At Bow Street Police Court
The story follows the adventures of a young man named George Grossmith who finds himself in trouble with the law after being accused of stealing a watch from a pawnbroker. He is taken to Bow Street Police Court where he must defend himself against the charges brought against him. The book provides an entertaining and humorous account of his experiences at the court, including his interactions with various characters such as the judge, prosecutor, and witnesses.
By George Grossmith · First published 1892 · Genre: Memoir, Humor, Legal · 6,066 words
First lines
"Take down our sentence as we speak it. " -- _Iolanthe_.
For a period of twenty years I had the distinguished honour of being decidedly "well known to the police. " When I between seventeen and eighteen years of age, and still at the North London Collegiate School, I received instructions from my father, who was just starting for Liverpool, that as Mr. Courtenay was ill I must go and "do" Bow Street. Mr. John Kelly Courtenay used to do all the reporting at Bow Street Police Court during my father's absence on his lecturing tours. I had learned shorthand (the Lewisian system, I believe it was called) some two or three years previously.
What this Textopian page supports
At Bow Street Police Court is listed on Textopian as a short story by George Grossmith, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: George Grossmith
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Memoir, Humor, Legal, Historical, Journalism
- Length: 6,066 words
- Structure: 1 section, 69 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for At Bow Street Police Court by George Grossmith
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering At Bow Street Police Court?
- How does this short story by George Grossmith fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Memoir first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Scenes Doctors Commons by Charles Dickens
- The Black Doctor by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Mrs Lirripers Lodgings by Charles Dickens
- The Great Shadow by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Man With The Watches by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Ballad Of The Kings Jest by Rudyard Kipling
Genres
- Memoir — The narrative is a personal account of the author's experiences and observations at Bow Street Police Court, detailing his career and interactions.
- Humor — The writing style includes humorous anecdotes and witty observations about the legal system and the author's experiences.
- Legal — The book provides insights into the workings of the legal system, court proceedings, and notable cases at Bow Street Police Court.
- Historical — The text offers a historical perspective on the legal practices and societal norms of the time, including references to specific cases and figures.
Tags
crime · court · law · justice · humor · satire · London · 19th century · police · drama · social commentary · fiction