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thus decide to keep their investigation secret from their superiors for the present. Abberline and Hanks go to the brothel, finding it empty but meeting
Somerset, who had hoped to meet Algernon Allies, one of the boys employed there – Somerset is convinced they are lovers but Allies has stopped responding to his letters. Hanks and Abberline get Somerset to reveal he was a customer of the brothel and give him two days to get further information on it and its suspected financial backer from the high nobility. He discusses this with Euston, who is then blackmailed by that backer (Queen Victoria's eldest son
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arrested by PC Luke Hanks after the latter finds large sums of money in
Charlie's locker whilst investigating a spate of thefts at his workplace. He explains to Hanks and his mother that he has been recruited by telegraph clerk Henry Newlove for a male brothel for upper class customers run by Charles Hammond, but soon goes silent, with Emily seeking help from her Member of Parliament Barwell. Meanwhile
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convinces him that the scandal could affect their chance of getting their progressive policies through
Parliament and that he should bribe Emily to reveal Charlie's whereabouts by offering her enough money to buy the lease of her house. She gives in to that temptation and Charlie is arrested. On 22
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Despite doubts on
Abberline's part, Hanks and Emily convince him to take on Charlie's case. Hanks and Abberline's interviews with Charlie and Newlove not only reveal the brothel's address (19 Cleveland Street) but also that it has protection from high figures in the nobility and police – the pair
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A flea bites a rat, which frightens a horse, which kicks tanner Joseph
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January 1901 Charlie visits her at home, unable to repair their relationship and revealing to her that Queen
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had attended the brothel. Hammond begins an escape to a bolt-hole in
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Somerset is forced to flee the country and to deny the truth that Bertie's son
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from 11 October to 18 November 2023 later extended to 2 December.
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faces the release of a hostile enquiry on his handling of the
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investigation and a dishnourable discharge from the
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16:Stage play about Cleveland Street scandal
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406:2023 plays
400:Categories
375:"The Flea"
339:References
247:newspapers
174:Portsmouth
114:Jay Miller
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