a
police van used for the conveyance of prisoners. It is suggested that the name is
derived from that of Maria Lee, a black woman in
Boston in the early 1800s who kept a lodging-
house for sailors, but cooperated with the
police in the arrest of any lodger who became unruly or violated the
law. She was of such great size that when the
police required
help they
sent for Black Maria, who soon collared the refractory men and led them to the
lock-up.
—SHSBC Binder 10 Approved Glossary