadwidelynotonlyinFrancebut,astheQuebeccasemakesclear,throughoutthe
francophoneworld.TheywerealsotranslatedintoSpanishandEnglishinthe1920s,andsomevolumescontinuedtoappearinAmericaneditionsaslateasthe
1950s.59
AlthoughitwouldbehazardoustoattempttomakeanypreciseclaimsabouttheextentofDr.Fauconney'sreadership,itissafetosaythatattheveryleasthisbooks
providesomeideaofwhattheadventurousmaleFrenchreaderoftheearlytwentiethcenturyinsearchofuptodatesexualinformationwouldhavebeenlikelytofind.
SuchamanmighthaveheardofForelorFreud,HavelockEllisorKrafftEbing,butprobablysoughtoutthelessacademic,moreaccessible,andcheapertextsthat
theBibliothquepopulaireprovided.Dr.Fauconney'ssuccessinsellingsomanybooksforsolongpresumablystemmedfromhisabilitytoknowbothwhatwell
knownmedicalauthoritiesweresayingandwhatordinaryreaderswantedtohear.
Whatdidthesebookscontain?Someofthevolumeswereproducedsimplyforthecuriousorvoyeuristic.L'Eunuchisme:Histoiregnraledelacastration,
althoughitdidcontainsomepertinentinformationonovariotomiesandcircumcision,couldhardlybeconsideredmorallyoffensive.60Thevolumeon
L'Hermaphrodisme,whichprovidedasurprisinglyfulltreatmentofthediscussionofthesubjectfromMontaigneinthesixteenthcenturytoTardieuinthenineteenth,
wasequallycircumspect.61Preoccupyingturnofthecenturymedicaltopics,whichatfirstglanceseemedtobeonlytangentiallyrelatedtosexuality,alsoreceivedDr.
Fauconney'sattentioninsuchvolumesasL'Hystrie,L'Hypnotisme,andLesMorphinomanes.ThegooddoctorevendedicatedanentirebooktoLesTatouages,
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revealingtotheinquisitivethewaysinwhichcriminals,prostitutes,andhomosexualspurportedlyusedbodymarkingsassecretcodes.62ButDr.Fauconneyfocused
primarilyontheproblemsposedbyheterosexuality,withthetwentytitlesintheBibliothquepopulairemoving(inalphabeticalifillogicalorder)fromL'Avortementvia
LaSyphilistoLaVirginit.Altogether,morethanfortybooksdealingwithvarioussexualproblemsappearedunderthenamesof"Dr.Jaf"or"Dr.Caufeynon."many
simplyrepeatingandrepackagingthesameinformationandanecdotesinavarietyofcontexts.
Whatfirststrikesthecontemporaryreaderishow"old"muchofthis"new"discussionofsexualitywas.MostofFauconney'sbooksappearedinthefirstdecadeofthe
twentiethcentury,butthediscussionofcontemporarysexualissueswasconstantlybeinglinkedtothepastby,forexample,citationsculledfromMartial,Catullus,and
AmbroisePar.Fauconney,understandingthathisreaderswantedtoknowwhatpreviousgenerationshadthoughtofsexuality,moreoverproducedfulleditionsofthe
worksofboththepopulareighteenthcenturywriterNicolasVenetteandthemedievalscholasticAlbertusMagnusdevotedto"conjugalduties."63
Dr.Fauconney'sownbooksonthesexualissuespreoccupyingthebellepoqueconsistedofacuriousamalgamofbotholdandnewinformation,ablendoftraditional
loreandscientificdiscovery.Dr.Lutaud'ssuccessinusingsyringestocarryoutartificialinseminationswasnotedbyFauconneyalongsidetraditionalbeliefsinthe
abilitytodeterminethesexoftheunbornchildandthepowerofamother'simagination.64Forexample,awhitewomanwhowaspassionatelyinlovewithablack
man,thereaderwasinformed,wouldhaveablackbabywhateverthecolorofherspouse.65Likewisetheoldargumentthatawomaninfullpossessionofhersenses
couldnotberapedbyonemanthoughthosewhowereasleep,drugged,orhypnotizedcouldwasretold.66Fauconney'sdiscussionofthecausesofhysteria
rangedsimilarlyfromtraditionalnotionsofpentupgenitalexcitementtoMorel'stargeting,inthemidnineteenthcentury,oftheimpactofhereditytoCharcot'smore
recentannouncementoftheneurologicalbasisofbothmaleandfemalehysteria.67InshortDr.Fauconney'sbookswerestuffedwithacuriousandcomforting
hodgepodgeofcitationsdrawnfrombothancientandmoderndiscussionsofsexuality.Thenewsexmanuals,liketheoldchapbooksandalmanacsthatcontained
ambiguousorcontradictoryinformation,oftenleftthereaderpurposelyfreetopickandchoosewhathewantedtobelieve.68
Thedistinctlyanticlericaltonefoundinmanyofthesexmanualsen
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joyedavenerableFrenchlineage.TheenemiesoftheCatholicchurchfromatleasttheeighteenthcenturyonwardusedthesexquestionasastickwithwhichtobeat
clerics.Dr.Fauconneyfollowedthistraditionin,forexample,searchingthechurch'spenitentialsforevidenceofthevicesofmedievalmonks.69AmbroisePar's
seventeenthcenturyreferencetoanabbwhodiedfromsexualexcesseswassimilarlycitedbyDr.Fauconneywhenassertingthatcelibacy,whichwaspropagatedby
thechurch,disastrouslyresultedinmadness,anargumentbuttressedbycitationsdrawnfromtheeighteenthcenturyphilosophesRousseauandMontesquieu.70
Confessorswere,aswastobeexpected,attackedinthesexmanuals,astheyhadbeeninsomanynineteenthcenturyrepublicantracts,forpryingintofamilies'
privateaffairs.Dr.Fauconneyattributedhysteriainparticulartowomen'sirrationalfearsbeingonoccasionexacerbatedandexploitedbythealarmingteachingsofthe
church.71Andifreligioncouldleadtomadness,madnesscouldleadtoreligion.Thereligiousdeliriumofwomenwas,claimedDr.Fauconney,infactoftensimplya
phenomenonprecipitatedbymenstrualcomplications.72
Theanticlericals'tacticofattributingthecausesofthosevicestheyfoundmostobjectionabletotheinfluenceofpriestsworkedwellforauthorswhowantedbothto
exploitaninterestinsexualityandpresentthemselvesasmoralists.Accordingly,theactofsodomycouldbesimultaneouslydescribedandcondemned.Fauconney,in
characterizingitasthegreatestpossibleoutragewhichcouldbecommittedagainstwomen,reproachedthechurchforpopularizingbyitsteachingssuchunnaturalacts.
Heclaimedthatinaworklike"DeSodomia"bytheCapuchinFatherd'Amenotherewasevidencethatcasuistsarguedthatanalsexwasacceptableaslongassperm
wasnotejaculated.Inshortthechurchdoctorsprovedthemselvesonexamination,theindignantauthorclaimed,tobemoreimmodestthanlaylovers.73
Carryingthecampaignagainstthechurchevenfurther,Fauconneyincludedinsomeofhisbooksadvertisementsforaspecialized"CollectionAnticlricale"withsuch
offeringsasLaBibleamusanteandLaViedeJsusbyLoTaxilaswellasevenmoreoutrageoustitlessuchasLemoineincestueux,LeCouventdeGomorrhe,
LesAmourssecrtesdePieIX,LaBelledvote,Lesdbauchesd'unconfesseur,andUneOrgieautempsdeJsus.Thesexmanuals,containingastheydidso
manygratuitousattacksonthepriesthood,necessarilyscandalizedthefaithful.ButDr.Fauconney,whoaimedhiswritingsatawidemalereadership,obviouslyfelt
thatsuchreferenceswereunlikelytoendangersalesinFrance.Theymightevenhelp.
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Priests,intheirskirts,thoughnotviewedasrealmen,werefrequentlyregardedbyhusbandsasrivalsincontrollingtheintimatemattersofthehousehold.Giventhefact
thatsuchsuspicionscouldbetracedbackoverseveralcenturies,manyreadersmusthavefoundthatanticlericalslursgavethetextsacozilyfamiliarifnotadownright
oldfashionedring.
Dr.Fauconney'sbookswerenodoubtanticlerical.Weretheyimmoral?ClearlymuchoftheBibliothquepopulaireaimedtotitillatesuchworkswouldinclude,for
example,LesVnusimpudiques:LaGrandeprostitutiontraverslesges.74Buteventhisbook,adutifullythoroughreviewofthecareersofgrandcourtesans
fromtheancientworldtotheRenaissance,demandedagooddealfromitsreaders.Thepurchaserdrawnbythesensationaltitlewouldlikelybedisappointedtofind
himselforherselfplungedintowhatattimesreadlikeanuninspiredsurveyofEuropeanhistory.Similarly,readersattractedbyatitlelikeLaProstitution
dbauchecorruptionwerenodoubtfrustratedtodiscoverthattheyhadpurchasedafairlydryhistoricalaccountofthegovernmentregulationofvice.
DidsuchbooksoffermenpracticaladviceonhowtoflauntthelawsofGodandman?No,atleastcertainlynotinthesensethattheyinanywayquestionedthe
"normality"ofheterosexuality.Samesexrelationswere,aswillbenotedbelow,resolutelycondemned.Butindiscussingheterosexualrelations,didsuchbookssay
anything,forexample,aboutbirthcontrol,whichwasbeingsointenselydebatedinFranceattheturnofthecentury?Presumablymany,withthethoughtinmindof
limitingfamilysize,purchasedDrs.JafandCaufeyron'sSecuritdedeuxsexesenamour.Buthereagainthebookprovedtobelessradicalthanonemighthave
imagined.Inpartone,entitled"Hyginedessexes,"thereaderwascategoricallytoldthatthenaturalgoalofintercoursewasreproduction.Thetext,althoughitnoted
thatthechurch'scondemnationofcontraceptionevenwhenawoman'shealthwasatriskwasshortsighted,wentontonotethat"nature"alsocondemned
"frauds."75
Today'sreaderwouldprobablyexpectthatadiscussionof"security"inasexmanualwouldentailanexaminationofmethodsofcontraception.ButDr.Fauconney's
chiefconcerninthistextwasnotwithundesiredpregnanciesbutwithvenerealdisease.ThispreoccupationhighlightsthefactthatDr.Fauconneywrotenotsimplywith
theheterosexualreaderinmind,butmoreparticularlyforthemaleheterosexualreader.Forprotectionagainstsexuallytransmitteddiseases,themanwasadvisedto
usevaselinebeforeintercourseandcalomelafterwards.Butasparttwo"LaSterilitvaincue"madeclear,reproductivefailurewasalsoviewedasaproblem.
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Theauthorattributedsterilitytothetraditionalreasonoflovers'toogreatdesire.Patientsbothmenandwomenwereadvisedthatlove,sympathy,andaffinitywere
requiredtoensureasuccessfulconception.Somenineteenthcenturyscientificadviceontimingwasadded,butunfortunatelyitwasbasedonPouchet'sinaccurate
calculationofthewoman'sovulationcycle.76
Forthoseinsearchofpracticalbirthcontrolinformation,theadvertisementsthatappearedinthebackpagesofFauconney'sbookswerenodoubtoftenmoreuseful
thanthetextsthemselves.77InhisAmouretmariageenOrient,whichwasmainlyadiscussionofpolygamy,appearedadvertisementsfor"prservatifs"and
"pongesdesret."Thelatterwhenusedbythewomanwithanasepticdouchingwaterlike"l'eauCyrienne"wassaidtoactasacontraceptiveandalonecouldalso
beemployed"pourprotgerlelingeauxpoquesmenstruelles."Anumberofcontraceptivesheathswithsuchevocativenamesas"LeFavori,''"LeNervi,"and"Le
Cygne"werealsoofferedforsale.78TheadvertisementsthatappearedinthelastpagesofL'Hystrienoticesforpornographicnovelsandvenerealdiseasecures
crammedtogethercheekbyjowlwiththoseforcookingmanualsseemeddirectedatthesortofsophisticatedFrenchreadershipthatsomehistorianshavecometo
believewasamerestereotype.79
TurningfromDr.Fauconney'streatmentofnormalheterosexualitytohisexaminationofwhathedeemed"perversions,"onehasabettersenseofthelimitationsofsuch
aliterature.JudgeLacroixdeclaredthatthesebooksdescribingsexualpracticeshadtheeffectofinflaminglasciviousdesires.Whathastobenotedisthatthevolumes
intheBibliothquepopulaireconstantlyharpedonthenotionthatsocietywasthreatenedbyalacknotanexcessofpassions.Dr.Fauconneyrepeatedlyexpressedthe
fearthatonewaslivinginanenervatedage.Thedecadenceanddegenerationoftheurbanmiddleclassesheattributedtotheirdebaucheries,theassumptionbeingthat
thephysicallydemandinglifeledbypeasantsandworkerssparedthemsuchblights.Fauconney,assertinglikesomanycontemporarymedicalauthoritiesthatsexual
excesseswereacauseratherthananeffectofperversions,accordinglypreachedmoderation.Thismedicalmoralismwasmadeespeciallyclearinthepassageshe
devotedtothediscussionsofmasturbation,prostitution,andhomosexuality.
ThemessageofthedangersposedbyselfabusewascarriedinDr.Fauconney'sAberrations,foliesetcrimesdusensgnital,whichdrewheavilyonthehorror
storiesfoundintheacademicworksofLombroso,Tardieu,andMagnan.Masturbationwhichtheauthorclaimednursestaughtto
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ninemontholdbabieswascastigatedastherootofthemadnessofmurdererslikeGabrielleBompardandabortionistslikeLaThomas.80Nevertheless,in
L'Onanismechezl'hommeanunusuallybalancedaccountofmasturbationwasprovided.Theauthor,afternotingthattheancientswereuntroubledbythevice,
observedthatonlyaftertheappearanceoftheworksofTissotinthelateeighteenthcenturywereexcitement,imagination,andhereditytargetedascausesofself
abuse.Admittingthatbecauseof"sympathy"excessivemasturbationcouldbeharmfultothewholebody,thebookconcludedbyassertingthatworkandexercise
werebetterthantheterrorandmechanicalrestraintsbrandishedbysomenineteenthcenturydoctorsandthatinanyeventboysalmostalwaysdroppedsuchhabits
oncetheydiscoveredwomen.81
Dr.Fauconneypresentedthosemenwhowereweakenedbyselfabuse,necessarilyseekingformsofsatisfactionlessdemandingthanthosefoundinthemarriage
bed,asturningtocommercialsex.Thesamemoralizingtonethatheemployedinhistreatmentofmasturbationwascarriedoverintohisdiscussionofprostitution
(muchofitdrawnfromParentDuchtelet'sclassic1830saccount)inwhichtheclientsweredescribedasidle,overeducated,enervatedyoungmenandtheprostitutes
asslothful,superstitious,sentimentalyoungwomen.TheextentofthetradeDr.Fauconneyattributedtotheevilofarrangedmarriages,whichincreatingdisgustand
boredominthepartnersdrovethemtoseekpleasuresoutsidethehome.82
Andthedebauchedclientsofprostitutes,protestedDr.Fauconney,werenolongercontentwithtraditionalservices.83Oralsexinparticularwasbecomingpopular
becauseofmen'sfearofvenerealdisease.Modernsociety,accordingtoFauconney,wasoverexcitedandenervatedbyanimalfoods,books,plays,sexualprecocity,
andtheincessantcontactwithmembersoftheoppositesex.84ThesexactsthatthisenvironmentspawnedFauconneydescribedas"absolutelydisgusting,"butwith
aneyeonsaleshedescribedthemnevertheless.85
Dr.FauconneyeventriedhishandatwritingapornographicnovelaboutprostitutionentitledScnesd'amourmorbide(Observationspsychophysiologiques).
Containingasitdidlewdphotographs,itwasobviouslymoretitillatingthanthebooksintheBibliothquepopulaireseries,butitwasjustasmoralistic.Emma,themain
character,followedapredictablecourse,degeneratingfromtheyounginnocentoftheearlychaptersintothedebauchedstreetwalkerofthenovel'smiddleportionsto
asordiddeathintheconcludingchapteratthehandsofagangofParisianApaches.86
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Theultimateformofperversion,inDr.Fauconney'seyes,washomosexuality.Accordingtothedoctor,itwasthemenwholackedeventheenergytotrackdownthe
womenofthestreetswhofinallyturnedforsexualsatisfactiontoothermales.87Homosexualityhelabeledthe"turpitudesdevieillards.""lafinduvieuxlibertinbout
deressources"whowasvainlyseekingnewpleasures.88InLaPderastie,thereaderwasinformedthatthepracticeofmalesamesexrelationsthoughnotacrime
inFranceasitwasinAustriaandGermanyhadbeendeterminedbydoctorssuchasPouchetandTardieutobeafailing,asortofanimality,thatwasspawnedby
thelaxityofmodernsociety.89Onceembracedvoluntarilybythemorbid,itspreadbyasortofmoralcontagion.Thecharacterflawsofitsadherentstheirlies,
hypocrisy,gossip,andvanitymadethemeasytodetect.90Thatis,femalecharacteristicswereattributedbyDr.Fauconneytohomosexualsand,followingthesame
logic,malecharacteristicswereattributedtolesbians.Thepathologyofwomen'ssamesexrelationswasdiscussedbyDr.Fauconneyinthecontextoftheworksof
Moll,KrafftEbing,andMartineau.Allhomosexualsmanifestedmoralfailings,heasserted,buthealsofollowedtheolderideasofLombrosoinarguingthatdeviance
wasinadditionrevealedbyphysicalstigmata.91Fauconneysharedwithhismorerespectablemedicalcolleaguesthebeliefthatonlyonedimensionthegenderofthe
objectchoice,ratherthantheactorthefrequencyshouldbetakenasthecrucialindicatorofmalesexualorientation.92
ThoughDr.Fauconneysingledouthomosexualityandprostitutionasthechiefexpressionsofthewaveoflubricityoutragingpublicdecencyattheturnofthecentury,
inhisbooksallexcesseswerepresentedasdangerous.Thedoctor,citingcontemporaryexpertslikeCharcotandKrafftEbing,warnedthatselfabusecaused
excessivesensitivityandjealousy,useofcantharidessappedvigor,nymphomaniadebasedwomen,andothersimilarexcessesresultedinepilepsyandmadness.Thus
themalereaderwhowadedthroughthediscussionsoffolly,nymphomania,satyriasis,andothervicesinworkslikeL'AmourmaladeandLaFolierotiquewasleft
withthesternwarningringinginhisearsthatsexualdissipationinevitablyledtophysicaldecayanddecayledinturntoperversions.93
Dr.Fauconney'sdiscussionofsexuality,likesomanyotherpurportedly"frank"accountsthatappearedintheearlytwentiethcentury,wasmarkedbyanunmistakable
moralism.FoucaulthasarguedthattheVictorians'attempttodenythesignificanceofsexualityhadtheunintendedeffectofincitinganinterestinthesubject.94Taking
thebooksofDr.Fauconneyasexamples,oneisledtoconcludethatmanyearlytwentiethcenturysex
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manualsworkedtheotherwayround:althoughpromisingtotitillate,theirveryexplicitnessandpreoccupationwithmalfunctionsmaywellhaveoftenfannedtheflames
ofguiltandanxiety.Intheeighteenthandearlynineteenthcenturies,thosewhowroteaboutsexuality,obsessedastheywerebythethreatsposedbythetraditional
problemsofsexual"excesses"suchasnymphomaniaandsatyriasis,assumedthatthechallengewastoprovideadviceonhowtocontrolorreininthepassions.Inthe
laternineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturies,thetasktakenupbythesexologistswasjusttheopposite.Theirconcern,facedwithdecliningbirthratesthatthey
attributedinparttothemodernplaguesoffrigidityandimpotencyspreadbyanovercivilizedsociety,waswiththenewproblemofhowtoguarantee"arousal."
Westernculturehadaccordinglyshiftedfromfearingluststofearingenervation,fromapreoccupationwiththeoversexedmaletoaconcernfortheundersexed
weakling.95Somehavearguedthatpsychiatricpatients,inunconsciouslylearningtosignaltheirdistressbychangingtheirsymptomsfromthoseofhysteriatothoseof
fatigue,similarlydemonstratedanunderstandingofwhatcaughttheattentionofmodernmedicine.96
Thecourseofcivilized,urbanlife,which,itoncehadbeenhoped,wouldcounterthecomplaintsposedbytheanimalpassions,wasincreasinglyviewedasthecause
ratherthanthecureofvice.TheFrench,whosefertilityratehadbeenmoreorlessdecliningcontinuouslysincethe1860swhilethatoftheGermansremained
ominouslyhigh,wereparticularlypronetoexpresssuchfears.97Andeugenicistsaddedtothegloomyprognosticationsofthepronatalistsinwarningthatacareless
approachtothecrucialquestionofreproductionthreatenedthequalityaswellasthequantityoffuturegenerations.98Wehaveworkedourwaythroughagreat
numberoftextsdealingwiththeperversionstoseewhattheytellusaboutevolvingnotionsofmasculinity.Whatwefoundwasthatareadingofanation'ssexmanuals
tellsusasmuchaboutaculture'sviewofitsbodypoliticasaboutthemalebodyperse.99Doctorstranslatedintomedicallanguagethefantasiesoftheirage.100
Anexaminationofthetrialsinwhichsuchbooksfiguredalsorevealthegrowingpowersenjoyedbythemedicalprofession.ThefactthatDr.Jaf'sbookswere
prosecutedwhiletheregularmedicaltextshequarriedwentundisturbed,thatthemedicalpresscondemnedquackswhosoldtheirpatientsnothingworsethansugared
waterwhileapplaudingdoctorswhosubjectedtheirmalepatientstopainfulandpointlesscauterizations,servesasaforcefulreminderofthesuccessphysicians
achievedinappropriating
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theroleofsexexpert.Withonlytheoccasionalprotest,thepublicconcededtothemtheroleofjudgingwhichmalesexactswere"legitimate"andwhichwerenot.A
newrangeofmedicalcriteriaaccordinglyhadtobemettoproveone's"manhood."Itwashardlysurprisingthatregularphysiciansshouldhave"discovered"inthe
nineteenthcenturythatapparentlygrowingnumbersofmenweresufferingfromsexualmalfunctions.Thecynicalmightconcludethatthediscoveryorinventionofa
somaticbasisofnervousnesswaspredictablebecauseitjustifiedphysicians'colonizationofalucrativefieldpreviouslymonopolizedbyquacks.Rejuvenation
treatments,forexample,wereverymuchindemandbywealthymalepatientsattheturnofthecentury.101Themoresympatheticmightarguethatdoctorssimply
failedtonotethattheirpessimisticprognosticationswerebasedonanexaminationofaselfselectedsampleofoverlyanxiouspatients.Ofcoursethebleakpicturethat
manydoctorspaintednodoubtcreatedanxietieswheretheyhadpreviouslynotexisted.SexualmoderationhadlongbeenpreachedintheWesternworldnowitwas
backedupwithdiseasesanctions.102
Arealman,doctorsinformedtheirreaders,wasforceful."Nervousness,"declaredProfessorKrafftEbing,Germany'sleadingsexologist,"isonlythemildest
expressionofaninferiororganizationofthecentralnervoussystemtendingtowardsdegenerationintheanthropological,biologicalandclinicalsensesoftheword."103
Whendoctorsreferredtoimpotenceas"lossofmanhood,"theymeantjustthat.Traditionallycowardicewasequatedwithimpotencyandvirilitywithhonor.104Ina
modernizingworld,physicianscontinuedtoattributeanynumberofaman'ssocialandpsychologicalfailingstosexualmalfunctions.Men'snervousnessandfearof
honeymoon''fiascos"presumablycouldhaveonlyrisenastheywererepeatedlytoldthatthepressuresofmodernlifenecessarilyproducedcasualties.Aculturethat
embracedSpencerianifnotDarwiniannotionsofthe"survivalofthefittest"naturallyenoughregardedthepurportedriseinthenumberofthenervoustotheinabilityof
theinherentlyweaktostanduptothestressesandstrainsofrapidsocialchange.Theselfconfidentwelcomedsuchpressuresastheywouldnecessarilysortoutthe
weakfromthestrong.105Yetevenhealthymen,doctorswarned,whodidnotcarefullyhusbandtheirphysicalandpsychologicalresourcesmighttumbleintotheranks
oftheweakandnervous.Policingandjudgingwhatwasexcessivewasataskappropriatedbyphysicians.Whereasinthepast"masculinity"wasdeterminedinlarge
partbytheexplicitdisplaysofthesocial,economic,andpoliticalpoweronewielded,nowdoctorsweredeclaringitto
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beamoremysteriousqualitythatonlythetrainedprofessionalcouldaccuratelyjudge.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
AyearbeforetheDesctestrial,HenriMartin,anOblatepriest,raisedthewarningthatQuebecmoralitywasthreatenedbythediscussionsofcontraceptionand
sexualitythatwerefilteringintotheprovincefrombothFranceandtheUnitedStates."Ourjudges,"hepredicted,"willknowonlytoowellhowtodealvigorouslywith
thewretches,convictedinthecourtsofsuchutterances."106Hewasprovedright.JudgeLacroixwasmotivatedbythebeliefthatsocietywasendangeredbyurban
youthsbeingoversexed,whereasDr.Fauconneylamentedthefactthatsexualvigorwasendangeredbycitylife.Thisdialogueofthedeafalertsustoanimportantsea
changeinthediscussionofWesternsexualitythatwastakingplaceattheturnofthecentury,ashiftfromaconcernwithmale"excesses"toaconcernformale
"arousal."Itwasinthiscontextthatthepervertwasinvented.
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Seven
Sadists
Inthemid1890s,JosephVacher,adischargedsoldier,committedaseriesofhorrificsexualassaultsandmurdersacrossruralFrance.AlexandreLacassagne,the
country'sleadingexpertinlegalmedicine,concludedhisreviewoftheseapparentlyinexplicablecrimeswiththeassertionthatVacherwasnotinsanehewasasadist.
"Certainlyheisabnormalasregardsthesatisfactionofhissexualinstinct.VacherhadspontaneouslyputintopracticethetheoriesofdeSade."1 Thequestionsraised
byLacassagne'srevealingwordslieattheheartofthischapter.Sexcrimeswerenothingnewwhynowcallamanwhocommittedthemasadist?Whatwassadism?
Howdidtheconceptmaketheworldmoreintelligible?Inwhatwaysdidsuchaconceptframenotionsof"normal"masculinity?
Thetermsadismonlyenteredthemedicalvocabularysometimeinthe1880s.OnecouldaccordinglyarguethatstrictlyspeakingthemarquisdeSadeshouldnotbe
describedasa"sadist."Thesocialconstructionofthesadisttookplaceinthelastdecadesofthenineteenthcenturynottheeighteenthaspartoftheelaborationof
thesexualidentitiesofahostofmale"perverts"homosexuals,masochists,fetishists,andexhibitionists.Theclassificationanddefinitionofsexualpathologies
representedinpartanewmedicalizationofsexuality.Intheworksofsexologistswhodemandeddetailedconfessionsfromtheirclientseruptedintoprint"thespeaking
pervert."2 Before,suchmenweresilencedortheirmutteringsignorednowcarefulreportswerekeptoftheirincriminatingstatements.Inclassicaltimesvirtuallythe
wholerangeofsexualpracticeshadbeencategorized,butinthelatenineteenthcenturycertainsortsofsexualdeviantswerediscoveredoronemightsay"invented."
Whatdoctorsnowdeclaredtobeimportantwasnotsomuchwhatamandidaswhatamanwashavingadoptedanessentialistmodel,theyshiftedattentionfrom
''doing"to"being."Wesawthissameprocessinthedebateoverfloggingwhen"vagrant"and"idle"ceasedbeingadjectivesandbecamenouns.IanHack
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inghasarguedthatbythisprocess,"akindofpersoncameintobeingatthesametimeasthekinditselfwasbeinginvented.Insomecases,thatis,ourclassifications
andourclassesconspiretoemergehandinhand,eacheggingtheotheron."3
Butsexologydidnotsimplycreateitssubjects."Sadism"wasasmuchaliteraryasascientificconstruct.DeSadewashimselfawriteroffictions,manyofwhose
themesweretakenupbythedecadentnovelistsofthe1880sbeforetheywerepursuedbydoctors.Accordingly,theincreaseduseofthetermsadismattheendof
thecenturydidnotmeanthattherewasanynecessaryincreaseinviolentsexualactsnoranyrealgrowthinpsychiatricknowledge.Realitywasmorelikelycopyingart
thanartreality.4 Whywerebothdoctorsandnovelistsattheendofthenineteenthcenturysomorbidlyobsessedwithwhattheyregardedassexualperversity?In
whatfollowsitwillbearguedthattheirconcernswerenotsparkedsomuchbythenewthreatspurportedlyposedtosocietybyperverts,asbysuchdisturbingsocial
phenomenaasthedeclineoffertilityratesandtheriseofthewomen'smovement,whichweretakenaschillingevidenceofthefailureofthe"normal"toembrace
appropriategenderroles.Inparticulartheemergenceoftheconceptofsadismwasasymptomofalatenineteenthcenturymaleidentitycrisis.Sadism,thischapter
willsuggest,wasprimarilyusedbypubliccommentatorstopolicemalebehaviorandsoplayedanotinsignificantroleintheconstructionofmodernnotionsofnormal
masculinity.Theapparentexplanatorypowersthatsocialinvestigatorsattributedtothenotionofsadismareaccordinglyonlyfullyunderstandablewhenplacedinthe
contextoftheliterary,cultural,andpoliticalconcernsofthefindesicle.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
On1September1895atBnonces(Ain),elevenyearoldAlexandreLegerwasaskedbyastrangertocomeintothewoodstoseesomethingpretty.Theboy
refused.LaterthatdayfifteenyearoldJeanMarieRobin,noticingthatthecattlehadbeenallowedtowanderintoacloverfield,setouttolookforthevillage
shepherd,sixteenyearoldVictorPortalier.JeanMariediscoveredinaditchVictor'ssexuallyabused,butchered,anddisemboweledbody.5 Twoyearslater,onthe
afternoonof4August1897,astonecutteratChampuis(Rhne),respondingtorepeatedcriesforhelp,subduedandheldforthegendarmesaloutwhohadattempted
tomolestafarmwoman.Theassailant,avagrantbythenameofJosephVacher,wason7Septemberfoundguiltyofassaultandsentencedtothree
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monthsinjail.AshisdescriptionmatchedthatofthesuspectedmurdererofVictorPortalier,hewashandedovertomileFourquet,ajuged'instruction,whohad
since1895beenstruckbythesimilarityofthedescriptionofthesuspectsinanumberofruralmurderswiththatofthetrampseenwithPortalier.Vacherwasquickly
identifiedbywitnessestotheoutrageatBnonces.Buttothehorrorofhisinterrogators,VacheralsoconfessedtonotonlykillingPortalier,butalsotothemurderand
sexualviolationofanadditionalsevenfemalesandthreemales.6
Vacher'sfirstvictimhadbeenatwentyoneyearoldfemaleworkerinthe,IsreinMay1894thesecondinNovember1894athirteenyearoldfarmer'sdaughterin
theVarthethirdinMay1895aseventeenyearoldfemaledayworkerintheCted'OrthefourthinAugust1895afiftyeightyearoldwidowintheSavoie.
Vacher'sfifth,sixth,andseventhvictims,allkilledinSeptember1895,wereVictorPortalierintheAin,asixteenyearoldfarmer'sdaughterintheDrme,anda
fourteenyearoldmaleshepherdintheArdche.Ayearlater,inSeptember1896,Vacherclaimedhiseighthvictim,anineteenyearoldwomantendingaflockinthe
AllierhisninthinOctober1896,afourteenyearoldgirlshepherdintheHauteLoirehistenthinMayof1897,afourteenyearoldboyvagabondintheRhneand
hiseleventhandlastinJune1897alsointheRhneathirteenyearoldboyshepherd.AlthoughVacherconfessedtothemurderandsexualviolationofseven
femalesandfourmales,theauthorities,notingtheunexplainedhiatusinhisattacksbetweenSeptember1895andSeptember1896,suspectedhimofbeingresponsible
forasmanyassixteenotherruralkillings.
Shouting,"GlorytoJesus!GlorytoJoanofArc!Tothegreatestmartyrofalltime!AndglorytotheGreatSavior!,"JosephVacheronthe26October1898entered
thecourd'assisesofthedepartmentoftheAinsittingatBourgtofacethechargeofmurder.7 Thetrialtookplacebetweenthe26and28Octoberunderthe
presidencyofM.leconseillerCoston.M.CharbonnierappearedforthedefenseM.Ducherwastheprocureur.Fortynine,witnessestestified,includingVacher's
shamefacedbrothersandsisters.TheaccusationwasthatVacher,drivenbytheoverexcitationofashamefulpassion,hadmercilesslykilledunsuspectingvictims.He
hadshowedhissanity,arguedtheprosecution,inpickingontheweakandisolated,inneverreceivingasmuchasascratch,andinhidingthebodiesofhisvictims
afterwards.The"sangfroid"hedemonstratedexcludedthenotionofhisbeingthevictimof"alinationsmentales.''
ThequestionthecourtdealtwithwasnotifVacherhadcommittedmur
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der,butwhy.Whatsortofpersonwashe?Vacher'ssimpleresponsewasthathewasamadman.AmultitudeofwitnessesconcurredthatVacherhad,inabrief
twentynineyears,livedatragicandviolentlife.Born16November1869atBeaufort(Isre),hecamefromapoorfamilyofelevenbrothersandsisters.Atfourteen
hehadbeensentouttoworkasashepherdforM.DeclerieuxatStGenisLaval.Theboy'speculiarnaturewasnotedearlyon.Ifhecriedlikeadog,Vacher
repeatedlyinsisted,itwasbecauseofthebitehehadreceivedasachildfromarabidanimal.Butsomeneighborsclaimedthathehadfromthefirstbeenabrutal,
violent,andcraftycharacter.Attheearlyageoftwelve,accordingtoFranoisBouvier,alandownerfromBeaufort,Vacherhadtriedtostrangleabrother.
ManyofVacher'sdifficultieswithotherswereattributedtothesexualconflictsheexperiencedindealingwithmales.Hedidlearntoreadandwriteandateighteen
hadenteredthemonasteryofthefrresMaristesasapostulant.Helefttwoyearslater.Witnessesstatedthathewasexpelledbythebrothersbecausehesubjected
someofhiscomradestoodiousandinfamousacts.Attheveryleast,hehadshown"hiscelery"toothersand,accordingtoafriend,"ilavaitmasturbsescamarades"
andattemptedanact"contrenature''withtwelveyearoldMarcelinBourde.8 Onalateroccasionheattemptedtoclimbintobedwithamanwhoseroomhewas
sharing.ThelatterreportedhehadthreatenedVacherwithachair,"addingthatwewerenotinAfrica."9 Contractingavenerealdisease,hesoughtcuresinLyonand
Grenoble.Heclaimedincourtthathehad,thankstoDrs.GailletonandDsiratthe"hospicedel'Antiquaille,"beenmiraculouslycuredofhis"secretdisease."In
Lyonhetookupthetradeofpapermaker.Hereheagainmanifestedanabnormallyviolenttemper,reportedlymenacingafellowworkerwithaknife.Exemployers
claimedthathespoutedanarchistideas,andacolleaguerecalledthat"weusedtosaythathehadascrewloose."10
InNovember1890VacherbeganhismilitaryserviceatBesanonwiththeSixtiethArtilleryRegiment.Plungedoncemoreintoanallmaleenvironment,Vacherfound
thathis"inversiontendencies"elicitedhiscomrades'hostility.Unlikethemhedidnotdrinkorgotothebrothels.Hismessmatesregardedhimasabigotand
brownnoser.Asa"blue"orrookie,hewasaccordinglysubjectedtomuchroughhazingthatreachedsuchlevelsthatevenhisofficersprotested.Vacher'sresponse,
truetoform,wasmoredeadlyononeoccasionherepliedtothebarrackroombullies'attempttotriphimupbyfiringhisrifleatthem.Enragedwhennotnamed
corporal,hethreatenedtobayonetaroommate.Heattackedanoncommis
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sionedofficerwitharazor.Hisfellowrecruitsbecamesoterrifiedoftheonewhomtheycalledthe"bear"orthe"madman"thattheysleptwithbayonetsunsheathed.
CaptainGreilsammer,Vacher'slieutenantwhenhewasintheSixtiethRegiment,laterrecalledhavingtoreporthimasabadcharacterwhowasalwayslookingfor
victims.
ButVacherwasasmuchamenacetohimself.Hewasknowntocryoutinhissleepandstrikehisheadagainstthebarracks'swallsandononeoccasiontrytocuthis
ownthroat.InOctober1891hisparanoiddelusions9ledtohimbeingputundermedicalobservation.In1893hisincoherencewassuchthathewasfirsthospitalized
andthenallowedtogoonconvalescentleave.Inthisconfusedstate,Vacherfoundhimselfnotonlytauntedbymenbutrejectedbyawoman.AtBeaulesDameshe
askedLouiseBarrant,whomhehadmetinBesanon,tomarryhim.Fortheshorttimethathehadknownher,hehadprovenhimselfinsanelyjealousofrivals,
threateningherandotherswithaknife.Whensherefusedhisofferofmarriageheshotherandthenturnedthegunonhimself.Shewasslightlywounded,andVacher
onlysucceededinlodgingabulletinhisownskull.Theslug,whichcouldnotberemovedfromhisrightear,causeddeafnessandfacialparalysis.Theattackwas
treatedbytheauthoritiesasasimple"crimepassionel,"andinJuly1893VacherwassenttotheasylumatDole,fromwhichhereportedlytwiceescaped.Hewas
arrestedinBesanon,judgedbytheauthoritiestobeirresponsibleandsenttotheasylumofSt.Robertinhishomedepartment.TherehewastreatedbyDr.Dufour,
who,afteramerefivemonths,optimisticallydeclaredVacher,whostillhadabulletlodgedinhisskull,tohavebeenrestoredtomentalhealth.Hewasreleasedin
April1894andthenbegan,inVacher'swords,hishorrible"pilgrimage,"whichinthreeyearsresultedinthelossofatleastelevenlives.
IncourttheoverarchingargumentofVacher'smelodramaticdefensewasthathewasonlyresponsibletoGod,ofwhomhewasaninstrument.Hewashappytobe
photographedwithhisbibleandstaff,onwhichhehadinscribedwordsofpraiseforMaryofLourdes.Raisinghisvoicetoashout,heconcludedhiscourtaddress
withthewords:"TobeabletoresistmyparticularpassionforsolongrequiredProvidencetokeepspecialwatch"overme."11Vacher'ssecondtackwastoclaim
thatasachildhehadbeenbittenbyarabiddogandhisbloodpoisonedbythemedicinehewaslatergiven.The"guilty''werethereforetheempiricswhosoldcures
forrabies.Havingabulletinhisheadduetohisattemptedsuicidehedescribedasathirdextenuatingcircumstance.AndfinallyVacheraccusedDr.Dufourofthe
asylumofSt.Robertforincompetentlylettinglooseadangerousman.
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WhenthecourtapplaudedPlantier,thestonecutterofChampuiswhohadapprehendedhim,Vacherwailed"toolate,toolate"andhitoutatthegendarmes,saying
thattheyshouldhavearrestedhimmuchearlier.Whyhadsomuchbloodbeenshed?Theasylumdoctorswereguilty:"Becauseofthefaultsoftheasylumswhich
succeededinhavingtheinnocentturnoneachother,alas."12Indeed,Vacherwentontopresenthiscrimesasasortofprovidentialmissionagainstpsychiatry.Why
hadmurdersbeencommitted?"Inordertoprovideawarningofwhathappensinthelunaticasylums."13HecomparedhimselftoJoanofArc,"unemartyrcomme
moi."''Yes,inreadingabook,IunderstoodmymissionJoanofArcislikemeshewaslockedupinanironcageshehadtodefendherselfagainstthedoctors."14
AndJoanlikehimandhisvictimshadbeenashepherd.
Thepublic,thoughcallingforVacher'sdeath"l'eau!l'eau!"assumedthathewasinsane.15Journalistscoveringthetrialweremesmerizedbyhiscurious
behavior.Hewasaphysicalandmentaloddity.Helistenedimpatientlytothetestimonyofwitnesses,raisinghishandstotheheavens,coveringhisface.Hewascalm
atsomemoments,menacingthenext.He,whomthespectatorspresumedwouldlooklikethepersonificationofevil,was,withhisnervousticsandoutbursts,
unexpectedlymorelikeacomicmonkey.16Hehadamagpielikememoryandincludedoddpassagesofwhathehadreadinhisdefensestatement.Heexpected
responsesfromtheaudiencetohishodgepodgeofassertionsandwasnotdisappointed.ThecorrespondentofLeMatinreportedthat"cesinistremlo,"withthe
accused'seccentriclanguage,causedhilarity.HiscomparinghimselftoJoanofArcandotherpreposterouscomments,ledtorepeatedoutburstsoflaughter.But
reporterswerealsoawedbytheaccused'sincrediblestrengthhehadlongavoidedcapturebywalkingamazingdistancesofsixtytoeightykilometersaday.
Vacherneverdeniedanyofhiscrimeshisbasicargumentwasthattheywerenotpremeditated.Heinsistedthatthedoctorswhoclaimedhewassanewereliars.
Howdidtheyknowwhathefeltorthought?Heinvokedtheverynumberofhisattacksasthefinalconfirmationofhisselfproclaimedmadness:"Doyoubelievethata
manwhodidwhatIdidisnotmad?TosaythatIamresponsible,istobemorecriminalthanme."17ButthecourtwasnotimpressedbyVacher'srailings.The
presidentchidedVacherfornotbeingagoodliar.Theaccused,warnedthejudge,hadtogiveuphismeanderingargumentsanddecidewhetherhisdogbiteorhis
providentialmissionwereresponsibleforhisdeeds.Themedicalexpertsdeclaredhimtobesane.Intheendhewasfoundguilty,andon31Decem
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ber1898ontheChampsdeMarsatBourgbeforeanimmenseclamorouscrowd,whichbayedforhisblood,hewaspubliclyguillotined.18
Vacher'sfearfulreputationenteredthecanonofpeasantfolkloreinsongssuchas"LagrandecomplaintesurVacherletueurdebergers."
Petitsbergerspleinedepeines
Lesoir,prenezgardevous
Ilestdesbteshumaines,
Inhumaines,inhumaines
Lchesassassinsoufous
Plusterriblesquelesloups.19
Butthebourgeoisreadingpublicquicklylostinterestinthecase.Thesameweekthathewastried,theFrenchnewspaperswerefilledwithaccountsoftheattempted
revisionoftheDreyfusaffair.ThencamereportsofMarchand'salarmingclashwiththeBritishatFashodaintheSudanandKaiserWilhelmII'sprovocativevisitto
Jerusalem.YetifpublicattentionwasturnedawayfromtheprovincesandbacktoParis,themedicalcommunitywasfarfromfinishedwithVacherandthelessons
thatcouldbedrawnfromhiscase.20
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
OnemighthaveexpectedthedoctorstohavebeenreceptivetoVacher'sclaimstobeamadman.Agooddealhasrecentlybeenwrittenaboutthewayinwhich
psychiatristsinlatenineteenthcenturytrials,forbothhumanitarianreasonsandinordertoexalttheirprofession'sexpertise,advancedtheconceptofmental
irresponsibility.21PatriziaGuarnieri,forexample,inACaseofChildMurder:LawandScienceinNineteenthcenturyTuscanyprovidesacarefulanalysisofsuch
medicalinvolvementinthe1876trialoftheItalianmultiplemurdererCallisto(Carlino)Grandi.Histrial,likeVacher's,wasascientificspectaclenotGrandi'sguiltbut
hissanitybecametheissue.Thedefensestatedthathewasanimbecilewholackedthecunningofthecriminalandbehavedlikeachild.22Hemust,thedoctors
argued,haveinternallesionstheycitedhisphysicaldeformitiesandatavisms,includinghisextratoeandimmaturesexorgansasevidenceofhisdegeneratestate."The
appearanceoftheaccused,"arguesGuarnieri,"providedaperfectopportunitytoprovehowmodern,objectivepsychiatrycouldaloneprovidesuperiorexpertiseto
theadvantageofsocietyingeneral."23Themembersofthepositivistcriminologicalschooldidnotreallyexplaintheaccused'smotiveindeedtheyweremore
interestedinthecriminalthantheactbutstillenjoyedagooddealofpublicsupport.
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"Notonlywasit[crimonolgy]populardespiteitstheoreticalweaknesses,butthatpopularityactuallydependedonthem.Itwasrootedintheabilityorrefusaltocollect
andexplainthemeaningofsicknessandviolencewithinalivingcontext.Bydepictingadangeroustype,eithercriminalormad,withanaberrationwhichwas
unavoidableandmotiveless,itremovedallresponsibilityforthesetragediesfromthedeprivationsofpovertyandsuffering."24Suchanalysesreflectedthegeneral
tendencyamongnineteenthcenturysocialandmedicalscientiststoexploitthefindingsofphrenology,physiognomy,andcranialcapacitytoprovideaphysicalbasis
forcharactertraitsandracialdifferences.
InFrancepsychiatristsadoptedsimilartacticstoincreasetheirprofessionalpower.AfterP,convictedofmurderandnecrophilia,wasexecutedatBeauvaison13
November1879,doctorsattheautopsyrevealedhispronouncedbrainlesions.Amadmanhadbeenputtodeath.V.A.CornilandM.V.Galippesarcastically
commented,"Ifguillotininghastobeincludedinthetreatmentofmentalillness,letitbesostated."25Dr.Madeuf,whoappearedforVacher'sdefense,remindedthe
courtthatsimilarlyafterMenesclouwasguillotinedin1880evidenceofhisdamagedbraininparticularthedegenerationofhisfrontallobeshadbeendiscovered.
"PreviouslyMenesclou,althoughavictimofsuchasofteningofthebrainthatafterhisexecutionitwasimpossibletomakeamoldofhisbrain,hadneverthelessbeen
guillotinedsuchathingshouldneverhappenagain."26Butin1898theleadingFrenchpsychiatristschose,despitealltheevidencetothecontrary,toregardVacheras
sane.27Thisreflectedinpartthatinthecriminologicalworldofthe1890stheItalianstressonbiologicaldeterminismwasbeingusurpedbytheFrenchfocuson
pathologicalsocialforces.28Nevertheless,themedicalwitnesses'stanceintheVachertrialwasstillrathercuriousinasmuchaspsychiatristsweresayingthataman
whohadbeentwiceinstitutionalizedandwhoaftertherepeatedassaultsinhisregimentandtheeventsofBaumelesDameswasdescribedbydoctorsascrazywas
actuallysane.ThethreemedicalexpertscalledbythecourtinsistedthatVacherwasneitheranepilepticnoran"impulsif"butan"immoralviolent''occasionallyplagued
bymelancholydelirium,paranoia,andthoughtsofsuicide.WhatmadethediagnosisofVacher'smentalstateallthemoreimportantwasthatitwaschieflyestablished
byFrance'sleadingexpertincriminology,ProfessorAlexandreLacassagne.29
LacassagneisbestknowntodayastheleaderoflatenineteenthcenturyFrenchlegalmedicinewhofoughtagainstCesareLombrosoandthepositivistschoolof
criminalanthropology,whichheldthattreatmentratherthanpunishmentwasneededforthe"borncriminals"whocouldnothelp
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themselves.30Lacassagne,astaunchdefenderofthedeathpenalty,soughttoshifttheemphasisincriminalpsychiatryfromthebiologicaltothesocialdeterminantsof
crime.Twoofhisepigramsweretobecomefamous:"Thesocialmilieuisthemothercultureofcriminalitythemicrobeisthecriminal,anelementwhichgains
significanceonlyatthemomentwhenitfindsthebrothwhichmakesitferment"and"Societieshavethecriminalstheydeserve."31TheFrenchschoolattributedmost
criminalbehaviortopathologicalsocialinfluencessuchaspoverty,alcoholism,poorhousing,andbadcompanions.Theyadvancedapositivisticmessage,butone
sufficientlyclosetojurists'orthodoxstressonindividualresponsibilitytobewelcomedbythecourts.32
LacassagnefollowedsuchatackintheVachercase.WhileVacherscreamedthatthedoctorswerelying,Lacassagnearguedthattheaccusedwassane,thathehad
alwaysbeenplayingaroleandwasinfactarathermaladroitsimulator.Tomakehiscase,LacassagneassertedthatVacherhada"system."Vacherhadtoldsome
witnesses,includinga"mouton"placedinhiscellthatheonlyplayedthefooltogetaroundthedoctors.Realizingearlyonthathemightpassasamadman,heonly
admittedtocrimesthatappearedtobemotivelessandclaimedtoactwithoutthinking.Butinfact,Lacassagneargued,proofthatVacherwasnotpushedsolelyby
pervertedsexualpassionswasindicatedbyevidencethatherationallytookprecautions,hidhisbodies,robbedhisvictims,andsuccessfullyeludedcapture.Though
offeringnoevidence,LacassagnefurtherassertedthatVacherworkedwithabandof"chemineaux''andattributedtohimuptotwentyeightothermurders.Andfinally
LacassagneaskedhowVachercouldclaimtobemadwhenhehadbeenpromotedbythearmytotherankofsergeant?33HereLacassagneblunderednomilitary
witnessesimaginedthatmadnessmightdisqualifyonefrompromotion.
WhyhadVachercommittedhiscrimes?Vacher'sargumentwasthattheenormityofhiscrimesprovedthathewasamadman.Thisclaimwasacceptedbysome.Dr.
MaximedeFleurydeclared:
Vacher,thekillerofshepherds,aconsciousimpulsive,isreallyasortofmadman,thoughaboutthedaytodaythingsoflifehereasonswithouttoomuchdifficulty.Thevery
excessesofhisheinouscrimesshouldsavehimfromthehandoftheexecutionerifhewaschargedwithonlyonemurderonewouldcondemnhimtodeathwithouteven
subjectinghimtoamedicolegalexaminationbuthesomanytimessatedhisdreadfulcraving,andfornopossiblemotive,fornothing,forpleasure,thatitisreallynecessaryto
dealwithhimaswithabrutelackingfullconsciousness.34
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EnricoFerri,theItaliancriminologist,agreedthatVacherwasclearlymadandthattheFrenchexpertssimplylackedthecouragetodefendhim."Vacher,theysay,
pretendedtobemad.Now,itiswellknownthatthefeigningofmadnessisalwaysapsychopathologicalsymptom."35MagnusHirschfeld,thepioneeringGermansex
reformer,concurredthattruesadistswerepsychopathswhodidnotknowwhattheyweredoingandthat,ashorribleaswerethecrimesoflustmurderers,onlysevere
psychopathiccaseswerecapableofcommittingthem.ThecourthaddeclaredthatVacher'scrimeswere"thoseofanantisocial,bloodthirsty,andsadisticpersonwho
believesthatbecauseofhisearliermadnessandthefactthathewasnotthenpunished,hehasapermitfortheperpetrationofhishorribledeeds."Hirschfeld's
responseswasthat"thisreport,assomanyothers,isbasedmoreuponmoralisticthanuponpsychologicalandpsychiatricprinciples."36
ThequestionofwhetherVacherwasinsaneornotcannotbeansweredhere.Whatwecantrytotracearethesocial,cultural,andpoliticalpreoccupationsthat
coloredthefindingsofLacassagneandhisfollowers.Inthefirstplace,professionalsolidaritynodoubtplayedaroleinthedoctors'refutationofVacher'sclaimtobe
mad.Vacherhadbeendeclaredsanebyanesteemedcolleague,Dr.DufouroftheasylumatSt.Robert.Vacherwasnowarguingthatthepsychiatrists,inreleasinga
madman,wereresponsibleforhisatrociousdeeds.37Theexpertsmayhavefeltsomeminorembarrassmentinnotingthatthemilitarydoctorshadbeenwrongin
thinkingVachercrazy,butthepsychiatristssawthattosupporttheaccused'sclaimthathewasinsanewouldputthemintheimpossiblepositionofattackingtheirown
professionandadmittingtobeingaccomplicestomurder.Drs.Lacassagne,Rebatel,andPierretaccordinglyconcurredthatVacherwasnotmadheonlypretended
tobe.38
ThesecondmotivethattheFrenchprofessorsoflegalmedicinehadindemolishingVacher'sclaimwasthatindoingsotheycoulddemonstratehowsophisticatedthe
scienceofcriminologyhadbecome.AnthropometricmeasurementsweretakenofallofVacher'slimbshisscars,weight,height,andeyecoloringwerenotedanda
radiographicanalysismadeofhishead.Investigationswerecarriedouttodeterminethatheborenosignsofphysicaldegeneration,thathesufferedfromnodebilitating
childhoodsickness,thathisfamilycontainednomad,epileptic,oridioticmembers.TheexpertsconcededthatthebulletinVacher'sheadthewoundstill
suppuratingdidcausefacialparalysisontherightsideofhisfaceanddeafnessinoneear,buttheycheerfullynotedthatVacherhadnohistoryofhallucinations.39
ThankstotheautopsycarriedoutafterVacher'sexecution,thevoy
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euristicpublicfurtherlearnedthathehadalargepenisandanatrophiedlefttesticlebutanormalanusandthereforehadnotbeenapassivepederast.Hisbrain,which
weighedfifteenhundredgrams,wasslicedopenbythedoctors,whodeclaredittobenormal.Itwasphotographedandamoldtakenofit.Noonefounditironicthat
themedicalexperts,whocondemnedVacherformutilatinghisvictims,proceededafterhisexecutiontosubjecthisbodytosuchameticulousdissection.40Inshortall
thesortsofeffortsbycriminalanthropologistsinparticulartheItalianstodetectthestigmataoftheborncriminalweremadeandthefindingsdeclaredbythe
Frenchtobeofnogreatimportance.LacassagneauthoritativelyassertedthatthosewhomightclaimthatabloodthirstykillerlikeVacherwouldhavetohavebeen
sufferingfromsomemajorphysicalorpsychologicalhandicapwereprovenwrongtherewasnothingirresistibleorimpulsiveinVacher'sacts.41
Thethirdand,forthepurposesofthischapter,mostimportantpreoccupationthatcoloredLacassagne'sviewoftheVachercasewashisinterestinthenewconcept
ofsadism.Vacher'strialwasnotresponsibleforspawningtheconcept,butitprovidedtheoccasionfornineteenthcenturyFrenchpsychiatrists'mostextensive
discussionoftheterm.WhydidVachercommithisbloodydeeds?LacassagnequotedextensivelyfromthepsychiatricreportonMenesclou,the1880murderer,
whichhelpfullycontrasted"imbcilesdel'intelligence"to"dbilesdusentiment."Thelatter,thoughreasoningbeings,claimedLacassagne,didnothavethemoral
repugnancesofthenormal.42Vachermanifestedjustsuchfailingsbyhisdabblinginanarchism,vagabondism,andhomosexuality.43Lacassagne'spointwasthat
Vacherwasnotinsanebutanantisocialsadist.Hisactsweretheworkofa"monstrouscriminal"notthoseofamadman.44Andashorrificassadistsmightbe,many
werecompletelysane.Vacherwasasadistwhowasarousedbythesightoffleshbutthatdidnotmakehimirresponsible.45
WhatdidLacassagnemeanbysadism?Dr.Marciat,whocontributedadiscussionofsadismtoLacassagne'svolumeonVacher,beganwithThoinot'sdefinition.46
Theperversionofthegenitalinstinctthatisknowntodaybythenameofsadismconsistsinfindingsufferinginahumanbeingaconditionalwaysnecessaryandattimes
sufficientforsexualenjoymentthissufferingisofaveryvariabledegree,attimesslight,attimessevereorofadegreeofatrociousrefinement,andthesubjecteithercausesit
tobeinflicted,orseesitinflicted,orfinallyinflictsithimselfonsomehumanbeing.47
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Yetwhatsadismwasfromthepointofviewoflegalmedicinewasleftrathervaguenospecificactwasrequired.Lacassagneandhiscolleaguesusedthetermasa
sortofmorallabeltodesignatethosewhoweremonstersbutnotmad.
Theterm"sadism"hadfirstbeenusedonrareoccasionsbycriticsinthe1850stodescribethedecadentthemesfoundinthewritingsofFlaubertandBaudelaire.48
Thewordonlybegantobewidelyemployedinthe1880s.DeSade,whohadbeenalmostforgottenformuchofthenineteenthcentury,wassimultaneously
rediscoveredinthe1880sbybothpsychiatristsandnovelists.IsidoreLiseuxrepublishedJustine,JulietteandLaPhilosophiedansleboudoir,andseveral
biographiesofthemarquissoonfollowed.49FewmayhaveactuallyreaddeSade'sworksveryclosely,butaninterestinhisideasquicklymushroomed.Theydrew
theattentioninEnglandofSwinburneandWildeandinGermanyofHerbst,Eulenberg,Rutter,andBlaubert,buthisfirstandgreatestappealwasinFrance.50Those
decadentswhodabbledinsadisticthemesofblackmasses,theoccult,demonicpederasty,andflagellation,whodeclaredselfconsciousevilbetterthanignorance,
andwhoenvisagedsocietyculminatinginsacrificeanddeath,includedtheGoncourts,GuillaumeApollinaire,Barbeyd'Aurevilly,LonBloy,PaulBourget,Villiersde
l'IsleAdam,Rachilde(MarguriteVallette),JeanLorraine,andPierreLouys.51MostoftheliteraryacolytesofdeSade,thoughtheyparadedtheirirreverenceand
atheism,wereonthepoliticalright,avowedenemiesofmasssociety.52
J.K.Huysmans'sRebours(1884)wasthedecedents'keywork,fullofreferencestoeroticexperimentsandcelebrationsof"demoniacerotomania."Theauthor
toyedselfconsciouslywithsubjectssuchasabortionandhomosexuality,transgressingpowerfultaboosinthesearchforforbiddenfruit.InLbas(1891)he
demonstratedthesamestrivingforeffectinlovinglydevotinganentirechaptertohorrificscenesofthefifteenthcenturynoblemanGillesdeRais'sdisemboweling
childrenandmasturbatingontheirintestines,exactlytheoutragesofwhichVacherwouldlaterbeaccused.53Huysmanssostrainedtoshockbyoverturningall
contemporaryviewsthathisworksquicklydated.LikeBarbeyd'Aurevilly,heneverfreedhimselffromhispreoccupationwithCatholicismandthefocusofhisformof
sadismlaynotsomuchinsexualcrueltyasinsacrilege.54ArmanddePontmartinreferredtosuchwritersasthinkinglikedeMaistreandwritinglikedeSade.55A
similaranticlericalismwasreflectedinthesadistictableauxofpriestsflagellatingwomenproducedbywritersontheleft,suchasLoTaxilandOctaveMirbeau.56
Mirbeau,incastigating
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theantiDreyfusardsas"sadists"providesausefulreminderthat,thoughwriterswhoharboredsadisticfantasiesweredrawnfromthepoliticalleftaswellastheright,
bothfactionssharedapenchantforpronouncedmisogynisticthemes.57
ThebirthoftheliterarycultofsadismwasinpartprecipitatedbytheconservativesocialreactiontothedefeatofFrancebyGermanyin1870andtheParisCommune
of1871.58Pessimists,disgustedbytheencroachmentsofmasssociety,retreatedintoelitistdaydreams.59Suchnovelistspanderedtoandexploitedthemiddleclass's
fearofdisorderandchaosassociatedwithapurportedlyrevolutionaryworkingclass.Andbythe1890sanewthreatemergedwiththeappearanceofthe"nouvelle
femme."Decadenceoffered"imaginarysolutionstorealproblems"inasmuchasitplayedwiththepossibilityoffindingfreedomfromthefettersofmasssocietyby
losingones'selfinsadisticfantasies.60Fictionalandmedicalportrayalsofsadismfedoffeachother.LacassagnenotedthatDostoievskiremarkedonthewellknown
correlationbetweenbeatingsandsexualarousalandwentontosayofZola'sLaBtehumaineinspiredinpartbyaccountsofJacktheRipper'smurdersthatit"is
awonderfulconfirmationofthenotionoftherelationswhichlinksexandviolence."61AlfredBinetsimilarlydrewmanyofhisreferencestofetishesfromfiction.And
thesexuallytroubledlearnedtobeasmuchinfluencedbyliteratureasweredoctors.SergePaulreportedthatpatientsbythe1890swerealreadycitingintheirdefense
theworksofdeSade,JeanJacquesRousseau,andSacherMasoch.62
Theliterarynotionofsadismpopularizedinthe1880sand1890swasprimarilyamanifestationofanelitistdisdainfortheconventionsofmiddleclassandmass
society.TheperversewaspersonifiedbylibertinenoblemenlikeGillesdeRais,deSade,andDesEsseintes.Butironicallytherealmenofthefindesiclewhose
actualactsledpsychiatriststolabelthemassadistswereforthemostpart,likeVacher,crudeandviolentmembersoftheverylowerclasses,whomthedecadent
novelistsmostfeared.The"real"sadists,farfrombeingpowerful,sexualsupermen,wereslavestotheirowncompulsivebehaviors.63
Yetwhenoneturnsfromtheliteraryworldtothesexologicalwritingsofthelatenineteenthcentury,onediscoversmuchthesamemorbidfascinationwithperversions.
Thetabloids,policefiles,decadentnovels,andpsychiatricjournalssharedsimilarvocabulariesandconcerns.TheEuropeanpresseschurnedoutpopularbestiariesof
sadistsorlustmurderers,boththemedicalaccountsandliterarychroniclesofbehavioralaberrations
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producingthesamesortoffetishisticliteraturethatblendedbiographyandclinicalcasehistoriesofexemplaryperverts.64TheworkofoneofLacassagne's
colleagues,Dr.AlexisLepaulard'sVampirisme:Ncrophilie,ncrosadisme,ncrophage(Lyon:Stock,1901),wasatypicalcompilation.Suchmedicalstudies
containedmuchmoralizingandlittleanalysis.Theirauthorsusuallyadoptedascattergunapproach,beginningwithGillesdeRais,thefourteenthcenturykillerof
children,andthenhoppingfourcenturiestothemarquisdeSadehimself.Forthenineteenthcentury,theycouldbecountedontoincludeLeger,Menesclou,Jackthe
Ripper,andahostoflesservillains.65
Whatmoststrikesthehistorianishowscientificallyuninformativethesecataloguesofsexmurdersandsadistswere.Thesadistsrangedinsocialclassfromaristocrats
tovagrantstheircrimesranfromGillesdeRais'purportedhundredsofmurdersandLeger'scannibalismandvampirismtoCharlesBertle,whoprickedorstabbed
women'sbottomsorbreasts,tothosewhocutboys'ears.Somenevermasturbated(Bertle)otherswerecompulsiveselfabusers(Xavier)somewereexcitedby
flagellationsotherswereepilepticsomesufferedfromgeneralparalysis(Leger)otherscarriedthestigmataofdegenerationsomehadbrainsthatwereobviously
damaged(P.executedatBeauvais1879,Menesclou)someborehereditarytaints(Menesclou),orhadalcoholicorneuropathicparents(Garayo).Somewere
bizarreotherswereapparentlynormal.Thismotleycollectionwasroundedupbytheclassifiersandlabeledsadists.Thegroupingsproceedednotfromaclassification
oftheperpetratorsbutfromthesimilarityoftheircrimes.Thesemedicaldystopiasprovidednoguidanceonhowtocatchorcurethecriminal.Theirchieffunctionwas
toserveasacautionaryliteraturethatcouldbebrandishedagainstwhatwereregardedasthesocialorpsychicvicesthatthreatenedsociety.66
Whatsortsofthreatsprecipitatedtheconstructionofsadism?Onemightimaginethatthesadistrepresentedthedangerposedbyahypermasculinity.Certainlythe
creationoftheconceptof"sadism"spoketoacontemporaryconcernforgenderrelations.Sadism,likealltheperversionscataloguedinthelatenineteenthcentury,
wasagenderednotionthatcouldonlybefullyunderstoodinthecontextofwhatcontemporariessawasappropriatemaleorfemalebehaviorthatmenwere
supposedtobeaggressiveandwomenpassive.67Aggressivenesshadbothitscostsandbenefits.Becausemalesweresupposedtobethesexuallyaggressiveand
adventuroussex,doctorsassumedthatonlymalescouldbeperverts.Asthemalewasmorecerebralthanthefemale,hismindwasmorelikelytoovercomehis
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body.Hisdesirescouldbedegradedanddeclinefromtheactivetothepassive,fromthegenitaltotheoral,fromthemasculinetotheeffeminate.Muchifnotall
homosexuality,forexample,wassaidtoresultfromsexualexcessesandexhaustion.68ImpotencywaspresentedbyphysicianssuchasTardieuastherevengeofthe
bodythathadgivenwaytodeviantdesires.Nineteenthcenturyexpertsnowpresentedavarietyofcorruptpracticesincludingmasturbationandsodomywhich
wereonceseenaschoices,assymptomsoftheentirepersonalityofdangerous"others."69Maledoctorsdisciplinedothermenininventingandbrandishingsuchlabels
asmasochist,exhibitionist,andsadistwhatpreviouslyhadbeenregardedasmomentarysexualpreferenceswereincreasinglytakenasrevelationsofthewholeofa
person'sbeing.70
Doctorsclaimedthatfemales,despiteevidencetothecontrary,werelargelyinhibitedbytheirinnatepassivityfromactivelyindulginginsuchvices.Hencethe
assumptionthatifamanstoodnakedinawindowandwasobservedbyawomanhewasanexhibitionistifawomanstoodnakedinawindowandwasobservedby
amanhewasavoyeur.AlfredBinet'sfamousaccountofthefetishesaccordinglydescribedonlymen'sfixationsonlips,hair,hands,boots.71Giventhegeneral
assumptionofsexualasymmetry,itfollowedthatBinettookaman'sbeingattractedtoanold,uglywomanasanindicationofsomefetishisticappeal,whilehefound
nothingpuzzlingaboutayoungwoman'smarriagetoanold,uglyman.Money,despitewhatMarxhadsaid,wasnotregardedbydoctorsasafetish.
Sadismhastobeunderstoodasjustsuchagenderedperversion,whichFrenchdoctorsemployedforbothdescriptiveandprescriptivepurposes.72Richardvon
KrafftEbing,theGermansexologist,hasoftenbeencreditedwithcoiningtheterm,butashehimselfmadeclear,itwasalreadybeingemployedinFrancewhen
PsychopathiaSexualisappearedin1886,andhisboastwassimplythathecoinedassadism'sanaloguetheconceptof"masochism."73Doctors,inspeakingof
"sadism,"weretakingoveraconceptpopularizedbywritersoffiction,andaccordinglyahistoricalanalysisoftheconcepthastotakeintoaccountwhy,inthecultural
contextofthe1880sand1890s,suchanideawas"goodtothinkwith."74
Howdiddoctorsemploytheconcept?Sadismwasfirstturnedtobysexologistsnottocurb,buttoincitemaleaggressiveness.KrafftEbing,whomLacassagne
frequentlycited,statedtherewerewidegradationsofsadism.Atthemostinnocentlevelstoodthehusbandwho,inaskingforsexinunusuallocalesorinemploying
forceintheconjugalact,exhibitedsadistictendencies.
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Itseemsprobablethatthissadisticforceisdevelopedbythenaturalshynessandmodestyofwomantowardstheaggressivemannersofthemale,especiallyduringtheearlier
periodsofmarriedlifeandparticularlywhenthehusbandishypersexual.Womannodoubtderivespleasurefromherinnatecoynessandthefinalvictoryofthemanaffordsher
intenseandrefinedgratification.Hencethefrequentrecurrenceoftheselittlelovecomedies.75
TheatavisticnotionthatintimespastsexfollowedassaultwascarriedonbytheaptlynamedAndrLamoureux,whosawsadismasahereditarytraitofthemale
seizingthefemale.76Suchatavismsresurfacedoccasionally.KrafftEbingcitedthecaseofamanwhocouldonlymakelovetohiswifeafterhavingmadehimself
angry,andMollthatofaboywhocouldonlygetanerectionwhenresisted.77Evenin"normal"sexualrelations,sexologistsdetectedinthedesiretoteaseormocka
lovedonearemnantofcruelty.
InEnglandHavelockEllisinhisdiscussionof"LoveandPain"followedthesamelineinpresentingwooingasadomesticatedformoftheearlierviolentmalepursuitof
thefemale.Malesdelightedindisplayingforceandinthe"simulacrumofpain"their"arousal"dependedonadegreeoffemaleresistance.Womendelightedin
submitting,andastheyhadtobepenetratedtheideasofpainandpleasurewerenecessarilymingledinthefemalemind.Accordinglythereexistedabiological
justificationforadegreeofmalesexualviolence.78Normalmenhadanimpulsetogivepainandnormalwomenanimpulsetoreceiveit:"Sothatweneednotunduly
deprecatethe'cruelty'ofmenwithintheselimits,norundulycommiseratethewomenwhoaresubjectedtoit."79Inotherwordsanormalmanwasinasense
''naturally"sadisticandanormalwoman"naturally"masochistic.80Atthesametime,doctorswerewarningtheirmalereadersthatmasculinitywasnotthefundamental
andunalterableelementtheymighthaveimaginedbutrathersomethingfragile.Withoutaconsciouseffortofthewilltospurnvice,onecouldpotentiallyspinoffintothe
perversions.81
Some,likeDimitryStefanowskyinan1892articleintheArchivesd'anthropologiecriminelle,confusinglyspokeofmale"sadisticpassivity"whatKrafftEbingmore
clearlycalledmasochism.82Butallcommentatorsagreedthatmasochism,beinganinherentfemaletrait,wasonlya"trueperversion"inamancommentators
specificallydefinedthesyndromeasthesexualpleasureamanassociatedwiththeideaofbeinghumiliatedbyawoman.Thevice,accordingtoLaurent,wasa
manifestationofamale'sabdicationofhislegitimatedominations.83ForFrenchreadersthemostfamousdescriptionofayouth'sdiscoveryofhismasochisticfeelings
wasthat
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whichRousseauconfidedtohisConfessions."Tobeonmykneesbeforeanimperiousmistress,toobeyherorders,tohavetoaskherforgiveness,wereformethe
sweetestpleasuresthemoremylivelyimaginationinflamedmyblood,themoreIfeltlikeanoverwhelmedlover."84Stefanowskydescribedthemanwhogaveoral
sextoawomanasapassivistwhowassubjectinghimselftoa"femmesadiste."Suchpassivity,ifunchecked,couldleadontothevictim'ssexualinversionandthe
ultimatedegradationthatofbecomingafellatorofothermen.
Ifmenhadasadisticstreak,women'smasochismwas,doctorsagreed,sonaturalasnottocountasaperversion.TheythusfollowedtheoldideapositedbyMichelet
andComtethatwomenweremore"alivetothechainofselfsacrifice."85IndeedSergePaulnotedthatsinceawomanwasmeanttoserveitwashardtonoticea
masochisticfemale.InRussia,heclaimed,theblowsawomanreceivedweretakenasproofofherspouse'slove."86InAmericaitwasbelieved,wroteG.Stanley
Hallinhisclassictextonadolescence,thattherewassomethingwrongwiththeyoungmanwhowasnotaggressive.87Inshorttheconceptof"sadism"wasfirst
employedbydoctorstofostercertainformsofmalesexuality.They,likemanyotherlatenineteenthcenturycommentators,believedthatcivilizedmenweremost
threatenednotbyexcesspassionbutbytheenervationspawnedbyurbanlife.
Sadism'ssecondfunctionwastocensorcertainformsofsexualbehavior.Althoughthesexologiststoldmenthattheyweresupposedtobesexuallyaggressive,there
werelimits.AccordingtoBinetthelinebetweenhealthysexualexcitationandperversionwascrossedwhenthefetishisticactbecamemoreimportantthanthe
heterosexualintercoursetowhichitwassupposedtolead.Whenthepaininflictedbecamethechiefsourceofaman'ssexualpleasure,hebecameapervert.Exactly
thesamepractice,ifitabettedheterosexualintercourse,couldbedeemedhealthy.Doctorsdescribedthelustmurderofthesadistnotasanactthatcouldbelocated
attheaggressiveextremeonthecontinuumofnormalmaleviolencebutasanaberrantcrimethathadnothingtodowithheterosexuality.Healthymasculinityemerged
unscathedifnotreinvigoratedfromsuchanalyses,whichbeganwiththepremisethatsexcrimeswereindividualdeviantacts,notdistortedreflectionsofnormalgender
relations.Increatingthe"sadist,"doctorsconstructedacreaturewhoroamedsomewherebeyondthenormsofmasculinesexualaggressiveness.88
Wassadismaresultofunleashedprimitivepassionsortheproductofoverrefinementasignofhypermasculinityoranevidenceofeffeminacy
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andimpotency?ThemostseriousversionofsadismlustmurderKrafftEbingdesignateda"primitiveanomaly.""Itisadisturbance(adeviation)intheevolutionof
psychosexualprocessessproutingfromthesoilofpsychicaldegeneration."89Males,needingtowinandconquerwomen,werenecessarilyaggressive,butunder
pathologicalconditionssuchadrivecould"likewisebeexcessivelydeveloped,andexpressitselfinanimpulsetosubdueabsolutelytheobjectofdesire,evento
destroyorkillit."90Lustawakenedcrueltyandcrueltyawakenedlust.Lustandangerwereoftenlinked,andintheabnormalthecustomaryinhibitorycheckswere
absent.Yetsomeinwhomthesadisticinstinctexistedfrombirthmanaged,accordingtoKrafftEbing,tofightoffsuchurges.
InFrancethemorecommonviewwasthatperversionswerenotsimplyinheritedbutacquiredasaresultofbeingovercivilized.AccordingtoSergePaulandValentin
Magnan,civilizationneededboundaries.91Buttheluxurious,feverishlifeofthecityledtoexcesses,alcoholism,menstrualproblems,tuberculosis,andpsychiatric
troubles.Sexualperversionsfollowed.Oncetheirsenseswerejaded,theblasturnedtosadism.92KrafftEbingdeclaredsadismtobecongenitaltheFrench,though
theyconcededthatthedegeneratewereparticularlysusceptible,assertedittobeanacquiredvice.SadismaccordinglywaspresentedbyFrenchpsychiatristsasa
productofinsufficientratherthanexcessivemasculinity.Lacassagneenvisagedthebrainhavingspecialorgansthatpresidedoverthefunctioningofthetwoinstinctsof
reproductionanddestruction.Thegenitalinstinctwas,asidefromtheinstinctforselfpreservation,thestrongestandshouldnormallypredominate.93Signsof
effeminacyorhomosexualityprovidedevidencethatthereproductivedrivewasincapacitatedifthathappenedtheinstinctfordestructioncouldtakeoverandsadism
result.
Thethirdwayinwhichdoctorsemployedtheconceptofsadismwastoalertthepublictothedangersofamalemanifestingfemininetraits.Tounderstandwhyaman's
effeminacywouldbeconsidereddangerous,ithastoberememberedthatnineteenthcenturymedicalscientistswereintheprocessofdrawingasharplinebetween
whatwerecalledthe"opposite"sexes.Thefactofsexualincommensurabilityandthedemandsofreproduction,theyasserted,governedallaspectsoflifeandany
blurringofthegenderrolessmackedoftheperverse.Accordingly,thetermfminismefirstcameintocommonusageinFranceaboutthesametimeastheterm
sadismeandforrelatedreasons.Fminismewasoriginallyusedbydoctorsinthe1870sinthepathologicalsensetodescribethephysicalandpsychologicalwaysin
whichamanmightmanifestcertainfemalecharacteris
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tics.94PierreGarnier,forexample,referredtohomosexualityandneurastheniaasbeingengenderedbyaman'sfeminism.CharlesFrassertedthatfeminine
characteristics(fminisme,gyncomstie)weremanifestedbythemanwhosufferedthe"sexualdeath"oflosinghisgenitals.95Womenwriterswereonlytoappropriate
thetermandemployitinapositivesensefromthe1890sonward.Doctorswhoemployedfminismeinthepathologicalsensewerenotsomuchattackingthe
"nouvellefemme"asthepossibilityoftheemergenceofa"nouvelhomme."Bothsadismandfeminism,theyasserted,weremanifestationsofadangerouslackofvirility.
Lacassagnearguedthatthesexualpassionsofthesadistwerenotmasculinebutessentiallyfeminine.Accordingtohiscaptors,Vacher,wasalwaysinsearchofflesh,
wasalwayslikeawomaninrut."Thesadist,''declaredLacassagne,"hassomethingofthecerebrallicentiousnessofthewoman."96Suchassertionslinkedupwiththe
oldideathatthewomanwaspreoccupiedbysexallthetimethenormalmanonlyoccasionally.
Thefourthfunctionoftheconceptofsadismwasitsusebymedicalmenasastickwithwhichtobeatbackthethreatofinversion(ashomosexualitywascalledinthe
latenineteenthcentury).Ifnormalwomenwerepreoccupiedbysexallthetime,sotoo,accordingtothepsychiatrists,weresomeabnormalmenhomosexuals.
Accordingly,atVacher'strialgreatstresswasplacedontheaccused'sinversiontendencies.Fourquet,theinvestigatingmagistrate,expressedsurprisethatVacher,
whoamonghisfellowtrampshadthereputationofbeingapederast,shouldhavewooedLouiseBarrant."Untilhisarrivalinthearmy,Vacherappearedtohavenever
beenattractedtoanywoman.Noromanticadventureswerefoundinhispast.Besides,hewasapederastandnoonehadevernoticedhimlookingforwomenuntil
hisinductionintothe60thartilleryregiment."97ThepresidingjudgeremindedVacherofthedisparagingreportsthathiscomradesmadeofhispassions.98
Lacassagne,indescribingVacher'smurderingandsodomizingofPierreMassotPellet,VictorPortalier,andtheshepherdsatCourzieuandTassinLaDemiLune,
concludedthattheseyoungherdsmeninflamedVacherwithalubriciouspassion.Whenwomenintheaudienceexpressedtheirshockathearingsuchaccounts,the
judgetookobviouspleasureinretorting,"Toobadforyouladies,youwerewarnedyoushouldnotbehere."99Thedoctor,infurtherreportingthatinoneofthe
interrogationsVacheradmittedthatyoungmenhadapowerofattractionoverhim,concluded:"Yes,thereisthetruthVacherhadalwaysbeenapederast,laterhe
becameamurdererandsadist."100Suchlinkageswereevenmadebythosewhotriedtoavoidtarringallhomosexualswiththe
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samebrushAndrRaffalovich,forexample,assertedthatinEuropesodomywasthedelightofonly"theignorant,theviolent,thecriminal,thecruel,themasochistic,
thesadistic."101
Thetermhomosexual,coinedin1869bytheSwissdoctorKarolyMariaBenkert,wasnotincommonuseuntilthe1890s.Invert,whichoriginallywasutilizedasa
verbmeaningtoturnupsidedownwasemployedbydoctorsinthelatterdecadesofthenineteenthcenturyasanountorefertoamanwhowasattractedtoother
men.Thetermpervertwentthroughasimilartransformation.Whereasitoncemeanttoturnfromcorrecttoerroneousreligiousbeliefs,inthenineteenthcenturyit
tookonanewsexualandpsychologicalcoloring.Lacassagne,inanearlierstudydevotedtopederasty,hadfollowedBrouardelandTardieuinattributing"sexual
inversion"toapoorlybalancednervoussystemmarkedbyinfantilismandlackofmasculineenergy.102Somewere"native,"orcongenitalhomosexualsothersdrifted
intotheviceasaresultofimpotence,onanism,orafearofwomen.Whetherhomosexualitywasinnateoracquired,Lacassagneinsistedonreferringtoitasa"school
forcrime"andlistedastringofmurderswithwhichtheperversionwasassociated.HenriJolyandBenjaminBallprovidedsimilarluridaccountsofthedangersposed
bypervertswhorapedandkilledchildren.103OctaveUzannenotedwithsomesurprisethatby1900sadism,whichfifteenyearspreviouslyhadbeenverymuchin
vogueamongtheadvancedliteraryset,hadbecomeacentralpreoccupationofthosewhostudiedmaleprostitutionandsexualinversions.104
Intheearlytwentiethcentury,thislineofargumentassociatingsadismwitheffeminacywaspursuedinEngland,theUnitedStates,andGermany.HavelockEllis
recognizedthatsomethinglikethelovebitecouldslipoffintothe"regionofthemorbid"andartificialexcesses.105Whensuchpracticesreachedthepathologicalstage,
theynolongercouldbeviewedassimplyanextensionofnormalmasculineaggressiveness.Whatwaswrongwiththesadisticman,claimedEllis,wasthathewasnot
masculineenough.106
It[sadism]isnot,aswemightinfer,bothfromthedefinitionusuallygivenandfromitsprobablebiologicalheredityfromprimitivetimes,aperversionduetoexcessivemasculinity.
Thestrongmanismoreapttobetenderthancruel,oratalleventsknowshowtorestrainwithinboundsanyimpulsetocrueltythemostextremeandelaborateformsofsadism
(puttingasidesuchasareassociatedwithaconsiderabledegreeofimbecility)aremoreapttobealliedwithasomewhatfeminineorganizational.107
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AsevidenceEllisclaimedthataSt.LouismanwhostabbedwomenhadaboyishappearanceandahighpitchedvoicewhileReidel,themurderer,was"timid,modest
anddelicate."108Elliswasarguingthatsuchmenweretryingtoproveamasculinitytheylackedwiththepenetratingphallicinstrumentoftheknife.
IntheUnitedStates,G.FrankLydstonclaimedthatinacitylikeChicagomalesexpervertshadbythe1890s"soincreasedinnumbersthattheyformlargecolonies
withwellknownresorts."109Theirdegeneracywasmadeobviousbytheireffeminatetraits,thoughLydstonwasdidnotmakeitclearwhethertheirtaintedpassions
wereacquiredorinherited.Whateverthecaseitwasinsuchmilieusthatoneexpectedtofindsexmurderers.ArthurMacDonald,whospentyearstryingtoobtain
fundsfromtheUnitedStatesCongresstoestablishalaboratoryforthestudyofthe"criminal,pauperanddefectiveclasses,"predictablyreportedthatthetypicalserial
killerheinterviewedwas"effeminate"inasmuchasheusedthe"effeminatemethod''ofpoisoning.110
AmongthepsychoanalystsWilhelmStekelprovidedthefullestearlytwentiethcenturyaccountofsadismorwhathecalledthe"needtohate."111Stekel,following
EllisandKrafftEbing,agreedthatthe"normalseximpulseisalwaysboundwithamoreorlessprominentbrutalelement."112Sadismwasanatavism,areversionto
theinfantilestageinwhichthesadistsoughttoovercomeresistancekillingwastheultimatewaytoobliterateallresistance.113ForStekelrealsadistsbydefinition
couldnotbenormalheterosexualmales.Theyhadtobeonanistssincemasturbation,likekilling,excludedallresistance.Homosexualurgeswerealsorelatedto
sadismbutinparticulartomasochism,asthesuppressionofanaturaldispositiontohomosexualitycouldleadtoaberrationsinone'slatersexuallife.114Masochists
founditeasiertoconfesstheirurgessadistsweremorelikelytorepressthem.AmonghispatientsStekelhadsomewhoadmittedtofantasiesofkillingprostitutes
otherswhoscreamed,"Die,youcanaille!"duringcoitusanofficerwhopurposelyinfectedadozenwomenwithgonorrheaas"revenge"forhisownillnessanda
patientwhousedweaponstoimposehimselfonwomen.115Inlustmurder,Stekelargued,"theactofmurderbecamethesymbolofpossession.Itisalsosexual
uniontherevolverorthedaggerrepresentsthephallus,thebloodthesemen.Murderisthereforethesexualactoftheimpotentman.Thereisnotafullypotentmanin
mygalleryofimaginary'JacktheRippers.'"116InshortStekel,forallhissophistication,broughthisstudytoanend,likeEllis,byexculpatingfullblooded
heterosexuality.
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Toconcludethischapter,letusreturntonineteenthcenturyFrance.Webeganthisinvestigationtoseehowtheconceptofsadismwasfirstemployed.Whatwefound
wasthatitwasused,nottodescribesimplythedeviant,buttoshoreupcertainpreconceivednotionsofmanliness.Thequestionremainswhysuchconcernswereso
stronglyfelt.WhywereFrenchdoctorspreoccupiedbymalesexualdeviancy?Whydidthepressattheturnofthecenturyassertthatthefamilywasthreatenedand
traditionalgenderrolesunderattack?OneansweristhattheFrench,withthelowestbirthrateinnineteenthcenturyEurope,wereparticularlypreoccupiedbythe
notionofincapacitatedreproductivedrives.From1850onwardbiologicalfearsofdegenerationwereextendedbyalarmiststoexplainbothfamilyandsocial
problems.AfterFrance'sdefeatbyGermanyin1870,afullblowndepopulationhysteriadeveloped,onlytobefollowedinneighboringcountriesinthe1890s.There
toothemoodofsomberdespairdeepenedinthecentury'slastdecadesasdoctorsbrandishedthethreatsthatdrugs,alcohol,andsyphilisalsoposedthefamily.
Thefallinfertilityattributedtoshortsightedegoismandthepronatalistrhetorictowhichitgaveriseplayedacentralroleinthe"discovery"inFranceofmale
sexualperversions.Thenation'ssenseofguilt,precipitatedbythedropinthebirthrate,obviouslyledtothehuntforscapegoatsonwhomanxietiescouldbe
projected.117Psychiatryexploitedsuchfearsalthoughthesciencewasperceivedbymanyasbeinganticlerical,ifanythingitoutstrippedtheCatholicchurchinits
condemnationsofthemoralegoismthatwassupposedlyweakeningthenation.118ThuswefindtienneMartin,professoroflegalmedicineatLyon,attributing
Vacher'ssadismtothefactthatasanisolatedindividualhehadnonaturalcurbonhisinsatiableneeds.Thenormalmanhadthe"dutiesandcharmsoffamily"toactas
brakeonhissexdrive,butrulesofloveweremissingfortheviolentandbrutal.Vacher'ssadisticassaults,thedoctorswarned,representedmerelytheultimate
manifestationofunbridledegoism.119
GabrielTarde,theconservativejuristandcrowdpsychologistknownforhisdevelopmentoftheconceptofcriminalsuggestion,followedasimilarlineinthechapterhe
contributedtoLacassagne'svolumeonVacher.Tardepessimisticallyarguedthatadvancesofcivilizationledtoincreasesincriminality.Inparticularheheldthepress
responsibleforexploitingsensationalcrimestoriesandsocontributingtoacontagionofmurder,blackmail,andpornography.120Thefallinfertilityrateshealso
attributedtotheforceof"imitation."121Whattheriseofthenew,nervous,suggestiblesocietyrepresentedinhiseyeswasthedeclineofthepatriarchalfamilywith
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its"serenity"and"majesticparticularism."Giventheintemperanceandtemptationsfindesiclesocietydangledbeforefreefloatingindividuals,onedidnothaveto
attributekillingtothepeculiaritiesofthe"born"criminal.Allmenwereplacedatriskandonlythestrongcouldresist."Thepsychologyofthemurderer,"Tarde
declaredgloomily,"isthepsychologyofeverybody.''122
Sadismwasaversatileconceptthatcouldbeturnedtoavarietyofpurposes.Intheliteraryworld,novelists,whoremainedtruetothestalestmisogynisticclichs,used
ittoparadeafreshirreverence.Inthepsychiatricworlditsdiscussionbeganwithwhatappearedtobeacritiqueofmasculinitybutconcludedwithitsdefense.Sexual
aggressivenesswaspartofthenormalmasculinepsycheonlywhenpushedbeyondthelimitsofthe"normal"wasitdescribedbydoctorsasasignofimpotencyrather
thanpotency,offemininityratherthanofmasculinity.Moresharplydemarcatednotionsofactivemasculinityandpassivefemininityaccordinglyemergedfromthefirst
discussionsofsadism.Thenewbiomedicalmodelsofmasculinityandfemininityservedideologicalfunctions.Doctorsclaimedthatitwas"natural"ora"timeless"
practiceformentouseforcetosubduefemales,yetweknowthatthenotionofthepassionlessfemalewasinfactanewnineteenthcenturycreation.Traditionally
womenwereseentobeasmuchinterestedinsexasmalesandindeedaspotentiallyinsatiable.Latenineteenthcenturydoctors,inadvancingcomplementary
psychologicalmodelsoftheaggressivemaleandthepassivefemale,wererespondingtoademand.Thereexistedareadingpublicthatwantedtobereassuredthat
despitethehostofsocialchangesthatappearedtoblurgenderdivisions,deeppsychiccleavagesnecessarilyseparatedthesexes.Inlocatingtheemergenceofthe
conceptofsadisminthecontextofthisreorderingofgenderroles,itbecomesclearthatdoctorswerereflectingsociety'sbeliefthatthethreatsmodernlifeposedthe
virilityofthemassofordinarymenwasfarmoreworryingthantheviolenceoftheisolatedpervert.123
Intheearlytwentiethcentury,mileLaurent,adiscipleofLacassagne,beganhisaccountofcriminalitybyacknowledgingthepublic'senormousinterestinthestories
ofinfamouscriminalslikeVacher,"lesinistretrimardeur."Laurentwentontostatethatcrimestorieslikethefabliauxofthemiddleagesappealedtomorethan
society'sneedtoknowaboutvillainyandprotectitselffromit.Thoughtheprudishmightthinksuchaccountsspawnedcrime,infact,byelicitingthereadingpublic's
revulsion,theyplayedanimportantroleinforgingthesocialsolidarityofthelawabiding.124Thediscussionofsadismwaslikewisesupposedlyaboutmonstrous
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criminals,butwasasmuchaboutwhatpsychiatristsbelievedshouldconstitutenormalcy,ornormalmaleness,whichtheaboveanalysissuggestswasnotstableor
fixedbutahistoricallyconstructedsocialcategory.Theproduct,alongwiththeothersexualperversions,ofaneraofconfusionaboutappropriatemalebehavior,
sadisminitscreationandexploitationhelpedgivebothpositiveandnegativedefinitiontofindesiclemasculinity.Itwasoneofaclusterofdefiningconcepts,its
unsavoryaspectsfosteredbythemorbidsexualobsessionsthatpermeateddecadentfictionandcriminalpsychiatryintheclosingdecadesofthecentury.
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Eight
Exhibitionists
Thelastthirdofthenineteenthcenturywitnessed,ifoneistojudgebythelegalandmedicalwritingsofthetime,anepidemicofmaleexhibitionism.Thefirstreports
camefromFrance.Soldiers,itwassaid,wavedtheirpenisesatwomenthroughwindows.Onefellowexposedhimselfoncitystreets,sayingtohisvictims,"Jevous
presenteMlleCocodette,elleestvotredisposition."Thecountrysidewasnotsparedsuchoutrages.Afarmlaborerreferredproudlytohis"inexpressible."Inthefirst
decadeofthetwentiethcentury,olderpeasantsreported,"ilm'amontrsanature,"theyoungerstated,''ilm'amontrsaflamme."1 Germanyexperiencedasimilar
phenomenon.HerrL,agedthirtyseven,KrafftEbingreported,rappedonpublichousewindowswithhispenissothatchildrenandservantgirlswouldseeit,while
Dr.S,aneuropathicsleepwalker,ranaroundtheBerlinZoologicalGardensexposinghimself.2 Todrawattentiontohisactandproducethemaximumshock,a
Strasbourgmanwasinthehabitatnightofthrowingoffhiscloakandexposinghimselfunderastreetlamporintheglowofanignitedmatch.3
Englishexhibitionists,thoughsomewhatlessdramatic,weremoremethodical.Theyincludedarecentlymarriedbusinessmanwhoregularlylefthisofficeatmidday
wearingalongmackintosh.Inapubliclavatoryhewouldremovehistrousersandplacetheminanattachcase.Withhisanklescoveredbyhisgaitersandhislegsby
hismachegavetheimpressionofstillbeingfullydressed.Someticulouslyprepared,hewentforthtoexposehimselftowomenontrainsbecause,asheexplained,"he
feltlikeit."Englishexhibitionistsincludedthe"parkpests"whoofferedsweetsormoneytochildren,thedelusionalwhosaidtheywereonlyfollowingtheordersofthe
Almighty,andtheobsessedwho,asoneclaimed,hadtocarryoutsuchanobjectionableactasit"easedhisnature."Doctorsfoundtherewaslittletheycoulddowith
mostofthem.Dr.East,medicalofficeratBrixtonprison,exasperatedlynotedthatafortyeightyearoldinmate,arrestedfor
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exposinghimselfonatubetrain,eventooktheopportunitywhileawaitingamedicalexamination,toexposehimselftothirtyotherprisoners.4
Therewerefewcrimesthatonecanimaginethatweremorecontrarytothemoresofrespectable,nineteenthcentury,middleclasssocietythanexhibitionism:yetwhat
isthehistoriantomakeofit?Attheturnofthecentury,oneFrenchdoctorstatedthathispatient'sexhibitionisticperformancesraisedbothlaughsandindignation.5
Thesetwoviews,whichdominatedtheinitialdiscussionsofsuchdisplays,likelyasnotholdtruetoday.Thefirst,theonethatmostdetersscholarsfrominvestigating
suchacts,isthattheywere,unlikemoreseriousformsofmaleperversity,sillyandinsignificant.Therecordsofmasochismandsadism,LantriLaurahasshrewdly
pointedout,"conservethedignityaccruingtoanarrativeofpain,"whereasaccountsoffetishismandexhibitionismoftenseemlittlemorethaneithersadorfunny."To
risksomuchforsolittleseemsgrotesqueandpitifulfetishisticclientsgiveofftheimpressionofbeinghad,ofpayingtoomuchforapaltryillusion."6 Whowasmost
harmedbysuchcompulsiveacts,ifnottheexhibitionisthimself,whoinaselflaceratingfashionrenderedhimselfridiculous?Thesecondviewisthatexhibitionismisnot
alaughingmatter.Suchactswere"naked"demonstrationsofmalepower.Attheveryleasttheywerecrudeinsultsdirectedatwomenandchildren,andsuchassaults
weremoreoverdangerousinasmuchastheycouldleadontomoreseriouscrimeslikerape.
Thereissometruthinbotharguments,yeteachmissestheessentialpointthatexhibitionismwas"discovered"or"invented"ataparticulartimeandplaceinlate
nineteenthcenturyEurope.Thisisnottosaythatinothertimesandplacesmen'sexposingoftheirgenitalswasnotcensored,butintheVictorianagethereemergeda
newsensitivitytomalenuditythatwascarriedonintothetwentiethcentury.Twosymptomsofthisnewviewwerethecreationandelaborationofthepsychiatric
syndromethatdoctorstermed"exhibitionism"andtheincreasedlevyingofchargesagainst"indecentexposure"wherebynineteenthcenturymedicineandlawplaced
unprecedentedrestraintsonthefreedomofmalestoexposetheirbodies.7 Thebody,anthropologiststellus,"hasaniconographyofsignsandsymbols.''The
regulationofthebodyinVictoriantimes,aprocessthatFoucaultlinkedinaslightlysimplisticfashiontothegrowthofsocialscientists'knowledgeandsurveillance,is
usuallyassociatedbyscholarswithrestrictionsappliedbymalestofemales.8 Whathasnotreceivedattentionandwhatananalysisofexhibitionismpromisesissome
understandingoftherestrictionsplacedbysocietyonthemalebody.
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Atthemostabstractlevel,theproblemthatthischapterwrestleswithisasfollows.Mostmalesenjoyedapositionofdominancevisvisfemalesinnineteenth
centurywesternEuropeandNorthAmerica,notbecauseofanyascribedstatusashadbeenthecaseundertheoldregime,butbecauseofbiologicaldifference.
Gender,JoanScotthaspointedout,hadbecomea"primarywayofsignifyingrelationshipsofpower."9 Awiderangeofpoliticalandculturalrightswereliterally
embodiedandonlyenjoyedbymembersofthemalesex.Yetamanwhorevealedhisgenitalsinpublicwascondemnedbyothermenasapervertorcriminal.Why?
Whowasthreatenedbyhisactions?Contemporariesassertedthatobviouslywomenandchildrenwereendangered,butonesuspectsthatthosemostinvolvedinthe
discussionofexhibitionismhadotherpreoccupations.Thischapterwillattempttodeterminewhatthesewere.WewilllargelyfollowFoucaultinarguingthatthosewho
gainedmostfromanelaborationoftheconceptof"exhibitionism"wereclearlynotvictimizedwomenandchildrenbutthelegalandmedicalexpertswhothereby
widenedtheirterrainofsurveillance,albeitatthepriceofothermen'sfreedom.Suchanapproachrequiresaskingadditionalquestions.Whowouldbelabeledan
exhibitionist?Towhatextentdidthetimeandplaceandpersoncount?Wasthelawemployedtoprotectanyoneorrathertosetstandards?
Toplaceexhibitionisminitshistoricalperspective,wewillbeginbyrecallingthatwhatisconsidered"indecent"isarelativeconceptrelatedtotimeandclass.Even
apparentlynakedtribesusuallyemployscarsortattoosasasocialcover.10Exhibitionismwassaidbynineteenthcenturydoctorstobecontrarytolaw,culture,and
rationality,butmalenuditywasnotrepressedinallsocieties.Insome"primitive"cultures,boyswereencouragedtoflaunttheirgenitalsandengageinanexhibitionism
forbiddentosisters.11UntilthePericleanage,theGreeksemployedrepresentationsoftheerectphallusasthedominantsymbolofpower.TheCynicPeregrinus
Proteussupposedlymasturbatedbeforeothersinthetownsquare.OrdinaryGreekmen,totheamazementofforeigners,openlydisplayedtheirgenitalstheirmale
childrenwerealwaysdepictedwiththeirpenisesexposedsotherewouldbenoconfusionastotheirsex.12InRome,asinGreece,enormousphalliwereborneby
womeninDionysiacprocessions.13Theforcefulremovalofone'sclothing,however,wasintheancientworldasinthemodernashamingtechniqueemployedin
degradationceremonies.
TherewasagreatgapbetweentheJewishandGreekviewsregardingnakednessthebiblicalfallturnedwhatwasasymbolofinnocenceintoa
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signofevilMoreover,nakednesswasintheJewishtraditionrelatedtotheorgiesofthepagansandtothepoverty,vulnerability,andshameofunbelievers.14Atthe
sametime,theJewishriteofcircumcisionfocusedthecommunity'sattentiononthegreatsymbolicimportanceofthemalegenitalia.Christianity,basedonthecredo
thatitsGodhadtakenonhumanflesh,necessarilyadoptedadualisticviewofthebody.Representationsoffemalenakednesswereusedbythechurchtosymbolize
sin,sex,anddeath.15YetanewrespectforthefleshwasalsoembracedbyChristianity.IndeedrepresentationsofChrist'snakednesswerecentraltotheChristian
mystery.LeoSteinberghasperceptivelyrevealedthat"inmanyhundredsofpious,religiousworks,frombefore1400topastthemid16thcentury,theostensive
unveilingoftheChild'ssex,orthetouching,protectingorpresentationofit,isthemainaction."16TheChristchild'sgenitalshadtobeseentoshowthathewasboth
manandGod.Socialpressuresandintellectualconcernsinshortalwaysinfluencedthewaysinwhichthenakedmalebodywasbothrepresentedandseen.17
UnliketheGreeks,Europeansdidnothavethefestivalsinwhichthemagicoftheexhibitionistritewasusedtobreaktaboos.Themedievalperioddoesofferusin
LadyGodiva'srideonelegendaryactoffemalenuditythestoryofwhichsomescholarsrelatetoanearlierfertilitycultbutinearlymoderntimesthereweremany
moredocumentedmaleactsofritualizednudity.18Forexample,infifteenthcenturyVenicefourFranciscanfriars,forthepurposeofdemonstratingFranciscan
poverty,walkednudethroughthestreetsofthecitywithcrossesintheirhands.Likewise,onGoodFridayin1438,agroupofVenetiannoblesbelongingtoa
confraternitystrippedoffandwerewhippedinpublicbytheirfellowmembers.Weknowofsuchnudemarchesbecausetheywerebeginningtobeconsidered
scandalousandtheirparticipantswereapprehendedandjailed.Thenewcrackdownwasasignofchangingpreoccupationsastheauthoritieshadpreviouslypermitted
othermalenudeprocessions.19DuringtheMiddleAgesandtheReformation,manymillenariansectsthatdescribedthemselvesasAdamitescontinuedtopractice
ritualnudityinimitationoftheoriginalman,usuallyintheprivacyoftheirmeetingplaces.20
InearlymodernEurope,exposureofthenudebodywasusedtosignifyreligioushumilityitwasalsoemployedforoffensivepurposes.MartinLuther,whoclaimedto
havemoonedthedevil,maintainedatleastonthesymboliclevelthelinkbetweenreligionandexposure.EricEricksonattributedtoLutherananalfixation,pointingout
thathesworeatthedevil,"Ihaveshitinthepantsandyoucanhangthemaroundyourneckandwipe
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yourmouthwithit"andhadprintsmadeshowingthechurchgivingrectalbirthtohordesofdevils,but"mooning"orexposingone'sasstoshameanenemy,farfrom
beinganindividualquirkofLuther's,hadalongpedigreeinpeasantculture.21MikhailBakhtinreferstomooning,whichwasincorporatedinthecharivaris,as"oneof
themostcommonuncrowninggesturesthroughouttheworld,''thoughthenakedbuttocks,asrevealedinapublicthrashing,couldalsobeasignofhumiliations.22To
bareone'sassatanotherwasaprovocativeinsulttobecaughtwithone'spantsdownwasshameful.IntheMiddleAges,adultererswereoccasionallycondemnedto
appearnudeinpublic.Popularwoodcutsofwitchesfrequentlyshowedwomenkissingthedevil'sassasasignoftheirsubjection.Albanianwomenliftedtheirskirtsat
theirMontenegrinenemies,thebuttocksbeingshownasamarkofcontempt.23ThesouthSlavpeasantsliftedtheirskirtswiththelefthandandslappedthenateswith
therightsaying,"Thisisforyou."InCornwallandWales,"Kissmyass"wasanoldinsultasitwasinFrance,whereDiderotincludedtheterm"baisserlecul"inLe
NevuedeRameauandmileZolahadMouquettemooningherneighborsinGerminal.Evenlocalpriestsemployedthesamegesturesofcontemptastheir
congregations.Inthe1830sacur,whohadbeenbooedduringmass,liftedhissoutaneandmoonedhisentirecongregation.24Thebareassinsultwasclearlynot
restrictedtothepeasantry.ThemotifwasrepeatedlyexploitedintheeighteenthcenturycartoonsproducedbysuchEnglishartistsasGeorgeCruikshank,James
Gillray,andThomasRowlandsoninthepopularprintsofRevolutionaryFranceitenjoyedasurgeinpopularity.DepictionsofmooningdisappearedfromBritish
publicationsbythe1830s,butwereretainedbythemoredaringnineteenthcenturyFrenchjournals.25
Thoughthereisobviouslyadifferencebetweenamanexposinghisassandhispenis,thefactthatamanhadexhibitedhisgenitalswasinearlymodernEuropenot
takenallthatseriously.Europeanmenoffashion,ithastoberecalled,thoughnotactualexhibitionists,forcenturiesdressedinsuchawayastoaccentuateifnot
exaggeratethesizeoftheirpenises.Thecodpieceactedasasortofsartorialflyingbuttress.26Montaignearguedinthemidsixteenthcenturythattheflauntingofthe
loinswasanobviouscontinuationofthephallicceremoniesoftheGreeks.
AndIknownotwhetherIhavenotinmytimeseensomeairoflikedevotion.Whatwasthemeaningofthatridiculousthingourforefathersworeontheforepartoftheirbreeches,
andthatisstillwornbytheSwiss?Towhatenddowemakeashowofourimplementsinfigureunderourgaskins,andoften,whichisworse,above
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theirnaturalsize,byfalsehoodandimposture?Ihavehalfamindtobelievethatthissortofvestmentwasinventedinthebetterandmoreconscientiousages,thattheworldmight
notbedeceived,andthateveryoneshouldgiveapublicaccountofhisproportions:thesimplenationswearthemyet,andnearabouttherealsize.27
Evenwhenthe"publicaccount"involvedtheactualexposureofthepenis,theactseemsnottohavebeenregardedbytheauthoritiesastooworrying.InRenaissance
Venice,forexample,moralitylawsfocusedratheronsuchissuesasfornication,marriage,rape,andadultery.Sincetheconcernofthecommunitywaswithmarriage
anditsaccompanyingpropertyarrangements,littleattentionwaspaidtoobsceneactsthatdidnotputthematrisk.In1474aVenetiannoble,AndreaCoppo,was
accused"ofagitatinghisvirilemembermostevillyinthepresenceofMarino,agoldworker."Sincetherewasnocontact,butonlyexhibitionismnochargewaslaid.28
MasturbationwastoleratedbyVenetianssodomytheypunishedbydeath.AmanconvictedofthiscrimeintheexcessivelymoralisticcitystateofSienawashanged
byhistesticlesinpublicforanentireday.
Womenranthegreaterriskofhavingmenexposethemselvestothem."MasterThomasYsakyr,"reportedaLondonchurchofficialin1476,"showedhisprivateparts
tomanywomenintheparish."OnemilkmaidinearlyseventeenthcenturyEnglandreportedbeingcalledtobyamanoverthehedge:"Agnes,myprickdothstand
andhathagreatwhilesforthee:"29Thesecaseswereregardedasindecentbytheecclesiasticalcourtsthatreprimandedtheculprits,yetsomegenitalexhibitionswere,
aslateasthenineteenthcenturyinareassuchasNorthWales,apparentlypartofacourtshipritualbywhichamansoughttoprovehisvirility.Takinghispartnertoan
isolatedspothewouldask:"'Doyouwishto...(rhythu)'Ifshesaid'yes,'hewouldholdthebrimofherhatbetweenhisteeth,thenopenthefrontpartofhistrousers
andurinateonherdress.Byexposinghimself,hewasprovinghisvirilitytothewoman.''30IntheearlytwentiethcenturyaFrenchsexologistreportedthatamongst
peasantsandworkers,wheretherewasless"sexualcensorship"itwasstillnotuncommonforayoungmantojokinglyexposehimselftoagroupofyoungwomen.31
Moreseriouspublicdisplaysofvirilityalsotookplaceonthecontinent.MeninsixteenthcenturyItaly,asinseventeenthandeighteenthcenturyFrance,mightformally
counterrumorsofimpotencythatcouldleadtotheannulmentoftheirmarriages,bydemonstratingbeforeassembliesofpriests,physicians,andjuriststheirerections
andonoccasionevenproofofejaculation.32Intheearlymodernperiod,thepurposefulexposureofthegenitalsinandofitself,thoughnotconsideredan"innocent"
act,was
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inshortnotonethatthecommunityfeltwarrantedundueattention.Suchadeedcouldbelocatedwithinafamiliarrepertoireofobscenegesturesthesenseofshame
thatwastobecomeassociatedwiththisactioninmoderntimeshadyettobeinstilled.33Theusualassumptionwasthatamanexposedhimselfforareasontoeither
insultorseducehisvictim.
Intheeighteenthcentury,anewnotionbegantoemerge,theideathatthegenitaldisplaycould,inprovidingsexualpleasuretotheexhibitionist,bean"irrational"endin
itself.Thoughsuchasyndromemightwellhaveexistedearlier,itappearstohavebeenfirstreportedbyJeanJacquesRousseau.TheyoungRousseau,timidbut
sexuallyaroused,admittedtohavingexposedhimselftosomewomenin1728hewasapprehendedbutletloose.Hewasnottryingtoinsultorseducethewomenin
hisConfessionshespokewithhiscustomarycandorofsimplythefoolishpleasureheexperiencedindisplayinghis"ridiculousobject."34ItWasfittingthattheman
mostassociatedwithpopularizingnewnotionsofchasteromanticlovebasedonarigiddemarcationofmaleandfemalegenderrolesshouldalsochroniclethebirthof
anewperversion.Onecouldnotexistwithouttheother.
Thetitillationamanmighthaveexperiencedinexposingthebodycouldonlyhavebeenheightenedasagreaterstresswasplacedbysocietyoncoveringit.Fromthe
sixteenthcenturyonward,allformsofexposingthemalebodycametoberegardedbythesocialeliteasinincreasinglybadtaste.NorbertEliashaschartedthis
"civilizingprocess"bywhichtheissueofhowoneappropriatelyexpressedoneselfwasworkedout.35Heattributesthegrowingconstraintandrepugnanceforold
uncouthmannersandthestressonnewformsofsociallyacceptablebehaviorineating,speaking,andattendingtonaturalfunctionstonewsocialelites'desiretomark
thedistancethatseparatedtheirculturefromthatofignorantrustics.WelloffmenweretaughtbyErasmusandotherstobeembarrassediftheymanifestedthe
indifferenceofpeasantstobodilypropriety.
Awellbredpersonshouldalwaysavoidexposingwithoutnecessitythepartstowhichnaturehasattachedmodesty.Ifnecessitycompelsthis,itshouldbedonewithdecency
andreserve,evenifnowitnessispresent.Forangelsarealwayspresent,andnothingismorewelcometotheminaboythanmodesty,thecompanionandguardianofdecency.If
itarousesshametoshowthemtotheeyesofothers,stilllessshouldtheybeexposedtotheirtouch.36
Tothequestion"Whichisthemoreshamefulpart:thepartinfrontortheholeinthearse?"theSpanishhumanisteducatorLuisVivesreplied,"Both
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partsareextremelyimproper,thebehindbecauseofitsunpleasantness,andtheotherpartbecauseoflecheryanddishonor."37RichardWeste,inTheBookof
DemeanorandtheAllowanceandDisallowanceofCertaineMisdemeanorsinCompanie(1619),advisedhisreaders:
Letnotthyprivymembersbe
laydopentobeview'd
itismostshamefulandabhorred,
detestableandrude.38
AccordinglyGermanCourtregulationsforbadgentlementorelievethemselvesinfrontofladiesoronstairs.
Bythelateeighteenthcentury,itwasnotnecessaryforwritersofbooksonmannerstogoonatlengthaboutthebadtasteofscratchingandtouchingoneself.Stricter
controlsontheimpulsesandemotionshadbeenlargelyingrainedintheupperclasses,yetthestatusoftheobserverandtheobservedstilldeterminedwhethershame
wasexperiencedornot.Itwascommonlyacknowledgedthattherewerepeopleone'sequalsorsuperiorsbeforewhomonewasashamedtoexposeone's
nakedness,butthatbeforeone'sinferiorsonewasnot.Voltaire'smistress,theMarquisedeChtelet,itwasreported,"showsherselfnakedtoherservantwhile
bathinginawaythatcastshimintoconfusion,andthenwithatotalunconcernscoldshimbecauseheisnotpouringinthehotwaterproperly."39Maleandfemale
membersoftheupperclasseswhocontinuedwellonintothenineteenthcenturytodisrobeinfrontoftheirdomesticswereaccordinglynevertobelabeled
exhibitionists.
Nevertheless,ingeneral,new,higherstandardsofbodycoveragesustainedbysuchtechnologicalchangesasthewaterclosetandthebelts,buttons,buckles,lighter
textilesandunderclothingaccessibletothemiddleclasswereestablishedbythenineteenthcentury.Inafewshortyears,wellbroughtupVictorianchildrenwent
throughtheevolutionfromnakednessfirstelicitingtheircuriosityandthentheirshamethathadtakentheirsocietycenturiestocomplete.Moreover,astheWestern
worldbecamemoredemocratic,arguesElias,suchbodilytabooswereequalized.Thoughexposureofthebodywasinitiallyassociatedwiththepovertyofthelower
orders,thesocialreferencesofthetaboosagainstthedisclosureofthenaturalfunctionswereslowlyforgotten.40Bythenineteenthcentury,thebourgeoisiecouldonly
taketheinabilitytocontroloneselfandkeepone'sprivatescoveredasevidenceofeithermentalillnessorcriminality.
Thelivingconditionsofthegreatmassofthenineteenthcenturypopulationweresuchthattheycouldnothavebeenasprudishasoncewas
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claimed,butforthemiddleclassatleastmostformsofpublicexposureofthebodybecameshameful.Forexample,aFrenchwomancouldnolongerseektohaveher
marriageendedbyrecoursetothe"impotencetrials,"whichrequiredherhusband'sgenitalstobeexamined."Ifprivateinterestsmustsuffer,"declaredan1858decree,
''itisjustifiabletoimposesuchasacrificeinthebroaderinterestsofpublicorderandmorals."41Forsomenakedness,evenintheprivacyofthemaritalbed,wasno
longeracceptable.ThenightdressforbothmenandwomenemergedintheVictorianworldandthenformenthemoresociallypresentablepajamas.42Sleepitself
becameamoreprivateaffair,withservantsandchildrenbanishedfromthemasterbedroom.Indeedevenpublicreferencestothebedwereconsideredbytheprudish
tobeshamefulinthenineteenthcenturytherespectable"retired"forthenight.
Daytimemaledressalsochanged.Nineteenthcenturywomen'sfashions,dominatedbythecorsetandbustle,accentuatedthefemale'sbosomandbackside.Inshort
hersexualitywasmagnified,butatthesametimemen'ssexualitywashidden.Malefashionsnolongerdrewattentiontothelegsandthighs.Thetightbreechesand
stockingswerereplacedbythe1830sinEnglandbylooserfittingtrousers.Andthe"fullfall"ofthebreecheswasreplacedbythe1860swiththemorediscreet
buttonedflyfront.Forformaloccasionsthemiddleclassmaledonnedablackthreepiecesuit.Foreverydaydress,drabgrays,blues,andbrownsreplacedlighter
colorsandcoarserwoolsthefinerfabrics.Recoursebymentocorsetsandcosmeticsbecamealaughingmatter.Swordswerereplacedbywalkingsticks
ostentatiousjewelrybyutilitarianwatchesandfobs.Bythetwentiethcentury,theonlyhintsofcolorwerefoundinthetieorcravat,whichledtheeyeawayfromthe
genitalsuptotheman'shead.43AglanceataportraitofMarxorEngelsremindsusthatevenpoliticalradicalsdonnedthenewuniformofthebourgeoisie.Thetone
hadbeensetbytheAmericanrevolutionaries'contemptfor"YankeeDoodleDandy"andtheFrenchsansculottesof1789,whoattackedasreactionaryand
pretentiousfopsmenwhoaffectedtoomuchattentiontotheirdress.Inresponsetheposeofthedandywastakenupbysuchdecadentartistsandbohemiansas
Baudelaire,Barbeyd'Aurevilly,Wilde,Swinburne,andBeardsleywhowishedtoparadetheirdisdainformiddleclassproprieties.44TheextenttowhichWestern
societysoughttohidethemalebodywasperhapsbestevidencedinnineteenthcenturyartisticrepresentations.Femalenudeswerefoundinlibrariesandtownhalls,
representingeverythingfrom"Liberty"and"Electricity"to"Slavery"and"Morphine."Thenudemalevirtu
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allydisappearedfromthepainter'scanvas.Visitorstogalleriescouldimagineanomoreshockingideathanthatofanakedmanasasubjectforartistic
representations.45
AnexaminationoftheEnglishcaselawonindecentexposuredemonstrateshowthenewrestrictionsonmalenuditywereimposed.RexversusSedley(1663)first
establishedtheprinciplethatatcommonlawitwasamisdemeanortocommitanoutragingofpublicdecencyinsuchawaythatmorethanonepersonseestheact.46
SirCharlesSedley,afriendofCharlesII,wasindictedforexposinghimselfnakedwithtwodrunkenfriendsonthebalconyoftheaptlynamedCockTaverninCovent
Gardenandurinatingonthelargecrowdbelow.Allthreestrippedoff,andSedleypreachedamocksermonbeforeoveronethousandspectators.Sedley,Pepys
notedinhisdiaryfor1July1663,actedoutalltheposturesof"lustandbuggery,"gaveaMountebanksermon,andwhileridiculingdoctorsclaimedtohaveapowder
"asshouldmakeallthecuntsintownrunafterhim....Andthatbeingdone,hetookaglassofwineandwashedhisprickinitandthendrankitoffandthentook
anotheranddranktheKing'shealth."47
Itappearstohavebeennotuncommonforseventeenthcenturyrevelers,whendeepintheircups,tostripnaked,butSedleywithhismocksermonhadgonetoofar.
Hewasapprehendedbytheoutragedcrowdandforcedtoappearincourt,wherethequestionwasposedastowhatlawhehadbroken.TheStarChamber,which
previouslyhadbeenresponsibleformoralcharges(whichitinturnhadtakenoverfromtheecclesiasticalcourts)hadbeenabolishedasaresultoftheEnglishCivil
War.TherewasaccordinglynospecificlawagainstwhatSedleyhaddone,andbeingagentleman,hewasmerelyfinedtwothousandmarksandboundtokeepthe
peace.48Sedley'sblasphemywaswhatappearstohavemostpreoccupiedtheseventeenthcenturyauthoritieshistwofriendswhohadmerelystrippedoffwerenot
charged.Butbythenextcentury,itwasSedley'sindecency,nothisirreligion,thatwasremembered.HenryFieldingreferredtothecaseastypicalofan"openactof
lewdnessandindecencyinpublic,tothescandalofgoodmanners."49Pornographywaslikewiseinitiallyregardedbytherespectableasdangerousinasmuchasit
critiquedreligionandpolitics.Decencyonlybecameacentralconcerninthelateeighteenthandearlynineteenthcenturies.50
Theclashbetweennewstandardsofproprietyandthetraditionalrightsofmaleswasfirstplayedoutinnineteenthcenturycourtcasesoverbansonmalenudebathing.
In1809aMr.Crundenattemptedtocountersuchrestrictionsbyarguingthatnudemaleswimmingwasnotindecent.Whole
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regimentsofmenhadtraditionallyswumnakednearBrighton.Theyhadnocriminalintentandsoughtonlytoimprovetheirhealthifsuchnuditywasa"nuisance,"he
argued,itwasonetowhichthenewhomebuildershadcome.Mr.JusticeMcDonaldterselyrepliedthatthisappealtotraditionallibertieswaspointlessbecausesuch
actswerenowobviouslyindecentandoutrageous.
Norisitanyjustificationthatbathingatthisspotmightafewyearsagobeinnocent.ForanythingthatIknow,amanmightafewyearsagohaveharmlesslydancednakedinthe
fieldsbeyondMontagueHousebutitwillscarcelybesaidbythelearnedcounselforthedefendant,thatanyonemightnowdosowithimpunityinRussellSquare.Whatever
placebecomesthehabitationofcivilizedmen,therethelawsofdecencymustbeenforced.51
SimilarlytheSussexSpringAssizesmeetingatLeweson25March1871heardthecaseofReginaversusReedandOthers,inwhichaMr.Stamford,aman
apparentlygiftedwithremarkableeyesight,claimedhecouldseestarknakedmenswimminghalfamilefromhishouseontheoutskirtsofChichester.Themenreplied
onceagainthattherewasalongtraditionofbathingatthatparticularspot.Theprosecutioncounteredthatitwasunjustthatfemaleshadtoshunapleasantwalk,and
thecourttookthesideoftheladies,concludingthatconcernsforindecencyoverrodeany"usagetosobathe,howeverlongitmighthaveexisted:"52
Despitethefactthatsomegentlemencameintoconflictwiththelawovertheirrighttoswiminthenude,Englishlawprimarilyassociatedindecencywithlowerclass
males.SectionFouroftheVagrancyActof1824heldasliable"everyPersonwillfully,openly,lewdlyandobscenelyexposinghispersoninanyStreet,Roador
publicHighway,orintheViewthereof,orinanyPlaceofpublicResort,withIntenttoinsultanyFemale."Thecrimecouldonlybecommittedbyamanexposinghis
penis,presumablyapoorman,astheindecencyprovisionwaslumpedinwithreferencestotheidleanddisorderly,includingfortunetellers,readersofpalms,
wanderersandthosesleepinginbarnsandouthouseswithoutobviousmeansofsubsistence,thoseexposingwoundsordeformitiestogatheralms,menwhoranaway
andleftawifeandchildrenontheparish,thosebettinginthestreet,anyonehavingburglarytoolsoragunorcutlasswithintent,andanysuspectpersonloiteringon
dock,wharf,canal,orstreet.ThosefoundguiltyofsuchcrimescouldbecommittedasroguesandvagabondstotheHouseofCorrectionforthreemonthshard
labor.53Menwerealsospecifi
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callytargetedbythePoliceofTownsActof1847,whichheldtobecommittinganoffense"EverypersonwhowillfullyandindecentlyexposeshisPerson."54
Englishcommonlawheldthatforanacttobeindecentithadtobemadeinpublicthatis,morethanonepersonhadtoseeitoccur.55Earlynineteenthcentury
judgeswerefairlycautiousindefiningwhatwas"public,"evenifitmeantmoralitywasonoccasionoutraged.Inthe1840sonejudgestoicallyopinedthatalthoughthe
lawcouldnotbeappliedtocaseswhereamanexposedhimselftoonewoman,therewereinanyeventmanyoffensesagainstmoralitythatthelawcouldnothopeto
reach.56ThusJamesWebb,whoon2October1848exposedhimselftoMaryAnnCherrill,whowastendingthebaratavictualinghouse,hadhisconviction
overturnedonthegroundsthatmorethanonepersonhadtowitnesstheact.57However,GeorgeThallman,aservant,failedwhenemployingthesamedefense.On
thenightof31July1863,heexposedhimselffortwentyminutesfromtheroofofahouseonAlbermarleStreet,HanoverSquare,tothefemaleservantsacrossthe
way.Herepeatedhisperformancethesubsequenteveningandwasapprehended.Hisingeniousargumentthat,sincehecouldnotbeseenfromthestreetbelowhe
hadnotexposedhimselfina"public"place,wasrejected.Allthatwasnecessarytomakeanactpublic,concludedthejudges,wasthatseveralpeoplecouldseeit.58
EquallyunsuccessfulwasFrederickWellard,anexconvictwho,inthesummerof1884inamarshnearMaidstone,Kent,paidsevenoreightgirlsbetweentheages
ofeightandelevenafewpenniestoobservehimexposinghimself.Someboysswimminginthenudenearby,wonderingwhatthegirlswereupto,dressedand
followedthem.Theboyswhosenuditywaspassedoverbythecourtinsilencereportedwhattheysaw,andWellardwastriedandconvictedforhavingindecently
exposedhispersonina"publicplace."Hisappealwasbasedonthefactthathecarriedouthisactonprivateproperty,butthecourtheldthatthe"offencemaybe
indictableifcommittedbeforediverssubjectsoftherealm,eveniftheplacebenotpublic."IndeedMr.JusticeHuddlestonarguedthatevenindecenciescommittedin
aprivateplaceshouldbepunishable.59
AnexaminationofthedevelopmentofEnglishcaselawrevealsthattheEnglishauthoritiesemployedincreasinglyrepressiveinterpretationsofthestatutestobanmale
genitaldisplays.Suchinterpretationswerepurportedlydesignedtoprotectwomenfrommen,butmanywereturnedtothepurposesofcriminalizinghomosexualacts.
AttheWestminsterSessionsof7May1842,MichaelRowedandafriendwerechargedwithhavingmet
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"forthepurposeandwiththeintentofcommittingwitheachother,openly,lewdlyandindecently,inthesaidpublicplace,diversnasty,wicked,filthy,lewd,beastly,
unnaturalandsodomiticalpractices."Rowedwasfoundguiltyhiscounselsappealedthatnospecificoffensewaschargedwithanycertainty.Perhapsexposureand
sodomywereinvolvedinwhatthetwomenhadbeenuptoinKensingtonGardens,butonlyvagueepithetshadbeenemployedbytheprosecution.Thejudgesagreed
andheldthatthejudgmenthadtobearrested.60
SimilarlytheCentralCriminalCourtinApril1848heardthatthepreviousFebruaryJamesThurtlemetJamesOrchardintheFarringdonMarketurinal.Therethey"did
exhibitandexposetheirpersonsandprivatepartstoeachotherinindecentposturesandsituations,withintentthenandtheretostirupandexciteintheirownminds,
andinthemindsofeachotherfilthy,wicked,lewd,beastly,unnaturalandsodomiticaldesiresandinclinations."Each,moreover,thechargeread,"didlayhishandson
thepersonandprivateparts"oftheother.Thedefensearguedthattheurinalwasnotapublicplaceandmoreimportantlythatnospecificacthadbeencharged.The
judgesagainagreedthatforindecentexposuretotakeplacemorethanonepersonneededtoseeandthatanact,ratherthananintention,hadtobespecifiedina
charge.61
By1870,however,aurinal,whichwasthecentralconcerninReginaversusSamuelHarrisandHenryCocks,wasdeclaredbytheappealcourttobeapublic
place.62Twoplainclothesofficers,claimingtheyhadreceivedcomplaints,keptwatchthroughanopeningintothecompartmentofaurinalinHydePark.On10
October1870theyreportedfindingHarrisandCocksfacingeachother."Cocksturnedround,andtheprisonersexposedtheirpersonsandcommittedactsof
lewdness."Thedefenseheldthattheactsdidnottakeplaceinanopenandpublicplacebutinaurinalfourteenfeetfromthefootpathandpastagate.Moreover,a
urinal,necessarilyrequiringexposureoftheperson,wasbydefinitionnotpublic.Theappealjudgesinthisinstanceheldthataurinalwasapublicplaceandsustained
theconvictionsoftheaccused.
InVictorianEnglandindecentexposurewastreatedbythecourtsmoreandmoreseverely,theauthoritiesregardingitasalegalratherthanamedicalproblem.
Magistratesrarelycalledondoctorstothrowlightonthementalconditionoftheaccused.Thefewprisonersexaminedwere,theunsympatheticAlfredSwainTaylor
informedthereadersofhisclassictextonlegalmedicine,"almostinvariablyfoundtobelunatics."63Andifexposingoneselfwasnotattributedtomadness,itwas
takenasasymptomof
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workingclassimmorality.HavelockEllisstatedthatsomeignorantmalesactuallythoughtexposingoneselfwasagoodwaytoattracttheattentionoffemales.Dr.East
gavetheexampleofayouthofeighteenwhoseroomoverlookedanorphanschool.Afterseveralfourteenyearoldgirlsliftedtheirskirtsathim,heexposedhimself,
wasseenandarrested.Anothersixteenyearoldboyexposedhimselfthreetimesfromhisownwindowasfriendshadtoldhimthatitwas"anefficientmeansof
excitingagirl."SuchrepellentcasesconjuredupintheimaginationofobserverslikeDr.Eastthe"courtshipsofthefarmyard."64Dr.Booth,indescribingapatient
whoexposedhimselfsofrequentlythatthenewspapersreportedhisactivitiesandthepolicehuntedhimdown,wasoneofthefirstEnglishdoctorstousetheterm
exhibitionist.Hispatientclaimedtofeela"wave"passingoverhimandtorememberneitherthedeednoranyfeelingsofsexualdesire.Indeedhecarriedouttheact
witha''sillygrin"onhisface.Theaccused,whomBooththoughtwassufferingfromoverwork,wasacquittedongroundsofinsanity.65
Thisideathatacertainsortofotherwisesanemantheexhibitionistmighthaveanoverwhelmingneedtoexposehimself,whichwasonlytakenupinEnglandatthe
turnofthecentury,hadbeenfirstadvancedbyFrenchpsychiatrists.AccordingtoPaulGarnier,amedicalexpertattachedtotheParisprefectureofpolice,casesof
suchmenexposingthemselvesbecamesocommononthecontinentinthelastthirdofthenineteenthcenturythatmagistratesfinallyturnedforhelptothedoctors.The
resultwastheelaborationbyFrenchphysiciansofanewpsychiatricsyndrome.AtypicalcasewasthatofD,afortyfiveyearoldtypographerarrestedin1893.
Since1877Dhadbeenarrestedfivetimesforexposinghimself.Hewasadreamerwhoseunspecifiedhereditaryweakness,whichsurfacedinchildhood,ledtohis
beingreleasedfromthearmy.Heclaimedtohavenoknowledgeofhisacts,butlittlegirlstoldtheirparents,"Cethommem'amontrsondevant."Ashesufferedon
occasionsfromamysterious"mal,"somethinglikeepilepsy,thecourtagreedwiththemedicalexpertthatDwassickandsenthimtotheasileofSainteAnne.66
Asimilarcaserequiringtreatmentwasthatofayoung,marriedworkerpreviouslyarrestedtwiceformasturbatinginfrontofagirlsschool.Thedoctorsattributedthe
man'spernicioushabittohis"badheredity,"hisaddictiontoonanism,andhishavingbeenledastrayatanearlyagebyayoungwoman.Thoughmarriedthissmall,
weak,naiveindividualexperiencedtheneedto"sedboutonneretd'talersesorganesgnitales."Itwasclearlyanobsession.Heknewothersdidnotdoit,andhe
struggledagainst
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it.67AfinalexamplewasthatofE,atimidthirtytwoyearoldknifegrinder,whothoughilliterateandburdenedwithanasymmetricalhead,hadprovenhimselfa
goodworkerandsoldier.Anorphan,hehadbeenfirstcaughtattheageofthirteenmasturbatingnearsomewomen.Asanadultheexposedhimselftowomenand
children.Occasionallyhepaidthelatterafewsoustotouchhispenis.Theideaofexposinghimself,sometimesinspiredbythepresenceoflittlegirls,wouldcometo
himwhileworking.Hiswifecouldnoticethechangeinhisexpression.Heclaimednottoknowwhathewasdoingbutafterwardexperiencedfeelingsoffearandguilt.
Usuallyhedidnothaveanerectionandwasalwaysrepentant.Hispunishments,whichescalatedfromatwentyfivefrancfinetoeightdaysinjailtothreemonthsin
prison,hadnoeffect.In1895hewascondemnedtofourmonthsinprisonforhavingshownhis"verge"tosomelittlegirlsonthemainstreetofP,atownoftwo
thousandinhabitants.Itwashisfourthoffense.Heleftprisonon14January1896on3Februaryheagainexposedhimselfandwasrearrested.68Suchmanias,
arguedthedoctors,provedtheimpotencyofattemptingtodealwithpervertsviatheCriminalCode.Thesemenwerenotcriminalstheywerevictimsofan
exhibitionisticobsession.69
Whatdidtheexpertsmeanbythetermexhibitionisme?PaulGarnierdefineditas"asexualpervertobsessionandimpulsecharacterizedbyanirresistibletendencyto
exhibitinpublic,generallywithasortoffixityofhoursandplace,thegenitaliainastateofflacciditywithoutanylasciviousprovocationanactinwhichthesexual
appetiteexpressesitself,andtheaccomplishmentofwhich,closingtheagonizingstruggle,finishestheattack."70Dr.CharlesLasgue(whoin1873hadalsocreated
theconceptofthehystericalsyndromeofanorexianervosa)coinedthetermexhibitionistein1877.71Theconceptwasquicklypickedup.72ValentinMagnan
stressedtheimportancetothepatientoftheparticulartimeandplaceoftheact,hisstruggletofightagainstit,andhislimitedgoal.73
Whowasanexhibitionist?Thefirstpointthatthedoctorsstressedwasthatonlymenwereexhibitionists,anissuetowhichwewillreturn.Thesecondpointwasthat
the"true"exhibitionistcouldnothelphimself.74KrafftEbing,theleadingGermansexologist,labeledexhibitionistspsychopaths,themajorityofwhomheclaimedwere
senile,epileptic,andimpotent.Modestyanddecencywereexpectedofthenormal.Hewhoviolateddecencywaseitheranidiotincapableofmoralfeelingsora
neuroticsufferingalossofconsciousness.75Onthecontrary,mostexpertscametoexcludetheweakmindedandimbecilesincludingsomewhowhistledto
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drawattentiontothemselves.Alsoexcludedweregeneralparalytics,thesenile,andepileptics.76Thedoctorsstressedthatthosewhofeltacompulsiontoexpose
themselvesandachievedsexualpleasuretherebywerenotjusttheoldandthedebauched,thedrunkandthemadtheyincludedthemarriedandotherswhowere
otherwise"normal."Thetrueexhibitionistwassilentandrepetitive.Hewasconsciousandstruggledagainsthisdesiresbutknewhewouldsuccumbdespitehisbest
intentions.
Thethirdpointnotedbydoctorswasthatthetrueexhibitionistwasnotseekingtoseduceorinsulthisvictim.Someofthesemenweremarried,andtheirdeviancy
provedtothesurpriseofconservativeswhooftenprescribedmarriageasacurefordeviancythatonesexactdidnotcompensateforanother.Suchirresponsible
pervertswereusuallytimidandsolitaryandsoughtnodirectcontactwiththeirprey.Sexualreleasecametothemfromtheexhibitionisticdisplayitself.Dr.East
imaginativelydescribedas"visionaries"themeninhissamplewhoreceivedpleasure,evencompleteorgasmfrommereexposure.77Somedoctorsarguedthat
exhibitionists'finerfeelingsmusthavebeenbluntedfortheyoftenselectedchildrenastheirvictims.78Otherexpertspointedoutthatsincetheexhibitionist'sintentwas
nottoestablishanysortofrelationshiphisfavoredpreywerechildrenandyoungfemales,whomhecouldmostcountontoberepelledratherthanattractedbygenital
displays.Exhibitionismfollowedaritualcharacterthemansoughtareaction,evensignsofdisgustratherthanhisvictims'positiveresponse.
Whydidonebecomeanexhibitionist?ExhibitionismwasattributedbymostFrenchphysiciansinthefirstinstancetothetaintofdegeneration.PaulGarniertracedthe
powerofexhibitionistobsessionsandimpulses,liketheothersexualperversions,backtothedegeneratestateofthepatient,whocarried"stigmatesmoraux."Paul
Moreau(deTours),concurred,listingascontributingcausesthepatient'sage,constitution,physicalandpsychologicalproblems,andweaknessforliquorand
debauchery.79AlfredBinetstressedthemoremodernnotionthatearlyshocksandunhealthyassociationswereresponsibleforplantingtheseedsofanexhibitionist
passion.Perhapsthepatient'sfirstsexualexperienceoccurredwhenhewascaughtnakedhelatersoughttorecapturetheexperienceandwasseducedintothe
habit.80ButGarniercounteredthatonlythosealreadydegeneratewouldbesusceptibletosuchavice.81
Thedoctorsargued,inacircularfashion,thattheproofthatanexhibitionistwasadegeneratewasthathedidnotbehaveinamaturesexualmannerandtheproofof
hisdegeneracywashisexhibitionism.Thefetish
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ist,arguedGarnier,focusedunhealthilyonapartofaperson,notthewhole.Exhibitionismwasasimilartypeofincompletedcourtshipa"sorted'ectopie
amoureuse"orpsychiconanism.InEnglandHavelockEllisagreedthatexhibitionistswerecongenitallyabnormalandsufferedfroma"pseudoatavism"duetoa
paralysisof"higherfeelings.''Exhibitionistswerefeeble,usuallydegenerate,andoftenalcoholic.Intheearlytwentiethcentury,Dr.East,wholikenedexhibitionismto
otherinfantilehabitssuchasstickingoutone'stongue,claimedhewasunhappyusingthetermdegeneratesince,asheperceptivelypointedout,itdenotednoprecise
clinicalentityandtended"tothwartclearthinkingorpsychologicalinvestigation."YetEastingeneralalsoattributedsexualoffensesto"pathologicalheredity."82He
actuallyfoundmentalabnormalityinonlynineteenof150casesofexhibitionismbutinsistedonattributingthis"disappointingresult"tocriminals'ignoranceoftheir
familiesandtheirreluctancetoadmitdefects.83
Weknowwho,accordingtothedoctors,exposedthemselvesandwhy.Wheredidtheyexposethemselvesandtowhom?Suchquestionsareimportantbecause,as
Goffmanhaspointedout,evenprofaneactsthatseemtobedrivenby"blindimpulse"havesymbolicmeaning.Dr.SergePaulperceptivelynotedthattheexhibitionist
followedanunconsciousscript.Hedidnotflashothermenbuttargetedwomenandchildren.Somesawexhibitionismassimilartomasochisminasmuchastheman
soughthumiliationnotcoitusasthesourceofhispleasure.Buttheexhibitionistmoreoversoughtthehumiliationofthechildorwomen,especiallytheelegant
female.ThisfastidiousnesswasmanifestedbyoneofDr.Paul'spatientshaughtilyreportingthatheneverwenttotheBoisdeBoulogneonSundaybecausethatwas
"workersday."Itfollowedaswellthattheexhibitionistshunnedprostitutes,whoweresubjectedtotheattentionofsomanyotherperverts,knowingtheywouldbethe
leastlikelytobeshocked.84
Churches,withtheirdarkenednavesandopportunitiesforoneononeconfrontations,seemtohaveheldaparticularappealfortheFrenchexhibitionist.85Magnan
citedthecasesofatwentynineyearoldwaiterwhoflashedfromunderachurchportal,atwentysevenyearoldexsoldierwhoshiftedhislocalefromstreeturinals
tochapels,andamanwhoexhibitedhimselftogirlsinachurchyard.86Thosedeviantswhoenteredchurchesusuallysoughtonlyoneortwovictimsandcarefully
avoidedthebusyhours.Garnierprovidedthe1900CongressofMedicineinPariswithanextensivereportofapatientwhowasinthehabitofexposinghimselfinthe
churchofSaintRocheinParis."Iknowwhatrepulsionmyconduct
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mustinspire,"heconfessed,yetifhehadtocarryouthisactinachurchhedidnotseeitasanactofprofanation.87Awomaninchurch,heimagined,would
appreciatethegravityoftheactandnottakeitasajoke.Thedoctorconcludedthatsomeexhibitionismwasnotlubriciousorprovocativebutindeed"platonic"!88He
wonderedifthevicewasnotlinkedtosomephallicculttradition.TheFrenchpreferencesinlocalescanbeinterestinglycontrastedwiththoseoftheEnglish.In
Englandexhibitionistswerereportedlyfoundinthestreets,ontrains,andintrams,butthearchetypalflasherwasthe"parkpest"foundlurkingnearthelocalpublic
greenorcommon.Churcheswererarelythesiteoftheiractivities,whichleadsonetospeculatethattheparkwaschosennotsimplyduetoconveniencebutbecauseit
enjoyedinlatenineteenthcenturyEnglishcultureasacrosanctqualityequivalenttothatofthechurchinFrance.
Thefactthatthemenwhomtheexpertslabeledexhibitionistsweremainlydrawnfromthelowerclassesappearedtosustainthedegenerationhypothesis.YetHpital
notedthattherewasnopredictingwhomightbecomeanexhibitionistsomewereintelligent.89Iflittlewasknownofthedeviantsexualbehaviorofthesocialelite,it
wasbecausetheirfoibleswererarelybroughttotheattentionofpoliceormagistrates.Themiddleclassmanwhoflashedhisservants,forexample,wouldnotbe
arrestedbecausetheywouldnotcomplain.Doctorsobviouslyknewmoreaboutexhibitionismthandidthepolice.HavelockEllisgavethecaseofaLondonactorof
highstandingwhowentthroughsuchanexhibitioniststage,yet"theattentionofthepolicewasneverattractedtothematter,andsofaraspossiblehewasquietly
supervisedbyhisfriends."90Dr.Voisinreportedthathehadsimilarcases,includingacomposerwho"s'estdculott"severaltimesingoodcompanyandapainter
who"baissaitaussisonpantalon."91Such"eccentrics"couldbefoundatthehighestlevelsofsociety.LewisHarcourt,theonetimeBritishcolonialsecretary,wasin
thehabitofexposinghimselfathisestatetochildren,includingonewhosecousinlaterrecalled:"Heaskedherifshewouldliketoseethegrotto,tookherthereand
said,'I'llshowyoumystalactite.'Thepoorgirlgotsuchashockshebecamedeaf.''92ThegirldidnotinformthepoliceanEtonschoolboydidcomplaintohis
mother,andHarcourt,whohadmadethemistakeofpreyingonhissocialequals,onlyavoidedapublicscandalbycommittingsuicide.
Doctorsappearedtofeeldutyboundtocoverupthemoralfailingsofthepropertied.Attheveryleast,theyacknowledgedthatcarehadtobetakenthatinnocent
middleclassmennotbecarelesslybrandedasexhibitionists.93Dr.Laugierassertedthatrespectablegentlemenplaguedwithuri
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naryproblems,havingfailedtoreachthenearestvespasienneorlavatory,weresometimesmistakenlyarrestedwhileurinatinginpublic.94Andeverysmalltown,Dr.
Hpitalnoted,hadsomeold,richbachelorwhosoonerorlaterwouldbeattackedasanexhibitionist.Theauthoritieshadtobealertinsuchcases,asinallsexcrimes,
thatanattemptatblackmaildidnotliebehindatrumpedupcharge.95Whentherewasirrefutableevidencethatotherwiseupstandingmembersofthecommunitywere
exposingthemselves,doctorscouldnothidetheirastonishmentthatforaridiculouspleasurewellplacedmenwouldrisktheirreputation,honor,andinterests.96
Observersnotedthattheyafterwardnecessarilyfeltlikefools.97Suchindignantdoctorsexpressedacuriosityborderingonsympathyforcompulsivemiddleclass
deviantswhosemonomanias,inalternatingsexualexcitationsandoppressivefears,pushedthemtotheedgeofinsanity.
Thedoctorsattributedtheexhibitionismoftheotherwiserespectabletoavarietyofextenuatingcircumstances.Firstwasstress.Middleclassmen,itwasargued,
"overworkedandbrainworn"couldbecomevictimsofsuchobsessions.Lasgueattributedexhibitionismtoamorbidanxietyassociatedwiththepressuresofmodern
life.FromAmericaHughesgavethecaseofan"overbrainstrainedministerofthegospel,"whoseautomaticactswereendedbyrest,restoratives,andavacation.
LessfortunatewasCharlesK.Cannon,awealthyJerseyCitylawyer,whowassentencedtofifteenyearsinprisonafterseventeengirlsbetweentheagesofeightand
fourteentestifiedagainsthim.Hughesarguedthatmentaldecaynotmoralguiltwastheissueinsuchcases.Doctorshadtousepsychopathologytoseparatetheactsof
themoralandwellorderedfromthoseofthe"voluntarilyvulgaranddepravedsensualist."98ItshouldberecalledthatLasgue,whocoinedthetermexhibitionist,to
explaintheirrationalactsofotherwisevirileandhonorablemenalsopopularizedtheconceptofkleptomaniatoexplainthedepartmentstoretheftsofwelloffwomen.
Thesewomen,heargued,fellvictimtothecalculatedprovocation,theseduction,thesolicitationofmodernmerchandising.Andjustastheirtheftswereabsurdand
uncalculating,sotooweretheactionsofexhibitionists.Inbothcases,heasserted,theactswerecarriedout"notbecauseofthepowerfulnessoftheexcitation,but
becauseoftheinsufficiencyoftheresistancetoatemptation."99
Asecondattenuatingcircumstancewassexualfrustration.Dr.Eastprovidedtwosuchcases.Thefirstwasthatofathirtytwoyearoldmanwhohadservedinthe
armyinIndia.EastclearlythoughtitsignificantthatthemanhadindulgedinsexualrelationswithnativewomenbutwhenmarriedinEnglandwasforcedbyeconomic
necessitytopracticecoitusinterruptuswithhiswife.Walkingacrossacommon,hepickedupa"continental
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book,"whichexcitedhim,andsoheexposedhimselftochildren.100Thedoctor'ssecondcasewasthatofaneuroticmiddleagedmanwhosewiferefusedhimall
sexualrelations.Hewasfoundguiltyofexposinghimselfonthreeoccasions,despitethefactthat,asEastsadlynoted,"anenormouspendulousabdomenmusthave
partially,ifnotentirely,concealedhisgenitals."101
Presentedwithmiddleclassexhibitionistpatients,doctorsattheturnofcenturyshiftedfromadegenerationtoamorepsychodynamicexplanationofthemalady.
Exhibitionistictemptations,researchersadmitted,werenotrestrictedsimplytothedegenerate.EventhedourKrafftEbingspokeofgraffitiartistswhodrewgenitalsas
practicingasortof"idealexhibitionism."102Thetellingofoffcolorstories,Ellispointedout,wasasortof"psychicexhibitionism"inwhichtheenjoymentcamefrom
theconfusioncaused.Tothelistof"verbalexhibitionists,"whomakeobsceneremarks,and"idealexhibitionists,"wholookedatsmuttypictures,GeorgeJacoby
addedpeepersandvoyeurswhosimplystaredatclothedwomenandundressedthemintheirmind,toobtain''illusionarycohabitation."103Dreamsaboutbeing
"insufficientlydressed,"J.J.Putnamasserted,revealedthefactthatnearlyeveryoneatsometimehadexhibitionistpreoccupations.104SexreformerssuchasPaolo
MantegazzaandIwanBlochadoptedarelativist,ethnographicapproachincallingforagreaterunderstandingofvariationsinsexualpractices.105Theword
exhibitionismwasnewtothenineteenthcentury,but,Dr.Hpitalnotedin1905,theobscenerelicsoftheclassicalworldfoundinrepositoriessuchasthemuseumat
Naplesrevealedthattheactwasnot.106
Exhibitionismwasrecognizedintheearlytwentiethcenturybytheprogressiveaspartofthenormal"exploratorybehavior"oftheyoung.Theproblemwiththeadult
exhibitionist,accordingtosuchexperts,wasthathehadnotmovedontocompletehispursuitofthefemale.HavelockEllisdeclaredthattheexhibitionistwas
preventedfromphysicallytakingthefemaleandonlyprovidedasymbolicdeclarationoflove,a"psychicaldefloration.""Wemayprobablybestapproach
exhibitionismbyregardingitasfundamentallyasymbolicactbasedonaperversionofcourtship.Theexhibitionistdisplaystheorganofsextoafemininewitness,and
intheshockofmodestsexualshamebywhichshereactstothatspectacle,hefindsagratifyingsimilitudeofthenormalemotionsofcoitus.Hefeelshehaseffecteda
psychicdefloration."107Eastsuggestedthatonanismledtosuchexhibitionismbothwereproductsoffantasyoneimpulsivehabitledtothenext.108
Freudmadethecuriousassertionthat"thegenitalsthemselveshavenot
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takenpartinthedevelopmentofthehumanbodyinthedirectionofbeauty."109Beautyherewasverymuchintheeyeofthebeholder.Freud,inimplyingthatelbows,
toes,earsandnoseshadsomehowoverthemillenniagainedanattractivenessthatpenisesandvaginashadmysteriouslyfailedtoattain,wassimplyfallingbackon
popularnotionsofDarwinianevolutiontojustifycommonprudery.Moreinsightfulwashisobservationthateveryexhibitionistwasalsoavoyeurinbothcasestheeye
correspondedtoan"erotogeniczone."Touchingandlooking,accordingtoFreud,werenotperversions,"providedthatinthelongrunthesexualactiscarried
further."110Justaschildren'sinterestingenitalswasrepressedwiththedevelopmentofasenseofshame,soFreudargued,forthepurposeofkeepingsexualcuriosity
aliveadultshadpracticed,ascivilizationadvanced,aprogressiveconcealmentofthebody.Thenormalprocessofrepressionwasinthecaseoftheexhibitionisteither
exaggeratedorincomplete.Heexhibitedhisowngenitalsinhopesofreciprocationandtherebyprovidedevidenceofhispsychosexualinfantilism.TheSpanish
biologistGregorioMaraonmademuchthesamepointinarguingthatCasanova,inexposinghimself,wasmanifestinghissexualdeficiencies.Accordingtotheold
proverb,"labonnemerchandisen'apasbesoind'tretale."111
WilhelmStekelsimilarlyregardedexhibitionismasachildliketendencytoshowratherthantocommunicatehecuriouslylikenedthecompulsion,whichherelatedto
theoralstageofdevelopment,toadesirefor"eternalsuckling."112Somepsychoanalystsbelieveexhibitionismexpressedthepatient'sfearofcastrationtheself
exposurefoundinthevictim'sshockprovedthatthegenitalswerealiveandwell.Othersblamedthesyndromeonthepatientattemptingtobreakfromhisnarcissistic,
penisenvyingmother.113Howhelpfulallthesetheorieswereisamootpoint.Eastreportedthatatleastonesubjectblamedhispsychoanalystratherthanhismother
forfailingtocurehimofhisexhibitionisttendencies.Theseturnofthecenturyviewsofexhibitionismwereliberalinasmuchastheyacknowledgedthateveryonewas
pronetoexhibitionistictemptations,buttheystilldamnedthepatientasinfantilewhodidnothavethewillpowertofightoffhisdesires.Thevoiceofthepatientis
rarelyheardinsuchaccounts.Possiblytheexhibitionistwasnotaninfantileslavetobutactuallya"friend"ofhisinstinct,somethinghecouldneveradmitincourt.114
Themagistratesanddoctorsinsistedoneithera"cure"orapunishmenttheaccusedwhosoughttoavoidjailnecessarilyhadtosaythathewasavictimofan
irresistibleurgeorcompulsion.
Bywayofconcludingthisexaminationofexhibitionism,letusreturn
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toMichelFoucault,whocitesthearrestin1867inthevillageofLapcourtofasimplemindedfarmhandwhohadexposedhimselftoalittlegirl.Theparents
complainedtotheMayor,whointurncalledinthegendarmes.TheaccusedwasexaminedbydoctorsandeventuallylockedupintheasylumatMarville.115
Foucault'sexasperatedreadingofthecasewasthatasimpletonwhohad"obtainedafewcaressesfromalittlegirl"forapennyortwohadbeenmadethesubjectofa
medicaldiscourse."Thepettinessofitallthefactthatthiseverydayoccurrenceinthelifeofvillagesexuality,theseinconsequentialbucolicpleasures,couldbecome
fromacertaintime,theobjectnotonlyofcollectiveintolerancebutofajudicialaction,amedicalintervention,acarefulclinicalexamination,andanentiretheoretical
elaboration."116Foucault'smainpointiswelltaken.Sexologistsandpsychologistsadvancedtheirprofessions'fortunesbymedicalizingvariationsinsexualpractices.It
wouldbewrong,however,toimaginethatnineteenthcenturyexpertswerefree,forthepurposesofincreasingtheirprofessionalpower,to"invent"perversionsatwill.
Theexperts,wemightparaphrase,madethepervertbutnotunderconditionsoftheirownchoosing.Theseconditionsinthenineteenthcenturyweredominatedby
shiftinggenderrelationshipsthatfocusedtheattentionofallmembersofsocietyonrelativelynewnotionsofsexualincommensurability.Itispossible,thoughwecan
neverreallyknow,thatthisnewstressonmalesbeingbiologicallythe"opposite"offemalesledtoanactualriseinthenumberofmenwhoexposedthemselves.Atthe
veryleast,thenewrangeof''bodytechniques"employedbysomemeninthelastcenturytocloaktheirphysicalityinadecentwaypresumablyincitedandtaught
othershowtoexposetheirsinanindecentfashion.117Inaddition,worriesaboutlowerclasssexualpredators,greaterconcernsaboutjuvenilesexuality,andafearof
actionsthatinanurbanmilieuwerenotgiventheinnocentglosstheymighthavebeenawardedinaruralsettingforcedatimelesspracticeontotheattentionoflegal
andmedicalauthorities.Ourchiefinteresthasbeeninthedemonstrableincreaseinthe"reportage"ofexhibitionism.Maleshadnodoubtlongexposedthemselves,but
doctorsindiscoveringanddiagnosingsuchactsaspsychoticcompulsionsgrantedthemanunprecedentedsignificance.118
Thenotionthatthesurveillanceofsexualityshouldbeentrustedtodoctorsbenefitedthemedicalprofessionwhatoftheexhibitionists?Typicallyshy,impulsive,and
obsessional,theywere"eccentric"ratherthanpsychopathic.Theyrepresentedabroadcrosssectionofthepopulationbyageandprofession,thoughtheyweremore
timidandinhibitedthanmost.One
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commentatorhaslikenedtheirvicetostammering,notcommunicatingbutmakingoneselfconspicuous.119Thoughtheywererarelyviolentorotherwisecriminal,
exhibitionistsweretreatedseverely.120Inthetwentiethcentury,moremenwerejailedforexhibitionismthananyothersexcrime.Whywastheirformoferotic
enjoymentregardedassodangerous?Acommonargumentwasthatexhibitionistsmightgoontorapetheirvictims.Thisonoccasiondidhappened,butitwasmost
unusualforaminoroffensetoprogresstoamoreseriousone.Inanyeventtherapistwasregardedbydoctorsasbeingamorehealthyheterosexualthanthe
exhibitionist.Theactionsoftheformermadesensethoseofthelatterdidnot.Indeedthefactthatsuchmendidnotseekcompleteintercoursecalledallmen'svirility
intoquestionandwaswhatledtheexpertstolabelexhibitionisma"silly"act.Accordinglythemanwhoexposedhimselfwaslabeledaperverttherapistwasnot.In
Englandexhibitionists,alongwithpimpsandtransvestites,werefloggedasbeinglessthanmen.Thosewhosexuallyassaultedwomen,thoughtheyweresubjectedto
longerjailterms,weresparedsuchhumiliatingpunishments.
Whichbringsusfinallytothegenderquestionraisedbythedoctors'discussionofexhibitionism,anissuethatFoucaultinhisinsistenceontheinnocenceof"bucolic
pleasures"completelyoverlooks.Doctorsandmagistratesassertedthatonlymencouldbelegitimatelylabeledexhibitionists.ErichWulffen,theGermanexpertinsex
crimes,statedinthe1930sthathehadneverfoundacaseofawomanbeingtriedforsuchacrime.121Butthisdidnotmeanthattheexpertsbelievedthatwomen
wereinherentlymoremodestthanmen.Onthecontrary,asAlfredSwainTaylorcomplainedinhisrecountingoftheEnglishlawonindecentexposure,thelegislation
onlytargetedmales."Itisstrangethatthelawshouldhaveconfinedtheoffensetopersonsofthemalesexonly,forthereareplentyofwomensodepravedthatthey
couldeasilybecapableofcommittingthisoffense."122Somedoctorsalsogrumbledthatitwasnotfairthatonlymenwerelabeledasvoyeursandexhibitionists.mile
Laurentassertedthatitwaswellknownthatmenopausalwomenpursuedpriestsandbachelordoctors.123Maidsandotherfemaledomestics,reportedHpital,
traditionallytriedtoexciteyoungboys.124Voisininformedhiscolleaguesthatheevenhadapatient,a"damedumeilleurmonde,"whoinepilepticfitsshowedher
breaststopassersby.125
Ifdoctorsdidnotlabelsuchwomenasexhibitionists,itwasbecausefemales,comparedtomales,wereregardedashavinglowerratherthanhigherstandardsof
modesty.Women,arguedthepsychoanalystsofthe
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1920s,hadintheirrevealingfashions"acceptablesocialchannels"bywhichtheycouldsublimatedtheirexhibitionisticurges.126Makeup,accordingtootherexperts,
wasyetanothertoleratedmeansbywhichwomen'snarcissisticandegocentricdesirestoflaunttheirbodieswasmanifested.
Byamechanismoftransferenceknowntopsychoanalystsasashiftofbehaviorfrom"belowtoabove,"ourexhibitionisticfemales,incorrigiblyinfantileemotionally(thebetterto
serveNature'sdivinepurposes),havecarriedthepaintingofthelipsandtheredadornmentofthemouthtoapointofadvertisingattractivenessthatisarevealingstudyinoral
eroticism,thevisiblecounterpartofaconventionallyconcealedsexuality.IfnicegirlsunderstoodthetruemeaningoftheirExhibitionism!Nuditywere,forsooth,moresaneand
sweetandmoral.Thegenitalizingofthelipstellsuseloquentlywhatweneedtoknowaboutwoman'snaturalmodesty!127
Whenitcametoapplyingthetermexhibitionisminthepathologicalsense,doctorsreservedthelabelformen.Exhibitionismbyamanwasviewedbysexologistsasa
perversioninasmuchasthemanwhowassupposedtobesexuallyactivewastherebyrenderinghimselfapassivespectacleforthefemalegaze.Women's
exhibitionism,however,posednochallengetogendernorms.Theyweresupposedtobesexuallypassiveandmakethemselvesaccessibletothemalegaze.Like
childrentheywere"naturally"butnotperverselyexhibitionistic.Forexample,inrevealingtheirbreasts,arguedPaul,womenwerebeingtruetotheirroleofinnocently
offeringthemselvestomales.Suchexposurewasnotperversesinceitwaswhatwomenweresupposedtodo.128Ironicallythisgenderingoftheperversionsresulted
indoctorsdeclaringthatamanwhoexposedhispenispresumablythemostmasculineofactswasbehavinglikeawoman.Incitingthecaseoftheexhibitionismof
anAmericanministersufferingfrommentaldecay,aconsultingphysiciancouldaccordinglyconcludewithastraightfacethatthevicewastobetakenasevidenceof
theman's"femininemorbiderotism."129Whatsuchcommentatorswereunconsciouslyadmittingwasthatthepurposeofclothingwastoaccentuateratherthanhide
sexualdifferentiation.AsBalzacnoted,inrelatingastoryofchildrenwhocouldnottellthesexofthecharactersinapaintingbecausetheyhadnoclotheson,nudity
couldblurratherthanclarifygenderboundaries.130
Newnotionsofcivilizedandrestrainedmasculinityplacednewrestrictionsonmen'sfreedomtoexposetheirbodies.Bytheendofthenineteenth
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century,amanwhoswaminthenudeofurinatedfromtheopendoorofamovingtrainriskedbeingchargedwithoutragingpublicdecency.131Yetthischapter's
attempttounderstandobsessionalexhibitionismwasnotfueledbyanygreatsympathyforexhibitionists.Suchmenundoubtedlyposedadangertomany,chiefof
whomwerethewomenandchildrentheyfrightenedandterrorized.Thesemen'sactscouldonlyberegardedbytheirvictimsasthreateningandaggressive.However,
ascanbeseenbythewayinwhichdoctorsdrewsimilaritiesbetweenexhibitionistsandwomen,thedangertowhichthemedicalexpertsweremostsensitivewasthe
wayinwhichexhibitionismjeopardizednotionsofmalevirility.Womenwereexpectedtobepreoccupiedbytheirbodieswhereasmodernmenweresupposedto
pridethemselvesontheirwellregulatedminds.132Thosewhoexposedthemselvesdemonstratedthatthereweremaleswhoweresosexuallytimid,inhibited,and
uncertainoftheirmasculinitythattheyhadtoprovetothemselvesandothersinthecrudestpossiblewaythattheyweremen.Incastigatingexhibitionistsdoctorsseized
yetanotheropportunitytoshoreupthedominantdiscoursethatheldthattheparadingofone'ssexualitywasaninfantilepreoccupationembracedbywomen,children,
andperverts,butspurnedbymaturemales.133Thethreatexhibitionistsposedwasinunintentionallydevaluingmasculinity,orratherthenotionthatmasculinitycould
onlybemanifestedbyaggressive,heterosexualdeeds.
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Nine
Transvestites
"Clothesmaketheman"runstheoldproverb,whichcouldbetakentoimplythatmasculinitycanbeaseasilyappropriatedordiscardedasanycostumeordisguise.
Suchasubversivenotionrancompletelycountertothelatenineteenthcenturycommonplaceassumptionthatsexandgenderthebiologicalapparatusandthe
appropriatesocialbehaviorwereineffectinseparable.Menweremasculineandwomenwerefeminine.1 Yetthosewhoweremoststrenuousintheirclaimsthat
these"natural"couplingswerepowerfulandpredeterminedoftenexpressedinthesamebreaththecontradictoryfearthatthelinkagesweresofragilethattheyhadto
becloselypolicedandenforced.Theoccasionalobservationmadebyadventurousthinkersthatcultural,biological,andpsychologicalevidenceindicatedthatsuch
relationswereinherentlyunstableledtheanxioustobeevenmorevehementinassertingthattherehadtobeaclearpolarityinsexroles.OscarWilde'stragicfate
dramaticallydemonstratedthatthosewhofailedtoconformtosexualnorms,ifcaughtout,facedpersecutionandsocialostracism.
Itwashardlysurprisingthatasocietythathadinvestedheavilyinacleardivisionbetweensexrolesfeltthenecessitytocounterthethreatsofconfusionanddisorder
posedbythe"transgressive"bodiesofmasculinewomenandfemininemenwhodidnotembraceappropriategenderroles.2 Firstamongthesewerethecountless
homosexualmales,whowereharassedbythepolice.ButaftertheFirstWorldWar,importantsegmentsofthepublicbegantoaccepttheclaimsofsexologistssuch
asHavelockEllisthatpsychiatristswerebetterqualifiedthanpolicementodealwithcasesofsexualdeviancy.Anumberofsensationalcourtcasesinthe1920sand
1930s,inrevealingtheplasticityandinstabilityofsexandgenderroles,providedsuchsexreformerswiththeoccasiontocallforareappraisalofthe"threat"posedby
thedeviant.Suchinterventions,accordingtooneobserver,representedashiftinexperts'responsestosexualoffensesfrom
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"disgusttocompassion."3 However,morewasatPlayherethanasimplequestforunderstanding.Inthefollowinganalysis,wearestretchingourtimeframe
somewhattoanalyzethetrialofamaletransvestiteinwhatwasregardedasperhapsthemostsensationalBritishsextrialoftheinterwarperiod.Aretellingofthestory
servesseveralpurposes.First,thecaseprovidesa"hook"onwhichwecanhangahistoryofcrossdressing,anunderstandingofwhichisessentialtoanyaccountof
gender.Second,anexaminationofthedebatebothinandoutsideofthecourtrevealstheextenttowhichthosewhoarguedoverthepropertreatmentoftransvestites
advancedselfservingclaimsthatonlywiththeemergenceofsexexpertscouldboth"normal"and"abnormal"sexualitybeefficientlypoliced.Thethirdandmost
importantpurposeoflookingattransvestismisthatnootherformofsexualdeviancysochallengedthedefendersofthenotionthatmasculinityhadanatural,biological
basis.Thequestionstillhastobeasked,however,iftransvestism,evenwhileitdemonstratedtheextenttowhichgenderrolesweresociallydefinedandimpermanent,
mockedorsimplymirroredthepowerofstereotypicalnotionsofmasculinityandfemininity.Thefactthatincreasingnumbersofmenfeltthattobe''true"totheir
naturestheyhadtodressaswomenwas,itwillbesuggested,notduetoanyseriousunderminingofthemasculineidealonthecontrarysuchmenwere
acknowledging,thoughinanunanticipatedfashion,theunprecedentedimportanceattributedbysocietyattheturnofthecenturytothenotionthatonlyanarrowly
defined,aggressiveformofmasculinitywasthemarkofarealman.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
OnSaturday,14November1931,GeorgeBurrows,anunemployedlaborerofSuttonManorgavethefollowingtestimonyattheLiverpoolAssizes.Tenmonths
previouslyonthenightof6Januaryhehadmet,whenbicyclingtoadance,ayoungwomandressedinblackstrikingupaconversation,theywentofftogethertothe
pictures.Theeveningwentsowelltheyarrangedtomeettogooutwalkingagainthenextnight.Theyoungwoman,whocalledherselfNormaJackson,confessedto
havingledanunhappylife.Herparentsweredead,andshelivedwithamarriedsisterwhotreatedher"likeadog."Onasubsequenteveningouting,aftershesaidshe
wasonlyallowedfiveshillingsaweek,Burrowsgavehermoneywithwhichtobuyfood,andfollowingthisconversation"certainactstookplace."4
LaterNormacomplainedshewastiredoflivingwithhersisterandsuggestedthatsheandBurrowsrunoffandmarry.WhenBurrowsresponded
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that,beingunemployedandhavingbeenthroughanumberofoperationsonhisnoseandhead,hewasnotinapositiontotakeawife,thehighstrungNorma
threatenedsuicide.InmidFebruarytheinfatuatedBurrowsfinallyagreedtogoawaywithher.Aweeklater,havingtoldhismotherhehadmarried,hemovedintoa
bedsittingroominSt.HelenswithNorma,wheretheylivedhappilyas"manandwife."Theyappearedtootherstobeanotuntypicalworkingclasscouple.Burrows,
obtainingajobatthebreweryoppositetheirrentedaccommodations,handedoverhisweeklypaypackettoNorma,whosharedhisbedandcarriedoutthe
householdduties.TheyledotherstobelievethattheyweremarriedNormacalledherselfMrs.Burrowsandworeaweddingring.Theybegantosavemoneyfora
realwedding,butNormasooninformedBurrowsthatasshewasgoingtocomeintoaninheritanceoffivethousandpoundswhensheturnedtwentyfive,theyshould
holdoffmarryinguntilthen.
SolifeproceededforafewmonthsuntilJune,whenNorma,shortlyafterreportinghersister'ssuicidedrowning,suddenlyannouncedtoBurrowsthat,asherfurious
unclehadfoundoutthattheywerenotmarried,theywouldhavetoleavetown.TheysetoffforLondon,wheretheyarrivedapparentlypenniless.Burrowsstayedat
theChurchArmyHostelandNormaattheLadies'ChurchArmyHeadquarters.ThemovetoLondonwasnotasuccess.ToBurrow'sdisappointment,Norma's
assertionthatshemightobtainanadvanceonherinheritanceprovedunfounded.Amoretroublingconfrontationfollowed.Normaclaimedthatshehadfounda
positionasalady'scompanion,butBurrows,discoveringthatshewassimplyscrubbingfloorsfortenshillingsaweek(mostofwhichshehandedovertohim),coldly
calledheraliar."Whathappened?WestoodinTrafalgarSquareandshenearlybrokeherheart.ItoldherIwasgoingstraightbacktoSt.Helens.Shereplied:
'Let'sgetfriendly.It'sthefirstlieIhaveevertoldyou.'WitnessWemadeitupanddecidedtocomenorthagainthenextmorningatnineo'clock."ButNorma,
havingagreedtoreturntoSt.Helenstomarry,disappeared.Burrows,afterspendingtwodayslookingforherinLondon,returnedhome.
NormawentnorthtoEdinburgh,fromwhere,duringaremorsefulmoment,shewroteBurrowsinlateAugustcareofhisSt.Helensfriends.
DearLove,Iamsorryabouthowwelefteachother,butGeorge,love,youthoughtIwasnotplayingyoustraightand,dear,ifyouonlycouldseemenowatinmydigswith
nobodytotalktobutonlyyourphotograph.Iamkillingmyself.Iamsevenstonefourpoundsnow.NextweekIamgoingtoBelgiumtoOstend,thenfromthere,loveIamgoingto
Spain.Furtherandfurtheron.Idon't
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carewhatbecomesofme,love,forIdeserveit.Ihopeyourheadiskeepingfit,dear,andyouarewell.George,dear,justthinkofmealittle,dear.Ihaveabrokenankle,andIjust
picturetomyselfwhatyoumustbegoingthrough.Thatisall,love,now.Goodbyedear.Keepsmiling.Withheapsoflove,NormaXXX.5
EventhesomewhatslowwittedBurrowsmusthavebeenmadeawarebythisselfdramatizingcorrespondencethathewasdealingwithadifficultperson.Hisinquiries
inSt.Helensledtoanumberofunexpectedandstartlingdiscoveries.TheyjoltedhimintorealizingthatNormahadliedrepeatedlytohim.Tohisconsternationhe
foundthatNorma'spurportedlydeceasedparentswerealive,thathersisterhadnotdrowned,andmostshatteringofallthatNormaJackson,withwhomhehad
livedasaspouseforsixmonths,wasinfactnotawomanbutamaletransvestitebythenameofAustinHull.Burrowstookhisincrediblestorytothepolicewiththe
resultthatHullwastrackeddownandarrestedinBlackpoolon24SeptemberandnowinNovemberstoodinthedockchargedwithinducinganothertocommita
"grossindecency."
Thetrialwasamediasensation,receivingmuchnewspapercoverageundersuchheadlinesas"ManwithaFeminineMind,""MasqueradedasGirl,"''Posingasa
Woman,""AstonishingDeceptionofa'Husband,'"and"ManWomanSentenced."6 Thecase,unusualtosaytheleast,wasfurthersensationalizedbytheactionsofthe
presidingjudge.Mr.JusticeTalbot,despitethedefense'sprotests,andafterorderingthatallwomenspectatorsberemovedfromthecourt,cruellyinsistedthatthe
distraughttwentyoneyearoldAugustineJosephHullappearincourtdressedinwomen'sclothes.7 Thepresshadafielddayinmeticulouslynotingtheaccused's
anklelengthblacklacefrock,imitationleopardskincoat,bluesilkunderslip,pinkknickers,gunmetalstockings,ladiessizethreehighheeledshoes,blackfelthat,and
handbagcontainingrougeandpowderpuff.8 Prisonregulationsclearlystipulatedthattheaccusedbeallowedtoappearinhisorherownclothes.Mr.JusticeTalbot
agreedthatitwas"unseemly"toproduceamanincourtinwomen'sclothesyetclaimedhedidnotthinkhisinsistenceonHullwearinghis"disguise"wouldprejudice
thecase.Thejudgeonlyrelentedtotheextentofagreeingtothedefense'srequestthatHullbeallowedtochangeintomaleattireoncethecasefortheprosecutionhad
beenmade.
Hullwaschargednotwithcrossdressingperse,butwithprocuringanothertocommita"grossindecency"thatis,toengageinahomosexualact.Theprosecution's
chiefwitnesswasBurrows,whoseaccounthas
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beengivenabove.ThemostamazingaspectofthecasewasthatheclaimedthatthoughhehadcommittedcertainsexualactswithHulloverthecourseofseveral
months,heneverdoubtedhewaswithawoman.Burrowswasadepressednotterriblyintelligentyoungman.Inthepolicecourt,hehadadmitted,"Icannot
rememberthingsverywell,becauseoftroubleinmyhead."9 AskedrepeatedlybythejudgeanddefensecounselifhehadtrulybelievedthatHullwasawoman,he
doggedlyinsistedthathehad.Onesuchresponse,precipitatinganoutburstoflaughteramongthemalespectators,ledthejudgetothreatentoclearthecourt.Itisonly
fairtonotethatBurrowswasnotaloneinbeingconfusedbyHull'scrossdressingeventhecrowncounselscontinuedtorefertoHullas"she."Andnoneofthe
landlordsfromwhomBurrowsandHullrentedincludingonewhoboastedofthirtyfiveyears'experienceinthetheatricalbusinesseversuspectedthatHullwas
notawoman.Thenewspaperreporterscoveringthecasewereequallypronetomixtheirpronouns.TheLiverpoolEcho,forexample,providedthefollowing
confusedaccount."Burrowsmadecertainsuggestions.Sheacquiesced.Afterthattheymetonaboutfiveotheroccasions,andprisonerkeptsayinghewanted
Burrowsandhertogoawaytogether."10
Hull,oncethecasefortheprosecutionwasmade,waspermittedtoslipintomaleattireofpinkshirt,darkgraysuit,anddarktie.Herebuttedthecrownsaccusations
ofindecencyinacoolandemphaticmanner.Hestatedthatuntiltheageofsix,thoughheneverdressedasagirl,hedidplaywith"girlish"toys.Athomehisparents
treatedhimuptotheageofsixteenverymuchasadaughter.Hedidthehouseworkandtookgirls'partsintheatricals.11Hebegancrossdressingsometimeinhis
teens.Atthetimeofhisarrest,hislonghairwastrimmedand"marcel'wavedhespokeinalight,femininevoice.
Whenaskedwhyhedressedasawoman,Hullrepliedthatevenwhendressedasamanhewasoftentakenforawoman.Whenattiredinmaleclothespeople
followedandstaredathim.12"IhavenopeaceinSt.HelenswiththepolicewhicheverwayIdress.IwastakentotheTownHallwhendressedasamanbecause
theythoughtIwasawomanandwhenIwasinaconvalescenthomeatGrangeoverSands,thenursesbecamesuspicious,thoughtIwasawomanandtookmetothe
doctors."13ButHulladmittedthatheenjoyedwearingwomen'sclothesandthathewantedtopassasawoman.Inresponsetohiscounsel'squery,heagreedthathe
hadthedesiresofawoman,"tobepassiveandnotactive"inaffection.HullaccordinglyassertedthatitwastheaggressiveBurrowswhowastheonewhomadethe
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initialadvances,wantedtomarry,andthreatenedsuicideiftheydidnotgoofftogether.
Thetestimonyofmedicalexpertstendedtosupportthedefense'sclaims.Dr.McLarenFerris,thelocalpolicesurgeon,havingexaminedHull,declared:"Toall
externalappearances,Hullisanormallymademaleperson,andthereisnoevidencetoshowthatthismanhadrecentlybeenanaddicttocertainindecentacts."Dr.
W.D.Higson,theresidentmedicalofficeroftheWaltonPrison,concurredthatHullwasanasexual"livinginastateofmakebelieforfantasy.""ItwasnotHull's
intentionsinposingasawomantoperpetratebeastliness.IfsuchindecentactsasBurrowshaddescribedtothecourthadoccurred,thenhecouldhardlyseehow
Burrowshadnotdiscoveredhewasaman."14
Dr.CharlesRankin,visitingpsychiatristtotheWaltonHospital,describedHullasa"medicalcuriosity.Hewasamanwithafemininemind.Thisconditionwasa
congenitalone,recognizedinmedicallawandpractice."RankinwentontoassertthatHullwasonlyamaninappearance,butsomeonewhowasfeminineinoutlook
andmentalityseekinganidealizedPlatonicsortoflove."Heisnotadegenerate.Heiscarriedawayentirelybyhisemotions.Hull,inmyopinion,isaninvertandnota
pervert."15Thetermpervertwasusedatthetimebydoctorstorefertothosewhowillfullyandforcommercialgainlikemaleandfemaleprostitutesengagedin
deviantsexualpractices.BydescribingHullasaninvert,thedoctorsweresupportinghisclaimthathecouldnothelphisoutlook.
Hull'sdefensecounsel,inhisconcludingstatement,expressedawillingnesstoadmitthatHull,inmasqueradingasawoman,hadactedinafoolishandunseemlyway,
butinsistedthatthechargeofgrossindecencyagainsthimhadnotbeenproven.TheonlyevidencecamefromtheconfusedBurrows,whowouldhavehadtohave
beenawareofHull'struesexifthepurportedindecentactshadoccurred.TheprosecutionskirtedthislogicaldifficultybycounteringthatHulladmittedthatitgratified
himtodressasawoman.Thecourthadbeensatisfiedastotheaccused'sguiltnotjustbyBurrows'stestimonybutbythe"corroborationfromtheprisonerandthe
witnesses,astotheprisoner'sdesiresandwants."Inotherwords,thecrownwasarguingthatHull'sdesiresratherthanhisactionswerebeingjudgedtowanttobea
womanmeanttowanttobeusedsexuallyasawoman."Ithad"theprosecutorconcluded,"beenamostdisgustingcaseanditwasthedutyofthejurytosimplyapply
themedicineofthelaw."
Thejudge,inhissummation,madeitcleartothejurythattohismindthechargehadbeenclearlyproven."Youmaythink,"heinformedthem,
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"thatevidencesopalpablytrueisnotoftenheard."16Neverthelessitwasonlyafterthreequartersofanhourthatthejuryreturnedwithaguiltyverdict.Thejudgein
passinguponHullalmosttheharshestsentenceavailableforgrossindecencyeighteenmonths'imprisonmentwithhardlaborrationalizedthecourt'ssevereactions
byexpressionsofsympathyforthebewilderedBurrows."Youhavedoneacruelwrongtothisyoungman,"heinformedHull,"andyoumadeitworsebytellingliesin
thewitnessboxagainsthim."
Whatexactlydidthejudgemeaninreferringtoa"cruelwrong"committedbyHull?PresumablyitwassomesexactthatthejudgebelievedHullhaddupedthegullible
Burrowsintocommitting.ButBurrowsneverthoughtthatanythingtheydidtogetherwasdisgusting.HiscomplaintwasthatHullhadlefthim.Thismayhavebeenthe
mainreasonhewenttothepolice.Itwastheendingoftherelationship,notitsmaintenance,thatheobjectedto."IalwayssaidIwouldsticktoher,nomatterwhat
happened.Iwasdevotedtoherandstillwouldbeifshehadn'tturnedouttobeaman.Iwouldhavedoneanythingforher,andsheknowsit."17Hullmadesimilar
assertionsconcerninghisdevotiontoBurrows.Theunexpectedlyharshsentencehereceivedwastraumatic."Onhearingthesentence,Hullburstintotearsandthen
fainted.Hehadtobeassistedfromthedock."18
Muchofthepublicmusthavebeenconfusedbytheoutcomeofthetrial.Hull'soffense,onecommentatornoted,"seemstohavebeensimplythegratificationofa
phantasythathedesired,andheranawaywhenitthreatenedtobecomereal.Thereisnodefiniteevidenceofhomosexuality.Thechargewas'indecency,'butthe
judgebasedhissentenceoncruelty.Whichwasit?"19Neverthelesson14December1931,Hullsappealwasdismissedafterafewminutes'discussionbytheCourt
ofCriminalAppeal.Mr.JusticeAvorywentsofarastodeclarethathe"didnotconsiderthesentenceadaytoomuch."20
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
ForcontemporariestheHullcasewasaremarkablestory.Todaythechiefimportanceofthetrialanditsaftermathisthattheyprovideavantagepointfromwhichto
viewsomekeyaspectsoftheearlytwentiethcenturypublicdiscussionofsexandgender.Whywascrossdressingviewedbysomeassoalarming?Whywereothers
beginningtodiscountitsimport?Byexaminingtheresponsemadetothecasebymagistrates,medicalscientists,andsexologists,oneisprovidedwithfirstaninsight
intothecomplexitiesoftransvestismandsecondlysomesenseofhowthediscus
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sionofsexualabnormalityintheinterwarperiodservedparticularprofessionalinterests.Thethirdandmostimportantaspectofthecaseisthatitrevealstheenormous
importanceofthenotionthatthesexeswere"opposite"thatifonewasnotmasculineonewasnecessarilyfeminine.
TounderstandtheramificationsoftheHullcase,itisnecessarytoplaceitincontext.Beginningwiththelegalside,thefirstquestiontobeaskediswhatwasHullfound
guiltyof?Muchofthepublicassumedthathiscrimewascrossdressing,sincethatwasthefocusofthenewsreportsandheadlines.Inalater,similarcase,aLondon
tabloidreportedthat"ayoungmaninreddancedressandsilvershoesaccostedtwopoliceofficerswhowerepatrollinginamotorcarontheGreatWestRoad."The
pressletitbeunderstoodthatthemaninquestionwaschargedwith"masquerading,"wheninfacthe,likemosttransvestites,wasactuallychargedwithcommittinga
homosexualoffense.Suchconfusionswereduetothereluctanceofnewspaperstodiscussopenlyhomosexuality.
Trialsinvolvingtransvestismwerealwaysgivenmorecoveragethansimplecasesofhomosexuality,butfewreadersunderstoodthelegalstatusofcrossdressing.
Hull'strialjudgedescribedthecaseas"exceedinglypeculiar"andtoldthejurythattheywouldhavetosearchlongandhardtofindaparallel.21Thiswasobviously
true,thoughoneshouldnotforgetthatinwesternEuropetherewasalongtraditionofcrossdressingforpurposesofdisguises,masquerades,rituals,andtheater.22
Englishpriests,likeshamanselsewhere,customarilyworegowns.InearliercenturiescrossdressingwasemployedattheFeastofFools,bymummers,andfrequently
bymaleprotestersinskimmingtons,enclosureprotests,andlargescaleconfrontationswiththeauthorities,asintheRebeccariotsofthe1840s.InShakespeare's
playsthefemaleroleswerefirstplayedbymen,andbythenineteenthcenturycomicdragartistsemergedandfemaleimpersonatorshadbecomeapopularstapleat
navalandmilitarycelebrations.23IndeedthesamenewspapersthatreportedtheshockingandpuzzlingeventsoftheHullcasecarriedthereviewsofthetraditional
EnglishChristmaspantomimesinwhichPeterPanwasplayedbyawomanandCinderella'suglysistersbymen.24DameEdnaEverageandDannyLarueinthelate
twentiethcenturywouldembody,eachintheirownway,longdragqueentraditions.Suchsociallyacceptedformsofcrossdressingwerelegitimatedbecauseby
beingdramatized,ritualized,andcontrolledtheyprovidedthecommunitywithsafeentertainmentfreeofsexualinvolvementordanger.25
Butcrossdressinghadanequallylongsubversivetradition,particularlywhenemployedbywomen.Peopledisguisedthemselvestoplayrolesother
Page215
wiseforbiddentothem.Inthereligiousrealm,inadditiontotheacceptable"manly"femalesaints,therewerepopularmemoriesofthemythicalusurperPopeJoan.26
Themostfamousfemalecrossdresser,JoanofArc,wasburnedasawitch.Mostwomen,however,hadpractical,"external"reasonsfordonningmen'sgarb,the
pursuitofemploymentopportunities.IneightythreeoftheninetythreecasesoffemaletransvestismtracedinseventeenthandeighteenthcenturyHolland,thewoman
hadpassedasasoldierorsailor.27Theideathatwomenwouldseekmalepowersbydonningmaleattiremadesufficientsensetobeusuallyviewedbythepublicas
presumptuousratherthanperverse.Crossdressingwomenweresometimespunished,butonoccasionthevaliantNancysandPollyswhowerediscoveredservingas
soldiersorsailorswerefetedasheroines.28Ineighteenthcenturypopularballads,suchmasqueradeswereportrayedasmomentarilysubvertinggenderorder,a
themethatwastoresurfaceintwentiethcenturyfilms.29InnineteenthcenturyFranceandGermany,thelawforbadwomentowearmaleclothing,yetpermitscould
beacquiredtocircumventsuchrestrictions.30IntheVictorianage,anumberoffamouswomenwritersassumedmen'snamesincludingGeorgeEliot,GeorgeSand,
DanielSternforreasonsofprofessionalbenefit.31Femaletransvestismamongthelowerclassesdeclined,ithasbeensuggested,becausethenewmedical
inspectionsofthearmyandnavymadepassingmoredifficult.Itmayhavebeenalsorelatedtoclothesbecominglessbulkyandformconcealing.Crossdressing
presumablypermittedtheexpressionoflesbiansexualfeelings.Somehaveadvancedtheunlikelyideathatsuchfeelingsweremoreeasilyexpressedinthenineteenth
centuryandthereforefemalecrossdressingbecamelessnecessary.
Inthetwentiethcentury,themostnotoriousfemaletransvestitewas"ColonelBarker"actuallyanEnglishwomanbythenameofValerieArkellSmithwhopassed
formanyyearsasaretiredmilitaryofficer.NotonlydidshesuccessfullypassherselfoffasablimpishmilitaryheroandsometimememberoftheBritishFascistparty,
shemarriedanunsuspectingwomanwhomsheabandonedthreeyearslater.Onlythecolonel'sbankruptcyin1929broughtthescandaltolight.32RadclyffeHall,
authoroftheclassiclesbiannovelTheWellofLoneliness,whichcameoutthepreviousyear,wasappalledbytherevelationsofBarker'sactivities,whichHall
believedwouldsetbackthemovementforhomosexualrights.Shewrotethatshewouldliketoseethecoloneldrawnandquartered."Amadpervertofthemost
undesirabletype,withhermockwarmedals,wounds,etc.andthenafterhavingmarriedthewomanifshedoesn'tgoanddeserther!Her
Page216
exposureatthemomentisunfortunateindeedandwillgiveahandletoendlesspeoplethemoresoaswhatIlongforissomesortofmarriagefortheinvert."33Hall,
seeingherselfashavingamasculinepsyche,woremaleattireandcalledherselfJohn.ColonelBarkeroffendedhernotforcrossdressingbutforonlyhaving
"pretended"tobeamale.34MagnusHirschfeld,theWeimarsexreformer,describedthesimilarcaseofaGermanpainterchargedwithadultery.Thepainter,a
determinedandintelligentwoman,hadrunawayfromhomeattheageoffourteen,passedasaman,andfinallysettleddownand"married."Thepainter'swanderlust
ledtothechargeofadulterybeingpressedagainst"him,"whichinturnledtothewife'sdiscoverythatherpainter''husband"wasawoman.35
ObserverssuchasLombrosofrettedthatthereweresomeyoungwomenwhobeganintheirschoolyearsbyshowinganexcessiveinterestinmathematicsand
chemistryandendedupbyoptingforshorthairandmaleclothes.Manymoremen,helamented,asmalespotentiallymoreexcitable,variableandperversethan
females,wereledtodonfemaleapparel.36Women'scrossdressingcouldberationalizedasapracticalmatter,butmostcommentatorsassumedthatcasesofmale
transvestismcouldnotbecauseitmadenosenseforamantodresslikeawoman.Onlythementallyunbalancedwouldembracearolethatofferednopractical
advantages.Neverthelesscasesofmaletransvestism,regardedbydoctorsasprecipitatedbyirrational"inner"drives,wereincreasinglyreportedafterthe1850s.37
Thefewcasesofmaletransvestismthatcametolightinthenineteenthcenturywereregardedbydoctorsasmorbidlydangerousandnecessarilylinkedto
homosexuality.Taylor'sPrinciplesandPracticesofMedicalJurisprudencecontainedonereportofan"ElizaEdwards,"whoseunclaimeddeadbodywassentto
Guy'sHospital.Edwards,tothesurpriseofall,includingherpersonalphysician,turnedouttobeaman.Sincetheageoffourteen,hehadplayedtheroleofan
actress.Hismaleorganswereperfect,but,notedthedoctorswithapparentsatisfaction,"TheStateofhisrectumleftnodoubtoftheabominablepracticestowhich
thisindividualhadbeenaddicted."38
Sodomyandsolicitingbymaleprostituteswereassociatedinthepublicmindwithtransvestism,butthepointthatcrossdressingwasnotinitselfacrimewasmade
clearinthemostfamousnineteenthcenturyexposofmaletransvestites,thetrialofBoultonandPark.39ErnestBoulton,thetwentytwoyearoldsonofa
stockbroker,andFrederickWilliamPark,sonofaMasterintheCourtofCommonPleas,playedwomen'srolesinamateurtheatricalsandoftenwentaboutinpublic
infemaleattire.Theywere
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arrestedoutsidetheStrandTheaterinApril1870andchargedwithintenttocommitafelony.Thefelonyinquestionwasbuggery.Thecrownproducedasevidence
manylettersinwhichBoultonandParkannouncedtheiraffectionsformalefriendsbutfailedtoprovideanyevidenceofsexualrelations.Thedefensereiteratedthatin
Englandgoingaboutdressedasamemberoftheoppositesexwasnotacrime.40Thejudgesummedupintheaccused'sfavorandthejuryfoundthemnotguilty.
Neverthelessthepopularbeliefthathomosexualityandtransvestismwereinseparablewascapturedinacontemporarylimerick.
TherewasanoldpersonofSark
Whobuggeredapiginthedark
Theswineinsurprise
Murmured:"Godblastyoureyes
DoyoutakemeforBoultonorPark?"41
Suchsuspicionswereapparentlyconfirmedbyoccasionaltrialaccountsofindividualswhocrossdressedtoentraphomosexualclients.JuliusWalters,anAustrian
(alsoknownasKlaraMyer),wason13November1908,sentencedtofivemonthsinjailfor"masqueradingasafemale."Waltershadbeensimilarlyconvictedin
1896,1899,1900,1904,1906,and1907.42Walterswas,accordingtothepolice,awellknownassociateofblackmailerswhoregularlyaccostedgentlemenin
Bloomsbury.Athis1904trial,thejudgecastigatedhimasanincorrigiblerogueandsentencedhimtotwelvemonthsofhardlaborandtwelvestrokesofthecat.43
Masqueradingwasnotacrimeaslongasnocriminaldeceptionwasinvolved,butbylawanydisguisecouldbecitedasevidenceofanintentiontocommitacrime.44
Thecrimeinthecaseofamandressedasawomanwouldusuallybesoliciting.Transvestitesweremostlikelytobechargedwithimportuningforimmoralpurposes
undersectiononeoftheVagrancyActof1898,alawappliedexclusivelytohomosexualmen.45
Asidefromfemaleimpersonatorsandmaleprostitutes,menrarelyevercrossdressed,aswomendid,togainemployment,buta1930scasereadsremarkablylikea
crossbetweenthescriptsoftheAmericanfilmsSomeLikeItHotandTootsie.ABirminghammalesaxophonist,unabletogetworkinanorchestraasaman,thought
hemighthavebetterluckif,dressedasawoman,heappliedtoa"ladiesorchestra,"Heaccordinglyborrowedanoutfitfromhiswife,butbeforehecouldauditionwas
arrestedandchargedundersectionfouroftheVagrancyActof1824withbeingan"idleanddisorderlypersonfoundinfemaleattireatthehotelforan
Page218
unlawfulpurpose."Sincehehadnotcommittedalarceny,hewasacquitted.Alegalexpertobservedthatthesituationwouldhavebeendifferentifthepositioninthe
orchestrahadbeenobtained."HadtheBirminghamsaxophonistsucceededingettingmoneyforplayingina'ladiesorchestra'anddonenothingexceptwearhisfrock
andblowhisinstrument,hewouldpresumablyhavebeenconvictedofobtaininghiswagesorsalarybyfalsepretences."46Inasimilarcase,anexofficerwho
obtainedworkinthe1930sasaparlormaidwasjailedthoughnotforcrossdressinghavingprovidedafalsecharacter,hewasconvictedundertheServants
CharacterActof1792.
Sincecrossdressingwasnotacrime,towhatwasthecrowncounselintheHullcasereferringwhenspeakingofthe"disgustingstory"thatthejuryhadheard?
PresumablyitwasHull'spurportedhomosexuality.Hullwaschargedwith"procuringamantodoanactofgrossindecencywithhim."TheexactactthatHullhad
committed,whichconstituteda"grossindecency,"wasnevermadecleartothenewspaperreadingpublicbecausethepressfeltitcouldnotreportBurrows's
descriptionof"theintimateactsthathadtakenplace.''47Thedefenseinsistedthatnothingindecenthadoccurred.HullcogentlypointedoutthatsinceheandBurrows
hadslepttogetherforoversixmonths,"ifanythinghadhappenedhewouldhavefoundoutmysex."Despitehispleaandthemedicalexpert'sevidence,whichtended
tosupporthim,Hullwasfoundguilty.
Whenitcametotheprosecutionofhomosexuals,suchapparentinjusticesweretheruleratherthantheexception.IntheBoultonandParkcase,LordChiefJustice
Cockburnnotedthatwhilethecrownarguedthatthecrimewas"conspiracytocommitafelony"thefelonybeingbuggeryitcouldonlyproveitbylabelingthe
accuseds'friendshipa"conspiracy."Moreovertheconspiracychargeallowedtheprosecutortousetheevidenceofeachoftheaccusedagainsttheother.Howwas
onetoprovethatonedidnotsoconspire?Underthislawonthebooksuntil1967,whenhomosexualoffensesbetweenconsentingadultsinprivatewere
abolishedmanyhomosexualswereensnared.
Certainsexualactsassociatedwithhomosexualitysuchassodomyhad,ofcourse,alwaysbeenprosecuted,butafter1885homosexualityitselfwascriminalized.The
LabouchreAmendmenttotheCriminalLawAmendmentActof1885(48and49Vict.c.69,s.II)madeactsofgrossindecencybetweenmenmisdemeanors
punishablebyuptotwoyearsofhardlabor.Thelaw,innotdefininga"grossindecency,"providedthepolicewithenormouspowersofdiscretion.Forexample,in
1896JonesandBowerbank
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werebothchargedundertheact,butatthetrialBowerbankactedasthecrown'sonlywitnessandJoneswasfoundguiltyandsentencedtoninemonthsofhardlabor.
Onappealthedefenseaskedtwoobviousquestions:howcouldJonesbealoneguiltyofanactthatbothheandBowerbankcommittedandhowcouldJonesprocure
thecommissionofaacrimeinwhichheparticipated?48Thejudgesremainedindifferenttosuchlogic,andtheconvictionstood.
Whyattheturnoftheurywasitfeltnecessarytocriminalizeatypeofpersonthehomosexualratherthanspecificactsthatanyonemightcommit?Inpartbecausea
hostofcommentators,fearfulofthesocialchangesassociatedwithanincreasinglyurbanized,bureaucratizedworld,hadraisedthecrythatmasculinitywasatrisk.
Viewingtheirovercivilized,increasingly"feminized"worldasunhealthy,suchobserversviewedmenwith"femininetendecies"withunprecedentedloathing.49Self
doubtsratherthanconfidenceinshortfueledthestridentVictorianclaimsthatthereexistedclearcutmaleandfemaleroles.Tobemalewastobeassertivetobe
female,passive.Inversionwasdeterminedtoconsistofareversalofsuchroles.Thereforethehomosexual,itwasbelieved,wouldnecessarilybeeffeminateandgiven
towearingwomen'sclothesthelesbianwouldbemannish.
Therisingconcernaboutthepurportedthreatposedbyhomosexualitywasalsopartlyareactiontochangingwomen'sroles.Withdecliningfertilityratesandwomen's
demandforaccesstomaleeducationalandprofessionalpreservesbeingreadassignsofarepudiationofmotherhood,socialcommentatorsfeltobligedtoreassert
whatsexualitywasallabout.Doctorsinthelastdecadesofthenineteenthcenturyaccordinglyinsistedwithunprecedentedvigorthathealthyindividualsdemonstrate
theirheterosexualitybycleavingtoanapropriategenderrole.Thosewhofailedweredeemedtobesick.ThesexologistRichardvonKrafftEbingaccordinglyfirstfell
backondegenerationtheorytoexplainthespreadofhomosexuality,andmostlatenineteenthcenturycommentatorsagreedthatitwasasortofinsanity.
Eventhefirstdefendersofhomosexualitywhoappearedattheturnofthecenturyfeltcompelled,giventheprestigeofbiology,tobasetheirargumentsontheoriesof
physicalandpsychichermaphroditism.EdwardCarpentesandMagnusHirschfeldpresentedthehomosexualasan"intermediatesex"carryingspecificsomaticor
psychologicalanomalies.HavelockEllisbelievedinversionhad,likecolorblindness,somecongenitalbasisbutwasaharmlessanomaly.Freud'soriginalitylayin
dispensingwithorganic
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argumentsandinsuggestingthatthehopeofattainingafullunderstandingofheterosexualitywasjustasproblematicalasdecipheringthecausesofhomosexuality.
Heterosexualitywasaccordingtohimsomethingthathadtobeattained,andinsuchacontextheviewedhomosexualitysimplyasdevelopmentalfailure.50
Thecentralthrustofthenewsexualanalysesoftheearlytwentiethcenturywastosplitsexualaimsandobjects.Expertsincreasinglyacceptedthattherewasno
necessarylinkbetweenappearanceanddesireandthereexistedamultiplicityofroles,includingthemasculinetypewhowashomosexualandthetransvestitewhowas
heterosexual.51Thoughdoctorsmightstilldescribehomosexualityas"abnormal"theynowtendedtoviewitasamedicalratherthanamoralproblem.Medical
hegemonywasacceptedandthe"sickness"explanationembracedbymanyhomosexualsincludingOscarWilde,SirRogerCasement,andGoldsworthyLowes
Dickinson.The"cures"doctorstrottedoutrangedfromhypnotismtoaversiontherapy.52
Thediscussionoftransvestismfollowedasimilarpattern.TheclassicaccountoftransvestismandthecoiningofthetermwasprovidedbythepioneeringGermansex
reformerMagnusHirschfeld(18681935)inDieTransvestiten(1910).Inthelatenineteenthcentury,hisfellowcountrymanCarlWestphalandKrafftEbinghad
presentedthefirstscientificdescriptionsofcrossdressing.ThepessimisticKrafftEbingvieweditasthefirststageontheroadtoinsanity.Theevercuriousand
optimisticHirschfeldbecameinterestedintransvestismwhenassistingtwoarmymenwhohadbeenarrestedfordressingaswomen.53Crossdressers,hefound,were
overrepresentedintheranksofthemilitary.
Hirschfeld,ahomosexualhimself,counteredtheclaimsofbothpioneeringsexologistssuchasKrafftEbingandtheFreudianssuchasWilhelmStekelthattransvestism
wasnecessarilylinkedtohomosexuality.Onlyabout35percentofHirschfeld'ssamplewerehomosexual,asmanywereheterosexual,15percentwerebisexual,and
therestwere"automonosexual."OfthefourteenfemaleimpersonatorsHirschfeldinterviewed,eightweremarried,andofthesefivewereheterosexual.Transvestism
was,accordingtoHirschfeld,asexualvariationinitselfthatdemandedproperinvestigation.Heviewedthetransvestiteasasortofandrogynewhoincrossdressing
displayedhis"true"personality.Effeminacydidnotmeanhomosexuality.Hirschfeldsuggestedthatmaleclothinghadsimplylostmuchoftheindividualismand
expressivenessthatitoncepossessed.Femaleclothingofferedsomemalesalongedforformofexpression.Theirmothersandwivestendedtobeunderstandings.54
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Hirschfeldalsogaveexamplesofindividualswho,likeHull,werealmostforcedbysocietyintocrossdressing.Ontheonehand,aPolishmanwholivedinBerlinwas
constantlystaredatwhenheworemen'sclothing.Ontheother,thepolicearrestedamasculinewomanonsevendifferentoccasionsonsuspicionofherbeingacross
dressedman.Suchharassmentoccurreddespitethefactthatpoliceonoccasionactuallyprovidedpermitstoallowcrossdressing(whichtechnicallyviolatedthelawin
Germany).55Sinceweinheritedtraitsfrombothmaleandfemaleparents,Hirschfeldfeltithardlysurprisingthattheboundariesbetweenthesexeswerenotasfirmas
respectablesocietyimagined.Transvestismwasforhimsimplyavividdemonstrationthatineachindividual"therereststhesexthatdoesnotbelongtoit."56Thiswas
asympatheticthoughobviouslynotafullheartedendorsementofsuchapersona.Hirschfeld,asliberalashewas,harboredthefearthattransvestiteswouldproduce
"degenerate"offspring.57
TheFrenchdidverylittleworkonthesubjectoftransvestism.58ThefirstshortthoughsympatheticaccountofcrossdressinginEnglishwaswrittenbyEdward
Carpenter,whileintheprocessofdefendinghomosexualsasnormalandhealthy.59In"IntermediateTypesamongPrimitiveFolk,"whichfirstappearedinthe
AmericanJournalofReligiousPsychologyinJuly1911,Carpenterdrewonanthropologicalaccountsofpriestsandwitchesadoptingtheclothingoftheopposite
sex.Hewentontonotethatthe"enormousdelight"thatmanypeopleexperiencedthroughcrossdressingwasduetomorethaneitherreligiousinspirationor
homosexuality."Itmustalsonotbeoverlooked,indealingwiththiscomplexanddifficultsubject,thatthemerefactofapersondelightingtoadoptthegarbofthe
oppositesexdoesnotinitselfprovethathisorherlovetendencyisabnormali.e.crossdressingdoesnotprovehomosexuality."60
HavelockEllis,theBritishsexologistwhodevotedhislifetothecollectingandclassifyingofvariantsofsexualbehavior,onlygotaroundtodealingwithtransvestismin
thelate1920s.61Ellis,likeothers,beganbyassumingthattransvestismwasanannexofhomosexualityheconcludedthatitwasnotnecessarilyanaspectofsexual
inversionnorafetishorreplacementofthesexualobject.ThoughhenotedthatHirschfeldwasofthesameopinion,ElliswentontocritiquetheGerman'sstressonthe
significanceofthesubject'sdressorasHirschfeldcalledit,his"disguise."Clothingwasonlypartofthesyndrome,arguedEllis,andtheterm"disguise"washardly
appropriatebecauseitwasonlywhenwearingtheattireoftheoppositesexthatthesubjectreallyfeltnotdisguised.AsanexampleEllis
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provided,amonghismanyfirstpersonaccounts,thatof"R.L"whopoignantlydescribedtheunpleasantsensationsofreturningtomaleattire."Islippedoutintoa
worldthatwasparticularlydistastefultome,mycollarchokedme,mytrousersoppressedmelikebandages,mybootsfeltclumsy,andImissedtheclaspofcorsets,
andthebeautifulfeelofunderwear."62Ellisdidnotlikeeitherthetermscrossdressingortransvestism,bothofwhichhefeltpaidtoomuchattentiontoexternal
trappings.IntheirplaceEllispreferredtousethetermeonismaftertheremarkableeighteenthcenturyFrenchdiplomat,thechevalierd'Eon,anintellectuallygiftedman
whothoughnotaninvertdesiredtowearwomen'sclothing.63
EllisdevotedthelongopeningchapteroftheseventhandfinalvolumeofStudiesinthePsychologyofSextoadiscussionof"eonism."Allperversionswere,forEllis,
simpledistortionsofhealthyfeelings.Sadism,forexample,heviewedasanexaggerationoftheenjoymentoftheelementofpaininherentinthesexualact.
Transvestismhesimilarlypresentedasduetoanexaggeratedidentificationoftheyoungmalewithhisfirstobjectofattractionthemother.Ellis,inseekingtowinthe
public'sunderstandingforthetransvestiteshrewdlymadethemotherEngland'siconofrespectabilitycentraltohisexplanation.Thesubjectwaspresentedas
motivatednotbysomebaseinstinctbutbyaninflatedsympathyforandidentificationwithhismother,whomheineffectwas"courting.""Itisnormalforamanto
identifyhimselfwiththewomenheloves,Theeonistcarriesthatidentificationtoofar,stimulatedbyasensitiveandfeminineelementinhimselfwhichisassociatedwith
aratherdefectivevirilesexualityonwhatmaybeaneuroticbasis."64EllisnotedthattheFreudiansalsoviewedcrossdressingasanaspectofthe"persistenceof
infantiletraits."WilhelmStekelinparticularattackedHirschfeld'snotionthattherewasanybiologicalbasistothesyndrome.ButEllisobservedthattheblanketclaim
oftheFreudiansthatalltransvestiteseventheheterosexualwerelatenthomosexualswasnotveryhelpful.65
FreudinThreeEssays(1905)hadgivenapartialaccountoftransvestismaccordingtowhichtheurgewaslocatedininfancy.Thechildfixatedatacertainstageof
developmentonthemother.Fearingherlossthechildrefusedtomoveon.66Transvestiteslikehomosexuals,accordingtotheEnglishpsychoanalysts,sufferedfroma
"lackofdevelopment."BernardHollanderopposedjailinghomosexualsexceptforthose"culprits"whohadledothersastray.Buthedeclaredthatnopunishment
wouldcureeitherpassiveoractivehomosexuals,bothofwhomwereneurotics.67TheodoreJ.Faithfulagreedthatonlytherapywouldbringa"finalsurrenderto
normality.68
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InadditiontochildhoodexperiencesEllisbelievedhormonalinfluencesorwhathecalled"secretions"wereimportant.Crossdressing'sbasiscouldbeduetoboth
acquiredandinnatecauses.Thetransvestitemighthavean"eroticempathy"formembersofhisownsex,butthatwasnotthesameasahomosexualpassion.Indeed
Ellispointedoutthatsometransvestitesfoundhomosexualityasdistastefulasanyotheraspectofmasculinity.69AlthoughEllisregardedthesyndromeasshadedby
tonesofmasochismandautoeroticismhefoundhissubjectstobeusuallyhighlymoralindividualswhoidentifiedwithothers."It[transvestism]tendstooccuramong
peoplewhoareofteneducated,refined,sensitiveandreserved."70Theywere,heclaimed,of"highcharacteranddistinguishedabilityandnormalinotherrespects."71
SuchnewviewsofsexualdeviancyformedthebackdropforthecampaignprecipitatedbytheHullcase,acampaigninfavornotsomuchforchangesinthelaw,as
forchangesinthewaysinwhichsexualdelinquentsweretreated.Thekeynotionadvancedbythereformerswasthatabnormalitiesliketransvestismwerebetterdealt
withbymedicinethanbythelaw.Itwasinthecontextofsuchappealsinthelegalandmedicalworldsforabetterunderstandingofsexualdeviancythatdemands
werevoicedforHull'srelease.ThecampaignforareviewofhiscasewasledbytheWeekEndReview,aprogressivepublicationthathaddevotedmanyofits
columnstodemandsforsexreform.Inthefallof1931,whentheHullcaseburstontothescene,itwascarryingdiscussionsofthelegitimacyofabortionandbirth
controlbysuchstalwartsofthesexreformmovementasStellaBrowne,NormanHaire,WinifredHoltby,andJohnHaldaneBlackie.ThefirsttocommentontheHull
trialwasJohnConnell,ajournalistworkingfortheEveningNews,whoselettertotheeditorof21November1931washeadlined"PsychoAnalysisorHard
Labour?"Inthissqualidtrial,accordingtoConnell,"thepathetic,puzzledvictimofanabnormalitywhichhecannotcontrolistreatedasareasonablemoralbeing,and
hastosufferfortransgressingacodehecannotrecognize....Theboyneededatrainedpsychopathologist,andprolongedclinicaltreatment:hegoteighteenmonths'
hardlabor."72
Thefollowingweeksbroughtasupportivefloodofletters.Hull'slegaldefendersincludedE.RoyCalvert,anactiveopponentofcapitalpunishment,andJ.Whitely
Nance,whodeclaredthatmostlawyerswouldagreethatcaseslikeHull's"arealtogetheroutsidetherealmofthecriminalcode,andareratherfortreatmentin
hospitalsthaninprisons."HerbertChorley,drawingonhisexperienceofyearsatthebartonotethateighteenmonthsofhardlaborwasaferocioussentence
calculatedtodestroythehealthof
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eventhehardenedcriminal,referredtoHullas"oneofNature'smistakes."73AnAssociationfortheScientificTreatmentofOffendershadjustbeencreated,wrote
anothercorrespondent,sparkedbyaHomeOfficereportbyDr.G.W.Pailthorpethatassertedthatmanycasesofcriminalitywereduetoan"underlyingpathological
stateofmind."74ThecaseforpsychoanalysiswasmadebyGraceBristow,whowrote"asonewhoatpresentisundergoingpsychologicaltreatment"toendorsethe
needformoreclinics.75ClaireMaddenprovidedperhapsthebestinterpretationofsuchtherapy."Inversionisneitheramentaldiseasenorsomethingthatcanbe
cured.Butsuchtreatmentwouldhavegivenhimalittleselfknowledge,helpedhimtogrowintoausefulcitizen,ifnotahappyone."76ThomasF.Lindsay,editorof
TheIsis,agreedcompletelywithMadden'sviewsofthelimitsoftherapy.77
HavelockEllis,havingafewyearsbeforeproducedthefullestaccountinEnglishoftransvestismor"eonism,"nowenteredthelistsindefenseofHullinbothaletterto
theWeekEndReviewandanarticledestinedforanAmericanjournal.Henotedthatonthecontinentcrossdressingwasnotregardedasathreataslongasno
publicdisturbanceresulted.TheUnitedKingdomandtheUnitedStateswerethemostbackwardnationsinthisregard.Ellis'smainconcern,however,wasthatthe
medicalevidenceofferedatthetrialhadbeenignored.HeconcludedbypresentingHullasvictimofhisbody."Sexdependsonthebalanceofthehormoneproducing
glands,andthatbalancesometimesresultsinstatesthatarenaturallyintersexual."78Somedayoldprejudiceswouldbesweptaway."Thesecasesdonotcallforthe
psychoanalyst,or,indeed,foranyformofpsychotherapeutics,andmedicalartcannotatpresentdealwiththem.Theynodoubtpresentanintersexualstatebased
onanunusualharmonicbalance."79ThesocialsideoftheissuewastouchedonbythelibertarianE.S.P.Haynes,who,innotingthatHullwouldnothavebeenin
legaltroubleifhehadnotbeenimpoverished,claimedthatifallthe"welltodoantitypes"wereconvictedhugenumbersofprisonswouldhavetobebuilt.Haynes
gloomilyassumedthatevenifHullwerepardonedhismiserieswouldnotend."Hewillalmostcertainly(byreasonofhispoverty)endurefurtherpolicetroubleunless
anduntilhecommitsanothercriminaloffence,towit,suicide.''80
TheHullcasewasdiscussedattheBritishSexologicalSocietyon15December1931andagainon5January1932,whenitsmemberscollectedmoneyforMrs.
Hull.81StellaBrowne,oneofthesociety'smostactivepropagandists,thoughbelievingthatmuchsexualdeviancyincludinghomo
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sexualitywasduetotherestrictionssocietyplacedonthefreeexpressionofheterosexualdesires,concededthattherewere"real"orcongenitalhomosexuals."We
arelearningtorecognizecongenitalinversionasavitalandveryoftenvaluablefactorincivilization,subjectofcourse,tothesamerestraintsastopublicorderand
propriety,freedomofconsent,andtheprotectionoftheimmature,asnormalheterosexualdesire."82ShereturnedtothisthemeinspeakingtoaManchesteraudience
inFebruary1932onthetopic"SomeMentalTypes."ArguingthattheHullcasedemonstratedtheimpactofendocrinesontemperament,sheconcludedthatitwas
"oneoftheproblemsofacivilizationbasedonscienceandfreedom,todevelopasenseofsocialresponsibilityinabnormalpersonsaswellastoceasesystematic
persecutionofsuchpeople."83
ClaireMaddennotedthatitwasimperativethatapetitionbegotuptoshowthattherewasanimportantsectionofpublicopinionopposedtosuchcruelinjustices,
andthelawyerJohnStevensonundertookthecampaignindefenseofHull.Stevensonprotestedthathewasno"mollycoddler"andbelievedthatonoccasioncertain
crimesevenwarrantedcorporalpunishment.ButincasessuchasHull's,hesawtheneedforlegislationthatwouldallowjudgestosendtheaccusedtoa"State
medicalhomeforobservationandtreatment."84StevensoncontactedtheBritishSexologicalSocietyandtheHowardLeagueforPenalReformandpersonally
approachedSirHerbertSamuel.85HealsooversawthedrawingupofapetitionbythesolicitorhiredwiththefundsraisedfromthereadersoftheWeekEnd
Review,whoalsoexertedpressurethroughindividualM.P.s.86ThepetitionwassubmittedinFebruary,butnoformalresponsewasmade,andStevensonhimselfwas
rebuffedinhisattemptstoseeHullinprison.87Yetthepublicoutcryfinallydidhavesomeeffect.InAprilHullwastransferredtoWormwoodScrubsand
arrangementsmadeforhimtoattendtheTavistockClinicfortreatment.88
WecanonlyspeculateaboutthesortoftreatmentHullwasgiven.TheTavistockClinichadbeenestablishedbyHughCrichtonMillerin1920toprovideoutpatient
psychotherapy.Theclinic'sgoal,accordingtoCrichtonMiller,was"theworkofcreatingharmonyintheunharmonized,adjustmentinthemaladjusted,independence
inthedependent,andsocialworthinthesociallyworthlessandwhenwespeakofthe'sociallyworthless'wearethinkingofouraveragepatientnotasheisbutashe
maybecomeifheisallowedtodrift."89CrichtonMiller,whohadworkedwithshellshockvictims,introducedagenerationofpsychologiststoFreudianformsof
therapy.Theclinicthoughpsychodynamicallyorientedwasopenmindedabout
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techniques.Thesortoftherapiesofferedrangedfromfullpsychoanalysistosuggestionandpersuasion.Between1920and1936,theTavistockdealtwith496cases
ofdelinquency,includingonecaseoftransvestism,Hull's.Thestafffoundthatsexualcasesseemedtobeespeciallysuitablefortreatmentbypsychotherapy.After
threeyears,outoftheseventythreesexualcases,twentyfive"remainedfreeofsymptoms."90Wearenot,however,toldifthelatterincludedAustinHull.Having
slippedfrompublicview,onecanonlyassumethathefinallysucceededinescapingtheclutchesofboththepoliceandthedoctors.
Havingdisentangledthevarioussexual,medical,andlegalthreadsthatwereentwinedinthestoryofAustinHull,what,inconclusion,arewetomakeofthiscase?
Firstandforemostitcastsarevealinglightonthemedicalizationofdeviancy.Hull'sjourneyfromWormwoodScrubstotheTavistockClinicrepresentedavictoryfor
psychiatry.ThedoctorsbyconvincingthepublicthatHull'ssyndromeaninvoluntarycompulsionwasamedicalproblemhadturnedhimfromaprisonerintoa
"patient"andsorescuedhimfromthepolice.AndwhatofHull?Thoughhemusthavebenefitedfrombeingsavedfromforcedlabor,hewasfarfrombeingfree.Once
declaredguiltyofacrime,hewasnowdiagnosedasvictimizedbyadelusion.Hullwassubjectedtotreatment,yetthediscomfortcausedbyhiscrossdressingwas
experiencedbythecommunitynotbyhim.Histransvestism,thoughnota"disease,"hadbeenmedicalized,theinterventionofdoctorshadbeenlegitimated,and
gendernormsstrengthened.
TheinherentconservativismofsuchapproacheswasnotedbytheFrenchsexradicalRenGuyon,whoattackedthosewholikeFreudtalkedof"illnesses"and
"aberrations"forwhich"cures"couldbeprovidedwhenwhatwasoftenrequiredwerepracticalsolutionsforsocialproblems.Why,Guyonwondered,didarelativist
likeFreudrefertothe"normal"andthe"abnormal''andtheideal"reasonableman"whenheknewhowsubjectivesuchviews,oftenamerematteroftaste,were.91
WithHull'scaseproblematizedasapathologicalcondition,thetherapist'staskwassimplytodeterminewhyhewas"sick."Sexologistsandpsychologists,whilecalling
foragreaterunderstandingofsexualdeviancy,wereinpracticeadoptingapathologicalapproachthatheldthatthetragediesresultingfromsexualconfusionswerethe
responsibilityofthepersecutedindividualnotanintolerantsociety.AccordinglyHull'swellmeaningdefendersintheWeekEndReviewreferredtohimpatronizingly
asa"boy"and"oneofnature'smistakes."ThefactthatonereaderwentsofarastoequateHull'scasewiththatofSylvestreMatuschka,anAustrianmadmanwhose
1931train
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derailmentcausedtwentytwodeaths,suggestshowdangerousdeviancywasregardedevenbyprogressives.
SomeofHull'sdefenders,likeStellaBrowne,weremotivatedbyaferventdesireforsexualdiversity.ButthesecondreasonthattheHullcasewarrantsinvestigationis
thatitremindsusthatmanysexreformerswereoftenaspreoccupiedbythepursuitofefficientsocialcontrolasbyconsiderationsforindividualhappiness.Everyone,
theybelieved,wasdeservingof"scientifictreatment,"andtheywereaccordinglyattractedtoanomaliesoutofadesiretocollectresearchmaterial.Theyhopeda
"cure"wouldresultinsociallystabilizing,maritalheterosexuality.Theideathatsexreformwouldresultinahealthier,moreefficientcitizenrywasperhapsbestcaptured
inabookpublishedin1934bytheBritishSexologicalSociety.Intercourse,accordingtotheauthor,wassomethingthatsignaleditsnecessitytothemalebyboutsof
sleeplessnessandforgetfulness.Afterindulging,themanhappilydiscoversthat"allsexualobsessionsvanish,"hishealthandwellbeingisrenewed,andheemerges
fromthebedroom"strongerandjollier,andmorekeenonhiswork.""Awomanthedayafterasuccessfulcoituswillbehappyandjolly,withsparklingeyesand
inclinedtosingoverherwork.''92
Asregardsdeviantsexualbehavior,moreknowledgewasneeded,wroteHavelockEllis,to"savepatientsmuchpersecutionandthepolicemuchbewilderment."The
concernfororderranthroughoutsuchdiscussions.JohnStevenson,forexample,whogotupHull'spetition,wasthesortofmaverickmagistratewhoalsorushedto
thedefenseofnudebathersandthoseseekingnoiseabatement.93Sexcrimes,Stevensonasserted,werecloggingupthecourts.Heclaimedtoknow,asalawyerand
magistrate,thatsomeoutrageslikeincestwereduenotsomuchtounnaturaldesiresasto"unnaturalhousingconditions."HesharedtheviewsofMr.Justice
McCardie,who,attheLeedsAssizesinDecember1931,refusedtoimprisontwowomenwhohadprocuredtheirownabortionsandprotestedthatmanyjudgesalso
opposedtheexistinglawsoneugenicsterilization,abortion,andbigamy."Whentheentiresetoflawsrelatingtosexarenotonlygenerallydisregardedbylarge
numbersofotherwisegoodcitizens,butcannotbeconscientiouslyenforcedbyagrowingnumberofjudgesappointedtoadministerthem,itissurelytimefora
Commissionwithfullpowerstofindacodemoreacceptabletoresponsiblecontemporaryopinion."94Stevenson,likeMcCardie,harboredtheeugenicnotionthatit
wouldhavebeenbetterifsomecriminalshadneverbeenallowedtobeborn.95Hesharedtheviewsofthehereditariansthatprisonsandasylums
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couldbeemptiedbytheemploymentofrationalscientificreformsandhappilynotedthatMr.JusticeMcCardiehadalso"awokenthepublicconsciencetotheresults
ofbreedinguncheckedandleavingatlargethousandsofmentaldefectives."96Suchtroublingenthusiasmsforrationalizationandefficiencyunderpinnedmuchofthe
interwarsexreformers'discussions.Sexualitywastobebetterunderstoodinordertobebettercontrolled.97
ThethirdinterestingaspectoftheHullcasestemsfromtheinsightsitoffersintothepublic'sresponsetohomosexualityinthe1930s.Wehavealreadyobservedthe
lackofunderstandingwhichevenexpertsdemonstratedwhendealingwithdeviancy.Thepresscoverageoftransvestitetrialsseemstohavereinforcedsuspicionof
sexualexperimentation.WhythendidHullsucceededingarneringsomuchpublicsympathywhilehundredsofjailedhomosexualsdidnot?Theanswerwouldappear
tobebecauseofthewayinwhichhiscasewascoveredbyjournalists.Ellisnotedthat,althoughtransvestismwashardtodefine,"itis,strangeasthatmayseem,the
commonestofallsexualanomaliestoattainprominenceinthepublicnewspapers."Notonlybecauseitwassostrikingandintriguing."Thereisthefurther
considerationthatsinceinitssimpleuncomplicatedformitconstitutesnoviolationofourmoralfeelingsandlaws,itisentirelypossibletodiscussitplainlyinthemost
reputablepublicpapers."98Hullwonsupport,asEllissuggests,becausehewaspresentedbyhissupportersasinfactnotahomosexual.Crossdressinghada
nonsexualhistoryandcouldbepresentedwithoutindecentconnotations.Effeminacyhadbeenpartoftheclichofthenineteenthcenturyhomosexual,butsympathy
forHullwasbasedfirmlyontheargumentthathewasnotsexuallyactive.Hewaspresentedasa"true"transvestite."Theyareapt,"reportedMaxHodann,aGerman
sexreformer,"tobeveryshyanddiffidentintheirgeneralandsocialattitude,quiteapartfromsexualmatters.Anothercomplexityintheirnaturesisthis:theyarebyno
meansalwayshomosexuals.''99
AnyhedonisticdesiresthatHullmayhaveactuallyharboredhadtobedeniedbyhisdefendersiftheyweretosucceed.Curiouslyenoughtheydefendedthis
transvestite'sreputationinmuchthesamechivalrousfashionthatgentlemenwereexpectedtoaccordtoladies.Hullcouldattractthepublicattentionofthesex
reformersbecausetheirsympathywentouttoafragileyoungmanwhomtheyviewedasvictimizedfirstbyhisownpsycheandthenbytheauthorities.Theimage
presentedofHullinthepresswasthatofatrappedbeing.Hewasquotedassaying,"IfIwearmaleclothesIamfrightenedIshallbetakentothepolicestationand
chargedwithposingasaman."100Ellisplayedupthesameepisode."Somuchishelikeagirl
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thatattheageofsixteen,whenreturningfromchurchoneSundaymorninginordinarymaleattire,hewasarrestedbythepolice,takentothestationandstripped,
becausehewassupposedtobeagirlmasqueradingasaman."101Onemighthavefirstexpectedthepublictohaveshownlesstolerationforatransvestiteevena
notterriblyflamboyantonethanforadiscreethomosexual.Butthehomosexualwhowillinglysoughtdeviantpleasureswasregardedbythepublicasathreat
whereasHullwonsupportbyallowinghimselftobeportrayedasa"victim"ofuncontrolleddesires.WhatHull'struefeelingwerewecannotknow.Thesexreformers
indefiningHullasanasexualtransvestitecreatedarolebywhichhewasbothprotectedandcontrolled.
ThefourthinterestthattheHullcaseholdsresultsfromwhatittellsusaboutheterosexuality.Suchcases,farfromunderminingsexandgenderroles,actuallyappearto
havereinforcedthem.Hullfulfilledthefantasyofthecompliantfemalehesuccessfully"passed"asawoman.Todaythiswouldmakehimalikelycandidateforasex
changeoperation.102Itisamootpointifsuchoperationserodesexrolestereotyping.Surgeonsinthelastyearsofthetwentiethcenturyprovideoperationsonlyto
thosewhoactinanappropriately"feminine"way.Suchoperations,ithasbeenargued,actuallyempowerdoctorsbyallowingthemto"create"womenandthepower
ofrealwomeniscorrespondinglydiminished.103
Whydidmaletransvestismappeartobeontheriseinthelatenineteenthcentury?Foucaulthasremindedusthatthedemandtoknowone's"true"sexisarecent
phenomenon.HermaphroditeswereforcenturiesacceptedintheWesternworldasmarvelousbeings.Bythenineteenthcentury,biology,law,andadministration
insistedthatonewaseithermaleorfemale.Medicineandthestatenotonlyrestrictedchoicesbut,intentonmakingsurethatsexandgendermatched,setabout
tearingoffdisguises,detectingerrors,andenforcing"legitimate"sexualconstitutions.Sex,onceahiddenattribute,wasinthetwentiethcenturyproclaimedbythe
expertstobethemostprofoundaspectofanindividual'sidentity.104Ironically,theriseofmalecrossdressingwasprobablyprecipitatedbytheunprecedented
attentionpaidtotheimportanceofknowingone's"true"sex.Theunintendedconsequenceofexperts'insistenceonsexualpolaritywasthedrivingofmen,whofelt
feminine,intowearingwomen'sclothing.
Hull'stransvestismwasnottimelessitwascreatedbythesexrolestereotypingofthe1920sand1930s.Theusefulnessoflookingatsuchacaseisthatitdirectsour
attentiontowhatearlytwentiethcenturypeopledidwhentheyperformedgenderroles.Transvestismprovidedevidencefor
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thesocialconstructionofgenderrolesanddemonstratedtherelativeeasewithwhichtheymaybeconvincinglyadopted.Suchfindingsshouldhavecounteredany
claimforthenatural,biologicalbasisofsexualdifferenceandseparatespheresandledtoafreshappreciationofhowpeople"worked"ofteninaconservative,
conformistfashionatpresentingthemselvesasmenorwomen.Topassasaman,onehadtobesexuallyaggressivetopassasawoman,onehadtobesexually
acquiescent.Ifsomecrossdressingwomenlike"ColonelBarker"weresuccessfulinmaintainingmarriageswithunsuspectingwomen,itwasbecausewhileactingasa
"man"theycoulddictatethesortsofsexualactivitiesthatwouldorwouldnottakeplace.
InthecaseofBurrowsandHull,theconfusedBurrowsdidnotpresshisdemandshencethemalespectators'hilarity.105Andyetitwasrepeatedlystatedthat
BurrowsandHull"livedasmanandwife."Howdidoneworkatbeingaworkingclassmanandwife?Itmeant,witnessestoldthecourt,thattheysharedthesame
bedand,moreimportantly,thattheyapportionedtheireconomicdutiesaccordingtoanunderstoodgendereddivisionoflabor.Burrowsworkedoutsidethehomeand
broughtbacktoHullhispaypacketHullwasresponsibleforfinancesandhouseholdchores."WhenyouweresharingtheroomwithBurrows,"Hullwasaskedby
thecrowncounsel,"didhegiveyouhiswages?Yes""Infacthetreatedyouinthesamewayasawife?Yes."106Heterosexualitywasintheeyesofthe
community,wearereminded,asmuchaneconomicasasexualrelationship.
WeareleftknowingagooddealaboutthesocietythatcreatedAustinHullthoughlittleofHullhimself.IntheofficialaccountoftheTavistockClinic'searlydays,we
catchalastfleetingglimpseofHullthepatient.
Amodestbeginning[by1931]hadbeenmadeinourtreatment,notonlyofneurotics,butalsoofbehaviordisorders,includingsomecriminals.Amongthemoresensationalevents
oftheweekforsomemonthswasthearrivalthreetimesweeklyofaprisonerservingsentenceforhomosexualoffenses,withtwouniformedwarders,tooneofwhomhewas
alwayshandcuffed.Inthecourseofthesevisitsthehandcuffscametobeleftoff.107
WhatdoestheHulltrialtellusaboutthepolicingofmasculinity?Accordingtothesexualdoublestandard,menwereexpectedtoenjoygreatersexuallibertiesthan
women.Yetthiswasnottobethecasewhenitcametocrossdressing.Awomanwhodressedasamanwasnotviewedaspar
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ticularlythreateningher"disguise,"whichcouldberegardedasfunctionalorprovocativeorerotic,didnotnecessarilyundermineherfemininity.SarahBernhardtand
MarleneDietrichwouldbelaudedforcrossdressinganymanwhodareddothesamewouldhavebeenderided.108Atworstdoctorsrecoiledfromtransvestites
withdisbeliefordisgustatbestphysicianspresentedthemaletransvestiteas"sick."Yetthosewhoconfessedtobeingmadenervousornauseousbycrossdressing
weretheselfproclaimed"normal."Theimageofmasculinitythatemergedfromsuchdiscussionswasthatofasurprisinglyfragileentitythathadtobecarefully
cossetedandprotected.109Theexpertswereonthelookoutforsissifiedmenagooddealofmasculineselfpolicingalsotookplace.InAmericamaleswereafraid
thatiftheyappearedtoosophisticateditcouldreflectadverselyontheirmanhood.SimilarlyinBritain,asQuentinCrisprecalled,"Themenofthetwentiessearched
themselvesforvestigesofeffeminacyasthoughforlice:"110
WesternsocietyappearedtoremainasshackledbystereotypedsexrolesasHullwasbyhishandcuffs.Thesensationaltransvestitetrialsofthe1920sand1930s
may,simplybythepublicitytheyproduced,haveledsometosympathizetoanextentwiththoseportrayedassufferingfromtheirsexualdeviancy.Thegeneral
impressiongivenbythenewspaperreportsoftheHulltrialandtheresponsesmadetoit,however,isthatonceagaintheauthoritieshadsucceededinturningapparent
violationsofsexandgenderrolestothepurposesofreinforcingheterosexualorder.Suchcases,farfromshakingthepublicoutofitssocialcomplacency,reinforced
suspicionsofanystrayingfromthehegemonicmodelofmasculinity.
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CONCLUSION
In1920theeminentAustrianpsychiatristDr.JuliusvonWagnerJauregglatertobewinnerofthe1928Nobelprizeforhismalariacureforgeneralparalysisofthe
insanehadtosubmithimselftoapublicinvestigation.Duringtherecentlyconcludedworldwar,hewasreportedtohaveharshlytreatedtheshellshockvictims
deliveredintohiscare.TheAustriansocialistswereparticularlyincensedbyhisuseofelectricshocktreatmentsonworkingclasssoldiers,whichthedeputies
describedaslittlemorethan"torture."InfactFrench,English,American,andGermandoctorshadalsorespondedtopatientswhofailedto"actlikemen"withthe
samesortsofpunitivetherapies.ThedebateoverthetreatmentofshellshockedsoldiersprecipitatedbothprofessionalandpublicdiscussionsacrossEuropeand
NorthAmericaofhowmilitarydoctorsshouldrespondtomassesofmaleinvalidswhomanifestedthehystericalbehaviorusuallyattributedtofemales.
Thewarhadbeeninitiallywelcomedonallsides,inparticularbythosemenwhohankeredafteranallmaleenvironment"uncomplicatedbywomen."1 Butthe
nostalgicnotionthatmodernwarmightconsistofdaringactsofindividualheroismwassoondisplacedbyfactualaccountsofthebarbarity,anonymity,and
technologicalhorrorsofactualtrenchwarfare.2 Someassertedthatthewar,inkillingoffthe"fittest"males,wasclearlydysgenic.3 Eventhemanhoodofthesurvivors
appearedtobeundermined.Thousandsofmeninregimentsacrossthewesternfront,afterbeingsubjectedtoweeksofterrifyingbombardments,brokedownand
werewrackedbytheboutsofweeping,depression,nightmares,andnervousfitscommonlyassociatedwithhystericalwomen."Theeffeminatehomosexualis
decidedlyunfitforthe,"wroteanAmericanpsychiatrist,"beingunabletostandwarstress."4 Tothehorrorofthehighcommand,thousandsof''normal"menappeared
todemonstrateasimilarlackof"willandcharacter."Manyfearednotsomuchthegasandshrapnelbutthe
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fearitselfthatwouldexposetheircowardice.Soldierswhohadvolunteeredactuallysurpassedordinaryconscriptsinmanifestinghigherlevelsofincapacitating
distress.Althoughnotphysicallyincapacitated,massesofmenfoundtheycouldnotfunctioninbattleandhadtoberelievedoftheirduties.
Themilitaryhighcommand,unpreparedtodealwithasurgeofpsychologicalcasualties,waspanickedbythenightmarishscenarioofacontagionofcowardiceand
indisciplineresultinginthecompletecollapseofwholearmies.5 Accordinglythefirstwaveofshellshockvictimswastreatedinaharshandhumiliatingfashion.
Doctorsdividedthosewhohad"real"cerebraldamagefromthosewithonlypsychologicaloremotionalproblems.Thecaregiverscastigatedthelatterascowards,
"moralinvalids,"and"poltroons."Expertsinthefieldadvisedtheircolleaguesnottomollycoddlesuchpatients,buttorespondquickly,briskly,andauthoritatively.
Electricalshocks,forexample,supposedlycalibratedsoasnottobesopainfulthatthepatientcouldmakehimselfouttobea"martyr,"weretobeusedto''snap"the
soldieroutofhislethargy.6 TheEnglishemployedthe"quickcure"and"Queen'ssquare"theFrenchthe"manireforte"and"torpillage"(electricshocks).Thesame
sortsofpeoplewhohadcalledforfloggingtodealwithpimpsandApachesincivilianlifebelievedthatsimilarlybrutalmethodscouldcurecowardiceinthemilitary.
Armiesonbothsidesofthelinerespondedtothespecterofmalingeringwithaconstantbarrageofhectoringappealsformentodemonstratetheirpluckand
manliness.
Theshort,sharptreatmentsdidnotwork.Inthecourseofthewar,thepsychologicalexpertsincreasinglycametotherealizationthatpunishingmenfortheirlackof
manlinesswasinfactcounterproductive.7 SigmundFreud,whowascalledasanexpertwitnessinthetrialofDr.vonWagnerJauregg,reportedthatinhisexperience
therewereamongtheshellshockedveryfewmalingerersmostpatientswereunconsciousoftheirfeelings.Neverthelessmanydoctorsfeltitwastheirdutytomake
therapysopainfulthatitwoulddrivethepatientbackintohealth."Thephysicianshadtoplayarolesomewhatlikethatofamachinegunbehindthefrontline,"Freud
notedinretrospect,"thatofdrivingbackthosewhofled."8 Suchdoctors,hewasforcedtoconclude,hadbetrayedmedicine.
Thehistoryoftheshellshockdebate,whichhasbeensowelltoldelsewhere,doesnothavetobereviewedinitsentiretyhere.9 Weonlytouchonitinconcludingthis
studybecauseFreud'sappearanceatthetrialofvonWagnerJaureggcouldwellserveasanappropriatewayinwhichtoturnthelastpageofachapterinthehistory
ofmasculinity.Itwillberecalled
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thatFreudandSandorFerenczionthecontinentandW.H.RiversinBritainfoundtheyhadahighersuccessrateindealingwiththeshellshockedpatientif,insteadof
belittlinghimwitholdfashionedchallengestoforgethistroubles,showastiffupperlip,andactlikeaman,theyallowedhimto"talkout"hisproblem.Inshortsuch
therapistshavebeenseenasmovingawayfromanineteenthcenturymodelofmasculinitythatemphasizedthecentralityofselfcontrolandwillpowerandtowarda
twentiethcenturymodelthattookintoaccounttheforcesofemotionandunconsciousmotivations.
WorldWarIhasbeenrepresentedasleadingtoareappraisaloftraditionalviewsonsexandgenderinotherwaysaswell.10Thewar,ingatheringtogetherhuge
massesofyoungmen,forceduponthepublicandmilitaryauthoritiestheextensivediscussionofsuchheretoforetabooedsubjectsasthetreatmentofvenerealdisease,
thepolicingofbrothels,andthedistributionofprophylactics.Thedemandsofthewartimeeconomynecessitatedtherecruitmentofthousandsofwomentotakeup
tasksheretoforecalled"men'swork."11Intellectuallytheconflict,whichhadbeenenteredintowithmuchmachotalkof"playingthegame,"gavebirthtoacultureof
resignationandintrospection.12Thebloodlettingwastakenbymanyasasignoftheendofanageofreason.Thosemaleculturalrebelsoftheprewarperiod,suchas
Wilde,Proust,andGide,whohadembracedhedonismandcastigatedtherepressivemoralityoftheVictorians,werehailedbytheProgressivesofthe1920sas
prophets.Andsophisticatedreaderslivinginatimeinwhichrepressionseemedoutoffashionandsexualexperimentationinvoguenecessarilyturnedforadviceto
seasonedexplorersoftheunconscioussuchasFreud.13
Evenbeforethewarbrokeout,reappraisalsofgenderhadbeenbegun.TheGermanfeministRoseMayrederassertedthatifonetookaggressivenessasthestandard,
thesavagewasthemostmasculineofmen.Unfortunately,notedMayreder,manyEuropeanmen'scontinuedfascinationwithduelingandwarfarerevealedthatthey
stillworshippedtheidolofprimitivemasculinity.14"Thefearofappearingunmanly,ofdisplayinganylackofthatvirilityattributedtotheprimitiveidealofthesex,
servestomaintainallthepreposterousatavisticprejudices,allthesenseless,incompatibletendenciesofwhichthelifeofthemodernmanissofull."15Theolderideal
masculinetypewasoutofstepwithmodernsocialconditions,concludedMayredermenwouldsoonhavetorecognizethepointlessnessofargumentsbasedon
physicalstrengthandcometotermswithlivinginanintellectualized,urbanizedworld.
Endingoursurveyofthemaleperversions,aswedid,withananalysis
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oftransvestitismandatracingoftheshiftintheattitudesoftheexpertstowarditfrom"disgusttocompassion,"temptsonetoconcludethatWorldWarIdidmarka
sharprelaxationoftheconstraintsassociatedwiththeoldermodelofaggressivemasculinity.16Suchaconclusionwouldmoreovercomplementtheworkofanumber
ofotherhistorianswhohavesketchedoutchangesinappropriatemalerolemodelsbetweentheeighteenthandtwentiethcenturies.Theyhavetracedthesubduingof
thedrinkingandgamblingaristocratandthestressonmalesensibilityespousedbyBurkeandRousseauandmanifestedintheAmericanWarofIndependenceandthe
FrenchRevolution.This,theysuggest,ledontotheVictorians'idealofselfrestrained,moralmanliness,whichgavewayinthelatternineteenthcenturytothe
aggressive,sexualizedmodelofmasculinity.Intheearlytwentiethcentury,thetrendwasawayfromruggedmasculinityandtoward"masculinedomesticity."17
Lesslinear,lessoptimistic,andmorecomplextrajectoriescanalsobetraced.Ifthewarblurredgenderlines,theauthoritieswereuponitsconclusionallthemore
insistentthatwomenberelegatedtotheir"traditional"tasks.18Ifafewcreativewritersembracedmodernism,thereweremanymorewhotrottedoutoldjingoistic
arguments.19Ifthemilitaryfinallyacceptedthediagnosisof"warneurosis"andallowedlesspunitivetreatmentsofshellshockedmen,itwasnotasymptomofasofter
attitudetowardmalingeringortheembracingofanewviewoftruemasculinity:themilitaryacceptedapsychologicaldiagnosisprimarilytoindividualizetheproblem
andtherebypreventmassmutinies.20AndifFreudwasassociatedwiththesubversivenotionthateachindividualwasoriginallybisexualinnature,hispostwar
popularityisbetterattributedtopsychoanalysis'susefulnessinreinvigoratingratherthaninunderminingwhatwerenowseenastraditionalmaleandfemaleroles.
Thepowerheldinthepostwarworldbyappealstoconservativemodelsofgenderthatstressedtheprimacyofmasculinevirilitywasmostdramaticallydemonstrated
inthewritingsofanotherproductofVienneseculture,AdolfHitler.InMeinKampf(1923)onefindsnotonlytheassertionthatAryansare"men"andJewsarenot,
butarehashoffamiliarlatenineteenthcenturyideas:thosetaintedwithvenerealdiseaseshouldnotbeallowedtoreproduceearlymarriagesareneededtocombat
prostitutionbirthcontrolisadangerbecauseitlimitsgeneticchoiceandsoleadstodegenerationtoomuchstudyisunhealthythesexualexcitationprofferedbyfilms,
plays,paintings,andpostersunderminesthemoralsofyouthyoungmenhavetoberenderedhardbygymnasticsandsport.21Having
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examinedthewaysinwhichattemptsweremadeinthenineteenthcenturytodefineanddefendhealthymasculinity,itshouldcomeasnosurprisethatinthetwentieth
manyintheWestwereimpressedbytheruddymasculinevigoroftheHitlerYouthandfewprotestedtheNazis'passinglawsforthecastrationofmale"sexcriminals"
andhomosexualsdiagnosedas"sick."22Tosuggestthereforethatoneprogressivetwentiethcenturymodelofmasculinitydisplaceditsrepressivenineteenthcentury
counterpartissimplistic.Perhapsthebestthatcanbesaidisthatintheearlytwentiethcenturydeterminingwhatweretheboundariesofappropriatemasculine
behaviorwasrenderedmorecomplicatedthanithadbeenwhenmalesexualitywasfirstproblematizedacenturyearlier.
Thisstudyhadasitsgoaltoshowhowconceptsofmasculinitywerecreated,policed,andmaintainedbymen.Males,itshouldbeclearbynow,measuredtheir
masculinityagainstthatofothermennotwomen.Communitiesalwayshadavarietyofformalandinformalmeansbywhichtopolicegender.Dominantformsof
masculinityinthenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturies,wehaveargued,werelargelyconstitutedoutofasetofnegativevarietiesthatappearedineveryday
discourseandpractice."Acuriousfeatureofourpatriarchalsociety,"notesoneauthor,inmakingmuchthesamepoint,"isthelackofsympathygiventothefateof
menincertaincontexts,particularlyinareasoffailure."23Wesetouttoshowhowaseriesofkeytrials,oftenbymakingscapegoatsor"examples"ofmaleviolators
whocametotheattentionofthepressorpublic,setnormativeboundariesforturnofthecenturymasculinity.Gaugingtheimpactofsuchcasesonthemassofmen
posesobviousdifficulties.Theverdictsinsensationaltrialsdidnotalwaysprovideanaccuratereflectionoftheextentofeitherthepublicortheprofessionals'intentto
enforceruthlesslysuchboundaries.Muddledordebatedmessagesasinthecaseofwhatwasexpectedofagentlemanwheninconflictwithalady,forexample
wereoftentheresultofthesecontests.Genderdisputesweremoreovermadeendlesslycomplicatedbysocialclass,culturalsetting,andasinthecaseofMr.Justice
Dayindividualperspective.
HereitisworthrecallingRobertConnell'spointthatfemininityandmasculinityrefernottoessencesbuttowaysoflivingthatarehistorical.Femininitiesand
masculinitieschangetheirmeaningsshift.Connellidentifiesan"emphasizedfemininity"anda"hegemonicmasculinity"ascurrentlypowerful,publicideologiesin
Westernculture.24Healsoargues,aswehave,thatsuchmodelsdonotnecessarilycorrespondtoactualfemininitiesandmasculinitiesastheyarelived,andsuch
dominantformsareal
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wayscontested."Ascendantdefinitionsofreality,"tousethecumbersometerminologyofthesociologist,arealwayspartialandalwaystosomeextentcontested
accomplishments.Intheorynoonecounteredthebourgeoisargumentthatthemanwhocommittedbigamywasascoundrelinpracticemanyworkingclassmenand
womenappreciatedthesocialconditionsthatmightleadtosuchamarriage.
Aswedemonstrated,especiallyinparttwoofthisstudy,thedominantideologyofmasculinitydidnottotallyobliteratealternativereadings.Menselected,used,and
appropriatedelementsoftheideologythey"tookitup"whennecessarytorationalizeormakesenseoftheiractions.Wedonothavetoimaginethemasallpassively
internalizingtheideologyof"hegemonicmasculinity"inasimplecauseandeffectorcoercedway.Thisideologycreatedlinguisticandsocialpositionsthatit"invited"
mentoassume.Norarewesuggestingthatthelegalandmedicalprofessionsformedsomehomogenousmassthatconspiredtowieldpoweroverthesexlivesoftheir
fellowcitizens.Theirmemberswereoftennodoubtmovedbygenuinescientificcuriosity,byunderstandableconcernsfororder,byphilanthropy.Whatweargueis
thatthenotionthattherewasoneessentialformofmasculinitywassimplyassumedbyjudges,journalists,anddoctors.Whattheydidnotrealizethemselvesisthatthe
modelofmasculinitythattheytookasagivenwasonethattheywereactuallyhelpingtoconstruct.
Inshort,althoughthepublicrhetoricofwhatitmeant"tobeaman"wasdominatedbyamaleelite,masculinitynecessarilyhaddifferentmeaningsdependingonmen's
individualexperiencesandontheirclass,race,andsexualorientation.Unfortunatelywecouldnothopetorevealallthewaysinwhichtotalkoractlikeamanvaried
byclass,industry,region,locality,orethnicgroup.Nor,intakingahighlyselectivechoiceoftrialcases,didweproposetoshowaclearprocessofchangeinmen's
behaviorovertime.Consequentlywearewaryofmakinganygrandclaimsaboutevolvingmodelsofmasculinity.Whatareadingofthesortofevidenceunearthedby
thisstudydoesallowustoappreciateishowandwhynineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturydoctors,lawyers,andlaymen,incondemningthe"unmanly,"helpedto
constructandsoughttoimposeontheirsocietieswhatfordecadestocomeweretobeheraldedasnaturalandtimelessnormsofmasculinity.
Page239
NOTES
Introduction
1.ThehistoricalanalysisofmasculinityandfemininityisarelatedrecentphenomenonthereisnodiscussionofgenderedtermsinaClassictextsuchasRaymond
William,Keywords:AVocabularyofCultureandSociety(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1976).
2.PierreBourdieu,OutlineofaTheoryofPractice,trans.RichardNice(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1977),94.
3.AswasmadeclearinRuddiman's1749passingreferencetotheterm"BesidesthePrerogativeofhisSex,orMasculinity(astheFrenchcallit)'"masculinity"
hadonlyrecentlyenteredtheEnglishlanguage.InFranceitwasusedfromthesixteenthcenturyonwardtodescribethelegalprivilegesofmalesinbothlanguagesit
beganinthenineteenthcenturytobeemployedtorefertowhatweretakentobemalephysiologicalandpsychologicaltraits.OxfordEnglishDictionary
Dictionnairedelalanguefranaisedu16esicle(Paris:Didier,1961).
4.See,forexample,EdwardShorter,TheMakingoftheModernFamily(NewYork:BasicBooks,1976)PaulRobinson,TheModernizationofSex:Havelock
Ellis,AlfredKinsey,WilliamMastersandVirginiaJohnson(NewYork:HarperandRow,1976).
5.MichelFoucault,TheHistoryofSexuality:Introduction,trans.RobertHurley(London:AllenLane,1978)andseealsoRosalindCoward,Patriarchal
Precedents,SexualityandSocialRelations(LondonRoutledgeandKeganPaul,1983).
6.ThomasLaqueur,MakingSex:BodyandGenderfromtheGreekstoFreud(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1990)LawrenceBirken,Consuming
Desires:SexualScienceandtheEmergenceofaCultureofAbundance,18711914(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1989)CynthiaEagleRussett,Sexual
Science:TheVictorianConstructionofWomanhood(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1989)RobertA.Nye,MasculinityandMaleCodesofHonorin
ModernFrance(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress1993)E.AnthonyRotundo,AmericanManhood(NewYork:BasicBooks,1993)LesleyA.Hall,Hidden
Anxieties:MaleSexuality,19001950(Oxford:PolityPress,1991)KevinWhite,TheFirstSexualRevolution:TheEmergenceofMaleHeterosexualityin
ModernAmerica(NewYork:NewYorkUniversityPress,1993)JudithWalkowitz,TheCityofDreadfulDelight(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1992)
CarollSmithRosenberg,DisorderlyConduct:VisionsofGenderinVictorianAmerica(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1985)RuthHarris,Murderersand
Madness:Medicine,LawandSocietyintheFindeSicle(Oxford:ClarendonPress,1989).Ontherelationshipofprogressivepoliticalviewsandattitudestoward
sexualityinEasternEurope,seeLauraEngelstein,TheKeystoHappiness:SexandtheSearchforModernityinFindesicleRussia(Ithaca:CornellUniversity
Press,1992).
7.Studiesthatfocuson"respectable"modelsofmasculinityincludeStevenSeidman,RomanticLongings:LoveinAmerica,18301930(NewYork:Routledge,
1991)PeterG.Filene,Him/Her/Self:SexRolesinModernAmerica(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversity
Page240
Press,1974)andJoeL.Dubbert,"ProgressivismandtheMasculinityCrisis,"inTheAmericanMan,ed.E.PleckandJ.Pleck(NewYork:PrenticeHall,
1980),30319MichaelS.Kimmel,"Thecontemporary'Crisis'ofMasculinityinHistoricalPerspective,"inTheMakingofMasculinities:TheNewMen's
Studies,ed.HarryBrod(Boston:UnwinHyman,1987):PeterN.Steams,BeaMan!MalesinModernSociety(NewYorkHolmesandMeier,1979)J.A.
ManganandJamesWalvin,ManlinessandMorality:MiddleClassMasculinityinBritainandAmerica,18001940(NewYork:St.Martin'sPress,1987)
MichaelRoperandJohnTosh,eds.ManfulAssertions:MasculinitiesinBritainsince1800(London:Routledge,1991)MarkC.CarnesandClydeGriffen,
MeaningsforManhood(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1990)ElisabethBadinter,XY:Del'Identitmasculine(Paris:OdileJacob,1992)MartinA.
Danahay,ACommunityofOne:MasculineAutobiographyandAutonomyinNineteenthCenturyBritain(Albany:SUNYPress,1993)HerbertSussman,
VictorianMasculinities:ManhoodandMasculinePoeticsinEarlyVictorianLiteratureandArt(CambridgeCambridgeUniversityPress,1995)Claudia
Nelson,InvisibleMen:FatherhoodinVictorianPeriodicals,18531910(Athens:UniversityofGeorgiaPress,1995).
8.Forsuggestiveinsightsonhistoricizingandsociologizingmasculinity,seeR.W.Connell,WhichWayIsUp?EssaysonSex,ClassandCulture(London:Allen
andUnwin,1983)JohnTosh,"WhatShouldHistoriansDowithMasculinity?ReflectionsonNineteenthCenturyBritain,"HistoryWorkshopJournal38(1994):
179202.
9.Harris,MurderersandMadness,327.
10.JoanScott,"StatisticalRepresentationsofWork:ThePoliticsoftheChamberofCommerce'sStatitiquedel'industrieParis,184748,"inWorkinFrance:
Representations,Meaning,OrganizationandPractice,ed.StevenLawrenceKaplanandCynthiaJ.Koepp(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1986),36in83.
11.TheodoreZeldin,"LesFranaisetl'amour,"inAmouretsexualitenl'occident,ed.GeorgesDuby(Paris:Points,1991),31723.
12.ForanintroductiontothisissueseeGailBederman,ManlinessandCivilization:ACulturalHistoryofGenderandRaceintheUnitedStates,18801917
(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1995)AnneMcClintock,ImperialLeather:Race,GenderandSexualityinColonialConquest(NewYork:Routledge,
1995)MrinaliniSinha,ColonialMasculinity:The"ManlyEnglishman"andthe"EffeminateBengali"intheLateNineteenthCentury(Manchester:
ManchesterUniversityPress,1995)AntoinetteBurton,BurdensofHistory:BritishFeminists,IndianWomenandImperialCulture,18651915(ChapelHill:
UniversityofNorthCarolinaPress,1994).
13.Somuchhasbeenwrittenabouttheconstructionofnineteenthcenturyhomosexualitythatoneisoftenleftwiththemisleadingimpressionthattheonlyformof
"sexualdissidence"thatpreoccupiedthesexologistswasinversion.See,forexample,JonathanDollimore,SexualDissidence:AugustinetoWilde,Fraudto
Foucault(Oxford:ClarendonPress,1991).
14.LeonoreDavidoffandCatherineHall,FamilyFortunes:MenandWomenoftheEnglishMiddleClass,17801850(London:Hutchinson,1987),33.
15.EdCohen,TalkontheWildeSide:TowardaGenealogyofaDiscourseonMaleSexualities(London:Routledge,1993),129
16.GuidoRuggiero,TheBoundariesofEros(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1985).
17.SanderGilman,DifferenceandPathology:StereotypesofSexuality,RaceandMadness(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1985).
18.JamesW.Messerschmidt,MasculinitiesandCrime:CritiqueandReconceptualizationofTheory(Lanham,Md.:RowmanandLittlefield,1993)
19.Rotundo,forexample,inAmericanManhoodcompletelyskirtsthelinkagesofviolenceandmasculinity.
20.MarieElisabethHandman,LaViolenceetlaruse:Hommesetfemmesdansunvillagegrec(Paris:Edisud,1983),15459.
Page241
21.GeorgesLanteriLaura,Lecturedesperversions:Histoiredeleurappropriationmdicale(ParisMasson,1979).
22.KatherineFischerTaylor,InTheTheaterofCriminalJustice:ThePalaisdeJusticeinSecondEmpireParis(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,1993).
23.AndrGide,Souvenirsdelacourd'assises(Paris:Nouvellerevuefranaise,1913)andonthecrucialroleofpopularprejudiceasreflectedbyjuriesinthe
UnitedStates,seeSamuelWalker,PopularJustice:AHistoryofAmericanCriminalJustice(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1980),111.
24.JoanWallachScott,GenderandthePoliticsofHistory(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,1988),42.
25.RobertA.Nye,MasculinityandMaleCodesofHonorinModernFrance(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1993).
26.OntheroleoffilmandtelevisionintheshoringupofgenderrolesintwentiethcenturyAmerica,seeSusanJeffords,TheRemasculinizationofAmerica:Gender
andtheVietnamWar(Bloomington:IndianaUniversityPress,1989).
27.ArnoldDavidson,"SexandtheEmergenceofSexuality,"CriticalInquiry14(1987):1648JeffreyWeeks,Sex,PoliticsandSociety:TheRegulationof
Sexualitysince1800(London:Longman,1981).
28.KarenDubinsky,ImproperAdvances:RapeandHeterosexualConflictinOntario(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1993).
29.MauriceGodelier,NewLeftReview127(1987):17,citedinScott,GenderandthePoliticsofHistory,45.Onthelonghistoryofsuchpreoccupations,see
DavidCohen,Law,SexualityandSociety.TheEnforcementofMoralsinClassicalAthens(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1991).
IntroductiontoPartOne
1.BrianDippie,TheVanishingAmerican:WhiteAttitudesandUnitedStatesIndianPolicy(Middletown,Conn.:WesleyanUniversityPress,1982).
2.WilliamJames,CollectedEssaysandReviews(London:Longman,1920),4045.
Chapter1
Deviants
1.ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommoms43(14Nov.1912),cols.208486LeonRadzinowiczandRogerHood,AHistoryofEnglishCriminalLaw
anditsAdministrationfrom1750(London:Stevens,1986),5:711.
2.PieterSpierenburg,TheSpectacleofSuffering:ExecutionsandtheEvolutionofRepressionfromaPreindustrialMetropolistotheEuropeanExperience
(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1984),689MichaelIgnatieff,AJustMeasureofPain:ThePenitentiaryintheIndustrialRevolution,17501850
(London:Macmillan,1978).
3.MartinJ.Wiener,ReconstructingtheCriminal:Culture,LawandPolicyinEngland,18301914(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1990).Foraless
optimisticviewofthewideningscopeofcriminallawandtheaccompanyinggrowthofpolicepowers,seeV.A.C.Gatrelletal.,eds.,CrimeandtheLaw:The
SocialHistoryofCrimeinWesternEuropesince1500(London:EuropaPress,1980).
4.RadzinowiczandHood,EnglishCriminalLaw,5:690.
5.Onthecontinuedsubjectionintothetwentiethcenturyofmalesundertheageofsixteentobirchings,seeGeoffreyPearson,Hooligan:AHistoryofRespectable
Fears(London:Macmillan,1983),261n92.
6.JenniferDavis,"TheLondonGarrotingPanicof1862:AMoralPanicandtheCreationofaCriminalClassinMidVictorianEngland,"inCrimeandtheLaw,ed.
Gatrelletal.,190213.
7.Onthenumbersflogged,seeParliamentaryPapers54(1882):137"Reportofthe
Page242
DepartmentalCommitteeonCorporalPunishment,"ParliamentaryPapers9(19371938):461619RadzinowiczandHood,EnglishCriminalLaw,5:707.
8.Thewaveofgarrotingswasactuallyoverbeforefloggingwasemployed.seeGeorgeBenson,M.P.,Flogging:TheLawandPracticeinEngland(London:
HowardLeague,1931).
9.RadzinowiczandHood,EnglishCriminalLaw,5:694.
10.MaeveE.Doggett,Marriage,WifeBeatingandtheLawinVictorianEngland(London:WeidenfeldandNicolson,1992),10633.
11.ElizabethPleck,DomesticTyranny:TheMakingofAmericanSocialPolicyagainstFamilyViolencefromColonialTimestothePresent(NewYork:
OxfordUniversityPress,1987),10824
12.SimeonBaldwin,TheAmericanJudiciary(NewYork:Century,1905),245.
13.SimeonBaldwin,"WhippingandCastrationasPunishmentsforCrime,"YaleLawJournal8(1899):377.
14.Pleck,DomesticTyranny,111LindaGordon,HeroesofTheirOwnLives:ThePoliticsandHistoryofFamilyViolence,Boston18801960(NewYork:
Viking,1988),255.
15.RadzinowiczandHood,EnglishCriminalLaw,695.SeealsoParliamentaryDebates,HouseofLords300(31July1885),cols.72251.
16.ParliamentaryPapers82(1888):333572(1898):56971.
17.Floggingswereusedtoenforcedisciplineinthearmyandnavyuntil1881seeAlanRamsaySkelley,TheVictorianArmyatHome(London:CroomHelm,
1977),14752.Forafirstpersonaccountofthehorrorsofbeingflogged,seeAlexanderSomerville,TheAutobiographyofaWorkingMan(London:Turnstile
Press,1951),18889.
18.T.B.L.Baker,"OnVagrantsandTramps"(pamphlet,ManchesterStatisticalSociety,1869).
19."1898VagrancyActAmendmentBill,"ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons62(1898),col.426ff.
20.Rev.FrankCharlesLaubach,WhyThereareVagrants:AStudyBaseduponanExaminationofOneHundredMen(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversity,
1916),36andonthe"wolf"or"jocker,"seealsoJosiahFlynt,TrampingwithTramps(NewYork:Century,1899),7.AccordingtotheOxfordEnglish
Dictionary,NorthAmericansalsoemployedthetermgunsel(fromtheYiddish"littlegoose")torefertoatramp'scompanionand/ortheyounghomosexual.
21."ABilltoAmendtheVagrancyAct,1824,"ParliamentaryPapers7(1898):6078HenryS.Salt,TheFloggingCraze:AStatementoftheCaseagainst
CorporalPunishment(London:GeorgeAllen,1916),72.
22.Salt,FloggingCraze,71.
23.Ibid.,73.
24.SeelettertoLondonTimes,28Feb.1899,7f.
25.In1895onlyonepersonof1,265convictedofexposinghimselfhadactuallyhadbeenwhippedseeRadzinowiczandHood,EnglishCriminalLaw,5:707.
26.JosephCollinson,TheFloggingofVagrants(London:HumanitarianLeague,1909),9.
27.Onthebitchingoffouryoungmaleprostitutesforwhatthenewspapersdiscretelyreferredtoasthe"annoying"ofgentlemenintheWestEnd,seeLondonTimes,
6Nov.1912,4e.OnthefloggingofmenforsexoffensesinCanada,seePierreHurteau,"L'Homosexualitmasculineetlesdiscourssurlesexeencontexte
montralaisdelafinduXIXesiclelarevolutiontranquille,"Histoiresociale/SocialHistory26(1993):47.
28.EdwardJ.BristowProstitutionandPrejudice:TheJewishFightagainstWhiteSlavery,18701939(NewYork:SchockenBooks,1983),37.Thehighly
chargedimageofBritishgirlsbeingheldcaptiveinBelgianbrothelshadbeenlaunchedin1879bythemoralpurityadvocate,AlfredDyer.WilliamSteadandWilliam
Cootesubsequentlycarriedonthecampaign.
Page243
29.EdwardJ.BristowViceandVigilance:PurityMovementsinBritainsince1700(London:GillandMacmillan,1977)
30.ParliamentaryPapers7(1898):607.
31.ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofLords12(1912),cols.1193,1198.
32.SeealsoParliamentaryPapers1(191213):599614ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons43(1912),cols.725806cols18421950Houseof
Lords13(1912),cols10636HouseofCommons45(1912),cols.69934696ff.
33.Inprisonsthelastfloggingstookplacein1962butwerenotactuallyabolisheduntil1967.IanGibson,TheEnglishVice:Beating,SexandShameinVictorian
EnglandandAfter(London:Duckworth,1978),167.SeealsoArthurGriffiths,MemorialsofMillbankandChaptersinPrisonHistory(London:Chapmanand
Hall,1884),12932.
34.E.RoyCalvertandTheodoraCalvert,TheLawBreakers(London:Routledge,1933),254.
35.DailySketch,13Feb.1913.Mormons,becauseoftheirassociationwithpolygamy,playedthestockroleofsexualvillainsinliteraryworksrangingfromArthur
ConanDoyle'sAStudyinScarlet(1887)toZaneGrey'sRidersofthePurpleSage(1912).
36.WilliamTallack,PenologicalandPreventivePrinciples(London:Wertheimer,1896),414
37.Bristow,ViceandVigilance,193.ButforMajorPaget's1924attempttoextendwhippingtomalesoversixteenwhocommitsexualoffenseagainstgirlsunder
thirteen,seeLancet1(1924):1344.
38.RadzinowicsandHood,EnglishCriminalLaw,5:697.
39.M.St.J.Packe,LifeofJohnStuartMill(1954),4823.
40.Tallack,PenologicalandPreventivePrinciples,11.
41.RichardMaxwellBrown,StrainofViolence(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1975),17779.
42.Tallack,PenologicalandPreventivePrinciples,413.
43.Labouchrecitedinibid.,11112.
44.Tallack,PenologicalandPreventivePrinciples,117.
45.Ibid.,391.
46.Baldwin,"WhippingandCastration,"383.Onviewsofchildhoodsexualitysee,SanderGilman,DifferenceandPathology:StereotypesofSexuality,Race,
andMadness(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1985).
47.Tallack,PenologicalandPreventivePrinciples,414.Onthepress'ssupportforTallack'scalltogettoughwithtramps,seethebookofpresscuttingsonW.
Tallack'sPenologicalandPreventivePrinciples(BritishLibrary,6057ee25).
48.ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofParliament43(1912),cols.19001902.JewshadbeenaccusedofpimpingbythepopularjournalistArnoldWhite,The
ModernJew(London:Heinemann,1899).OntheportrayalofJewsaseffeminateandhysterical,seeJohnM.Efron,DefendersoftheRace:JewishDoctorsand
RaceScienceinFindeSicleEurope(NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1994),7.OntheassociationofblackmenwiththedruggingandseductionofEnglish
women,seeMarekKohn,DopeGirls:TheBirthoftheBritishDrugUnderground(London:LawrenceandWishart,1992).
49.ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons43(1912),col.1901.col.18921938andseealsothestatementsofReginaldMcKenna,theLiberalhome
secretary,ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons43(1912),col.767andseealsoLondonTimes,2Nov.1912,7f.
50.Baldwin,"WhippingandCastration,"380.
51.SimeonBaldwin,TheAmericanJudiciary(NewYork:Century,1905),246.
52.Pleck,DomesticTyranny,10824.Virginiarevertedtowhippingin1898forundersixteensasanalternativetoafineorjailsentenceifthefatherconsented.
TheodoreRoosevelt
Page244
threwhissupportbehindthecorporalpunishmentcampaignin1904,buttheUnitedStatesCongressrejectedflogginglegislationin1906.
53.OnoppositiontowhippinginIndia,seeThomasBabingtonMacaulay,Works,4:196,citedinGibson,EnglishVice,154.
54.Baldwin,''WhippingandCastration,"382.
55.WilliamHarbuttDawson,TheVagrancyProblem(London:P.S.King,1910),3.
56.HippolyteLaurent,LesChtimentscorporels(Lyon:Phily,1912),112,34850.
57.ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons81(1900),col.555.
58.ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons43(1912),cols.1874,1877.Thesameargumenthadbeenmadein1898seeParliamentaryDebates,House
ofCommons62(1898VagrancyActAmendmentBill),col.429.
59.ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons43(1912),col.72830.Thegovernmentwasatthistimeseekingbywayofabillforfeeblemindednesstohave
placedunderdetentionsinglepregnantwomenreceivingreliefseeLondonTimes,8Nov.1912,4a.
60.JosephCollinson,FactsaboutFlogging(London:Fifield,1905),17.
61.Onthewomen'smovementandsexualpanics,seeLucyBland,BanishingtheBeast:EnglishFeminismandSexualMorality,18851914(London:Penguin,
1995).
62.Fortheobservationthat,thoughmenwerebeatenwhilewomenwerenot,womendidnothavehigherstatusandindeedthepimp,inbecomingthefocusof
criminallaw,wasgiven"theprivilegeofagency,"whichwasdeniedwomen,seeLauraEngelstein,TheKeystoHappiness:SexandtheSearchforModernityin
FindeSicleRussia(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1992),749093.
63.TheHumanitarian(December1912):9091.TheHumanitarianLeaguewassupportedbyfeministssuchasLadyFlorenceDixie,whowroteoneofits
pamphlets,"TheMercilessnessofSport:"
64.Between1883and1899,Dayhadincludedinhissentencing4,061strokesseeParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons81(1900),col.560Salt,
FloggingCraze,134.
65.LondonTimes,13Nov.1912,16d.
66.TeresaBillingtonGreig,"TheTruthaboutWhiteSlavery,"EnglishReview14(1913):43435.FrancesPowerCobbehadbeenanearliervocalfeminist
opponentofflogging.
67.LondonTimes,13Nov.1912,16d.
68.ParliamentaryPapers,HouseofCommons43(1912),col.1861.
69.ParliamentaryPapers,HouseofCommons43(1912),col.1930.
70.ElaineShowalter,SexualAnarchy:GenderandCultureattheFindeSicle(London:Penguin,1990).
71.ColinWatson,SnobberywithViolence:EnglishCrimeStoriesandTheirAudience(London:EyreMethuen,1971).
72.Predictablyenoughthedefendersoffloggingcharacterizedtheiropponentsasbeingnotrealmenbut"enthusiasticoldwomenintrousers:"Skelley,Victorian
Army,152.
73.EdwardCarpenterprovidedsomepositive,remedialexamplesofcaningbutconcludedthatitwasmorallythelowestformofpunishmentandshouldonlybeused
inreformatoriesbythosewhoknewandcaredfortheircharges,butneverforadults.EdwardCarpenter,Prisons,PoliceandPunishment(London:Fifield,1905)
andseealsoDanWeinbren,"AgainstAllCruelty:TheHumanitarianLeague,18911919,"HistoryWorkshopJournal(1995):86105.
74.OnOscarWilde'srevulsionatthefloggingshewitnessedinprison,see"TheCaseofWarderMartin:SomeCrueltiesofPrisonLife,"alettertotheeditorofthe
DailyChroniclepublished28May1897,inTheAnnotatedOscarWilde,ed.H.MontgomeryHyde(London:Orbis,1982),470.
75.SeealsoH.G.Wells,TheIslandofDr.Moreau(London:Heinemann,1896).
76.ThomasdeQuincey,"OnSuicide,"inCollectedWritings(Edinburgh:Black,1890),8:400andseealso"FlogginginSchools,"inCollectedWritings,1:29195.
Page245
77.JamesFitzjamesStephen,AHistoryoftheCriminalLaw(London:Macmillan,1883),2:91.
78.ReportedbyArthurGreenwood,M.P.,intheintroductiontoSalt,FloggingCraze.
79.Mr.L.Williams,ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons43(1912),col.1900.
80.Salt,FloggingCraze,80.
81.NewsoftheWorld,22June1913,1.ThesexologistslikeKrafftEbing,Moll,andEllisprovidedsimilarreports.
82.GeorgeBernardShaw,TheAwakener,16Nov.1912,78andseealsoHumanity,April1898,2627MisallianceinCollectedWorks(London:Constable,
1930),13:56,inwhichhedeclaredthe1912actwas"notalegislativephenomenonbutapsychopathicone."
83.Salt,FloggingCraze,87
84.ParliamentaryDebates,HouseofCommons43(1912),cols.194849.
85.Ausefulreviewofothercountries'viewsonfloggingwasprovidedinthe"ReportoftheDepartmentalCommitteeonCorporalPunishment,"Parliamentary
Papers9(19371938)610ff.Canadastoodoutasanationespeciallypronetousingthewhiponaverage,ineachyearbetween1932and1936,130adultswere
sopunished.
86.ThankstotheworkoftheInternationalAbolitionistFederation,firstorganizedbyJosephineButler,internationalagreementsof1902and1910hadtheuseof
fraudorforcetomovefemalesunderagetwentyabroadrecognizedininternationallawasacrime.TheDutchin1911raisedtheageofconsenttotwentyone.Inthe
UnitedStates,inadditiontotheMannAct,fortytwostatespassedsimilarlegislation,thoughonly7.5percentofwomenstatedthattheywerecoercedintothetrade.
Bristow,ProstitutionandPrejudiceDavidJ.Pivar,PurityCrusade:SexualMoralityandSocialControl,18681900(Westport,Conn.:GreenwoodPress,
1973)RuthRosen,LostSisterhood:ProstitutioninAmerica,19001918(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1981),11219,134DavidJ.Langum,
CrossingovertheLine:LegislatingMoralityandtheMannAct(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1994)
87.Indeedonthecontinentavisittoabrothelremainedamaleriteofpassageandtheprocurercouldevenbemadethesubjectofanovel.SeeCharlesLouis
Philippe,BubuofMontparnasse(1905Paris:Crosby,1932)RichardJ.Evans,TheFeministMovementinGermany,18941933(London:Sage,1976),17.
88.Onregulatedprostitution,weLoTaxil,LaCorruptionfindesicle(Paris:Noirot,1904),66169LouisFiaux,LaPolicedesmoeursenFranceetdansles
principauxpaysdel'Europe(Paris:Dentu,1888),3vols.AlainCorbin,LesFillesdenoce.Misresexuelleetprostitution,19eet20esicles(ParisAubier
Montaigne,1978)JacquesTermeau,Maisonsclosesdeprovince(Paris:Editionscnomane,1986)JeanMarcBerlire,LaPolicedesmoeurssouslaIIIe
rpublique(Paris:Seuil,1992).
89.RobertA.Nye,Crime,Madness,andPoliticsinModernFranceThemedicalConceptofNationalDecline(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,1984),
196202.
90.TheywerealsoreportedinLille,Marseilles,andLyon.
91.Dr.Lejeune,FautilfouetterlesApaches?(Paris:LibrairieduTemple,1910),23seealsoHippolyteLaurent,LesChtimentscorporels:LaPeinecapitale,
lefouetauxapaches(Lyon:Phily,1912)LeFouetcontrelecrime(Lyon:Phily,1913).EdmondLocard,LeCrimeetlescriminels(Paris:LeRenaissancedu
livre,1927).
92.Fortheobservationthatmostyoungmeninsuchgangswereinrealitysimplygoingthroughapreadulthoodriteofpassage,seeMichellePerrot,"DanslaFrance
delaBellepoque,les'Apaches',premiresbandesdejeunes,"inLesMarginauxetlesexclusdansl'histoire,ed.BernardVincent(Paris:Uniongnrale
d'ditions,1979),387408.
93.AlexandreLacassagne,Peinedemortetcriminalit(ParisMaloine,1908),967,144,16465A.Lacassagne,'LeschatimentscorporelsenAngleterre,"
Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle26(1911):3546.
94.CesareLombroso,L'Uomodelinquente(Milano:Hoepli,1876)andseealsoEu
Page246
genioFlorianandGuidoCavaglieri,IVagabondi:Studiosociologicogiuridico(Torino:Bocca,1900).
95.Flynt,TrampingwithTramps."JosiahFlynt,"whoalsocontributed"HomosexualityamongTramps,"toappendixAofHavelockEllis's"SexualInversion,''was
actuallyF.Willard,anephewofMissFrancesWillard,presidentoftheWCTU.SeeHavelockEllis,StudiesinthePsychologyofSexuality(NewYork.Random
House,1942),1:35967.
96.FrankCharlesLaubach,WhyThereAreVagrants:AStudyBaseduponanExaminationofOneHundredMen(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,
1916).Seealso,AllanPinkerton,Strikers,Communists,TrampsandDetectives(NewYork:Carleton,1877).
97.HubertduPuy,Vagabondageetmendicit(ParisLarose,1899),2.
98.PierreBoue,Vagabondageetmendicit:Moyensdedfense(Pithiviers:A.Gibier,1906),39.
99.Boue,Vagabondageetmendicit,911JeanBerryandGeorgesBerry,LeVagabondageetlamendicit(Paris:Figuire,1913).
100.mileFourquet,"LesVagabondscrimnels,"Revuedesdeuxmondes2(1899):399437.
101.Ontrampsandsexcrimes,seealsoBenjaminBall,LaFolierotique(Paris:Baillire,1888),116,147.ThefifthCongrspnitentiareinternational,whichwas
heldinParisin1895,focuseditsattentionontheissueofvagabondage.
102.A.R.Diefendorf,ed.,Kraeplin'sClinicalPsychiatry(NewYork:Macmillan,1912),529.
103.Defendersoffloggingmaintainedthat"singlehandedrape"theabilityofonemantoassaultaconsciouswomanwasimpossibleseeParliamentary
Debates,HouseofCommons81(1900),col.554.
104.PaoloMantegazza,Physiologiedel'amour(ParisKolb,1886).
105.HenryMaudsleyBodyandWill(London:KeganPaul,Trench,1883),241,CharlesKingsleyalsospokeofa"processofdegradation"thatledto"effeminate
barbarism."CharlesKingsley,HealthandEducation(Daldy:Isbister,1875),1011.
106.MarieJoBonnet,UnChoixsansequivoque:RecherchessurlesrelationsamoureusesentrelesfemmesXVIeXXesicle(Paris:Denoel,1981),180
JonathanKatz,TheInventionofHeterosexualityNewYork:BasicBooks,1994).
107.PierreHahn,Nosancestreslespervers:LaViedeshomosexuelssousleSecondEmpire(Paris:OlivierOrban,1979),20.
108.Formoretraditionalviewsofdeviantsexualbehavior,seeMarieVroniqueGauthier,Chanson,SociabilitetGrivoiserieauXIXesicle(Paris:Aubier,
1992),23945.
109.Hahn,Nosancestreslespervers,125.
110.JoachimS.Hohmann,ed.,DerunterdruckteSexus(LollarAchenbach,1977),25citedinGeorgeMosse,"MasculinityandtheDecadence,"inSexual
Knowledge:SexualScience:TheHistoryofAttitudestoSexuality,ed.RoyPorterandMikulasTeich(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1994),257.
111.JosephBristow,ed.,SexualSameness:TextualDifferencesinLesbianandGayWriting(NewYork:Routledge,1992).
112.ReviewofReviews(1895),citedinH.MontgomeryHyde,ed.,TrialsofOscarWilde(London:London,Hodge,1948)
113.DerekS.Linton,"WhoHastheYouth,HasTheFuture":TheCampaigntoSaveYoungWorkersinImperialGermany(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversity
Press,1991)HarryHendrick,ImagesofYouth:Age,Class,andtheMaleYouthProblem,18801920(Oxford:ClarendonPress,1990)J.RobertWegs,
GrowingUpWorkingClass:ContinuityandChangeamongVienneseYouth,18901938(UniversityParkPennStateUniversityPress,1989).
114.GailBederman,ManlinessandCivilization:ACulturalHistoryofGenderandRaceintheUnitedStates,18801917(Chicago:UniversityofChicago
Press,1995),10110.
Page247
115.milePoursy,LaGangrnepornographique(Roubaix:FoyerSolidariste,1908).
116.AnnieStoraLamarre,L'EnferdelaIIIeRpublique:Censeursetpornographes18811914(Paris:Imago,1990),21HeywoodBrounandMargaret
Leech,AnthonyComstock:RoundsmanoftheLord(NewYork:AlbertandBoni,1927).
117.Onthenotionthatpornography'senemiesfirstsawitasposingreligiousandpoliticaldangersandthatthequestionofitsthreatto"decency"wasanew
nineteenthcenturypreoccupation,seeLynnHunt,ed.,TheInventionofPornography:ObscenityandtheOriginsofModernity,15001800NewYork:Zone
Books,1993).
118.PoursyLaGangrnepornographique,214237.
119.Ibid.,293,419.
120.AnneliseMauge,L'Identitmasculineencriseautournantdusicle,18711914(Paris:Rivages,1987),242.
121.SigmundFreud,"TheUniversalTendencytoDebasementinLove,"(1912),TheStandardEditionoftheCompletePsychologicalWorks,trans.James
Strachey(London:HogarthPress,1966)11:185
122.HenryMaudsley,LifeinMindandConduct(London:Macmillan,1902),302.
123.JacquesLeRider,ModernityandCrisesofIdentity:CultureandSocietyinFindeSicleVienna(Cambridge:PolityPress,1993).
124.Dr.P.J.Moebius,Deladebilitmentalephysiologiquechezlafemme,trans.NicoleetSimoneRoche,(1900Paris:Solin,1991).
125.CarrollSmithRosenberg,DisorderlyConduct:VisionsofGenderinVictorianAmerica(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1985)seealsoBonnet,Un
ChoixsansequivoqueMarthaVicinus,IndependentWomen:WorkandCommunityforSingleWomen,18501920(London:Virago,1985).
126.SmithRosenberg,DisorderlyConduct,265.
127.G.J.BarkerBenfield,TheHorrorsofTheHalfKnownLife:MaleAttitudestowardWomenandSexualityinNineteenthcenturyAmerica(NewYork:
HarperandRow,1976),212.
128.GeneviveFraisse,Musedelaraison:LaDmocratieexclusiveetladiffrencedessexes(Paris:Alina,1989)OlwenH.Hufton,WomenandtheLimits
ofCitizenshipintheFrenchRevolution(Toronto:UniversityofTorontoPress,1992),49.
129.OnthedevelopmentinFranceofmaleclubsfromwhichwomenwereexcluded,seeMauriceAgulhon,LeCercledanslaFrancebourgeoise,18101848
(Paris:Colin,1977)JeanLucMarais,LesSocitsd'hommes:Histoired'unesociabilitdu18esiclenosjours:Anjou,Maine,Touraine(Vauchetien:La
Botellerie,1986).OnGermany,wherelawspreventedwomenfromparticipatinginclubsandpolitics,seeVernonL.Lidtke,TheAlternativeCulture:Socialist
LaborinImperialGermany(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1982),37.
130.Ontheemergenceofnewmodelsofmasculinity,seeG.J.BarkerBenfield,TheCultureofSensibility:SexandSocietyinEighteenthCenturyBritain
(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1992),24748LeonoreDavidoffandCatherineHall,FamilyFortunes:MenandWomenoftheEnglishMiddleClass,
17801850(London:Hutchinson,1987),110,250CatherineHall,White,MaleandMiddleClass:ExplorationsinFeminismandHistory(Cambridge:Polity
Press,1992)RobertL.Griswold,FatherhoodinAmerica:AHistory(NewYork:BasicBooks,1993).
131.C.Davidson,AWoman'sWorkIsNeverDone(London:ChattoandWindus,1986),citedinWallySeccombe,WeatheringtheStorm:Workingclass
FamiliesfromtheIndustrialRevolutiontotheFertilityDecline(London:Verso,1993),18788andseealsoAvaBaron,WorkEngendered:TowardaNew
HistoryofAmericanLabor(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1991)AnnaClark,TheStrugglefortheBreaches:GenderandtheMakingoftheBritish
WorkingClass(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1995)JeanH.Quataert,
Page248
ReluctantFeministsinGermanSocialDemocracy,18851917(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,1979),15360,199200.
132.BruceHaley,TheHealthyBodyandVictorianCulture(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1978),20614DonaldE.Hall,ed.,MuscularChristianity:
EmbodyingtheVictorianAge(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1994).
133.DavidD.Gilmor,ManhoodintheMaking:CulturalConceptsofMasculinity(NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1990).Yetawomanwhodemanded
politicalrightsorengagedinarangeofunacceptablebehaviorswouldbedescribedashavingsacrificedher"womanhood."
134.DavidLockwood,TheBlackcoatedWorker:AStudyinClassConsciousness(London:AllenandUnwin,1966).IntheUnitedStates,thetermsquawman
wasusedtoderidetheindividualwhohopedtoliveonhisIndianwife'sland.
135.EugenWeber,France:Findesicle(Cambridge,Mass.:BelknapPress,1986),42.MarieThrseEyquem,PierredeCoubertin:L'poqueolympique
(ParisCalmanLevy,1966).
136.TheodoreRoosevelt,"TheManlyVirtuesandPracticalPolitics,"TheForum,July1894,32.
137.RobertErnst,WeaknessIsaCrime:TheLifeofBernarrMacFadden(Syracuse:SyracuseUniversityPress,1991)BernarrA.MacFadden,Mthode
d'ducationphysique(Paris:n.p.,1899)KathrynGrover,FitnessinAmericanCulture:ImagesofHealth,Sport,andtheBody,18301940(Amhurst:
UniversityofMassachusettsPress,1989)MichaelOriard,ReadingFootball:HowthePopularPressCreatedanAmericanSpectacle(ChapelHill:Universityof
NorthCarolinaPress,1993),188ff.
138.ThequoteisfromC.F.G.MastermancitedinMichaelRosenthal,TheCharacterFactory:BadenPowell'sBoyScoutsandtheImperativesofEmpire
(NewYork:Pantheon,1986),13132.andseealsoJohnSpringhall,Youth,EmpireandSociety:BritishYouthMovements,18831940(London:CroomHelm,
1977),andJohnGillis,YouthandHistory:TraditionandChangeinEuropeanAgeRelations,1770Present(NewYork:AcademicPress,1974),11113
DavidI.Macleod,BuildingCharacterintheAmericanBoy:TheBoyScouts,YMCA,andTheirForerunners,18701920(Madison:UniversityofWisconsin
Press,1983).OnBadenPowell'sdesiretoprovideboyswithasafehavenfromwomenandthequestionofhishomosexuality,seealsoTimJeal),TheBoyMan:
TheLifeofLordBadenPowell(NewYork:WilliamMorrow,1990).ThorsteinVeblen'sopinionofgrownmen'sinvolvementin"boysbrigades"andsportswasthat
itwasasignof"arrestedspiritualdevelopment,"which"mayexpressitselfnotonlyindirectparticipationbyadultsinyouthfulexploitsofferocity,butalsoindirectlyin
aidingandabettingdisturbancesofthiskindonthepartofyoungerpersons."ThorsteinVeblen,TheTheoryoftheLeisureClass:AnEconomicStudyof
Institutions(1899London:AllenandUnwin,1924),254
139.AnnDouglas,TheFeminizationofAmericanCulture(NewYork:Knopf,1977),327.
140.F.A.Vuillermet,Soyezdeshommes:laconqutedelavirilit(Paris:Lethielleux,1909).
141.ArthurLautrec,LaFindumondeprochainement(Paris:Cte,1901)seealsoforareligiousgloss,JeanRocray,LaFindumondeen1921(ParisVic,
1904).
142.JeanPhilippeandG.PaulBoncour,LesAnomaliesmentaleschezlescoliers(Paris:Alcan,1905.
143.Previouslymagistrates,inordertotrysuchcasessummarily,hadtoreducethemtocommonassault.SeeE.RoyCalvertandTheodoraCalvert,TheLaw
Breakers(London:Routledge,1933),3233.
144.IsabelV.Hull,TheEntourageofKaiserWilhelmII,18881918(CambridgeCambridgeUniversityPress,1982),133.
Page249
145.Onthecowboymyth,seeRichardSlotkin,RegenerationthroughViolence(Middletown,Conn:WesleyanUniversityPress,1973)andGunfighterNation:
TheMythoftheFrontierinTwentiethcenturyAmerica(NewYork:Atheneum,1992).AndonthethemeofAmericaasnature's"goodbadboy,"violentbut
sexuallypure,seeLeslieFielder,LoveandDeathintheAmericanNovel(NewYork:SteinandDay,1966).
146.Theconcernforgenderthatpervadedmuchoftheliteraturemeantpurposefullyforboyshasyettobefullyanalyzed.HoratioAlger,Jr.,whobeginningwith
RaggedDick(1867)wrotemorethanahundredclassicboystoriesontheragtorichestheme,madeapointofalwaysscorningthecharacteroftheeffeminateyoung
fop.Hedidso,ithasbeensuggested,becausehefearedthatthefactthathelosthisfirstpostasministerinBrewster,Massachusetts,in1866becauseof"unnatural
familiaritywithboys"mightbediscovered.GarySchnarnhorst,HoratioAlger,Jr.(Boston:Twayne,1980),29.ButOwenWister,authorofTheVirginian(1902),
hadnoreluctanceinhavingthemalenarrator,mesmerizedbytheherowhomhefirstseesatawedding,exclaim:"HadIbeenthebride,Ishouldhavetakenthegiant,
dustandall"and"HadIbeenawoman,itwouldhavemademehistodowhathepleasedwithonthespot."Slotkin,GunfighterNation,177.
147.Burroughs,whoseTarzanoftheApesfirstappearedin1912,wasinfluencedbytheeugenicnotionsofMadisonGrantandT.L.StoddardseeErlingB.
Holtsmark,EdgarRiceBurroughs(Boston:Twayne,1986).
IntroductiontoPartTwo
1.Onthedepictioninworkingclassmelodramasofcapitalistsas"vampires"andfiendbegottenmonsters,"seePatrickJoyce,VisionsofthePeople:Industrial
EnglandandtheQuestinofClass,18481914(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1991),34.
2.PaulGinisty,LeMlodrame(Paris:LouisMichaud,1910)PeterBrooks,TheMelodramaticImagination:Balzac,HenryJames,Melodrama,andtheMode
ofExcess(NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1976)PierreGascar,LeBoulevardducrime(Paris:Hachette,1980)JudithR.Walkowitz,CityofDreadful
Delight:NarrativesofSexualDangerinLateVictorianLondon(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1992).
3.Onthewaysinwhichtrialsinspiredsensationalistnovels,andfictioninturninfluencedtherolesindividualsplayedincourt,seeThomasBoyle,BlackSwineinthe
SewersofHampstead(NewYork:VikingBooks,1989).
Chapter2
Fools
1.PeterGay,TheBourgeoisExperience,VictoriatoFreud:TheTenderPassion(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1986),103andseealsoEllenK.
Rothman,HandsandHearts:AHistoryofCourtshipinAmerica(NewYork:Basic,1984),105KarenLystra,SearchingtheHeart:Women,Menand
RomanticLoveinNineteenthcenturyAmerica(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1989).
2.ForbothattacksonmercenarymarriageswhichincludedMarieCorelli'santiSemiticslurthattheysawthe"Christianvirginsacrificedonthealtarofmatrimonyto
amoneylending,moneygrubbingsonofIsrael"andtheresponsethat,althoughtherewouldalwaysbesome"designingwomen"andsome"unpleasantand
repulsive"men,mostwhoenteredsocietywiththeintentionofmakingadvantageousmarriageswereactinginarationalnotdespicablefashion,seeMarieCorelli,
LadyJeune,FloraAnnieSteel,andSusanna,CountessofMalmsbury,TheModernMarriageMarket(London:Hutchinson,1898)andseealso''TheMarriage
Market,"Spectator78(24April1897):62224.
3.Ontheeffectofincreasingemploymentopportunitiesonworkingwomen'smarriageoptions,see"TheMatrimonialMarket,"TheForum21(1896):74752.
4.Ontheuseofgobetweens,matchmakers,andmarriagebrokers,seeAlanMacfarlane,MarriageandLoveinEngland:ModesofReproduction,13001840
(Oxford:Blackwell
Page250
1986),247,29495PeterBorsheid,"RomanticLoveorMaterialInterest:ChoosingPartnersinNineteenthcenturyGermany,"JournalofFamilyHistory11
(1986):16667.InFrancematchmakers,usedwellintothetwentiethcentury,includedastheirclientstheparentsofSimonedeBeauvoirseeMichellePerrotand
AnneMartinFugier,"BourgeoisRituals,"inAHistoryofPrivateLife,ed.MichellePerrot(Cambridge,Mass.:BelknapPress,1990),310.
5.MatrimonialHeraldandFashionableMarriageGazette[hereafterHerald],4Jan.1890,1.
6.AmongthemoreinfamousadvertiserswasWilliamCorder,who,havingmurderedhispregnantsweetheart,placedanmarriageadvertisementintheSundayTimes
thatelicitedmorethanonehundredresponses.SeeTheTrialofWilliamCorderattheAssizes,BurySt.EdmondsfortheMurderofMariaMarten,inthered
barn,atPolsteadincludingthematrimonialadvertisement...(London:KnightandLacey,1828).Ananonymousauthoralmostimmediatelyturnedthecaseinto
apopularmelodrama.
7.SoniaOrwellandIanAngus,eds.,TheCollectedEssays,JournalismandLettersofGeorgeOrwell(NewYork:HarcourtBrace,1968),13940.Seealso
LincolnSpringfield,"TheMatrimonialAgency,"TheIdler6(189495):17381.
8.Incourttheagencyonlyclaimedtohaveassistedinfifteenhundredmarriagesbetween1890and1895.
9.LondonTimes,12Nov.1895,14.
10.Therewasmentionincourtoftheassociationhavingpreviouslyweatheredaprivateprosecutionbroughtagainstitbyafirmofsolicitors.Ibid.,9Jan.1896,14.
11.Warwick,oneoftheoriginalcomplainants,becauseofillhealthdidnottestifyatthepreliminaryhearing.RobertMatthewsofBirminghamcameforwardafterhe
"foundhewasbit."Ibid.,31Dec.1895,9.
12.PennyIllustratedPaper,7Mar.1896,150.
13.TheWorld'sGreatMarriageAssociationwasregisteredasalimitedcompanyinJanuary1893withanominalcapitalof25,000.ItspremisesatNewOxford
Streetwereimposing,butnobusinesswasdonetheretheclerksworkedoutof5MecklenburghSquare.FortyLamb'sConduitStreet,whereclients'mailwas
received,wassimplyastationeryshop.
14.LondonTimes,3Dec.1895,12.
15.Ibid.,14Jan.1896,14.
16.Ibid.,8Jan.1896,15.
17.Ibid.,29Feb.1896,144Mar.1896,4.
18.Girlsstoriesalsopropoundedtheideathatanattractivemale,thoughheshouldbeeconomicallyactiveandsuccessful,didnothavetobehandsome.Judith
Rowbotham,GoodGirlsMakeGoodWives:GuidanceforGirlsinVictorianFiction(Oxford:BasilBlackwell,1989).But,asthefollowingadvertisementmakes
clear,somewomenreadersoftheMatrimonialHeralddidhaveverypreciserequirements:"Ayounglady,passionatelyfondofhorseracing,wellconnected,and
withpossibilityofmeans,wishestocorrespondwithalightweightjockey,occupyinggoodpositionandofunimpeachablecharacter,ageeighteentotwentyfivewith
viewtomatrimony.Youngtrainernotobjectedto."
19.Foraccountsofthepaper'sadvertisements,seealsoIllustratedPoliceNews,7Mar.1896,3.
20.Suchstereotypesenjoyedalonglife.Inthe1930ssuchadvertisementsinLeChasseurfranais,aParisianjournal,inevitablycharacterizedwomenas
"affecteuses,caressantes,portantbienlatoilette,dephysiqueagrable,"whilemenwerealways"beaux,vigoreux,andloyaux"andiffifty''lookedforty."JeanGaltier
Boissire,"LesPetitesannounces,"LeCrapouillot,November1937,4650
21.MatrimonialHerald,2Nov.1895.MuchthesamesortofmalereadershipperusedtheIllustratedPoliceNews,wheretheysaw,nexttothereportsofthe
Association'strial,advertisementsforHollowayPills"Brou'sInjection"fordisordersoftheurinaryorganscuresfordeafness,baldness,andnervousandphysical
debilityHolywellStreetpornographic
Page251
publicationsandpamphletswithsuchtitlesasABoontoWeakMen,VigourofYouthandMarriageandItsConsequences.
22.LondonTimes,24Dec.1895,3.
23.Ibid.,8Jan.1896,311Jan.1896,14.ThisrulingwasupheldbytheRecorderatthetrialIbid.,5Mar.1896,12.
24.Ibid.,29Jan.1896,14.
25.Ibid.,14Jan.1896,14.
26.Jordan,inpossessingabusiness,wasanuntypicalcomplainant.Althoughnodoubtexaggerating,heestimatedthevalueofhistobacconistandhairdressing
businessat2,000andgavehisyearlyincomeas400.
27.LondonTimes,29Feb.1896,14.
28.IllustratedPoliceNews,7Mar.1896,3.
29.LondonTimes,18Dec.1895,4.
30.Ibid.,19Nov.1895,1314.
31.Ibid.,23Dec.1895,14.
32.Ibid.,3Mar.1896,14.
33.Ibid.,26Nov.1895,12.
34.Ibid.,18Dec.1895,4.
35.Ibid.,24Dec.1895,3.
36.Ibid.,23Dec.1895,14.Atthepreliminaryhearingof22Dec.1895,JosephAvery'sname,despitetheprotestsofthedefense,thoughwrittendown,wasnot
initiallydivulgedtothepublic.
37.Suttonwasparticularlyincautious.Hehadafriendwhohadbeenbilkedoffivepoundsbyasimilarscheme.ThedefensealsosuggestedthatMr.Averyhad
employedtheInternationalMatrimonialAgency.
38.LondonTimes,3Dec.1895,123Mar.1896,13.
39.Hecameforwardafterthepoliceraid.ThedefensecounselswereadvisedbyMr.JusticeHawkinsthatamagistratedidhavetherightwithinhisdiscretionary
powerstopreventthedisclosureofthenamesofwitnesses.Ibid.,1Jan.1896,4.
40.Ibid.,1Jan.1896,14.
41.Ibid.,1Jan.1896,14.On31Dec.1895,thewitnesswasdescribedbytheTimesashavingtheappearanceofa"fairlywelltodoartisan."Hehadrepliedtoan
advertisementintheGlasgowHerald.
42.LondonTimes,3Dec.1895,12.
43.Ibid.,18Dec.1895,42.Mar.1896,13.
44.Ibid.,23Dec.1895,14.
45.Ibid.,26Nov.1895,12.
46.IllustratedPoliceNews,7Mar.1896,3.
47.Ibid.,7Mar.1896,3.
48.LondonTimes,6Mar.1896,12.
49.GeorgeOrwell,"Boy'sWeeklies"(1940),inCollectedEssays,ed.S.OrwellandAngus,461.
50.RobertDarnton,TheGreatCatMassacreandOtherEpisodesinFrenchCulturalHistory(NewYork:BasicBooks,1984),7778.
51.Steadwasalso,ashemadeclearin"IfChristCametoChicago"(1894),avocalopponentofthemodern"marriagemarket."SeeRuthBrandon,TheDollar
Princesses(London:WeidenfeldandNicolson,1980),48andonhisinvolvementinchildprostitution,seeJohnStokes,IntheNineties(London:Harvester
Wheatsheaf,1989),20.
52.OnsuchagenciesseeJ.Ronchet,CrimeSocial:LesBureauxdeplacementetleursfunestesconsquences(Paris:Wattier,1897)TheresaMcBride,The
DomesticRevolution(London:CroomHelm,1976),7778.
53.SeeAlfredC.Hills,MatrimonialBrokerageintheMetropolisbeingtheTrueNarra
Page252
tivesoftheStrangeAdventuresinNewYorkandtheStartlingFactsinCityLifebyaReporteroftheNewYorkPress(NewYork:Thatcherand
Hutchinson,1859).
54.SeeHoraceWyndham,DramasoftheLaw(London:Hutchinson,1936),17093LondonTimes,13Aug.1890,8.
55.Miris,ModerneHeiratsfchwindlerundihreOpfer(Argus:VerlagGokau,1912).
56.Gazzettedestribunaux,24Mar.1886281.
57.AugusteBebel,LaFemmedanslepass,lepresentetl'avenir(Genve:Slatkine,1979[firsttranslation1891]),7475.
58.TheBritishLibrary'snewspaperdepositoryatColindalehasrunsoftheMatrimonialChronicle(189093),MatrimonialCircle(191415,193132),
MatrimonialCourier(1891),MatrimonialGazette(1884),InternationalMatrimonialGazetteoftheInternationalBureauduMariage(190944),Matrimonial
GazetteandCorrespondence(1913),MatrimonialIntelligencerandMarriageCorrespondent(1896),MatrimonialJournalandHighClassMarriage
Medium(1895),MatrimonialMascot(1910),MatrimonialNewsandSpecialAdvertiser(187095),MatrimonialPostandFashionableAdvertiser(1885
1955),MatrimonialWorld(188290),MatrimonialStandard(191415),MatrimonialTimes(190461),MatrimonialTimesandGeneralAdvertiser(1874
75),MatrimonialWorldandUniversalMarriageAdvertiser(1891),Matrimony(1891),andMatrimonialGazette(1883),whichbecameNuptials(188384),
whichinturnbecameMatrimonialHeraldandFashionableMarriageGazette(188495).OnthispressseeE.S.Turner,AHistoryofCourting(NewYork:
Dutton,1955),26970.
59.FranoisBarretDucrocq,L'AmoursousVictoria:SexualitetclassespopulairesLondresauXIXesicle(Paris:Plon,1989),125,227.Itmightbenoted
thatLushingtonwasanexpertoncourtshipsthatwentawry,beingtheauthorofTheLawofAffiliationandBastardy(London:Shaw,1897).
60.JohnGillis,ForBetter,forWorse:BritishMarriages,1600tothePresent(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1985),183MartineSegalen,Mariet
femmedanslasocitpaysanne(Paris:Flammarion,1980),20.
61.JulesNoriac[Cairon]Dictionnairedesamoureux(Paris:MichelLevy,1875),101andseealsoDrs.JafandSaldo,L'coledelasduction:L'Artdeplaire
(Paris:Denans,1908),141Dr.Surbled,LaViedeux:Hyginedumariage(Paris:Maloine,1890),10.
62.LonBlum,DuMariage(Paris:AlbinMichel,1937[1906])HenryMaudsley,LifeinMindandConduct(London:Macmillan,1902)PauloMantegazza,
Commentsemarier?L'artdeprendrefemmeetduchoixd'unmari(Paris:Librairieillustre,1895).
63.Gillis,ForBetter,forWorse,264.
64.LondonTimes,8Jan.1896,15.
65.Ibid.,14Jan.1896,14.
66.Ibid.,3Dec.1895,12.Itwasclaimedthatthepolicefoundaletterfromanexcabinetministerthankingtheassociationforarranginghismarriage.Ibid.,5Mar.
1896,12.
67.BobMullan,TheMatingTrade(London:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1984),48MaryseLapeyre,DossierAcommeagencesmatrimoniales(Paris:Alain
Moreaui,1980).
68.MarieVroniqueGauthier,Chanson,SociabilitetGrivoiserieauXIXesicle(Paris:Aubier,1992),179,21419E.AnthonyRotundo,American
Manhood:TransformationsinMasculinityfromtheRevolutiontotheModernEra(NewYork:BasicBooks,1993),115JudithF.Stone,"TheRepublican
Brotherhood:GenderandIdeology"inGenderandPoliticsofSocialReforminFrance,18701914,ed.ElinorAccampo,RachelFuchs,andMaryLynnStewart
(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1995),35.
69.Thebachelorwasanequivocalfigure,probablymoresuspectinthelowermiddleclassthaninthebourgeoisie,whereinthelatenineteenthcenturytherewasa
certainidealizationoftheselfsufficient,manlyindividualtypifiedbyHolmesandWatson.Onunmarriedwomen,seeSheilaJeffreys,TheSpinsterandherEnemies:
FeminismandSexuality,18801930(London:Pandora,1985).
Page253
70.JeanBorie,LeClibatairefranaise(Paris:LeSagittaire,1976),85.Fortheargumentthatbachelorswerethecauseofillegitimacy,adultery,andabortion,see
RogerDebury[GeorgesRossignol],UnPaysdeclibatairesetdefilsuniques(Paris:Dentu,1913),2931Dr.Lavergne,"Mariageetpsychopathes,"Archives
del'anthropologiecriminelle27(1912):61619andforadefense,seeRogerGibb,"ABachelor'sComplaint,"Nation,29Jan.1916,63738.
71.mileDurkheim,LeSuicide:tudedesociologie(Paris:Alcan,1897),175.
72.Ginisty,LeMlodrame,14.Theclassicmelodramawouldhavefocusedmoreonthethreatsofphysicalityratherthanthoseoffraudandwouldnothave
evidencedasthistrialdidsuchanicebalanceofgreed.
73.SimilarlyintheUnitedStates,thebasisofblackfaceminstrelhumorwasthepurportedpreposterousnessofAfricanAmericansaspiringtoactandtalklikewhite
men.LaughterwasemployedbyAmericanstoshoreupracedivisions,bytheEnglishtoreinforceclassdivisions.Butfortheinsightthatwhiteworkingclassmale
audiencesalsoenjoyedthecaricaturedupperclasstypebeingshownupbythe"plantationdarkie,"seeRobertC.Allen,HorriblePrettiness:Burlesqueand
AmericanCulture(ChapelHill:UniversityofNorthCarolina,1991),17073DavidD.Roediger,TheWagesofWhiteness:RaceandtheMakingofthe
AmericanWorkingClass(London:Verso,1991),11532.
74.PeterBailey,"ChampagneCharley:PerformanceandIdeologyintheMusicHallSwellSong,"inMusicHall:PerformanceandStyle,ed.J.S.Bratten(Milton
Keynes:OpenUniversityPress,1986),13559"ConspiraciesofMeaning:MusicHallandtheKnowingnessofPopularCulture,"PastandPresent144(1994):
13870andseealsoRichardHoggart,TheUsesofLiteracy(London:Penguin,1958)PeterBailey,LeisureandClassinVictorianSociety:Rational
RecreationandtheContestforControl(London:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1978)MarthaVicinus,TheIndustrialMuse:AStudyofNineteenthcentury
BritishWorkingClassLiterature(London:CroomHelm,1974),25861WallySeccombe,WeatheringtheStorm:WorkingclassFamiliesfromtheIndustrial
RevolutiontotheFertilityDecline(London:Verso,1993),141.
75.JudithWalkowitz,CityofDreadfulDelight:NarrativesofSexualDangerinLateVictorianLondon(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1992.),80.
76.KeithMcClelland,"Masculinityandthe'RepresentativeArtisan'inBritain,185080,"inManfulAssertions:MasculinitiesinBritainsince1800,ed.Michael
RoperandJohnTosh(London:Routledge,1991),8184.
77.Infactworkingclassmotherscontinuedtosupplementthefamilyincomeandexpectedtheirchildren,havingfinishedtheirschoolingbyagefourteen,toalso
contribute.See,EllenRoss,LoveandToil:MotherhoodinOutcastLondon,18701918(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1993).Theresponseofradical,
middleclassfeministstothecallforanewsexualdivisionoflaborwastolikentheidlewomanwhoregarded"marriageasatrade"asa"keptwoman"or"parasite."
SeeCarolDyehouse,FeminismandtheFamilyinEngland,18801939(Oxford:Blackwell,1989),15556.
78.See,forexample,Bebel,LaFemme,63.
79.Thesong"TheCityToff"citedinBailey,"ChampagneCharlie,"151.
80.StevenMintz,APrisonofExpectations:TheFamilyinVictorianCulture(NewYork:NewYorkUniversityPress,1983),46.
Chapter3
Cads
1.OxfordEnglishDictionaryPeterBailey,"ConspiraciesofMeaning:MusicHallandtheKnowingnessofPopularCulture,"PastandPresent144(1994):144.
2.GazettedesTribunaux,29Jan.1886,934.
3.Ibid.,21Sept.1892,926.
4.Ibid.,15Nov.1889,1097.
5.Ibid.,9June1864,562.
Page254
6.Ibid.,24March1886,281.
7.Ibid.,26Jan.1886,95.
8.Ibid.,23June1864,611.
9.Ibid.,89Jan.1894,29.
10.Ibid.,24May1866,495.
11.Ibid.,8Feb.1877,130.
12.Ibid.,9Dec.1896,1224.
13.Ibid.,14Jan.1898,45.
14.Ibid.,910Aug.1886,752.
15.Ibid.,22Feb.1890,178.
16.Ibid.,3June1892,550.
17.Ibid.,11Mar.1886,234.
18.Ibid.,21Sept.1892,926.
19.ErnestGlasson,LeMariageciviletledivorce(Paris:DurandandPdoneLauriel,1880),470.
20.GazettedesTribunaux,3Oct.1894,969LePetitParisien,3Oct.1894.
21.Canadianinvestigationssimilarlyrevealedthatwhenpetitioningfordivorcewomenwerefarmoreconcernedbythequestionofnonsupportthanmen.JamesG.
Snell,IntheShadowoftheLaw:DivorceinCanada,19001939(Toronto:TorontoUniversityPress,1991),15455.
22.LePetitParisien,12Apr.189719July1897GazettedesTribunaux,18July1897,700.
23.JessieL.Embry,MormonPolygamousFamilies:LifeinPrinciple(SaltLakeCity:UniversityofUtahPress,1987),810F.ScarlettPotter,"TheMost
SuccessfulBigamistonRecord,"CornhillMagazine,July1899,95102.
24.GazettedesTribunaux,20May1864,491.ForsimilarscenariosactedoutinEnglishcourts,seeWalkerFirth,"CircuitNotes,"CornhillMagazine14(1890):
3637.
25.GazettedesTribunaux,1213Feb.1894,150.
26.PaulMasson,tudesurlabigamie(Paris:Jouve,1917).
27.GazettedesTribunaux,12Apr.1896,3678.
28.Ibid.,3031May1892,538.
29.PaulParsy,UneAffairedebigamie(Paris:Dodiviers,1920).
30.Butthetermbigamistwassometimesusedtodescribeamanwhosimplyremarriedafterhiswife'sdeath.SeeStephenWillm,DelaBigamieendroitcriminel
(Bordeaux:Cadoret,1898).
31.NatalieZemonDavis,TheReturnofMartinGuerre(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1983),8,4647.
32.PaulAugusteBrohan,tudesurlecrimedebigamie(Paris:Rousseau,1898),28.
33.LawrenceStone,RoadtoDivorce:England,15301987(Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,1990),142.RichardBoyerhas,thankstothesourcesprovideby
theSpanishInquisition,beenabletoproduceafascinatingaccountofmultiplemarriagesintheearlymodernperiodseeLivesoftheBigamists:Marriage,Family
andCommunityinColonialMexico(Albuquerque:UniversityofNewMexicoPress,1995).
34.RoderickPhillips,PuttingAsunder:AHistoryofDivorceinWesternSociety(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1988),296302.
35.GazettedesTribunaux,20May1864,491.
36.Ibid.,3June1892,550.
37.Itisimpossibletosayhowcommonbigamywas.OncasesinRouenin179899,seeRoderickPhillips,FamilyBreakdowninLateEighteenthcentury
France(Oxford:ClarendonPress,1980),16365.OnthelawseeMaxRheinstein,"TheCodeandtheFamily,"inTheCodeNapoleonandtheCommonLaw
World,ed.BernardSchwartz(NewYork:NewYorkUniversityPress,1956),14243.
Page255
38.BigamycontinuesinthetwentiethcenturytoberegardedasaseriouscrimeseeLawReformCommissionofCanada,Bigamy(Ottawa:Queen'sPrinter,1985).
39.Administeringthelawproveddifficult.Goodfaithwasonedefensethatcouldbeemployed.Publicofficialswhocelebratedasecondmarriagewereliableas
accomplices.ThenewspaperpressnotedthatIsraelBernardmightgetoffsincethemayorofMontrougehadin1888carriedoutanumberofirregularmarriage
ceremonies.GreathopeswereheldoutbytheopponentsofbigamyfortheMichelinlawof1897namedafterthedeputymuchpreoccupiedbyFrance'slowfertility
ratewhichrequiredarecordofeachmarriagetobeinscribedonone'sbirthcertificate.GazettedesTribunaux,5Feb.1886,119LePetitParisien,12Apr.
1897,1Brohan,tude,150.
40.AccordingtoaBritishcommentator,marriagehadtobemadeeasierifsocietyseriouslyintendedtocounterthe"designsofcriminalfraudorperfidiouspassionin
entrappingtheyoung,theignorantandtheinexperienced."W.O.C.Morris,"TheMarriageLawofGreatBritain,"BritishQuarterlyReview34(1862):128.
41.JohnGillishassuggestedthatinearlynineteenthcenturyBritainuptoonefifthofthepopulationlivedatsometimeinacommonlawunionForBetter,for
Worse:BritishMarriages,1600tothePresent(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1985),219.
42.ForaBelgianwhomadethesameclaim,seeGazettedesTribunaux,15Nov.1889,1097.
43.LenardBerlanstein,"Illegitimacy,ConcubinageandProletarianizationinaFrenchTown,17601914,"JournalofFamilyHistory5(1980):368KatherineA.
Lynch,Family,Class,andIdeologyinEarlyIndustrialFrance:SocialPolicyandtheWorkingClassFamily,18251848(Madison:UniversityofWisconsin
Press,1988),87100.
44.AnnaClark,TheStrugglefortheBreeches:GenderandtheMakingoftheBritishWorkingClass(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1995),823.
45.JohnSkinner,JournalofaSomersetRector,18031834,ed.HowardandPeterCoombs(Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,1984),35.Englishlawdidinfact
acceptasevenyearseparationasasignthatamarriagehadbeenterminated.SeeEarlofHalsbury,TheLawsofEngland(London:Butterworth,1955),10:663.
46.J.P.Menefee,WivesforSale:AnEthnographicStudyofBritishPopularDivorce(Oxford:Blackwell,1981)E.P.Thompson,"TheSaleofWives,"in
CustomsinCommon:StudiesinTraditionalPopularCulture(NewYork:NewPress,1991),40466.
47.GazettedesTribunaux,17June1886,4809Sept.1886.856.
48.FrancisRonsin,LesDivorciaires(Paris:Aubier,1992)WilliamReddy,"Marriage,HonorandthePublicSphereinPostRevolutionaryFrance:Sparationsde
corps,18151848,"JournalofModernHistory65(1993):43772TheresaMcBride,"DivorceandtheRepublicanFamily,"inGenderandthePoliticsofSocial
ReforminFrance,18701914,ed.ElinorAccampo,RachelFuchs,andMaryLynnStewart(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1995),79.
49.Brohan,tude,6364.
50.Ibid.,7273.
51.GazettedesTribunaux,12Feb.1874,1489.
52.Ibid.,14Jan.1898,45.
53.Ibid.,9Sept.1886,856.
54.PatriciaKnight,"WomenandAbortioninVictorianandEdwardianEngland,"HistoryWorkshop4(1977):5768AngusMcLaren,"Women'sWorkandthe
RegulationofFamilySize:TheQuestionofAbortionintheNineteenthCentury,"HistoryWorkshop4(1977):7081AngusMcLaren,BirthControlinNineteenth
CenturyEngland(London:CroomHelm,1978),23153BarbaraBrookes,AbortioninEngland,19001967(London:CroomHelm,1988),348.OnNorth
America,seeJamesMohr,AbortioninAmerica:TheOriginsandEvolutionofNationalPolicy(NewYork:OxfordsUniversityPress,1978)LeslieJ.Reagan,
"'AbouttoMeetHerMaker':Women,DoctorsandDyingDeclarations,andthe
Page256
State'sInvestigationofAbortion,Chicago,18671940,"JournalofAmericanHistory77(1991):124064AngusMcLaren,"IllegalOperations:Women,
Doctors,andAbortion,18861939,"JournalofSocialHistory26(1993):797816.
55.BirminghamDailyMail,10Mar.1896,unpaginatedhereandhereafterIllustratedPoliceNews,21Mar.1896,7.
56.Warwick,LeamingtonandWarwickshireTimes,14Dec.1895,5.
57.On8Nov.1895,HindsonwroteIsabellaPiriethatnewsoftheMabelGordonaffairhadledtohisbeingsacked.YorkshireEveningPost,10Mar.1896,4
IllustratedPoliceNews,21Mar.1896,7.
58.Mr.JusticeDayinsistedthatthismadenolegaldifferenceshestillhaddied.BirminghamDailyPost,10Dec.1895,7.
59.YorkshireEveningPost,10Dec.1895,4.
60.BirminghamDailyPost,11Dec.1895,5.
61.Warwick,LeamingtonandWarwickshireTime,14Dec.1895,5.
62.YorkshireEveningpost,11Dec.1895,3.
63.Ibid.,10Mar.1896,4IllustratedPoliceNews,21Dec.1895,2.
64.DailyChronicle,12Dec.1895,6seealsoIllustratedPoliceNews,21Dec.1895,2.
65.LondonTimes,24Dec.1895,7YorkshireEveningPost,9Mar.1896,3.
66.BirminghamDailyGazette,10Mar.1896,8.
67.LondonTimes,11Mar.1896,10.
68.BirminghamDailyGazette,10Mar.1896,8.
69.Warwick,Leamington,andWarwickshireTimes,14Mar.1896,5LondonTimes,11Mar.1896,10.
70.PennyIllustratedPaper,30Apr.1892,286.
71.BirminghamDailyGazette,10Dec.1895,4.
72.Warwick,LeamingtonandWarwickshireTimes,14Dec.1895,5.
73.BirminghamDailyGazette,10Dec.1895,4.
74.See,forexample,LondonTimes,9Apr.1836,6.
75.LondonTimes,14Dec.1890,14Lancet,21Feb.1891,4634LondonTimes,26Oct.1891,428Mar.1892,79Nov.1893,83May1893,139Feb.
1899,321Nov.1900,14.
76.See,forexample,LondonTimes,3Aug.1885,5.4Aug.,8andseealsoMcLaren,"IllegalOperation,"797816.
77.Warwick,Leamington,andWarwickshireTimes,21Mar.1896,5.
78.BirminghamDailyMail,10Mar.1896.
79.BirminghamDailyGazette,11Mar.1896,4.
80.BirminghamDailyMail,11Mar.1896.
81.YorkshireEveningPost,11Mar.1896,3.Thedefensecounsel,atthetrialofanothermarriedmanimplicatedintheabortiondeathofasinglewoman,metsuch
achallengeheadonandvainlyappealedtothejurythatit"wasnotacourtofmorals.Theywerenottotrytheprisonerbecausehewasanimmoralman."
Neverthelesshisclientwasfoundguiltyhisdeathsentencewascommutedtoatwelveyearprisonterm.LondonTimes,9Dec.1898,6.
82.PeterBailey,"ParasexualityandGlamour:TheVictorianBarmaidasCulturalPrototype,"GenderandHistory2,(1990):14872andonworkingwomen's
negotiationoftheirsexualfavors,seeKathyPeiss,CheapAmusements:WorkingWomenandLeisureinTurnoftheCenturyNewYork(Philadelphia:Temple
UniversityPress,1986,10810.
83.In1892,forexample,eighteenmenandnowomenwereexecutedin1893fifteenmenandnowomen.BritishSessionalPapers103(189394):38108
(1895):122.
84.BirminghamDailyGazette,10Mar.1896,8.
85.BirminghamDailyMail,10Mar.1896.
Page257
86.LondonTimes,16Dec.1858,10CharlesMeymottTidy,LegalMedicine(London:Smith,Elder,1882.),2:162.
87.ArthurDay,JohnC.F.S.Day:HisForebearsandHimself(London:Heath,Cranton,1916),117andseealsoDictionaryofNationalBiography,1901
1911,48185.
88.BirminghamDailyGazette,10Dec.1895,4.
89.SirJohnWilliamNottBower,FiftyTwoYearsaPoliceman(London:EdwardArnold,1926),151.
90.Day,JohnC.F.S.Day,120.
91.RobertSindall,StreetViolenceintheNineteenthCentury:MediaPanicorRealDanger(Leicester:LeicesterUniversityPress,1990),153andseealso
12112,152.
92.Day'ssexualcensoriousnessdidnotpreventhimin1900attheageofseventyfour,thoughhavingslidintosenilitythatentailedthelossoftheabilitytowriteand
partialparalysis,frommarryingasecondtime.Day,JohnC.F.S.Day,13536.
93.DailyNews,17Dec.1895,5.
94.DailyChronicle,16Dec.1895,4.
95.BirminghamDailyGazette,11Dec.1895,4.
96.DictionaryofNationalBiography,19011911,58990.
97.DailyNews,17Dec.1895,5.
98.TheTorchofAnarchy,18Dec.1895,107reprintedintheAmericanjournalRebel,February1896,56.OriginallyentitledTheTorch,fromOctober1895the
journalcalleditselftheTorchofAnarchyhereafteritwillbesimplyreferredtoasTheTorch.
99.RichardD.Sohn,AnarchismandCulturalPoliticsinFindeSicleFrance(Lincoln:UniversityofNebraskaPress,1989),216.Inaletterof20Nov.1896,
CohendescribedhowPaulRobin,thebestknowndefenderoffertilitycontrolinFrance,congratulatedhimonhisdefenseofMrs.EdenIowethisreferenceto
RonaldSpoor.SeealsoAngusMcLaren,SexualityandSocialOrder:TheDebateovertheFertilityofWomenandWorkersinFrance,17701920(New
York:HolmesandMeier,1983),13654JacquesDupaquier,"Combiend'avortementsenFranceavant1914,"Communications44(1986):87105.
100.OnCohen(18641961),seehisautobiography,VanAnarchisttotMonarchist,2vols.(Amsterdam:G.A.OorschotUitgeuer,1961).Forassistanceon
tracingCohen,IamindebtedtoPaulAvrichandRonaldSpoor,whoiseditingCohen'sletters.OnLondonanarchism,seeRudolfRocker,TheLondonYears
(London:RobertAnscombe,1936),6598.
101.HermiaOliver,TheInternationalAnarchistMovementinLateVictorianLondon(London:CroomHelm,1983),12124.
102.TheTorch,31Oct.1894,11.
103.Ibid.,18July1895,20.
104.Ibid.,18Nov.1895,8586.
105.TheSocialDemocraticFederationalsoexploitedinfanticidecasestoembarrassthegovernment.ForitsdefenseofFannyGane,atwentysixyearoldservant,
sentencedtodeathforthemurderofhermalechild,seeJustice,11Dec.1891,6.Onlyin1922wasinfanticidedesignatedaspecialnoncapitaloffenseBrookes,
Abortion,31.
106.TheTorch,31Oct.1894,11LondonTimes,26Oct.1894,7.
107.TheTorch,18Dec.1895,2LondonTimes,28Mar.1895,14.Forageneralaccountofinfanticide,seeLionelRose,TheMassacreoftheInnocents:
InfanticideinBritain,18001939(London:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1986)AnnR.Higginbotham,"SinoftheAge:InfanticideandIllegitimacyinVictorian
London,"VictorianStudies32(1989):31937.
108.EvenEngelsusedthelanguageofchivalryindenouncingEdwardAvelingastheworstvillaininsocialistEurope.GeorgeBernardShawagreedthatAveling's
recordasaswindlerandseducerwas"unapproachable."Aveling,anactivesocialist,supportedhimselfforatimebytutoringfemalestudentsinscience.Accordingto
Shaw,"themorefortunateonesgotnothingworsefortheirmoneythanlettersofapologyforbreakingthelessonengagement.
Page258
Theotherswereseducedandhadtheirmicroscopesappropriated."AvelinglivedforyearswithEleanorMarxbutcouldnotmarryherashisfirstwifewasstill
alive.Whenthelatterdiedhesecretlywedanotherwoman,soprecipitatingEleanor'ssuicide.SeeHeskethPearson,BernardShaw:HisLifeandPersonality
(London:Collins,1942,),124YvonneKapp,Eleanor:ChroniquefamilialedesMarx(Paris:ditionssociales,1980),39.
109.IntheearlynineteenthcenturyatthetimeoftheQueenCarolineAffair,theEnglishradicalspresentedthemselvesaschivalrousdefendersofwomanhood.
SimilarlytheopponentsoftheNewPoorLawportrayedthemselvesasdefendingpoorwomenfromlibertineseducers.InFrancethemanlycourageofanarchists
facingdeathwasevenreluctantlynotedbytheiropponents.SeeAnnaClarke,Women'sSilence,Men'sViolence:SexualAssaultinEngland,17701845(London:
Pandora,1987),164,194L.Proal,LaCriminalit,politique(Paris:Alcan,1895),43,64AlexandreBerard,Documentsd'tudessociales:Surl'anarchie
(Lyon:Storck,1897),13139RuthHarris,"UnderstandingtheTerrorist:Anarchism,MedicineandPoliticsinFindeSicleFrance,"inLegalMedicineinHistory,
ed.C.CrawfordandM.Young(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1994),2023.
110.Ondefenseofabortionelsewhere,seeMartinHenryBlatt,FreeLoveandAnarchism:TheBiographyofEzraHeywood(Urbana:UniversityofIllinoisPress,
1989),149MargaretS.Marsh,AnarchistWomen,18701920(Philadelphia:TempleUniversityPress,1981),76,93JanetFarrellBrodie,Contraceptionand
AbortioninNineteenthcenturyAmerica(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1994),99,128,1867,324C.Wickert,B.HamburgerandM.Lienau,"Helene
StckerandtheBundfuerMutterschutz:(TheSocietyfortheProtectionofMotherhood),"Women'sStudiesInternationalForum5(1982):613JamesWoycke,
BirthControlinGermany,18711933(London:Routledge,1988),5457.ThereisareferencetoabortioninafeministnovelbyLadyFlorenceDixie,Gloriana:
orTheRevolutionof1900(London:Henry,1890),137,buttheissuewastoohotatopicfortheEnglishwomen'smovementtohandle.In"Cryofthe
Unborn"(Shafts,October1894,344),forexample,EvelynHuntwouldonlytalkoftheneedofmalepurityandhealthymarriagestoensureasoundheredity.
111.TheTorch,18July1895,31.HenrySeymourwasoneofthefewEnglishAnarchistswhointerestedhimselfinsexquestions.Hestatedthat"awomancould
employdevicestopreventconception,toavoidaltogetherorthetoofrequentburdensofmaternity.Infact,Iregardthesemeansasalmostindispensableinconnection
withsexualfreedom."TheAnarchyofLove(London:Seymour,1888),15.
112.TheTorch,1Apr.1896,141.
113.AngusMcLaren,BirthControlinNineteenthcenturyEngland(London:CroomHelm,1978),15774.
114.SeeAngusMcLaren,"SexRadicalismintheCanadianPacificNorthwest,18901920,"JournaloftheHistoryofSexuality2(1992):52933andforthe
1890sliterarycritiquesofsexuality,seeElaineShowalter,SexualAnarchy:GenderandCultureattheFindeSicle(NewYork:Viking,1990).
115.LondonTimes,18Dec.1895,10BirminghamDailyGazette,18Dec.1895,4.
116.DailyNews,18Dec.1895,3.
117.Warwick,LeamingtonandWarwickshireTimes,21Dec.1895,4.
118.BirminghamDailyGazette,11Mar.1896,4.
119.BirminghamDailyMail,11Mar.1896.
120.LondonTimes,17Mar.1896,8.
121.YorkshireEveningPost,16Mar.1896,2.
122."JudicialStatistics(for1895),"HouseofCommons:SessionalPapers49(1897),C.,54,table1.In1895thereweretwentyprosecutionsofabortionists.Five
oftheaccusedweremalefifteenwerefemale.
123.LondonTimes,5Apr.1875,1120Apr.1875,9.
Page259
124.OnWark,seeLondonTimes,8Dec.1898,109Dec.,6.
125.JohnGlaister,ATextbookofMedicalJurisprudenceandToxicology(Edinburgh:Livingstone,1910),397.GlaistermistakenlyreferstothisastheWhitmarsh
caseJohnWhitmarshwastriedforthesameoffensebyMr.JusticeBigham.SeeLondonTimes,26Oct.1898,927Oct.,13.ForJamesFitzjamesStephen's
attackontheconceptof"constructivemurder,"seeHenryWarburton,ASelectionofLeadingCasesintheCriminalLaw(London:Stevens,1908),18083.
126.LeonardA.Parry,SomeFamousCriminalTrials(London:Churchill,1927),4054BritishMedicalJournal2(1898):59,1221(1899):448.
127.CamilleMauclair,L'Amourtragique(Paris:CalmanLevy,1908)BettyBeckerTheye,TheSeducerasMythicFigureinRichardson,Laclosand
Kierkegaard(NewYork:Garland,1988)JamesMandrell,DonJuanandthePointofHonor:Seduction,PatriarchalSociety,andtheLiteraryTradition
(UniversityPark:PennStateUniversityPress,1992).
128.TonyTanner,AdulteryintheNovel:ContractandTransgression(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1979)andforbourgeoissociety'sattemptto
arguethatcontractscanovercomesexdifferences,seeCarolePateman,TheSexualContract(Cambridge:PolityPress,1988).
129.See,VroniqueDemarsSion,Femmessduitesetabandonesau18esicle:L'ExampleduCambrsis(Paris:L'Espacejuridique,1992)RachelG.Fuchs,
PoorandPregnantinParis:StrategiesforSurvivalintheNineteenthCentury(NewBrunswick,N.J.:RutgersUniversityPress,1992)MarieVictoireLouis,
LeDroitdecuissage:France18601930(Paris:Lesditionsdel'atelier,1994).
130.KatherineSobbaGreen,TheCourtshipNovel,17401820:AFeminizedGenre(Lexington:UniversityPressofKentucky,1991).
131.GregorioMaraon,DonJuanetdonjuanisme,trans.M.B.Lacombe(Paris:Gallimard,1958),1529.
132.JeanBorie,LeClibatairefranais(Paris:LeSagittaire,1976),45.
133.EdwardJ.Bristow,ViceandVigilance:PurityMovementsinBritainsince1700(London:GillandMacmillan,1977),104JacquesAmblard,Dela
seduction:Thsepourledoctorat(Paris:Rousseau,1908).Yetatthesametimethepopularpressstillproducedbookslike,"Calypso,"Methodpratiquepour
attireretsduiren'importequellepersonne(Paris:Calypso,1915).
134.ForanAmericanexampleofthewayinwhichanabortiondeathwasturnedtothepurposesofacautionary,melodramaticliterature,seeAmyGilmanSrebnick,
TheMysteriousDeathofMaryRogers:SexandCultureinNineteenthCenturyNewYork(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1995).
Chapter4
Gentlemen
1.JeanBorie,LeCelibatairefranais(Paris:Sagittaire,1976),181.
2.AlexisdeTocqueville,TheAncienRegimeandtheFrenchRevolution,trans.S.Gilbert(London:Fontana,1966),109.Forafascinatingaccountoftheearly
modernEnglishscientist'sclaimtobeagentlemanonewhocouldbetrustedtospeakthetruthseeStevenShapin,ASocialHistoryofTruth:Civilityand
ScienceinSeventeenthcenturyEngland(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1994),4264,6667,8183,10724.
3.EdwinHarrisonCady,TheGentlemaninAmerica:ALiteraryStudyinAmericanCulture(Syracuse:SyracuseUniversityPress,1949)DavidCastronovo,
TheAmericanGentleman:SocialPrestigeandtheModernLiteraryMind(NewYork:Continuum,1991)TimMason,TheEnglishGentleman:TheRiseand
FallofanIdeal(London:AndreDeutsch,1982).
4.PatrickJoyce,VisionsofthePeople:IndustrialEnglandandtheQuestionofClass,18481914(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1991),44.
Page260
5.Dr.Playfair'sgrandson'saccountofthetrial,basedon''originalsourcematerialsinhisownpossession"thoughunfortunatelynotfootnoted,isstillusefulsee(files
Playfair,SixStudiesinHypocrisy(London:SeckerandWarburg,1969),13465.Ashorter,garbledversionisprovidedinEdgarLustgarten,TheJudgesandthe
Judged(London:Odhams,1961),24547.
6.DictionaryofNationalBiography:TheTwentiethCentury(19011911),4045.
7.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):815.
8.Heismistakenlyidentifiedas"Nunzio"WilliamsinPlayfair,SixStudies.
9.DictionaryofNationalBiography:TheTwentiethCentury(19011911),120BritishMedicalJournal2(1903):439Lancet2(1903):57075.Playfair's
worksincluded(withT.C.Allbutt)ASystemofGynaecology(NewYork:Macmillan,1896)andATreatiseofMidwifery(Philadelphia:Lea,1893).
10.Lancet1(1896):897.
11.LondonTimes,24Mar.1891,13DailyChronicle,24Mar.1896,9.
12.Foradiscussionofanesthesiabringingonwomen's"unfoundeddreams"ofsexualassault,seeFrederickJ.Smith,LecturesonMedicalJurisprudenceand
Toxicology(London:Churchill,1900),18788.
13.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):817.
14.Nineteenthcenturypubliccommentatorsinavarietyofmediumsaddressedthetragicfatethatnecessarilyawaitedthewomanwhotransgressedsexualnorms.On
thedepictionoftheadulteressinVictoriannarrativepainting,seeLyndaNead,MythsofSexuality:RepresentationsofWomeninVictorianBritain(Oxford:
Blackwell,1988),4890andinliterature,seeTonyTanner,AdulteryintheNovel:ContractandTransgression(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,
1979)ChantalGleyses,LaFemmecoupable:Petithistoiredel'pouseadultreauXIX,sicle(Paris:Imago,1994).
15.Lancet1(1896):896.
16.Playfair,SixStudies,164.An1890textdirectedatyoungmedicalmenanticipatedPlayfair'sactionsincarryingthewarningthatforadoctortogossipabouthis
casescouldbedisastrousforhiscareer."Donotletyourwife,oranyoneelse,knowyourprofessionalsecrets,ortheprivatedetailsofyourcases,eventhoughthey
arenotsecrets."JukesdeStyrap,TheYoungPractitioner(London:Lewis,1890),113.
17.Playfair,SixStudies,143.
18.Stillstallingfortime,LindaKitsoninherlastlettertoPlayfairhadasked,"AmItoolatetosayyes?"BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):816.
19.SeeLindaKitsontoEmilyPlayfair,19Mar.1894EmilyPlayfairtoLindaKitson,24Mar.1894,intheDailyChronicle,24Mar.1896,9.
20.W.S.PlayfairtoArthurKitson,22Sept.1894,inDailyChronicle,25Mar.1896,8.
21.Asahusbandandwifewereinlawoneperson,thefactthatalibelhadbeendisclosedtoaspousewasnotacceptedasevidenceofitspublication.Thecourts
turnedbackthesuggestionthatthepassagein1882oftheMarriedWomen'sPropertyActunderminedsuchaconcept.LawReports:Queen'sBenchDivision20
(1888):63540.
22.Infact,Playfair,athiswife'srequest,hadinformedSirJamesMrs.Playfairwasnotcalledtotestify.
23.Heismisidentifiedas"James"SpencerinPlayfair,SixStudies,147.
24.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):818.
25.ThewitnesseswereimplicitlyfollowingthelinesetbyThomasPercivalwho,atthebeginningofthecentury,arguedthatwhentheissueofmedicalconfidentiality
aroseonesimplyhadtorelyuponthedoctor'sdiscretion.ChaunceyD.Leake,ed.,Percival'sMedicalEthics(Baltimore:WilliamsandWilkins,1927),90.Secrecy
certainlyseemstobedemandedbytheHippocraticoath"Whatever,inconnectionwithmyprofessionalpracticeornotinconnectionwithit,Iseeorhearinthelife
ofmenwhichoughtnottobespokenabroadIwill
Page261
notdivulge,asreckoningthatallsuchshouldbekeptsecret"butwasrarelyreferredtointhenineteenthcentury.FrancisGurry,BreachofConfidence(Oxford:
ClarendonPress,1984),148.
26.LondonTimes,26Mar.1896,13andseealsoWalterBroadbent,ed.,SelectionsfromtheWritingsofSirWilliamBroadbent(London:Froude,1908).
27.SeeArthurKitson'slettertotheBritishMedicalJournal1(1896):1236.
28.Thepressportrayedheras"aladywhooncepossessedconsiderableattractionsandevennow,inspiteofillhealthandmentalanxiety,herpalefacebeneathher
darkbrownhairisnotwithoutitscharm."Playfair'scountenancewaslessflatteringlydepictedasdominatedby"adeterminedjaw"and''closecroppedirongrey
hair."PennyIllustratedPaper,14Mar.1896,214.
29.DailyChronicle,24Mar.1896,9.
30.Lancet1(1896):896.
31.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):816.
32.DailyChronicle,25Mar.1896,8.
33.ButnoonesuggestedthatPlayfair'sprovidingoftreatmentforhissisterinlawconstitutedabreachofpropriety.Today'snotionthatdoctorsshouldgiveonly
minororemergencycaretomembersoftheirimmediatefamilywasobviouslynotwidelysharedattheturnofthecentury.
34.LondonTimes,25Mar.1896,3.
35.Onscientists'fearsofbeingmadetolookfoolishincourt,seeChristopherHamlin,"ScientificMethodandExpertWitnessing:VictorianPerspectivesonaModern
Problem,"SocialStudiesofScience16(1986):485513.
36.DailyChronicle,27Mar.1896,7.
37.LondonTimes,27Mar.1896,14.
38.BowenRowlands,TheLifeintheLawofSirHenryHawkins(London:WymanandSons,1897),44A.W.B.Simpson,ed.,BiographicalDictionaryofthe
CommonLaw(London:Butterworths,1984),22930.
39.LondonTimes,28Mar.1896,5.
40.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):883.
41.Onappealtheawardwasreducedto9,200,butthescandalousnatureofthecasecostPlayfairmuchofhispracticeandallhopesofanyfurtherhonorsfromthe
Queen.Gladstonewrotetoexpresshisindignationatthejury'sverdictandtodeclare"youhavedoneneithermorenorlessthanyourduty."Lancet2(1903):574.
42.Reynold'sNewspaper,29Mar.1896,5.
43.DailyNews,28Mar.1896,6.
44.R.VasherRodgers,Jr.,TheLawandMedicalMen(Toronto:Carswell,1884),93.
45.Ibid.,93.Onthecontemporaryassumptionthatdoctorsandlawyershadthesamedutytokeepsecrets,see"ProfessionalSecrecy,"Spectator75(1895):364
65.
46.JamesNealandHughWoods,TheConductofMedicalPractice(London:Lancet,1927),22223.
47.PaulBrouardel,LeSecretmdical(Paris:Baillire,1880)RobertTod,"LeSecretmdicalauXIXsicledanslestextesmdicauxetjuridiques,"Nouvelle
pressemdicale8(1979):269597.
48.NewYorkTimes,6Apr.1896,4ClintonDeWitt,PrivilegedCommunicationsbetweenPhysicianandPatient(Pittsburgh:ClarenceC.Thomas,1958).
49.CharlesMeymottTidy,LegalMedicine(London:Smith,Elder,1882),1:2021.
50.JohnGlaister,ATextbookofMedicalJurisprudence(Edinburgh:Livingstone,1915),56.
51.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):1012.
52.LondonTimes,24Mar.1896,14.
Page262
53.Ibid.,Mar.1896,13Lancet1(1896):962.
54.LondonTimes,7Apr.1896,6.
55.DailyNews,28Mar.1896,9.
56.Ibid.,6.
57.LondonTimes,28Mar.1896,11.
58.Playfair,SixStudies,159.
59.SamuelHaber,TheQuestforAuthorityandHonorintheAmericanProfessions,17501900(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1991),34546.
60.Lancet1(1896):1292.
61.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):861.
62.Ibid.,8612.
63.PercyClarkeandCharlesMeymottTidy,MedicalLawforMedicalMen(London:BaillireTindall,1890),39,55.InFrancedoctorswerewarnedbyone
writerthat"circonspection"wasalwaysrequiredwhendealingwithpatientswhoatbestmisconstruedwhatonesaidandatworsesoughttoentraptheirpractitioner.
Dr.Peinard,LaProfessionmdicaleenFrance(Paris:Socitd'ditionsscientifiques,1894),149.
64.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):92930andseealso1(1896):871.ThevariousattemptsmadeinBritaininthe1920sand1930stoestablishmedical
secrecywereallunsuccessful.
65.LondonTimes,9Apr.1896,12.
66.Ibid.,3Apr.1896,66Apr.1896,10.
67.Ibid.,3Apr.1896,6.
68.Ibid.,4Apr.1896,10.
69.Ibid.,6Apr.1896,10.
70.Thesamewriterpointedoutthatin1889SirMorellMackenziehadbeencensoredbytheRoyalCollegeofSurgeonsforpublishingrevelationsconcerningthe
cancerdeathofEmperorFrederickIIIofGermany.Ibid.,7Apr.1896,6.
71.mileWorms,LesAttentatsl'honneur:diffamation,injures,outrages,adultre,duel,loissurlapresse,etc.(Paris:Perrin,1890)mileBeaussire,Les
Principesdudroit(Paris:Alcan,1888),37278.
72.Ondoctors'reportingofmalingerersamongsoldiersandminers,seeSirJohnCollie,FraudinMedicoLegalPractice(London:Arnolds,1932).
73.DailyNews,28Mar.1896,6.
74.BritishMedicalJournal2(1884):32829.
75.BritishMedicalJournal2(1899):60.
76.Justice,4Apr.1896,6andseealso25Apr.1896,45E.BelfortBax,TheFraudofFeminism(London:GrantRichards,1913).
77.Justice,18Apr.1896,39May1896,3.
78.LondonTimes,7Apr.1896,6.
79.CoraLansbury,"Gynaecology,PornographyandtheAntivivisectionMovement,"VictorianStudies28(1985):41338.
80.Lancet1(1896):961.Inanyeventthenotionhadbeenlongacceptedthatwomen,notenjoyingcompletefreedomofaction,wouldonoccasionofnecessitytoy
withthetruth.SeeShapin,SocialHistoryofTruth,8791.
81.Playfair,SixStudies,156.
82.FrankMort,DangerousSexualities:MedicoMoralPoliticsinEnglandsince1830(London:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1987),95109.
83.OndoctorsopposedtotheActs,seeBenjaminScott,AStateIniquity:ItsRise,Extension,andOverthrow(London:KeganPaul,1890),116,119,217.
84.Glaister,MedicalJurisprudence,60.
85.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):817.
Page263
86.JillHarsin,"Syphilis,Wives,andPhysicians:MedicalEthicsandtheFamilyinLateNineteenthcenturyFrance,"FrenchHistoricalStudies16(1989):7295
GailSavage,"TheWillfulCommunicationofaLoathsomeDisease:MedicalConflictandVenerealDiseaseinVictorianEngland,"VictorianStudies34(1990):35
54.
87.GeorgeIves,AHistoryofPenalMethods(London:StanleyPaul,1914),35356AlexanderWelsh,GeorgeEliotandBlackmail(Cambridge:Harvard
UniversityPress,1985).
88.DeWitt,PrivilegedCommunications,247.ButfordemandsmadeinAmericathatabortionsbereported,seeNormanBarnesby,MedicalChaosandCrime
(London:MitchellKennerley,1910),213,22317.
89.A.S.Taylor,AManualofMedicalJurisprudence(London:J.A.Churchill,1891),560.
90.BritishMedicalJournal1(1896):883.
91.Lancet1(1896):962.
92.DictionaryofNationalBiography:TheTwentiethCentury(19011911),6078.
93.LawReports(AppealCases),1905,482.
94.BritishMedicalJournal1(1904):1416ScottishLawReporter,1904,42:21321Glaister,MedicalJurisprudence,6063.
95.Buteveninthemidtwentiethcentury,Britishcourts,inordertoacceptthevalidityofalegitimateconception,showedthemselveswillingtostretchthelengthofthe
gestationperiod.Inthe1940sjudgestookseriouslyclaimsthatspermcouldremainviableinthevaginaforaslongastwentyeightdaysandthatbirthsmightoccuras
lateasthreehundredandsixtydaysafterconception.J.D.Cantley,"MedicalEvidenceinMatrimonialCases,"MedicoLegalJournal18(1950):2630.
96.Foradiscussionofhowsomenineteenthcenturywomenliterallygotawaywithmurderbyplayingtheappropriaterole,seeMaryHartman,Victorian
Murderesses(NewYork:Schoken,1977)RuthHarris,MurdersandMadness:Medicine,LawandSocietyintheFindesicle(Oxford:Clarendon,1989)
VirginiaB.Morris,DoubleJeopardy:WomenWhoKillinVictorianFiction(Lexington:UniversityPressofKentucky,1990).
97.Immediatelyfollowingthetrial,theRoyalCollegeofPhysiciansofLondonsetupacommittee"todefineinalegalsensetheproperconductofaPractitionerwhen
broughtintorelationwithacaseofacknowledgedorsuspectedcriminalabortion,"butthedebateoverthedoctor'sdutycontinuedonintothetwentiethcentury.Sir
GeorgeClark,AHistoryoftheRoyalCollegeofphysiciansofLondon(Oxford:ClarendonPress,196472),3:98085.
98.S.SquireSprigge,MedicineandthePublic(London:Heinemann,1905),243.Butforadiscussionofconfidentiality,whichbyitscautioustoneindicatesa
lessonhadbeendrawnfromthePlayfairfiasco,seeRobertSaundby,MedicalEthics:AGuidetoPersonalConduct(London:Simpkin,Marshall,Hamilton,Kent,
1902),625.
99.LondonTimes,28June1920,10.
100.IntheageofAIDS,thewholequestionofmedicaldisclosureisbeingdebatedoncemore.See,RobertLee,"DisclosureofMedicalRecords:AConfidence
Trick?"inConfidentialityandtheLaw,ed.LindaClarke(London:Lloyd's,1990),26IrvineLoudon,"AQuestionofConfidence:HowItStrikestheHistorian,"
BritishMedicalJournal288(1984):12526.
101.MauriceKeen,Chivalry(NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1984),1.
102.JohnFraser,AmericaandthePatternsofChivalry(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1982)MarkGirouard,TheReturntoCamelot:Chivalryand
theEnglishGentleman(NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1981).
103.RobertA.Nye,MasculinityandMaleCodesofHonorinModernFrance(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1993)UteFrevert,"BourgeoisHonour:
MiddleClassDuelistsinGermanyfromtheLateEighteenthCenturytotheEarlyTwentiethCentury,"inTheGermanBourgeoisie,ed.DavidBlackbournand
RichardJ.Evans(London:Routledge,1991),25492UteFrevert,MenofHonour:ASocialandCulturalHistoryoftheDuel,
Page264
trans.AnthonyWilliams(Cambridge,Eng.:PolityPress,1995)KevinMcAleer,TheCultofHonorinFindeSicleGermany(Princeton:PrincetonUniversity
Press,1994)NormanVance,TheSinewsoftheSpirit:TheIdealofChristianManlinessinVictorianLiteratureandReligiousThought(Cambridge:
CambridgeUniversityPress,1985).
104.JamesHammerton,CrueltyandCompanionship:ConflictinNineteenthCenturyMarriedLife(London:Routledge,1992).
105.HaroldJ.Laski,TheDangerofBeingaGentlemanandOtherEssays(London:AllenandUnwin,1939),1331RobinGilmour,TheIdeaofthe
GentlemanintheVictorianNovel(London:AllenandUnwin,1981).
Chapter5
Murderers
1.Suchcommunitynormswereasmuchcreatedasdefendedbythecourts.SeeJuliaEpsteinandKristinaStaub,eds.,BodyGuards:TheCulturalPoliticsof
GenderAmbiguity(London:Routledge,1991),14.
2.NanaimoFreePress,12Oct.1910,12.
3.Suchsources,dealingastheydowithdeadlyconflicts,areunlikelytorevealtheworkingclassmale'spenchantfor"cooperation,fraternityandequality"foundby
others.SeeBryanPalmer,ACultureinConflict:SkilledWorkersandIndustrialCapitalisminHamilton,Ontario,18601914(Kingston:McGillQueens
UniversityPress,1979),40.
4.ForfineexamplesoftheculturalanalysisofmurdercasesinEurope,seeEdwardBerenson,TheTrialofMmeCaillaux(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,
1991)CarolynConley,TheUnwrittenLaw:CriminalJusticeinVictorianKent(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1991)JoelleGuillais,CrimesofPassion:
DramasofPrivateLifeinNineteenthcenturyFrance(NewYork:Routledge,1991andfortheUnitedStates,seeRogerLane,ViolentDeathintheCity:
Suicide,AccidentandMurderinNineteenthcenturyPhiladelphia(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1979)BertramWyattBrown,SouthernHonor:
EthicsandBehaviorintheOldSouth(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1982)
5.PapersoftheAttorneyGeneralofBritishColumbia[hereafterBC]GR419,vol.198,file1915/50.
6.Letterdated24Apr.1915,inIbid.
7.CranbrookHerald,22Sept.1915,121Oct.1915,1.i1l
8.SherwoodHerchmertoJ.P.McLeod,23Oct.1923,BCGR1323,reel2121,file7049415.
9.Anon.,"L'HomicideenFrancecompardl'homicidel'tranger."Archivesdel'anthroplogiecriminelle13(1898):34951.
10.Thesedisparitieswererecognizedatthetime.SeeDr.HenriLeale,"Delacriminalitdessexes'Archivesdel'anthroplogiecriminelle25(1910):40130and
foramorerecentaccount,seeJudithA.Allen,SexandSecrets:CrimesInvolvingAustralianWomensince1880(Melbourne:OxfordUniversityPress,1990),
2830.
11.PopulationofBritishColumbia
1901 1921
12.PerhapsthemostnotoriousescapeewasWilliamMcLaughan,whoin1912killedtwomenandawoman.VancouverDailyProvince,14Oct.1912,1.13.
13.SeeRosemaryGartnerandBillMcCarthy,"TheSocialDistributionofFemicideinUrbanCanada,19211988,"LawandSocietyReview25(1991):287311
PamelaHaig,
Page265
"The'IlluseofaWife':PatternsofWorkingclassViolenceinDomesticandPublicNewYork,18601880,"JournalofSocialHistory25(1992):44777
EllenRoss,"FierceQuestionsandTaunts:MarriedLifeinLondon,18701914,"FeministStudies8(1982):575602.OnCatholicEurope'sviewofspousal
murdersas"crimesofpassion,"seePaulPeyssonnie,LeMeurtreexcusable(Orleans:Morand,1897)PaulEscoffier,LesCrimespassionels(Paris:George
Jacob,1891)ErmannoCavazzoni,ed.,AlbertoOlivo:Fatalcourroux:Autobiographied'unuxoricide(Paris:Verdier,1992).
14.BCGR429,box11,file5,#3142/04.
15.BCGR419,vol.135,file1909/73.
16.Ibid.,vol.97,file1903/54.
17.Ibid.,vol.160,file1912/134.
18.ComparetoMilesFairburnandStephenHaslett,"ViolentCrimeinOldandNewSocietiesACaseStudyBasedonNewZealand,18531940,"Journalof
SocialHistory20(1986):89126.Foraclassicaccountoflivingconditions,seeEdwinBradwin,TheBunkhouseMan:AStudyoftheWorkandPayinthe
CampsofCanada,19031914(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,1928).
19.OnafightbetweenGermanprisonersofwarattheVernonInternmentCampleadingtomurder,seeBCGR419,vol.229,file1919/127.
20.Ibid.,vol.198,file1915/42.
21.Ibid.,vol.125,file1908/27A.
22.InOctober1907apokergameatKirby'sHotel,Keremeos,ledtoashootingdeath.Ibid.,vol.127,file1908/52.Thiscasewasunusualinthattheaccused
successfullyescapedpolicecustody.
23.Ibid.,vol.161,file1912/151.
24.Ontherelationshipofsociabilitytoviolence,seeNoelDyck,"Booze,BarroomsandScrapping:MasculinityandViolenceinaWesternCanadianTown,"
CanadianJournalofAnthropology1(1980):19198StephenWilson,Feuding:ConflictandBanditryinNineteenthcenturyCorsica(Cambridge:Cambridge
UniversityPress,1988),94.
25.BCGR419,Vol.101,file1904/52.
26.Ibid.,vol.125,file1908/27b.
27.Ibid.,vol.147,file1911/27.
28.BCGR429,box14,file2#2181/07.
29.BCGR419,vol.119,file1907,35.
30.Ibid.,vol.135,file1909/63.
31.Ibid.,vol.152,file1911/104.
32.Ibid.,vol.162,file1912/129.
33.Ibid.,vol.148,file1911/45.
34.Ibid.,vol.190,file1914/155.
35.Ibid.,vol.87,file1901/27
36.Ibid.,vol.183,file1914/13.
37.Ibid.,vol.229,file1919/120.
38.Ibid.,vol.210,file1917/59.
39.Ibid.,vol.175,1913/122.
40.Ibid.,vol.201,file1915/95Ibid.,vol.203,file1916/8.Forthecaseofaderangedrancherwhoin1922killedaneighborhebelievedwas"murmuring"against
him,seeibid.,vol.255,file1922/73.
41.BCGR419,vol.218,file1918/99.
42.Ibid.,vol.160,file1912/138Ibid.,vol.157,file1912/77.
43.Ibid.,vol.189,file1914/144.
44.Ibid.,vol.232,file1920/25.
45.Ibid.,vol.236,file1920/99.
Page266
46.Ibid.,vol.255,file1922/64.
47.Ibid.,vol.266,file1932/29.
48.BCGR1327,B2384BCGR419,vol.145,file1910/91.
49.BCGR419,vol.162,file1912/170Ibid.,vol.163,file1912/179VancouverDailyProvince,26Mar.1912,1,4.
50.BCGR419,vol.169,file1913/46.
51.Ibid.,vol.184,file1914/59.
52.Ibid.,vol.193,file1914/191.
53.Ibid.,vol.197,file191526.
54.Ibid.,vol.204,file1916/43.
55.Ibid.,vol.208,file1917/15.
56.Ibid.,vol.258,file1922/113.
57.Ibid.,vol.129,file1908/105.
58.Ibid.,vol.235,file1920/69Ibid.,vol.271,file1923/74.
59.Forarecentaccountofsuchmotivations,seeKennethPolk,"Masculinity,HonourandConfrontationalHomicide,"inJustBoysDoingBusiness?Men,
MasculinitiesandCrime,ed.TimNewburnandElizabethA.Stanko(London:Routledge,1994),16688.
60.DonaldMacDonaldwasin1910foundnotguiltyofmurderingFrankSavage,who,thoughsworninasaspecialconstable,wasviewedbythecommunityasa
bullywhousedhistemporaryauthoritytoterrorizeanoldrival.NanaimoFreePress,12Oct.1910,12.
61.BCGR419,vol.196,file1915/9.
62.Ibid.,vol.89,file59.
63.KamloopsInlandSentinel,15May1913,1.
64.BCGR419,vol.144,file1910/63.
65.BCGR1323,reelB2121,file6515415.
66.BCGR1327,reelB2399,file1917/54.
67.PrinceRupertDailyNews,10Jan.1921,6.
68.PrinceRupertEveningEmpire,18Jan.1919,2.
69.BCGR419,vol.101,file1904/54.
70.Ibid.,vol.135,file1909/63.
71.ForAmericanexamplesofthiscredo,seeElliottGorn,"ByeByeBoys,IDieaTrueAmerican:Homicide,NativismandWorkingclassCultureinAntebellum
NewYork,"JournalofAmericanHistory74(1987):40Gorn,TheManlyArt:BareknucklePrizeFightinginAmerica(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,
1989).
72.BCGR419,vol.91,file1920/6.
73.Ibid.,vol.147,file1911/34.
74.Theseweretypicalprisonsentences.Jurieshadtheoptionofacquittingtheaccusedorfindinghimguiltyofeithermanslaughter(duetoprovocationorbycriminal
negligence)ormurder.Fiftyeightof125mentriedformurderwentfreebecausetheywerefoundnotguiltyortheircasesweredroppedordismissed.Thirtyeight
receivedprisonsentencesthatrangedfromoneyeartolife,theaveragebeingbetweenfiveandtenyears.Twentyninemenweresentencedtodeath.
75.GreenwoodWeeklyTimes,9May1901,1.
76.BCGR419,Vol.125,file1908/29.
77.Ibid.,vol.176,file1913/166.
78.Ibid.,vol.87,file1901/27.
79.Ibid.,vol.129,file1908/105.
80.Ibid.,vol.93,file1902./61
81.ForaFrenchcaseofamurdercommittedbyamanwhobelievedthatpeoplewerewhisperingabouthisbeingsodomizedasayouth,seeDrs.Reignier,
Lagardelle,andLegrandduSaulle,"Sodomieetassassinat,"Annalesmdicopsychologiques17(1877):190202.
82.Fortheargumentthatsomehomosexualrelationsweretoleratedinworkingclass
Page267
milieus,seeStevenMaynard,"RoughWorkandRuggedMen:TheSocialConstructionofMasculinityinWorkingclassHistory,"Labour/LeTravail23(1989):
15970.Forthelegalcontext,seeTerryL.Chapman,"'AnOscarWildeType':'TheAbominableCrimeofBuggery'inWesternCanada,18901920,"Criminal
JusticeHistory4(1983):97118.
83.BCGR419,vol.89,file1900/77VictoriaDailyColonist,29,30Oct.1901.
84.BCGR419,vol.116,file1906/79.
85.Ibid.,vol.124,file1908/2.
86.VancouverDailyProvince,9May1908,1.
87.Ofallthemurdersthattookplacebetween1900and1923,theonlyoneinwhichactualproofthatahomosexualact(thoughperhapsbestdescribedasa
pedophilicattack)occurredwasreportedin1913.AsimplemindedClintonranchhandwassentencedtodeathforbuggeringandthenkillingthefourandahalf
yearoldboyleftinhiscare.BCGR419,vol.176,file1913/164.
88.Onthesubjectof"malesexualproprietariness,"seeKennethPolk,WhenMenKill:ScenariosofMasculineViolence(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,
1994),5861.
89.BCGR419,vol.87,file1901/12.
90.Ibid.,vol.101,file1904/55VancouverDailyProvince,21May1904,2.
91.Ibid.,vol.108,file1905/58.
92.Ibid.,vol.246,file1921/43PrinceRupertDailyNews,10Jan.1921,6.
93.BCGR1327B3294,#122/14BCGR419,vol.187,file1914/86
94.Iwillbetreatingtheoptionofthehusbandkillingthewifeinaforthcomingstudyofintersexualmurders.
95.BCGR419,vol.92,file1902/36.
96.Ibid.,vol.146,fil1913/149.
97.Ibid.,vol.141,file1910/28.
98.Ibid.,vol.167,file1913/14VancouverDailyProvince,15Oct.1912,3028Mar.1913,2229Mar.1913,3.MaryHenriettaMcNaughton,theaccused's
mother,wasaleadingmemberoftheWCTUandinJanuary1912thefirstwomanelectedtotheVancouverCityCouncil.OnclassandmurderinEngland,see
Conley,UnwrittenLaw,5659.
99.BCGR419,vol.113,file1906/27.
100.Ibid.,vol.230,file1919/135.
101.Ibid.,vol.272,file1923/92.
102.Kootenaian,19Oct.1922,1NelsonDailyNews,14Oct.1922,1.
103.PrinceRupertDailyNews,6June1921,4.
104.FernieFreePress,22Oct.1915,1.
105.PeterN.Stearns,BeaMan:MalesinModernSociety(NewYork:HolmesandMeier,1984)MarkC.CarnesandClydeGriffen,eds.,Meaningsfor
Manhood:ConstructionsofMasculinityinVictorianAmerica(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1990)J.A.ManganandJamesWalvin,eds.,Manliness
andMorality:MiddleClassMasculinityinBritainandAmerica,18001940(Manchester:ManchesterUniversityPress,1987)MichaelS.Kimmel,"The
Contemporary'Crisis'ofMasculinity,"inTheMakingofMasculinities,ed.HarryBrod(Boston:AllenandUnwin,1987),12255MarilynLake,"ThePoliticsof
Respectability:IdentifyingtheMasculinistContext,"HistoricalStudies22(1986):11631JockPhillips,AMan'sCountry?TheImageofthePakehaMale
(Aukland:Penguin,1987).
IntroductiontoPartThree
1.JeanClaudeBologne,Histoiredelapudeur(Paris:OlivierOrban,1986)AnneVincentBuffault,Histoiredeslarmes(Marseille:Rivages,1986).
2.CharlesDarwin,TheExpressionoftheEmotionsinManandAnimals,inTheWorksofCharlesDarwin(London:Pickering,1989),23:18183andseealso
CharlesFr,Pathologiedesmotions(Paris:Alcan,1892).
3.HenriBergson,LeRire:Essaisurlasignificationducomique(Paris:Alcan,1900),5.
Page268
4.Respectablewomenwerecontrariwisecounseledthatitwasunbecomingafemaletoappear,inpublicatleast,toointelligent.
5.JeanJacquesRousseau,mile,(Paris:LaPlaide,Gallimard,1969),bookV,p.697.
6.LesleyA.Hall,HiddenAnxieties:MaleSexuality,19001950(Oxford:PolityPress,1991).
7.M.L.Holbrook,ParturitionwithoutPain(NewYork:1882),p.36citedinCharlesRosenberg,NoOtherGods:OnScienceandAmericanSocialThought
(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1976),47.
8.Ontheroleoftheexperts,startingwiththeGermansexologists,seeVernL.Bullough,ScienceintheBedroom:AHistoryofSexResearch(NewYork:Basic
Books,1994).
Chapter6
Weaklings
1.Forexamplesofsuchadvertisements,seeDailyTelegraph,24Oct.1864,2IllustratedPoliceNews,12Mar.1870,4.
2.LondonTimes,24Oct.1864,9.
3.OntheHenerycase,seeLancet2(1864):5027,529,620,640,647,648,650DailyTelegraph,25Nov.1864,2andseealsoPunch,30Nov.1864.The
OxfordTimesof10Dec.1864notedthatsuchadvertisementsprovidedthestrugglingnewspaperwitha"readybutveryquestionableprop."
4.Lancet2(1864):620,640.
5.WilliamActon,TheFunctionsandDisordersoftheReproductiveOrgans,3ded.(London:JohnChurchill,1862),.appendixE,p.211andseealsoLancet2
(1857).
6.BritishMedicalJournal2(1864):632.
7.Lancet1(1865):9899
8.Ibid.,161.
9.Lancet2(1865):391andseealso,Lancet1(1865):277,2942(1865):518.
10.Onearlierattacks,seeJ.Corry,QuackDoctorsDissected(London:Whitrow,n.d.),andTheDetectorofQuackery(London:Crosby,1802).
11.LynnHunt,ed.,TheInventionofPornography:ObscenityandtheOriginsofmodernity,15001800(NewYork:ZoneBooks,1993),41AnnieStora
Lamarre,L'EnferdelaIIIeRpublique:Censeursetpornographes18811914(Paris:Imago,1990).
12.Fortheargumentthatinanewageofprivacythemasturbationpanicreflectedafearoftheautonomoushedonismsponsoredbytheriseofcapitalism,seeColin
Campbell,TheRomanticEthicandtheSpiritofModernConsumerism(Oxford:Blackwell,1987).Forolderinterpretations,seeE.H.Hare,"Masturbatory
Insanity:TheHistoryofanIdea,"JournalofMentalScience108(1962):125JeanStengersandAnnevanEck,Histoired'unegrandepeur:LaMasturbation
(Bruxelles:ditionsdel'UniversitdeBruxelles,1984)FreddyMortier,WillemColen,andFrankSimon,"InnerScientificReconstructionsintheDiscourseon
Masturbation(17601950),"PaedagogicaHistorica30,no.3(1994):81748.
13.EarlyworksthatexploitedthefearsofsexualabuseincludedW.Farrer,AShortTreatiseonOnanismor,theDetestableViceofSelfPollution(London:
1767)Dr.JamesGraham,ALectureontheGeneration,IncreaseandImprovementoftheHumanSpecies(London:Smith,1784)WilliamBrodum,AGuide
toOldAgeoraCurefortheIndiscretionsofYouth,2vols.(London:Myers,1795),whichpublicizedtheauthor's"NervousCordial"SamuelSolomon,AGuide
toHealth(London:Mathews,1796),whichpuffed"Solomon'sCordialBalmofGilead"E.Senate,TheMedicalMoniteur,ContainingObservationsonthe
EffectsofEarlyDissipation(London:bytheauthor,n.d.).
14.SamuelLa'Mert,SelfPreservation:APopularInquiryintotheConcealedCausesofThoseObscureandNeglectedDisordersoftheGenerativeSystem
(Manchester:bytheauthor,1841),whichappearedinFranceasLaPrservationpersonnelle(Paris:LedoyenandLaroque,1847),andTheScienceofLife
(London:Piper,Spence,1858)J.L.Curtis,Manhood:TheCausesofItsPrematureDeclinewithDirectionsforItsPerfectRestoration(Lon
Page269
don,1840)andGuidemedicaldumariage(Paris:Brachet,1868)Dr.Belliol,Conseilsauxhommesaffaibls(Paris:Dentu,1877),Dr.Brennus,L'Actebref
(Paris:Hall,1907)Dr.Pouillet,LaSpermatorrhe(Paris:Delahaye,1877).Dr.O.Retau,DasBchuberdieEhe(Luzern:Nedwig,s.d.).
15.Lancet2(1864):529
16.Lancet1(1901):493andseealsoBritishMedicalAssociation,SecretRemedies,WhatTheyCostandWhatTheyContain(London:B.M.A.,1909)and
MoreSecretRemedies(London:B.M.A.,1912).
17.M.H.Utley,DidacticElucidations,RespectingtheOriginalSin,ortheSinofImagination,andItsConsequences,Morally,PhysicallyandMentally
(Montreal,1874).
18.Foronedoctor'sassertionthathewasattackedinthemedicalpressformerelybroachingsexualissues,seeR.Dawson,AnEssayonSpermatorrhoea(London:
H.Hughes,1847).
19.Onthelackofunanimityamongdoctors,seeMichaelMason,TheMakingofVictorianSexuality(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1994),175228
LesleyHallandRoyPorter,TheFactsofLife:TheCreationofSexualKnowledgeinBritain,16501950(NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1995),13255.
20.SomediscreetlywroteabouttabooedsubjectsinLatinsee,forexample,HenricoKaan,PsychopathiaSexualis(Lipsiae:ApudLeopoldum,1844).
21.AntiSemiticslurswerefrequentlyemployedbydoctorsintheirattacksonquacks.Onemedicaljournalistsaidofasalesmanof"Dr.JordansBalsamRakasir"that
his"facewasasJewishashisconduct."MonthlyGazetteofHealth9(January1824):786.JohnL.Milton,whopopularizedthenotionof"spermatorrhoea,"claimed
thatthe"mostillustrious"ofthe''wretchesoftheManlyVigorschoolandthespermatorrhoeaquacks"belongedto"thestrickenhouseofJudah."PracticalRemarks
ontheTreatmentofSpermatorrhoea(London:Highley,1855),5.SimilarlytheeditoroftheLancet,inhailingthefoundingofa"UnionfortheDiscouragementof
ViciousAdvertisements,"describedquacksas"hooknosed,blacklocked,andoverdoneinjewelryanddressofthemostextravagantfashion."Lancet1(1851):73.
SuchstatementssuggestnotthatJewswereactuallyoverrepresentedwithintheranksofunqualifiedpractitionersbutthatnonJewsattributedtothemtheexotic
"other"arcanesexualknowledge.Onthesocialcontext,seeBillWilliams,TheMakingofManchesterJewry,17401875(Manchester:ManchesterUniversity
Press,1976).
22.Seechapter6,entitled"ThePriceofRepression,"inPeterGay,TheTenderPassion,vol.2ofTheBourgeoisExperience,VictoriatoFreud(NewYork:
OxfordUniversityPress,1986).
23.WilliamActon,TheFunctionsandDisordersoftheReproductiveOrgans(London:JohnChurchill,1857)andforthecontext,seeF.BarrySmith,"Sexuality
inBritain,18001900:SomeSuggestedRevisions,"inAWideningSphere:ChangingRolesofVictorianWomen,ed.MarthaVicinus(Bloomington:Indiana
UniversityPress,1977),1898.
24.GeorgeDrysdale,inlaterlifeasexradical,wassofrightenedofmasturbatingthathehadhimselfcauterizedsevenoreighttimes.Otherremediesincluded
blistering,camphorrubs,infibulation,andphysicalrestraints.J.MiriamBenn,ThePredicamentsofLove(London:PlutoPress,1992),3746
25.OnBeardseeCharlesRosenberg,NoOtherGods:OnScienceandAmericanSocialThought(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1976),98ff.
26.GeorgeM.Beard,SexualNeurasthenia(NewYork:E.B.Treat,1884).
27.OnBeard'sinfluenceonFrance,seeMauricedeFleury,LesGrandssymptomesneurasthniques:Pathognieettraitement(Paris:Alcan,1901).
28.Beard,SexualNeurasthenia,103.
29.ReportofDr.HammondintheAmericanJournalofNeurologyandPsychiatry(August1882)citedinBeard,SexualNeurasthenia,100.
30.Beard,SexualNeurasthenia,91.
Page270
31.Ibid.,125andseealsoG.StanleyHall,Adolescence(NewYork:D.Appleton,1904),1:43263TomLutz,AmericanNervousness,1903:AnAnecdotal
History(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1991).
32.FlixRoubaud,Traitdel'impuissanceetdesterilitchezl'hommeetchezlafemme,2vols.(Paris:Baillire,1855).
33.M.H.Utley,DidacticElucidations,RespectingtheOriginalSin,ortheSinofImagination,andItsConsequences,Morally,PhysicallyandMentally
(Montreal,1874).
34.VictorG.Vecki,PathologieundTherapiedermannlichenImpotenz(Wien:Urban&Schwarzenberg,1897).
35.VeckicitedinF.R.Sturgis,SexualDebilityinMan(London:Rebman,1901),86.
36.GeorgeHy.Savage,"Insanity,ItsCauseandIncrease,"BritishMedicalJournal1(1907):62223.WilliamWynnWestcott,indiscussingcausesofdeathnoted,
"Imustnotomittonoticethatsimplefatalsyncopemaybeduetomuscularexhaustion,especiallyduringoraftersexualintercourseamong1,100inquestsayear,I
haveaboutfoursuchoccurrences,alwaysofmales.""SuddenandUnexpectedDeaths,''BritishMedicalJournal1(1908):491.
37.SigmundFreud,AnAutobiographicalStudy(London,1948),4246andseealsoHannahDecker,FreudinGermany:RevolutionandReactioninScience,
18931907(NewYork:InternationalUniversitiesPress,1977),134ffJeffreyMasson,ed.,TheCompleteLettersofSigmundFreudtoWilhelmFliess,1877
1904(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1985),41,43,5758,61,7879.
38."HowAnxietyOriginates,"(1894),StandardEditionoftheCompletePsychologicalWorks,trans.J.Strachey(London:HogarthPress,1966),1:18990.
39.Ibid.,1:191andseealso1:214,3:151.
40."DraftA"(1892),Ibid.,1:177.
41."DraftB"(1893),Ibid.,1:181.
42."TheAnxietyNeurosis,"(1893),Ibid.,3:101andseealso16:401402.
43."DraftB.AetiologyoftheNeurosis,"(1893),Ibid.,1:183.
44."TheAnxietyNeurosis"(1895),Ibid.,3:103.
45."TheAnxietyNeurosis"(1898),Ibid.,3:106.SeealsoSandorFerenczi's1905assertionthatneurastheniawascausedbyalossofsemen"siricheen
glycrophosphates."SandorFerenczi,LescritsdeBudapest,trans.G.KurczandC.Lorin(Paris:E.P.E.L.,1994),259.
46.SanderGilman,DifferenceandPathology:StereotypesofSexuality,Race,andMadness(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1985),21324.
47."'Civilized'SexualMorality"(1908),StandardEdition,9:200.
48.IntroductoryLectures(1915)inIbid.,16:316.InthispassageFreudreferstobothdefecationandcoitusinterruputusasbeingas"perverse"inthatboth
engenderaformofsexualpleasureandyetarenonreproductive.
49.JamesPaget,ClinicalLecturesandEssays(London:LongmanGreen,1875),26892.
50.SexualDebilityinMan,68.
51.Forapoemon"UnJeanquinepeut"andassortedjokesandanecdotesconcerningimpotency,allofwhichpredatedthenineteenthcentury,seeGrande
DictionnaireduXIXesicle(Paris:Larousse,18661900)andseealsoMargaretWaller,TheMaleMalady:FictionsofImpotenceintheFrenchRomantic
Novel(NewBrunswick:RutgersUniversityPress,1993).
52.Acton,Functions,3ded.,1862.appendixE,"ExposureoftheQuackSystem,"30.
53.JamesWoycke,BirthControlinGermany,18711933(NewYork:London,1988),12.
54.RexversusDesctes,RapportsJudiciaresdeQubec:CourSup,rieure63(1925),5256.Descteswasentrappedbythepoliceintosellingapolice
constableoneofthecited
Page271
texts.Suchtacticswerenotunusualinsuchcases.In1899Dr.VilleneuveinformedtheSocitmdicopsychologiquedeQubecofthecaseof"H.C.,"aBelgian
patissierdcorateur,chargedunderarticle179oftheCriminalCodeforsellingthreepastryfigurestendingtocorruptmorals.
Cesfigures,d'uncaractreobscneparlaprdominancedonnesauxorganesgnitaux,taientensucrecolorietreprsentaientunefemmeetunhommenus,avecunchien.Une
imagedel'EnfantJsusportaitunecroixtaitcollesurlaboite.
Oneofthepastrycook'screationshadbeendiscoveredandreportedtotheauthorities.Thepolicesentalonganagenttoentrap"H.C."intosellinghimsomething
similar."H.C."statedthatinBelgiumheproducedsuchwareswhenheneededthemoneybutsuchundertakingsweremoredangerousinQuebec.Hewasfinally
talkedintoproducingtheconfectionandthenarrested.Hislastlineofdefensewastoclaimtobeanepileptic,whichexplainswhyDr.VilleneuveoftheasileSaint
JeandeDieubecameinvolvedinthecase.AnnalesmdicopsychologiquesII(1900):268.
55.AlsocitedwasJeanErnestCharles,LaPossessioncriminelle:Dramesd'amouretdejalousie(Paris:Flammarion,1923).
56.TheMontrealpresswasatthesametimereportingthatthecity'sestimatedeightybrothelsposedthequestionofwhetherregulationwasrequired.SeeLeDevoir,
23Dec.1924,126Dec.1924,129Dec.1924,1MontrealGazette,23Dec.1924,1024Dec.1924,2.OnthediscussionofsexualissuesinQuebec,see
AndreLvesque,LaNormeetlesdviantes:DesfemmesauQuebecpendantl'entredeuxguerres(Montreal:Lesditionsduremuemnage,1989).
57.PeterGay,EducationoftheSenses,vol.IofTheBourgeoisExperience:VictoriatoFreud(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1984),318.
58.Someofthesamematerialwasrepackagedintheseries"Collectiondepsychologiepopulaire."Acompetitorwhoranthe"InstitutRabelais,"whichdistributed
books,nudephotographs,contraceptives,andabortifacients,wasin1910sentencedtosixmonthsinprisonseeGazettedesTribunaux,23July1910,66223.
59.Dr.Caufeynon,Brviaredel'amourdanslemarriage,d'aprsleDr.Venette(Paris:Fort,1907)Drs.CaufeynonetJaf,LesSecretsmerveilleuxdugrand
etdupetitAlbert(Paris,Librairiedesouvragespratiques,1905)Dr.Jaf,UnisexualLove(NewYork:NewEraPress,1954).
60.Dr.Caufeynon,L'Eunuchisme:Histoiregnraledelacastration(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1903).
61.Dr.Caufeynon,L'Hermaphrodisme(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1904).
62.Dr.Jaf,LesTatouages(Paris:J.Fort,1908),73,76.
63.Drs.CaufeynonandJaf,LesSecretsmerveilleuxdugrandetpetitAlbert(Paris:Librairiedesouvragespractiques,1905)Brviaredel'amourdansle
mariage,d'aprsleDr.Venette(Paris:Fort,1907).
64.Dr.Caufeynon,LaProcrationvolontdesfillesetdesgarons,suiviedefcondationartificielleetdel'amidesjeunesfemmes(Paris:Fort,1903).
65.Drs.JafandCaufeynon,Scuritdedeuxsexesenamour(Paris:GeorgesAnquetil,1926),425,429,437andseealsoJ.C.Bernard,"Filleougaron
volont:UnAspectdudiscoursmdicalauXIXesicle,"Ethnographiefranaise11(1981):6376.
66.Dr.Caufeynon,Aberrations,foliesetaberrationsdusensgnital(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1903),63andseealsoonthedismissalofwomen'sclaimsof
beingraped,AmbroiseTardieu,tudemdicolgalesurlesattentatsauxmoeurs(Paris:Baillire,1878),1012,13335.
Page272
67.Onchangingdiagnoses,seeMarthaNoelEvans,FitsandStarts:AGenealogyofHysteriainModernFrance(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1992).
68.Onsuchcontinuities,seeAngusMcLaren,ReproductiveRituals:ThePerceptionofFertilityinEnglandfromtheSixteenthCenturytotheNineteenth
Century(London:Methuen,1984).
69.Dr.Jaf,Physiologieduvice(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1904),55.
70.Dr.Jaf,L'Amourmalade(Paris:J.Fort,1908),86ff.
71.Dr.Caufeynon,L'Hystrie(Paris:Nouvellelibrariemdicale,1905)andseealsoJanGoldstein,"TheHysteriaDiagnosisandthePoliticsofAnticlericalismin
LateNineteenthcenturyFrance,"JournalofModernHistory54(1982):20939,andConsoleandClassify:TheFrenchPsychiatricProfessioninthe
NineteenthCentury(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1987).
72.Dr.Caufeynon,Aberrations,foliesetaberrationsdusensgnital(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1903),46
73.Dr.Caufeynon,TheViceofWoman(Paris:ArtisticLibrary,1925),17075.
74.Dr.Caufeynon,LesVnusimpudiques:LaGrandeprostitutiontraverslesges(Paris:Socitparisienned'dition,1903).
75.Forclaimsthatcontraceptionwasphysicallyandpsychologicallydebilitating,seeDr.MichelBourgas,LeDroitl'amourpourlafemme(Paris.Vigotfrres,
n.d.),10610.
76.Drs.JafandCaufeynon,Scuritdedeuxsexesenamour(Paris:GeorgesAnquetil,1926),399,422andcomparetoDoctorSaldo,LovewithoutDanger,
followedwithTheShortAct(Paris:EditionsModernes,1927).
77.Dr.Forel'srecommendationsonarange,ofbirthcontroltechniquesincludingcondomsandcoitusinterruptuswasincludedinDrs.JafandSaldo,Physiologie
secrtedel'hommeetdelafemme(Paris:Denans,1908),11823.
78.Dr.Jaf,AmouretmariageenOrient(Paris:J.Fort,1908).Thistextappearedinthe"Collectiondepsychologiepopulaire."Theevenmoreextensivelistthat
appearedinDoctorBrennus,Amouretscurit(Paris:SaintElmeGuerin,1906),includedadvertisementsforpessaries,douches,sponges,bidets,contraceptive
powders,diaphragms,aphrodisiacs,antispermatorrhearings,chastitybelts,injectorsforartificialinsemination,falsebreasts,vaginalprotectors,("L'Infallible"),
capuchons("bonnetfindesicle''),baudruches,condomsinavarietyofcolorsandimitationcrocodilehide,andcigarettecases,hollowonefrancpiecesand
"boutinsdeviolettes"inwhichsuchcondomscouldbediscretelyhidden.Forsimilaradvertisementsinaman'smagazine,seeLeSourire25Aug.1899.
79.Dr.Caufeynon,L'Hystrie(Paris:Nouvellelibrariemdicale,1905).
80.Dr.Caufeynon,Aberrations,foliesetaberrationsdusensgenital(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1903),26,27,61.
81.Dr.Caufeynon,L'Onanismechezl'homme(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1902.),8,9,45,107.
82.Dr.Jaf,LeCommercesexueletleproxntisme(Paris:J.Fort,1908),53,56,98.SeealsoDr.Caufeynon,LaProstitutiondbauchecorruption
(Paris.Nouvellelibrairiemdicale,1905).
83.Forcontemporaryaccountsofthedangersprostitutionposedsociety,seeCharlesJrmeLecour,LaProstitutionParisetLondres(Paris:Asselin,1877)
LouisMartineau,LaProstitutionclandestine(Paris:Lecrosnier,1885).
84.Dr.Jaf,Physiologieduvice(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1904),23536.
85.Dr.Caufeynon,TheViceofWoman(Paris:ArtisticLibrary,1925),132.
86.Dr.Caufeynon,Scnesd'amourmorbide(Observationspsychophysiologiques(Paris:P.Fort,1902).
87.Onthelinkageofmaleandfemaleprostitution,seeF.Carlier,LesDeuxprostitutions(Paris:E.Dentu,1887).
Page273
88.Dr.Jaf,Physiologieduvice(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1904),8,205.Ontheargumentthat"compensatory"masturbationwaspermissible,but"essential
Onanism"ledontohomosexuality,seeAugusteForel,TheSexualQuestion,trans.C.F.Marshall(NewYork:MedicalArtAgency,n.d.[firstFrenchedition
1905]),22831.ThesimilarargumentthatcasesofinversionthatweremereschoolboyflingscouldbecuredbymarriagewasassertedbyPierreGarnier,
Anomaliessexuelles:Apparentesetcaches(Paris:Garnier1889),490502.
89.OnhomosexualityanddegenerationfearsseeJ.AronandR.Kempf,Labourgeoisie,lesexeetl'honneur(Paris:Editioncomplxe,1984).
90.Dr.Caufeynon,LaPderastie(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1905),17,19.ButFauconneyalsonotedthatblackmailersexploitedhomosexuals'fearsofbeing
revealed.
91.Ontheconstructionofthemedicalimageofthehomosexual,seeRobertA.Nye,"SexDifferenceandMaleHomosexualityinFrenchMedicalDiscourse,1830
1930,"BulletinoftheHistoryofMedicine63(1989):3252.
92.Ontheemergenceinthenineteenthcenturyofsuchviews,seeE.K.Sedgwick,TheEpistemologyoftheCloset(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,
1990),8.
93.Dr.Jaf,L'Amourmalade(Paris:J.Fort,1908),18,29,31Dr.Caufeynon,LaFolierotique(Paris:CharlesOffenstadt,1903).
94.MichelFoucault,TheHistoryofSexuality:AnIntroduction,trans.RichardHoward(NewYork:Vintage,1980).
95.See,forexample,Stekel'sassertionthat"loveinadequacy"increasedascivilizationadvancedWilhelmStekel,ImpotenceintheMale(NewYork:Liverwright,
1927),1:11andseealsoMartinJ.Weiner,ReconstructingtheCriminal:Culture,LawandPolicyinEngland,18301914(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversity
Press,1990),23840.
96.EdwardShorter,FromHysteriatoFatigue:AHistoryofPsychosomaticIllnessintheModernEra(NewYork:FreePress,1992).
97.KarenOffen,"Depopulation,Nationalism,andFeminisminFindeSicleFrance,"AmericanHistoricalReview89(1984):64876andonfearsofdeclining
virility,seeRobertA.Nye,"Honor,Impotence,andMaleSexualityinNineteenthcenturyFrenchMedicine,"FrenchHistoricalStudies16(1989):4871.
98.WilliamSchneider,QualityandQuantity:TheQuestforBiologicalRegenerationinTwentiethcenturyFrance(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,
1990)IanDowbiggen,InheritingMadness:ProfessionalizationandPsychiatricKnowledgeinNineteenthcenturyFrance(Berkeley:UniversityofCalifornia
Press,1991).
99.SanderGilman,DifferenceandPathology:StereotypesofSexuality,Race,andMadness(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1985),21324.
100.Onthebiologicalpreoccupationsofthelatenineteenthcentury,seeAlainCorbin,LeTemps,ledsiretl'horreur(Paris:Aubier,1991)
101.OnthepopularityofthetreatmentsofferedbyDrs.BrownSequard,Steinach,andVoronoff,see"Impuissance"inLaGrandeEncyclopdie(Paris:Lamirault,
18871902),64748NaomiPfeffer,TheStorkandtheSyringe:APoliticalHistoryofReproductiveMedicine(Oxford:Polity,1993),51ff.
102.Onchangingtherapiessee,KevinJ.Mumford,"'LostManhood'Found:MaleSexualImpotenceinVictorianCultureintheUnitedStates,"Journalofthe
HistoryofSexuality3(1992):3357.
103.SheilaFaithWeiss,RaceHygieneandNationalEfficiciency:TheEugenicsofWilhelmSchallmayer(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1987),23.
104.EugeneTerraillon,L'Honneur,sentimentetprincipemoral(Paris:Alcan,1912),17176.
105.See,forexample,theargumentthatAfricanAmericanstudentswereexhaustedintryingtokeepupwiththeirwhitecounterpartsinC.K.Mills,Mental
OverworkandPrema
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tureDiseaseamongPublicandProfessionalMen(Washington:SmithsonianMisc.Collections,1885)15.
106.HenriMartin,"LaDpopulation,"SemaineSocialeduCanada:CompteRendudescoursetconfrences(Montral:Bibliothquedel'Action,1924),152.
Chapter7
Sadists
1.AlexandreLacassagne,Vacherl'ventreuretlescrimessadiques(Lyon:Storck,1899),288.
2.JeffreyWeeks,"QuestionsofIdentity,"inTheCulturalConstructionofSexuality,ed.PatCaplan(NewYork:Tavistock,1987),3151andseealsoGeorge
LanteriLaura,Lecturedesperversion:Histoiredeleurappropriationmdicale(Paris:Masson,1979).
3.IanHacking,"MakingUpPeople,"inReconstructingIndividualism:Autonomy,IndividualityandtheSelfinWesternThought,ed.T.C.Helleretal.
(StanfordUniversityPress,1986),228.Ontwentiethcenturyviewsofsadism,seeVernBullough,DwightDixon,andJoanDixon,"Sadism,MasochismandHistory,
orWhenIsBehaviorSadoMasochistic?"inSexualKnowledge,SexualScience:TheHistoryofAttitudestoSexuality,ed.RoyPorterandMichaelTeich
(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1994),4762MartinS.Weinberg,ColinJ.Williams,andCharlesMoser,"TheSocialConstituentsofSadomasochism,''
Socialproblems31(1984):37989.
4.Whichexplainswhysadomasochisticpracticesbecamemorepopularinthebrothelsofthe1890sseeAlainCorbin,WomenforHire:ProstitutionandSexuality
inFranceafter1850(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1990),81.
5.ThreeyearsearlierVictor'smotherhadhandedhimovertotheSpcitlyonnaisepourlesauvetagedel'enfance,whichhadfoundhimworkwithalocallandowner.
6.EvenbeforeVacher'strialconcluded,abookhadbeendevotedtohiscase,M.LaurentMartin,LeRoidesassassins(Paris:Librairieuniverselle,1897).The
fullestaccountofhiscareerwasproducedbytheinvestigatingmagistrate,mileFourquet,Vacher(Paris:Gallimard,1931).Fourquet'sconservativesocialviews
weremadeevidentbythetitlesofhisotherworks:LesVagabondsLesFauxtmoinsLesmeneursdegrves.SeealsoRenTavernieretHenriGaret,LeJude
etl'assassin(Paris:FranceLoisirs,1976),onwhichwasbasedBertrandTavernier'sexcellentfilmofthesamename.
7.GazettedeTribunaux,17Oct,1898,987.Joan,whosebeatificationtookplacein1909andcanonizationin1920,wasinthe1890svociferouslyclaimedasa
martyrbyboththerepublicannationalistsandtheCatholicmonarchists.Marina,JoanofArc:TheImageofFemaleHeroism(London:WeidenfeldandNicolson,
1981),22564.TheseofLisieux,whoseremarkablyspeedyadvancementtosainthoodalsooccurredintheearlytwentiethcentury,recordedasherfirsttriumph,
bythepowerofprayeralone,ofhavingtheimpenitentmurdererPranziniconvertbeforehisexecutionon31Aug.1887.Histoired'uneme(Lisieux:O.L.L.,1946),
7778.
8.AlexandreLacassagne,"Vacherl'ventreur,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle13(1898):641.
9.Fourquet,Vacher,235.
10.Lacassagne,"Vacher,"641.
11.GazettedeTribunaux,31October1Nov.1898,1004.
12.Ibid.
13.Ibid.
14.Ibid.NoonenotedatthetimethatVacheridentifiedwithJoanofArcratherthanwithhercompanioninarms,thenotoriousGillesdeRais,whohelpedliberate
Orleansin1429butin1440wasturnedoverbytheinquisitiontothebishopofNantes,accusedoftheevocationofthedevilandthemurderandsodomyofhundreds
ofchildren.In1885theoriginalcourtdocumentsofthemanwhosememoryhadbecomeconfusedwiththeBluebeard
Page275
storywerepublishedinAbbEugneBossard,GillesdeRais,marchaldeFrance,ditBarbeBleue(Paris:Champion,1886).Theaccountwaschallengedby
thedreyfusardSalomonReinachin"GillesdeRais,"Cultes,mythesetreligion(Paris:ErnestLeroux,1912),4:26799,whofollowingVoltairearguedthat
Gilles,likeJoanandDreyfus,hadbeendisposedofforpoliticalreasons.Gilles'slands,atemptingprizeforhissuzerain,thedukeofBrittany,wereindeedseized,
andhisconfession,inwhichheattributedhismurderofhundredsofboystoidlenessandirreligion,ranghollow.
Heurgedthefathersoffamilies,moreover,toguardagainstdressingtheirchildrendaintilyandpermittingthemtoliveinidlenessandhenotedandclaimedthatverymanyevils
aregeneratedfromidlenessandovereatinganddeclaredmostexpresslyabouthimselfthatidlenessandexcessive,frequentconsumptionofsavoryfoodsandwarmwineshad
suppliedhimchieflywiththeincentivesfromwhichheperpetratedsomanysinsandmisdeeds.
ReginaldHyatte,ed.,LaughterfortheDevil:TheTrialsofGillesdeRais,CompanioninArmsofJoanofArc(1440)(Cranbury,N.J.:AssociatedUniversity
Presses,1984),120andseealsoFernandFleuret,DeGillesdeRaisGuillaumeApollinaire(Paris:MercuredeFrance,1933).
15.L'Intransigeant,26October1898,2.
16.Ibid.LeMatin,27Oct.1898,2.FortheclaimthatsomeinFranceboastedthatVacherhadbestedtherecordsetinEnglandbyJacktheRipper,see
L'Illustration,6Nov.1897,89798.VacherhimselfsupposedlywroteaspecialcolumnforLePetitJournal.
17.GazettedeTribunaux,31Oct.1Nov.1898,1004.
18.Onthedebateoverthemoralityofpublicexecutions,seeAlexandreBerard,LaPublicitdesexcutionscapitales(Lyon:Storck,1894).
19.Fourquet,Vacher,312.
20.LeFigaro,28,29Oct.1898.
21.RuthHarris,MurdersandMadness:Medicine,Law,andSocietyintheFindeSicle(Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,1989)JanGoldstein,Consoleand
Classify:TheFrenchPsychiatricProfessionintheNineteenthCentury(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1987)RobertA.Nye,Crime,Madnessand
PoliticsinModernFrance:TheMedicalConceptofNationalDecline(PrincetonUniversityPress,1984).
22.PatriziaGuarnieri,ACaseofChildMurder:LawandScienceinNineteenthcenturyTuscany(Cambridge:Polity,1993),121.
23.Guarnieri,ChildMurder,139.
24.Ibid.,16768.
25.CitedinPaulMoreaudeTours,Aberrationdusensgnsiques(Paris:Asselin,1880),243.Sexualaberrations,accordingtoMoreaudeTours,couldlike
epilepsyoverridethepowersofreason.
26.GazettedeTribunaux,31Oct.1Nov.1898,1004.
27.Dr.Bozonnet,doctoroftheprisonatBelley,statedthatVacherwasnotcompletelyresponsible.Dr.FranoisMadeufconcurred,pointingouttheimportanceof
thebulletinVacher'sskull.Madeuf,authorofL'Artdeviteretdegurirlesmaladiesintimesspcialesl'hommeetlafemme(Paris:PortRoyal,s.d.)and
otherselfhelpmedicalguides,wasverymuchanoutsider,andhistestimonywasthuseasilydiscountedbyLacassagne.
28.IanR.Dowbiggin,InheritingMadness:ProfessionalizationandPsychiatricKnowledgeinNineteenthcenturyFrance(Berkeley:UniversityofCalifornia
Press,1991).
29.OnLacassagne'straditionalviewofsexroles,seehisPrcisd'hyginepriveetsociale(Paris:Masson,1876),50230.
30.OnLombroso'sinfluence,seeRafaelHuertas,"MadnessandDegeneration,III.DegenerationandCriminality,"HistoryofPsychiatry4(1993):14158on
Lacassagne'searly
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deferencetotheItalians,seeAlexandreLacassagne,L'Hommecriminelcomparl'hommeprimitif(Lyon:Associationtypographique,1882)andforthe
floweringoftheFrenchschool,seemileLaurent,L'Anthropologiecriminelleetlesnouvellesthoriesducrime(Paris:Socitd'ditionsscientifiques,1893).
31.SeeRobertNye,"HeredityorMilieu:TheFoundationsofModernEuropeanCriminologicalTheory,"Isis67(1976):339Nye,Madness,1036,19192,221
24HenriSouchon,"AlexandreLacassagneetl'coledeLyon,"Revuedesciencecriminelle35(1974):53359.
32.SeeAlexandeBerard,LaResponsibilitmorale(Lyon:Storck,1892).
33.Lacassagne,Vacher,286.
34.MaximedeFleury,L'meducriminel(Paris:Alcan,1898),87.
35.LaScuolapositiva(January1899),citedinLacassagne,Vacher,289andseealsoRaffaeleGarofalo,Criminology(Boston:LittleBrown,1914),133.
36.MagnusHirschfeld,SexualPathology(NewYork:Emerson,1947),221.
37.Patients'attacksonasylumkeeperswereinthenewsforanaccountwrittentoexposeconditionsattheSalptrirebyawomancommittedbyherparentsfor
fourteenyearssee,HersilieRouy,Mmoiresd'unealine(Paris:Ollendorf,1883),citedinMarthaNoelEvans,FitsandStarts:AGenealogyofHysteriain
ModernFrance(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1991).
38.PaulGarnier,"DesPerversionssexuellesobsdantesetimpulsives,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle15(1900):62629.
39.Lacassagne,Vacher,5759.A.Pierret,mdecinenchefdelamaisondesantdeChampvertatLyonandexpertonmalingering,wasresponsibleforreporting
tothecourtonVacher'sheredityLacassagneprovidedanaccountoftheaccused'ssadism,Dr.F.Rebatelreviewedthephysicalandanthropologicalevidence,and
Dr.Lannois,anearspecialist,explainedtheeffectofthebulletlodgedinVacher'sskull.
40.Vacher'sbrain,likesomesortofforensicfootball,waskickedaroundbycompetingteamsofEuropeanpsychiatrists,criminologists,andanthropologists.The
ItaliansLombrosoandRoncoroniinsisteditcarriedallthecharacteristicsoftheborncriminal.TheFrenchanthropologistsLabordeandManouvrierfollowed
Lacassagneindeclaringitnormal,indeeddisturbinglysimilartotherepublicanpoliticianGambetta'sbeautifulgraymatter.Madeuf,Klippel,Philippe,Rabaud,
Marchand,andToulousemoreorlessagreed,butToulousemadethepointthatthebrain'slackoflesionsdidnotmeanVacherwassane.douardToulouse,Le
RapportdesmdicinsexpertsurVacher(Clermont:Daixfrres,1898)AlexandreLacassagne,"LeCerveaudeVacher,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle
14(1899):65362M.J.V.LabordeaveclacollaborationdeMM.Manouvrier,Papillault&Gelle,tudepsychophysiologique,mdicolgal&anatomique
surVacher(Paris:Schleicherfrres,1900)andseealsoChroniquemdicale(1900):208,citedinPierreDarmon,Mdicinsetassassinslabellepoque(Paris:
Seuil,1989),70.
41.UnderLacassagne'seditorshiptheArchivesdel'anthropologiecriminelleetdessciencespnalespublishedthefirstresultsofthesortoflargescale
measurementsofcriminalscalledforbyAdolpheBertillon."ItwasthiscircumstancethatacceleratedtheFrenchshiftawayfromtheatavismhypothesisandtowards
thedegenerationapproachthatistosay,awayfromphysiognomyandcraniologyandtowardspsychopathologyandpsychodynamics."JaapvanGinneken,
Crowds,Psychology,andPolitics,18711899(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1992),11213.Butforevidencethatbiologicaldeterminismhadits
Frenchdefenders,seeCharlesFr,Dgnrescenceetcriminalit(Paris:Alcan,1888)CharlesFr,LaFamillenevropathique(Paris:Alcan,1898).
42.ThreepsychiatristsLasgue,Brouardel,andMotethadheldthatMenesclouwassane.Lacassagne,Vacher,253.
43.GazettedeTribunaux,31Oct.1Nov.1898,1004.
Page277
44.Lacassagne,"Vacher,"636.
45.Lacassagne,Vacher,288.
46.Marciat,"LeMarquisdeSadeetlesadisme,"inLacassagne,Vacher,185138.
47.L.Thoinot,Attentatsauxmoeursetperversionsdusensgital(Paris:Doin,1898)andseealsoL.ThoinotandA.W.Weysse,MedicolegalAspectsof
MoralOffenses(Philadelphia:F.A.Davis,1921),417.
48.Thetermdecadentwasfirsttakenupinthe1850sandwasmostassociatedwithBaudelaire,authorofFleursdumal(1857),ofwhomPaulBourgetsaid,"Heis
alibertine,anddepravedvisionsamountingtoSadismdisturbtheverymanwhocomestoworshiptheraisedfingerofhisMadonna."Flaubertwascalleda"sadiste"in
the1850sandaccusedbySainteBeuveinthe1860sofhavingan"imaginationsadique.''LeGrandRobertdelalanguefranaise(Paris:LeRobert,1985).
49.OctaveUzanne,Idessurlesromans,parD.A.F.Sade(Paris:Rouveyre,1878)CharlesHenry,LaVeritsurlemarquisdeSade(Paris:Dentu,1887),H.
d'Almeras,LeMarquisdeSade(Paris:Michel,1906),GuillaumeApollinaire,L'OeuvredumarquisdeSade(Paris:Bibliothquedescurieux,1909)Dr.Salvatore
Sarfati,EssaimdicopsychologiquesurlemarquisdeSade(Lyon.BoscandRiou,1930)andontheliterarycultofsadism,seetheintroductionbyOctave
UzannetoEugenDuebren[IwanBloch],LeMarquisdeSadeetsontemps(Paris:Michalon1904)MauriceHeine,LeMarquisdeSade(ParisGallimard,1950),
MichelDelon,"Untypepatantpourlessaloperies,"in"JeanLorrain:vicesetcriture,"RevuedesScienceshumaines230(199394):16373.
50.IwanBloch,DasSexuallebenunsererzeit(Berlin:Marcuse,1919),586626MaxNordau,Degeneration(London.Heineman,1913[Frenchedition1895])
MarioPraz,TheRomanticAgony(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1970)JeanPierrot,TheDecadentImagination,trans.DerekColtman(Chicago:
UniversityofChicagoPress,1981)JenniferBirkett,TheSinsoftheFathers:DecadenceinFrance,18701914(London:QuartetBooks,1986).
51.EmilyApter,FeminizingtheFetish:PsychoanalysisandNarrativeObsessioninTurnoftheCenturyFrance(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1991),128
DeborahL.Silverman,ArtNouveauinFindeSicleFrance(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1989)WandaBannour,EdmondetJulesdeGoncourtou
legieandrogyne(Paris:Persona,1985)andonEnglandseeElaineShowalter,SexualAnarchy:GenderandCultureattheFindeSicle(NewYork:Penguin,
1990),818LindaGertnerZatlin,AubreyBeardsleyandVictorianSexualPolitics(Oxford:ClarendonPress,1990).
52.FewweremorebizarrethanJeanLorrain,whocombedhishairoverhisforeheadtomakehimselflooklikeamurderer.Amoreseriousinterestindecadencewas
takenbyPaulBourget,whomovingfrompositivismtoconservative,socialCatholicism,wasattractedbydeSade'sideathattherewasananimalisticifnotsatanic
sidetolovesee,PaulBourget,Nouveauxessaisdepsychologiecontemporaine(ParisLamerre,1886)2volsPhysiologiedel'amourmoderne(Paris:
Lemmerre,1891).
53.J.K.Huysmans,LBasinOeuvrescompltes(Paris:Cres,1928),vol.12,chap.11.
54.SatanicsadisminfactofferedmanyofthedecadentslikeHuysmansawaybackintoCatholicismseetheintroductionbyHavelockEllistoJ.K.Huysmans,
AgainsttheGrain(Rebours)trans.ArthurZaidenberg(NewYork:IllustratedEditions,1931).
55.CitedinBarbeyd'Aurevilly,Oeuvres(Paris.BibliothquedelaPlaide,1964),1:1295.
56.OctaveMirbeau,whoinLeJardindessupplices(1899)providedaseductiveaccountofsadism,movedfromRomanCatholicismtoanarchismasaresultofthe
Dreyfusaffair.HisLeJournald'unefemmedechambre(1901),whichportraysaVacherlikerapeandkillingofachild,presentstheantiSemitic,provincial
bourgeoisieastherealsadists.Hesimilarlycritiquedthecriminalpsychiatryofperiod,presentingadoctordiagnosingpovertyasaformof
Page278
cranialdegeneration.RegCarr,AnarchisminFrance:TheCaseofOctaveMirbeau(Montreal:McGillQueens,1977)Apter,Fetish,157andseealso
GermainGalerant,LesRosessadiquesdeMaupassant(Paris:Bertot,1992).
57.Duehren,Sade,460andonmisogynyinpaintingseeBramDjkstra,IdolsofPerversity:FantasiesofFeminineEvilinFindeSicleCulture(NewYork:
OxfordUniversityPress,1986).Seealsofootnote80below.
58.PaulLidsky,LescrivainscontrelaCommune(Paris:Maspero,1970)butfortheargumentthat1871actuallyretardeduntilthe1880stheemergenceof
decadentliterature,seePierreCitti,Contreladcadence:Histoiredel'imaginationfraisedansleroman,18901914(Paris:PUF,1987),5253.
59.EugenWeberFrance,FindeSicle(CambridgeHarvardUniversityPress,1986),13.
60.Birkett,SinsoftheFathers,4.OnDeSade'srehabilitationinthetwentiethcentury,seeCarolynJ.Dean,TheSelfandItsPleasures:Bataille,Lacanandthe
HistoryoftheDecenteredSubject(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1992.),127ff.
61.Lacassagne,Vacher,246andforsimilarpraise,seeScipioSighele,Littratureetcriminalit(Paris:GiardetBrire,1908),13234.
62.Butfortheargumentthatthedecadentwriterswerethemselvessick,seeDr.eLaurent,LaPosiedcadentedevantlasciencepsychiatrique(Paris:
AlexandreMaloine,1897).
63.PaulGarnier,"DesPerversionssexuellesobsdantesetimpulsives,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle15(1900):618.
64.SeeCesareLombroso,L'Hommecriminel(Paris:Alcan,1887)ArthurMacDonald,LeCrimineltypedansquelqueformesgravesdelacriminalit,trans.
HenryCoutagne(Lyon:Storck,1894).
65.Dr.Georget,ExamenmdicaldesprocscriminalsdesnommsLeger,Feldtmann,Lecouffe,JeanPierreetPapavoine(Paris:Migneret,1825)
Lacassagne,Vacher,26570ArthurMacDonald,"Observationspourservirl'tudedelasexualitpathologiqueetcriminelle,"Archivesdel'anthropologie
criminelle7(1892):637558(1893):406227798PaulGarnier,"Pervertisetinvertssexuels,"Annalesd'hygine(1893):349,385Dr.SergePaul,LeVice
etl'amour(Paris:Nouvellelibrairiemdicale,1905),130.
66.Apter,Fetish,xi.
67.AccordingtoDr.Toulouse,womenasylumpatientswerenotasinventiveasmenintheirdeliriumsandmoregiventomelancholyandsulkiness.douard
Toulouse,LesConflitsintersexuellesetsociaux(Paris:Charpentier,1904),4Frcitedwomen'sfewersuicidesasevidenceoftheirweakeremotionsCharles
Fr,Pathologiedesmotions(Paris:Alcan,1892),47980.
68.J.M.CharcotandV.Magnan,"Inversiondusensgnital,"Archivedeneurologie34(1882.):5360,296322.
69.LouisMartineau,drivenbywhatheclaimedtobealoveofhumanity,devotedabooktothedelicatequestionofunnaturalsexacts.Heclaimedthatsodomy,both
amonghomosexualsandheterosexuals,wasincreasing.Hewasparticularlyoutragedthathusbandsforceditontheirwives,butnotedthatsomewomendidnot
understandthatitwaswrongandactuallypreferredittogenitalintercourse.LouisMartineau,LesDformationsvulvairesetanalesproduitesparla
masturbation,lesaphisme,ladflorationetlasodomie(Paris:Vigotfrres,1905),12140andseealsoA.BrierredeBoismont,Manueldemdicinelgale
(Paris:Baillire,1835),24244.
70.RobertNye,MasculinityandMaleCodesofHonorinModernFrance(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1993).
71.AlfredBinet,"LeFtichismedansl'amour,"Revuephilosophique24(1887):14367,25277andseealsoPaulGarnier,LesFtichistespervertisetinvertis
sexuels:Observationsmdicolgales(Paris:Baillire,1896).mileLaurent,Ftichistesetrotomanes(Paris:Vigotfrres,1903).
Page279
72.SomedisplacementcanbedetectedintheFrenchattributingapenchantforsadisticpracticestotheEnglishandatasteformasochismtotheGermans.
73.RichardvonKrafftEbing,PsychopathiaSexualis,trans.FranklinS.Klaf(NewYork:SteinandDay,1965),87,417n12.CharlesFrinPathologiedes
motions(Paris:Alcan,1892)notedKrafftEbing'screationofthetermmasochism,butmadenomentionofsadism.FortheassertionthatKrafftEbingcoined
sadism,see,forexample,FrankJ.Solloway,Freud:BiologistoftheMind(NewYork:BasicBooks,1979),483H.F.Ellenberger,TheDiscoveryOfthe
Unconscious(NewYork:Basic,1970),299.
74.AsenseofhowlatetheconceptofsadismenteredthemedicalvocabularycanbegaugedfromthefactthatitwasnotmentionedbyAmbroiseTardieuinhis
celebratedstudyoflegalmedicinetudemdicolgalsurlesattentatsauxmoeurs(Paris:Baillire,1865)norinPaulMoreau(deTours),Aberrationdusens
gnsiques(Paris:Asselin,1880).TheIndexCatalogueoftheLibraryoftheSurgeonGeneral'sOfficedidnotincludesadismasatopicinitsfirstseries(1891),but
thesecond(1910)listedninebooks(fourinGermanandfiveinFrench)andfortytwoarticlesonthesubject.Ontheuseofideas"goodtothinkwith"incultural
history,seeRobertDarnton,TheGreatCatMassacreandOtherEpisodesinFrenchCulturalHistory(NewYork:BasicBooks,1984).
75.KrafftEbing,PsychopathiaSexualis,5354.
76.AndrLamoureux,Del'ventrationaupointdevuemdicolgal(Lyon:Storck,1891).
77.AlbertMoll,DieKontrareSexualempfindung(Berlin:Fischer,1893),18687seealsothetranslationbyDrs.PactetandRomme,Lesperversionsde
l'instinctgnital(Paris:Carr,1893),172ffandonsimilarideasinItaly,seeDr.A.LaCara,LaBaseorganicadeipervertimentisessualielaloroprofilassi
sociale(Torinto:Bocca,1902).
78.MargaretJackson,"FactsofLife'ortheEroticizationofWomen'sOppression?SexologyandtheSocialConstructionofHeterosexuality,"inCultural
Construction,ed.Caplan,5266andseealsoJackson,"SexualLiberationorSocialControl,"Women'sStudiesInternationalForum6(1983):117Jackson
"SexResearchandtheConstructionofSexuality:AToolofMaleSupremacy,"Women'sStudiesInternationalForum7(1984),4351Jackson,The"Real"
FactsofLife:FeminismandthePoliticsofSexuality18501940(London:TaylorandFrancis,1994).
79.HavelockEllis,StudiesinthePsychologyofSex(NewYork:RandomHouse,1936),vol.1,part2,p.104.
80.Thepervasivemisogynyofthe1890smanifesteditselfinnumerousliteraryandartisticportrayalsoffeminineevilintheguisesoftheinvalid,vamp,orvampire.
NovelistslikeMirbeauwerefixatedonthenotionofthesadisticwoman.Thoughthesexologistsregardedsadismasprimarilyamaleperversion,theydutifullynoted
thatcruel,"masculine"womenlikeSalome,Messalina,andCatherinedeMdiciwarrantedthetitlesofillustriousfemalesadists.Dr.ErichWulffen,aGermanexpertin
legalmedicine,labeledassadisticsuchFrenchwomenasRoseLacomb,ThroignedeMricourt,andLouiseMichel,whobyparticipatinginradicalpoliticshad
violatedgenderboundaries.WomanasSexualCriminal(NewYork:EthnologicalPress,1934),287.Forapopularnovelthatendshappilywithasimplepeasant's
motherdeliveringhersonfromhissadisticwifebymurderingher,seeJeanRichepin,LaGlu(Paris:Tallandier,1927).
81.E.Gley,"LesAberationsdel'instinctsexuel,"Revuephilosophique17(1884):6692.
82.StefanowskymadethepointthatKrafftEbinghadbeenheartlessincoiningmasochism,atermthathadnointrinsicmeaningandcoveredbothSacherMasoch
andhischildreninshame.Indeed,yearslaterthelatter,inaskingLouSalomeforlettersofreference,claimedtobestillsufferingfromtheirfather'snotoriety.Dimitry
Stefanowsky,"LePassivism,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle7(1892):29498.
83.mileLaurent,Sadismeetmasochisme(Paris:Vigotfrres,1903).
Page280
84.Paul,LeVice,169.
85.AugustComte,SystemofPositivePolity(London:Longmans,Green,1877),4:100.
86.Paul,LeVice,146.
87.E.AnthonyRotundo,AmericanManhood:TransformationsfromtheRevolutiontotheModernEra(NewYork:Basic,1993),269.
88.Onthewaysinwhichthe"sexfiend"motifisplayedupand"normal"malesexualassaultsplayeddownbythenewspaperpressinthetwentiethcentury,seeKeith
SoothillandSylviaWalby,SexCrimesintheNews(London:Routledge,1991)HelenBenedict,VirginorVamp:HowthePressCoversSexCrimes(New
York:OxfordUniversityPress,1992).
89.KrafftEbing,PsychopathiaSexualis,54.
90.Ibid.,56.
91.Paul,LeVicefortheargumentthat"morbidlove"wasusuallyrelatedtoanatomicalanomalies,seeFr,Pathologie,434.
92.Binet,"Ftichisme,"266.
93.LacassagnefollowedMacDonaldinstressingthenotionthatthesexualimpulsewasthestrongestdrivewehave.
94.PaulmileLittr,Dictionnairedelalanguefranaise(Paris:Hachette,1878),makesnomentionoffminisme.LeGrandRobertdelalanguefranaise
(Paris:LeRobert,1985)notesfminismewasusedbyFourier(1837)andemployedinamedicalsenseby1877andinapoliticalsenseby1904.Proust,for
example,spokeofthe"psychologicalfeminism"ofCharlusinLetempsretrouv(Paris:Gallimard,1954),3:991.Forthestrictlypoliticalusesoftheterm,seeKaren
Offen,"Surlesoriginesdesmots'fminisme'et'feminists,'"Revued'histoiremoderneetcontemporaine34(JulySeptember1987):49196.ForSirRichard
Burton'suseoftheterm"malefeminism"torefertohomosexuality,seeElaineShowalter,SexualAnarchy:GenderandCultureattheFindeSicle(Penguin:
Harmondsworth,1990),82.
95.PierreGarnier,Anomaliessexuelles:Apparentesetcaches(Paris:Garnier,1889),371Fr,Pathologie,495andseealsoJulesDallemagne,Thoriesde
lacriminalit(Paris:Masson,1896),175.
96.Lacassagne,Vacher,288.
97.Fourquet,Vacher,80andseealso242.
98.LeFigaro,27Oct.1898,34.
99.Fourquet,Vacher,323.
100.Lacassagne,Vacher,33.Inthe1890sanumberofdoctors,acceptingtheideaofinnatehomosexualinstinctsthattheindividualcouldnotrepress,cametoview
homosexualityaspathologicalratherthancriminalinnature,yetcontradictedthemselvesincontinuingtospeakabout"cures."mileLaurent,L'Amourmorbide(Paris:
Socitd'ditionsscientifiques,1891),27576AntoneyCopley,SexualMoralitiesinFrance,17801980(London:Routledge,1989),13554GertHekma,"A
FemaleSoulinaMaleBody:SexualInversionasGenderInversioninNineteenthCenturySexology,"inThirdSex,ThirdGender:BeyondSexualDimorphismin
CultureandHistory,ed.GilbertHerdt(NewYork:Zone,1994),21340.
101.ThecampaigninGermanyagainstArticle175,whichcriminalizedhomosexuality,ledtomoreopendiscussionsofsamesexrelationshipseastoftheRhine,but
ontheFrenchdebate,seeAndrRaffalovich,"Unisexualitanglaise,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle11(1896):431Raffalovich'sexchangewithDr.
Laupts,Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle24(1909):353,69396PaulLouisLadame,"Lestravauxrecentsdesauteursallemandssurl'homosexualit,"
Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle28(1913):82761Ladame,"Homosexualitoriginaireethomosexualitacquise."Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle
29(1914):26286andseealso,PatrickCardon,"AHomosexualMilitantattheBeginningoftheCentury:MarcAndrRaffalovich,"JournalofHomosexuality25
(1993):8392
Page281
ClaudeCourouve,"L'UranismeentrelaFranceetl'Angleterre,"inAndrGideetl'Angleterre,ed.PatrickCollard(London:BirkbeckCollege,1986),100103
Courouve,Vocabulairedel'homosexualitmasculine(Paris:Payot,1985).
102.AlexandreLacassagne,"Pderastie,"Dictionnaireencyclopdiquedessciencesmdicales,2dseries(Paris:MassonandAsselin,1886),22:23959.
LacassagneapprovinglycitedtheworkofhiscolleagueJulianChevalier,Surl'inversiondel'instinctsexuelaupointdevuemdicolgal(Lyon:Storck,1893)
seealsoJulianChevalier,"Del'inversionsexuelleauxpointsdevueclinique,anthropologiqueetmdicolgal,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle5(1890):
314366(1891):500519.
103.BenjaminBall,LaFolierotique(Paris:Baillire,1888),116,147HenriJoly,LeCrime:tudesociale(Paris:Cerf,1888),12425.Amongwritersof
fiction,thefirsttobroachthesubjectofhomosexualityweredecadentslikeHuysmansandLorrain,whoweredrawntosadism.
104.UzanneinDuehren,DeSade,xvMollnotedhomosexualcasesofsadismasdidUlrichs,whoinIncube(1896)spokeoflovers'bitesanscratches.
105.InEnglandperhapstheearliestdiscussionofsadismwasincludedintheanonymouslyauthored1897obituaryofpolicesurgeonGeorgeBagsterPhillips,who
hadconductednecropsiesonthevictimsofJacktheRipper.Theauthordescribedthesadistasanindividualwhoasidefromhismurderousdesiresmightbeotherwise
sane.Suchindividualssprangfrom"neuroticstock"andhadcranialdefectssymptomsofinsanity,hysteria,andotherneuropathicconditionswouldbefoundintheir
families.Youngpeoplepronetocrueltytoanimals(towhichtheEnglishwerepredictablymoresensitivethantheFrench)wouldhavetobecarefullywatched.Ifas
adultssadisticattackswerelaunched,thesamehorrificactswouldberepeateduntilcapture.Lancet2.(1897):1263.
106.EllisdescribeddeSade'sgait,skull,andtemperamentas"feminine"andnotedthatasidefromhiswhippingofRosaKellerhisactualoffenseshadbeenfairly
mild.Ellis,Studies,vol.1,part2,p.106.
107.Ibid.,vol.1,part2,p.109.
108.Ibid.,vol.1,part2,p.110.
109.G.FrankLydston,TheDiseasesofSociety:TheViceandCrimeProblem(Philadelphia:J.B.Lippincott,1904),309.
110.ArthurMacDonald,HearingontheBill(H.R.14798)toEstablishaLaboratoryfortheStudyoftheCriminal,PauperandDefectiveClasses
(Washington,D.C.:GovernmentPrintingOffice,1902),1830.
111.Stekellabeledas"medicalsadism"doctors'useofthe"Paquelincautery"(employedlikearedhotpokertodealwithhysteria),theextortionfrompatientsof
admissionsofhealthbypatrioticmedicalofficersduringthewar,andpsychoanalysis'owninquisitionlikepractices.WilhelmStekel,SadismandMasochism:The
PsychologyofHatredandCruelty,trans.LouiseBrink(NewYork:Liverwright,1929),453n4.SeealsoMarieBonaparte'sstatement,"Lorsqueparaitsurla
sceneundecesraresgrandspervers,telVacheronKurten,quituentpourlesimpleplaisir,l'meentiredelafouleestsouleve.Nonpasparl'horreurseule,mais
paruntrangeintrt,quiestlarponsedenotreprofoundsadismeauleur."
112.Stekel,SadismandMasochism,40.FreudalsofollowedEllisinnotingthatsadistsweresimultaneouslymasochists.A.A.Brill,ed.,TheBasicWritingsof
SigmundFreud(NewYork:ModernLibrary,1938),56971.
113.Stekelnotedthatforsomesadismwasequatedtoheightenedmasculinityandmasochismtoheightenedfemininity,buthestressedthatbothsexescouldmanifest
suchsyndromes.
114.Stekel,SadismandMasochism,60,146.Manyconservativesattackeddecadentliteratureandtabloidjournalismforactingasa"schoolforsadism."Stekel
notedthathispatientswhoconfessedtoharboringsadisticdesireswereaschildrenmorelikelytohavebeen
Page282
influencedbyfairytaleaccountsofwolvesandwitches,parents'assertionsthattheywould"eatthemup,"andfearsofbeingwhippedbytheirteachers.Ibid.,416,
425.
115.Ibid.,73,76,77.
116.Ibid.,154.
117.J.K.Huysmansprovocativelydefendedabortionasconsistingof"destroyingananimal,lessfullyformed,lessaliveandcertainlylessintelligentandmoreugly
thanadogoracat,whichmaybestrangledatbirthwithoutpenalty."AgainsttheGrain,279.
118.Forclaimsthatsciencewasreplacingreligion,seeJoanneRoux,Psychologiedel'instinctsexuel(Paris:Baillire,1899).
119.tienneMartin,"Vacherdevantlacourd'assisesdel'Ain,"inLacassagne,Vacher,67.
120.Tarde,"Lestransformationsdel'impunit,"inLacassagne,Vacher,16784andonsuggestion,seealsoSighele,LittatureDr.Haury,"Lesfauxtmoins
pathologiques,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle27(1912):63753.
121.Fortheargumentthattheriseof"ripper"stylekillingswasalsoduetoimitation,seeM.J.F.A.deSt.VincentdeParoism,Dudpecagecriminel(Lyon:Storck,
1902).
122.GabrielTarde,"L'Amourmorbide,"L'Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle5(1890)GabrielTarde,PenalPhilosophy(Boston:LittleBrown,1912),256
andseealsoTarde,TheLawsofImitation(NewYork:HenryHolt,1903)ArsneDumont,Dpopulationetcivilisation:tudedmographique,ed.Andr
Bjin(Paris:Economica,1990),40210SusannahBarrows,DistortingMirrors:VisionsoftheCrowdinLateNineteenthcenturyFrance(NewHaven:Yale
UniversityPress,1981),13745.
123.AnneliseMauge,L'Identitmasculineencriseautournantdusicle,18711914(Paris:Rivages,1987)MichellePerrot,"TheNewEveandtheOldAdam
ChangesinFrenchWomen'sConditionattheTurnoftheCentury,"inBehindtheLines:GenderandtheTwoWorldWars,ed.M.R.Higonnetetal.(NewHaven:
YaleUniversityPress,1987),5160.
124.mileLaurent,LeCriminelauxpointsdevueanthropologique,psychologiqueetsociale(Paris:Vigot,1908),2:2089.
Chapter8
Exhibitionists
1.Dr.Hpital,"Quelquemotssurlesexhibitionistes"Annalesmdicopsychologiques21(1905):22028.
2.RichardvonKrafftEbing,PsychopathiaSexualis(NewYork:SteinandDay,1965),34142.
3.CitedinHavelockEllis,StudiesinthePsychologyofSex(NewYork:RandomHouse,1936),3:89104.
4.W.NorwoodEast,"ObservationsonExhibitionism,"Lancet2(1924):37075.
5.Hpital,"Quelquemotssurlesexhibitionistes,"222.
6.GeorgesLantriLaura,Lecturedesperversions:Histoiredeleurappropriationmdicale(Paris:Masson,1979),43.
7.KinseyreportedthatalmostalltwentiethcenturyAmericanchildrenwereexhibitionisticboys'exhibitionism,whichcontinuedintolateadolescence,oftenincluded
demonstrationsofmasturbation.Exhibitionistsranahighchanceofbeingcaughtsincetheyperformedtheiractsinpublicandbeforestrangers.Inthe1950sone
quartertoonethirdofallsexualoffendersintheUnitedStatesandtheUnitedKingdomwerechargedwithexhibitionism.PaulH.Gebhard,JohnH.Gagnon,Wardell
B.Pomeroy,andCorneliaV.Christenson,SexOffenders:AnAnalysisofTypes(NewYork:HarperandRow,1965.)IsmondRosen,"Exhibitionism,Scopophilia,
andVoyeurism"inSexualDeviation,ed.IsmondRosen(Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,1979),13994.AlfredC.Kinsey,WardellB.Pomeroy,andClydeE.
Martin,SexualBehaviorintheHumanMale(Philadelphia:W.B.Saunders,1948),169.
8.MichelFoucault,TheHistoryofSexuality,trans.RobertHurley(NewYork:Vintage,
Page283
1980),vol.IandseealsoBryanS.Turner,TheBodyandSociety:ExplorationsinSocialTheory(Oxford:BasilBlackwell,1984).
9.JoanScott,GenderandthePoliticsofHistory(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,1988),45.
10.FranceBorel,LeVtementincarn(Paris:CalmannLevy,1992).
11.RogerGoodland,ed.,ABibliographyofSexRitesandCustoms(London:Routledge,1931)MargaretMead,MaleandFemale:AStudyoftheSexesina
ChangingWorld(NewYork:Morrow,1949),15657DanielRancourLaferrire,SignsoftheFlesh:AnEssayontheEvolutionofHominidSexuality(New
York:MoutondeGruyter,1985),299300.
12.EvaC.Keuls,TheReignofthePhallus(NewYork:HarperandRow,1985).
13.K.J.Dover,GreekHomosexuality(London:Duckworth,1978),12535.
14.Leviticus18:718.
15.MargaretMiles,CarnalKnowing:FemaleNakednessandReligiousMeaningintheChristianWest(Boston:BeaconPress,1989)RobinLaneFox,
PagansandChristians(NewYork:Knopf,1987).
16.LeoSteinberg,TheSexualityofChristinRenaissanceArtandinModernOblivion(NewYork:Pantheon,1983).
17.FrankBottomley,AttitudestotheBodyinWesternChristendom(London:Lepus,1979).
18.ThepopularaccountoftherideheldthattheEarlofMerciadaredhiswifethatifsherodenakedthroughthemarketplacehewouldreducehissubject'staxes.
Coveringherselfwithherlongtressesandaccompaniedbytwosoldiersshetookupthechallenge.Inlaterseventeenthcenturyaccounts,thesoldiersdisappearedand
"PeepingTom"wholookedatGodivaandwasstruckblindemerged.EncyclopediaBritannica(1972),10:51516.
19.GuidoRuggiero,TheBoundariesofEros:SexCrimeandSexualityinRenaissanceVenice(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1985),141.
20.Inthetwentiethcentury,theRussianDoukhoborslivinginwesternCanadawereledbythelogicofspiritualismtoemploynudemarchesintheirstrugglesagainst
thegovernment.GeorgeWoodcockandIvanAvakumovic,TheDoukhobors(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1968).SeealsoShirleyArdener,"Nudity,
VulgarityandProtest,"NewSociety27,no.598(1974):7045,and"Arson,NudityandBombsamongtheCanadianDoukhobors:AQuestionofIdentity,"in
ThreatenedIdentities,ed.GlynnisM.Breakwell(NewYork:Wiley,1983),23966.
21.ErikH.Erikson,YoungManLuther:AStudyinPsychoanalysisandHistory(London:Faber,1958),23840.
22.MikhailBakhtin,RabelaisandHisWorld(Cambridge:MITPress,1968),373andonpictorialrepresentationsofthewearingofbreechesbeingequatedwith
authority,seeDavidKunzle,TheEarlyComicStrip,vol.IofHistoryoftheComicBook(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1973),22426,23640.Fora
cartoonportrayingagroupofartistsstrippinganoldlecheraspunishmentforharassingaprettywoman,seeGilblas,15Nov.1891,4.
23.Ellis,PsychologyofSex,3:100,citesKleinpaul,Spracheohneworte,27173.
24.RogerMcGraw."PopularAnticlericalisminNineteenthcenturyRuralFrance,"inDisciplinesofFaith:StudiesinReligion,PoliticsandPatriarchy,ed.J.
Obelkevich,L.Roper,andR.Samuels(London:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1987),169.
25.IainMcCalman,RadicalUnderworld:Prophets,Revolutionaries,andPornographersinLondon,17951840(Oxford:ClarendonPress,1993),20410
VivianCameron,"PoliticalExposures:SexualityandCaricatureintheFrenchRevolution,"inEroticismandtheBodyPolitic,ed.LynnHunt(Baltimore:Johns
HopkinsUniversityPress,1991),90108JoanB.Landes,"RepresentingtheBodyPolitic:TheParadoxofGenderintheGraphicPoliticsoftheFrenchRevolution,"
inRebelDaughters:WomenandtheFrenchRevolution,ed.SaraE.MelzerandLeslieW.Rabine(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1992),1537Robert
Page284
JustinGoldstein,"CensorshipofCaricatureinFrance,18151914,"FrenchHistory(1993):71108.
26.JeanClaudeBologne,Histoiredelapudeur(Paris:OlivierOrban,1986),64.
27.MicheldeMontaigne,"OnSomeVersesbyVirgil,"TheCompleteEssays(London:Bell,1913),3:82.
28.Ruggiero,BoundariesofEros,11415.
29.PaulHair,BeforetheBawdyCourts(London:Elek,1972),83G.R.Quaife,WantonWenchesandWaywardWives:PeasantsandIllicitSexinEarly17th
CenturyEngland(London:CroomHelm,1979),73.
30.CitedinJohnGillis,ForBetter,forWorse:BritishMarriages,1600tothePresent(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1985),126butsee122for
evidencethatsuchexposurewasalsousedtohumiliateawoman.
31.AngeloHesnard,Traitdesexologienormaleetpathologique(Paris:Payot,1933),61112.
32.PierreDarmon,TrialbyImpotence:VirilityandMarriageinpreRevolutionaryFrance,trans.PaulKeegan(London:HogarthPress,1985)Ruggiero,
BoundariesofEros,14647.
33.OnthecontinuedemploymentincontemporaryEuropeofgenitalgesturessuchasthe"brasd'honneur"orforearmjerkassexualinsults,seeDesmondMorriset
al.,Gestures:TheirOriginandDistribution(London:Cape,1979).
34.JeanJacquesRousseau,LesConfessionsinOeuvrescompltes(Paris:Gallimard,1959),3:889.
35.FortheargumentthatElias,infailingtonotetherestraintsoftheclassicalworldandtherelaxedcodesofthetwentiethcentury,exaggeratesthenotionofan
unlinearshifttowarddecorum,seeJanBremmerandH.Roodenberg,eds.,ACulturalHistoryofGesture:FromAntiquitytothePresentDay(Oxford:Polity
Press,1991).
36.Erasmus,DeCiviltaemorumpuerilium,1530ed.,citedinNorbertElias,TheCivilizingProcess:TheHistoryofManners,trans.EdmundJephcott(New
York:UrizenBooks,1978),130.
37.PhilippeAris,CenturiesofChildhood:ASocialHistoryofFamilyLife(NewYork:VintageBooks,1962),109.
38.Elias,CivilizingProcess,13132.
39.Ibid.,138.
40.AlfredFranklin,LaCivilit(Paris:milePaul,1908),1:49J.FrykmanandO.Lofgren,TheCultureBuilders:AHistoricalAnthropologyofMiddleclass
Life(NewBrunswick,N.J.:RutgersUniversityPress,1987).
41.Darmon,TrialbyImpotence,215andseealsoIrvingC.Rosse,"SexualIncapacityinitsMedicoLegalRelations,"inMedicalJurisprudence:Forensic
MedicineandToxocology,ed.R.A.WitthausandTracyC.Becker(NewYork:WilliamWood,1894),2:393.
42.ForareferencefromThePeopleof26July1936toaclubofnightshirtwearersledbyDr.DavisofOttawa,whoopposedmalepajamasasbeingeffeminate
whileothersattackedthemastoomasculineforwomentowear,seeElias,CivilizingProcess,301n80.
43.OctaveUzanne,Sottisierdesmoeurs(Paris:Paul,1911),32JenniferCraik,TheFaceofFashion:CulturalStudiesinFashion(London:Routledge,1994),
176203J.Finkelstein,TheFashionedSelf(London:Polity,1991)RichardSennett,TheFallofPublicMan(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1974),
161,163LeonoreDavidoffandCatherineHall,FamilyFortunes:MenandWomenoftheEnglishMiddleClass,17801850(London:Hutchinson,1987),410
13JohnHarvey,MeninBlack(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1995).
44.EllenMoers,TheDandy:BrummelltoBeerbohm(London:SeckerandWarburg,1960)FranoiseCoblence,LeDandysme,obligationd'incertitude(Paris:
PressesuniversitairesdeFrance,1988)GillesLipovetsky,L'Empiredel'ephmre(Paris:Gallimard,1987)
Page285
AnneMartinFugier,LaVielganteoulaformationduToutParis,18151848(Paris:Fayard,1990)MarkM.Anderson,Kafka'sClothes:Ornament
andAestheticismintheHasburgFindeSicle(Oxford:ClarendonPress,1992).
45.PeterGay,EducationoftheSenses,vol.1ofTheBourgeoisExperience:VictoriatoFreud(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1984),33839,37998
EdwardLucieSmith,TheMaleNude:AModernView(London:Rizzoli,1985)TamarGarb,"TheForbiddenGaze:WomenArtistsandtheMaleNudeinLater
NineteenthcenturyFrance,"inTheBodyImaged:TheHumanFormandVisualCulturesincetheRenaissance,ed.KathleenAdlerandMarciaPointon
(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1993)JosephA.Kestner,MasculinitiesinVictorianPainting(Aldershot:ScolarPress,1995).Butonthemalenudein
findesiclenorthernEuropeastherepresentationofthetrueidealsofbothathleticandaestheticbeauty,seePatriciaG.Berman,"BodyandBodyPoliticsinEdward
Munsch'sBathingMen,"inBodyImaged,ed.AdlerandPointonGeorgeL.Mosse,NationalismandSexuality:MiddleclassMoralityandSexualNormsin
ModernEurope(Madison:UniversityofWisconsinPress,1985),5057BramDijkstra,IdolsofPerversity:FantasiesofFeminineEvilinFindeSicleCulture
(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1986),198202.
46.LeRoyversusSirCharlesSedley(1663)inISis168[TheEnglishReports:King'sBenchDivision,82:103637.]
47.RobertLathamandWilliamMatthews,eds.,TheDiaryofSamuelPepys(London:Bell,1971),6:20810.
48.V.deSolaPinto,SirCharlesSedley,16391701(London:Constable,1927),6064.
49.HenryFielding,"AChargetotheGrandJury,"inTheCompleteWorksofHenryFielding(London:Heinemann,1903),13:21112.
50.LynnHunt,ed.,TheInventionofPornography:ObscenityandtheOriginsofModernity,15001800(NewYork:ZoneBooks,1993).
51.RexversusCrunden(1809)2Camp.89.
52.12Cox'sCriminalCases1.ButyoungmenandboyscontinuedtoswimnakedinLondonparksinthelatenineteenthcenturyandanudebathingplacefor,menin
OxfordcalledParson'sPleasurewasonlyclosedinthe1990s.SeeJ.J.Sexby,TheMunicipalParks,GardensandOpenSpacesofLondon(London:Stock,
1898),555LeonoraCollins,Londoninthe1890s(London:SaturnPress,1950),29.OnthepolicingofswimmingintheSeine,seeJ.P.AronandR.Kempf,La
Bourgeoisie:LeSexeetl'honneur(Paris:Grasset,1978).
53.5Geo.IVc.83:VagrancyActof1824.Canada'sVagrancyActof1869wasbasedontheUnitedKingdom's1822act,notthe1824act,whichledtoconfusion
inasmuchasitdidnotmakeclearwhatan"indecentact"was.Itwasfinallyamendedin1892.TheDoukhoborswereprosecutedundersection205(a)which
prohibitednudeparades.AlexanderK.Gigeroff,SexualDeviationintheCriminalLaw(Toronto:UniversityofTorontoPress,1968),5155.
54.10&11Vict.c.89,s.28andseealsoJeffreyS.Adler,"AHistoricalAnalysisoftheLawsofVagrancy,"Criminology27(1989):20929M.J.D.Roberts,
"PublicandPrivateinEarlyNineteenthCenturyLondon:TheVagrantActof1822andItsEnforcement,"SocialHistory13(1988):27394.
55.ReginaversustheJusticesoftheTownandCountyNewcastleuponTyne,in1B.&AD.933[EnglishReports,vol.109,KingsBenchDivision].
56.ReginaversusWatson(1847),2Cox'sCriminalCases376.
57.ReginaversusWebb(1848),3Cox'sCriminalCases183.
58.ReginaversusGeorgeThallman(1863),9Cox'sCriminalCases388.
59.ReginaversusWellard(1884)14Q.B.D.63.
60.ReginaversusMichaelRowedandAnother,3Q.B.D.180.
61.3Cox'sCriminalCases248andseealso2Cox'sCriminalCases376inwhichtheQueen'sBenchheardthecaseon3Dec.1847ofJohnWatson,whohad
beenindictedforexposinghimselftoatwelveyearoldgirlinPaddingtonChurchyard,"tothegreatinjuryandcorruptionofthesaidLydiaCrickmore."Theobjection
wasraisedthatsinceonlyoneperson
Page286
waspresentitwasinlawnooffense.Thebenchagreedthat"anuisancemustbepublic,"otherwiseeverymanexposinghimselftoawomanwouldheindictable,
andquashedtheindictment.
62.LawReports:CrownCasesReserved,1(1872):2824.
63.AlfredSwainTaylor,ThePrinciplesandPracticesofMedicalJurisprudence(London:J.A.Churchill,1905),2:367.
64.East,"ObservationsonExhibitionism."374.
65.DavidS.Booth,"Erotomania:ACaseofExhibitionismAMedicoLegalStudy,"AlienistandNeurologist26(1905):14.Thetermexhibitionist,accordingto
theOxfordEnglishDictionary,wasfirstemployedinEnglandtorefertothemanwhoassistedtheAnglicanpriestduringchurchrituals.Theterm'smodem
psychiatricusagewasmadeknowntotheEnglishbyC.G.Haddock's1893translationofKratfftEbing.
66.PaulGarnier,"Rapportmdicolgalsurunexhibitioniste,"Annalesmdicopsychologiques19(1894):97103.
67.A.Rousset,"UnCasd'exhibitionisme."AnnalesMdicalPsychologiques3(1906):394401.
68.A.Vigoroux,"UnExhibitionistecondamnparlestribunaux,"Annalesmdicopsychologiques3(1896):21316.
69.ButTronchonwarnedthat,everymanwhoexposedhimselfcouldnothesimplyletoffasjust"sick."A.Trochon,"UnCasd'exhibitionisme,"Archivesde
l'anthropologiecriminelle3(1888):25664.
70.GarniercitedinBooth,"Erotomania."2.
71.CharlesLasgue,"LesExhibitionistes,"L'UnionMdical3eserie,23(May1877):709andonLasgue'sworkon"l'anorxiehysterique,"seeJoanJacobs
Brumberg,FastingGirls:TheEmergenceofAnorexiaNervosaasaModernDisease(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1988),12730.
72.AmbroiseTardieu,tudemdicolgalesurlesattentatsauxmoeurs(Paris:Baillire,1878),5"Exhibitionistes,"Dictionnairedessciencesmdicales(Paris:
Lahure,1887),36:42729AlfredBinet,"LeFtishismedansl'amour,"Revuephilosophique24(1887):256.
73.ValentinMagnan,"LesExhibitionistes,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle5(1890):436.
74.TheauthoroftheDictionnairedessciencesmdicalesarticleonthesubjectalsolabeledasexhibitionistsmenwhostalkedtheirlovedoneandthus"exhibited"
themselves.
75.KrafftEbing,PsychopathiaSexualis,33841.
76.Onepileptics,whowereoftenplayedupinthenineteenthcenturyasexhibitionistsandvagabonds,seeCesareLombroso,L'Hommecriminel(Paris:Alcan,
1895),2:9697.Inthetwentiethcentury,Ellisstatedthatepilepticsshouldbeexcluded,andEastfoundnocasesofepilepsyinhissample.Eastdidbelievealcoholism
playedarole:in1913inEnglandandWales866menwereconvictedofindecentexposure,butintwelvemonthsof192223,afterrestrictionsonsaleofdrinkswere
imposed,only548.East,"ObservationsonExhibitionism,"374.
77.Moll(ascitedinEllis,PsychologyofSex,3:90)evenarguedthatifonemasturbatedduringtheactonewasnotatrueexhibitionist.
78.Fortheassertionthatmostofthe"attentatslapudeur"werecarriedoutbyoldmenonchildrenbecausebadstomachsneeded"greenfruit,"seemileLaurent,
L'Amourmorbide(Paris:Socitd'ditionsscientifiques,1891),195.
79.PaulMoreau(deTours),DesAberrationsdusensgnsiques(Paris:Asselin,1880),612.
80.Binet,"LeFtishismedansl'amour,"256.
81.PaulGarnier,"DesPerversionssexuellesobsdantesetimpulsives."Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle15(1900):612.
Page287
82.Dr.HamblinSmithofBirminghamPrisonclassedabouthalfoftheexhibitionistshesawasinsane,senile,ordefective.SeeSmith,''TheMentalConditionsFound
inCertainSexualOffenders,"Lancet1(29Mar.1924),64346,andseealsoW.NorwoodEast,AnIntroductiontoForensicPsychiatryintheCriminal
Courts(London:Churchill,1927),308.
83.EastwasmedicalinspectorofHerMajesty'sPrisonsinEnglandandWalesandhadbeenseniormedicalofficerofBrixtonPrison.Hispaperwasbasedon150
casesreceivedonremandatBrixtonPrison.Heassumedthatsincemosthadnotbeenconvictedbefore,prisontermsdidserveasadeterrent.SeeEast,
"ObservationsonExhibitionism,"372.
84.Dr.SergePaul,LeViceetl'amour(Paris:Nouvellelibrairiemdicale,1905),257,267.
85.Ibid.,262.
86.KrafftEbing,PsychopathiaSexualis,34446.
87.Ellis,PsychologyofSex,3:92.
88.Garnier,"DesPerversionssexuellesobsdantesetimpulsives,"60443.SeealsomileLaurent,Ftichistesetrotomanes(Paris:Vigotfrres,1903),253.
89.Fortheinterestingquestionofwhythesatisfactionofsomeviceswasviewedasasickness,seeHspital,"Quelquemotssurlesexhibitionistes."
90.Ellis,PsychologyofSex,3:93.
91.PaulGarnier,"Rapportmdicolgalsurunexhibitionists,"Annalesmdicopsychologiques19(1894):97103.
92.EdwardJames,SwansReflectingElephants:MyEarlyYears,ed.GeorgeMelly,(London:WeidenfeldandNicolson,1982),26RonaldHyam,Empireand
Sexuality:TheBritishExperience(Manchester:ManchesterUniversityPress),27.
93.Evensomedoctorswereaccusedofexhibitionism,thoughtheonlyphysicianfoundtohavebeenactuallyconvictedoftheoffenseinFrancepriortoWorldWarI
wasanArmenianseeGeorgesVernet,"UnMdecinsatyre,"Annalesmdicopsychologique1(1912):55470.
94.Laugier'sassertionfromtheAnnalesdehygineetdemdecine(1878)iscitedinL.ThoinotandA.W.Weysse,MedicolegalAspectsofMoralOffenses
(Philadelphia:F.A.Davis,1911),266.
95.Hspital,"Quelquemotssurlesexhibitionistes,"22028.
96.BenjaminBall,LaFolierotique(Paris:Baillire,1888),814.
97.Ellis,PsychologyofSex,3:89104.
98.C.H.Hughes,"MorbidExhibitionism,"TheAlienistandNeurologist25(1904):34850.
99.CharlesLasgue,"Lesexhibitionistes,"inEcritspsychiatriques,ed.J.Corraze(Paris:Privat,1971),118andseealsoMichaelMiller,TheBonMarch
(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,1981),197201.
100.East,"ObservationsonExhibitionism,"373.
101.Ibid.
102.KrafftEbing,PsychopathiaSexualis,339.
103.GeorgeJacoby,TheUnsoundMindandtheLaw(NewYork:FunkandWagnalls,1918),341.
104.CitedbyEast,"ObservationsonExhibitionism,"375.
105.PaoloMantegazza,TheSexualRelationsofMankind(1885NewYork:Eugenics,1935)IwanBloch,TheSexualLifeofOurTime(NewYork:Allied,
1930).
106.Hspital,"Quelquemotssurlesexhibitionistes,"222.
107.Ellis,PsychologyofSex,3:9394.
108.SirW.NorwoodEast,SocietyandtheCriminal(Springfield,Ill.:CharlesC.Thomas,1949),154.
109.SigmundFreud,"OntheUniversalTendencytoDebasementintheSphereofLove"(1912),StandardEdition,11:189.
Page288
110.SigmundFreud,"ThreeEssaysontheTheoryofSexuality"(1905),Ibid.,7:147.
111.GregorioMaraon,DonJuanetdonjuanisme,trans.M.B.Lacombe(Paris:Gallimard,1958),183.
112.BenjaminKarpman,TheSexualOffenderandHisOffenses(NewYork:JulianPress,1954),199.
113.Rosen,"Exhibitionism,Scopophilia,andVoyeurism,"148.
114.LarsUllerstam,TheEroticMinorities,trans.AnselmHollo(NewYork:GrovePress,1966),60.
115.WeknowofthiscasethankstoH.BonnetandJ.Bulard,Rapportmdicolgalsurl'tatmentaldeCh.J.Jouy,4Jan.1868.
116.Foucault,HistoryofSexuality,1:31.
117.MarcelMauss,"BodyTechniques"SociologyandPsychology(1950London:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1979),95123.
118.ExhibitionismwasfirstdiscoveredinEuropeandNorthAmerica.Attheturnofthecentury,Blocharguedthatperversionsspreadasareactiontotheconstraints
placedonthesexualityofcivilizedmanbytheforcesofsocialcoercionandsexualconventionality.BarringtonMooreJr.statesthatin"primitive"societies,wherethe
boundariesbetweentheprivateandthepublicarenotfirm,discretionisemployedtopreventnoticingthatwhichshouldnotbeseen.SeeBloch,SexualLifeofOur
Time,472BarringtonMooreJr.,Privacy:StudiesinSocialandCulturalHistory(London:M.E.Sharpe,1984),78GrahamRooth,"Exhibitionismoutside
EuropeandNorthAmerica,"ArchivesofSexualBehavior2(1973):35163.
119.JohnM.MacDonald,IndecentExposure(Springfield,Ill.:CharlesC.Thomas,1973),43.
120.Karpman,TheSexualOffenderandHisOffenses.
121.ErichWulffen,WomanasSexualCriminal(NewYork:AmericanEthnologicalPress,1934),363.
122.Taylor,PrinciplesandPracticesofMedicalJurisprudence,2:367.
123.Laurent,Ftichistesetrotomanes,249.
124.Hpital,"Quelquemotssurlesexhibitionistes"224.
125.Garnier,"Rapportmdicolgalsurunexhibitioniste,"100.
126.J.C.FlugelThePsychologyofClothes(London:HogarthPress,1930),10710.
127.SamuelD.Schmalhausen,"TheSexualRevolution"inV.F.CalvertonandS.D.Schmalhausen,eds.,SexinCivilization(NewYork:GardenCity,1931),433.
128.PaulLeViceetl'amour,268.
129.Hughes,"MorbidExhibitionism,"350.
130.SeealsoGregorioMaraon,Psychologiedugeste,duvtementetdelaparure,trans.RolandLauras(Paris:LaPeneuniverselle,1971).
131.Codeintime(Paris:EditionsandLibrairie,n.d),17andforprotestsagainstthe1882lawthatinFrancetreatedwritersandartistsasiftheywereexhibitionists,
seeLionelAutrec,L'Outrageauxmoeurs(Paris:Cupidon,1923).
132.PhilippePerrot,LeTravaildesappearances:LeCorpsfeminin,XVIIIXIXesicle(Paris.Seuill,1984),162.
133.ForananalysisofhowCameroonwomendefendthedignityoftheirsexbyflauntingthatwhichisinsulted,seeShirleyArdener,"ANoteonGender
Iconography:theVagina,"inTheCulturalConstructionofSexuality,ed.PatCaplan(London:Tavistock,1987),11342.
Chapter9
Transvestites
1.AnnieWoodhouse,FantasticWomen:Sex,GenderandTransvestism(NewBrunswick,N.J.:RutgersUniversityPress,1989).
2.JuliaEpsteinandKristinaStraub,eds.,BodyGuards:TheCulturalPoliticsofGenderAmbiguity(NewYork:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1991),4.
Page289
3.W.NorwoodEast,"ObservationsonExhibitionism"Lancet2(1924):375.
4.St.HelensNewspaperandAdvertiser,20Nov.1931,4.
5.Ibid.
6.Suchcasesareunusualbutcontinuetobereported.ForthetrialofaUtahmanwhointhe1990sposedasawomanduringathreeandahalfyearmarriage,see
VancouverSun,7Sept.1995,A20andforanEnglishwomanwhopassedasamanoverthespaceofaseventeenyearmarriage,seeManchesterGuardian,10
Feb.1996.
7.ManchesterGuardian,16Nov.1931,11.
8.IllustratedPoliceNews,19Nov.1931,3.
9.St.HelensNewspaperandAdvertiser,20Nov.1931,4.
10.LiverpoolEcho,14Nov.1931,6.
11.Mrs.Hull,accordingtopressreports,wasthemotherofsixchildrenandexpectingaseventh.WeekEndReview,19Dec.1931,794.
12.GlasgowHerald,16Nov.1931,13.
13.Hullattendedschooluntiltheageoffourteenandthenobtainedworkasahaulagehandatthelocalcollieries.Fromaboutagesixteen,hebegantochangefrom
hisworkclothesintofemaleattireforwhichbehaviorhereceivedcautionsfromtheSt.Helenspoliceandthrashingsfromhisparents.
14.St.HelensNewspaperandAdvertiser,20Nov.1931,5.
15.Ibid.
16.LiverpoolPostandMercury,16Nov.1931,9.
17.St.HelensNewspaperandAdvertiser,20Nov.1931,4.
18.IllustratedPoliceNews,19Nov.1931,3.Hull'sfather,apparentlyshakenbythetrial,wastakentoamentalhospitalandhiswifeandchildrenforcedonrelief.
WeekEndReview,19Dec.1931,794.
19.WeekEndReview,5Dec.1931,712.
20.Ibid.,787,79495HavelockEllis,ViewsandReviews:ASelectionofUncollectedArticles,18841932(London:DesmondHarmsworth,1932),2:220.
21.GlasgowHerald,16Nov.1931,13.
22.OnevidencethatmanyboysuseHalloweenpartiestoexperimentwithcrossdressing,seeJohnT.Talamini,BoysWillBeGirls:TheHiddenWorldofthe
HeterosexualMaleTransvestite(Scranton,Pa.:UniversityofScrantonPress,1982.),20PeterAckroyd,DressingUp:TransvestismandDrag,theHistoryof
anObsession(London:ThamesandHudson,1979).
23.OnthepopularityoffemaleimpersonatorsatAmericannavalbasesintheearlytwentiethcentury,seeGeorgeChaunceyJr.,"ChristianBrotherhoodorSexual
Perversion:HomosexualIdentitiesandtheConstructionofSexualBoundariesintheWorldWarOneEra,"JournalofSocialHistory19(1985):191,207n14.
24.Onhowcrossdressingallowedrespectablemaletheaterspectatorstorelaxandwithgoodconscienceoglethe"principleboy's"legsorinsultthehorrid,old
"dame,"seeJaneW.Stedman,"FromDametoWoman:W.S.GilbertandTheatricalTransvestism,"inSufferandBeStill:WomenintheVictorianEra,ed.
MarthaVicinus(Bloomington:IndianaUniversityPress,1972),2037.
25.SharonR.Ullman,"'TheTwentiethCenturyWay':FemaleImpersonationandSexualPracticesinTurnoftheCenturyAmerica,"JournaloftheHistoryof
Sexuality5(1995):573600.
26.Onthemyththattoavoidelectingawomanthecardinalsinspectthepapalcandidateandmustrituallydeclare"Habetduostesticulosetbenependentes"hehas
twotesticles,wellhungseeAlainBoureau,LaPapesseJeanne(Paris:Aubier,1988),16.
27.RudolphM.DekkerandLotteC.vandePol,TheTraditionofFemaleTransvestisminEarlyModernEurope(NewYork:St.Martin'sPress,1989).
28.RandolphTrumbach,"London'sSapphists:FromThreeSexestoFourGendersinthe
Page290
MakingofModernCulture,"inBodyGuards,ed.EpsteinandStraub,12223DianneDugaw,WarriorWomenandPopularBalladry,16501850
(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1989)GeorgeS.RousseauandRoyPorter,eds.,SexualUnderworldsoftheEnlightenment(Manchester:
ManchesterUniversityPress,1987).
29.ReinholdSchunze'splayViktorundViktoriabecamethefilmFirstaGirl(1935)directedbyVictorSavilleandlaterVictorVictoria(1982)directedbyBlake
Edwards.SeePatriciaPetro,JoylessStreets:WomenandMelodramaticRepresentationinWeimarGermany(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,1989),
15355.
30.WeknowthatinFrancethepainterRosaBonheurandNapoleonIII'smistressMargueriteBellangertookadvantageofsuchprovisions,butitmusthavebeena
questionofrestrictingbourgeoisclothingsinceobserverssuchasA.J.Munbynotedthatmanyworkingclasswomenintheminingandfishingindustriesnecessarily
dressedmuchlikeworkmenonthelawof16brumaireyearIXforbiddingwomentoweartrousersorculotteswithoutamedicalcertificate,seeAnon.,Codedela
femme(Paris:EditionsandLibrairie,n.d.),3031ArthurBoime,"RosaBonheur,"ArtHistory4(1981):384409JannMatlock,"MasqueradingWomen,
PathologicalMen:CrossDressing,FetishismandtheTheoryofPerversion,18821935,"inFetishismasCulturalDiscourse,ed.EmilyApterandWilliamPietz
(Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1993),3161.OnGermany,seeEmilGutheil,"AnalysisofaCaseofTransvestism,"inWilhelmStekel,SexualAberrations:The
PhenomenaofFetishisminRelationtoSex(NewYork:Liveright,1930),281318andonworkingwomen,seeMichaelHiley,VictorianWorkingWomen:
PortraitsfromLife(London:G.Fraser,1979),4143,136n.21.
31.SusanGubar,"BlessinginDisguise:CrossDressingforFemaleModernists,"MassachusettsReview22(1981):477508SandraM.Gilbert,"Costumesofthe
Mind:TransvestismasMetaphorinModernLiterature,"CriticalInquiry7(1980):394.
32.ThetrialreportsfilledthecolumnsoftheLondonTimesduringMarchandAprilof1929.Fortheargumentthatthemasqueradewasemployedsobothwomen
coulddenytheirlesbianism,seeVernL.BulloughandBonnieBullough,CrossDressing,Sex,andGender(Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1993),
16264.
33.MichaelBaker,OurThreeSelves:TheLifeofRadclyffeHall(London:HamishHamilton,1985),254.
34.Hall'sTheWellofLoneliness,whichseriouslydefendedhomosexuality,wasseizedbythepolicewhereasVirginiaWoolf'sOrlando(1928),whichplayedwith
ideasoftransvestismandtranssexualism,wasapublishingtriumph."Differentthoughthesexesare."wroteWoolf,"theyintermix.Ineveryhumanbeingavacillation
fromonesextotheothertakesplace,andoftenitisonlyclothesthatkeepthemaleandfemalelikeness,whileunderneaththesexistheveryoppositeofwhatis
above."QuentinBell,VirginiaWoolf:ABiography(London:HogarthPress,1973),13839.
35.MagnusHirschfeld,Transvestites:TheEroticDesiretoCrossDress,trans.MichaelA.LombardiNash(Buffalo:PrometheusBrooks,1991),95100.Inthe
eighteenthcentury,HenryFieldingreportedthatawoman,pretendingtobeaman,haddupedanumberof"wives."SeeTheFemaleHusband(1746),ed.ClaudeE.
Jones(Liverpool:LiverpoolUniversityPress,1960).
36.CesareLombrosoandG.Ferrero,LaFemmecriminelleetlaprostitute(Paris:Alcan,1896),419024.
37.OnmaletransvestisminearlymodernEurope,seeGuidoRuggiero,TheBoundariesofEros:SexCrimeandSexualityinRenaissanceVenice(NewYork:
OxfordUniversityPress,1985),136AlanBray,HomosexualityinRenaissanceEngland(London:GayMen'sPress,1982),8689.
38.A.S.Taylor,ThePrinciplesandPracticesofMedicalJurisprudence(London:Churchill,1894),2:289,470.
Page291
39.JeffreyWeeks,Sex,PoliticsandSociety:TheRegulationofMoralitysince1800(NewYork:Longman,1981),101MichaelHarris,"SocialDiseases?Crime
andMedicineintheVictorianPress,"inMedicalJournalsandMedicalKnowledge:HistoricalEssays,ed.W.F.Bynum,StephenLock,andRoyPorter(London:
Routledge,1992),10825.
40.WilliamRoughead,BadCompanions(Edinburgh:W.Green,1930),14983andseealsotheLondonTimesreportsfor1870and1871.
41.H.MontgomeryHyde,TheOtherLove(London:Heinemann,1970),94.
42.Hirschfeld,Transvestites,275.
43.LondonTimes,13Apr.1904,3.
44.W.NorwoodEast,SocietyandtheCriminal(Springfield,Ill.:Thomas,1949),16566.
45.Weeks,Sex,PoliticsandSociety,102.OndragandtravestititsmintheUnitedStates,seeGeorgeChauncey,GayNewYork:Gender,UrbanCultureand
theMakingoftheGayMaleWorld,18901940(NewYork:BasicBooks,1994).
46.Anon.,"Masquerading,"JusticeofthePeaceandLocalGovernmentReview,26Feb.1938,135.
47.St.HelensNewspaperandAdvertiser,20Nov.1931,4.
48.ReginaversusJones(1896)1Q.B.4.
49.E.AnthonyRotundo,AmericanManhood:TransformationsinMasculinityfromtheRevolutiontotheModernEra(NewYork:Basic,1993),27377
SandraM.GilbertandSusanGubar,SexChanges,vol.2ofNoMan'sLand:ThePlaceoftheWomanWriterintheTwentiethCentury:Sexchanges(New
Haven:YaleUniversityPress,1989),2:32476.
50.SigmundFreud,"ThreeEssaysonSexuality"(1905),StandardEdition,7:13638.
51.GeorgeChauncyJr.,"FromSexualInversiontoHomosexuality:MedicineandtheChangingConceptualizationofFemaleDeviance,"Salmagundi5859(1982
83):12030.ForanethnographicaccountofearlytwentiethcenturyAmericanhomosexualcommunities,seeChauncey,GayNewYork.
52.Weeks,Sex,PoliticsandSociety,105.
53.DuringtheFirstWorldWarcallup,reportedHirschfeld,therewereseveralcasesofmenshowingupindressesatGermanrecruitingoffices.MagnusHirschfeld,
SexualAnomaliesandPerversions,ed.NormanHaire(London:EncyclopaedicPress,1952.),198.
54.A1960sstudybasedontheKinseyInstitutefilesconcludedthattransvestitessufferedatanearlyagefromdistortedandconfusednotionsofgender,butitnoted
thatsuchfindingsweredrawnfromaselfselectedsampleofsexoffenderswhoendedupinjail.Littlewasknownofthefarlargernumberof"masqueraders"who
avoidedbrusheswiththelaw.PaulH.Gebhard,JohnH.Gagnon,WardellB.Pomeroy,andCorneliaV.Christenson,SexOffenders:AnAnalysisofTypes(New
York:HarperandRow,1965),41011.
55.Hirschfeld,Transvestites,26773.
56.Ibid.,231.
57.CharlotteWolff,MagnusHirschfeld:APortraitofaPioneerinSexology(London:Quartet,1986),1079.
58.AtwentiethcenturyoverviewoftransvestismmadeitclearthattheFrenchhadcontributedlittletoitsexaminationseeDr.AgnesMasson,LeTravestissement:
Essaidepsychopathologiesexuelle(Paris:EditionsHippocrate,1935)andseealsoH.Legludic,Notesetobservationsdemdecinelgale:Attentatsaux
moeurs(ParisMasson,1896),16973EugneWilhelm,"Publicationsallemandessurlesquestionssexuelles,"Archivesdel'anthropologiecriminelle27(1912):
3019PierreVachet,Psychologieduvice(Paris:Grasset,1934).
59.ChushichiTsuzuki,EdwardCarpenter,18441929:ProphetofHumanFellowship(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1980),1313414551.
60.EdwardCarpenter,"IntermediateTypesamongPrimitiveFolk,"Sex,vol.1ofSelectedWritings(London:GMP,1984),263andontheBerdache,seeWalter
L.Williams,
Page292
TheSpiritandtheFlesh:SexualDiversityinAmericanIndianCulture(Boston:BeaconPress,1986).
61.SeeVincentBrome,HavelockEllis:PhilosopherofSex:ABiography(London:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1979)PhyllisGrosskurth,HavelockEllis:A
Biography(London:AllenLane,1980).
62.HavelockEllis,"Eonism,"StudiesinthePsychologyofSex(Philadelphia:F.A.Davis,1928),7:87.Forthesimilarargumentthatsomewomenonlyfeelatease
inmaleclothesandregardthemselvesas"transvestites"whenforcedtoweardresses,seeHollyDevor,GenderBlending:ConfrontingtheLimitsofDuality
(Bloomington:IndianaUniversityPress,1988),129.
63.AfurthersignofthegrowinginterestinthesubjectwastheappearanceofM.Coryn'sTheChevalierd'Eon(1932),hailedasa"skillfulbiographyofa
pathologicalspecimen"inWeekEndReview,20Aug.1932,216.ForamorerecentaccountseeGaryKates,"D'EonReturnstoFrance:GenderandPowerin
1777,"inEpsteinandStraub,BodyGuards,167andGaryKates,Monsieurd'EonIsaWoman:ATaleofPoliticalIntrigueandSexualMasquerade(New
York:BasicBooks,1995).
64.EllisquotedinMaxHodann,HistoryofModernMorals,trans.StellaBrowne(London:Heinemann,1937),49.
65.Ellis,"Eonism,"7:17,102.
66.Freud,ThreeEssays,56.
67.BernardHollander,ThePsychologyofMisconduct,ViceandCrime(London:AllenandUnwin,1922),14143.
68.SeethepaperreadtotheBritishSexologicalSocietyinMay1932byTheodoreJ.Faithful,"TheReEducationoftheInvert,"TheSocialistReview4(1932):
10619.
69.Forasimilarclaimthat"true"transvestiteswerenothomosexual,seeEast,SocietyandtheCriminal.
70.Ellis,"Eonism,"7:29.
71.Ellis,ViewsandReviews,2:219.
72.WeekEndReview,21Nov.1931,645.
73.SeeE.RoyCalvert'sstatement,"Fourandahalfcenturiesago,inthecityofBasle,acockwassolemnlytriedandburntaliveforcommittingtheunnaturalcrimeof
havinglaidanegg.Itwasnotuntillaterthatitwasdiscoveredthatthereissuchathingasacrowinghen.Yetwestillpunishpeopletodayforactswhichwedonot
understand."WeekEndReview,19Dec.1931,794andseealsoWeekEndReview,28Nov.1931,6789E.RoyCalvert,CapitalPunishmentinthe
TwentiethCentury(NewYork:Putnam,1927)TheLawbreakers(London:Routledge,1931)TheDeathPenaltyEnquiry(London:Gollancz,1932).Herbert
ChorleywasauthorofCleave'sEnd(London:Sisley,1908).
74.WeekEndReview,5Dec.1931,712.SeeGraceWinnifredPailthorpe,WhatWePutinPrison(London:WilliamsandNorgate,1932)Studiesinthe
PsychologyofDelinquency(London:HMSO,1932).Onattemptstohavepsychoanalytictherapiesofferedtoprisoners,seeW.J.Forsythe,PenalDiscipline,
ReformatoryProjectsandtheEnglishPrisonCommission,18951939(Exeter:UniversityofExeterPress,1990),15961.
75.WeekEndReview,28Nov.1931,67879.
76.Ibid.,67980.
77.Ibid.,19Dec.1931,795.
78.TheunnamedAmericanjournalrefusedtoprintthearticleEllis,ViewsandReviews,2:221.
79.WeekEndReview,5Dec.1931,712.
80.Ibid.,26Dec.1931,822.Haynes,alawyer,wastheauthorofReligiousPersecution(1904),TheCaseforLiberty(1919),andALawyer'sNotebook
(1932).
81.WeekEndReview,19Dec.1931,7872Jan.1932,10andonthemakeupofthe
Page293
Society,whichwentunderavarietyofnames,seeLesleyHall,"'DisinterestedEnthusiasmforSexualMisconduct':TheBritishSocietyfortheStudyofSex
Psychology,191347,"JournalofContemporaryHistory30(1995):66586DavidC.Weigle,"PsychologyandHomosexuality:TheBritishSexological
Society,"JournaloftheHistoryoftheBehavioralSciences31(1995):13648.
82.StellaBrowne,"SexualVarietyandVariabilityamongWomen"(1915),inSheilaRowbotham,ANewWorldforWomen:StellaBrowne,SocialistFeminist
(London:Pluto,1977),100.
83.NewGeneration,Feb.1932,29.
84.WeekEndReview,28Nov.1931,679.
85.Ibid.,5Dec.1928,711.
86.Ibid.,2Jan.1932,1016Jan.1932,68andforthepetition,see6Feb.1932,165.
87.Ibid.,9Apr.1932,439,446.
88.Forthejournal'sexpressionofitsappreciationforSirHerbertSamuel"inmitigatingbysympathyandsciencetherigoursofthesystemwhichhefindshimself
responsibleforadministering,"seeWeekEndReview,16Apr.1932,475.
89.H.V.Dicks,FiftyYearsoftheTavistockClinic(London:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1970),19.
90.Ibid.,78.
91.RenGuyon,SexLifeandSexEthics,trans.J.C.FlugelandI.Flugel(London:BodleyHead,1933),246,271.
92.F.B.Rockstro,APlainTalkonSexDifficulties(1934London:BritishSexologicalSociety,1947),25,27andseealsoLaurieTaylor,"TheUnfinishedSexual
Revolution,"JournalofBiosocialSciences3(1971):47392.
93.StevensonwasthehonorarysecretaryoftheNoiseAbatementSocietyWeekEndReview,6Aug.1932,15631Dec.1932,797.
94.WeekEndReview,5Dec.1931,703andseealsoBarbaraBrookes,AbortioninEngland:19001967(London:CroomHelm,1988),3740,
95.WeekEndReview,28May1932,666.
96.Ibid.,24Sept.1932,338.
97.DaveKing,'GenderConfusions:PsychologicalandPsychiatricConceptionsofTransvestismandTranssexualism,'inTheMakingoftheModernHomosexual,
ed.KennethPlummer(London:Hutchinson,1981),5583
98.Ellis,"Eonism,"7:30.
99.MaxHodann,AHistoryofModernMorals,trans.StellaBrowne(London:Heinemann,1937),48.
100.LiverpoolPostandMercury,16Nov.1931,9.
101.Ellis,ViewsandReviews,2:220.
102.ForananaccountoftheSwedishsexchangeoperationofEinarWegener,whocalledhimself"LiliElbe"andaftersurgerywasknownasAndreasSparre(d.
1931),seeNielsHoyer[pseud.ErnstHarthern],ManintoWoman:AnAuthenticRecordofaChangeofSex(LondonJarrolds,1933).Intheintroduction
NormanHaire,agynecologistandactivememberoftheBritishSexologicalSociety,notedthatDr.Steinachhadachievedsomesuccessinsexchangesbyemploying
hormonetreatmentsonloweranimals.
103.Onthequestionofwhetherfemaletransvestitescanbefeministsandbydressinglikemenarereallyopposingpatriarchy,seeJaniceG.Raymond,The
TranssexualEmpire(London:Woman'sPress,1979).
104.MichelFoucault,HerculineBarbin:BeingtheRecentlyDiscoveredMemoirsofaNineteenthcenturyFemaleHermaphrodite,trans.RichardMcDougall
(NewYork:Pantheon,1991),4AliceDomuratDreger,"DoubtfulSex:TheFateoftheHermaphroditeinVictorianEngland,"VictorianStudies38(1995):33571.
Page294
105.Burrows'ssexualignorancewasnotunique.AnumberofthelettersreceivedintheinterwarperiodbyMarieStopes,theBritishbirthcontrolpropagandist,
concernednonconsummation.Stopesherself,auniversityeducatedwoman,onlyrealizedafterseveralmonthsthatherfirstmarriagehadnotbeenconsumated,and
eveninthe1990saproportionofcouplespresentingatinfertilityclinicsareunawareofhowtohaveintercoursethatwillresultinaconception.Iowethislatter
informationtoLesleyHall.
106.St.HelensNewspaperandAdvertiser,20Nov.1931,4.
107.Dicks,FiftyYearsoftheTavistockClinic,45.
108.ForaperceptiveaccountofthepopularityoffemaletransvestiteperformancesinFrenchtheater,seeLenardBerlanstein,"BreechesandBreaches:CrossDress
TheaterandtheCultureofGenderAmbiguityinModernFrance,"ComparativeStudiesinSocietyandHistory(forthcoming).Thequestionofwhyinthetwentieth
centuryseveralgenerationsofheterosexualwomenwhowishedtoappearmysteriouslyseductiveadoptedandrogynousfashionstylesdeservesexamination.
109.MarjorieGarber,VestedInterests:CrossdressingandCulturalAnxiety(London:Routledge,1992)JudithButler,GenderTrouble(NewYork:Routledge,
1990).
110.QuentinCrisp,TheNakedCivilServant(NewYork:NewAmericanLibrary,1983),21.
Conclusion
1.Onthetropeofmalecamaraderieandwarasatestofmanliness,seePaulFussell,TheGreatWarandModernMemory(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,
1975)MichaelC.C.Adams,TheGreatAdventure:MaleDesireandtheComingofWorldWarI(Bloomington:UniversityofIndianaPress,1990)George
Mosse,FallenSoldiers:ReshapingtheMemoryoftheWorldWars(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1990).
2.Themilitaryalsounintentionallyunearthedunanticipatedanddisturbingevidenceofmaledeviancy.Thoughofficerswerelikelyuntroubledbyarecruit's
sadomasochistictendencies,theyweretakenabackwhentransvestitesindressesappearedbeforerecruitingboardsandwhenmorethanonewifeappliedfora
bigamousorcommonlawhusband'sdependenceallowance.StephenParker,InformalMarriage,CohabitationandtheLaw,17501989(London:Macmillan,
1990).
3.PaulCrook,Darwinism,WarandHistory:TheDebateovertheBiologyofWarfromthe"OriginoftheSpecies"totheFirstWorldWar(Cambridge
CambridgeUniversityPress,1994),56138.
4.E.E.Southard,ShellShockandotherNeuropsychiatricProblems(Boston:Leonard,1919),257.
5.IntheBoerandCubanWars,highlevelsof"inanity"hadbeennotedintheRussoJapaneseWarof1905,theRussianshadusedarmyspecialiststodealwith
psychologicalproblems.SeeNormanFenton,ShellShockanditsAftermath(London:Kimpton,1926).
6.Eveninpeacetimemanypsychiatristsbelievedhystericsweresimplycravingsympathyandsodealtwiththemruthlessly.MichaelJ.Clarke,"TheRejectionof
PsychologicalApproachestoMentalDisorderinLateNineteenthCenturyBritishPsychiatry,"inMadhouses,MadDoctorsandMadmen:theSocialHistoryof
PsychiatryintheVictorianEra,ed.AndrewScull(LondonAthlone,1981),271312.
7.AndrLeri,ShellShock:CommotionalandEmotionalAspects(London:UniversityofLondonPress,1919)MillaisCulpin,PsychoneurosesofWarand
Peace(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1920)andseealsoJoannaBourke,DismemberingtheMale:Men'sBodies,BritainandtheGreatWar
(London:ReaktionBooks,1996).
8.K.R.Eissler,FreudasanExpertWitness:TheDiscussionofWarNeurosesbetweenFreudandWagnerJauregg,trans.ChristineTrollope(Madison,Conn.:
InternationalUniversitiesPress,1986),60andseealsoSigmundFreud,"MemorandumontheElectricalTreat
Page295
mentofWarNeuroses"(1920),StandardEditionoftheCompletePsychologicalWorks,trans.J.Strachey(London:HogarthPress,1966),17:21115
MeyerS.Gunther,"FreudasExpertWitness:WagnerJaureggandtheProblemofWarNeuroses,"AnnalsofPsychoanalysis2(1975):323MagdaWhitrow,
JuliusWagnerJauregg(18571940)(London:SmithGordon,1993),1017.WagnerJauregglaterbecameamemberoftheNaziparty.
9.MartinStone,"ShellShockandthePsychologists,"inAnatomyofMadness,ed.WilliamF.Bynun(London:Tavistock,1985),2:242ff.
10.OnesymptomwouldbeanoldmisogynistsuchasBelfortBaxlamentingthedeclineofmaleclubsandcomplainingthatnowmenwerebeingforcedtoregardtheir
wivesasintellectualcompanions.ErnestBelfortBax,ReminiscencesandReflectionsofaMidandLateVictorian(London:AllenandUnwin,1918),6466,174,
197201.
11.RichardWallandJayWinter,eds.,TheUpheavalofWar:Family,WorkandWelfareinEurope,19141918(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,
1988)MaryLouiseRoberts,CivilizationwithoutSexes:ReconstructingGenderinPostwarFrance,19171927(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1994).
12.AdrianCaesar,TakingItLikeaMan:Suffering,SexualityandtheWarPoets:Brooke,Sassoon,Owen,Graves(NewYork:ManchesterUniversityPress,
1993)GrahamDawson,SoldierHeroes:BritishAdventure,EmpireandtheImaginingsofMasculinities(NewYork:Routledge,1994).
13.ModrisEksteins,RitesofSpring:TheGreatWarandtheBirthoftheModernAge(Toronto:LesterandOrpenDennys,1989),292.
14.Doctorsdeclaredthatsexualpotencyandmilitarybraverywererelated."Amatteroffactbearingonthispointistheexperienceofarmyofficers,whohave
observedthatamanofweaksexualinstinctisalwaysapoorsoldier."IrvingC.Rosse,"SexualIncapacityinItsMedicoLegalRelations,"inMedicalJurisprudence:
ForensicMedicineandToxicology,ed.R.A.WitthausandTracyC.Becker(NewYork:WilliamWood,1894),2:395.
15.RosaMayreder,ASurveyoftheWomanProblem,trans.HermanScheffauer(London:Heinemann,1913),109.
16.ChristinaSimmons,"ModernSexualityandtheMythofVictorianRepression,"inBarbaraMelosh,GenderandAmericanHistorysince1890(London:
Routledge,1993),2427.
17.ClaudiaL.Johnston,Politics,GenderandSentimentalityinthe1790'sWollstonecraft,Radcliffe,Burney,Austen(Chicago:ChicagoUniversityPress,
1995)GailBederman,ManlinessandCivilization:ACulturalHistoryofGenderandRaceintheUnitedStates(Chicago:ChicagoUniversityPress,1995).
18.PatrickFridenson,ed.,19141918:L'Autrefront(Paris:Lesditionsouvrires,1977).AnnHigonnet,BehindtheLinesGenderandtheTwoWorldWars
(NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1987).
19.RosaMariaBracco,MerchantsofHope:BritishMiddlebrowWritersandtheFirstWorldWar,19191939(Oxford:Berg,1993)SandraM.Gilbertand
SusanGubar,Sexchanges,vol.2ofNoMan'sLand:ThePlaceoftheWomanWriterintheTwentiethCentury(NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1989),
258323.
20.Fortheargumentthatnewtherapiessuchassuggestionunderhypnosiswouldbethequickestwaywherebytheshellshockedcouldbecuredandsentbackinto
thelines,seeM.D.Eder,WarShock:ThePsychoneurosesinWarPsychologyandTreatment(London:Heinemann,1917),12833andseealsoEricJ.Leed,
NoMan'sLand:CombatandIdentityinWorldWarOne(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1979),163ff.
21.AdolfHitler,MeinKampf(MonCombat)(Paris:Librairiecritique,1930),22429370.OnAdorno'sstatementthatavowalsofvirilityhavetoberegardedwith
suspicion,seeLynnSegal,SlowMotion:ChangingMasculinities,ChangingMen(NewBrunswick,N.J.:RutgersUniversityPress,1990),45.
Page296
22.PaulWeindling,Health,RaceandGermanPolitics:BetweenNationalUnificationandNazism,18701945(Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,1989),101
2.SheilaFaithWeiss,RaceHygieneandNationalEfficiency:TheEugenicsofWilhemSchallmayer(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1987)Robert
Procter,RacialHygiene:MedicineundertheNazis(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1988).
23.AlisonSinclair,TheDeceivedHusband:AKleinianApproachtotheLiteratureofInfidelity(Oxford:ClarendonPress,1993),24.
24.R.W.Connell,GenderandPower:Society,thePersonandSexualPolitics(Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress,1987),183190.
Page297
INDEX
Aberdeen,Lord,17
Abortifacients,31,45,76
Abortion,7,8,60,7186,87,98,259n.134
anarchistsand,8184,85
defenseof,8,8182,84,282n.117
doctorsand,76,77,100,102,1067,263n.97
evidenceof,97
promiscuityand,78,256n.81
prosecutionsof7186,101,1067
Abortionists,7,7273,77,88
midwifesas,77
AbortionLawReformSociety,71
Abrahams,John,41,51
Acton,William,141,142
Adams,Percy,113
Adolescents,30.
SeealsoYouth
Adultery,8,66,87,1056,108,186,187
evidenceof,92,94,263n.95
murderand12729
Agoult,comtessed'(pseud.DanielStern),215
AlbertusMagnus,149
Alcoholism,27,14546,166,175,179.
SeealsoMurder,alcoholand
Alger,Horatio,249n.146
Ameno,Fatherd'(Capuchin),150
AmericanBarAssociation,19
Anarchists,18,28,168
chivalryof,83,258n.109
defenseofabortionandcontraceptionby,8184,85,258n.111
Anderson,William,138
Anthropologists,5
Anticlericalism,14951,169,179
indecentexposureand,191
Antifeminists,23,104
misogynyof,3132,16970,279n.80
AntiSemitism,20,35,236,243n.48,249n.2
doctors's,269n.21
Antivivisection,19,104
''Apaches,"27,31,36,153,234
Apollinaire,Guillaume,169
ArkellSmith,Valerie(pseud.ColonelBarker),21516,230,290n.32
Arnoult,Amlie,64
AssociationfortheScientificTreatmentofOffenders,224
Asylums,163
Augustus(Romanemperor),66
Aveling,Edward,257n.108
Aveling,EleanorMarx,104
Avery,Joseph,49,251nn.3637
Bachelors,55,252n.69,253n.70
BadenPowell,Robert,34
Baldwin,Simeon,19,21
Ball,Benjamin,177
Balzac,Honorede,87,205
Barbeyd'Aurevilly,Jules,190
Barmaids,4,78
Barrant,Louise,162,176
Barrs,Maurice,34
Bason,George,46,49,50
Bastien(bigamist),62,68
Baudelaire,Charles,169,190,277n.48
Bax,E.Belfort,104,295n.10
Beard,DanielCarter,11
Beard,George,14142,147
Beardsley,Aubrey,190
Bebel,Auguste,53
Benkert,KarolyMaria,177
Berenger,Ren,31
Bergson,Henri,133
Berkeley,Theresa,25
Bernard,Israel,65
Bernhardt,Sarah,231
Berthellot,Marcellin,34
Page298
Bertillon,Jacques,55
Bertle,Charles,171
Bestiality,16
Bianca,Guiseppe,123
Bigamists,8,6070
female,64
Bigamy,8,6070
inEngland,65,66,68,255nn.40,45
Frenchlawon,6667,255n,39
middleclassviewsof,65,6768,70
rateof,6566
workingclass,68,238
BillingtonGreig,Teresa,2324
Binet,Alfred,170,172,174,197
Biologicalarguments,5,9,33
Birchings,13,14
Birthcontrol,142,151,152,155,179,236.
SeealsoContraception
Blackie,JohnHaldane,223
Blackmail,2122,104,106,13738,140,179,200,217
Bloch,Iwan,25,201
Bloquel,Alfred,69,70
Bloy,Lon,169
Blum,Lon,54
Body,male,8,9.
SeealsoExhibitionism
Bois,Jules,32
Bompard,Gabrielle,153
Booth,David,S.,195
Boulton,Ernest,21617,218
Bounder,4,38,59,61,89
Bourde,Marcelin,161
Bourget,Paul,169,277nn.48,52
Bouvier,Franois,161
Bowen,Edward,12526
Bowerbank(witness),21819
Boys:corporalpunishmentof,14,15,19,20
literaturemeantfor,249n.146
BoyScouts,11,34
ThorsteinVeblen'sviewof,248n.138
Bramwell,Lord,79,138
Brlaz,Jules,61,64,69
Bright,John,33
Bristow,Grace,224
BritishColumbia,murdersin,11229
BritishMedicalAssociation,108
BritishSocietyfortheStudyofSexPsychology(BritishSexologicalSociety),9,22425,227,292n.81
Broadbent,William,95,101
Brocket,Robert,48
Brothels,25,235,242n.28,271n.56
Brouardel,Paul,177
Browne,Stella,71,223,22425,227
Burke,Edmund,109,236
Burroughs,EdgarRice,36,249n.147
Burrows,George,20813,230
Byers,Lewis,J.,120
Cad,38,59,61
Calvert,E.Roy,223,292n.73
Campbell,Henry,143
Campbell,Murdock,122
CanadaEvidenceAct,128
Cannon,CharlesK.,200
Canterbury,Archbishopof.SeeDavidson,Randall
Capitalpunishment,19
Carlier,F,30
Carlson,Harriet,127
Carpenter,Edward,24,219,221,244n.73
Casanova,GiovanniGiacomo,202
Casement,Roger,220
Casey,John,119
Casson,Dr.(litigant),103
Castration,202,237.
SeealsoSterilization
Catholicchurch:abortionand,80
bigamyand,66,67,69
Catullus(Romanpoet),149
Caufeynon,Dr.SeeFauconney,Jean
Champney,Francis,95
Chapple,Dr.Harold,22
Charcot,J.M.,149,154
Charivari,58,186,214
CharlesII(kingofEngland),191
Charnot,Andrew,119
Chtelet,Marquisede,189
Cherrill,MaryAnn,193
Childmolesters,15
Children6,13
astargetsofexhibitionists,193,196,197,198,200,203,204
ofbigamists,65,68,69,70
Children'sAct(1908)and,35
protectionof,19,20,22,23
sexualattackson,177
Chivalry,23,5960,90,105,109,228
ofjournalists,80
ofsocialists,257n.108
Chorley,Herbert,22324
Circumcision,142,148
Clarke,MontagueAugustus,13738
Class,3,7
andflogging22,28
bodilyproprietyand,18890
confidentialityand,1034
conflict,170
exhibitionismand,199200
lowermiddle,34,48,56
man
Page299
linessand,33,34,70
marriageand,5455
sexualdegenerationand,152.
SeealsoWorkingclass
Clemenceau,Georges,34
Clinnick,Garland,124,125
Cobden,Richard,33
Cockburn,LordChiefJusticeAlexanderJames,218
Cocks,Henry,194
Codpiece,18687
Cohen,Alexander,8183,257n.99
Coitusinterruptus,142,14346,147
Coleman(murdervictim),117
Collins,Frederick,118,123
Collinson,Joseph,17,24
Comstock,Anthony,31
Comte,Auguste,32,174
Concubinage.SeeMarriage,commonlaw
Connell,John,223
ContagiousDiseasesAct,106
Contraception,83,14246,151
Contraceptives,31,235,272n.78
Cooper,Arthur,143
Cornil,V.A.,165
Coubertin,Pierrede,34
CourtofCriminalAppeal,17
Courtship,7,55,56
exhibitionismand,187,195,198,201
Coval,Serre,119
Cowboys,35
Crebillon,C.P.J.,87
CrichtonMiller,Hugh,225
Crimesofpassion,3,36
CriminalLawAmendmentAct(1885),16,30,218
Criminals,habitual,15
Criminology,5,16466,16768
criminologistsand,116
Crisp,Quentin,231
Crossdressing.SeeTransvestism
Crouzire,Alcide,63,67
Cruikshank,George,186
Crunden(nudebather),19192
Cunnilingus,125,174
Cutri,Bruno,127
Dale,James,118
Dandies,fopsand,29,190
Dando,Arthur,118,121
Darwin,Charles,133
Darwinism,11,156,202
Davidson,Randall(archbishopofCanterbury),23
Dawson,WilliamHarbutt,21
Day,Mr.JusticeJohn,23,7374,81,83,237,244n.64
characterof,7677,7980,86,257n.92
Deal,Fred,120
Declerieux(landowner),161
Degenerates,11,20,28,29,221
Degeneration,2930,152,156,17981,197
DeQuincey,Thomas,25
Derou,Sylvain,6162,63
Desctes,L.A.,147
Detectivestory,56
Deviants.SeePerverts
Diatella,Maria,127
Dickinson,GoldsworthyLowes,220
Diderot,Denis,186
Dietrich,Marlene,231
Divorce,109
popularformsof,68
separationsand,64
inFrance,63,66,67,69
Doctors,90
expertiseof,97,13435
military,23334
professionalsecrecyof,99100
relationswithpatients,99
sexualperversionsand,134,146,152,22627
viewsonsexualityof,14147.
SeealsoMedicalconfidentialityMedicalethicsPrivilegedcommunications
Doherty,John,119
DonJuan,87
Donne,John,25
Dostoievski,Fedor,170
Douglas,Linda.SeeKitson,Linda
Dress,female,190,205
malefashionsand,189,190,203
transvestismand,207,220,222
Dreyfusaffair,164,170
Driver,Daniel,51
Drugs,23,28,118,179
Duels,3,109
Dufour,Dr.(asylumkeeper),162.,167
Dufour,JeanBaptiste,68,69
Dumas,Alexandre,31
Duncan,LeslieFraser,53
Durkheim,mile,55
DutyandDisciplineSociety,18
East,W.Norwood,18283,195,197,198,200201,287n.83
Page300
Eden,Sarah,72,7374,77,78,80,81,82,84,85,86
Edwards,Eliza,216
Egan,Charles,118,12223
Eliot,George,215
Ellis,Havelock,26,148,207219,227
onexhibitionism,195,198,199,201,288n.118
onsadism,173,17778,222
ontransvestism(eonism),22122,223,224,22829
Engels,Friedrich,30,190,257n.108
English,Leo,126
Eon,chevalierd',222
Eonism.SeeTransvestism
Epilepsy,154,167,196,197,204,286n.76
Erasmus,Didier,188
Esseintes,des(fictionalcharacter),170
Essentialism,10
Eugenicists,155,22728,233
Everage,Edna,214
Executions,14,85,164,166
Exhibitionism,18284,196206,282n.7
conceptionof,195
explanationsof,199206
mooningasformof,186
Exhibitionists,3,7,9,13,16,172,18283,186,187,188,193206
floggingof,17
womenas,2046
Faithful,TheodoreJ.,222
Farante,Rocco,119
Fauconney,Jean(pseud.Dr.Jaf,Dr.Caufeynon),14755,157
Feebleminded,22,244n.59
Fellatio,153,174
Femininity,4,5,32,180,208,219,237
modelsofVictorian,4445
Feminism,17576,280n.94
Feminists,1056
corporalpunishmentand,2223
critiqueofmasculinityby,235
Fr,Charles,176
Ferenczi,Sandor,235,270n.45
Ferri,Enrico,167
Ferris,McLaren,212
Ferseneheim.SeePaul,F.S.
Fertilitydecline,2,31,35,159,179,219
Fictionalrepresentations,56
ofmarriage,4445,250n.18
ofseduction,87
sadismand,16970,177,180,181
sexualityand,7,24,32,36
Fielding,Henry,191
Flaubert,Gustave,169,277n.46
Fleury,Maximede,166
Floggings3,9
armyandnavy,242n.17
debateover1327
defendersof,1822
feminists'viewsof,2223
Mr.JusticeJohnDayand,23,7980
ofmaleprostitutes,217,242n.27
ofrobbers,15
opponentsof,2426
prison,243n.33
sentencesof,13
sexualaspectof,25
Flynt,Josiah,28
ForelAuguste,148
Foucault,Michel,2,6,154,183,184,203,204,229
Fourquet,mile,28,160,176
Fraudartists,7,63
sexualcomplaintsand,13739.
SeealsoWorld'sGreatMarriageAssociation
Freud,Sigmund,3,4,6,9,32,148,226,234,235,236
onexhibitionism,2012
onhomosexuality,21920
onsexualexcesses,141,14346,147,148
ontransvestism,222
Gaoin,Franoise,62
Galippe,M.V.,165
Garnier,Paul,195,196,197,19899
Garnier,Pierre,176
Garrotting:panicover,15
GarrottersActand,18
Gender,3,4,8,22
confidentialityand,104,1057
debateover3233
marriageand,5455
murderand,11129
stereotyped,52,180
WorldWarIand,235
Gentleman,4,8,38,87
anarchistsas,83
conceptof,72,80,8990,9596,101,1035,10810,259n.2
discretionof,101,107
George,JohnCharles,48
Geray,M.(marriageagent),53
Gide,Andr,6,235
Gill,Harold,12425,126
Gillier,Louis,126
Gillray,James,186
Gladstone,William,89,261n.41
Glaister,John,100
Godiva,Lady,185,283n.18
Goncourt,EdmondandJules,169
Gordon,Mabel,7275,77,78,87
Grabowsky,Norbert,32
Page301
Grandi,Callisto,164
Green,Dr.(medicalwitness),75
Greilsammer,Captain,162
Gruenfeld,Adolph,48,50
Gurrin,ThomasHenry,46
Guyon,Ren,226
Gypsies,28
Haggard,H.Rider,33,36
Haire,Norman,223
Hall,G.Stanley,31,174
Hall,Radclyff,215,290n.34
Haney,William,11920
Hannah,NormanGolding,41,51
Harcourt,Lewis,199
Harris,Samuel,194
Hawkins,Mr.JusticeHenry,94,97100,107
Haynes,E.S.P.,224
Heap,AlfredThomas,85,86
Henery,Dr.AlfredField,13738,140.
SeealsoWray,WilliamOsterfield
Henry,PaulAntoine,6364,67
Henty,G.A.,33
Hermaphrodites,148,229
Hernant(bigamist),66
Hertzfeld,David,63
heterosexuality,2,4,7,29,151,21920,229.
SeealsoMasculinity
Higson,W.D.,212
Hindson,John,7176,7778,80,8485,86,87
Hirschfeld,Magnus,167,219
ontransvestism,216,22021,222
Hitler,Adolf,236
Hobos.SeeVagrants
Hodann,Max,228
Hollander,Bernard,222
Holtby,Winifred,223
Homosexualacts,17,19394,210,21819,
Homosexuality,4,29,31,36,154,172,17578,219,280n.100
defendersof,21920,280n.101
murderand,12426,168,17678,267n.87
transvestismand,212,213,21417,218,22425,228.
SeealsoLesbianism
Homosexuals,9,35,178,233
attackson,29
emergenceof,30,177,21920
prosecutionof,207,237
Honor,120,126,129,156
Hpital,Dr.,199,200,201,204
Hopkins,Ellice,87
Hopkinson,William,120
Hormones,156,223,224,225
HowardLeagueforPenalReform,225
Huddleston,Mr.Justice,193
Hughes,C.H.,200
Hughes,Thomas,33
Hull,Austin(pseud.NormaJackson),20813,214,218,221,22331,289n.13
HumanitarianLeague,17,22,23,24,244n.63
Huysmans,J.K.,169,277n.54,282n.117
Hyndman,H.M.,104
Hysteria,142,144
male,141,143,149,233,294n.6
Illegitimacy,22,6566
Impotency,32,45,139,142,147,155,156,172,295n.14
trialsfor,187,190
Incest,15,18,26
Incommensurability,sexual,56
Incorrigiblerogues,13,16,17
Indecency,gross,210,212,213,218
Indecentassault,16,17,19,35
Indecentexposure,13,17,183,19194,204,285n.61
Infanticide,83,87,257n.105
Insemination,152,294n.105
artificial,149
InternationalOlympicCommittee,34
Inversion,sexual,4,17677,219.
SeealsoHomosexuality
Invert,30,177,212,216
Jackson,Norma.SeeHull,Austin
JacktheRipper,170,171,178,275n.16,281n.105
Jacoby,George,201
Jaf,Dr.,9,14755,157.
SeealsoFauconney,Jean
James,Walter,120
James,William,1112
Joan(pope),215
JoanofArc,160,163,215,274n.7
JohnHowardSociety,18,19
Johnson,Charles,128
Johnson,Hilda,128
Joly,Henri,177
Jones(felon),21819
Page302
Jordan,Alfred,47,48,50,251n.26
Journalists,13,16,17,26,122,130,163,170,280n.88
chidingofdoctors,101
coverageofbigamytrials65,70
critiqueofabortiontrials,8081
"newjournalism"and,52
Julian,William,120
Kahn,Dr.(quack),138,140,141,147
Kelly,Edward,123
Kingsley,Charles,33
Kitson,Arthur,91,92,93,96
Kitson,Emily.SeePlayfair,Emily
Kitson,Hawthorn,91
Kitson,SirJames,91,93,94
Kitson,Linda,91,261n.28
adulterysuspected,9294
asaffrontedfemale,95,96,97,98,100,103,1045,106,108,110
Kleptomania,200
Kraeplin,Emile,29
KrafftEbing,Richardvon,148,154,156
onexhibitionism,182,196,201
onhomosexuality,219
onsadism171,173,174,178
ontransvestism,220
Kraus,Karl,29
KuKluxKlan,20
Labor:and"breadwinner"wage,33
unrest,28,35
surveillanceof,28
Labouchre,Henry,19,30,218
Lacassagne,Alexandre:onfloggingof,27
onhomosexuality,177
onsadism,158,16566,167,168,170,172,175,176,179,180
Laclos,Choderlosde,87
Lacour,Lopold,32
Lacroix,JudgeJ.O.,147,148,152,157
Lady,4,8,90
roleofthe,104
Lain,JeanBaptiste,68
Lamoureux,Andr,173
Lanchester,Edith,83
Larue,Danny,214
Lasgue,Charles,196,200
Laski,Harold,109
Laubach,Rev.FrankCharles,16,28
Laugier,Dr.,199200
Laurent,mile,180,204
Lautrec,Arthur,35
LawCourts,4,5,6
theatricalnatureof,6,3738,5556,112
vigilantismand,129
Lawrie,JudgeAllan,17
Leach,Henry,54
Lecouty,LouisProsper,60,70
Lee,Arthur,20
Leger(murderer),171
Leger,Alexandre,159
Legre,Alfred,127
Lejeune,Dr.,27,36
Lepaulard,Alexis,171
Lesbianism,6,32,154,21516,219
Lewis,George,94
Liguenationaledel'ducationphysique,34
Lindsay,ThomasF.,224
Lisieux,Isidore,169
Lockwood,Lt.Col.A.R.M.,24
Lockwood,Frank,47,50,94,95,100,105,106
Lombroso,Cesare,152,154,16566,216
viewsontramps,28
Lorraine,Jean,169,277n.52
Louys,Pierre,169
Lushington,Godfrey,41,4243,46,55
Lutaud,Auguste,149
Luther,Martin,18586
Lydston,G.Frank,178
Lyttelton,Alfred,24
McCardie,Mr.JusticeHenry,227,228
McDonald,Mr.Justice,192
McDonald,Arthur,178
McDougal,Albert,118
M'Ewen,Jessie,1078
MacFadden,BernarrA.,34
McGill,Hugh,11314,115,128,129
McGill,Nellie,114
McKillarney,Michael,119,120
McLennan,Malcolm,120
McNaughten,Harold,127
Mac,Gustave,30
Madden,Claire,224,225
Maddows,Anthony,41,51
Madeuf,Franois,165,275n.27
Magnan,Valentin,152,175,196
Mahoney(wouldbemurdervictim),12425
Maistre,Josephde,169
Malelaughter,shamingfunctionof8,5152,56,58,70,211,230
Malthusianism,83,84
Page303
Man,definitionof,1,10
Manliness,1,34,10,26,3334,38,1045
Christian,24,33,3435
emotionalityand,13334
MannAct,27
Manning,Matilda,72,73,74,75
Mantegazza,Paolo,29,54,201
Maraon,Gregorio,87,202
Marciat,Dr.SeeTournier,Claude
Marguerite,Victor,32
Marriage,5758,187
arranged,54,153,249n.2
ascurefordeviancy,197
bigamous,6566
commonlaw,68,255n.41
companionate,87
guidesto,134
genderrolesand,4345
middleclass,39,54
workingclass,33,39,48,5354,68,230
sexualbehaviorin,134
Martial(Romanpoet),148
Martin,tienne,179
Martin,Frank,122
Martin,Henri,157
Martineau,Harriet,18
Martineau,Louis,154
Marty,LouisVictor,62
Marx,Karl,30,172,190
Masculinities,7,1112
Masculinity,2,3,10,239n.3
andfemininity,34,219,23738
andmarriage,4358
andviolence,5
constructionof,7
crisisof,31,35
hegemonic,7,8,23638
medicaldefinitionsof,15557
middleclassidealof,130
negativevarietiesof,10,26,181,231,237
nudityand,2056
sadismand,159,17175,17678,180
standardsanddefinitionof,14,26,27,57,8788,130,207,231
twentiethcenturymodelof,235,23638
Masochism,9,26,172,17374,178,223
MassotPellet,Pierre,176
Mastien(bigamist),64
Masturbation,138,13940,141,14243,146,147,172,187,268n.12
exhibitionismand,195,196
Freudand,14345,147
Dr.Jafand,15253
Mathew,Mr.JusticeJames,75,78,8081
Matrimonialagencies,78,40,53,2.50n.20
Matuschka,Sylvestre,22627
Maudsley,Henry,2930,32,54
Maurice,GeneralFrederick,11
Mayreder,Rose,235
Medicalconfidentiality,6,90,98104,105,106,108,260nn.16,25,262n.63
Medicaldiscourse,4
Medicalethics,95,101,108
Medicine,professionof,1012
Melodrama,19,3738,45,5556,60,112,129,138,162,163,249n.1,253n.72
Menesclou(murderer),165,168,171
Michelet,Jules,32,134,174
Miles,James,139
Mill,JohnStuart,1819
Miller,Dr.H.C.,18
Mirbeau,Octave,31,16970,277n.56
Mitchell,Weir,91
Moebius,PaulJulius,32
Moll,Albert,26,173
Montaigne,Michelde,148,18687
Montesquieu,CharlesdeSecondat,Baronede,150
Moreau(deTours),Paul,197
Morel,B.A.,149
Morella,Edward,118
Morley,John,80
Mormons,18,65,243n.35
Mott,F.W.,143
Mulvihill,Jeremiah,123
Murder,7
abortiondeathstreatedas,71,79,81,8586
alcoholand,115,11718
andmanhood,8,11129
causesof,11920
"constructive,"86
justificationsof,12026
methodsof,11516
policeand,11921
ratesof,114,130
sexualthreatsand,12429.
SeealsoSadism
Murderers,7,10,13
female,114
male,11429
punishmentof,78
Musichalls,56,57,83
Nance,J.Whitely,223
NapoleonI(emperorofFrance),67
NapoleonIII(emperorofFrance),67
Natives,NorthAmerican,11
Neff,Charles,119
Nervousness,134,14041,156
Neurasthenia,3,142,144,145,176
Nicolas,Frank,123
Nietszche,Friedrich,32
Nudebathing,19192,227,285n.52
Page304
Nudity,183,184,205
female,185,186,189,190
JewishandChristianviewsof,18586
male,19091,285n.45
Nymphomania,6,154,155
Obscene:acts,187,188,192
literature,139
pastries,270n.54
pictures,13
OffensesAgainstthePersonAct(1861),71,76
Oleson,Ole,127
Orchard,James,194
Orwell,George,40,51
Otto,Charles,48
Ovariotomies,148
Paget,James,147
Pailthorpe,G.W.,224
Pankhurst,Emmeline,23
Paquette,Louis,127
Paquette,Olive,127
Par,Ambroise,148,150
ParentDuchtelet,A.J.B.,153
ParisCommuneof1871,62,66,170
Park,FrederickWilliam,21617,218
Pasteur,Louis,34
Patentmedicines,45,53,13739,140,250n.21
Paul,F.S.,8384
Paul,Serge,170,174,175,198,205
Pederasty,30,154,267n.87.
SeealsoHomosexuality
Penitentiary,14.
SeealsoPrisons
Pepys,Samuel,191
PeregrinusProteus,184
Perversions,sexual,15254,15859,17980
masculinityandthe,17178
women's,172,173,174
Perverts,56,7,8,14,16,22,29,177,212
Phalliccults,184,199
Philandering,3
Phillimore,Mr.JusticeRobert,85
Pierret,A.,167,276n.39
Pimps,13,14,16,27,29,38,127,244n.62,245n.87
floggingof,1718,20,23,204,234
Pirie,Isabella,72,73
Pitcher,WilliamG.,48,50
Plantier(stonecutter),163
Playfair,Emily,9091,93,94
Playfair,Hugh,92,95
Playfair,WilliamSmoult,91,261n.28
treatmentofLindaKitsonby,9193
trialof,9497,98,100106,109,110,112
PoliceofTownsAct,193
Pollock,Baron,85
Pontmartin,Armandde,169
Popovich,Michael,119
Pornography,29,31,139,152,153,179,191,247n.117
Portalier,Victor,159,160,176,274n.5
Pouchet,F.A.,152,154
Poverty,16
Power,Nellie,57
Priestly,William,95
Prisons,14,19,20,27
Pritchard,Edward,106
Privilegedcommunications,90,94,97,98104
Procurers.SeePimps
Procuring,16
andWhiteSlavepanic,1718,23
Prostitution,13,18,22,38,83,103,106,151,153,154,198,212,236
child,16,52
male13,14,16,17,26,29,177,212,216
Proudhon,PierreJoseph,32,33
Proust,Marcel,235
Psychiatrists,1,5
onmentalirresponsibility,16465
Psychoanalysis,3,178.
SeealsoFreud,SigmundStekel,Wilhelm
Psychology,3,4,5,7
Punishment,corporal.SeeFlogging
PunishmentBill,14
Putnam,J.J.,201
Quacks,134,13739,162.
SeealsoPatentmedicines
Race,3,11,243n.48
Rachilde.SeeVallette,Margurite
Racism,2021
minstrelhumorand,253n.73.
SeealsoAntiSemitism
Raffalovich,Andr,177
Rais,Gillesde,169,170,171,274n.14
Ram(bigamist),63,67
Rankin,Charles,212
Rape,9,13,1516,17,21,28,106,183,187,204
floggingasmaleequivalentof,25
homosexual,126
normalization
Page305
of,29
statutory,22
purporteddifficultyof,149,246n.103
Rebatel,F.,167,276n.39
Reidel(murderer),178
RestifdelaBretonne,NicolasEdme,87
Revolution,French,67
of1848,62,66
Richardson,Samuel,87
Rivers,W.H.,235
RiviresJamesMcGilldes,123
Robin,JeanMarie,159
Roosevelt,Theodore,11,34,143n.52
Rossetti,DanteGabriel,83
Rossetti,Olivia,Arthur,andHelen,83
Roubaud,Flix,142
Rouselle(bigamist),62
Rousseau,JeanJacques,26,33,134,150,170,174,236
exhibitionismof,188
Rowand,Harry,123
Rowed,Michael,19394
Rowlandson,Thomas,186
SacherMasoch,Leopoldvon,170,279n.82
Sade,Marquisde,158,159,169,170,171,281n.106
Sadism,3,7,9,26,31
literarynotionof,16970,180
medicalconceptof,158,159,16469,17078,180,181,279n.74i2]murderand,17475,17778
Salt,Henry,24,2526
Samuel,Herbert,225
Sand,George,215
Savage,George,143
Schopenhauer,Arthur32
Sedley,Charles,191
Seduction,7,8,18,61,188
abortionand,77,78,8687
Serialkillers,3,28,178.
SeealsoVacher,Joseph
Servants,53,15253,189,190,193,199,218
Sex,determinationof,149
modelsof,134
Sexmanuals,14756
Sexologists,1,2,3,5,6,7,9,155,2078
onexhibitionism,182,183,195202,2046
onsadism,17178
ontransvestism,22023
Sexradicals,7,84
Sexreformers,2,24,22325,22628
Sexuality,10
female,5,134,139
male,5,134,139
popularviewsof,14755
Shakespeare,William,214
Shaw,GeorgeBernard,24,2526,35
Shellshock,226,23335
Shiells,William,123
Simister,Rebecca,72,73,74,81,82
Simon(bigamist),63
Singh,Mewa,120
Singh,Paratreap,12526
Skates,JohnCharles,41,42,4647,51,5356,58
Skates,MortimerDaniel,41,51,53,54,56,58
SocialDemocraticFederation,104,257n.105
Socialpurity,37
Socialists,33,35
sexualissuesand,84
WorldWarIand,233
SocitdeSaintFranoisRgis,62,68
Sodomy,16,21,26,30,150,168,172,177,187,278n.69
maleprostitutionand,216,217,218
murderand,124,125,126
Souteneurs.SeePimps
Spencer,Herbert,94,95,97,100,106
Spermatorrhea,141,147
Stadtmhler(abortionist),79
Stamford(litigant),192
Stead,W.T.,16,30,52,242n.28,251n.51
Stefanowsky,Dimitry,173,174
Stekel,Wilhelm,178,202,220,222,281nn.11114
Stendhal,87
Stephen,JamesFitzjames,25
Sterility,15152
Sterilization,2122,176
Stern,Daniel.SeeAgoult,comtessed'
Stevenson,John,225,22728
Stevenson,RobertLouis,24
Stone,Lucy,15
Sturgis,F.R.,147
Suffragists,2223,3
SeealsoFeminists
Sunday,Billie,3435
Sutton,Henry,48,49,50,251n.37
Sutton,JohnBland,94
Swinburne,Algermon,169,190
Tait,Lawson,22
Tait,Robert,120
Talbot,Mr.Justice,210,211,21213,214
Tallack,William,18,19,20
Tarde,Gabriel,17980
Page306
Tardieu,A.A.,30,148,152,154,172,177
Tattooing,14849
Taupier(bigamist),63
Tavistockclinic,22526,230
Taxil,Lo,150,169
Taylor,AlfredSwain,194,204,216
Thallman,George,193
Thoinot,Lon,168
Thomas,Constance,153
Thurtle,James,194
Tidy,CharlesMeymott,99100
Tissot,S.A.A.D.,139,142,153
Tocqueville,Alexisde,87
Tournier,Claude(pseud.Dr.Marciat),168
Tramps,16,22,176.
SeealsoVagrants
Transvestism,9,20831,236,289n.23,291n.54
female,21416,221,23031,290n.30
sexchangesand,293n.102
traditional,214
Transvestites,7,10,14,29
floggingof17,204
maleimpersonatorsas,57
TreasonAct,14
Trumpner,Frederick,117
Ulrichs,KarlHeinrich,30
Utley,M.H.,142
Uzanne,Octave,177
Vacher,Joseph,28,
crimesandtrialof,158,15964
medicaldiscussionof,16568,169,170,176,179
VagrancyActs,16,17,192,217
Vagrants,13,14,2829,35,158,192
French,2729,166,168
sexualdeviancyof,16
Vallette,Margurite(pseud.Rachilde),168
Vecki,VictorG.,14243
Venerealdisease,27,100,106,108,139,151,152,153,235,236
Venette,Nicolas,149
Verne,Jules,34,36
Vial,Joseph,62
Violence,5,14
masculinityand,35,109,130,131.
SeealsoMurder
Vives,Luis,18889
Vizetelley,Ernest,23
Voisin,Dr.,199,204
Voltaire,189
Vowell,A.W.,118
Voyeurism,9,172,201,202
Vuillermet,F.A.,11,35
Wagner,Henry,120
WagnerJauregg,Juliusvon,233,234
Walsh,John,119
Walters,Julius(pseud.KlaraMyer),217
Walton,Lawson,95,9697,98,104
Warburton,Henry,48,4950
Watson,P.H.,1078
Watson,Samuel,113
Webb,James,193
Weininger,Otto,29,32
Wellard,Frederick,193
West,Richard,189
Westphal,Carl,220
Whipping.SeeFlogging
WhiteCaps,20
WhiteCrossMovement,87
WhiteSlavery:panicover,1718,26,37,38,245n.86
TrafficBill,18,20,22,23
continental,27
Wifebeating,15
Wilde,Oscar,24,169,190,207,220,235,244n.74
trialof30,94
Williams,John,95,100,101
Williams,Muzio,91,92
Women,3,6,13
abortionofsingle,71,76,77,78
abortionofmarried,78
asexhibitionists,2046
changingroles,219
corporalpunishmentof,13,14,23
impactofWorldWarIon,235,236
inbigamycases,64,69
matrimonialagenciesand,55
murderand,114,12629
"new,"32,170
protectionof,19,22,5960,61
rightsof,15,159
sexualdesiresof,172,180
targetsofexhibitionists,187,19899,206
transvestismof,21416,23031
unwomanly,31
working,253n.77
Women'sChristianTemperanceUnion,21
Woolf,Virginia,290n.34
Workhouse,13
Workingclass:bigamyand,6163,70
conceptofgentlemanand,89
exhibitionismand,199
"knowingness"of,56
marriageand,53,57,68
murderand,12122
WorldWarI,18,66,207,23335,236
Page307
World'sGreatMarriageAssociation,3943,52,70,250n.13
trialof4651
Wray,WilliamOsterfield(pseud.Dr.AlfredFieldHenery),13738
Wulffen,Erich,204
Youth:male3031
female31
Ysakyr,Thomas,187
Zola,mile,31,61,170,186