A Better Class of Murder: London 1922

by Neil Root

London 1922. Ronald True, the 31 year-old drug-addicted son of a titled woman brutally murders a high-class prostitute...a week later, 18 year-old working-class hotel porter Henry Jacoby viciously kills a titled woman hotel guest..only one was hanged...This is a work of true crime reportage vividly bringing events in 1920's London back to life. These two brutal murder cases became connected by chance, and caused a media and public furore, as the two murders, committed just one week apart, raised questions about the British class system and the use of insanity as a defence against the death penalty. The statuses of the two murderers and their victims presented a unique class the 31 year-old son of a titled woman killed a prostitute and was saved from the hangman at the last minute by the Home Secretary’s reprieve, whilst an 18 year-old working class boy was hanged for killing an elderly titled woman. Letters were written to the newspapers showing both sides of the class argument, and the Home Secretary was forced to validate his decision in the House of Commons. It was the time of flappers and debutants, but also a time of darkness and huge class inequality. Deeply researched and written in a simple yet atmospheric way, Random House true crime author Neil Root brings these real life events and fascinating times back to life. 50,000 words A Dime Crime Original.

165 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2012