James and John: A True Story of Prejudice and Murder

by Chris Bryant

They had nothing to expect from the mercy of the crown; their doom was sealed; no plea could be urged in extenuation of their crime, and they well knew that for them there was no hope in this world.

When Charles Dickens wrote these tragic lines he was penning fact, not fiction. He had visited the condemned cells at the infamous prison at Newgate, where seventeen men who had been sentenced to death were awaiting news of their pleas for mercy. Two men were particularly James Pratt and John Smith, who had been convicted of homosexuality. Theirs was 'an unnatural offence', a crime so unmentionable it was never named. That was why they alone despaired and, as the turnkey told Dickens, why they alone were 'dead men'.

The 1830s ushered in great change in Britain. In a few short years the government swept away slavery, rotten boroughs, child labour, bribery and corruption in elections, the ban on trades unions and civil marriage. They also curtailed the 'bloody code' that treated 200 petty crimes as capital offences. Some thought the death penalty itself was wrong. There had not been a hanging at Newgate for two years; hundreds were reprieved. Yet when the King met with his 'hanging' Cabinet, they decided to reprieve all bar James and John. When the two men were led to the gallows, the crowd hissed and shouted.

In this masterful work of history, Chris Bryant delves deep into the public archives, scouring poor law records, workhouse registers, prisoner calendars and private correspondence, meticulously recreates the lives of two men whose names are known to history – but whose story has been lost, until now.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Queer, LGBT

422 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2024

About the author

Christopher John Bryant is a British politician and former Anglican priest who served in government as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons from 2008 to 2009 and Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Asia from 2009 to 2010, and in the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Culture Secretary and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016. He was privately educated at Cheltenham College before studying English at Mansfield College, Oxford. After graduating with a further degree in theology, he worked as a Church of England priest as well as having roles at the BBC and Common Purpose.

Reviews

[Francis Pellow · Rating 3 out of 5]

radio 4 book of the week. a heart breaking story

[Debby Binns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the abridged version of this book on BBC Radio 4. It tells the very sad story of James Pratt and John Smith who became the last people to be hanged in England for a crime labelled so heinous that no newspaper dared print its name (they instead called it “b-gg-ry”). Yes we did hang people in this country for being gay and less than 200 years ago - shocking. This is a very sad part of British history for many reasons. Certainly it was very sad to hear how the rich could get away with being gay while the poor hung for it.

[Harriet Crossley · Rating 4 out of 5]

BBC sounds does it again. A really moving tragedy….

[Daniel Askew-Hargreaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fascinating to learn how they dealt with homosexuality with the law in 1800 and the lengths and risks that these young men had to go to to find love, highly recommend

[Natalie Caisley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook - A real eye opener of a book tells the true story of James & John and their seemingly normal lives before they were convicted of homosexuality back in the 1800’s. There hadn’t been a hanging in Newgate for several years , most being reprieved apart from these 2 men . Great insight to the injustice & prejudice of that time.

[Kevin Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are still many countries or regions within countries that have the death penalty as an option for homosexual activity (these include Uganda, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran and the northern part of Nigeria, among others). There are many more countries where homosexual activity remains a crime, with punishments including imprisonment and flogging.

Until 1967 (in England and Wales) and 1981 (in Scotland), sexual activity between men was a crime in this country, punishable by imprisonment or fines or enforced confinement in a mental institution or so-called "chemical castration. At one time, we also had the death penalty as an option. Between 1530, when "buggery" became a capital offence and 1835 when the last two executions took place, countless men were executed. Between 1800 and 1835, according Chris Bryant, 41 men, ranging in age from 16 to 62, were hanged in Britain for being gay.

Bryant's latest book "James and John" is the story of the last two men to be hanged in Britain for engaging in gay sex: James Pratt and John Smith. Both men were from poor backgrounds, moved to London for work in domestic service and had periods of unemployment. When they were discovered having sex, a third man - William Bonell - was also arrested and charged with allowing the activity to take place in the room he rented. Bonell too was given the death penalty, but he was reprieved and given transportation to Australia instead.

Bryant looks at what is known about the lives of these three men and provides a detailed account of their arrest, imprisonment, attempts at reprieves and the eventual execution of James and John. It is a sordid tale of class bias, hypocrisy, political intrigue and collusion between church and state. As Bryant makes clear, many men of higher positions in society either received lesser sentences or avoided prosecution altogether. Some who could afford to travelled across the Channel, others (like the poet Lord Byron) were never arrested and others used their connections. For example, when Tory MP William Bankes was caught having sex with a soldier, he was able to call on influential friends (such as military leader and prime minister Wellington) and was found not guilty by the jury. People like Bankes also had the resources to employ the country's best lawyers, whereas the likes of James and John couldn't afford any legal representation.

Bryant's forensic examination of the politics, religion and ideologies of the time shows that James and John were also victims of political intrigues, with them being used as pawns in both individual and political conflict. So we discover that James's wife, Elizabeth (who supported him throughout the trial), got together references from many people calling for a reprieve. These included former employers, the couple who had reported the men to the police and some potentially influential people, including Hensleigh Wedgwood, the magistrate who had first sent them to trial.

None of this worked. Indeed, the Privy Council that decided the ultimate fate of the men didn't even see the reports Elizabeth had got together.

Ultimately it was the low social and economic status of James and John combined with them being used as political pawns that led to them being hanged.

The detailed descriptions of the hangings, as well as the author's account of the way hangings were carried out, are not for the faint-hearted: Bryant pulls no punches in describing how inefficient and incompetent the hangman, William Calcraft, was. His incompetency led to hangings being more prolonged and painful than they needed to be, and the use of what was called the "short drop" (a cheaper method of hanging) made it more likely that those hanged would remain conscious for longer.

At the time, there were few people calling for changes to the laws outlawing same sex behaviour, with even radical and liberal elements who campaigned to reform society believing "sodomy" and "buggery" were evil. For example, William Wilberforce, who campaigned tirelessly for an end to the slave trade, was firm in his belief that same sex activity was an evil vice that needed to be rooted out.

Bryant's detailed, well-researched and at times angry narrative of this example of state murder and miscarriage of justice is not just a much needed account of the history of bigotry, it is also a warning not to be complacent. There are still forces within society who would like to see us once again outlawed. And the existence of the death penalty in some countries for gay sex shows there are still LGBT+ people suffering and dying because of bigotry.

[Amy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book focuses on the trial of three men, James Pratt, John Smith and William Bonell, in 1835. James and John were hanged.

They could not possibly have hoped to receive what we would today consider a fair trial. The subject of gay sex was so taboo, the crime could not even be reported without censorship, even when alongside reports of rape and murder. Even within the courts, euphemistic terms were used. Judges bragged about how quickly they could speed through cases.

One of the most important things this book conveys is that it was not simply a fact of the period. This justification is trotted out so often for moral wrongs, such as slavery and attitudes towards poverty (which were also being challenged in this period), but there is plenty of evidence that not everybody of "the time" thought that way. Many people in this period (as they have throughout history) had same sex romantic and sexual relationships. Many other people didn't really care that much about it. Of those that did, many certainly didn't believe a crime that caused no physical injury should be punished with death.

The other key theme is the hypocrisy and double standards. A wealthy man of influence, with friends in the right places, could enjoy a same sex relationship relatively unscathed. He may suffer scandal, if he was unlucky (which I don't mean to understate the psychological impact of), but with a word in the right ear he could escape criminal conviction and punishment. But for a regular working man, the potential punishment was catastrophic.

The reason I went with 3 stars instead of 4 is that I struggled with the text, particularly at the beginning. "Meticulously researched" is a polite way of saying "doesn't know what to leave out". There were lots of references to people only tangentially related to the key figures or the main themes. Why is the husband of the cousin of the architect of the house of the employer of James Pratt relevant? I'm exaggerating, but only just. Some of the extra information is very useful for giving context to the period, attitudes to crime and social issues, the influence of religion, and the political landscape. But at other points, it feels like Bryant didn't want any research not to be included. This does get better as you get beyond the first few chapters, and the focus is more on the events surrounding the trial.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never know how to review non-fiction books. I can't usually break them down into the things I need from a book as I read non-fiction for a completely different reason to fiction. So, I am usually rubbish at reviewing this type of book.
I wanted to read this book for two reasons. The author - Rhondda Labour MP Chris Bryant whose previous book Code of Conduct was one of my non-fiction highlights last year. I found his attention to detail and meticulous research to be top notch and the whole thing written in an easy to read way. The other reason was the subject (obviously) which is one, going in, I had no idea about. The fact that two men were hanged for "unnatural offences" the details of which were never formally disclosed, so heinous they were, so unmentionable, at a time when there were so many other people "on death row" for one or many of the myriad of capital offences of the time, all of whom got a reprieve.
James Pratt and John Smith were hanged. To a baying crowd. For the crime of loving the wrong person. No one else got hurt.
The author has spent the time caring about these two wronged people. He has given them a voice. With his meticulous research, he has traced their origins - with a bit of educated guesswork thrown in as records for everyday folk of that age are scant and lacking detail. Something I can imagine to be rather challenging to say the least.
It's not an easy book to read (subject matter not writing style). But it's an important story. A part of history that can never be erased as it is important to learn from mistakes so they are not repeated. It's a story that I knew nothing about prior to reading this book, and that shocked me more than anything. But it's a story that will stay with me, educate me, and that's the point of reading it.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Elzbieta Rudzewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heartbreaking and at the same time enraging story of how little meaning and worth had a life of a fellow men in eyes of those who claimed to represent law, justice and religion. While there is little we can say about the men themselves, as they came from what was deemed 'lower-class' the story they had unfortunately become a part of is valuable one and should be remembered, instead of forgotten in the murky cards of history.

As for the book itself, I would call it uneven. Since both John Smith and James Pratt were common men there is little left of them beyond records of the third parties (those involved in their trial and execution), and official records. That doesn't make for a lot of written pages. I can see why the author those chose to include details surrounding those third parties, a deeper dive into places, traditions etc., but at times I found them not only overwhelming but plain boring and unnecessary (especially in the first part). I still don't fully understand why I needed detail of birth and marriage of a father of one of James's employers. If he was mentioned later, I had already forgotten all about him.

It also doesn't help that this is a period of English history where everyone seems to have the same name, and as I'm unable to record anyone's surname I got lost more times than I would like to admit.

In short I would have still cut some of the details off. It might have made for a shorter read, but not less meaningful.

[Mark Allinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important book about a shameful part of the UK’s legal, social and homophobic history. Besides the focus on the tragedy of two gay men hanged in 1835, there is ghastly context of the judicial system and the state of the prisons in the early 19th century. There is some context, though perhaps not enough, on the lives of gay men in Britain in this period. To some extent, this is because the detail is staccato with limited evaluation and overview. This is also the disappointment with other parts of the book. The important story at the heart of it is almost drowned in places in the extraneous detail about the full family histories of minor figures. The detailed research is admirable - but often unnecessary. The book needs rather better and stricter editing and more space to pan out, draw conclusions and contextualise more broadly. The conclusion is rather typical of this, a retreat into the fine detail rather than an evaluation and a clearer overview of how the lives of gay men evolved in 19th century Britain.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“i should like to know what kind of deity they fancy they are placating with these shocking human sacrifices” (1816)

this was a very readable and not too dense piece of non fiction that was as informative as it was really depressing. i think the book cleverly highlights the distinct Britishness of homophobia, and the blatant double standards of the classism that entrenches the legal system. the story of james and john is at the heart, but is frustratingly thin. we don’t know if they were in love, knew each other, or were just unlucky on a one-time hookup. the amount of queer stories lost to the barbarity of this country and “christian” morality is heartbreaking.

i think bryant does a great job at highlighting the hypocrisy of so-called “liberal” campaigners who ignored the plight of gay people. the biggest hypocrite to me, however, is keir starmer, who called this a “must read”. i hope he reflects on the hypocrisy bryant highlights. you cannot be any kind of ally by throwing trans people under the bus, keir, sorry.

[Damian North · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard the abridged version on BBC radio 4 and decided to read the book to gain more insight and it didn't let me down.

A shocking piece of history that is relatively recent, and how more shocking was the swiftness of the trial and how these two men were hanged for simply being gay in a world that was so very much different to the norms that we live in today, but then again one does not have to look too far back in history to see how prejudiced some aspects of the media were to this issue.

Chris does a great job piecing together the narrative of the story based on what evidence he could find about James and John and weave it into the historical context of the early 1800's. A great book that I would recommend to anyone interested in LGBT or social history.

Damian North.

[David Cutler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a tad disappointing after reading Bryant's extremely good previous history 'The Glamour Boys' which was both a less familiar story and and a much more coherent history.

Yes this is a truly horrendous part of British History and how casually lives were destroyed is appalling.

Also Bryant is clearly a very good writer stylistically and very through in his research.

the problem is how little is known about Jack and John . They come into view in their court trial and almost nothing else. This leaves many, many pages on highly detailed adjacent material about all manner of subjects that could be researched, like the criminal justice system at the time and the sanitation in the streets in which they lived.

[Gerry Grenfell-Walford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat stark story, and a case study in prim Victorian 'morality'.
I listened to it on audiobook and I have to say, the energized narration by the writer himself lifted it up and made it compulsive, if sometimes depressing listening.
Indeed, listening to the wild actions of the mob and the hypocrisy of the middle and upper class attitudes to homosexuality and indeed, consensual sexual acts more generally, makes you appreciate just how far things have changed, but also how somethings remain the same still: ignorance and inhumanity and prejudice are sadly not long-vanguished ghosts from the past. The main thrust I get from the story is to be humane and vigilant, for what was won could so easily be lost again.
A powerful story, but also a relief to finish!

[Trey Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long-form report about the trial and execution of two men found guilty of sodomy in early 19th century England.

So much pain and heart-break here, and yet sadly the story-telling feels too clinical, uneven and overwrought with extraneous, enervating detail. A particular approach to writing history: dispassionate, dry, and in need of a responsible interpretation that moves beyond flat reporting.

[Corinne Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and thoroughly researched. I wasn’t expecting so much contextual information on justice system inequities, the legal system, taxation and London generally in the 1800s. It really was a very rich book, and it did a great job of centring the two men in the times in which they lived.

[Dominic Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating account not just of a tragic case but also of the society in which it could happen.

[Matthew Tett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty harrowing. Makes one realise how fortunate we are, despite many people believing otherwise. Well-researched and narrated.