Mabel Grey

A hand-coloured carte-de-visite portrait of the courtesan Mabel Grey.

In February 1870 she found herself up before the bench at Westminster County Court. Simmonds, a theatrical costumier, sued her for the sum of £46, 'for two dresses supplied while the defendant was playing the part of "Sardanapalus" at Astley's Theatre. [...] Mabel Grey said she had no salary at Astley's. She simply played as an amateur, and never expected any money.' Her birth certificate was produced, 'showing the defendant was nineteen last November, and being a minor, [...] the defendant was not liable. His Honour ruled for the defendant, without costs' (Belfast Morning News, 2 March 1870). According to the South London Chronicle (26 February 1870), she was charged under her real name, which was Hannah Maria King. The same costumier also brought similar charges against Kate Cooke, who had appeared in the same production.

Later that same year various newspapers reported that Mabel had been fined for brawling in the street. 'Mabel Norman Grey, with whose photograph our readers are tolerably familiar, and the late Empress of a certain set, who described herself as an actress, was charged with assaulting Catherine Callaghan, a laundress' (The Day's Doings, 6 August 1870). More than one newspapers compared her present circumstances with her glory days. 'Mabel Grey was a few seasons ago the leader of the demi monde in London, and used to rival virtuous females in the elegance of her carriages and dresses, and the splendour of her diamonds. Her blaze would seem to have been like that of a comet, and her descent as ignominious, for we read that on Saturday Mabel figured in the dock at Clerkenwell Police Court, charged with assaulting a laundress' (Leeds Times, 30 June 1870).

'Mabel Norman Grey, a well-dressed person, who described herself as an actress, residing at 207, College-street, Camden Town, was charged at the Clerkenwell Police-court, on the 23rd inst., with violently assaulting Catherine Callaghan, a laundress, of 78, Langford-road, St Pancras. On the previous night the complainant was speaking to a young female when the defendant went up to her, and abusing her, threw her into the road. She got up, and then the defendant hit her three violent blows in the face, blackened one of her eyes, knocked her down, and jumped on her. The defendant then made off, but afterwards she assaulted a man that was passing by, pulling his whiskers, and was then given into custody. The defendant was very much intoxicated, and made use of foul language. The defendant said that she was first assaulted by the complainant, but that the complainant denied, and said that she did not touch the defendant. All that she did was to tell the defendant to be quiet or she would get locked up. Mr Barber ordered the defendant to pay a fine of 40s., or in default one month's imprisonment with hard labour. The defendant was locked up in default' (The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, 30 July 1870).

Six months later Mabel was back in Mr Barber's court, this time trying to retrieve a gold ring she claimed had been stolen by one 'Alfred Owens, a young man, who was described on the charge-sheet as an actor, having no fixed abode. [...] The complainant, who is well known at this Court, according to her statement, met the prisoner in the streets, and he having treated her with some refreshment she took him to [31] Frederick Street, where she resides, and he stayed the night with her, since which he had cohabited with her.' Owens had his own version of events, claiming that Mabel had given him the ring and was only bringing the charge now because she had seen him 'speaking to another prostitute' and become jealous. 'Mr Barber said he did not believe the evidence of the complainant, and discharged the prisoner. The police asked to whom they were to deliver the ring. Mr Barker said they had taken it from the prisoner, and to him they had better return it' (North British Daily Mail, 30 January 1871).

Later that year Mabel got into another brawl, this time with George Lambert, the landlord of the Eagle in Camden, who was 'summoned before Mr Barker to answer a complaint of having violently assaulted and beaten Mabel De Vere, better known as "Mabel Grey," a courtesan, residing in Gloucester Road, Regent's Park. The complainant, who was showily dressed, said that on the evening of the 24th ult. she had been out riding in a carriage and pair, and, passing the Eagle public-house, she saw a Mr John Maple, a chronometer maker, with whom she lived, standing at the door. She had asked him to go with her for a drive, but he declined, and said he would meet her in about ten minutes.' Maple then went inside and Lambert came out and pushed her over. 'She got up, when the defendant again pushed her, and taking hold of her by the hair of the head, beat her head on an an iron railing, and then threw her over it. The consequence was that the back of her head was cut, and she lost a great deal of blood.' Under cross-examination, Mabel 'admitted that she led an improper life. She had been fined at the Court for assault, and when she had been in prison two days the fine had been paid for her by Arthur Brownlow, of the Buckingham Palace Hotel. Being pressed, she said she had been charged at the Marylebone Police Court a few weeks ago, for being drunk and guilty of disorderly conduct. [...] She had also been fined for being drunk and ringing bells, but she denied in the most positive manner that she had ever been locked up for assaulting a billiard maker.' The publican's barrister claimed that it was Mabel who had assaulted Lambert and that she should be the one in the dock. Witnesses were called to support his statement and the summons was dismissed (Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser, 12 August 1871).

Six weeks later Mabel was back in court, once again charged with assault. 'A fashionably-dressed young woman, who gave the name of Mabel Grey, aged 20, was charged before Mr D'Eyncourt at Marylebone Police Court yesterday, with violently assaulting Annie Rossie at the Britannia public-house, High Street, Camden Town. [...] The landlord, after some time, served her with some beer, and, after drinking it, without saying a world, she struck the complainant a violent blow on the back of the head with the glass, which knocked her to the ground. Whilst there, the defendant struck her three blows in the face, which broke the glass. [...] The defendant said she had been in prison for assaulting people, but had never been convicted for felony.' The magistrate ordered that Mabel should 'be imprisoned and kept to hard labour in the House of Correction for two calendar months' (Birmingham Mail, 26 September 1871).

Photographed by Elliott and Fry of London.