Old Bailey archive

[Frank]

What was the jurisdiction of the Old Bailey? Was it London only or nationwide? Was every case of rape,... tried at Old Bailey or were there other courts even in London, so that there could be cases of rape,... which were not in the Old Bailey archive?

Best regards,
Frank

[Mike Covell]

There was a number of courts in London during this period, and a quick search of the newspaper archive will show you a couple.
Take a look here under "Legal System" http://www.victorianlondon.org/

[Frank]

Thanks Mike for your quick reply.

This will make it difficult to create a complete suspects' list of people charged with rape, violent assault, arson,... in the years prior to the Whitechapel murders. That was my original intent.

[Mike Covell]

It might be worth taking a subscription with the British Library Newspapers Online. Using those keywords, you can narrow your searches to years, months and even days.

[Chris]

What was the jurisdiction of the Old Bailey? Was it London only or nationwide? Was every case of rape,... tried at Old Bailey or were there other courts even in London, so that there could be cases of rape,... which were not in the Old Bailey archive?

The jurisdiction covered Middlesex and the City of London, and all trials for felony (including rape) were held there:

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/static/Crimes.jsp