Jim, we (The Halliard that is!) sang a version of this broadside way back when. Quoting from Dave Moran's notes in our book 'The Halliard Broadside Songs': "From Henderson's 'Victorian Street Ballads' & one of my favourite songs.There is one rule for the rich & one for the poor & broadsides were working class news sheets. In 1989, Elaine Abelson published the book, 'When Ladies Go A-Thieving: Middle-Class Shoplifters in the Victorian Department Store'.
          I know this doesn't exactly answer the specific points you raise in your post, but maybe a couple of extra pieces for your 'broadside Jigsaw' nonetheless.
          Nigel Paterson.