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The London of 1785

Environment for Crime: The era was marked by cheap human life, short lifespans, and brutal living conditions.
Hogarth’s painting "Gin Lane": Illustrates the decay, poverty, illness, and debauchery prevalent among inhabitants.
Crime and Punishment: Virtually unchecked, with notable incidents like the Prime Minister being held up by a highwayman.
- Highwaymen were romanticized, resembling modern celebrities despite heavy sentencing (e.g., 250 hung from 1750).
- Minor offenses led to severe punishment, exemplified by the execution of a boy for breaking a window and a father hanged for stealing bread.

Samuel Johnson's Description: Characterized London as a haven for villains.
Circumstances Favoring Criminality: Fog and the inefficiency of the justice system allowed skilled lawbreakers to act with impunity.
- Fogs helped criminals evade capture, obscuring visibility for months and facilitating crimes like murder and robbery.
- John Evelyn’s description emphasizes the horrible conditions created by coal smoke affecting public life.

Barber's Apprentice: Todd employed multiple apprentices, often from poor backgrounds, treating them with cruelty and indifference.
Thomas Simpkins: The first apprentice, whose untimely death suggested he might have discovered Todd's gruesome secret.
Murders:
- Todd committed murders in public and private settings, including notable cases from 1785 that indicated a pattern of customers disappearing.
- Subsequent victims included a young man in conversation with Todd and a pawnbroker found murdered shortly after Todd's visit.

Murder Method: Although one authentic account exists of how Todd used a revolving chair for murder, details surrounding its mechanism and guarantee of secrecy are unclear.
- The mechanism involved a craft that allowed victims to fall into a cellar below, where they were disposed of.

Connection with Sweeney Todd: Mrs. Lovett, a pie-maker, partnered with Todd, suggesting to use human flesh in her pies to solve the disposal problem of his victims.
- Her character varies in legend, depicted as either plain or attractive but always central to the operations.
- Mention of customer popularity and the quality of her pies indicates a thriving business despite grisly origins.

Emergence of Policing: Established around 1749, these detectives were crucial in the fight against crime, eventually linking Todd to mysterious disappearances.
Investigative Breakthrough: Reports of unpleasant odors at St. Dunstan's Church prompted Sir Richard Blunt to investigate, ultimately linking Todd to the murders through inquiry and surveillance.

Evidence Gathering: The discovery of clothing and valuables from Todd’s victims helped build strong evidence against him, culminating in the arrest of both him and Mrs. Lovett.
Confessions and Outcomes: Mrs. Lovett's confession implicated Todd as the murderer, asserting her role in aiding his grim venture, leading to his eventual judicial proceedings.