Mugshots of women criminals in early Australia are stunning

There’s something quite haunting, and yet beautiful, about these.

As the UK’s Daily Mail reported, the mugshots are part of a collection of 2500 snaps taken by New South Wales Police Department photographers between 1910 and 1930. They ‘give a fascinating glimpse into the role of women in the seedy underbelly of early 20th century Australian life’.

But we’ll let the pictures do the talking…

Ada McGuinness is listed in the NSW Police Gazette of 25 September 1929 as having been convicted of two charges of having cocaine illegally in her possession, for which she was sentenced to concurrent six and twelve months imprisonment with hard labour. Her daughter Hazel McGuinness also faced the court at the same time, on similar charges, but was released on a bond.

Alice was a bigamist. By the age of 24 Alice Adeline Cooke had amassed a number of aliases and at least two husbands.

34-year-old Alma Smith was jailed for five years for performing an illegal abortion on a young woman who later died.

Amy Lee was described in court as a 'good looking girl until she fell victim to the foul practice' of snorting cocaine. Her dry, blotchy skin is testament to the evils of addiction. Aged 41.

Little is known of this older criminal Annie Matthews. And yet, here's her mugshot.

Clara Randall worked as a travelling saleswoman for a jewellery company. She reported to police that her Bondi flat had been broken into and a quantity of jewellery stolen. It was later discovered she had pawned the jewellery for cash. A career criminal, Randall was sentenced to 18 months with light labour.

Doris Poole appeared before the Newtown Police Court charged with stealing jewellery and clothing. She had previously been convicted on a similar charge in North Sydney and so received a six-month sentence with light labour.

Dorothy Mort shot her young lover, Dr Claude Tozer, dead on December 21, 1921.

Edith Ashton was a backyard abortionist who also dabbled in theft and fencing stolen goods. Described in the media as a 'social somebody' and an 'equestrienne' she was, however, not adept at performing abortions and was suspected of contributing to the deaths of at least two women.

Elizabeth Ruddy was a career criminal who was convicted of stealing from the house of one Andrew Foley. She was sentenced to 12 months with hard labour.

Elizabeth Singleton had multiple convictions for soliciting and was described in police records as a ëcommon prostituteí. She was imprisoned at Long Bay but the details of her sentence have been lost.

Emily Hemsworth killed her baby son but could not remember details and was found not guilty due to insanity.

Fay Watson was fined 10 pounds for having cocaine in her possession. This picture is one of a series of around 2500

Harry Crawford, above looks like a man...

... but her real name was Eugenia Falleni. She spent most of her life masquerading as a man. In 1913 she married widow, Annie Birkett, whom she later murdered. The case whipped the public into a frenzy as they clamoured for details of the 'man-woman' murderer.

Here's some more shots of 'Harry Crawford'.

Janet Wright, 68, nearly killed a teenage patient during an illegal backstreet abortion.

Jean Wilson had numerous convictions for housebreaking and theft. She preferred stealing jewellery as it could be easily pawned for money. She also robbed her employer. Wilson was charged with larceny, for which she served a 12-month sentence.

Legendary undercover policeman Constable CJ Chuck, or 'The Shadow' as he was known within the criminal milieu, was responsible for the arrest of Jessie Longford, a well-known shoplifter.

Vera Crichton, 23, conspired with two other women to 'procure a miscarriage on a third woman'. She was 'bound over to appear for sentence if called upon within three years'. While nothing is known of E. Walker who was believed to be a vagrant from her scruffy appearance.

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What these women did to deserve criminal records

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