Kissed Against Her Will: A Victorian Case of Assault and Abuse of Power
“His Lordship said it was perfectly clear from the evidence that an assault was committed. If any man kissed a woman against her will it was an assault.”
Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 22 February 1888.
Persuasion by Leonard Campbell Taylor, 19th Century.
In February of 1888, Sheffield confectioner Ralph Williamson was charged with the attempted shooting of blacksmith George Bridges, the father of a girl that Williamson had assaulted days earlier. The girl, named Bertha Bridges, was only fifteen years old. She worked in Williamson’s confectionery shop in High Street. It was there that one night, while Miss Bridges remained late to fetch his dinner, Williamson hemmed her into a corner and forcibly kissed her.[…]Continue Reading
