The criminal underworld of Sydney in the 1840s

Featuring extracts from the Registry of Flash Men narrated by 'William Augustus Miles' (aka Fabian LoSchiavo)

This is a unique insight into the criminal underworld in Sydney during the 1840s. The volume was kept as an official surveillance record by William Augustus Miles who was Superintendent, then Commissioner, of Sydney Police in New South Wales from July 1840 to July 1848. Miles held the belief that much crime was caused by the contamination of innocent people, and that most of the crime in Sydney was the result of former convicts mixing with free immigrants. He believed that the criminal class required constant surveillance by the police.

The complete manuscript and transcription of William Augustus Miles Registry of Flash Men, together with many other records from the seedier side of our past can be found on State Records website at: http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/digital-gallery

Category:

Education

Tags:

• archives
• history
• Australia
• NSW
• Sydney
• diary

[tippngthevelvet]

Bringing political and social history alive, it's fabulous.

[starr5345]

Very entertaining Fabian and informative. Thank you.