Cute “diver” Jenny (7 photos)

Since the enterprising Phoenicians came up with a universal equivalent, humanity has not tired of coming up with ways to get rid of the money of others and then appropriate it for themselves.





And the young beauty Jenny, who by the age of 20 firmly held a whole gang in her tender hands, used very, very creative ways to enrich herself.



Portrait of Jenny Diver

The girl was born around 1700. Mother lived in Ireland. After an unknown rich boyfriend left her while she was pregnant, the woman had to earn a living in an ancient profession. The girl, as expected, was orphaned early, but came under the care of a wonderful old lady who helped Mary Young get an education and important skills for the girl.

Being a bright-headed young lady, she understood perfectly well that the only way to get ahead in the world was wealth. Therefore, she agreed to marry the neighbor’s boy on the condition that he would take her to London.

For the groom, the trip ended with a camera: he stole the initial capital in the form of a watch and 18 guineas. Not particularly regretting the loss of her fiancé, Mary went to the capital alone.

I will move to London



18th century London

In London, the girl quickly met Anna Murphy, the leader of a gang of pickpockets. And she masterfully learned the craft of stealing and not getting caught (thanks to her guardian who taught her how to sew and embroider). Soon Mary's hands became so dexterous and her plans so daring that she led the gang.

Criminal path



Feint with fake hands

The pickpockets gave their chieftain the nickname Jenny Diver (diver), because she really masterfully dived into the pockets of the mouthers and emerged with an excellent catch.

If Diver's fate had turned out differently, she could have become an excellent actress. The girl adored the atmosphere of luxury and sophistication and did not like working with ordinary townspeople.

She needed an appropriate atmosphere - a theater, a church, a hotel. A pickpocket acquired a pair of artificial hands and invented a spectacular way to rid neighbors in the church pew of unnecessary things. The fake hands lying decorously on the knees eliminated suspicion, while the real ones quietly removed watches and money from their pockets, removed jewelry and transferred them to accomplices on the back bench.



The attractive, sophisticated young lady often fainted in public places. When the excited gentlemen hurried to her, she carefully cleaned her pockets, slowly coming to her senses and thanking her saviors with a timid smile.

She expanded her criminal creativity by attracting pretty girls-swindlers, with whom she performed entire performances.

So, an unexpected acquaintance in a carriage with a sweet girl who talks about her sad life with her old rich husband and mental loneliness. The gentleman offers to walk her home and receives an absolutely unambiguous invitation to tea. Instead of the living room, they go up to the bedroom and fall into bed. Before they have time to get to the main point, there is a knock on the door, and an excited maid appears on the threshold: the owner has returned!

The lady runs downstairs, promising to settle everything and distract her husband. Along the way, they seized the businessman’s clothes and personal belongings. He waits patiently. And she waits for the arrival and blows from the real owners of the mansion, which was empty for the weekend, which the pickpocket robbed, and as a dessert she lured a gullible gentleman there and robbed him too. Masterly hoax!

End of the road



Jenny Diver during the trial

It is clear that with such a scale, Jenny repeatedly came to the attention of the police. But the woman presented herself with a false name, and she was deported twice - in 1733 and 1738.

The third time, in 1741, this trick failed: she was identified by witnesses. The whole truth was revealed. And in accordance with the laws of England, illegal return after deportation was punishable by death.



Gallows "Tyburn Tree"

On the day of the execution, a lot of people gathered in Tyburn Square - about 200 thousand people - to watch how 20 convicts would lose their lives. Jennybehaved calmly and with dignity. Apparently, the woman understood perfectly well that given her line of work this was a natural outcome. Jenny calmly walked up to the special high gallows on three posts, politely refused the black cap and took the last step.

The Pickpocket Queen not only remains in history, but also became the heroine of John Gay's 1728 play The Beggar's Opera and Bertolt Brecht's 1928 The Threepenny Opera.