Prostitutes: Money or love first?

[Adam Went]

Hi K-453,

I think it depended largely on who the prostitute was. If you read material like that of the secret Victorian diarist Walter, he had given money to prostitutes beforehand for sexual favours, and they had then taken off with the money without any exchange being made. On the other hand, there were cases where a sexual exchange could be made but then the male would take off without paying, or without paying sufficiently. Then you had the prostitutes who tried to fool some men, particularly those who were drunk, by guiding them between their legs rather than completing actual intercourse. Some darker characters were even known to carry fake money.

So there was any number of devices used on both sides, i'm not sure there was any set general rule.

Cheers,
Adam.

[K-453]

Would they only go with a client after receiving and pocketing the money, or would it be enough if he showed it to them and gave it to them afterwards?

This is important, because, as we all know, none of the victims had money on her person when found, although Jack very probably approached them pretending to be a client. So either he took the money back afterwards, or never gave it to them at all.

Somehow I find it hard to believe clients paid first - this could end with the lady running away with the money, and in every other trade it is first goods, then paying, isn't it?

I have not found information regarding this yet, and I admit, I do not know where to start my search.