THE CASEBOOK Mortuary Jabez Balfour Timelines: Analyses A Look At The Ripper The Details Murders issue three J. G. Simons August 2010

Jack the Ripper studies, true crime & L.V.P. social history ARISE! SIR Robert anderson John Malcolm asks for our objectivity Disaster! ON the thames Adam Went remembers the forgotten hundreds THE CASEBOOK The contents of Casebook Examiner No. 3 August 2010 are copyright © 2010 Casebook.org. The authors of issue three signed articles, essays, letters, reviews August 2010 and other items retain the copyright of their respective contributions. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication, except for brief quotations Contents: where credit is given, may be repro- duced, stored in a retrieval system, Dodging Another One pg 3 On The Case transmitted or otherwise circulated in News From Ripper World pg 96 Subscription Information pg 6 any form or by any means, including The Complete Mystery of Jack On The Case Extra digital, electronic, printed, mechani- The Ripper John Malcolm pg 7 Feature Story pg 99 cal, photocopying, recording or any other, without the express written per- Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of On The Case Puzzling The S.S. Princess Alice Conundrums Logic Puzzle pg 100 mission of Casebook.org. The unau- Adam Went pg 13 Write to Reply thorized reproduction or circulation of this publication or any part thereof, The Mortuary Timelines Readers Letters pg 102 whether for monetary gain or not, is J. G. Simons pg 66 Ultimate Ripperologists’ Tour strictly prohibited and may constitute Pimlico to Southwark pg 104 Jabez Balfour and The Ripper copyright infringement as defined in Murders pg 90 CSI: Whitechapel domestic laws and international agree- Undercover Investigations Elizabeth Stride pg 120 ments and give rise to civil liability and Book Reviews pg 78 From the Casebook Archives criminal prosecution. Collectors Corner Frances Coles pg 131 Expert Advice pg 94 Scenes of Crime The views, conclusions and opinions Whitechapel High Street pg 132 expressed in articles, essays, letters and other items published in Casebook Examiner are those of the authors and Editor in Chief Don Souden Editor Caroline Morris do not necessarily reflect the views, Publisher Stephen P. Ryder Acknowledgements: conclusions and opinions of Casebook. for Casebook.org Rob Clack, Grant Fenwick, org, Casebook Examiner or its editors. Features Editor Jennifer Shelden Suzi Hanney and Trevor Bond Design David Pegg for use of images. he arrest of Stephen Griffiths seem that most of us have been spared clowns learned to their embarrass- in late May for the murder of the taint of any “guilt by association.” ment with John Wayne Gacy. Even the Tthree prostitutes in Bradford, As far as we know, Griffiths was likely rather rarified and cerebral world of England, was the cause of a major not among the many we meet daily on international chess was once rocked ripple in the Ripperological community message boards or in chat rooms under by the news that it had when it was revealed that the 40-year- one or another seemingly benign pseud- harbored a violent old was a criminology graduate student onym. Of course, that does beg the murderer in at Bradford University whose Ph.D. question of how anyone could be thesis was supposedly about Jack the a serious student of the Ripper Ripper. Indeed, one could almost hear murders, far less a doctoral our collective gasps at the news as we candidate in the field, immediately wondered “Do I know without having him? Have I perhaps read his posts on Casebook, have I even chatted with him Don Souden at one time or another?” Certainly, given the initial reports, such reactions were rife and with good reason. the person of International Master Raymond Weinstein. A classmate of one-time world champion Robert J. Fischer at a s s i d u o u s l y Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, read Casebook, if not Weinstein was an up and coming star actually having taken up “res- in the firmament of the chess elite, Dodgtidence”hei there. ngAs the world r seems with notableO victoriesne over a select to coarsen with every passing day, a group of Grandmasters. And, while he As it murderer in our midst is a potential never defeated Fischer, he did draw is, our fears have problem that any group must now one tournament game against him, since abated quite a bit reluctantly face, as both the Chicago- a feat reserved for a very favored few, Anoand absent any new revelations area Democratic Party and that city’s indeed. He was considered a worthy when the case goes to trial it would loose-knit community of amateur foe for anyone and in an ultimately ill-

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 3 Br a d f o r d p o l i c e u s e d o g s t o l o o k f o r m o r e b o d i e s . Fo r e n s i c s t e a m c o m b t h e a r e a f o r p o s s i b l e e v i d e n c e . Ma r k Da v i s Ph o t o g r a p h y Ma r k Da v i s Ph o t o g r a p h y crafted discussion of Weinstein’s chess both state and federal time, for being a serves as a real reminder to all of us in talents, a February 1964 British Chess drug dealer’s chauffeur. The domestic a field that deals with the world’s most Magazine story lauded his “ruthless violence incident was the most bizarre notorious serial killer that we can never killer instinct” at the chessboard. Ouch! in that the beater called me at 6 am to be sure with whom we are dealing. For Happily, as far as I know, my clos- see if I would pay his bail in time for a many, our first virtual trip to a Ripper est brush with a murderer (or chess tournament championship game that forum was fraught with apprehension: master for that matter) is probably a afternoon. Even if I were so inclined Would the site be filled with all manner full six degrees of separation but not (and I surely wasn’t) I certainly didn’t of ghouls, each more driven by a perfer- so for lesser miscreants. Among those have that kind of money. Instead, he vid blood lust than the previous as they with whom I played baseball were at remained in a cell, his partner (bruises minutely examined the photographs of least four who served time: one for cor- and all) came to the game to root for the each poor victim’s wounds? As we all porate embezzlement, one for domestic rest of us and we succeeded in winning quickly learned, however, that is hardly violence, another for menacing with a in grand fashion. the case with any of the mainstream loaded shotgun and the last, who served All that said, the Griffiths’ case sites and publications in the field.

Dodging Another One Don Souden Instead, newcomers and outsiders alike chainsaw. They tend to have a posting rest of us are, in one way or another, are always impressed by the generally name like “I❤kutting-em,” have trouble serious students of a many decades old scholarly tone of discourse and the fact even spelling single-letter words and mystery, is immaterial. Though, I sus- that the most emotional arguments their first post is invariably the plaintive pect it is for the latter reason. And, as will usually involve such “sordid” topics hope that there are some “really good more than one poster suggested on as some suspect’s second cousin’s first new photos of the Kelly murder.” And Casebook after Griffiths’ arrest, hemight wife’s maiden name. that is probably their best — and cer- have arrived one fine day, had a look at Oh, there have been moments when tainly most intelligible — post. Hard to the threads, dissertations, reviews and the usual standards of propriety appear believe, but it is all downhill from there. publications and decided we were all in danger of being breached. We can Good thing is that these misfits stop much too tame for someone of his per- all, I am sure, recall the occasional new messaging rather quickly. Whether that verse yearnings. If so, we were lucky, poster who will arrive on the scene ready is because their incessant drooling while but it might well be good to be careful to discuss the nuances of street-corner they type shorts out their keyboards or in the future and in the meantime take surgery with a machete as opposed to a they simply become bored because the comfort in the fact that… …we are such a community of dullards.

For an even closer brush with ADDENDUM serial killer Stephen Griffths Just about the time we were ready to and fields of research, his crimes are read the letter to the editor lock up the galleys and publish, word not a stain just on Ripperology, as may from Mark Davis on page 102 of was received about the arrest and be the case with Griffiths. He does, this issue. subsequent guilty plea and incarcera- however, underscore the dangers of tion of a noted Ripperologist, the Rev. the modern Internet world in which Andrew Spallek, on federal charges of we never know for sure with whom we possession of child pornography. As are dealing. Spallek was active in many endeavors

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 5 Don’t Miss A Single Great Issue of Casebook Examiner Subscribe now for a whole year six big issues! for only For less than a night at the movies or a And remember, you will not$9 only be Go to w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /e x a m i n e r dyspeptic dinner for two at a fast-food getting the best in JtR fact and fiction, for full subscription details. restaurant you will get a year’s worth along with LVP true crime and social of informative articles, entertaining history articles, but the money will be features and all the exciting news in going to a suitable charity. A winning the field. combination that can’t be beat.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 6 The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm and Sir Robert Anderson’s Definitely Ascertained Flaws

re we to be content to settle it misrepresentation of the facts pres- and disappointment. by blindly joining the biggest ently known and unknown of the The arguments used to diminish Acrowd? Or are we to yield to Whitechapel murders. So it is con- the words of Sir Robert are manifest. whichever authority presents its claims cluded that Anderson’s “Polish Jew And the preponderance of anti-Ander- with the greatest arrogance? theory” can only be one of three things: son sentiment, from Anderson’s con- Sir Robert Anderson1 a sincere belief based on a personal temporaries to today’s most respected It is commonly accepted within idea that had solidified over time; a authors and researchers (as well as the “Jack the Ripper” community that delusional “wish-dream” of advanc- informed and intelligent enthusiasts) is the comments made by Sir Robert ing age; or an out-and-out lie, either weighty indeed and the verdict nearly Anderson regarding the identity of to absolve him from apparent failure, unanimous, and this seems to leave us the criminal forever branded with the boost his reputation or sell his books. with little choice but to dismiss this aforementioned nickname offer up And this would mean, of course, that sad old man and his “fairy tales”. Any not only an entire school of red her- those who choose to pursue this avenue attempt to counter these conclusions ring, but a blatant and scandalous of research are doomed to dead-ends therefore would presumably be futile.

1. The Bible or the Church?

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 7 So the following will presumably be an appeared to offer contradictory opinions regarding the murder of Alice McKenzie exercise in futility. or flatly rejected Anderson’s comments. and police opinion as to the connection (This article is not meant to be Also, the content of Anderson’s memoirs with the previous Whitechapel mur- seen as an endorsement of Sir Robert were a topic of debate in Parliament ders.2 Of more immediate concern here, Anderson’s “theory”. The goal is to that brought about negative comments however, is the question of how it is that clear away some of the rotting refuse from a young Winston Churchill, and these criticisms have come to dominate that has built up around the “defi- the editor of The Jewish Chronicle was the current debates as to whether or not nitely ascertained fact” and return to highly critical as well. These examples the police really did know the identity square one, allowing for a clear, hard are well known today in Ripper circles of the criminal and why the conclusions and fresh look at what may, in the end, and are commonly cited as valid reasons are so one-sided: the answer may just lie turn out to be the simplest and most to disbelieve or strongly doubt that the in what many today consider to be the obvious solution.) murderer’s identity was a “definitely ultimate narrative on Jack the Ripper. In attempting to support or ascertained fact”. Perhaps the most thoroughly refute the claims against Anderson, Anderson’s overall credibility and researched assessment of the it is important to understand the veracity come into question frequently, Whitechapel murders to date, Philip critics as well as the origins of the for example his involvement in the Sugden’s The Complete History of Jack criticisms. Among Anderson’s contem- “Parnellism and Crime” articles that the Ripper (first published in 1994 and poraries, Metropolitan Police Inspectors appeared in The Times and later his subsequently updated in 2002), is still Frederick Abberline and Edmund Reid, apparent meddling in the Rose Mylett likely the most highly regarded and Chief Inspector John Littlechild, Sir case (although it looks as if that was one of the most trusted and influen- Melville Macnaghten and (most vocif- at Monro’s urging), which cast further tial sources for students of the case. To erously) Major Henry Smith, Assistant doubt on the character of the former target this book may appear ungrateful Commissioner of the City of London Assistant Commissioner. Anderson also or even “blasphemous”, for Mr. Sugden’s Police (Acting Commissioner at the time appears to contradict himself on occa- work does deserve the high praise it of the murders and later Commissioner), sion. And there seems to be a glaring has received for the thoroughness of were amongst those who voiced doubt, contradiction in Anderson’s statements his research, the clear organization of

2. From a footnote in The Lighter Side of My Official Life: “I am here assuming that the murder of Alice M’Kenzie on the 17th of July, 1889, was by another hand. I was absent from London when it occurred, but the Chief Commissioner investigated the case on the spot and decided that it was an ordinary murder, and not the work of a sexual maniac.” But in a report addressed to the Permanent Under Secretary of State dated 17th July 1889, James Monro, Chief Commissioner of Police states “As soon as I received a telegram announcing the commission of the crime I started about 3 am for the spot…I need not say that every effort will be made by the Police to discover the murderer, who, I am inclined to believe is identical with the notorious “Jack the Ripper” of last year.”

The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm In s p e c t o r Fr e d e r i c k Abb e r l i n e Si r Me l v i l l e Ma c n a g h t e n

Ma j o r He n r y Sm i t h , As s i s t a n t Commissioner o f t h e Ci t y o f Lo n d o n Po l i c e

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 9 the known facts and his lucid evalua- to be corrected, opened previously infamous murderer known as Jack the tion of the evidence. Unfortunately, it locked doors, and given us a wealth Ripper was a “definitely ascertained has also cemented the opinions of the of information to ingest, but for one of fact”. To these ends Sugden fills the author together with the demonstra- those who finds his speculations ques- gaps and incautiously speculates as to ble facts in a dangerous and damag- tionable it has left an indigestible brick the origins of Anderson’s “theory”. ing way, if only in one particular and that sits heavy and injurious. Tracing It is the opinion of the author of isolated chapter, “Caged in an Asylum: the current anti-Anderson campaign to this article that it has been to the detri- Aaron Kosminski”. This chapter is this particular work may be unfair, but ment of truth-seeking “Ripperologists”, dangerous insofar as Mr. Sugden’s if it is not the origin, it is certainly com- for the growth of enlightenment has assumptions are confidently put forth plicit in establishing the negative light been stunted by the sheer mass of anti- This faulty view has dealt a serious blow to objective study…

as definitive, and damaging because in which Anderson is most often cast. Anderson propaganda that is trotted it effectively persuades the reader to This faulty view has dealt a serious out every time a suggestion is made disregard what quite possibly could be blow to objective study, the repercus- that Mr. Anderson may have known the best clues and only avenue (“if my sions of which have grown to grotesque what he was talking about. These conjections be correct”) that merits our proportions, perhaps sparking a bevy anti-Anderson minions are quick to full attention. This, of course, would be of unnecessary wild goose chases. It is produce enough words and “shout- the collective statements of Sir Robert within the pages of this book that the down” rhetoric to clog every bog in the Anderson regarding the identity of the oft-repeated phrases “addle-headed East End. To point out apparent con- Whitechapel murderer. nonsense” and “wish-dreams” appear tradictions and offer alternative sug- The Complete History of Jack the in relation to Anderson’s stated and gestions are welcome and necessary Ripper has corrected much that needed restated claims that the identity of the functions, but to paint exaggerated,

The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm derogatory and personal remarks put this esteemed scholar and historian forth as “the other side of the argu- has potentially led us astray: ment” only serves to distort what The records demonstrate that the little we know of “the truth.”3 Placing memories of our police informants were all the blame on Sugden would be faulty even on the most basic facts.4 wrong and to suggest that there is This is where Sugden throws his some occult conspiracy to denigrate objectivity out the window and sets the Anderson and the authors who table for his destruction of Anderson, choose to give his words credence although he is referring specifically to would be far-fetched. But those Macnaghten (1894) and, apparently, who staunchly deny any possi- Swanson (c.1910). (This clearly dem- bility of this “definitely ascer- onstrates that he accepts the Swanson tained fact” are stuttering and marginalia as genuine or he has not constipated. They bash us over considered arguments otherwise.)5 As the head with the same “wish- far as the Memorandum goes, there dreams”, “…only thought he are demonstrable errors with regard knew”, “so-and-so disagreed”, to Macnaghten’s “preferred” suspect, etc until we are numb or driven Montague John Druitt, and also, it away, effectively killing any would at first appear, in regard to civil debate. “Kosminski”, so the value of this “evi- So let’s explore some of dence” must be viewed with caution. the specific examples of how “Kosminski was not admitted to Colney

3. Efforts by such esteemed “Ripperologists” as Stewart P. Evans (in particular) to produce the “dirt” on Anderson have apparently been misused and misconstrued by those who categorically dismiss Anderson’s words; and wielded like a hammer to smash the truth out of context. 4. The Complete History of Jack the Ripper; Philip Sugden; Carroll & Graf (2002);p. 401 5. There has been some discussion lately concerning the provenance of Swanson’s marginalia, which ultimately could influence the interpretations of Anderson’s words, but thus far there has been no credible explanation as to why the marginalia (or parts of) would have been forged. Removing the marginalia from consideration altogether would not make Anderson’s claims any more or any less credible regardless.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 11 Co l n e y Ha t c h

Hatch in 1889 but in 1891.” Correct, after” his incarceration. Either way, in Anderson of possessing a “faulty” but Macnaghten does not specify light of questions of provenance or of memory. Sugden uses as an example Colney Hatch, which leaves open the the source of Swanson’s information, Anderson’s statement of the time- possibility that “Kosminski” could it is premature to accuse Swanson of a frame of the house-to-house search in have been temporarily incarcerated “faulty” memory, in this case at least. relation to his “holiday”. But, thanks to elsewhere. Swanson is clearly wrong No Anderson errors are cited directly the researches of author Alan Sharp, it (if in fact his Kosminski was Aaron) relative to the “facts” of the case, but is documented that Anderson was, in about the suspect’s death “shortly there is basis for accusing Sir Robert fact “abroad” at the time he states, not

The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm relative to his sick-leave, but having Aaron Kosminski was not a danger and therefore insignificant in any to do with the fact that Anderson was to himself or to others, “despite”, assessment of Kosminski’s tenden- attending the funeral of his father in according to Sugden, the fact that cies. And as “at times excited and Ireland. We need not bother to discuss he [Kosminski] had threatened his violent” would appear to suggest that Major Sir Henry Smith’s memory, as sister with a knife. So why was he Kosminski exhibited these behaviors his memoirs are riddled with ques- not considered to be a danger to him- on multiple occasions, it would seem tionable and demonstrably inaccu- self or others? Well, maybe because that using the infrequency of notes rate details; we can, however, attach he was not allowed access to knives of violence to determine the violent some significance to his opinions of Sir in the workhouse or Colney Hatch. capabilities of Kosminski, past and Robert Anderson and his “theory”, as And if the attendants at either of the present would be, at best, inadequate. he certainly was a contemporaneous institutions were unaware of his pos- There are no records of violence in witness and in a position of privilege. sible involvement in the Whitechapel Kosminski’s Leavesden files, and a Another example of a Sugden error murders, they would have been as description of Kosminski as “harm- is his statement (really an assump- unsuspecting as the prostitutes who less” are observations again used in tion) that Woolf Abrahams was Aaron were previously murdered. Sugden support of the suggestion of a non-vi- Kosminski’s brother-in-law6. We now goes on to recount and acknowledge olent nature in Kosminski, although know that he was, in fact, Aaron’s Kosminski’s occasional violence while this conclusion is arrived at with- brother. Certainly, with the confusion at Colney Hatch, citing a particular out benefit of any notes from 1894 surrounding surnames, a forgivable case note “Incoherent; at times excited until 1910 — a frustrating gap in error, but one nonetheless and no such & violent — a few days ago he took up the records. Confusingly, the author courtesy was extended to Anderson, a chair, and attempted to strike the later refers to Kosminski in relation if in fact he made any demonstrable charge attendant;…” Although this to Montague John Druitt: errors regarding his “suspect”. would seem to contradict Whitfield’s Evidence of a violent disposi- Of particular interest to us is any assessment of Kosminski as “not dan- tion, lacking altogether in the case disposition Kosminski may have exhib- gerous to others”, Sugden stresses of Druitt, is there for all to read in ited towards violence. Our evidence is that “The case notes strongly suggest Kosminski’s record.8 pretty conclusive on this point.7 that their assessment was right.” But before that, Maurice Whitfield, Relieving Because “only one” case note refers And there is no evidence of malice Officer for the Western District of Mile to violent tendencies, it is inferred or cunning.9 End Old Town, states “explicitly” that that this was an anomalous entry Maybe it wasn’t dark enough, or

6. Aaron Kosminski’s two older brothers had changed their surname to Abrahams shortly after coming to England. 7. Sugden; op. cit.; p.403 8. Ibid.; p.408

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 13 maybe there weren’t any prostitutes in circumstantial case against the Polish among many, although all relevant his company while confined. Jew would have had to have been made to this subject. And to reiterate, the It is from such arid medical before the attempted identification Macnaghten memorandum is rife with data that we must of necessity recon- to warrant such apparent deviation factual mistakes, but it is important struct the last days of the man Sir from policy as has been suggested or to keep in context the fact that it was Robert Anderson insisted was Jack the assumed. There must have been other never used for its supposed intention13, Ripper.10 or even “many circs” surrounding this and its worth has been undoubtedly As far as is known, Anderson never suspect to support the supposed con- exaggerated if not only because of the mentioned Kosminski by name, so this tention that the murderer had been simple lack of better clues with which is another assumption put forth as discovered. Simply whisking away we have to work. definitive, and yet another example of some poor lunatic on a hunch is an out- And Swanson’s revelation that simplifying for the sake of suggestion. rageous contention. And just who was it was the City CID who watched This is a fair assumption, but again, this witness? Kosminski’s house points unmistakably only an assumption. . . . there are sufficient clues in the at Lawende.14 . . . Kosminski was unique among police evidence for us to determine his This ignorantly dispenses with major Whitechapel murder suspects identity with reasonable certainty.12 all the complexities involving overlap- — he was the only one against whom He is speaking of Joseph Lawende, ping investigations and categorically any direct evidence linking him with the Mitre Square witness. This may not excludes any other possibilities. The the crimes was ever adduced. This evi- be an unreasonable suggestion, but it is author then, of necessity, weighs in on dence, of course, was the positive identi- a far cry from certainty. Among other Israel Schwartz and quite confidently fication of a witness mentioned both by assumptions, Sugden neatly surmises explains how he could not have been Anderson and Swanson and the credi- Macnaghten’s mention of a City PC the witness by marrying a jumbled bility of the case against the Polish Jew witness in the Mitre Square case as a mix of details to his own conviction rests almost entirely upon it.11 “hazy memory”, juxtaposing the Stride that it had to be Lawende. Certainly This seems to be very opaque and Eddowes murders. Fair enough Schwartz was in a better position to be reasoning. A sufficient or compelling again, but again a hazy assumption, able to identify Stride’s assailant than

9. Ibid.; p. 404 10. Ibid.; p, 405 11. Ibid. 12. Ibid. 13. It is, to this day, unclear as to exactly why the memorandum was crafted. It may have been prepared exclusively for the Home Office, or it may have been intended as a blanket response to the Press. Something not often discussed is that, as Anderson’s subordinate, Macnaghten may have penned it on Anderson’s request- certainly it would have had to be at least sanctioned by Anderson, if it were ever to be used for any official purpose. 14. Sugden; op. cit.; p. 407.

The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm Lawende was to identify Eddowes’. these accusations have been founded is witness’s” evidence, it would have This doesn’t factor into the equation. repeatedly and demonstrably inaccu- at least relieved the statement of its Furthermore, if the man Schwartz rate and misleading.16 prejudice. claimed to have seen attacking Stride in Misleading only if the majority of Mr. Sugden subsequently accuses Berner Street really did call out ‘Lipski!’ Sugden’s assessments are accurate; so, Anderson of forming an opinion which he is unlikely to have been, as Kosminski lacking any real supporting evidence, had solidified over time; but, in the case unquestionably was, a Jew.15 it is Sugden who appears to be mis- of Sugden’s opinion that Lawende was Of course this is assuming that a leading — repeatedly and demonstra- the witness, his “theory” becomes “fact” Jew would not use an obviously anti- bly misleading. over the course of this one chapter! Semitic slur against a coreligionist. We had better start with that cru- Certainly “the little that we do know” This same line of reasoning is used in cial identification of Kosminski by does not lead to any firm deductions. relation to the Goulston Street Graffito, Lawende.17 Positively identifying the “Seaside which then would require a consensus Hypothetical identification of Home” of the Marginalia as the on the intended meaning of the chalk- Kosminski by Lawende.18 Convalescent Police Seaside Home in written message; which there was And how confident was Lawende Hove also may be jumping the gun. not then and this certainly would not in the result?19 (There were numerous “convalescent apply now; Under Secretary Godfrey Again, a misleading and hypothet- homes”, seaside and otherwise, includ- Lushington, in a letter to Sir Charles ical question. ing specifically Jewish homes, but none Warren wrote: “It seems to me . . . that . . . the little that we do know, or have yet been found that fit better, the last murder was done by a Jew who can deduce, sheds great doubt upon the or at all. One such home, The Jewish boasted of it.” worth of Lawende’s evidence.20 Seaside Convalescent Home, also at . . . Anderson . . . upon which If the author had said “the Hove, was opened in May 1891.21)

15. Ibid 16. Ibid.; pp. 408-9 17. Ibid.; p. 409 18. Israel Schwartz seems to disappear after his statement to the police and subsequent interview with the Star newspaper. There is no record of him appearing as a witness at the inquest of Elizabeth Stride, so it is very tempting to assume that the police had lost faith in his testimony. It is curious that his story was not picked up by other newspapers. One possible explanation, which would seem entirely plausible, is that his testimony was suppressed by the police. Coroner Wynne Baxter had frayed the relationship between the coroner’s office and the police in his handling of the Chapman inquest, and according to Charles Tempest Clarkson (a retired policeman) and J. Hall Richardson in Police! (1889): “It depends very much upon the coroner as to the value of his inquiry. He may, or may not, receive the aid of the police in collecting his witnesses.” This may be especially significant insofar as it is clear that the police were in no way obligated to supply the Coroner with either witnesses or, presumably, information. 19. Sugden; op. cit.; p. 409 20. Ibid.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 15 Po l i c e Se a s i d e Ho m e Ho v e

This is not necessarily an unlikely Sugden’s chronology of the events sur- evokes the Lipski case and implies suggestion. But again, the follow- rounding the identification is certainly that the identification of Israel Lipski ing conclusions suggest strongly that plausible, and all of his subsequent that took place in the hospital looked the author has no doubt of the prove- speculation is not incredible, but foggy suspiciously like a set-up; so there is nance of Swanson’s jottings, although generalizations mixed with a clear goal the inference that the “supposed” iden- Swanson’s integrity is called into ques- of demolishing the “Polish Jew theory” tification of Kosminski also may be tion: “If Swanson is to be believed . . .” do not amount to much. He then suspect. Thought must be given to the

21. Eugene C. Black, The Social Politics of Anglo-Jewry 1880-1920.

The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm potential consequences of convicting or It should now be clear why Mall Gazette, a notoriously sensational committing the wrong man, especially Lawende’s identification of Kosminski newspaper, that suggest that Lawende as the Whitechapel murderer. This cannot possibly be considered a con- was used in subsequent attempted would have been a public relations clusive or even persuasive piece of evi- identifications, but as far as is known disaster, as the murders would quite dence. Anderson’s book is seriously no official documentation exists. One possibly have continued. misleading on this point.23 should also keep in mind that, no If Lawende was the witness who If, of course, we accept that Aaron matter who the witness was, the Stride identified “Anderson’s suspect”, and Kosminski was the suspect and Joseph and Eddowes murders were separate if he was also, in fact, used in subse- Lawende was the witness . . . neither crimes, so Schwartz possibly identify- quent attempts at identifying others, of which should be carelessly assumed, ing Stride’s assailant and Lawende then without doubt there are seri- as they are with the above quote. And supposedly identifying Eddowes’ would ous issues that might take a Houdini “conclusive” — agreed, but “persua- show that the police would not have from which to escape. But it must be sive” — not so much. been haphazardly assuming that both stressed here that the point is that it One cannot help but speculate . . .24 murders, however likely, were commit- is premature to base conclusions built True, but Sugden puts no effort ted by the same hand. upon layers (however neat and tidy) of whatsoever into trying to suppress his Nevertheless, the fact that Lawende unchallenged speculation. own urges, which is fine, if only they was confronted with suspects after he . . . Lawende insisted repeatedly had not been presented as concrete had identified Kosminski demonstrates that he would not be able to recognize the facts, as opposed to simply surmise, as that the first identification was any- man again. The contemporary records all speculation is. thing but conclusive.26 leave us in absolutely no doubt of it.22 Nowhere does Anderson so much Thus, once more, “the fact” has So “I doubt whether I should know as hint that the witness who identified hardly been established (or even cred- him again” should be interpreted as “I his suspect was used on any other occa- ibly supported). Moreover, if it was couldn’t possibly ever recognize him”? sion. Yet we have evidence that he was Israel Schwartz, his evidence could not That’s definitely not what Lawende — twice.25 be used in any case other than that of said. Never once in the “contemporary Again blindly assuming Lawende the murder of Stride, so naturally it records” does Lawende state that he was “Anderson’s witness”; and it would would have been necessary for Joseph would not be able to recognize the man appear as if this “evidence”, so far as Lawende to be used to try to identify again. This is not merely misleading, we know, is flimsy, at best. We have a suspect in the Mitre Square murder, it’s just wrong. several articles, mainly from the Pall regardless of any identification that

22. Sugden; op. cit.; p. 410. 23. Ibid 24. Ibid.; p. 411. 25. Ibid. 26. Ibid.; pp. 411-12

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 17 …plugging every gap in the story with anti-Anderson putty… might have been made by Schwartz. streets at all hours, when did he sleep? with anti-Anderson putty, and this is There is absolutely no evidence to Maybe he had the day after Bank troubling. Hammering us with what support a contention that Lawende Holidays and Fridays off? Seems that if may turn out to be bogus conclusions appeared at any subsequent inquest — he were employed, it would have been does not increase the chances that and on the face of it, there is no pos- highly irregular work indeed. That these conclusions can be relied upon. sible way that he would have if he was the murders were committed around Then, again, we have no evi- not a witness to either of those par- weekends and holidays may be of some dence that Kosminski possessed even ticular crimes. So, if the police did in significance, but is it perhaps going too an elementary degree of anatomical fact use him to try to identify Sadler far to conclude that the murderer was knowledge.28 or Grainger, it wouldn’t have had any- in regular work? Oh, but of course Severin thing to do with the coroners’ inquests. Sugden systematically dismantles Klosowski did. And using the lack of Relying on contemporary press reports his own hypothetical case of the “Polish evidence against Kosminski shows a as supportive of supposed “facts” is Jew theory”, by smearing Anderson blatant disregard for the differing med- dodgy at best, irresponsible at worst. and Swanson, elevating Lawende to ical opinions on the subject of whether Sugden, speaking of Aaron the coveted post of “Anderson’s wit- or not the murderer necessarily needed Kosminski wrote: . . . his circumstances ness”, and posthumously evaluat- such knowledge. would not quite square with our deduc- ing Aaron Kosminski’s psychological So now Sugden must connect tion, suggested by the dates and times capacity to commit violence with effec- two men whose words need to be dis- of the murders, that the killer was in tive precision. Confident, convincing paraged in order to further discredit regular work.27 and imaginative yes — conclusive or the “Polish Jew Theory.” Dr. Thomas “Our deduction” that the killer even satisfying, no. There seems that Bond has recently been put forward was “in regular work” seems to lack an inordinate amount of time is being as Anderson’s toady, yet his involve- common sense — in prowling the spent plugging every gap in the story ment was instigated (or at very least

27. Ibid.; p. 413 28. Ibid.; p. 414

The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm authorised) by Sir Charles Warren person would have scarcely appeared police knew or believed Coles’ murder and not by, but through, Sir Robert to be a “plausible” suspect at all. was unrelated, “of this kind” would Anderson. And Bond, when asked his But to judge by the vagueness, clearly be distinguishing between the opinion on the “skill” and “knowledge” even falsity, of the other circumstances previous series and the murder in of the murderer, stated in regard to alleged against him . . .30 Swallow Gardens. the “canonical five”: “In each case the There is not enough evidence to On the present evidence the case mutilation was inflicted by a person adequately judge Kosminski, but what against Kosminski is so extraordinarily who had no scientific nor anatomical “falsity” or “vagueness” could possibly flimsy that we have simply no alterna- knowledge. In my opinion he does not be used to clear him of suspicion? More tive but to exonerate him.32 even possess the technical knowledge hocus-pocus and sleight of hand. And Exonerate him as the American of a butcher…” Although Sugden does there is no basis whatsoever for claim- police did in the Green River case with not directly criticize Bond, he uses the ing “falsity”. suspect Gary Ridgway? Good thing statements of other doctors involved, as And Swanson’s [claim] that the for prostitutes that Mr. Sugden is not well as a modern surgeon’s opinion, to murders ceased with Kosminski’s iden- a copper. Can we convict Kosminski? diminish the strength of Bond’s opin- tification is patently untrue.31 Certainly not; should we then “exoner- ion. These efforts are used specifically “Swanson’s claim” goes without ate” him? Only if we want to clear the to distance Kosminski from the mur- the benefit of explanation. So, again of way for other “suspects” to be brought ders and, by proxy, Anderson’s Polish course, lack of information means that to the fore. Jew. nothing could possibly explain this So our dismissal of Anderson’s sus- . . . the more we have discovered “claim”. The author is apparently using pect inevitably raises questions about about this sad and pathetic suspect the the murder of Frances Coles, which the worth of his writings as a source of less plausible the case against him has occurred after Aaron Kosminski’s com- historical information.33 appeared.29 mittal to Colney Hatch, to “prove” Of course it is never a bad idea to Current research may suggest oth- Swanson’s untrustworthiness by question any and all sources of “his- erwise, although there is really noth- including it amongst the crimes of torical information”; but here the ing concrete to support either view. “Jack the Ripper”. The murder was insinuation, again, is that Anderson’s We should remember that whoever the undoubtedly within the official cat- information has been shown to be murderer may have been he was able to egory of the Whitechapel murders, incorrect, not assumed to be. So again, operate under the radar and under the but very few people today include this let this apply equally to our pres- noses of everyone around him, so this among “Jack’s” tally. If Swanson or the ent authors. In the above statement,

29. Ibid. 30. Ibid.; p. 415 31. Ibid. 32. Ibid.; p. 415 33. Ibid.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 19 Sugden is again disparaging Anderson, well beyond his “Polish Jew Theory”. His memoirs state, for example, that the police undertook their house- to-house search during his absence abroad. In truth it was conducted after his return to London.34 Oops. Looks as if “truth” can be stranger than fiction. In this case, Sugden is partly correct, as the second house-to-house search was conducted after Anderson had returned from Paris, but in truth Anderson was abroad during the majority of the time of this particular search; in fact he was in Ireland from 13-17 October attend- ing services for his father, who had passed away. The fact that a house- to-house search had been undertaken in the vicinity of Berner Street on the morning of the Elizabeth Stride murder seems not to be considered here, because had this first search been the one that Anderson spoke of, the evidence would be indisputable that Sir Robert was correct. But now it seems that he was correct either way, clearly and demonstrably. Contemporary documents prove that Anderson did not return to duty

Ch i e f In s p e c t o r Sw a n s o n 34. Ibid.

The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm until nearly a week after the double intention. He is, again, assuming that more people than Schwartz had a murder.35 Anderson is insinuating that this policy “good” view of the murderer, he must Here, irrelevant details are given was responsible for ending the “street be including Lawende, and that would as much weight as strong and unam- murders”. contradict his own argument that he biguous statements that were repeat- (2) the house-to-house inquiry led [Lawende] did not get a good look at edly defended by their author, Sir the police to believe that the Ripper was the murderer. Or else he means George Robert Anderson. This proves nothing a low-class Polish Jew;37 Hutchinson and his incredibly detailed because this is nothing. And how does he know this? description — and of course Abberline And now the coup de grace that The author uses reports prepared believed it — but this need not apply finally buries Anderson and his “fairy for the Home Office by Swanson and for at least one legitimate reason: even tales”: Macnaghten regarding their inter- if Hutchinson’s account was accurate Reminiscent accounts suffer, too, pretations of the writing in Goulston in every detail, there is not nearly as from the natural tendency of their Street to bolster the argument that much chance that the police would authors to interpret the past in ways there was no consensus within the have accepted his suspect as being advantageous to themselves. And it is police about where to look for the mur- the one and only possible murderer of in the interpretation of his memories, derer, but this falls far short of a “cat- Mary Kelly, whereas the sightings by rather than in simple errors of fact or egorical refutation”. Lawende and Schwartz would have chronology, that Anderson misleads (3) subsequently Kosminski left considerably less doubt. Certainly later students of the Ripper case. His was identified by ‘the only person the murderer was not invisible and book foisted five important myths upon who had ever had a good view of the was most likely seen on several occa- them when it contended that: murderer’;38 sions by multiple people; but as far (1) his policy of warning prosti- Schwartz?!!! The only way Lawende as known, there was only one person tutes that the police would not protect could possibly have been believed to be who witnessed an assault on a victim them ended the street murders in the “the only person who had a good view shortly before her body was discovered Jack the Ripper series after the double of the murderer” would have required and it would appear that it was a “good event;36 the complete invalidation of Schwartz’s view” indeed. This is a seriously misleading pos- statements to the police, which is not (4) although the witness refused tulation — and wrong. Sugden postu- even hinted at in any official docu- to testify against Kosminski the identi- lates on Anderson’s quote with his own ment. Quite the opposite is what we fication was conclusive and solved the perverse interpretation of Anderson’s are left with. If he is suggesting that case:39

35. Ibid. 36. Ibid.; pp. 415-16 37. Ibid.; p. 416 38. Ibid.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 21 Wrong again. Isolating this inci- Psychic Investigation than to a schol- should sway us, especially coming from dent as being the one and only factor arly and objective historian. But see someone whose contribution to this in determining the culpability of the chapter 13 “Letters from Hell” to test field of research was basically a one-off suspect is perversely speculative and the circumstantial evidence used project, regardless of his thoroughness. again unmistakably misleading. If against Anderson’s assertion. Were he to undertake the same project Schwartz had been the witness, the From contemporary and other evi- today, it would be full of revelations, only case that could conceivably have dence, every one of these contentions none of which would be likely to prove been “solved” would have been that can be categorically refuted.41 his case against Anderson. of Stride and no one else. Anderson Wow, this is definitely a head- But the fact that Anderson was never claimed that the identification first plunge into “La-La Land”. So let’s capable of interpreting events so per- No amount of “silly hysterics” should sway us… solved the case. The case may or may do some categorical refutations for versely in order to claim credit for him- not have been “solved” previous to the ourselves: self surely cautions us against accepting identification, but Sugden is wrong to Sugden was wrong about Wolf his other statements.42 posit his speculation in the lap of truth Abrahams being Aaron Kosminski’s Sort of like the pot calling the without benefit of the slightest tangi- brother-in-law. kettle black, wouldn’t you say? ble clue either way. He was wrong about Anderson The house-to-house inquiry was (5) the identity of the writer of the not being abroad during the house-to- completed on or about 18 October 1888. original Jack the Ripper letter was house searches, either of them. It did not persuade the police that the conclusively established as that of a His conclusions are anything but murders had been committed by a London journalist whom Anderson conclusive. Jew.43 could name.40 How can we trust these assump- Again, the author’s “evidence” is Again, how would he know that tions? We can’t. And it would be foolish weak and speculative. The police may this was not true? This is more akin to base any future research on them, have not been entirely cooperative in to Pamela Ball’s Jack the Ripper: A period. No amount of “silly hysterics” their dealings with the Home Office,

39. Ibid. 40. Ibid. 41. Ibid. 42. Ibid. p. 417 43. Ibid.

The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm hence correspondence between the two Anderson chooses his words much better position to judge the merits of should be viewed with at least some more carefully than does Sugden, a lesson the supposed identification, but forgets degree of caution. And, was Anderson that should not be lost on any of us. that if Anderson was not in attendance, not of “the police”? . . . neither Swanson . . . nor his “conclusions” would have been Anderson’s statement that the wit- Anderson, who primarily drew upon drawn from his trusted subordinates. ness who identified Kosminski was the Swanson, were in the best position to Anderson uses “we”, so any credit he ‘only person who had ever had a good assess the relative values of the wit- may claim he is sharing equally with view of the murderer’ is absurd.44 nesses. It is to be doubted whether they them. The author is a gifted researcher Here the author diminishes the saw, let alone interviewed, a single one and talented writer, but he wouldn’t likelihood of Lawende as being a credi- of them.46 have made the best lawyer. ble witness and compares him unfavor- So, although these men were held Macnaghten, Abberline and Smith. ably to others — what’s absurd here is accountable to the highest degree These men must have known the truth Sugden’s staunch denial of any conclu- for their oversight and direction of about Kosminski . . . So by disassociat- sion but his own. the investigations, they were inher- ing themselves from Anderson on this Nevertheless, he was the one who ently as clueless then as in their “twi- point they demonstrated that his claim identified Kosminski and as such light years”? Here the author seems to have definitely identified the mur- acquired special significance in the to be declaring that it is doubtful that derer was simply addle-headed non- mind of Sir Robert Anderson, anxious Anderson or Swanson had attended the sense. They were not alone.48 as he was in his twilight years to believe “identification of Lawende”.Who , then, There is no doubt that the section that in this Polish Jew he had tracked did Sugden think would have been on the Ripper crimes was very mislead- down the murderer.45 in attendance? Couldn’t have been ing indeed . . . 49 This is a nice, neat, simple way to Abberline, or it would blow his entire Well, yes, there is. sum up the author’s skewed premise. pseudo-circumstantial case against . . . a man of Anderson’s self-con- And again, never, nowhere, does Sir Klosowski. ceit . . . Troubled by deafness and an Robert Anderson make a claim that I have already shown that Lawende’s increasing sense of isolation . . . Over he, himself, discovered, identified or identification of Kosminski cannot possi- the years, with the selective and faulty “blamed” Kosminski or anyone else. Nor bly have been conclusive . . .47 memory characteristic of advancing does he ever, anywhere, claim credit for Sugden argues that both age, he came to believe it . . . In support- “tracking down the murderer.” Macnaghten and Abberline were in a ing him, Swanson exhibited that same

44. Ibid. 45. Ibid.; p. 418 46. Ibid. 47. Ibid. 48. Ibid.; p. 420. 49. Ibid. p. 421.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 23 statement. Couple these together and it would not be difficult to justify that his hunches regarding Chapman “may have coloured his judgment” and subsequently led to his dismissal of Anderson. Maybe too much credit is being given to Sugden for influencing the Ripper community, but he effectively lumps the collective discrepancies together and flings them like a wad of dung at the character of Anderson. But, as of this moment, there is abso- lutely nothing in the public domain that decisively “militates” against what Anderson has said — only shadows that still elude us. It is an unfortunate fact that discussions (message boards in particular) are often hijacked by those touting the “addle-headed nonsense” interpretation of the “facts”; for what- Ge o r g e Ch a p m a n ever reason, the campaign being waged against Anderson seems misguided. capacity for self-deception.50 As have tale final chapter that places Severin The bottom line is that it is offensive to Ripperologists in blithely swallowing Klosowski, alias George Chapman, as those who have read all the available Sugden’s pronouncements. the “least unlikely” (using the words “sides” and sidelights and still see no None of this mattered. Anderson of Jonathan Goodman) candidate for reason to look away from the former and Swanson had come to inhabit a Jack the Ripper. And in Who Was Jack Assistant Commissioner and his admis- world of wish-dreams.51 the Ripper?, “In my view Chapman is sions. Maybe there is incriminating Last, but not least, is the tell- our best suspect.” Hardly an objective evidence that truly “militates” against

50. Ibid.; pp. 421-22 51. Ibid.; p. 423

The Complete Mystery of Jack the Ripper John Malcolm Anderson’s assertions, but so far it has strong as the circumstantial evidence Jew Theory”. Anderson’s words must not been exposed in the public domain. that Sugden uses to trash Anderson. remain in consideration for there to be But if we were all to blindly Maybe Philip Sugden is the sage a truly objective perspective. accept Robert Anderson at his word, voice of reason . . . but he has been Questions indeed remain, but forc- think of how quickly the novelty of painfully quiet these last fifteen years ing answers upon them simply to quell Jack the Ripper would fragment into and maybe it is not so wrong to expect the anxiety of not knowing will get a sad lot of lost business opportuni- some answer to this seemingly aggres- us no closer to the truth . . . if, in fact ties and a befuddled field of “experts,” sive and antagonistic attack. It’s only that’s really what we want. left holding their empty sacks of integ- the truth that is sought. rity. We need to temper each other’s There are very few in the field of fantasies without categorically dis- “Ripperology” who can claim to be on a missing them: politely dismantle, sym- par with Sir Robert Anderson’s intellec- pathetically suggest alternatives, but tual capacity, and certainly the author be humble. It is not “the other side” of this present article is not amongst that is being debated here, but rather those; so, of course, this thesis remains the package of hypothetical scenarios open-ended and ripe for challenge. No that have been foisted upon those who claim of attempted “balance” can be might have the audacity to actually made here, this is simply a retort in Biog- lean toward believing what Anderson response to the assumptions or accu- said. This opinion should not be taken sations of general and specific inept- as a suggestion that we should accept ness of the police, which would suggest raphy Anderson’s words without question, for that, at any rate, the authorities were this would be as irresponsible as dis- not only competent, but worthy of as John Malcolm missing him outright. But the bottom high a praise for their efforts as Philip line is that there is simply no tangible Sugden has deservedly received for his John Malcolm is a native of New England evidence that has come to light that important and scholarly work on the and has lived in New Hampshire since even strongly suggests that Sir Robert Whitechapel murders. 1979, having moved there from Everett, was wrong. The circumstantial “evi- In closing, the preponderance of Mass. He is the author of the 2005 book dence” that one could use to support evidence would seem to suggest that The Whitechapel Murders of 1888: A the contention that Aaron Kosminski at very least there is some truth to Subjective Look into the Mystery and was “Anderson’s suspect” or even the Anderson’s statements and that he was Manipulation of a Victorian Tragedy. Whitechapel murderer is at least as not solely responsible for the “Polish

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 25 Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of The S.S. Princess Alice Adam Went

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 26 hen one thinks about major at Greenock, Scotland in 1865. It was The Fateful Voyage maritime tragedies through- originally named Bute for its first The voyage of the Princess Alice on Wout history, a handful of year, during which time it served the September 4, 1878, started the same as names immediately spring to mind: Wemyss-Arran route for the Wemyss any other she had embarked on in the Titanic, Lusitania, Britannic, and Bay Railway Company, but upon previous 12 years. It was an evening Morro Castle. Or, for the military being purchased by Watermans Steam return trip, having left from Sheerness. minded, Bismarck, USS Arizona and Packet Co. (later to become the London George Thomas Long, the first officer HMS Hood, along with many others, Steamboat Company) in 1866, it was of the Princess Alice, fortunate enough each with its own reasons for such renamed and put into service as the to be saved, gave the press this account notoriety. One vessel, however, that Princess Alice on the River Thames of the events during the voyage and the rarely springs to mind is that of the excursion route, where it would serve fateful collision with the Bywell Castle S.S. Princess Alice. In fact, the major- the remainder of its days. shortly after his rescue: ity of readers would only know of that The Princess Alice displaced just The crew of our boat consisted of ship because of its links to Elizabeth 251 tons in weight, and was 67 metres 13 hands all told, and when we left Stride and the Jack the Ripper case, a in length. It enjoyed more than a decade Sheerness on the return trip we had as link that shall be explored in greater of popular service, but by 1878, the ship nearly as possible 550 passengers. As detail later in this article. Yet, in its was becoming something of a dying we called at Gravesend and Rosherville day, this was a tragedy that gripped breed. The Princess Alice was a tradi- later on, however, we must, on leav- not only England but the world, and tional paddle steamer, with two fun- ing the latter place, have had fully 600 remains to this day the worst tragedy nels, but as the Victorian era entered its passengers on board. We started at on a British waterway. Hundreds of latter stage larger, faster, more luxuri- Rosherville at 6.15, and all went well people died, families were torn apart, ous screw steamers started to take hold until, on running up Galleon’s Reach, if not completely wiped out, and all of of the industry. Despite this beginning while standing on the fore saloon, the this happened within easy sight of the to appear somewhat outdated, however, captain being on the bridge, and a man safety of the shore. It’s now time to re- the Princess Alice remained very popu- and a boy on the look out, I observed visit this tragedy and let its story be lar with families who enjoyed cruising a large black steamer coming down the told, as much as possible by those who the River Thames and escaping their river. It was then just half-past seven, were actually there. hectic lifestyles for even a few hours. So and the weather was fine and calm, much so that on the day of the fateful and the moon shining beautifully over A Brief History voyage on September 4, 1878, the ship the river. On rounding Tripcock Point The Princess Alice was built by ship- was not much short of its licensed max- the vessel’s helm had been starboarded builders Caird & Co., and launched imum capacity of 936 passengers. to pass a screw steamer bound down

Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of The S.S. Princess Alice Adam Went the river, and we still remained to ; and The Bywell Castle, a collier loaded Tuesday, Sept., Commencing at the moment we saw the vessel, which with a cargo of coal, was considerably with light variable breezes and calm proved to be the Bywell Castle, our larger than the Princess Alice, weigh- clear skies. At 5.45 p.m., hauled ship engines were immediately stopped. The ing in at over 800 tons, more than three out of dry dock and down to wet dock other vessel appeared to be coming down times the size of the Princess Alice. entrance, ready for proceeding to sea. on us stem on, and, looming in the eve- While for a long time there has been At 6.30 p.m., left the wet dock in charge ning haze like a great black phantom, a general rule applied that passing ships of Mr. Dicke. . . At 7.45 p.m., proceeded gave us a foreboding of the unhappy must do so on the port side, and both the at half-speed down Galleons Reach. disaster. She was then about 150 yards Princess Alice and Bywell Castle were Being about the centre of the reach, distant, and each vessel was, of course, fitted with red and green mast lights observed an excursion steamer coming rapidly nearing the other. Their whistle for just such purposes, no such rule was up Barking Reach, showing her red was at once sounded, and loud shouts enforced in 1878. In any case, this would and masthead lights, when we ported raised by the man at the look out and have been a difficult rule to enforce on a our helm to keep over towards Tripcock others on deck to the Bywell Castle, but river with as much traffic as the Thames, Point. As the vessels neared, observed it was then, I fear, too late. Seeing the and without any of the modern day navi- that the other steamer had ported, and collision inevitable, I ran to the life- gational assistance such as radar and immediately afterwards saw that she boat, but before I reached it the Bywell radio communication. had starboarded, and was trying to Castle had twice crashed into us. She Captain Thomas Harrison, master cross our bows, showing her green light struck our vessel with her stern on the of the Bywell Castle, gave his version of close under the port bow. Seeing col- fore sponson, cutting clean through events as such: lision inevitable, stopped our engines into the engine-room. For a moment we were locked together, and then we …weighing in at over heard the water rushing in below and a minute later she sank with the boat. I soon rose to the surface, and, striking out for shore, was picked up by a water- man. We rescued our second mate and 800 tons, some passengers. The helm of the vessel more than was still at starboard when we struck, 3 times and the engines were stopped.1 the size of the Princess Alice.

1. The Liverpool Mercury, September 6, 1878

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 28 and reversed full speed, when the two modern technology such as radar could along the side of the vessel till I stood vessels collided, the bow of the Bywell not save the Andrea Doria. In the case on the keel. I thought the other side Castle cutting into the other steamer, of the Princess Alice and Bywell Castle, of the ship was on the ground, but it which was crowded with passengers, miscommunication and a lack of deci- gradually sank and at last I struck out. with a dreadful crash. Took immedi- sive action to avoid each other while Many caught hold of me, but let go of ate measures for saving life by haul- still early enough to prevent a colli- my slippery wet clothes. I swam away ing up over the bows several men of the sion were largely responsible. This is from the crowd, and I saw a little jet of passengers; throwing ropes’ ends over also combined with the ships collid- steam beside me, which made me fear all round the ship; throwing over four ing during the light stage of twilight, the boilers would explode; and then I lifebuoys, a hold ladder, and several when it is notoriously difficult to iden- saw a boat by the side of the screw, and planks, getting out three boats, keep- tify objects in the distance. I made for that, and when I got there ing the whistle blowing loudly all the Several passengers, in their post- the men pulled me in. I assisted them time for assistance, which was ren- accident recollections, gave accounts of to help others in.3 dered by several boats from the shore, the frantic efforts to avert the collision Initial assurances of passengers and a boat from another steamer ; the and then their own desperate struggles and crew alike that the collision could excursion steamer, which turned out to to escape the rapidly sinking vessel. not have been anything major were be the Princess Alice, turning over and Mr. Bird, of Tottenham Court Road, very quickly realised to be incorrect, sinking under the bows. Succeeded in gave this version: as the testimony of second steward Mr. rescuing a great many passengers, and I was in the bow of the vessel. Law, of Walworth Road, illustrates: anchored for the night. About 8.30 p.m., I heard our captain call out to the My name is William Alexander the steamer Duke of Teck came along- approaching vessel, and I rose from my Law, living at 37 Wansey Street, side and took off such of the passengers seat to look out. I saw a large screw iron Walworth Road. I was second steward as had not been taken on shore in the vessel bearing down upon us. The vessel on board the Princess Alice. We left boats — (signed) Thomas Harrison, was on our right. The captain called Gravesend at about six o’ clock. At the Commander.2 out to him very loud, and I called out time of the collision I was in the saloon In several famous instances, nota- very loud. It was not too dark to see the and there were about fifteen people bly the sinking of the Empress Of other ship. It was a light twilight with there. The time I should say was about Ireland in 1914 and the Andrea Doria the moon shining. The stern settled a quarter to eight p.m., when I heard in 1956, fog had largely been respon- first, and then she gradually turned till a crash. It was not very heavy the first sible for the fatal collisions. Even the keel came uppermost, and I climbed time, and I said to the stewardess

2,3 Ibid

Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of The S.S. Princess Alice Adam Went Pr e s s c o v e r a g e o f t h e d i s a s t e r

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 30 “There’s some barge alongside,” when waterline and were obstructing traffic For those who were fortunate immediately there was another crash. I through the river), there were drowned enough to make it up on deck, their ran upon deck, and amid the confusion passengers piled at the exits to the ordeal was far from over. Despite being and screams of the passengers I heard decks of the Princess Alice, not having close to shore, the area of the river in water rushing in below, and saw that had the time to even make it out of which the Princess Alice sank was also we were sinking. I then reached to the the inside of the ship before it went a sewage outlet. Moreover, the water top of the saloon gangway and shouted, underwater: was very cold, making it difficult for “Come on deck, we are sinking.” The The Princess Alice, lying as she any but the strongest swimmers, or scene on board I shall never forget. I does in mid-stream, seriously affects those lucky enough to find material on ran to a young lady with whom I was the travel in the river, and hence the which to float, to survive. Because so keeping company, and took her on my Thames Conservancy Board are making many hundreds of people were thrown shoulder, being a good swimmer, and every effort to clear the wreck away. into the river at the same time and jumped overboard, and swam to the Operations for this purpose were com- because those in the water frantically shore, but [as] I was going my poor menced yesterday morning, two lifting flailed for anything or anybody to grab girl slipped off my shoulder, or was lighters and one steam lighter being on to keep themselves afloat, many who dragged off, and I lost her, although I employed for the work. Divers were sent had survived the initial sinking were dived for her. I saw a gentleman (Mr. down, who reported that the Princess then dragged underwater themselves. Talbot, of Forest Hill), who was sink- Alice is literally in pieces, the hull being For those who made it ashore, ing, and caught hold of him and held divided into three principal parts, with there was then the anxious wait to him up till we were picked up.4 numerous fragments. It is, therefore, find out whether their loved ones had Most of those on board, however, deemed probable that the boilers burst also managed to be saved. This heart- were not so fortunate. So seriously when the vessel went down. The fore wrenching wait all too often ended in was the Princess Alice damaged that part of the hull was raised yesterday devastating news. just four minutes after the initial colli- and taken to the South Woolwich side sion, the boat sank. There was simply of the river. . . Divers who have exam- The Aftermath no time to organise any sort of cohe- ined the wreck report that the cabins Following the sinking, the Bywell sive evacuation. So quickly did the seem full of bodies, standing erect, and Castle had stood by in order to help ship go down that when the remains packed together at the points of exit, rescue survivors, and had shortly after- were raised shortly afterwards (parts whither they must have crowded in the wards been joined by various other of the ship were still visible above the struggle to escape.5 vessels. Some of the survivors who

4 The Daily News, September 4, 1878. 5. The Liverpool Mercury, September 6, 1878.

Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of The S.S. Princess Alice Adam Went were strong swimmers had managed a six weeks holiday at Southend, and Lambeth; and Mr. Robert Spencer, to swim ashore and others had been intended returning home on Tuesday. 21, and three young ladies (the Misses picked up by the many vessels that The children were four in number — Relph), sisters, aged 9, 13 and 20; to the responded to the collision. However, three girls and one boy — their ages latter of whom Mr. Robert Spencer was as after any tragedy of this magnitude, varying from seven months to ten years, engaged. He had that day come of age, chaos reigned for some time afterwards the boy being about two years old. Mr. and they had all been out together to cel- and families were separated. So it was Alesbury’s mother, who also resided in ebrate his majority.7 several days before a clearer list of the Valentine road with her husband, As it would later be determined, those who had survived and those who an oil and colour dealer, likewise went all three of Mr. Hunt’s missing children had not was available — sadly, minor to Southend on Tuesday for the purpose died in the tragedy. Robert Spencer miracles were few and far between, of joining her son’s party and returning survived, but Arthur Spencer did not. and most families were plunged into with them at night. But, unhappily, Nor had any of the three Relph (Relfe) despair. There were numerous heart- instead of a joyous household re-assem- sisters. There was another account of breaking accounts of this in various bling around the family hearth, desper- the tragedy by Mr. W. Pittivant, who newspaper reports, some of which are ation reigned there.6 mentioned that: reproduced below: As it turned out, it was rightly so Seeing what was the matter, I Among other distressing instances that desperation should reign. Not one made a dive into the side of the screw of a whole family being carried away member of the Alesbury family sur- steamer, and got hold of a rope to which by the accident is that of the house- vived the sinking. Elsewhere, the situ- three girls and a young man were hold of Mr. Alfred Alesbury, of the firm ation was no better: already clinging. The girls were crying of Alesbury, Major and Barrett, brace Mr. Hunt, of Bell-yard, Gracechurch- out, ‘Lord Jesus, save us!’ As we looked and collar manufacturers, of Jewin- Street, who had lost his wife and four up the side of the ship we saw some one, crescent, City. children, Frederick George, aged 21, he as we thought, about to let go the ropes, Mr. Alesbury, who was about had just found, but the others missing and we cried out to them not to do it. 40 years of age, and resided at 11, were Eliza Annie, 14; Herbert Edgar, It was a terrible moment for us, but Valentine Road, South Hackney, left 10; and Hessel Sarah, aged 5. Another we tried to encourage the girls to bear London on Saturday for the purpose gentleman who accosted me was the up, and presently a little boat came of joining his wife and family, who, head master of Lambeth Schools, China and picked us up, also a little child. I with their servant — a young woman Walk. He had come to look for Arthur cannot say who the latter belonged to of about 18 years — had been spending Spencer, 15, of Hercules-buildings, or whether it was drowned.8

6,7,8. Ibid

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 32 Pr e s s c o v e r a g e o f t h e a f t e r m a t h

Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of The S.S. Princess Alice Adam Went One must ponder the sad possibil- were listed as missing/possible victims. Mrs. Mary Ann Elliott, 30, died in the ity that the three girls and the young The other side of those sad facts is that sinking. man as described by Mr. Pittivant, some children who survived suddenly These are just a few examples of were the three Relfe children and Mr. found that they had been orphaned. An what was a widespread grief. There Arthur Spencer. example would be the Everest family, were, however, some happy endings: Because the Princess Alice was with eight family members travelling Emma Childs, wife of a cabman a family excursion vessel, there was on the Princess Alice that fateful day, living at 14, Sovereign-Mews, a great range in the ages of those from which just two of the children, Cambridge Street, Edgware Road, is aboard. One of those lost was a quite aged eight and ten years, survived. saved with her baby, but says that she elderly 92-year-old gentleman, a Mr. Both their mother and father and other sank twice, but held her baby to her Chittlebury, who was the only pas- siblings died in the sinking. breast and caught hold of something, senger on that voyage who had been In some particularly sad cases, she does not know what, which held born in the 1700s. Still, one of the most the sinking affected people who were her up until she was rescued. Her hus- upsetting aspects of the whole tragedy not even on board the Princess Alice on band is saved, but nothing is known is the number of young children who that voyage: of her three children. Her husband’s lost their lives. In researching this arti- Perhaps one of the most touching brother was with them, and is probably cle, and a point which will become rele- scenes in connection with the disaster drowned.10 vant later in regard to Elizabeth Stride, was experienced at No. 17, Ferndale Emma did lose two of her children, the passenger list was searched to see Road, South London, the residence of but her youngest, William Frederick how many children aged 15 years and Mr. Elliott. He and his wife were among Childs, aged just 2 months, was mirac- under were on board. While there were the excursionists, leaving the children ulously saved, and he was among the many victims who were unidentified or at home. A correspondent went to the youngest passengers on board and unclaimed without ages listed and the address as indicated above by a police youngest survivors. figure can never be exact, based on the officer, and a child said: “Sir, there is Immediately following the sink- available records, the approximate fig- nobody in; but we see that there have ing, funds were organised and set up ures run as follows: been 120 persons saved, and surely to provide subscriptions for the survi- There were 207 children aged 15 father and mother will be home soon. I vors, some of whom had not only lost and under on board. Out of these 207, hope they will; don’t you, Sir? and the members of their family but also their 158 died (15 of these were unidenti- child burst into a fit of grief.9 main breadwinner. Queen Victoria fied/unclaimed), 18 were saved and 31 Both Mr. William Elliott, 58, and herself issued a letter of sympathy,

9. Ibid 10. Lancaster Gazette, September 7, 1878

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 34 pledged 100 guineas to the relief fund Thus ended one tragedy. However, nothing was known of the woman at and ordered that all necessary equip- it would only be ten years before that point, as it would turn out, she ment be at the disposal of the Coroner another one would thrust London into had an interesting past — and part of and those carrying out the rescue and terror, and, as it would turn out, the it involved the Princess Alice sinking. identification efforts. two had an unlikely connection. “Long Liz” Gustafsdotter, having In the end, there was no exact fig- left her native Sweden for England ures for the number of survivors and The Jack the Ripper around 1866, married John Stride on casualties, but it is generally accepted Connection March 7, 1869. While there is little that between 550-650 people died in It was 1 am, September 30, 1888, and other than hearsay as a record of their the tragedy, and 69-170 people were the ten year anniversary of the Princess marriage, we do know that by the late saved. It was also said that every effort Alice sinking had just been marked in 1870s, the marriage was in trouble. …she had an interesting past — and part of it involved the Princess Alice sinking. had been made in the rescue effort and London, but that was likely the furthest Shortly after the Princess Alice that there was little more which could thing from the mind of International sank in September 1878, Liz approached have been done: Working Men’s Educational Club Sven Olsson, a clerk of the Swedish The Bywell Castle stood by, and (IWMEC) steward Louis Diemshitz church in England, and informed him rendered such help as was possible. as he led his pony and cart through that her husband and two children had Another steamer, the Duke of Teck, the gates into Dutfield’s Yard, Berner drowned in the sinking, whilst she had came up and gave what assistance it Street, St. George’s-in-the-East. Within survived, albeit with some injury to her could. Boats put off from the shore. seconds, he stumbled across the body palate (roof of the mouth). Olsson later Indeed, everything that could be done of the third canonic victim of Jack the commented that at this time, Liz was was done. The calamity, however, was Ripper, identified soon afterwards as clearly in poor condition, and from that too sudden for help.11 being that of Elizabeth Stride. While time until her death, she continued to

11. Ibid

Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of The S.S. Princess Alice Adam Went receive occasional financial assistance Taking a different approach, a worth consideration that Liz might from the Swedish church as a result. search was made for the surnames have sailed on board the Princess Alice As sad as the representation of her Ericsson (Liz’s fathers surname), at some point in her past, or that she life that she gave to Olsson, the truth Gustifson (the name on Liz and John’s might have had friends or associates was somewhat different. John Stride marriage certificate), Gustafsdotter who died in the sinking, as the tragedy was still alive at that stage, and there (Liz’s maiden name) and Stride. There was so far-reaching. That, however, is was even a reunion between the two on were no matches for these names or purely conjecture and in any case is at least one occasion. Ultimately, John any at all similar to them. not the story that she told. Stride died of an illness six years later, The statistics have already been Perhaps the final nail in the coffin on October 24, 1884, that had nothing given in this article for children aged of that tale came during her autopsy in to do with the Princess Alice tragedy. 15 years and under on board the ship. 1888 when it was found that there had Researchers who have investigated This was another way to try to find if been no damage to her palate, as she Liz’s story have found that there is no there were any possible matches for had claimed. We cannot entirely blame record of any Strides as passengers on Liz’s children on board. While this is Liz for telling this story — she was a the Princess Alice, and while I would much more of a subjective result since desperate woman resorting to desper- like to be able to state evidence to the we don’t know the exact ages the chil- ate measures at the time, and what she contrary, my own research has brought dren Liz claimed to have lost and there did is probably marginally better than me to the same conclusion, despite were many young victims who were other schemes she might have turned several different methods and names also unknown/unclaimed, for those we to. That being said, however, this pos- being tried. can identify there are no close matches. sible link between two major tragedies Liz was born on November 27, 1843, A search of the available newspaper is, after all, a non-existent one. which would make her 34 years old at archives also showed that the name the time of the sinking. Allowing for Elizabeth Stride was never mentioned An Update On A Second one year either way in case of an error in regard to anything, let alone the JTR Connection of some sort, the Princess Alice passen- Princess Alice disaster, in 1878. Since the original writing of this article, ger list was searched for females aged Bearing all of these factors in mind, some information has been brought to 33-35 years who survived. Once again we can safely state once and for all that my attention regarding a second prom- using the available data, there were 17 the story Liz Stride told was false — a inent link between the Jack the Ripper matches for this category on board the desperate, opportunistic measure used case and the sinking of the Princess ship — however, all 17 of those women to elicit sympathy and financial sup- Alice, and I felt that it also merited a died in the sinking, with 15 known and port at a time when she desperately mention in these pages. two listed as unknown/unclaimed. needed it. It is always a possibility It is in regard to Joseph Martin,

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 36 …I consider that the miracle of my life. the man who was responsible for the lives lost. “I walked home stunned,” Conclusion mortuary photographs of the Jack the said Mr. Martin, “and thinking of the Having read these accounts of the Ripper victims. An article published fate which must have overwhelmed my tragedy, some might question why some 55 years after the sinking in the sister and brother-in-law. To my great the sinking is not more famous in the East London Advertiser carries the amazement, when I went to the house annals of history — and it is indeed a following information, which details of a relative to ask if any details had good question. After all, purely from this rather interesting, not to mention been received, I met them face to face. a statistical standpoint, it ranks up miraculous, link: I said, “I thought you were dead,” and there with some of the very worst. Mr. Martin often used to play in the they replied “We thought you were.” It I would personally say that perhaps orchestras of the steamships that went transpired that they were held up on a major reason for this might be that from London Bridge to Southend and the way to Woolwich, and when they everything happened so quickly that Margate. He was on one occasion asked arrived, the steamboat was already in evening that there was no time for to play on the “Princess Alice,” and his midstream. I consider that the miracle anything of a famous or heroic nature sister and brother-in-law, who were of my life.12 to really occur. The ship sank in just arranging a day out, agreed to take It was indeed a blessing that day four minutes. It was over before tickets on the same boat. On the eve- for Joseph Martin and his family, and many people even knew what had ning before the day, his employer told Mr. Martin would go on to live into old happened. It did not sink in wartime, him that he would require him to play age. Indeed, the title of the article par- it wasn’t sailing on its maiden voyage at the Holborn Restaurant instead. He tially quoted above is “Fifty Years A — which, among other things, are was disappointed that he could not get Corpse Photographer”. There are, no fair comparisons when considering it in touch with his relatives, but he went doubt, more remarkable connections against some other major maritime to the restaurant. He finished playing between the two tragedies to be found, disasters. With so many other famous there in the early morning, and whilst though they would be hard pressed to events to take place in the following on his way home called at a coffee stall. beat this particular tale of fortune. few decades, the story of the Princess There, men were talking of the trag- Alice was swept to the back of the edy of the sunken ship and the many minds of the public.

12. East London Advertiser, October 21, 1933.

Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of The S.S. Princess Alice Adam Went For the survivors of the sinking, Star Line’s Germanic held the coveted Sources after the initial period of worrying and award at the time of the Princess Alice w w w .p o r t c i t i e s .o r g .uk searching for their loved ones with sinking) and would themselves have w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g whom they had travelled, came a time major chapters to add into the history w w w .a l s b u r y .c o .u k /princessalic e of rebuilding. For some it was more dif- books. The Liverpool Mercury, September 6, ficult than others, and many orphaned Liz Stride was far from being 1878 children were taken into care or sent the only person to take advantage of The Lancaster Gazette, September 7, to their relatives. The public support the situation in 1878. It was reported 1878 and subscriptions — including from that pickpockets and watermen were The Daily News, September 4, 1878 the Queen herself — to help the needy taking whatever items of value they The Illustrated Police News, were indeed quite generous and help- could find from the victims of the ship September 14, 1878 ful to those who found themselves in as they were brought ashore. Liz would The Illustrated Police News, the worst situations. hardly have stood out as the chaos September 21, 1878 As for the London Steamboat ensued during the Princess Alice trag- The Illustrated Police News, Company, the sinking of the Princess edy. However, as she stood on Berner September 28, 1878 Alice was surely what it didn’t need. Street in the early hours of September The Northern Echo, September 4, 1878 Following the sinking, it struggled 30, 1888, she was about to become The East London Advertiser, October financially until it was eventually put famous for an entirely different, and 21, 1933 up for sale in 1884, at which point much more unfortunate reason. The Sugden, Philip: The Complete History it became the Thames Steamboat rest, as they say, is history. of Jack the Ripper Company. It carried on for a further (Robinson, revised ed., 2002) three years under that name before Acknowledgements closing its doors completely and going My eternal gratitude goes out to under the ownership of the Victoria Howard and Nina Brown for their Steamboat Association in 1888. Soon assistance in putting this article afterwards, the Cunard Line and together and for providing some very White Star Line would become the useful press reports. Also, a big thank two major rivals of the trans-Atlantic you to Jon Simons, for pointing out the route in the battle for the Blue Riband Joseph Martin connection to me, and (the award given to the steamer which to everybody else who has assisted and made the fastest crossing across the encouraged somewhere along the way. Atlantic — as a point of interest, White Thank you.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 38 Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of The S.S. Princess Alice Adam Went Biography Adam Went

dam has been researching co-written articles for Ripperologist the Whitechapel Murders & and says he cannot write at all unless AVictorian History since 2004, he has 80s rock music blasting in the and has taken an interest in mari- background. Adam makes his home in time history for even longer. He has far away Tasmania. This is his first previously researched, written and article for Casebook Examiner.

Think you may have an article just waiting to be published?

Contributions are always welcomed by the Examiner and we would be glad to discuss future articles on Jack the Ripper studies, other LVP crime and social history.

Drop us a line with your ideas to [email protected] and we will reply promptly along with our short style sheet. Don’t be shy — we look forward to hearing from you soon.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 40 The Mortuary

Timelines J.G.Simons olly Nichols was the first of the Canonic Five to be murdered, Psetting into motion an investiga- tion that would soon become a search for “Jack the Ripper”. Much of that manhunt may be well known, but not so the routine details of the victims’ time at the mortu- ary. Once Polly’s body had been removed to the mortuary in Old Montague St, the processes of the police, who needed to establish the victim’s identity, and that of the medical men, who were required to establish the cause of death, began. The following timeline is a particu- larly useful tool for us to observe those processes taking place. The events and times given are taken from contemporary press and police reports. In instances such as the flurry of police activity follow- ing the removal of the body approximate times have been assigned using the vari- ous testimonies we have. Not all visitors to the mortuary, such as the photogra- pher, police officials, and other witnesses were reported by the newspapers, so they have not been included, but the timeline is otherwise quite complete. THE CASEBOOK Examiner IssueA w o3r k hAugust o u s e m2010 o r t u a41 r y Polly Nichols

Friday August 31st 1888

4.10am: P.C. Thain 96J helps place the body on the 5.30am: Dr Llewellyn arrives and makes a ten minute ambulance and Sgt Kirby 10J, P.C. Neil 97J and P.C. examination of the wounds in the presence of Insp Mizen 56H convey the body to the mortuary at Eagle Spratling.4 Place, Old Montague St. The mortuary, mouldy and foul smelling, is locked and the body is left on the ambulance 5.45am: Robert Mann locks up the mortuary and in the yard. They send to the Workhouse for the keys.1 returns to the workhouse with the keys.5

4.50am: Inspector Spratling and P.C. Thain 96J arrive. 6.30am: After their breakfast, workhouse inmates, Spratling takes a description of the clothing and body Robert Mann and James Hatfield return to the whilst it is still on the ambulance in the yard as they Mortuary.6 wait for the mortuary keeper with the keys. 2 8.30am: Inspector Helson arrives and inspects the body.7 5.00am: Robert Mann arrives with the keys from the Workhouse and Polly is moved into the mortuary. 9.00am: Mr Banks, the Coroner’s Officer, views the body.8 Spratling makes a more detailed inspection of the body whilst it is on the floor; he discovers previously unno- ticed abdominal wounds and sends for Dr Llewellyn.3

1. Times 3rd Sept 88; East London Advertiser 8th Sept 88 2. Ibid. 3. Evening News 3rd Sept 88; The Times 3rd Sept 88 4. Evening News 3rd Sept 88 5. Times 18th Sept 88 6. The Times 18th Sept 88 7. Echo 3rd Sept 88 8. The Star 1st Sept 88

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Friday August 31st 1888

9.30am: Hatfield and Mann undress the body. They take off the ulster first, then her jacket and dress. Hatfield cuts the bands to her petticoats and tears them and the chemise off with his hands. Helson asks Hatfield to cut out a piece of the petticoat marked “Lambeth Workhouse”. The clothes are left in the yard.9

11.00am: Robert Mann shows the East London Observer reporter the body of Nichols lying in her shell in the Deadhouse.10

Noon: Inspector Spratling returns with Det Sgt Enright to the mortuary. The body is in a black shell immedi- ately to the right as you enter, and parallel with the wall.11

5pm: Emily Holland views the body in the mortuary and identifies her as Polly of 18 Thrawl St.12

7.30pm: Lambeth Workhouse inmate Mary Ann Monk is brought to the mortuary by Inspector Helson and identifies her as Mary Ann Nichols, having to view the body twice.13 Po l l y Ni c h o l s

9. Ibid. 10. Ibid. 11. Ibid. 12. East London Advertiser 8th Sept 88 13. East London Observer 1st Sept 88

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 43 Sat Sept 1st Thur Sept 6th

9.00am: The body is moved to an improvised operat- Afternoon: In a bid to get the body out of the mor- ing room on the mortuary premises for Dr Llewellyn tuary with ease, arrangements are kept a secret. to begin the post mortem examination.14 The hearse that is collecting Polly is observed travelling east along Hanbury St, passing the 10.00am: Dr Llewellyn begins the examination in crowds in Old Montague St and continuing on into the presence of his assistant, Mr Samuel Secombe.15 Whitechapel Rd and doubling back into Chapman’s Court through the back gates. The undertaker and 11.00am: James Scorer and coffee stall keeper, his men place the body in a polished elm coffin, and John Morgan arrive with a J-Division constable but return to undertaker Henry Smith’s of 87 Hanbury cannot identify the body.16 St to await the mourners. The mourners, Edward Walker, Edward Nichols and two of Polly’s children, 1.00pm: The inquest jury are sworn in and view the are late and the hearse and a carriage are kept in body. Hatfield demonstrates to a juror how short a nearby side street under the supervision of Insp the stays are. 17 Ellisdon and his men. The cortege heads down Hanbury St, along Bakers Row past the corner of 6.00pm: Polly’s father Edward Walker and son Bucks Row into Whitechapel Rd towards Ilford Edward Nichols arrive at the mortuary.18 Cemetery.20

7.00pm: Inspector Abberline accompanies Polly’s husband, William Nichols to the mortuary. There is a brief reunion between father and son as the father is arriving and the son leaving. 19

14. The Star 1st Sept 88 15. East London Observer 8th Sept 88; Echo 1st Sept 88 16. The Star 1st Sept 88 17. The Star 18th Sept 88; East London Observer 8th Sept 88 18. Lloyds Weekly Sept 2nd 88 19. Echo 6th Sept 88 20. East London Advertiser 8th Sept 88

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Annie Chapman

Saturday September 8th 1888

6.45am: Sgt Badham 31H and Sgt Venner convey the 7.30am: Frederick Simmons, Tim Donovan and Amelia body of Annie Chapman by ambulance to the mortuary Palmer are amongst those from the neighbouring at Old Montague Street. 21 common lodging houses brought in to attempt to iden- tify the body.24 7.00am: Robert Mann receives the body of Chapman at the mortuary. Annie Chapman is laid in the same shell Morning: The Clerk of the Guardians sends Infirmary as was Polly Nichols. Sgt Thick carefully examines the nurses Mary Elizabeth Simonds and Frances Wright to clothing whilst Sgt Badham takes notes. Two females undress and wash the body. They strip Chapman, leav- from Crossingham’s are present, and can identify the ing the handkerchief around her neck. Robert Mann victim’s clothing.22 leaves the shed whilst this is done.25

7.15am: Insp Chandler arrives and searches Annie’s 2.00pm: Dr Phillips and assistant Dr Percy Clark arrive clothing; she is still on the ambulance. He leaves Robert to perform the post mortem examination.26 Mann and P.C.Barnes 376H with the body.23

21. Times 10th Sept 88; Times 14th Sept 88 22. Times 14th Sept 8th; East London Observer 15th Sept 88 23. East London Observer 15th Sept 88; Times 14th Sept 88 24. Times 10th Sept 88; The Star 8th Sept 88. 25. East London Observer 15th Sept 88 26. East London Observer 15th Sept 88; Times 10th Sept 88

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 45 Ol d Mo n t a g u e St r e e t

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Sunday September 9th 1888 Annie’s brother, Fountain Hamilton Smith identifies the body.27 Monday September 10th 1888 10.00am: Coroner’s Officer, Mr Banks, takes the inquest jury to the mortuary to view the body.28 Tuesday September 11th 1888 Afternoon: After picking John Pizer out of a line-up in the yard of Leman St Police station, Emanuel Delbast Violenia is taken to the mortuary but was unable to identify the body.29 Wednesday September 12th 1888 Elizabeth Long makes her statement to the police and is then taken to view the body.30 Friday September 14th 1888 7.00am: To avoid the crowds, the undertakers, Hawes Undertakers of Hunt St, Mile End, arrive early and Chapman is placed in a black elm coffin, and taken by hearse to Hunt St.31 9.00am: The hearse makes off for Manor Park Cemetery. Friends and relatives meet the coffin at the cemetery.32

27. HO 144/221/A49301 C 28. East London Observer 15th Sept 88 29. Times 12th Sept 88 30. HO 144/221/A49301C 31. East London Observer 15th Sept 88 32. Ibid.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 47 Elizabeth Stride

Sunday September 30th 1888

4.30am: The body of Liz Stride is placed on the ambu- Evening: One Armed Liz views the body and Israel lance that P.C. Smith 452H has fetched from Leman St Schwartz is taken from Leman St to the mortuary.37 police station. She is taken to St George’s in the East Mortuary, a small brick building standing in the grave- 9.00pm: Mary Malcolm visits the Mortuary but cannot yard of St George’s Church in Cannon St Rd, Shadwell. recognise the body, claiming this was due to viewing by P.C. Lamb 252H begins to help convey the ambulance gaslight.38 to the mortuary but is called back to Dutfield’s Yard.33

7.00am: Inspector Reid visits the mortuary to take a description of the body and clothing.34

Morning: John Arundell and Charles Preston identify the body.35

Afternoon: Catherine Lane identifies the body. The London Evening News reporter views the body. J. Best, John Gardener and William Marshall view the body.36 El i z a b e t h St r i d e

33. Times 3rd Oct 88; The London of Jack the Ripper Then and Now- Clack and Hutchinson 34. Daily Telegraph Oct 6th 88 35. East London Advertiser 6th Oct 88 36. London Evening News 6th Oct 88; London Evening News Oct 1st 88; Daily Telegraph Oct 3rd 88 37. HO/144/221/A49301C 8a; The Star Oct 1st 88 38. East London Observer 6th Oct 88; Daily Telegraph Oct 3rd 88

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Monday October 1st 1888

11.30am: The jury leave the Vestry Hall in Cable St to view the body. They have to pass through the crowd gathered in the church graveyard. The body is still clothed on the slab.39

That Day: Mary Malcolm again visits the mortuary and has to view the body twice. Michael Kidney views the body.40

3.00pm: Dr Blackwell, and his assistant Edward Johnston, make a post mortem examination, with Dr Phillips taking notes. Dr Rygate is also present.41

39. The Star Oct 1st 88 Times 40. Jack the Ripper: The Complete Casebook US ed. Pg78 Evans/ Skinner; Times 3rd Oct 88; Daily Telegraph Oct 3rd 88; Daily Tel- egraph Oct 4th 88; Daily Telegraph Oct 6th 88 41. Daily Telegraph Oct 6th 88; Daily Telegraph Oct 4th 88; East London Advertiser 6th Oct 88

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 49 Tuesday October 2nd 1888

Morning: Clerk to the Swedish Church Sven Ollson identifies Stride. Dr Phillips re-examines the body and clothing in the company of Doctors Brown and Blackwell.42 Wednesday October 3rd 1888 Elizabeth Tanner views the body at the mortuary after having been sent for. She recognises the black cloak that is hanging up in the mortuary.43 Thursday October 4th 1888 Matthew Packer is taken to the mortuary by Le Grand and Batchelor and identifies her as the woman to whom he sold grapes. Det Sgt Stephen White arrives from Berner St, looking for Packer.44 Saturday October 6th 1888 Elizabeth is buried quietly at the East London Cemetery in Plaistow at the expense of the Parish.45

42. Times 6th Oct 88 43. Daily Telegraph Oct 4th 88 44. London Evening News 4th Oct 88; MEPO 3/140/221/A49301C 45. Woodford Times (Essex) 12th Oct 88

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Catherine EddowEs

Sun Sept 30th Mon Oct 1st

3.00am: The body is removed by ambulance to the A woman from Rotherhithe, her son-in-law and mortuary in Golden Lane.46 another man are brought from Bishopsgate police station to the mortuary to identify the body. The 3.15am: Det Halse and Insp Collard follow the woman believes the body to be that of her sister body to the mortuary. Collard inspects the body until, like Mary Malcolm at the Stride inquest, her and notices that part of Eddowes’ apron is missing. sister is found to be alive. Major Smith arrives. The body is stripped by mor- tuary keeper, Mr Davis, in the presence of Doctors A large number of people view the body throughout Brown and Sequeira; a piece of Eddowes’ ear falls the course of the day. But she still remains uniden- out of her clothing whilst she is being undressed. tified. Police Constables Robinson and Simmons rec- ognise her as the woman they carried to Bishopsgate 5.45am: Frederick William Foster sketches the body. police station. Police make enquiries at the address she gave in Fashion St.49 6.00am: Insp James McWilliam arrives with detec- tives to witness that the two pieces of apron match.47

4.30pm - 6.00pm: Post mortem examination con- ducted by Dr Brown with the assistance of Dr Sequeira. 46. Daily Telegraph Oct 12th 88; Evening Standard Oct 1st 88 Dr Phillips and Dr Saunders are also present.48 47. HO 144/221/A49301C; Daily Telegraph Oct 12th 88; East London Advertiser 13th Oct 88; Daily Telegraph Oct 5th 88 48. Daily Telegraph Oct 5th 88; Evening Standard Oct 1st 88; East London Advertiser 6th Oct 88 49. Echo 2nd Oct 88

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 51 Tuesday October 2nd 1888 10.00pm: John Kelly and F.W. Wilkinson are taken from Bishopsgate police station by Sgt Miles to Golden Lane to identify the body as Kate Conway.50 Wednesday October 3rd 1888 Afternoon: Sgt Outram accompanies Eddowes’ sister, Eliza Gold, Eliza’s son George Gold and a young girl from Thrawl St to the mortuary.51

Matthew Packer is accompanied by private detectives LeGrand and J.H. Batchelor to the mortuary in an attempt to test the veracity of his statement regarding Stride.52 Thursday October 4th 1888 Morning: Samuel Langham opens the inquest and the jury view the body, which is lying in the adjoining mortuary.53

50. The Star 3rd Oct 88; Echo 3rd Oct 88; London Evening News 3rd Oct 88 51. Evening Standard Oct 1st 88 52. East London Advertiser 6th Oct 88; London Evening News 4th Oct 88 53. Daily Telegraph Oct 5th 88

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Monday October 8th 1888

1.30pm: Kate is placed in a polished elm coffin with oak 2.20pm: The cortege passes the junction of Osborn St mountings supplied by Mr G. C. Hawkes, a Vestryman and Commercial St where there are dense crowds.55 of Banner St, St Luke’s. The procession consists of the hearse, one mourning coach carrying relatives — 3.30pm: The Rev Dunscombe conducts the graveside Kate’s four sisters, her two nieces and John Kelly — service.56 and one coach carrying friends, the majority of whom are attired in a style not at all befitting the occasion, and a brougham [a light four wheeled carriage] con- veying representatives of the press. The procession’s route is through Golden Lane, Old St, Great Eastern St, Commercial St, Whitechapel Rd, Mile End Rd through Stratford to the Ilford Cemetery. Tim Kelly and James Cook are arrested by Detectives Wise and Oates for attempting to pick pockets amongst the large gathering in Golden Lane. A large crowd followed the cortege from Golden Lane, and another crowd collected opposite St Mary’s in Whitechapel. Nearly 500 people were congre- Mi t r e Sq u a r e Vi c t i m gated at the cemetery to watch the internment.54

54. Daily Telegraph 8th Oct 88; East London Advertiser 13th Oct 88; Eastern Post and City Chronicle 13th Oct 88 55. Echo 8th Oct 88 56. Daily Telegraph 8th Oct 88; East London Advertiser 13th Oct 88; East London Observer 13th Oct 88

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 53 Mary kelly

Friday November 9th 1888 4.10pm: The body is placed in a shell on a tarpaulin-covered van and is taken to Shoreditch Mortuary. As the shell is carried into Miller’s Court people rush out of the courts, and a crowd gathered at the Commercial St end of Dorset St to try to break through the Police cordon.57 Saturday November 10th 1888 7.30am: Doctors Phillips, Bond, Dukes, Clark and Brown make a six and a half hour post mortem examination.58 Monday November 12th 1888 10.00am: The inquest jury are taken to view the body at the Shoreditch Mortuary behind St Leonard’s Church in Shoreditch High Street. The mortuary is a red-bricked building, a cool and lofty apartment well lit by two windows placed high up. Tuesday November 13th 1888 11.30am: George Hutchinson is accompanied by a police constable to view the body at the mortuary.59

57. The Star 10th Nov 88; Daily Telegraph 10th Nov 88; Times 10th Nov 88; Pall Mall Gazette 10th Nov 88 58. London Evening News 13th Nov 88; Times 12th Nov 88; Times 13th Nov 88 59. MEPO 3/140, ff. 230-2

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Wed Nov 14th Mon Nov 19th

Afternoon: The body is removed from its tempo- 12.30pm: At noon the Shoreditch Church bell rary coffin and placed in a French polished elm and begins to toll and, as large crowds gather, the body oak coffin.60 is taken from the Shoreditch mortuary to the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Leytonstone. The hearse is followed by two mourning coaches, one containing three, and the other five persons.61

The funeral is paid for by Henry Wilton, the Sexton of Shoreditch Church. The wreaths upon the coffin bear cards signed by friends from the public houses she frequented. The cortege leaves Shoreditch pro- ceeding along the Hackney Road to Leytonstone.62

60. London Evening News 15th Nov 88 61. London Evening News 19th Nov 88; East London Advertiser 24th Nov 88; Times 19th Nov 88 62. East London Advertiser 24th Nov 88; Times 20th Nov 88

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 55 c o u r t e s y Ro y Co r d u r o y

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Alice McKenzie

Wednesday July 17th 1889

1.30am: The body is placed on the ambulance and 1.00pm: Elizabeth Ryder views the body.68 taken from Castle Alley to the Old Montague St mortu- ary by Sgt Badham, accompanied by Dr Phillips, Supt 1.30pm: John McCormack identifies the body as Alice Arnold and Chief Insp West. The body is left clothed and McKenzie after he is told by Elizabeth Ryder that his untouched on a table and Phillips discusses the nature old woman was lying dead in the mortuary.69 of the wounds with Arnold and West.63 2.00pm: Robert Mann and James Hatfield undress the 2.30am: Insp Reid arrives to search the clothing.64 After body and one of them finds a pipe in her clothing and witnessing her and her description has been taken by throws it on the floor, breaking it. The pipe is placed on Insp Reid, Dr Phillips leaves instructions that the body a ledge at the end of the post mortem table but is sub- not be touched until his return or it is delivered to the sequently lost. Dr Phillips performs the post mortem Coroner’s Officer.65 examination in the company of Chief Surgeon Alex McKellar, Dr Gordon Brown and a friend, Dr Percy A large number of persons connected with the common Clark; and for a short while, Mr Boswick.70 lodging houses in the district are taken to view the body. Although many recognise her, no-one knows her 5.00pm: The inquest jury view the body.71 name.66

Large crowds gather by the Mortuary gates,67

63. Times July 18th 89; MEPO 3/140 64. Times July 18th 89 65. MEPO 3/140 66. Times July 18th 89 67. Ibid. 68. Ibid.; MEPO 3/140 69. Times July 18th 89 70. Ibid.; MEPO 3/140 71. Ibid.; Ibid.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 57 Thurs July 18th 1889 6.00pm: Dr Thomas Bond calls for Dr Phillips at Spital Sq and they both go on to the mortuary to inspect the wounds.72 Sat July 20th 1889 Noon: Dr Phillips and Dr Brown re-examine the wounds to the abdomen.73 Mon July 22nd 1889

Afternoon: The coffin is conveyed in a glass hearse to the cemetery at East Plaistow. Expenses are met by Isaac Soloman Park, the pro- prietor of the “Tower”, a local public house in Artillery St, and Mr Tenpenny, the owner of the lodging house where the victim lived. A large crowd gathers around the public house to see the procession start. A small number of H-Division police are present.74 Dr Th o m a s Bo n d (c o u r t e s y o f Bu n n y McCa b e )

72. MEPO 3/140 73. Ibid. 74. Penny Illustrated Paper 3rd Aug 89; East London Observer 20th July 89; Woodford Times 26th July 89

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Frances Coles

Friday February 13th 1891

3.30am: On the orders of Inspector Reid, the body is placed Milliner’s assistant, Peter Hawkes, identifies the body on the ambulance and taken to Leman St police station as the woman to whom he sold the black crepe bonnet and from there to the Whitechapel Mortuary.75 the night before.78

7.00am: Ellen Callagher hears of the murder at 5am Afternoon: Lodger Samuel Harris; Charles Guiver, the and goes to Leman St Police station and is then taken door keeper, and Sarah Fleming, the deputy of the White’s to the mortuary.76 Row Chambers Lodging House at 8 Whites Row, are taken by the police to the mortuary to identify the body.79 10.00am: The body is examined and the police take a description of the clothes. During the day a large crowd Dr Phillips makes an examination of the wounds.80 gathers outside the mortuary.77

75. Times 14th Feb 91 76. Ibid. 77. East London Observer Feb 14th 91 78. East London Advertiser Feb 21st 91 79. East London Advertiser Feb 21st 91; Times 14th Feb 91 80. Times 14th Feb 91

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 59 Saturday February 14th 1891 Morning: Dr Phillips performs the post mortem examination with the assistance of Dr Oxley.81

Evening: Det Sgts Record and Kuhrt arrive by cab from the Bermondsey Workhouse with Frances’s father, James Coles, who identifies his daughter.82

The inquest is opened and the jury walk from the Working Man’s Institute in Whitechapel Rd to the mor- tuary in Old Montague St to view the body.83 Sunday February 15th 1891 Mary Ann Coles visits the mortuary and recognises the dress she had given Frances.84 Tuesday February 17th 1891 Morning: The night watchman of 8 Whites Row, Charles Guiver, is sent from the inquest by Wynne Baxter to the mortuary to view the body again.85 Friday February 20th 1891 Morning: William Steer, barman of the Bell in Middlesex St, is sent from the inquest by Baxter to view the body.86

81. Ibid. 82. East London Advertiser Feb 21st 91 83. Times 14th Feb 91 84. East London Advertiser Feb 21st 91; Times 18th Feb 91 85. Times 18th Feb 91 86. Times 21st Feb 91

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Wednesday February 25th 1889

2.15pm: An open hearse revealing an elm coffin stud- Once the last carriage enters the cemetery the gates ded with white nails turns into the Whitechapel Rd. are closed to the following crowds. Inside the cemetery Two thousand people are gathered to catch a glimpse of there is a gathering of several thousand people, many of the coffin. Three funeral coaches that have been waiting whom stand on gravestones to get a better view. It was since two o’clock just west of the entrance to the mortu- noted with disdain that some were hawking the memo- ary yard fall in behind the hearse as it makes its way rial cards of the deceased at a penny apiece.88 to the East London cemetery in East Plaistow, where Liz Stride also was buried, by way of the Mile End Rd, By the time the public were once again waking to the Burdett Rd, the East India Dock Road, Barking Road news of another murder the wheels of the enquiry had and Hermit Rd. The mourners include father and sister, already begun turning. The particular “dead house” William and Mary Coles, and members of The Common would have a continuous stream of visitors, members of Lodging House Mission, who have covered the costs of the Press and the curious would begin to gather at the the funeral.87 gates to gossip and catch a glimpse of some of the main players in the grim drama that was unfolding around them.

87. Eastern Post and City Chronicle 28th Feb 91 88. East London Observer Feb 28th 91

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 61 Summary Acknowledgements Through the process of quickly circu- Stephen Ryder’s Press Reports, lating in the vicinity of the crime scene Casebook.Org an initial description of the victim Biog- taken by the police valuable witnesses The Ultimate Jack the Ripper were produced. Sourcebook, Stewart P. Evans and Keith Skinner raphy Identification was usually quickly established by visiting the common The Complete History of Jack the J.G.Simons lodging houses and encouraging, if it Ripper, Philip Sugden was needed, potential witnesses to visit J. G. Simons is 45 years old and lives the mortuary. As was often the case, JTRForums.com in Cheshire, England. This is his first the victims were known in the lodging article for Casebook Examiner, but he houses by a first name only or just by a is currently in the planning stages for nickname and follow-up enquiries were a second. required to establish the true identi- ties. The police would have on hand the services of photographers such as Louis Gumprecht or Joseph Martin to photograph the victim in case fur- ther identification was required after decomposition or burial. The system generally worked quite well.

The Mortuary Timelines J.G.Simons Jabez Balfour and The Ripper Murders

s Tom Wescott noted in his arti- to 1906 and upon his release found in London’s recent history. This was cle about Charles Le Grand last himself desperately in need of cash. a subject close to Jabez’s heart and Aissue: “Jabez Spencer Balfour He was picked up from prison in a car he opened the series with a four-part was a Member of Parliament at the owned by Alfred Harmsworth, later run covering the Jack the Ripper mur- time of the Ripper murders and sub- Lord Northcliffe, the owner and pro- ders. Although written in 1906, and sequently brought disgrace on himself prietor of the Daily Mail newspaper. not without its errors, Jabez’s account by heading a fraudulent land society Harmsworth commissioned Jabez to of the Ripper murders is more detailed called the Liberator Building Society write a serialized memoir of his life in and accurate than many accounts pub- which, upon its collapse, brought about prison for his weekly publication, the lished within the first 50 or even 75 the ruin of literally thousands of indi- Weekly (later, Sunday) Dispatch. He years of the murders.” viduals. It was the Enron of its day wasted no time in getting to work, and Available now to many for the and was called ‘the most destructive the first of his 26 installments appeared first time, here are the first two Balfour fraud of the nineteenth century.’ After only eight days after his release from essays about the Ripper, faithfully tran- the collapse, and with the writing on prison. The series was so enormously scribed from the Weekly Dispatch origi- the wall, Balfour took off to Argentina popular that Harmsworth commis- nals of October 26 and November 4, where he spent a few years on the lam sioned the prolific Jabez to simulta- 1906. Parts three and four will appear before being arrested and escorted neously write a second series entitled in Casebook Examiner No. 4, accom- back to London. ‘Crimson Crimes’ which would look panied by an analysis of Balfour’s sus- “Jabez served his time from 1895 at well-known crimes and criminals pects by Tom Wescott.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 63 “Crimson Crimes.” I. — Jack the Ripper Fiendish Murders of Women In Whitechapel Mr. Jabez Balfour’s Investigations

he fiendish crimes committed Nor was this all. The brutality, method was followed systematically by Jack the Ripper startled and which by itself would have given these throughout. It was clearly shown the Thorrified the whole world. None murders a dreadful pre-eminence in assassin was a left-handed man; that of the tragedies that disgraced the last the annals of crime, was associated he was an expert in the use of a knife; half of the nineteenth century revealed with a success in defying detection that he had considerable acquaintance such an insatiable lust for blood and which was as bewildering as it was with anatomy; and that he displayed a such fiendish ferocity or excited even a phenomenal. The victims, too, were phenomenal rapidity in perpetrating tithe of the universal and overwhelm- all drawn from a single class—from the horrible mutilations which followed ing terror provoked by the dreadful the lowest and most degraded of those the committal of his crimes. He never series of Whitechapel murders associ- miserable women, who are alike the bungled, he never made a mistake. All ated with the name of this monster. pests and the disgrace of our great cit- these gruesome features showed that As murder succeeded murder, the ies—the very dregs of womankind, the the murders were the work of one man, swarming millions of the metropolis scandal and reproach of our social life. and this a man in a million, whose awoke to the horrible fact that a man, In most cases, as will carefully be seen identity, one would think, it would or rather fiend, was prowling at large as I recount the particulars, death was be well-nigh impossible to conceal. among them. A being endowed with a inflicted in the same way, the bodies Indeed, witnesses appeared at the var- perfect genius for crime, a human tiger were still warm when, after the discov- ious inquests who described some man who displayed alike the unbridled cru- ery of the crimes, doctors were called whom they had seen shortly before the elty of the widest of wild beasts, and in by the police to examine the victims. murder in the company of the unhappy the diabolical cunning, the daring, and At the first glance it would seem as if victim. These descriptions strikingly the faculty for self preservation, which many of the features which charac- agreed in several material points, so are the attributes of a ruthless intel- terised the murders were just such as much so, that I am led to think they lect untempered by any of the gentler would furnish clues to the discovery of described the same man who was, qualities of the human heart. their perpetrator. The same ghastly indeed, the very murderer himself. I

Jabez Balfour and The Ripper Murders am myself disposed to suspect that he the columns of American and Colonial and Spanish words. One of these men often formed one of the group of star- newspapers, but it penetrated to the asked me if I were an “Americano” tled onlookers which speedily collected remotest corners of the globe. or a “gringo.” I promptly answered “I round the fatal spots where the ghastly Indeed, I myself heard it talked am an Englishman.” “Inglese!” — he discoveries were made. of in South America. It happened that repeated, as if the first word conveyed when I was in Argentina I made an no meaning to him, and then, after a Horrified the world excursion of some days to the remote moment’s meditation, he muttered Moreover, neither greed nor jealousy, and almost uninhabited region which “London–Jack–The–Ripper!” — that nor revenge could possibly be the is known as the Grand Chaco. It is was all he knew, all he had ever heard motive of the crimes. That motive still a vast district, larger than several of England or of Englishmen! That was I promptly answered “I am an Englishman.” remains to this day a subject of hor- English counties, inhabited by a hand- in 1893, or about five years after the rified conjecture. It is not, therefore, ful of daring adventurers, of outcasts murders at Whitechapel had startled surprising that all these phenomenal and outlaws, who have no other neigh- the world at large. The horrid tidings features should excite and hold the bors than the wild tribes of degener- had even penetrated to that neglected attention of the world at large. Around ate and half-breed Indians who roam and little frequented region. and beyond them all was the weird and at will across its apparently endless The incident naturally impressed sordid picture of the hideous degrada- plains. My companions and I had me very greatly. The scene, the words, tion and abject poverty of the victims , slept at a rude shanty, and as we were were stamped unto my brain. They are of the misery, the vice, the drinking, the preparing for our departure, shortly as clearly present to my mind now as I lust, the squalor, the filth amid which after sunrise, we were surrounded by write these lines as when they struck these terrible deeds were done. These a curious crowd of repulsive looking me with mingled shame and amaze- made up a fitting setting for such a and half-naked Indians. The only lan- ment thirteen years ago. Since then, tragedy. Not only did all England ring guage they spoke was a strange and I have neglected no opportunity of with the tale of blood, not only did it fill almost unintelligible jumble of Indian gleaning information on this subject.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 65 I have discussed this great mystery from grey-haired men and women to toys, whose “pitch” was sometimes with all sorts and conditions of men little, toddling children, who had just in Leadenhall-street and sometimes — with detectives who were engaged learned to walk. Parties of rough lads in Cheapside; her friend was known in the investigations at the time, with and lasses wandered aimlessly along as “Pearly Poll.” As to “Pearly Poll’s” barristers who have carefully scruti- the broad pavement, droning the latest methods of livelihood the less said nized and weighed the evidence that popular ditty from the music-halls, and the better. They were, if such a thing was tendered at the inquests, with indulging at intervals in boisterous were possible, even worse than poor journalists, whose vocation requires horse-play. Everything, no matter how Martha Turner’s. While the friends an intimate knowledge of every topic rude and mean and rough was throb- were sipping their gin a couple of sol- of public interest: and last, but by no bing visibly with life. diers entered the bar. Bank Holiday means least, with convicts, for whom The public-house in East London, acquaintances in public-houses are this great undiscovered series of tre- with its blaze of life, its hubbub, its formed in a twinkling and it was noth- mendous crimes — the work of an suggestion of excitement, and its con- ing extraordinary that the soldiers outsider — is a matter of absorbing stant movement, is a great institution, should be led to stand the two women interest and speculation to this very and on this particular night every drinks. They remained all together day. I have thus talked to men who house was doing a roaring trade. Let drinking in the public-house until a believe they know who Jack the Ripper us enter one — a certain public-house little after twelve, when Pearly Poll was, who think they can localise the not far from Whitechapel Church. and the soldiers accompanied Martha distant land where they believe he is In what is known as “the four- Turner to the corner of George Yard still living. I shall draw unreservedly ale bar” stood two women drinking Buildings, Whitechapel, a squalid col- on all these sources of information in gin. One of them had got hold of a lection of houses let out in tenements. the course of this narrative. few coppers, an unusual event, and There the four separated, pairing off in was “standing treat” to a friend. The different directions. MARTHA TURNER woman with the money had ordered “a That was the last time Pearly Poll She was the first victim. The August quartern of gin and two out ‘o,” mean- saw her friend alive and what hap- Bank Holiday of 1888 was nearly over. ing, I am informed, two glasses. pened eventually to Martha Turner only The crowds of East End holiday-mak- These women were of the lowest one person — her murderer — could ers were returning to their homes. types of waifs and strays which can describe. Among those who lodged at It was eleven o’clock at night, and be seen any night along Whitechapel, 47, George Yard-buildings, was a Mrs. the Whitechapel-road was thronged Mile End Waste, Commercial-road and Mahoney. She had been holiday-making by a motley, jostling, incongruous other East End highways. One was and did not reach home with her hus- multitude, which included all ages Martha Turner, a hawker of penny- band until about two o’clock on Tuesday

Jabez Balfour and The Ripper Murders morning. Both were tired out and were glad enough to reach the ill-lighted, or, properly speaking, unlit common stair- case which led to their rooms. They saw nothing unusual. Perhaps there was then nothing unusual for them to see; certainly they were far from being wide awake or observant. The night a was very noisy one even for the rowdy neighbourhood of George Yard-buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves, who lodged in an upper floor, were greatly disturbed. Shrieks of murder, which they heard for some time after midnight sent them out to a balcony to listen. To judge by the light of after occurrences, these shrieks had nothing to do with the dark and myste- rious drama about to commence. Such cries were by no means uncommon in that neighbourhood. From two o’clock, when the Mahoneys returned, until three all was still. At half-past three, Albert George Crow, a cabman living also at George Yard-building, entered the house. Like the Mahoneys, he was dead tired, and when he saw a dark, shapeless mass on the landing the sight conveyed nothing to his mind. it was by no means the first time he We e k l y Di s p a t c h , 26 Oc t . 1906 had seen people asleep on the stairs.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 67 Perhaps had he lingered for but half boundless resources at their disposal. in the breast and nine in the throat. a minute he would have discovered There was not the vestige of a The heart had been penetrated in only something in the grey, mysterious light clue, for, save the mutilated body of one place; but the stomach showed of the early dawn which he would have the victim lying in a pool of blood, the as many as six perforations, the liver remembered all his life, but a cabman murderer had left no trace whatever of five, the left lung five, the right lung returning from work at half-past three his presence. To begin with — Where two and the spleen two. Aside from the in the morning may be credited at that had the murder been committed and at injuries they received, all of the organs moment with only one object in life — what time? To the first of those impor- were quite healthy. A deep wound in to get to bed and to sleep without a tant questions the answer was — “In the breast seemed to be inflicted by minute’s delay. the house and on the landing itself.” some long, strong instrument, such as At five o’clock, of course, it was There was no blood on the stairs, no a sword bayonet or dagger; but most of bright daylight and when John Reeves trail of any kind. It is absurd to sup- the others had been done apparently descended the stairs to go to his work pose that the assassin, after indulg- with a penknife.” at the docks it was no longer possible ing his lust for blood, would trouble It is obvious that a woman hacked for him to pass the squalid heap of himself to drag the body up a flight of in this horrible fashion would have drapery upon the landing without stop- stairs. Had he meant to hide it he could bled to such a degree that she could ping to observe it. well have left it at the foot of the stairs not have been moved without leaving There was something more than rather than toil with it up to the first a track of blood which no one could drapery that made him recoil with landing. overlook. But there was no track of horror from the sight. He beheld the The house was easy to enter. The any kind. As to the time of the murder, ashen face of a dead woman. He could common staircase door was always the doctor, who was called at half-past see she was lying in a pool of blood. kept open. five, is no doubt correct when he fixed This was the first of the Whitechapel But what is conclusive that the the death as having taken place some murder mysteries. The list was headed murder was committed inside the three hours before. This would make by poor Martha Turner. house is the condition of the body itself. the time somewhere around half-past Never had the police anything The evidence of Dr. Timothy Keelene, two, soon after the Mahoneys had more puzzling to grapple with. It could of 28, Brick-lane, who was called in entered the house, and some little time not then occur to them they were face by the police, may here be quoted. He before the cabman Crow came in. As to to face with the work of an assassin said: “The woman had the appearance the method of death, it was suggested whose cunning and audacity would of being dead about three hours. The the unhappy victim was held down and prove more than a match for all their body bore no less than thirty-nine punc- throttled, as her head and face were so skill and experience and for all the tured wounds, of which seventeen were swollen that the features were almost

Jabez Balfour and The Ripper Murders unrecognisable. This theory, however, is light would be thrown on the tragedy. After a small number had filed not to be found in the doctor’s evidence. Pearly Poll had disappeared, a thing not past, “Pearly Poll” picked out a man He simply presented professional and, to be wondered at. She was in mortal wearing stripes, and taken by her to be certainly safe information, that the dread of being implicated in the affair, a corporal, as the one who went away woman died from loss of blood in conse- and she kept out of the way. After an with the deceased woman. “That’s him,” quence of her injuries. Whether she was interval of a few days, however, she was she exclaimed, “I’m positive.” The sus- first strangled, or was killed instanta- traced, and she gave an account of what pected man was temporarily detained, neously by one terrible thrust of the had happened on the night of bank holi- and the filing by the others continued. sharp instrument through the heart, it day, and mentioned the incident of the When a few more had passed, Pearly is certain that the poor creature made soldiers. Poll, scanning the features of everyone …a parade of Coldstream and Grenadier Guards… no noise. The witness Reeves, who In consequence of her story, intently, pointed to a private as being discovered her, said that her clothes there was a parade of Coldstream and the second man. She positively declared were disarranged as though there had Grenadier Guards at the Wellington he accompanied her to a house in the been a struggle. This theory, so far as barracks, whither “Pearly Poll” was district where took place. “Are you pos- the struggling was concerned, which taken in order to see if she could identify itive?” she was asked, and Pearly Poll seemed good enough at the time, may the two soldiers. On her arrival there nodded and replied: “Certain.” now, I think, be disregarded. We may about noon, accompanied by Inspector The military authorities immedi- safely assume, we may humanely hope, Reid, Detective-sergeant Caunter, and ately placed all the books, showing the the victim was dead before she had another officer, the “assembly” call was time at which the suspected men left even time to conceive the intent of the at once sounded and the men drawn and returned to the barracks on the miscreant, and much less to commence up in quarter-column, after which they night of the murder, at the disposal of a struggle with him in self-defence. filed through a passage, where “Pearly the police. All the efforts of the police came to Poll” and the police were stationed, the It turned out that the so-called nothing. It was thought that the woman, former being instructed to carefully “corporal” was but a private with good Pearly Poll (or Mary Connolly, to give scrutinise the faces of the soldiers as conduct stripes, who was back in bar- her her right name) was discovered that they passed her. racks by ten o’clock, and the other’s

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 69 movements were also satisfactorily crafty homicidal maniac, with horribly their fiendish destroyer. accounted for. As both men were of morbid proclivities, passing, happily, If, then, this seemingly purposeless exemplary character, and neither of the comprehension of any ordinary butchery of Martha Turner be regarded them had worn side arms on the Bank man, might he not in his craft try a as an experiment or rehearsal, a care- Holiday, nor been in each other’s com- first experiment? Might he not desire ful trial or test of all essential details pany while away from barracks, this to assure himself that it was quite — time, place, method and victim — all clue from which so much was hoped, possible to commit a murder with difficulties disappear. It becomes a very melted away, and the police were impunity in the very heart of London, likely prelude — likely even in its dif- left in their former state of darkness without a cry escaping from the victim ferences and exceptions — to the subse- as to the murderer — a darkness, and in a place, public yet deserted, quent succession of appalling crimes. be it said, which time has done little where interruption would be unlikely? There is also a possibility, it may to illuminate. He probably would study the parts of even be a probability, that the human It should be borne in mind that London suitable for his purpose and tiger at this, his first feast of blood, may this, the first of the Whitechapel atroc- if so would have little difficulty in the have burst forth into a perfect frenzy of ities, is quite of the same character as selection. The courts and alleys, the violence, may have become drunken by those that followed. There was a pos- deserted quadrangles — deserted, that his indulgence in his own cruel lusts. sible fearful motive in the others; in is to say, at night — of the purlieus of Afterwards, appetite grew with what it this first one there seemed at the first Whitechapel and Aldgate, gave him fed upon, but he became fastidious like glance to be none. It might be thought ample choice. The habits of its motley epicures and the hellish orgies, the fan- to be a piece of horrible, reckless, and shifting population, their strangely tastic specialities of the latter crimes, wanton butchery, the fury of a madman diversified trades and callings, their may thus also be accounted for. in a frenzy to satisfy his lust for blood exceptional hours by day and night, The fact cannot be gainsaid, by showering on his murdered victim, would all assist this fell design. as will be seen as we follow horror- blow upon blow, stab upon stab, thrust The women, too — the victims — stricken the footsteps of the miscreant, upon thrust. were ever ready to hand. It was part that each crime, as it was committed, of their mode of life to guide and decoy seemed devised to surpass its prede- A Human Tiger men to dark and unfrequented places. cessor in some new and horrible detail, But it is quite possible to deduce some- Every safe and secluded spot in the the foul product of diabolical ingenuity thing from this aimless running amok. district would be a familiar resort of and of hellish cruelty. Suppose, as subsequently came to be theirs. In a very real and significant the favorite, though I think inade- sense they unwittingly became the JABEZ BALFOUR quate, theory that the assassin was a active accomplices and accessories of [To be Continued Next Week.]

Jabez Balfour and The Ripper Murders “Crimson Crimes.” 1. — Jack the Ripper MURDER OF MARY ANNE NICHOL IN BUCK’S ROW Mr. Jabez Balfour’s Investigations

referred last week to the apparently But absorbingly interesting as was, as hint at our conclusions, the whole insoluble and hitherto unsolved and is, the problem of the identity of horrible succession of murders must Iproblem of the malefactor, the mys- the murderer, the motive for his crimes be submitted to minute review. The terious assassin whose outrages excited seems quite as inexplicable, and is really ground must be carefully delimited. by their ferocity, their daring, their of much greater importance. The prob- We will therefore now deal with the frequency, and their immunity from lems and the theories and the guesses second of the awful sequence of atroci- detection and punishment, the horror- which they have given rise to have been ties, carefully noting as we proceed stricken of the world at large. innumerable, and it may be added they the differences which distinguish it The appalling name by which he have been generally as inconsistent with from the first case, the case of Martha was spoken of in the teeming streets the circumstances, taken as a whole, of Turner. In doing so we shall, if I mis- and courts and alleys of Whitechapel the series of crimes, as they have been take not, arrive at the conclusion they became familiar to the lips of myriads in innumerable. Would we seek to solve are not so much differences as develop- the far-off lands. It is safe to affirm that this great problem we must not allow ments — substantial step in advance “Jack the Ripper,” whoever he might be, ourselves to be led astray by isolated of our story. was more talked about throughout the facts; we must regard the whole series It will be as well to give here a table world in the year 1888 than any living of crimes and all their circumstances as showing the [illegible] names of the vic- Englishman. integral factors in one horrible trans- tims of the various murders which are In the grim and ghastly annals of action. We must devote quite as much generally acknowledged to have been English crime no figure so ferocious, so attention to the question of personal perpetrated by Jack the Ripper. There truly phenomenal, so fiendish, ever cast a identity. are many others that have been attrib- shadow across its bloodstained pages. It In short, the Whitechapel mystery uted to him with more or less plausi- possessed — it haunted — men’s minds. must be considered as we are now treat- bility and probability, I have heard the Who could this monster be? This crea- ing it. It must be dealt with as a whole. number put as high as fourteen. But ture so daring, so crafty, and so cruel? Before, therefore, we so much many of these were clearly the work

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 71 of other hands, and it is safer to treat mere coincidence. It was, it must be, the the case of Martha Turner, the murder only of those about which there can work of one man. Even in all the many had been committed swiftly and silently be practically no doubt. They were six millions of London it was impossible to — a Mrs. Green, her son and daughter in number. imagine that two such monsters could lived in the house adjoining the gate- The murder of Martha Turner be living at the same time. way, and were actually sleeping within in George-yard buildings, as we have a few feet of the spot where the body seen, ghastly and mysterious enough Mary Anne Nichol was found, separated from it by only in all conscience to gratify the morbid The second horror was commit- a thin course of brickwork. All three imagination of the most ardent devo- ted in Buck’s-row, a short street declared that the night was unusu- tee of horror, was not in a character in Whitechapel, occupied partly by ally quiet; they had heard no sound. to cause in itself more than temporary factories and partly by small dwell- Mrs. Green states that she was a spe- public excitement. Unfortunately the ing-houses, and here the fiend, having cially light sleeper, as she suffered from hacking to death of a woman of her familiarised by actual experience in heart trouble, and she was emphatic on class in an East End slum is not so rare the murder of Martha Turner with the this point of the perfect stillness of the an event to attract much attention, or preliminaries necessary to effect his night. The approach to the spot by the to be long remembered. In that squalid foul purposes, commences his horrid murderer and his victim must, there- region such things had always been. system. fore, have been absolutely stealthy and The only features which raised it above Constable John Neil was walking silent. When Mrs. Green was roused by the level of such too common crimes down Buck’s-row about a quarter to P.C. Neil she looked out of the window, were, of course, its mystery, the fren- four on the morning of Friday, August and in her evidence she made a remark zied ferocity of the murderer, and the 31, that is to say about half an hour which is of special significance. “It absence of every clue to his identifica- before daylight, when there came run- (meaning the body) was lying straight tion. When, however, a second crime of ning to him a man with terror stamped across the gateway, its head toward me. the same nature was perpetrated in the upon his face. No wonder, for he had It was not lying in a heap, as if it had same neighbourhood on a woman of the just tumbled over a dead woman, lying fallen, but on its back and straight, as if same degraded class somewhere about still warm in a pool of blood. He had it had been laid there.” the same early hours of the morning — found the woman in front of the wide, In other words, its position showed the stillest and most desolate hours of closed gateway to a closed stableyard. there had been no struggle. The woman the whole day in London — a shudder The brutality of this murder is had gone to her doom without even a ran through all England. The public beyond conception and beyond descrip- chance of fighting for her wretched mind, ever quick to jump at a correct tion. It surpassed in horror the wildest life. The detectives at once searched conclusion, realised at once this was no imaginings of Edgar Allen Poe. As in the stable-yard, and every place in

Jabez Balfour and The Ripper Murders the vicinity in the hope of discover- to the mews there was a large stain, as was, despite its plausible circumstan- ing some clue, but they found none. At if someone had fallen against the wall, tiality, an absolute fiction and is note- first, indeed, there seemed ground to and lain there. From this point to the worthy as showing the unnecessary believe that the murder was actually foot of Buck’s-row, in which the body difficulties which are thrown in the committed some distance off, and the was found, the trail of blood was said way of the police by officious busybod- corpse had been dragged or carried to to be clearly marked. It was wet on the ies. A statement of this kind increases the spot where it was found. Strange morning of the murder and although at in verisimilitude and convincing detail rumours were current, especially con- noon the sun had dried the pavement every time it is told. cerning Brady-street, a long and dreary and there had been many feet passing Inspector Helson stated positively thoroughfare running to the left from over it, the trail was declared to be still at the inquest that there was no such …no pool, no spot, no zigzag… the bottom of Buck’s-row. A curiously plainly discernible. Here is an example trail of blood, no pool, no spot, no zigzag, circumstantial statement was put for- of the circumstantial manner in which and that without a doubt the poor ward to the effect that fresh bloodstains all this was related and described: woman was murdered where her body were observed for a long distance upon “The zigzag direction it took crossing was found, in front of the wide closed the pavement, drop after drop, two or and recrossing the street, was and is, gateway to the large stable yard in three, and sometimes six feet apart, a matter of mystery. In the space of a Buck’s-row. Constable Neil, on seeing and then a larger pool or splash. hundred yards the woman crossed the the body, fetched Dr. Henry Llewellen Other observers began to discern narrow street twice, and whenever she of 152, Whitechapel-road, who at his blood marks. Some were found on both crossed, a larger stain of blood instead first glance at the woman saw that sides of the street, and it had been of the mere drops indicated that she he could do nothing. He simply said maintained later that the body had had stopped.” Had all this been verified “Move the woman to the mortuary. been dragged or carried in a zigzag the police would have indeed been put She is dead. And I will make a further line. it was even stated that the trail in possession of something like a clue. examination of her.” The police placed was easily followed for one hundred Unfortunately, it turned out the whole her on the ambulance and conveyed and twenty yards down Brady-street to thing existed only in the excited imagi- her to the mortuary, and here a hor- Honey’s-mews. In front of the entrance nation of some amateur detective. It rible discovery was made by Inspector

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 73 Sprattling, who, while taking, in accor- second murder, but they illustrate in a as German Maggie, saw her as late dance with his duty a minute descrip- terrible manner the truth of the adage as 2:30 on the Friday morning in the tion of the deceased examined the body that one half of the world does not Whitechapel-road, opposite the church, and found it had been mutilated. This know how the other half lives. and at the corner of Osborne-street. In horrible fact had not been noticed by Think of all that this picture shows little more than an hour — at quarter anyone before. On the body was found us: the uninviting home, the squalid to four — she was found, within 800 a piece of comb, a bit of looking glass, and crowded bedroom, its miserable yards of the spot, literally hacked to and an unmarked white handkerchief, occupants, hungry, houseless, friend- death. The people at the lodging-house probably, with the draggled and scanty less, each holding fast to her little store knew her only as “Polly.” The fact that clothes she wore, the sole possessions of of beggarly belongings, a mere handful she had not divulged her full name to this miserable and unhappy outcast. Of of rubbish, the gleanings of a dustbin, any of her familiar associates there, course, no money was found upon her. and yet all she possessed, a bedraggled not even with the women who shared The news of the murder spread skirt, scanty, threadbare, undercloth- with her her wretched bedroom, throws with astounding rapidity, having ing, a rag of a shawl, the relics of a a lurid sidelight on the social relations, regard to the early hour of the day. pair of shoes, the battered vestiges of and particularly the reserve, which First one woman and then another a bonnet, a piece of comb, a bit of look- exists among this, the very lowest stra- came forward trembling to view the ing-glass, no money, and no food. tum of female life. body, and it was found that a woman It was stated that the deceased had About half past seven on Friday answering to the description of the left off evil ways while lodging in the evening a woman named Mary victim had been lodging at a common house for about three weeks, and when Anne Monk, an inmate of Lambeth lodging house at 18, Thrawl-street, she came in late on the Thursday night Workhouse, was taken to the mortuary Spitalfields. Women from that place (she was murdered quite early on the and identified the body as Mary Anne were fetched immediately, identi- Friday morning) the “manager” turned Nichol. She knew her, she said, as they fied the deceased as “Polly,” who had her away because she had not got the were inmates together in the Lambeth shared with three other women a room fourpence to pay for her night’s rest. Workhouse in the preceding April and in the house on the usual terms of such She was then, it was stated, “the worse May. The deceased had been passed establishments: the nightly payment for drink, but not drunk” — absolutely there from another workhouse, what an in advance of 4d. each, each woman homeless. itinerary of misery — from workhouse engaging what, for want of a better to workhouse, the drink shop, the lodg- word, must be called a separate bed. Murdered Woman ing house, the streets and then the wide Not only are these details necessary Identified closed gateway on Buck’s-row. to a full and accurate account of this A woman in the neighbourhood, known The details of the poor woman’s

Jabez Balfour and The Ripper Murders injuries, repulsive as they are, must not be passed over, for they give the key to the motives of her destroyer. Dr. Llewellen said: “On reaching Buck’s- row, I found the deceased woman flat on her back in the pathway, her legs extended. I found that she was quite dead, and that she had severe injuries to her throat; her hands and wrists were cold, but the body and lower extremi- ties were quite warm. I examined her chest and felt her heart. I believe that she had not been dead more than half an hour.” This helps us to fix almost the actual time of the murder. It must have been committed close upon 3.30, an hour after she had been seen by German Maggie. Dr. Llewellen proceeded: “There were no marks of any struggle or blood as if the body had been dragged. On the right side of the face there was a bruise running along the lower part of the jaw. It might have been caused by a blow with the fist of the pressure of a thumb. On the left side of the face there was a circular bruise, which also might have been done by pres- sure of the fingers. On the left side of the neck, about an inch below the jaw, We e k l y Di s p a t c h , 4 No v e m b e r 1906 here was an incision about four inches

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 75 long, and running from a point imme- violently and had been used down- insignificance alongside the other. No diately beneath the ear. An inch below, wards. The injuries had been from left murder was ever more ferociously and and on the same side, and commenc- to right, and might have been done by brutally done.” ing about an inch in front of it, was a a left-handed person. All the injuries A nameless terror was cer- circular incision terminating at a point had been done by the same instrument, tainly spreading through the whole about three inches below the right jaw. and would have taken about five min- Metropolis. In the East End it almost This incision severed all the tissues to utes to inflict, by someone who knew amounted to a panic. Many of my mid- the vertebrae. The large vessels of the something of anatomy, for all the vital dle-aged readers will doubtless recol- neck on either side were severed. The parts were attacked.” lect the scare and the frequent reports He was declared to be a brutal ruffian,… incision was about eight inches long. Terror In the of captures which found their way into These cuts must have been inflicted by Metropolis the Press, only to be contradicted the a large knife, moderately sharp,. and This is the professional description; following day. used with great violence. it may be compared with the lurid The most remarkable of these cap- “No blood was found on the breast, account which first appeared. “The tures was that perfectly innocent man either of the body or clothes. throat,” asserted the writer, “was cut who was widely known in Whitechapel. “There were no injuries about the in two gashes, the instrument having So soon as the Buck’s row tragedy was body until just about the lower part been a sharp one, but used in a most discovered many hapless females of the of the abdomen. Two or three inches ferocious and reckless way. There was same class as Mary Nichol denounced from the left side was a wound run- a gash under the left ear, reaching to this man. ning in a jagged manner. It was a very almost the centre of the throat. Along He was declared to be a brutal ruf- deep wound and the tissues were cut half its length, however, it was accom- fian, who wandered about Whitechapel through. There were several incisions panied by another one, which reached exercising over these unfortunate crea- running across the body. On the right around the other ear, making a wide tures a sway which was founded on side there were also three or four simi- and horrible hole, and nearly severing something like abject terror. It was lar cuts running downward. All were the head from the body. The ghastli- stated that he had kicked, injured, caused by a knife, which had been used ness of this cut, however, paled into bruised and terrified at least a hundred

Jabez Balfour and The Ripper Murders of them, who were willing to testify to He was said to be a slippermaker prevailing opinion in Whitechapel that his brutal behaviour. He had too, so by trade, though he had never been “Leather Apron” was, and could be the it was said, made a certain diabolical known to do work at it. The knife he only perpetrator of the two crimes. threat which had been too literally and was said to carry, and which a number This impression was strengthened by horribly carried into effect in the case of women professed to have seen, was the curious fact that since the murders of poor Mary Anne Nichol. He was said presumably as sharp as leather knives he seemed suddenly to have deserted to carry a razor-like knife and to have are wont to be. No one, however, even his usual evil haunts and customary drawn it a couple of weeks before the professed to have known that he had vile associates. crime on a woman known as “Widow attempted ever to use it, his alleged Next week Mr. Jabez Balfour Anne,” who was crossing the square near threat to “Widow Annie” being the near- will continue his investigations the London Hospital, threatening at the est approach to anything of the kind. into the Whitechapel Tragedies same time, with a ferocious grin and But the most singular characteristic of and will deal with some of the the- a malignant look of his eyes, to do her the man, and one which seemed to con- ories regarding the identity of the harm. He was a character resembling so nect him with the murderer, was the murderer. much the invention of the sensational unanimous statement that he moved novelist that accounts given of him by all about with phenomenal noiselessness, the denizens of the Whitechapel districts never making the slightest sound. The sounded like romances. women alleged that the extraordinary The remarkable thing was, how- terror he inspired in them was largely ever, that all the accounts agreed. He due to this uncanny peculiarity. They was stated to be about five feet four averred that they never saw him or or five inches in height, thick set and became otherwise aware of his pres- with an uncommonly thick neck. His ence until he was right behind them. hair was black and closely clipped, and “Leather Apron” was also known he had a small black moustache. His as the “Mad Snob,” and was further expression was described as sinister, described as “a low, villainous look- his eyes were small and glittering, his ing man.” The representative of one lips invariably parted in a grin, which journal professed to have discovered may have been intended to be pleas- he was the son of a fairly well-to-do ing, but was really repellent, His age Russian Jew, but he was discarded by was between thirty-five and forty. He the Jewish fraternity as a disgrace to usually wore a dark, close-fitting cap. their race. For a time, it was the one

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 77 Undercover Our regular read between the lines. Investigations Ripper Joe Randazzo Our rating 2010 Self-published Don Souden Large format paperback, 116 pp, two appendices $19.95 (£13)

his is a rather strange, hybrid publication, being a paperbound …doesn’t work Tedition of the screenplay for an independent film of the same title and is available from Amazon and other on several on-line book stores. The author is an independent screenwriter, producer detective and lowly policewoman do not and novelist and the film “Ripper” has head up a major serial killer investiga- levels. been shown at a number of film fes- tion. Nor, when his partner is murdered tivals the past two years, including by the killer, would that detective even the Beverly Hills Film Festival and it be allowed to stay on the case. But a won an award at the Indie Gathering DeMille-like “cast of thousands” costs Film Festival. money — much more than the film’s In this instance, I suspect, the Unfortunately, this screenplay as budget would allow. old cliché is reversed and the film is novel doesn’t work on several levels. The Ripper details, however, are far better than the book. Many of the For one thing, as the author explained handled better than many expensive implausible plot elements are likely in an interview, characterization suf- cinema extravaganzas and there was lost in the fast-paced film as well as the fers because several of the roles were real research done. Indeed, one of the film providing moments of real visual written for specific actors. Moreover, appendices lays out a good case for terror. At $19.95 the price is rather shooting as they did on a very low James Kelly as the real Ripper and he steep for what you get and the money budget, plausibility suffers. That is, is certainly a better suspect than Prince would be better spent trying to find police procedure was a casualty before Eddy or Sir William Gull, Hollywood’s somewhere to view the film. I would Jack first waved a knife: a mere villains of choice. like to see it.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 79 The Magnificent Spilsbury and the Case of the Brides in the Bath Jane Robins 2010 John Murray, London Hardback, 292 pp, index, biblio, illus £16.99

he Brides in the Bath murders This is a well paced and are truly fascinating to read easy to read narrative, Tabout (if that isn’t too morbid a focusing on the three mur- thing to assert). Here, the author man- dered women, how Smith ages to set the scene well, maintaining killed them and ultimately an element of suspense in the portrayal how he was caught and tried. of what is, after all, a classic true crime This tale is interspersed case. It is made clear how these women, with information about the who were at risk of being ostracised young Bernard Spilsbury, by society because they had remained the development of his career unmarried, could have so easily fallen as a forensic pathologist and under the spell of George Joseph Smith, his involvement in another and been led by him to their ultimate famous true crime, the case fate. The case was a sensation at the of Dr Crippen, until the two time, not least because of the philan- strands meet towards the end dering Smith, who seems to have used with Spilsbury’s involvement so many aliases and have married so in the Brides case. However, many different people, that even he if you were to pick up this must have had trouble keeping up! book because it was titled

Undercover Investigations (if that isn’t too morbid a thing to assert)

The Magnificent Spilsbury, you might Spilsbury’s life after this case, which being like the rest of us. All in all this be in for a small disappointment, and she says had boosted his status as an book is a good read and an enjoyable one might feel that the title being flipped expert witness considerably. This sec- enough page turner. It is therefore well to The Case of the Brides in the Bath tion of the book makes Spilsbury out to worth a look into for anyone who enjoys and the Magnificent Spilsbury, might be be, not so much magnificent, as arro- reading about classic true crimes. a better reflection of the actual contents gant and egotistical, which does at of the book, but this is a minor quib- times seem to jar considerably with the ble about what is a good and detailed rest of the book’s narrative. There is a analysis of the Brides in the Bath case, very good 21st century analysis of his including Spilsbury’s involvement in it. evidence in the Brides in the Bath case Towards the end of the book in this section too, which also seems to Robbins includes a section, ‘Aftermath’, paint Spilsbury as not so magnificent Our rating in which she discusses, albeit briefly, after all but rather as a fallible human Jennifer Shelden

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 81 Great British Bobby: A History of British Policing From the 18th Century to the Present Clive Emsley 2010 Quercus Publishing PLC Paperback, 336 pp, illus, index. £8.99

than an institutional history of ere is a very readable policing and this marks it out as more book about the history of than an average summation of the his- the British PC, affection- H tory of the police force in Britain. We ately referred to, as in the title, as are used to reading and hearing about a ‘Bobby’. The book, although titled those at the head of investigations, From 18th Century to the present, such as Abberline, Reid, Anderson focuses predominately on the early and Dew, so to read about the polic- period of policing up to the Second ing and crime from the perspective World War. There is a much more of the lowly Bobby, who would cursory, perhaps even awkward, look have been out patrolling his (or over the more modern era of policing her) beat is truly fascinating. All that focuses mainly on issues relating in all a good point of reference for to women and minority ethnic officers those interested in the PC’s role (almost as though the author has felt in the Victorian era. This book is forced to include this era when he recommended. would rather have not). However, this is less of a criticism than an observa- tion and those more interested in this earlier period of history will probably feel there is a very in-depth look at it within these pages. The book focuses on Our rating the social history of life as a PC rather Jennifer Shelden

Undercover Investigations Blood on the Tracks: A History of Railway Crime in Britain David Brandon and Alan Brooke 2010 History Press Hardback, 191pp, illus. £16.99

ere is a book from History Press that reads along the same lines Has many of their titles that focus on true crimes around one area. The authors paint a detailed analysis of the crimes that can occur around the Great British railways, including, but not exclusive to the murders that are suggested by the title. At times these crimes, which range from fraud to rob- bery, and from trespass to murder, are bizarre or audacious to say the least. Our rating The book is written well enough and Jennifer Shelden easy to read, with numerous illustra- tions throughout. Still, one might balk at the prospect of paying over fifteen pounds for a book that has fewer than …bizarre or two hundred pages, however well it is written. For those people interested in audacious to say the crimes of the LVP and beyond it is nonetheless a worthy addition to the the least. bookshelf.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 83 Arsenic in the Dumplings: A Casebook of Historic Poisonings in Suffolk Sheila Hardy

2010 History Press Paperback, 95 pp, biblio, illus. £9.99

admit that I was first The book is well written, presenting a attracted to this book cast of colourful characters and their I mainly by its title and dastardly deeds. The biggest fault one cover (disobeying the old saying could find with this is that it was over never to judge a book by its too quickly. Even allowing for the fact cover). However, reading it was that this is a topic that is very special- a very pleasant experience. The ised, the book made for quick reading. book chronicles arsenic poison- It would have been nice to have incor- ings in Suffolk, England between porated a wider time span or area to 1815 and 1865. There are ten chap- make the book contain more cases, or ters, each of which focuses on a to have expanded slightly on those pre- different case. The book is highly sented. In the current climate readers specialised, dealing exclusively with might find £9.99 for just 95 pages a bit a specific type of crime in a very spe- of a high price to pay, even though this cific locale, but readers interested in is an interesting account of these par- true crimes in this time period, or of ticular types of crimes. poisoning cases in general, will find it an excellent addition to their shelves.

Our rating …dastardly deeds. Jennifer Shelden

Undercover Investigations Bonnie and Clyde: The lives behind the legend Paul Schneider 2010 Henry Holt and Company Inc Paperback, 400 pp, biblio, illus, index £11.99

t first glance I was put off this sources and woven them into the book as it is supposed to be a book. However, if you wish to read Abiography but it is written in a book with the analysis, author a novelistic style, with dialogue and interpretation and source infor- the ‘thoughts’ of the key players form- mation readily apparent, rather ing the narrative. This is not the style than just an entertaining telling that one naturally expects to find in a of this particular story, you might non-fiction work such as a biography, be best served to look elsewhere. as this is marketed as. After managing If this had been packaged purely to get past this hurdle, I found this to as a historical novel, then it would be an enjoyable and easy flowing read. have received a higher rating. With In the notes at the back of the book, the holiday season upon us, readers Schneider explains he has taken the might be well advised that this book words of those involved from primary would be ideal easy summer reading. …easy summer Our rating reading. Jennifer Shelden

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 85 DidJack the You Ripper Miss?... Unmasked William Beadle John Blake biblio, illus. …what can only be Hardback Edition published 5th January 2009, 319 pp, £17.99 described as bizarre Paperback Edition published 7th June 2010, 320 pp, £11.99 circumstances…

n the surface this should be a became annoying very quickly, as did back up each strand of the theory. This good book as William Beadle his constantly presuming to know what said, Bury is himself not a bad sus- Ois a well respected researcher Bury/Jack was thinking at any given pect, indeed, his leaving London when and is the chairman of the excellent point. This appeared to be nothing he did and murdering his wife in what Whitechapel Society 1888. His sus- more than an attempt to present the can only be described as bizarre cir- pect, William Henry Bury, is one that author’s conjecture and speculation as cumstances is a very interesting yarn. has previously been presented in quite though it were a definite fact and not So, if one were rating the suspect him- a reasonable way. Yet (and somewhat just the author’s theory and made it self and not this particular theory and surprisingly) this book managed to dis- extremely difficult to assess Bury as a book, then the score would be consid- appoint. The author’s treatment of Bury Ripper suspect, because it was difficult erably higher, but, sadly, I am not. and Jack as an interchangeable person to tell how much evidence there was to

Our rating Jennifer Shelden

Undercover Investigations Undercover Investigations: From The Library Shelves The Streets of Whitechapel elcome to our fictitious library, containing all the best books Won all the subjects that are of interest to Ripperologists. This edition we have decided to take a look at the books on our shelves that feature pho- tographs and representations of the mean streets of Whitechapel. Therefore the below are a selection of books that deal with the locations of the Ripper crimes, in either a spe- cific or more broad sense. From 2009’s Location Photographs’ new find of an image of Dutfields Yard to the older Whitechapel Map 1888, through many more avenues of pursuit. We hope you find amongst these items, something to tickle your fancy.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 87 Undercover Investigations: From the Library Shelves The Highways and Byways Uncovering Jack the Ripper’s The London of Jack the of Jack the Ripper London Ripper: Then and Now Peter Riley Richard Jones with Robert Clack and Philip photographs by Sean East Hutchinson 2001 P & D Riley Paperback, 48 pp. 2007 New Holland Publishers 2007 (revised edition 2009) Breedon Books e found this relatively short Hardback, 128 pp. Hardback, 192 pp. book selling for about £15, Wsecond hand, at on-line outlets. his book is more a general case his is probably the highest overview than one about the regarded of books on location Tarea and photographs of it than Tphotography at the time of the Jack the Ripper Whitechapel the others mentioned. However, the Whitechapel Murders and to the pres- Map 1888 book does contain new photographs by ent day and was published in a revised Geoff Cooper and Gordon Sean East. It can be tracked down on- edition late last year. Therefore it can Punter line for under £10. easily be found at various on-line stores selling for around £10-£15. 2004 RipperArt his double sided map is cur-

Trently out of print. Undercover Investigations: From the Library Shelves They Also E1 Jack the Ripper Location John Bennett Photographs Wrote... Philip Hutchinson 2008 Five Leaves Publications Philip Hutchinson has written Ripper Paperback, 96 pp. 2009 Amberley Paperback, 128 pp. books including the recent Jack the hen published this book had nly published last year, new Ripper Location Photographs, but did a recommended retail price of copies of this book, containing you know that he is also the author W£9.99, however, after a quick Opreviously unpublished images, of several other books including, hunt around various on-line outlets can still be picked up quite easily Images Of England - Guildford, we found it selling at an even better through the conventional channels. published by The History Press in bargain price of around £7. 2006? Past Traces Andrew Firth

2009 Blurb (w w w .b l u r b .c o m ) Paperback, 120 pp.

his book, containing many stun- ning photographs, is available Tvia the publishers on-line (see above address) priced at £16.95.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 89 Open Book Exam: A continuing look at detective fiction The Little Man Who Wasn’t There Don Souden

ne hallmark of novelists, besides Once or twice I fancied I heard foot- with an intelligence that approaches that of telling a story, is a seem- steps, but I was just as sure that I heard human genius rather than much real Oing need to make observations breathing, and that could hardly be so . imagination. Still, my experience in that on life and in the process rendering . . The value of a dog, when one is walk- area is quite limited so I ran the quote those observations as eternal verities. ing through woods getting spooked for no by my good friend Carolyn. This is particularly apparent when done reason at all, is that a dog has a keener She regularly walks her three dogs by those who write detective fiction and hearing but a much duller imagination in the woods at dusk (or darker yet) and that may be because, with some notable than oneself and so will mooch along also reports being spooked herself at exceptions, practitioners of the mystery nose to the ground no matter what hor- times. Granted, her large Labs, Wilbur novel are less gifted wordsmiths and thus rors one’s fancy conjures, and it is only and Moses, would likely stand by her their musings upon the human condition when the ears prick and the nose quivers to the end but the third, a bumptious stand out more readily against the back- that one can be sure there is something beagle named Buster, would surely sell ground noise of murder, mayhem, clues, going on outside one’s own head, and out Carolyn (or anyone else) for a half suspects and assorted red herrings. even then it is most likely a rabbit. slice of old pizza. As it was, though, I recently came across such an That made a lot of sense to me and she did affirm the notion that dogs are observation in The Burry Man’s Day by even those who anthropomorphize their trusty companions in the woods at night the Scots writer Catriona McPherson. pets beyond belief tend to imbue them because they will only respond to an

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 90 Open Book Exam: A continuing look at detective fiction

Ke n n e t h Mo o r e a s Pa d r e Br o w n Al e c Gu i n e s s a s Fa t h e r Br o w n actual physical presence rather than invisibility” that G.K. Chesterton has a number of seemingly inexplicable imagined ghoulies, ghosties and things Father Brown expound in the short events that culminate in a murder and that go bump in the night. story “The Invisible Man.” This story, the disappearance of the victim’s body. That got me wondering, though, which must not be confused with the Warning: If you have not read the about some of the classic examples of H.G. Wells novel of the same name, first story and want to do it in your own these sorts of observations and, in par- appeared in 1911 in Chesterton’s initial state of “innocence” go to some other ticular, the one that may the most famed collection of Father Brown stories, The page of Casebook Examiner immedi- of them all, the verity about “mental Innocence of Father Brown, and concerns ately. All other may continue.

The Little Man Who Wasn’t There Don Souden Open Book Exam: A continuing look at detective fiction

The reason that no one “saw” the “An invisible man?” inquired murderer, including four separate wit- Angus, raising his red eyebrows. “A nesses especially deputized to keep a mentally invisible man,” said Father wary eye for his possible presence, was Brown. . . . not that he was wearing some cloak “Nobody ever notices postmen of invisibility or possessed powers somehow,” he said thoughtfully; . . . with which to “cloud the mind,” but Certainly an interesting notion, because he was the neighborhood post- but is it truly so? Are postmen, as man, someone that everyone was so Chesterson proposes, so much a part used to seeing that they took no notice of life’s daily routine as to be rendered of him whatsoever. As Father Brown transparent? I would suggest this is explained: hardly the case even today when for “Nobody ever notices postmen somehow,” he said thoughtfully;…

“When those four quite honest men many of us, because of email and the said that no man had gone into the Internet, a mailman is largely irrele- Mansions, they did not really mean vant if not yet invisible. Such, however, that no man had gone into them. They was more the case a century ago when G. K. Ch e s t e r t o n meant a man whom they could suspect Chesterton’s round little priest made of being your man. A man did go into his observation. Back then there were the house, and did come out of it, but several mail deliveries a day (busi- they never noticed him.” nesses might get as many as eight)

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 92 and while there was the new telephone most assuredly not reciprocated. The “mentally invisible” just doesn’t ring fad as well as telegrams for something postman brought the daunting news true in real life. We are all too alert to truly urgent (and generally dire), for of a uncle on his deathbed in the next receiving either meaningful missives most folks the postal service provided town and the joyous announcement or damnable dunning notices as to let a the only window to the outside world. of a new nephew a continent or more postman’s passage go unnoticed — and The mails were our connection to away. Surely a century ago (and even this was even more so when the rotund friends and family and the way that today) the sighting of a postman on his Padre was pontificating ten decades news of births, deaths and all the rounds is noted well, raising within our ago. This judgment, though, should not other intervening events that life pro- consciousness the hope, however wan, be taken as a criticism of the Father vides were shared. The postman was that he may have something in his bag Brown stories in general. They are the unwitting, if dutiful, intermedi- for us. entertaining, different and well writ- ary who kept lovers’ thinking of that Thus, it would seem that as ten and, for those who have not yet “most adored one.’ And it was, sadly, charming a plot device as it may have had the privilege, well worth reading. he who also carried the heart-breaking been, Father Brown’s observation And, I would say the same about the news that one’s loving attentions were about postmen on their rounds being McPherson book mentioned earlier.

ADDENDUM Last time round I was dismissive of the idea that Sherlock (generally dated to 1889 or 1890) Inspector Lestrade, in a Holmes had any connection with Jack the Ripper. However, letter to Holmes, mentions a certain Aldridge “who helped after reading Tom Westcott’s article on Charles Le Grand in us in the bogus laundry affair.” Hmmm, “bogus laundry Casebook Examiner and rereading Gavin Bromley’s articles affair,” you don’t suppose that could be a reference to Mrs. several years ago on the Batty Street lodger, something con- Kuer and the alleged bloody shirt left to be washed do you? trary nudged my memory. That is, in “The Cardboard Box” Nah, couldn’t be… or could it?

The Little Man Who Wasn’t There Don Souden Corner particular book. accurate opinion. rso

“Are hardback books a better investment than paperbacks?” “Are hardback books a better that there’s not enough information supplied here to give any that there’s not enough As a general rule hardback books are a better investment than investment books are a better As a general rule hardback cte “I was recently having a ‘spring clean’ when I came across some when I came across having a ‘spring clean’ “I was recently depend upon the nature of the items and the date and specifics depend upon the nature where there is a very limited run or they are particularly rare. A are particularly run or they where there is a very limited would collector’. However, much to a ‘Jack the Ripper be of interest of the ‘Ripper related event’. The older the better, but I’m afraid of the ‘Ripper related event’. or?” to a Jack the Ripper collect worth anything kind of literature pamphlets and other literature from a Ripper related event. Is this a Ripper related event. other literature from pamphlets and may from a Ripper related event and Ripper literature Old pamphlets little research before purchasing will usually reveal the value of a reveal the value will usually little research before purchasing lack of a dust jacket if appropriate. Some paperbacks may be valuable lack of a dust jacket if paperbacks. Much, though, depends upon condition and the presence/ paperbacks. Much, though,

ll art ans

ew Ev tewart tewart is widely recognised a as leading authority on the Jack He case. is the the author Ripper

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The Man Who Hunted Jack the Ripper, The Man Jack the Who Ripper, Hunted and The Jack the Ultimate Executioner Ripper Sourcebook. books He related is Ripper the also Jack of an collector avid and and memorabilia in answer our to view this candidate ideal the him makes your questions about Jack the Ripper collectables. So, without any more hesi- turn let’s to posed tation, the questions this issue... of several true crime books including Co CollectorsCo

“I often go to car boot sales but how can I tell if a book I see at a such an event is rare or otherwise a bargain?”

Only experience, research and knowledge will impart the ability to recognise if a book ‘is rare or otherwise a bargain’. However, in these days of Internet availability on lap-tops and mobile phones it should be possible to do research on book values on such a site as w w w .a b e b o o k s .c o m when you spot a book of interest. r

“I own a few Jack the Ripper books published in foreign languages, I find them intriguing even though I don’t understand them, are they worth more than their English counterparts?” ne r As a general rule foreign language editions of Jack the Ripper books will be of interest to only the completist collector, so they will not If you have a question about Ripper be worth more than their English counterparts, except, maybe, to books and collectables that you would such a collector if he/she doesn’t have a copy. like answered then why not send it to Stewart via our email address e x a m i n e r @c a s e b o o k .o r g. Stewart will be answering again next issue, so get those questions in and get collecting.

don’t be shy ripperologists email stewart today! On The Case… Th e Ne w s Fr o m Ri p p e r Wo r l d

for people to donate as much or as little On appeal… as they would like, the paypal address is On the As he reported in June’s Examiner, Trevor f r a n c e s -c o l e s -2011@a l l -t h a t -y o u v e -d o n e .c o m Bond is behind an ongoing appeal to raise Thus far he has raised just over £200. He count… funds for a plaque to mark Frances Cole’s is also planning a social event on Friday A film of Jack the Ripper versus Count grave. He has, subsequent to his report 24th September (the day before the Jack Dracula, based on a comic book, is in Issue 2, had to appoint a board of three the Ripper Conference), at The Bell, apparently in the planning stages. It trustees, and we want to be upfront in men- Middlesex Street, from 7pm, to raise funds certainly seems to be an interesting, tioning that one of these is Examiner’s own and awareness of his plans. This event is if a little left-field idea at first glance. Jennifer Shelden (the others being Trevor set to include a quiz and an auction of vari- Breck Eisner, the film’s director is, himself and Phil Carter). Trevor has been ous items, with potential donated items however, quoted as saying, “really keeping people informed of progress via his to auction from Jane Coram and Andrew Jack the Ripper is the hero [of the film] own website, his Facebook group and via Firth. and he’s trying to save the world from the Casebook and jtrforums.com message w w w .a l l -t h a t -y o u v e -d o n e .c o m Dracula and his vampire brides. It’s boards. He has opened a paypal account w w w .f a c e b o o k .c o m f o r u m .c a s e b o o k .o r g just a cool, aggressive, awesome pitch and I’d love to make that.” Perhaps it is best left there. Any rate, it looks as though the film is a few years down the On The phone… pipeline as Eisner has other upcoming Apple have launched an application (known as an app) called Jack the Ripper: projects to complete first. Letters From Hell. The gamer is described as playing Bert a reporter and the aim w w w .f e a r n e t .c o m of it is to help him be cleared of being Jack the Ripper. This is because Bert has w w w .c o m i c b o o k m o v i e .c o m forged the Ripper letters, making him an ideal suspect. The gamer must there- fore solve clues to help Bert to prove the real Ripper is elsewhere. w w w .i t u n e s .a p p l e .c o m w w w .d e a l s -n-d i s c o u n t s .c o m

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 96 On The Case… Th e Ne w s Fr o m Ri p p e r Wo r l d

to forging the said diary. On the 30th Nintendo DSi but under the name Real On film… July Caroline Morris posted on his Crimes: Jack the Ripper. The British Film Institute are trying to behalf, on the Casebook forums, details w w w .worthplaying .c o m save many of Alfred Hitchcock’s early of the apology on page 12 of that day’s w w w .g a m e r s h e l l .c o m films, including his 1927 Ripper flick Mirror together with Robert’s thanks The Lodger. Due to the nature of the to all those who had alerted him to the negatives, which were printed on nitrate libellous and misleading statement. On the film, many of the originals have decayed The apology can be seen here:- bbc… badly over time. The Institute are asking w w w .m i r r o r .c o .uk for donations in order to restore them w w w .f o r u m .c a s e b o o k .o r g Ripperologist Jonathan Menges has digitally. However, it will take £100, 000 recently been featured in the BBC’s on- to restore the entire film. line magazine due to his interest and w w w .t o n i c .c o m On the research into the Crippen case. James Patrick Crippen, a distant cousin, is game… trying to exonerate Crippen, using DNA On the The gaming season seems to be in full evidence. Jonathan claims that the mito- flight, and news of another release has chondrial DNA evidence is irrelevant mirror… reached us. This one is titled Actual as genealogy linking living relatives to We are pleased to report that The Daily Crime: Jack the Ripper on Playstation Cora Crippen is based on flawed gene- Mirror have apologised to Robert Smith, PSP minis platform. The release date alogy. Meanwhile, Jonathan notes that authors’ agent and publisher of the orig- and price are yet to be announced. the nuclear DNA findings were first inal book on the Maybrick diary. This But we do know that it is a 3D puzzle revealed on a TV documentary and fur- was after the Mirror wrongly stated game in which the gamer “helps the ther points out that they have not yet both in a colour supplement and on-line, police hunt for clues”. This game has been published or peer-reviewed. in April this year, that he had admitted been released already on the PC and w w w .bb c .c o .uk

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 97 On The Case… Th e Ne w s Fr o m Ri p p e r Wo r l d On track… On a News of the Crossrail project and its is not at risk despite the British gov- effect on Whitechapel Station have ernment making major cuts as part of lighter recently been made public. Crossrail is austerity measures. A planned tunnel note… due to open in 2017 when Whitechapel has been scrapped, meaning less dis- Station will become an important ruption for local residents and a cost Jonathan Bennett and Andrew Firth transport link. The entrance to the sta- saving of an estimated 30 million share a light-hearted look at their tion will be on Whitechapel Road, after pounds. The images show that while recent adventures in the East End, in Tower Hamlets Council objected to a many of the station’s original features London Job’s Little Brother, which can previous plan for it to be on Fulbourne are to be retained, there is, however, to be found on YouTube in two parts on Street. The Department of Transport be a glass roof. the below links. and Crossrail state that the project w w w .b d o n l i n e .c o .uk w w w .y o u t u b e .c o m w w w .y o u t u b e .c o m

The one day Jack the Ripper Conference On a different note, why not head to On a organised by Adam Wood is set to take Spitalfields Market for the London place on Saturday, 25th September at Restaurant Festival Market and date… the King’s Stores in London’s East End. Awards? The event takes place 11th The New Edition of Begg, Fido and to 13th October and 15th to 17th Skinner’s Jack the Ripper A to Z , to be The Whitechapel Society’s October meet- October. published by John Blake, is still slated ing is The Jeremy Beadle Lecture by for publication on 6 September 2010. Paul Begg on Saturday 2nd October.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 98 On The Case…Extra Th e Ne w s Fr o m Ri p p e r Wo r l d The eyes that looked upon Mary Jane kelly by Neal Shelden

In the premier issue of the Casebook Jane Kelly may have once lived. We Examiner (#1 April 2010) I published have found the history of Adrianus L. some research that I, together with Morgenstern, who Stewart Evans and my wife Jennifer, had conducted into Nick Connell identified as a candidate some of the people who knew Mary for Morganstone in their book, The Man Jane Kelly in the East End prior to her Who Hunted Jack the Ripper. In 1881, living in Spitalfields. As a result of this he lived at 43 Victoria Road, Fulham, Ad r i a n u s Lu c a s Mo r g e n s t e r n . continuing research, I have been given with his wife, four daughters, and his Pi c t u r e c o p y r i g h t Gr a n t Fe n w i c k . permission to publish, for the first brother. He was recorded on the census time, an image of one of these people. as working as a gas stoker and born in sent it to us. It shows that she died of As I said to my wife after receiving it, the Netherlands. On 22nd June 1884, tuberculosis at the German Hospital in the eyes in this image once looked upon his wife Antonettea Morgenstern died. Hackney. Adrianus’ address is given as the elusive Mary Jane Kelly. Grant Fenwick, the descendant who 31 Victoria Road, Fulham at this time. As readers may recall, our research has given us permission to publish After publishing our latest find- partially focused on the character of the photograph, also kindly scanned ings, Jennifer and I attempted to Morganstone, a man with whom Mary in Antonetta’s death certificate and get in contact with any of the living

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 99 descendants of Morgenstern in order as 1877 and that she was aged 7 when Examiner’s readers. We are not sure of to try and further our research. We her mother died in 1884, her child- the exact date of the photograph, but were able to contact Grant Fenwick, hood experiences being brought up believe it cannot date to much before a descendant of Morgenstern’s third in a brothel were likely to have been his death, so he must be in his late 70’s daughter, Wilhelmina Christina, who between the age of 7 and 14, or 1884 or early 80’s in it. He died as Adriaan married in 1897 to Thomas Fenwick, to 1891. Frustratingly, Grant could not L. Morgenstern aged 83 in 1932. in the Poplar area. This was the person shed any more light on the Elizabeth who had previously posted the tantal- Felix, or her relationship with Adrianus ising clue on Casebook in 2005 that he Morgenstern. But, excitingly, he did If you have a story you had “heard a story that Wilhelmina, have a picture of Adrianus in his later would like to submit please when she was a child, was brought years, at a family wedding, that he email us at up in a brothel in Limehouse.” Taking was willing to show me. I am happy Wilhelmina Morgenstern’s birth date that we are able to share it with the [email protected]

Pu z z l i n g Co n u n d r u m s Go to the next page for the puzzle

Just how good a detective are you? You could print the puzzle to work on it, Then click and hold on the Five MEPO officers have retired from or click on the relevant boxes on the next box below to see if you solved the duty; all in different years and all dif- page to fill them in with an X or O. case correctly! ferent ranks. On the next page use the clues to match each detective with the correct year, rank and gift he received. Although the names might seem famil- iar, this is purely for fun and is not meant to be historically accurate! If you are not sure how to solve a logic puzzle like this one then go to w w w .l o g i c -p u z z l e s .o r g for instructions and a video tutorial.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 100 On The Case… Pu z z l i n g Co n u n d r u m s

Abberline wasn’t a Chief Inspector. Of the Commissioner and the person who received the cufflinks, one was Bob Anderson and the other was the first to retire. The Superintendent didn’t receive the paperweight. The five retirees were Abberline, Macnaghten, the Commissioner, the one who got the paperweight, and the one who retired in 1905 (who didn’t get the pistol). Between Don Swanson and Walt Dew, one was a Commander and the other received the paperweight. The Commander retired three years after the retiree who received the cane. Either Walt Dew or Fred Abberline retired in 1902. Either Don Swanson or the Sergeant was the last to retire. The Superintendent didn’t retire in 1902. Walter Dew was the second-to-last to retire.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 101 Write To Reply: A close brush with the ‘Crossbow Cannibal’

Dear Examiner,

In relation to Stephen Griffiths, one of the major headlines with the case was the fact that he was apparently a crime historian and also had been researching 19th century murders in Bradford 1847 - 1899. I was aware when searching through the newspaper archives at the Bradford library for local 19th Century murders that there was someone else going through the same material; although I may I have seen him there I cannot actually say I ever met him. At the time of his arrest I had pretty much completed collecting all the data available on the 15 or so headline murders, newspaper reports, inquests, trial data, photography, grave searches, etc.

The whole Bradford situation really did make me think about how people perceive us crime historians and I certainly felt slightly uncomfortable the next time I visited the library, although upon reflection afterwards I realised that the problem is not in the subject matter but in the individual, his agenda and the reason for the interest. Can you believe it, only two people in Bradford researching 19th century murders and one of them happens to be the “Crossbow Cannibal”, the other being me.

The way the press portrayed this research certainly gave me the impression that his very subject matter gave them ammunition to portray him as a morbid weirdo to the eyes of the world and his research possibly inspired his crime spree. Having researched the very same Bradford crimes he had been looking at, I knew with certainty none of the murders were in any way similar to the ones committed by his hand. I think someone like Griffiths would have been on the boards under an alias, more than likely lurking whilst planning his great masterpiece. Given the fact that Casebook and JTR Forums are public forums, he really did not need to participate to get up a ladder in order to see hidden areas usually only given access on certain forums to trusted members. My gut feeling is he wanted to go down in history as one of the great murderers of the 21st Century, following in the steps of Jack the Ripper and the Yorkshire Ripper.

I see him as a loner who walked the streets at night in great delusional contemplation of how he would amaze the world with his master criminal skills. He would show them and he would imagine with great delight how the press would portray this elusive master criminal as the new Ripper. I don’t think for one minute he would have posted anything too telling on any forums. He was a man of mystery, who would let them keep guessing. Anyway, he believed himself far too clever for these mere mortals posting their theories on forums.

I think what he does represent, though, is that he was a man who — like the Yorkshire Ripper — fitted so well into the woodwork that not even the very people he was killing thought him the possible author of at least two abductions-murders prior to his arrest for the third murder caught on CCTV. I think this man was very comfortable in his environment and his victims were equally comfortable in his company. It is more than likely the three crimes he has been charged with are only the tip of the iceberg.

One thing is for sure, just like Jack the Ripper and the Yorkshire Ripper, Griffiths has visited the very gates of hell; I suspect he is still there.

Mark Davis

Got Something To Say To Us?! Did you read something in this issue of the Examiner that to share, get in touch with us, as Mark did! Contact us at moves you to respond? We value the thoughts and opin- e x a m i n e r @c a s e b o o k .o r g, with thanks from the editorial team. ions of all our readers, so, if you have views or comments that you want to get off your chest, or a snippet you want Ultimate Ripperologists’ Tour: Pimlico to Southwark A compendium of travels through locations pertinent to the Ripper case. By T. N. Bond

elcome to the latest edition of the Ultimate Ripperologists’ WTour, back on foot this issue. Beginning in the prosperous northwest London area of Pimlico (although erro- neously given an SW postcode), we will cross over Vauxhall Bridge and into south London, from where we will take in parts of Lambeth and Southwark.

Pi m l i c o St a t i o n

Ta t e Br i t a i n

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 104 Pimlico we cross Vauxhall Bridge; however Victoria Station, and after Pimlico The origins of the name ‘Pimlico’ are it is even more incredible to imag- (alight at the station) travels roughly obscure. In the eighteenth century, it ine that only 250 years ago the areas along part of our route — through was home to gin and beer distilleries, would have appeared on an economic Elephant and Castle — before travel- as was Southwark, across the river, par. Famous residents of Pimlico in ling around the Isle of Dogs and finish- and much like its southern cousin the the past have included legendary ing at Canada Water station. The 360 area was largely marshy, sporadi- actor Laurence Olivier, Welshman travels from the south-western corner cally developed and in parts severely Major Walter Wingfield (the inventor of Hyde Park, through Knightsbridge impoverished. Nowadays, a great deal of modern tennis), Heart of Darkness and Pimlico (once again, alight at the of the area’s architecture is Regency author Joseph Conrad and, some- station) and follows our route even (i.e. dating from the early- to mid-eigh- what less celebrated, Oswald Moseley, closer before finishing in Elephant and teenth century), much of it designed leader of the British Union of Fascists, Castle. From the south, the 156 runs by Thomas Cubitt, under the auspices famous to East End historians for their from Wimbledon through Battersea of local landowner Lord Grosvenor, in failed march along Cable Street. and the historic Nine Elms district 1825 — Cubitt was also responsible for The start of this edition’s journey is (recently immortalised in Guy Ritchie’s parts of Buckingham Palace. Today, Pimlico station, one of the most unique Sherlock Holmes) and on a similar the graceful terraces and squares and frankly, as Dr. Watson may well cinematic theme also travels along (including over 300 listed buildings) have put it, peculiarly hideous of all Lavender Hill, famously the abode tell their own tale of wealth and devel- London Underground stations. Located of Alec Guinness’s eponymous ‘mob’. opment, not unrelated to the district’s inside a tall, narrow office block, the The bus route finishes by Vauxhall proximity to Westminster. station is on the Victoria line, and is station, also visited by the number Despite a decline towards the end also well served by bus services — 344 which roughly follows our route of the Victorian age, Pimlico today is from the north, the number 24 runs, as far as Southwark before travelling once again an area of affluence and appropriately enough, 24 hours a day, to the edge of ‘Ripper territory’, pass- conspicuous beauty. One of the most from Hampstead through most of the ing close to Mitre Square and then striking elements of walking this route tourists’ central London — Tottenham into Bishopsgate before finally finish- is the contrast that still exists between Court Road, Leicester Square, ing just south of the currently closed rich and poor areas of London, and Trafalgar Square and Westminster — Shoreditch High Street station. If is, if anything, now even more strik- before finishing literally yards away you are travelling on either of these ing between north and south than it from Pimlico Station. Alight at Lupus latter two services, you can alight at is from west to east, and which will Street to be closest to our start. Vauxhall station from where you have be almost immediately apparent once Alternatively, the C10 runs from a choice whether to cross the bridge

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Pimlico to Southwark and walk to Pimlico (approximately 20 from Pimlico station. For any further was not to be the case, and after a few minutes’ walk) or whether to begin the information, and to check for any dis- days the guest house owner made the walk with the Tyburn and Effra sec- ruptions, check w w w .t f l .g o v .u k /j o u r - grim discovery of the Reverend Benn tions (missing out Millbank prison and n e y p l a n n e r before you travel. dead in their room; his son had beaten the Morpeth Arms). As well as the above near links him to death with a chamberpot. Benn Three other alternative to Sherlock Holmes and The Lavender — a direct relative of future British MP Underground stations (Vauxhall is Hill Mob, Pimlico itself was the set- Tony Benn — was sent to Broadmoor also on the Victoria line) are located ting for another cinematic legal caper: hospital for the criminally insane later to the north west, north and north Passport to Pimlico, like Lavender Hill in that same year, where he may or east respectively, and are all located Mob an ‘Ealing comedy’, in which a may not have met another man com- approximately 15 to 20 minutes’ walk chance discovery leads to Pimlico being mitted in the same year – sometime from Pimlico — Sloane Square is on declared independent of British gov- Jack the Ripper suspect, James Kelly, the District and Circle lines, Victoria ernment control, and its inhabitants locked up for attacking his wife, Sarah. on the Victoria, District and Circle overnight become ‘foreigners’. Chaos, Interestingly, filming for Passport did lines, and St. James’s Park once more inevitably, ensues. However, despite not take place in Pimlico at all, but on the Circle and District lines. The the jocular tone, the film links not rather in nearby Lambeth, mostly on a last of these also provides a variety only to another world famous fictional housing estate which we will later pass of National Rail services to almost detective but also to a darker, deeply close by. all corners of the country, as does personal episode of true crime, via a Elsewhere in the annals of true the nearby Victoria coach station in well known member of its cast. crime, Pimlico is probably best known terms of buses. The walk will end at Margaret Rutherford, the origi- for the former Millbank prison, now Tower Bridge, from where you have nal ‘Miss Marple’, played academic largely occupied by the Tate Britain a choice whether to cross the bridge Professor Hatton-Jones in Passport, modern art gallery, that we will soon towards Tower Hill station (Circle and but her respected television and film visit. However, it is also known to those District lines), or take a short walk career hid a tragic family past. In 1883 interested in the ‘Torso Murders’, con- east to Bermondsey station (Jubilee Rutherford’s father, William Benn, temporary to the Whitechapel Murders, line); both areas are well—served by travelled with his minister father to as an addendum to the story of the a variety of buses which will take you the Derbyshire village of Matlock. The ‘Whitehall Mystery’. Shortly before to almost any corner of London you hope was that the country retreat would the discovery of that limbless torso in desire. Finally, riverboat services run help soothe the younger man’s mental the foundations of New Scotland Yard, from Millbank Millennium Pier, a lei- troubles, which had begun on his hon- an arm had been dragged from the surely five minute walk further east eymoon with Rutherford’s mother. It Thames at Pimlico; Dr. Thomas Bond,

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 106 he of the contentious Mary Jane Kelly least one Whitechapel Murder, was of of which will be in shorter supply once post mortem, subsequently examined course Thomas Sadler, sometime boy- we do so. If it is hop-based refreshment it and found that it ‘accurately fitted’ friend of the final victim listed in that you are after, however, then walk on, the torso. ‘Apparently,’ he went on to file, Frances Coles. Sadler was charged towards the bridge, before turning left proclaim, the arm featured ‘the hand at the former Kennington courthouse, into John Islip Street (named after one of a person not used to manual labour’. which we will later visit. Catherine of the Tudor abbots who attempted to Two years earlier the area had Eddowes’ daughter, Annie Phillips, nee negotiate between Henry VIII and the given its name to its own ‘mystery’ — Conway, lived in the vicinity — and we Pope, and which now houses offices of the death from poisoning of Thomas will visit the hospital in which she died, the National Prison Service) and then Bartlett, allegedly at the hands of his the same building in which one Mary taking the second right into Ponsonby wife, Adelaide; ‘the Pimlico Mystery’ Ann Nichols spent significant periods Place. The road now stretching along was the media sensation of its moment, of the 1880’s, as, in the 1890’s, would the riverbank in front of you is named and not only the press and public but future silent film star Charlie Chaplin. after the huge prison which used to also the judge and jury found them- Along the way you can also expect to stand along it — Millbank. selves baffled by quite how Bartlett had hear about a demolished prison, two Walking a little way left will bring come to have a large quantity of chloro- closed stations — one designed for us to the Tate Britain, located on the form in his stomach without any inju- transporting the dead! – two buried site of the aforementioned Millbank ries to his throat. Adelaide Bartlett was rivers, as well as churches, markets prison, a notorious (not to mention acquitted, and the mystery was never and the current and former homes of fantastically shaped) gaol which was solved, if soon enough forgotten. There the Special Intelligence Service, better for seventy plus years home to prison- were suggestions that her husband known as MI6. ers bound for transportation either to had swallowed the poison himself as Australia or the vast offshore ‘hulks’ a peculiar form of suicide, and others, Around Millbank (prison ships). As well as the Tate, the perhaps more far-fetched, that he had With Pimlico station on your left, walk space formerly occupied by the sprawl- done so as part of his known proclivity down Bessborough Street, initially fol- ing prison was also used for the Chelsea for self-administration of bizarre ‘med- lowing signs towards the Tate Britain, College of Art and Design (imme- ications’— shades of James Maybrick, following the road to the left, and then diately to the west) whose alumni perhaps? cross Vauxhall Bridge Road. Although have included Roald Dahl’s illustra- Another man famously arrested we are not going to cross the river just tor Quentin Blake, and also, behind — if never charged — with violently yet, it is worth noting that this road and to the east, the houses of the attacking his wife, and championed contains a good selection of coffee shops, Millbank Estate, built — much like the by some as being responsible for at convenience stores and a few cafes, all Boundary Estate in Bethnal Green, the

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Pimlico to Southwark bandstand of which is raised by rubble Australia spent the first three months from the infamous Old Nichol slum— of their sentence in Millbank, at least partly with the bricks of its predeces- the first 30 days of which were in soli- sor. By 1888, however, it was in its last tary confinement and enforced silence. years, and had not held prisoners for This being the Victorian era, there was two years and most histories state that a get-out clause — provided you were it had not held prisoners since 1886 (it of the right class. ‘Educated’ prisoners was finally demolished in 1890). were often offered the opportunity to However, researcher Debra Arif exchange the prospect for life impris- has recently uncovered references to onment. It says a lot about views on female prisoners in situ up to at least the prospect of transportation that the 1889, and even one account, written option was almost always exercised. by a visiting Reverend, which claims Although a solitary buttress that no fewer than five Whitechapel remains close by the museum, all out- Murder victims had at one point spent ward signs of Millbank have disap- time within Millbank’s walls, one peared on this section of embankment being released within 24 hours of her named after it. However, some traces death (see ‘further reading’)! Whatever do remain nearby. As luck would have the truth about its final years — and it, they also remain inside a very nice it is an intriguing mystery — the story pub, on the corner of Millbank and of Millbank is a sad one; built in 1816, Ponsonby Place. Walk back along it was initially conceived as a progres- Millbank, leaving the gallery behind, Ch e l s e a Co l l e g e o f Ar t sive institution, ‘founded on humane to the corner that we just left, and and rational principles’1, pioneering towards the... allowed to fall into disrepair before gender separation for prisoners and realisation of the commercial value of what would now be termed ‘occupa- Morpeth Arms (58, its history made renovation a prior- tional therapy’. By the 1880s it was Millbank) ity. Much like the tunnels alleged to being condemned as ‘an ill contrived The Morpeth Arms was originally run between Buckingham Palace and structure, not at all suited to the pur- built to serve the wardens of the Green Park station, or between the pose for which it was designed’.2 Life in nearby prison; in a pattern familiar Houses of Parliament and Waterloo Millbank was not easy, however, even to anyone conversant with the history station, there are rumours of tun- in its early years — prisoners bound for of Spitalfields, it was for many years nels running to the prison, and even

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 108 direction. Unfortunately, on my visit subsequently bolted onto the bridge’s both the bar and the street outside were exterior have served only to enhance heaving as crowds assembled ahead of its ugliness. In 1888, any Victorian vis- the Spain-Chile World Cup match, and itors wishing to travel to the Thames’ so there was no opportunity to interro- southern bank would have done so gate the bar staff further. Perhaps you via the plainer Regent Bridge, which will have more luck. by then had also become known as Inevitably, the pub is reportedly Vauxhall Bridge. For this reason, the haunted — and one persistent spec- current bridge (located ever so slightly tre is said to be that of a prisoner who died in the underground cells await- ing removal to the prison, while the warders got drunk upstairs and forgot all about him. Apparitions aside (and the pub appears rather fond of them), nowadays one of its major selling points is the view from the second floor – although in truth you can see little more than a busy road and some dis- tant, unattractive buildings on the opposite riverbank. The beer, I am Mo r p e t h Ar m s happy to report, is excellent, however. some holding cells, located in the pub’s Vauxhall Bridge cellar. One crucial difference is that Exiting the Morpeth Arms and turning these subterranean routes, at least, west along Millbank takes us back onto appear to be true, (as photographic evi- Vauxhall Bridge Road and brings us dence available on the internet would onto the approach to the bridge. Barely seem to confirm, see ‘further reading’) a few minutes into the walk (minus — although to my knowledge no one the potential refreshment stop) and we has ever attempted to investigate quite have already come to a second archi- how far they now extend or in what tectural atrocity. The giant statues Po t t e r y St a t u e – Va u x h a l l Br i d g e

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Pimlico to Southwark denied the film-mak- hub of activity, however, the story of ers permission to film South London is still less glamorous the building’s exte- and in parts conspicuously more aus- rior, in case the film tere than its Northern counterpart. gave away its location, Today, the only waterway vis- and so a set had to be ible as you approach the bridge is the built. If true, it would Thames, but at one point standing on be a somewhat bizarre this spot you would have been able to assertion, seeing as watch no fewer than three rivers con- it is pointed out on verge — from the South, the Effra once almost every guided separated the spot on which the SIS bus tour. It is not too building now stands from the main big a leap to assert bank; from the North would have that the modern intel- flowed the more famous river Tyburn, ligence services share some heritage a name immediately familiar to anyone Sh h h h h h h h ! It’s t h e SIS Bu i l d i n g . with James Monro’s Victorian ‘Secret with an interest in British criminal Department’ of the Metropolitan Police, history: further west) is often said to be the which much like MI6 for many years second bridge in the area — but since barely existed officially, and which Lost Rivers (part 1) the late 1990s that has been proved may or may not have been operating in Correctly, the Tyburn is a stream, categorically untrue. Fragments of a Whitechapel in the autumn of 1888. rather than a river; it famously gave much older crossing — some estimates Vauxhall Bridge is to be our depar- its name to a suburb of north west run to 3,500 years old — were found ture point into what Philip Davies, London, near modern day Marble Arch then just a short distance away, and are in Lost London, wonderfully called and Hyde Park Corner, which became allegedly still visible to the keen, and ‘London over the water’. Nowadays, the a notorious place of execution (the gal- fortunate, eye. Turning into the road Thames’ southern side is best known lows being known colloquially as the also brings into view, to the south, the for the ‘South Bank’, a thriving media ‘Tyburn Tree’). In the late twelfth cen- giant Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and arts community clustered around tury, William Fitz Osbern became the building, familiar to any James Bond the Royal Festival Hall, built for the first man to be executed at Tyburn fans amongst you. When The World is post war Festival of London and stand- — being hanged, drawn and quar- Not Enough was being filmed, rumour ing three bridges east from here. Just tered for attempting to lead the poor had it that the intelligence agency had a few streets to almost any side of this of London in revolt. He was captured

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 110 in the churchyard of St Mary le Bow, Fleet was the biggest culprit in this days it was alleged to have been sailed in the City; very few of his support- way). Bazalgette’s sewer network, along by Celtic Queen Boudica. ers, once apparently numbering over largely unchanged to this day, saw the We have a choice now. The riv- 50,000, dared to make themselves elimination, either in whole or in part, erbank around the Tyburn outflow is known by defending him. Nearly five of over a dozen previously open water- unfortunately no longer publicly acces- hundred years later, Oliver Cromwell ways. It was also responsible for the sible, at least not without walking a was hanged at Tyburn, despite having constructions of parkland, situated over considerable distance out of your way, already been dead for three years. sewerage pipes (as in East Ham) and although the residents of the ‘Tyburn Perhaps there was something innately even the construction of the embank- House’ apartments do enjoy a private political about the stream; two of the ments now synonymous with London’s ladder leading down to the relevant Tyburn’s three branches once made riverbank and on a stretch of which area. There is, actually, a small plaque Westminster, site of the modern we now stand. No river was safe — in located above the outflow, a relatively Houses of Parliament, an island. building the embankments, Bazalgette recent addition commissioned from an London’s former problems with even narrowed the Thames (this is artist and which features the names sewage are well documented, famously why Somerset House, on the Strand, of all the areas the river passes below, reaching a crisis point with the so can be seen in 18th century depictions and if you wish to view this then turn called ‘great stink’ and the cholera fronting onto the river). These days, right immediately before the bridge outbreak of 1858 and the cholera out- although parts of some ‘buried’ rivers and keep walking until you get to the breaks of the 1840s. The solution remain visible (most famously the large black gates of Tyburn House. would change London’s geography — Fleet forming the Serpentine lake, Passing these, you will be able to take and specifically its waterways — for- in Hyde Park; more contentiously an a left turn onto the section of embank- ever. Commissioned to find a solution, antique dealer near Bond Street claims ment fronted onto by the apartments. Joseph Bazalgette seized on a unique a stretch of water in their basement is The plaque will be in front of you. There dual opportunity to both utilise the part of the Tyburn) for the most part is a small service ladder belonging to existing natural watercourses as the the only trace of them can be found Tyburn House, but as it is in full view skeleton for an ambitious network where their modern-day courses meet of the residents and that the devel- of sewers and storm drains, and in with the Thames, or in the ingenious opment is also well patrolled by both doing so also to bury forever rivers and ways in which engineers have ensured private security and the Metropolitan streams more suited to London’s rural their route is unhindered. The river police, I decided against using it on my past than its newly industrialised self, Westbourne, for example, travels over visit. and which were fast becoming public the platforms at Sloane Square station Otherwise, continue across health hazards in their own right (the in a thick, lead-lined pipe; in earlier Vauxhall Bridge to where the riverbank

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Pimlico to Southwark is more easily accessible, and from first century rebirth where we shall get a good view of the unlike nearby Bankside Tyburn’s modern-day mouth, as well Power Station — now the as one of south London’s hidden rivers, Tate Modern — can also the Effra. be glimpsed from here, a short distance to the West, Lost Rivers (part 2) around a sharp bend in the Nine Elms station used to stand Thames. just to the west of Vauxhall Bridge Near the Effra on its south side. Reaching the end of plaque, which is repeated Vauxhall Bridge, turn left (towards the on the other side of the SIS building). Although a plaque com- wall, is a larger, somewhat memorating the river has been placed steadier and more legally immediately above an outflow here, accessible access ladder this is little more than a diverted storm (although the idea of MI6 drain; the actual modern day mouth is officers perhaps watching you descend Ba t t e r s e a Po w e r St a t i o n located a short distance further to the is a strange one!) . Nevertheless, it is a west, in the wall of the embankment somewhat unorthodox and potentially drain to open, then the stones around below yet more luxury riverside apart- hazardous undertaking, and so should it are going to be very slippery indeed. ments, St. George’s Wharf. From the be carefully considered. If you do Proceed with care and attention! embankment, it appears much smaller choose to climb down, then the ‘wrong’ than the Tyburn outflow, and easily Effra will be directly to your left as you Around Vauxhall missed. The significance of the Effra, reach the ground; the real mouth will Back on more secure footing, continue however, was once huge. Evidence of become apparent if you walk a little along Vauxhall Bridge Road to the votive and even sacrificial offerings have way to your right and underneath the junction with Wandsworth Road, and been found close to the aforementioned bridge. The Tyburn can be seen on the turn off east (left) along the Albert ancient bridge, not far from here. With opposite bank, a little further west. Embankment, cousin (or more cor- the Thames dominating the view now, The view from here is exceptional, and rectly, husband) of the more famous it is hard to imagine how this section of you may even get some local wildlife northern Victoria Embankment. London’s waterways must have looked. for company. One final word of cau- Should you arrive in the area early, the The huge ‘white elephant’ of Battersea tion, however, if (as was the case on my current site of Covent Garden Market Power Station, yet to find its twenty- visit) heavy rain has caused the Effra (the real, wholesale one, rather than

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 112 the curio sellers and street perform- criminal, Jeffrey Archer (the novelist small stub of public parkland, complete ers that now inhabit the original site) and disgraced Lord). with climbing frames and overhanging is situated a short distance to the west Almost opposite Peninsula train tracks; this is all that remains of of here, off Wandsworth Road; a note Heights stands a pub; cross the road Vauxhall Gardens, once lit by nearly of caution though, there is a nominal here and turn into Timworth Street, 100,000 hanging gas lamps. charge to get in and photography is not keeping the pub on your right, pass- allowed without advance permission. ing under an archway carrying trains Around Lambeth Early means early too — it begins at 3 into Vauxhall station. It may be a The road you join now is Black Prince or 4 am! little wider, but if you squint a little it Road; this was the site of Lambeth After just a minute or so of walk- is just possible to imagine that this is workhouse from 1726 to 1874. However, ing, yet more luxury apartments will how Swallow Gardens, Whitechapel, it is the relocated workhouse which is come into view — but this time the may have looked on an ill-fated night our next destination. As you walk right facade hides a fascinating past. These in February 1891. And are those swal- along the road, take a minute to look are ‘Peninsula Heights’, now one of the lows adorning its brow? across at the entrance to a drab hous- most prestigious addresses in the area. Continue until your path is blocked ing estate on your left as you approach Previously, however, they were oper- by a large former warehouse build- the zebra crossing. Although neither ated as SIS ‘safe houses’; it was also ing, then turn left. This is Vauxhall attractive nor particularly historic, the from a room here that the police opera- Walk, and as you walk along it, try to name is one that should ring some bells. tion that finally convicted the Kray imagine group after group of fashion- The original ‘Lambeth Walk’ was dam- twins — ostensibly for the murder of ably attired eighteenth century men aged by bombing during World War George Cornell in the Blind Beggar, on and women travelling alongside you, Two; it is tempting to believe that its Whitechapel Road — was run. Senior towards the sound of music and the targeting was deliberate. Certainly the detectives felt that Scotland Yard flash of fireworks. Hard to imagine? Nazi Party were not amused by what could not be considered safe from gang And yet, this is how the scene would they saw as the ‘animalistic move- intrusion and corruption; whatever the have appeared in the days when their ments’ of the internationally copied case, it is quite appropriate that the destination — the ‘almost anything dance to Noel Gay’s musical number building blocks of their downfall were goes’ playground of Vauxhall Gardens, — they were even less impressed by a assembled in south London, as we are was so internationally renowned that 1942 parody film which edited footage now in Richardson territory (the Krays’ it gave the Russians their name for of party rallies to make it appear as arch rivals, and Cornell’s employers). ‘pleasure garden’, and from there also if they were dancing to the very same The building is now home to another their first name for a railway station, tune! Despite the song’s celebratory famous, if less glamorous, convicted Vokzal. Continue until you come to a tone, the less well known opening lyrics

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Pimlico to Southwark set a more plaintive tone — ‘the skies had not only beaten her but threat- nearby was once part of the second ain’t blue, the grass ain’t green’. Still, ened to murder her. The connotations Lambeth Workhouse, built in 1874. the narrator concludes, ‘ev’rything’s would have seemed even more strik- Turn right into the road approaching free and easy, (you can) do as you darn ing then than they do now, and Chief the remainder of the building (now well pleasey’. It is a peculiarly musi- Inspector Donald Swanson, perhaps a nursing home) for a better view. cal street: it was also the home of punk amongst others, took a direct inter- Lambeth Infirmary moved from Black songwriter Ian Dury’s character Mr est in the case. Although the charges Prince Road in 1871, or seven years Walk, who ‘took an overdose of Omo’ were dropped, Sadler was bound over after Mary Ann ‘Polly’ Walker married (a brand of soap powder) which, appar- to ‘keep the peace’. It is the last known William Nichols just off Fleet Street. ently, ‘made the neighbours talk’. appearance of this troubled and enig- It was to the new Lambeth Workhouse Continue along Black Prince Road matic man in the official records. The that Mary Ann ‘Polly’ Nichols, by then until you get to the junction with the building opposite also once served betrayed by her husband William and wide and busy Kennington Road; cross as Kennington Police station, and in all but divorced, would admit herself this (carefully!) and turn left by the 1875 it would have been the work- in April 1882, and where she would Dog House pub, into the more sedate place of a new police recruit, warrant stay until January of the following Kennington Lane. number 59442, White, Stephen. After year, when she would be admitted to Passing some wonderful Victorian just a year as a constable, and Edwardian buildings, take the White would be promoted third left into Renfrew Road, and to sergeant and relocated towards our first Whitechapel Murders to Whitechapel, where connection in Lambeth. Roughly half- eight years later he would way along the road, the gabled build- become one of the best ing to your right (now the ‘Jamyang known middling rank offi- Buddhist Centre’) was previously cers on the ground during Kennington Courthouse, and it was the ‘Ripper’ crimes, most here in 1892 that James ‘Thomas’ famously involved in the Sadler, questioned little more than a arguably flawed question- year earlier after the death of his some- ing of Berner Street fruit time paramour Frances Coles and put seller Matthew Packer. forward by some as a possible Ripper, Immediately after was brought following allegations by the former courthouse, his long-suffering wife Sarah that he the water tower looming Ke n n i n g t o n Co u r t h o u s e

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 114 the accompanying infirmary. She was back in the workhouse by the end of the month, and would stay there until March. After a brief period living with her father, she returned to the work- house in May and remained there until the beginning of June. She would return to Lambeth Workhouse in December of 1887, having been arrested for sleeping outdoors. Her final stint in Lambeth would be from 16th April to 12th May 1888, from whence she left to take up an infamously ill-suited posi- tion in domestic service. In the early hours of August 31st, of course, she would be found dead in Buck’s Row, 28 Gi l b e r t Ro a d Whitechapel, and would be identified by the Lambeth Workhouse mark on graceful crescent of restored Victorian her petticoats. After the workhouse terrace housing. In 1881, the family of was disbanded, the building became Stephen White would be living behind Lambeth Hospital, and it was here that the cherry-red door of number 28. At Annie Phillips (nee Conway), daugh- the end of Gilbert Road turn right into ter of Catherine Eddowes, would die of Wincott Street and then again (once heart failure on July 15th, 1943. Charlie more) into Kennington Road. Chaplin, together with his mother and Continue to the junction with brother, would also live for a significant Lambeth Road, from where the park- period of time at the Workhouse, follow- land forming the grounds of the ing admission in 1896, a period vividly Imperial War Museum becomes appar- remembered in the future film star’s ent. Turning right into Lambeth Road autobiography. brings the museum into clearer view; it Continue to the end of Renfrew is notoriously located within the former Road and turn left into Gilbert Road, a central wing of the third ‘Bethlem’ Im p e r i a l Wa r Mu s e u m

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Pimlico to Southwark (correctly Our Lady of Bethlehem) curtailed much as the citizens of that we shall not dally here. Turning left into lunatic asylum (what would today be post war city. Westminster Bridge Road (and back into termed a psychiatric hospital). The As you walk along St George’s Lambeth), there are two buildings of first had been located on the site of Road, look across to the housing interest in this road; firstly, at number today’s Liverpool Street station, a well estate opposite Newman House. The 100, stands ‘Century House’ (now yet known terminus for Ripper East End entranceway underneath the name more luxury apartments), home of the locations. Nothing remains of the first plaque (standing with your back to SIS (MI6) until 1995, when during the two hospitals, the most notorious of Hayles Street) stands in the rough loca- majority of the time that the intelli- which was built near today’s Moorgate tion of the demolished Marshall Street gence service was stationed here, it did station, and which offered wealthy vis- – birthplace, in 1849, of Martha White; not officially exist. Secondly, on the left itors the dubious attraction of viewing the future Martha Tabram, and, as side of the road a little past Lambeth the patients in their cells. Conditions of August 1888, contentious ‘Ripper’ North station, stands an abandoned within the various hospitals improved victim. Should you choose (as I did) to railway terminus (now utilised as office in increments, but time after time they wander around the back of the housing space, although outwardly unchanged). were found wanting, and new prem- block, a narrow service alleyway gives a This seemingly average piece of archi- ises sought; the institution’s nickname very good approximation of the former tecture actually stands testament to itself (Bedlam) became synonymous course of Marshall Street. one of the most ambitious Victorian with chaos and disarray. If the term Turning left into Princess Street attempts at redefining social conven- has not yet outlived the institution and then again into London Road, we tion — and around a subject with which itself (now based in a fourth premises, are now nearing the area known as they were uniquely fascinated, as well; in Bromley) it may well yet do so. As Elephant and Castle, nowadays named death. For this was the Necropolis sta- you turn right into St George’s Road, primarily after the large (and hideous) tion, ferrying coffins and mourners to a plaque commemorating the opening shopping centre situated on a major the newly built Brookwood cemetery in of the hospital (in 1815) can still be roundabout, but originally named after Surrey, no less than 35 miles away (one seen set into the walls of the former a local pub. London lore has it that the way), in order to ease congestion in the gatehouse building. The Latin dedica- name’s somewhat prosaic origins centre capital’s own cemeteries. This facade is tion from the hospital’s opening also around a young Spanish royal – l’infant actually the second Necropolis station, remains above the main entrance; de Castillo – who once lived in the area, the first having been located a little fur- appropriately enough, a section of the and who gave her name first to the pub ther along and operational from 1854. Berlin wall stands nearby, a reminder and then – in brutally Anglicised form Opened in 1902, the second station was perhaps of the days when patients – to the area. Spanish princesses aside, damaged in bombing in 1941, and never within would have had their freedom there is little of interest to the area, and re–opened.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 116 Take the first right after the bank’, not far from Necropolis building. Lower Marsh is here, but its inter- reportedly one of the oldest streets nationally renowned in London, and its name tells of the productions are a mil- time when this whole area would have lion metaphorical been marshland. Traces of its former miles from the Bard’s state can even still be seen in its pecu- more austere early liar camber. Today it is home to little career, during which more than a rather depressing street he is rumoured to have market, and the occasional glimpse of lived nearby. He even the gleaming terminus that is Waterloo has one of his charac- Station. Continue to its end, and cross ters castigate another, Waterloo Road into The Cut, named in Henry VI Part II, after the railway building process that for being so rude as to created it, and now one of the major ‘leave me at the White east–west arteries through this part of Hart in South-Wark’. south London. The theatrical con- nection still remains, Around Southwark however, with both the Historically under-developed, and cru- Young Vic and Old Vic cially out of the control of the London theatres located in The city authorities for much of its life, Cut, the latter currently Southwark was once known through- run by American Beauty out the capital as a magnet for what star Kevin Spacey. were considered insalubrious activi- In 1871, new City ties, including bear baiting and theatre of London police recruit – at least one of William Shakespeare’s Edward Watkins was early plays was performed at living at Number 2, The Southwark’s ‘Rose’ theatre. The rebuilt Cut; 17 years into his ‘Globe Theatre’, the original of which career he would find a succeeded the Rose, is located on the night beat interrupted by Ne c r o p o l i s St a t i o n aforementioned fashionable ‘south the discovery of Catherine

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Pimlico to Southwark Eddowes’ body in Mitre Square. He Southwark into Bermondsey, but that would finally retire eight years later, is (perhaps) for another day ... for now, after 25 years service, all at constable perhaps enjoy a well earned rest in one rank. On a non-Whitechapel Murders of Southwark’s many excellent pubs, related note, continuing a little fur- bars or restaurants (one of the best ther along the road we come to our tapas restaurants in London is located second closed station, Blackfriars Road in The Cut), or even take in a perfor- Station, operational only between 1864 mance at one of the aforementioned and 1868 but the entrance and name theatres, before travelling home, either of which are still well preserved under via the Jubilee line from Southwark a railway arch leading into nearby station or via one of the area’s many bus Waterloo East, the station which services. Alternatively, walk a short superseded it. Next door once stood a distance north to come to Blackfriars Congregational chapel, later converted Bridge (where one urban myth claims into a boxing ring, above which the Jack the Ripper committed suicide!) Marquess of Queensbury is alleged from where you can cross north to con- to have written the eponymous rule- tinue your journey from either Temple book which still governs the modern or City Thameslink stations , both fight game. Perhaps the remnants of nearby. Blackfriars station, frequented bear–baiting and bare-knuckle fight- by a certain Montague Druitt, is unfor- ing never entirely left the area either. tunately closed until next year! The gym still survives, although little of the fabric is original; now named References ‘Cityboxer’, its website boasts that it 1 Mogg, Edward (1844), A New Picture has grown from a single gym into a of London; or Strangers’ Guide to the ‘complete lifestyle brand’. Whatever Metropolis, (pub unknown) that is. 2Pennsylvania Prison Society (January, We have now reached Southwark 1888), The Journal of Prison Discipline, station, the end of our route for now Philadelphia – although there are plenty more delights to await you should you choose to continue your explorations from

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 118 Further Reading Shapiro, James (2006), 1599: A Year About the Author in the Life of William Shakespeare, TN Bond is a writer and researcher, Arnold, Catharine (2009), Bedlam: Faber & Faber the man behind w w w .a l l -t h a t -y o u v e - London and its Mad, Pocket Books d o n e .c o m and also the forthcoming h t t p ://w w w .i m d b .c o m /t i t l e /t t 0988045/ documentary Murder and Suspicion: Arnold, Catharine (2007), Necropolis: h t t p ://w w w .i m d b .c o m /t i t l e /t t 0044829/ the Whitechapel Murders and accom- London and its Dead, Pocket Books h t t p ://w w w .i m d b .c o m /t i t l e /t t 0041737 panying book Murder and Suspicion: the Whitechapel Murders (and more). Barton, Nicholas (1992), the Lost w w w .peaklandheritage .o r g .uk He is also the director of the Frances Rivers of London: A Study of Their Coles Memorial Appeal 2011, and can Effects Upon London and Londoners, w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i / be contacted at t r e v o r -b o n d @a l l -t h a t - and the Effects of London and Ma r g a r e t _Ru t h e r f o r d y o u v e -d o n e .c o m. Londoners on Them, Historical Publications Ltd w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /v i c t i m s /w h i t e h a l .h t m Travel Writers Needed! Is there a Jack the Ripper connec- Chaplin, Charles; Robinson, f o r u m .c a s e b o o k .o r g tion to your local town or district? David (1964), Charlie Chaplin: My Why not tell us about it? We would Autobiography, Bodley Head knowledgeoflondon .c o m /p u b s .h t m l be delighted to include a guide to your area in a future issue as we are Glinert, Ed (2004), The London w w w .vauxhallgardens .c o m on the lookout for would-be travel Compendium: a Street by Street writers to tell us about the places Exploration of the Hidden Metropolis, w w w .lyricsfreak . they know with a Ripper connection. Penguin c o m /m/m e +a n d +m y +g i r l / Simply email the features editor at t h e +l a m b e t h +w a l k _10177677.h t m l e x a m i n e r @c a s e b o o k .o r g with a few Gordon, Thomas (2010), Inside British brief details about the place you have Intelligence: 100 Years of MI5 & MI6, w w w .v i d e o j u g .c o m /f i l m /n a z i s -d o -t h e - in mind and we’ll take it from there! JR Books Ltd l a m b e t h -w a l k -7t h -j a n u a r y -1942 We look forward to featuring your area soon. Hall, John (1927), Notable British w w w .r p s g b .o r g .uk Trials Series: Adelaide Bartlett, Hodge & Co. w w w .t b c s .o r g .u k /r a i l w a y

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Pimlico to Southwark CSI: Whitechapel

September 1888 Elizabeth Stride

Location: Dutfield’s Yard, Berner Street, St George in the East.

Date: 30th September, 1888

Time: 1:00 AM

The Victim: Elizabeth Stride nee Gustafsdotter, aka Long Liz, the wife of the late John Thomas Stride was identified by her lover Michael Kidney, and also by Charles Preston, resident of 32 Flower and Dean Street. Elizabeth Tanner also of 32 Flower and Dean Street identified her as the woman that she knew as Long Liz.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 120 Victim Discovered By: Louis Diemshitz, on entering Dutfield’s Yard with his costermonger’s barrow drawn by a pony, through the wide open gates, discovered the body of Elizabeth Stride. It was quite dark as he drove in and his pony shied to the left as he did so. He looked to the ground on his right and saw something lying there, he then jumped from his cart and struck a match, this gave enough light to see a woman was lying there, but he was not sure if she was dead, or just drunk. He left his pony in the yard and went into the club, where he found his wife, who, together with several members of the club, he told about the discovery. He got a candle, and by its light he could see there was blood but he did not touch the body and instead went for the police, passing several streets without seeing a policeman, he returned without one, although he had called police as loud as he could.

Di s c o v e r y o f El i z a b e t h St r i d e ’s b o d y

THE CASEBOOK Examiner CSI: WHITECHAPEL Elizabeth Stride Issue 3 August 2010 121 First Police on Scene: the passage were two wooden gates, kitchen. In this room was window over PC Henry Lamb 252H, who’s beat folding backwards from the street. In the door which faced the one leading was on Commercial Road was the first the northern gate there was a little into the yard. The remainder of the pas- officer on scene. He was alerted to the door, the gates were sometimes closed sage led into the yard. Over the door in crime by Morris Eagle, who was one and the doorway was usually closed the passage was a small window which of the people fetched from the club and locked. However, the gates were daylight came through. At the back of, by Diemshitz and had similarly gone seldom closed until late at night when but in no way connected with it, was a looking for the police. Eagle was then all the tenants had retired and no par- printing office consisting of two rooms. sent to the police station to fetch the ticular person looked after them. In The room adjoining the kitchen was Inspector. the yard on the left-hand side there used as a compositing room and the was only one house, which was occu- other as the editors office. Opposite the Medical Assistance: pied by two or three tenants. That doorway of the kitchen and in the yard PC Lamb sent for Dr Blackwell, who, house contained three doors leading to were two closets. whilst dressing, sent his assistant, the yard, but there was no other exit On the first floor of the club was Edward Johnston, with the police to from the yard except though the gates. a large room for entertainments and Berner Street. Dr Blackwell, arriv- Opposite the gates was a workshop in from that room three windows faced ing at 1:16 AM, examined the body the occupation of Messrs. Hindley, sack the yard. On Saturday night a discus- and pronounced Elizabeth to be dead. manufacturers, there was not an exit sion was had in the large room with Doctor Phillips was also in attendance from the workshop the manufactur- ninety to one hundred people in attend- and he arrived twenty minutes to half ers was on the ground floor. Adjoining ance. When the discussion ceased an hour after Dr Blackwell. the workshop was a stable and this between 11:30 and 12 midnight the was unoccupied, if passing this stable bulk of people left the premises by the The Crime Scene: a person would come to the premises street entrance, whilst twenty to thirty The crime scene was Dutfield’s Yard, forming the pub. In the yard were a people remained and had a discussion, next to number 40 Berner Street, the few paving stones which were irregu- whilst some others sang. Morris Eagle International Working Man’s Club. larly fixed. occupied the chair that evening during On the ground floor of these premises, The club premises ran a long way the clubs discussion. About 11:45 PM facing the street was a window and into the yard. The front room of the left by the front door to take his young door, the latter led into a passage. At ground floor of the club was a dining lady home. He returned 12:40 AM, he the side of the house, before you got room. At the middle of the passage was found the front door to be closed and to the yard, was a passage leading a staircase leading to the first floor and he went through the gateway into the into the yard, and at the entrance to at the back of the dinning room was a yard and through the back door leading

THE CASEBOOK Examiner IssueIssue 33 August 2010 122 to the club. He did not notice anything on the ground near the gate. He passed through in about the middle of the gate. It was dark and so he could not say for sure if Stride was there, how- ever, he did not recall seeing anybody in the yard. At approximately 12:30AM William West went to the printing room to put some literature there and then went into the yard by passage door then into office and retuned the same way. He noticed that the yard gates were open, he went towards them but not up to them. There was no lamp or light in the yard and the only light was from windows of club or houses. He noticed half of the lights were on in one house on the first floor. The printing office editor was there reading. Noises from the club could be heard, but there was not much noise at night. When he went into the yard, he looked towards the open gates, though nothing specific had attracted his attention.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner CSI: WHITECHAPEL Elizabeth Stride Issue 3 August 2010 123 The Discovery of examination. There was a red and through and there were cuts to the tis- the Body: white flower pinned on her jacket. sues on the right side of her neck but Elizabeth was on the ground near the Her bonnet lying on the ground a few these were more superficial and tailed gateway and was in a pool of blood. She inches from the head. Her body was off about two inches below the right was by the side of the club wall. She was still warm. Her neck and chest were angle of the jaw. The deep vessels that lying on her left side, completely across quite warm, her legs and face were side were uninjured. Haemorrhage the yard, her feet were six to seven feet also slightly warm, but her hands was caused through partial severance from the gate, but almost touched the were cold. of left artery. There was an apparent club’s wall. Her face was towards the abrasion of the skin about an inch and wall of the club. Her head was resting The Evidence: a quarter in diameter, stained with beyond the carriage wheel rut, her neck Elizabeth’s throat was deeply gashed blood and under her right brow. There lying over the rut. Her legs drawn up and there was a long incision in the was mud on the left side of the face and and her feet were against the wall on neck which exactly corresponded with matted in the head. the right side of the yard passage. Her the lower border of the scarf she was Blood from Elizabeth’s neck wound left arm was extended from the elbow. wearing. In the lower edge the scarf ran in the opposite direction to that of Her right arm was over the stomach was slightly frayed as if by a sharp her feet, in the direction of the house and her right hand was lying if chest knife. The handkerchief was torn cor- and also as far as the door of the club. and smeared inside and out with blood. responding to the angle of the right There was one pound of clotted blood It was quite open. Left hand was lying jaw. The incision in neck was clean cut close to her body. Blood was still flowing on the ground and partially closed, it six inches in length and commenced on from her throat when discovered but contained a small packet if cachous the left side of the neck two and a half this had stopped by the time Edward wrapped in tissue paper. There were inches below the angle of the jaw and Johnston arrived to examine the body. no rings or marks of any rings on the almost in direct line with it. It nearly There was a quantity of clotted blood fingers. The appearance of her face severed the vessels on the left side and under the body and some blood trodden was placid and her mouth was slightly it cut the windpipe completely in two. about near it. There was no blood on the open. The clothing had not been dis- It terminated on the opposite side of clothing. There was a steam of clotted turbed. There was a silk scarf round the neck, one and a half inches below blood reaching to the gutter, but very her neck, the bow of which was turned the angle of the right jaw but with- little blood, just a patch, near the neck. to the left side and pulled tightly. The out severing the vessels on that side. When the doctors examined the body buttons of her dress were undone but It was cut clean and deviated a little they stated Elizabeth had been dead it was later ascertained this had been downwards. The artery and vessels for twenty minutes to half an hour, her done by Edward Johnston during his contained in the sheath were all cut clothing was not wet and it was a mild

THE CASEBOOK Examiner IssueIssue 33 August 2010 124 night and not raining at the time. The addresses taken. A house to house were verified by the police. Over three doctors stated that would have bled to inquiry was made in Berner Street hundred people’s movements were death comparatively slowly on account with a view to ascertain whether any investigated after communications of the vessels on only one side being person was seen acting suspiciously, or were received by the police and enquires severed. It would have taken about any noise heard on the night in ques- were followed. Seventy-six butchers a minute and a half for Elizabeth to tion, or if any persons were seen with and slaughters were visited and the bleed to death. The injury could have Elizabeth Stride prior to her murder. characters of all the men employed been inflicted in two or three seconds. Numerous statements were made to during the preceding six months were Elizabeth could not have cried out after the police and they investigated these investigate. Enquires were also made the injuries were inflicted due to the people, of whom there were many, and into the alleged presence in London of windpipe being severed. they were required to account for their green gypsies but it was found than presence at the times of the murders they had not been in London during On her person: and every care was taken, as far as the previous murders. Three of the In the pocket of her underskirt there possible, to verify the statements. persons calling themselves cowboys was: a key to a padlock, small piece of Leaflets were printed and distrib- who belonged to the American exhibi- lead pencil, pocket comb, broken piece uted in H Division asking occupiers of tion were traced and they satisfactorily of comb, metal spoon, six large and a houses to give information to the police accounted for themselves. Enquires small button, a piece of muslin, one or of anyone suspicious lodging with were made in the neighbourhood two small pieces of paper and a hook. them. 80, 000 pamphlets were issued. but no person named Lipski could be House to house enquiries were made found. Extensive enquires were made The Murder Weapon: in the area. Common lodging houses in Aberdeen Place, St John’s Wood, in A search was made of Dutfield’s Yard were visited and over 2000 lodgers order to find the insane medical stu- and no instrument was found. were examined. dent, John Saunders, as this was his Many extensive enquires were last known address. However, the only The search for clues: made into those people who fell under information that could be obtained was Immediately after the murder the suspicion. This included those made by that a lady named Saunders resided at police questioned all the members who the Thames Police to sailors on board number 20 with her son but had left to were in the socialist club. They were ships in docks or river and extended go abroad two years previously. searched and their clothes were exam- enquiry as to those present in London, Thomas Coram found a long ined and statements taken. No one about eighty people were detained at bladed knife with a blood stained hand- was allowed to leave until the search different police stations in London kerchief tied around its handle on the was completed and their names and during which time their statements doorstep of 252 Whitechapel Road. He

THE CASEBOOK Examiner CSI: WHITECHAPEL Elizabeth Stride Issue 3 August 2010 125 did not touch it, he found a policeman and told him of it. It had a 9-10 inch blade. Policeman PC Dradge 282H was the policeman approached and he took the knife to Leaman Street Police Station.

Witnesses: PC Smith 452H stated that at 12:35AM he saw a man and a woman (with a red rose), talking in Berner Street. On seeing Stride’s body, he identified her as the woman he had seen. He then described the man with her as aged 28, 5 foot 7 inches in height, of dark complexion and as having a small dark moustache. He had been wearing a black diagonal coat, hard felt hat and a white collar and tie. Israel Swartz of 22 Ellen St, Backchurch Lane, stated that when turning into Berner Street from Commercial Road, as he got to the gate- way where the murder was committed, he saw a man speak to a woman in the gateway, the man tried to put the woman into the street, but he turned her round and threw her down on the pavement and the woman screamed three times, but not very loudly. On crossing the street he saw a second Be r n e r St r e e t man standing lighting a pipe. Then 1909 a n d 2005

THE CASEBOOK Examiner IssueIssue 33 August 2010 126 the man who threw the woman down closed his shop, on the previous night, At about 4 PM, White then saw Packer called out, apparently to the man on and he said in consequence of the rain at his shop when two men drew up in the opposite side of the road the word it was no good to keep open. He was Hansom cab and took Packer in the cab “Lipski”. Schwartz then ran away, asked if he saw a man or woman going stating that they would go to Scotland finding that he was followed by the into Dutfield’s Yard or saw anybody Yard to see Sir Charles Warren. There second man (who had been lighting the standing about the street at the time is no doubt these are the two men who pipe) as far as the railway arch but not he was closing he replied that he saw examined the drain in Dutfield’s Yard beyond it. Schwartz was unsure if the no one standing about or going into the on October 2nd. One had a piece of two men knew each other. He also iden- yard, he never saw anything suspicious paper in his hand with Le Grand and tified Elizabeth Stride’s body as that of or heard the slightest noise and knew Co, Strand written on it. the woman he had seen. He described nothing about the murder until he Matthew Packer then stated that the men who threw the woman down heard about it in the morning. White at 11PM on the 29th September he sold as aged 30 , 5 foot 5, of fair complexion, also saw Mrs Packer, Sarah Harrison half a pound of grapes to a young man. with a dark small brown moustache, and Harry Douglas residing in the He was described as aged between 25 a full face and broad shouldered. He same house and none of them could and 30 about 5 foot 7 in height, dressed was wearing a dark jacket and trou- give information about the murder. in a long black coat that was buttoned sers and black cap with a peak and White was directed on the 4th up, a soft felt Yankee hat, being rather had nothing in his hands. The second October by Inspector Moore to make broad shouldered, with rough voice and man was aged 35, 5 foot 11, of fresh further inquiry and sent to see Packer Packer said the man was rather quick complexion, with light brown hair, and and if necessary take him to the mor- speaking.He was with a woman, wear- sporting a moustache. He was wearing tuary. He went to 44 Berner Street ing a geranium-like flower, coloured a dark overcoat, an old black hard felt and saw Mrs Packer who informed white on the outside and red inside. hat with wide brim and he had a clay him that two detectives had already The man and woman went to the pipe in his hand. called for Packer and taken him to the other side of the road and stood talk- Sergeant White and PC Doden mortuary. White went there and met ing until 11:30PM and then they went from the CID made enquires at every Packer who said the detectives asked towards the club, apparently listen- house in Berner Street on the 30th him to go and see if he could identify ing to music. However, it was not until September with a view to obtaining the woman and that he had done so as after the publication of the descrip- information respecting to the murder. she had brought grapes from him at tion of the man that was seen by the At about 9AM they called at 44 Berner 12 o’clock on Saturday. The men said PC that Packer gave the particulars Street and spoke to Matthew Packer, they were two private detectives and to the private detectives acting with a fruitier, they asked what time he induced Packer to go away with them. the vigilance committee and the press,

THE CASEBOOK Examiner CSI: WHITECHAPEL Elizabeth Stride Issue 3 August 2010 127 who after searching a drain in the yard snake bite, which she had seen on complication of disfigurement or exten- found a grape stem which was amongst the body. Mary Malcolm went to the sive trauma. This is usually by two or the other matter swept from the yard Stride inquest and testified as to the more people who knew the victim well after its examination by the police. identification as to the body found in who are asked to visually confirm their As Packer was an elderly man, who, Dutfield’s Yard being that of her said identity. Therefore, there is still the unfortunately, made differing state- sister, whom she said was never known potential for Mrs Malcolm style cases ments, so that apart from the fact at to her under the name of Stride, but of mistaken identity. However, then (as the hour he saw the woman, and that was known as Long Liz. However, it now) others were on hand who could she was afterwards seen by the PC and proved to be a certain case of mistaken correctly identified Elizabeth as Long Schwartz, it was said by the police that identity when Elizabeth Stokes herself Liz Stride, the wife of the late John any statements that he made would be appeared at the inquest. It was certain Thomas Stride. This allowed inves- rendered almost valueless. that Malcolm had been mistaken in tigators to determine that Malcolm her evidence that the body at the mor- was incorrect, a fact that was eventu- Suspects: tuary was that of her sister, but she ally proved right when her real sister Leon Goldstein of 22 Christian Street, had identified her in the way that was stepped forward. Commercial Road, called at Leaman usual in cases of persons of unknown Fingerprinting is a common sec- Street Police Station and stated that identity at that time, and it was only by ondary means of identification, but it he as he man that passed down Berner virtue of the fact her sister was alerted was not firmly established as a science Street with a black bag. This bag con- to this fact and was able to testify that until around 1900. DNA fingerprinting, tained empty cigarette boxes that he she was not dead that this was conclu- which was first used in 1984, is now a had left at a coffee house in Spectacle sively disproved at the inquest. very good way of identifying people, Alley a short time before. Today, the identification process though it was developed a hundred for the deceased attempts to provide years too late to assist in solving the The limitations of the opinions regarding age, ethnicity, stat- Whitechapel murders. Another means day: ure and other characteristics of individ- of identification of unknown people or Mary Malcolm wrongly identified the uals to help ascertain who they might those who have been badly disfigured, body of Elizabeth Stride in the mor- be. Nowadays, identification by what- or whose bodies have decomposed is tuary as that of her sister, Elizabeth ever means, for legal reasons, must be identification via dental records. It Stokes, otherwise known to her as based on a comparison between pre is a scientifically reliable method as Watts through marriage. Malcolm and post mortem records. Nonetheless, teeth outlast other tissues after death stated that her sister had a black visual identification is still the normal and dental repairs and restorations mark on her leg, caused by an adder procedure for recent death without especially false teeth are resistant to

THE CASEBOOK Examiner IssueIssue 33 August 2010 128 degradation. However, the first case Sources: where forensic odontology was success- Evans, S. and Skinner, K. (2001) The fully used to identify the deceased was Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook, in 1897 when 126 Parisians were killed Constable and Robinson, London. when the Bazar de la Charite burnt down, one the Duchess d’Alecon, was Lane, B (1993) The Encyclopaedia of identified by Albert Haus using early Forensic Medicine, Headline, London. dental records. In the Victorian era, the identi- Sugden, P. (2002) The Complete History fying traits of the victims of murder of Jack the Ripper, Revised paper- were carefully noted and retained by back edition, Constable and Robinson, drawing or photography and the cloth- London. ing was usually kept for evidence. This is why mortuary pictures of the vic- Wade, Stephen (2009) DNA: Crime tims of Jack the Ripper were taken. It Scene Investigations, Wharncliffe was a means to identify who the vic- Books, Barnsley. tims were, and retain the facial details for identification and for the purposes Wagner, E.J (2006) The Science of of the police investigation, even after Sherlock Holmes, John Wiley and Sons, they had been buried. New Jersey.

Conclusion: w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /v i c t i m s /s t r i d e The murder could be one in a series, connected to that of Mary Ann Nichols e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i / and Annie Chapman (see our last Bo d y _identificatio n files). Despite numerous suspects being investigated the case has not yet been w w w .e h o w .c o .u k /a b o u t _6526606_ conclusively solved. File still open. h i s t o r y -f o r e n s i c -d e n t i s t r y .h t m l

THE CASEBOOK Examiner CSI: WHITECHAPEL Elizabeth Stride Issue 3 August 2010 129 from the casebook archives: Frances Coles his issue’s look at the extensive in the neck during a disturbance in the murder to be found in the Casebook’s Casebook archive sees us focus Commercial Road on the first day of press report section seen h e r e. Ton Frances Coles aka Carroty December 1900. It is somewhat ironic Detective Sergeant Leeson’s Nell. Frances’ murder was the last to that P.C Thompson should have been chapter on his part in the discovery be contained in the police and Home buried during February, as events that of Frances Coles’ body from his mem- Office Whitechapel Murders files. The took place that very same month almost oirs Lost London, is reproduced on the Casebook Index contains 47 pages that a decade earlier led to P.C. Thompson main site h e r e. The section (Chapter correspond to this topic. acquiring the unenviable title of ‘The Four of his memoirs titled ‘Jack the We first find ourselves at the Man who nearly caught Jack-The- Ripper’) makes for an interesting first- Casebook Wiki h e r e. This section of the Ripper’. The only way to find out how hand account of events on that day, Wiki has plenty of information about it ends is to click on the link and take even if one that was published some Frances, her last-known movements a look! years later in 1934. and her death. There is also some Meanwhile, a short piece of fiction There is a Ripper podcast on background information on Frances dedicated to P.C. Thompson by Laszlo Frances Coles and the other non-ca- in the section from Chris Scott’s 2004 Benscsics in the Casebook fiction sec- nonical victims which post-date the book A Cast of Thousands which has tion is found h e r e. Mary Kelly murder. It was first broad- been uploaded to the Casebook and can There is an alternative report cast in December 2009 and can be be found h e r e. Readers may well be on the Coles’ inquest from the found h e r e. This episode feature the interested by Bernie Brown’s disser- Walthamstow and Leyton Guardian voices of Chris Scott, John Bennett, tation ‘My Funny Valentine’, viewed from the 28th February 1891, that is Ben Holme and master of ceremonies h e r e in which he deals with events one of many press reports on the Coles’ Jonathan Menges in discussion. surrounding P.C Thompson’s discov- ery of the body of Frances Coles in some considerable detail. The essay’s title alludes to the fact that Frances was discovered on Valentine’s Day eve. ‘The Man who It begins Nearly a century ago, on 9th February 1901 Police constable 240’H’ nearly caught Ernest William Thompson was laid to rest with full ceremonial honours Jack-The-Ripper’ within Mile End Cemetery (now Tower Hamlets Cemetery) having been stabbed

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 131 Scenes of Crime THER CASEBOOKobertExaminer Clack Wh i t eIssue c h a p 3 e l AugustHi g h S 2010t r ee t 132c1890 his issue’s ‘Scenes of Crime’ has men, and blocked slightly by the man a Martha Tabram feel about with one foot on pavement and one in Tit. As this August is the 122nd the road, is the entrance to Angel Alley. anniversary of her death. I thought I The entrance was, and still is, very would show a photograph, while not narrow and could easily be missed. directly related to her, that is never- Next door to the right is Number 84 theless associated with the last night Whitechapel High Street, the premises of her life. of Henry Randell, ‘Hosier’. Number On the evening of 6th August 83 was Philip Cohen & Co, ‘Wholesale 1888, Martha parted company with her Ironmongers’, Philip Moses, ‘Outfitter’, friend Mary Connelly in Whitechapel who had the premises when this photo- High Street. They had spent most of graph was taken in 1890, was located the evening going from pub to pub in at 75 Whitechapel High Street in 1888, the company of a couple of soldiers or which was two doors from Osborn guardsmen. Around 11:45 p.m. that Street. Richard William McDermott evening Tabram and Connelly sepa- at Number 82 was a watchmaker and rated. Tabram with one soldier went he had been situated there for many up George Yard and Connelly and the years. Lastly, on the right, at Number other soldier went up Angel Alley; and 81, is William Wright, Photographer. it is this area of Whitechapel High There had been photographers on this Street, which is the subject of this site since 1859 when William Hobbs month’s photograph. opened a studio there. William Wright The photograph was taken around took over from him in 1886 and stayed the early 1890s and shows the entrance there until 1895. to Angel Alley. The photograph was With the exception of the build- likely to have been taken on a Sunday ing to the left of ‘Ye Olde Angel’, which as all the shops are closed and boarded was occupied by John William Stirling, up. On the left of the photograph, a chemist, all these buildings had where the two men are standing by the been demolished by 1900. Numbers 81 doorway, is the ‘Ye Olde Angel’ public and 82 made way for the Whitechapel house. The landlord in 1888 was Henry Art Gallery, which opened in 1901. Burgess. Just to the right of the two The Whitechapel Art Gallery was the En t r a n c e t o An g e l Al l e y , c1890 & 2010

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 133 brainchild of Canon Samuel Barnett, Vicar of St Jude’s Church, Commercial Street. He was keen to improve the minds of his parishioners and believed that bringing art and culture to the East End would help achieve this. The building was designed by Charles Harrison Townsend who also designed the Bishopsgate Institute and the Horniman Museum. Meanwhile, Numbers 83 to 85 were rebuilt. Philip Moses again took over the newly built Number 83. The site of ‘Ye Olde Angel’ became a chemist’s shop and is the only build- ing from this group that is still stand- ing today. Numbers 83 and 84 became casualties of World War II as can be seen from the circa 1950 photograph, which if you look close enough to the left by the bus stop you can see the entrance to George Yard or Gunthorpe Street as it was called when the photo- graph was taken. Wh i t e c h a p e l Hi g h St r e e t 2010 Today the entrance to Angel Alley is underneath the sign to KFC. There is a fashion retailer called ‘Perfume’, which occupies the building, built on the site of ‘Ye Olde Angel’. Angel Alley itself is home to the ‘Freedom Press, Anarchist Bookshop’.

Scenes of Crime Rob Clack Biography Robert Clack

obert Clack is from Surrey, 1901, published in Ripper Notes 24. England. He has been studying He has co-authored with Debra J. Arif, Rthe Whitechapel Murders for ‘A Rose By Any Other Name?’ a look at more than 25 years. At the 2009 Jack the life of Catherine Mylett aka ‘Rose’ the Ripper Conference he was pre- Mylett and he recently co-authored a sented with the Jeremy Beadle Award series of articles with Neil Bell on the for his outstanding contributions City of London Police Officers involved to Ripperology. He is the co-author in the Whitechapel Murders. For both of the book The London of Jack the these articles he was short-listed for Ripper: Then and Now, with Philip Ripperologist’s Beadle Prize for 2009, Hutchinson. He also is the author of eventually winning for his article ‘Death in the Lodging House’ a look with Debra. at the murder of Mary Ann Austin in

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 3 August 2010 135 The End

WhTHE i t e c hCASEBOOK a p e l Hi g h ExaminerSt r e e t c1950 Issue 3 August 2010 136