Tom Wescott Gets Decadent the CASEBOOK the Contents of Casebook Examiner No
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THE CASEBOOK George The Man Who Hutchinson’s Wasn’t There “Turn on the Christer Holmgren defensive” issue five Benedict Holme December 2010 JACK THE RIPPER STUDIES, TRUE CRIME & L.V.P. SOCIAL HISTORY EVOLVING THEORIES WILDE IDEAS &Corey Browning enters the jungle and Tom Wescott gets Decadent THE CASEBOOK The contents of Casebook Examiner No. 5 December 2010 are copyright © 2010 Casebook.org. The authors of issue five signed articles, essays, letters, reviews December 2010 and other items retain the copyright of their respective contributions. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication, except for brief quotations where credit is given, may CONTENTS: be reproduced, stored in a retrieval It’s Christmas Time pg 3 On The Case system, transmitted or otherwise cir- culated in any form or by any means, Subscription Information pg 5 News From Ripper World pg 93 including digital, electronic, printed, On The Case Extra George Hutchinson’s mechanical, photocopying, recording or Feature Story pg 95 “Turn on the defensive” any other, without the express written Benedict Holme pg 6 On The Case Puzzling permission of Casebook.org. The unau- The Darker Side of Evolution Conundrums Logic Puzzle pg 100 thorized reproduction or circulation of Corey Browning pg 20 On The Case Back Story this publication or any part thereof, Mary Kelly and the Decadents Feature Story pg 102 whether for monetary gain or not, is Tom Wescott pg 45 Ultimate Ripperologists’ Tour strictly prohibited and may constitute copyright infringement as defined in The Man Who Wasn’t There Hull pg 103 Christer Holmgren pg 55 CSI: Whitechapel domestic laws and international agree- Graffito pg 110 ments and give rise to civil liability Undercover Investigations and criminal prosecution. Book Reviews pg 66 From the Casebook Archives Elizabeth Jackson pg 114 Collectors Corner The views, conclusions and opinions Expert Advice pg 91 Scenes of Crime H Division pg 115 expressed in articles, essays, letters and other items published in Casebook Examiner are those of the authors and Editor in Chief Don Souden Assistant Editors: Debra Arif, do not necessarily reflect the views, Publisher Stephen P. Ryder Ali Bevan, Andrew Firth, Mark Ripper conclusions and opinions of Casebook. for Casebook.org Acknowledgements: org, Casebook Examiner or its editors. Features Editor Jennifer Shelden Rob Clack, Jane Coram, Mike Covell Design David Pegg & Suzi Hanney IT’s CHRISTMAS TIMe…THere’s NO NEED TO BE AFRAID JENNIFER SHELDEN s this lands in your inbox it is Christmas cracker in 1848 as a way Day (so called because it was when the that time of year again when of selling sweets. Beef and goose were poor opened their Christmas Boxes) Awe get festive. That is, it’s traditional meats to eat at Christmas became a public bank holiday with the Christmas time and time to sit down but this changed in the Victorian era passing of the Bank Holidays Act of with the family for a lovely bit of turkey with the introduction of turkeys to the 1871. Meanwhile the Christmas stock- and a mince pie… and perhaps the odd festive dinner scene, although it wasn’t ings, traditionally filled with fruit such glass of wine (or two). As the thrice until the 20th century that it was intro- as an orange, were introduced in the number one Christmas hit ‘Do They duced to the plates of those who were 1870s. Know It’s Christmas’ says “there’s no not wealthy. Prince Albert, Queen I can only imagine what it must need to be afraid at Christmas time we Victoria’s husband, brought the tra- have been like for the everyday people let in light and we banish shade”. On dition of the Christmas tree, from his in Whitechapel at this time in 1888; on hearing this song again and again in native Germany, to the Royal house- 15th December they were over a month every shop I enter I wonder about how hold and the British public. from the last of the Ripper’s grisly and the residents of Whitechapel would Meanwhile, Charles Dickens’s terrible crimes, the murder of Mary have been feeling in December 1888. timeless classic A Christmas Carol, Kelly. The murder of Rose Mylett was As we gear up for Christmas we written in 1844, is still a staple for yet to occur, happening as it did on 20th think of traditions. We think today what we all imagine Christmas to be December. This murder, together with that Christmas as we know and love it about. One little girl is said to have those of the autumn, must have had in 2010 was ‘invented’ in the Victorian worried on Dickens’s death that Father an impact on the Christmas spirit of era. Indeed many traditions in Britain Christmas himself had died. Just how those in London, particularly the poor originate from this time. Sir Henry much of the Victorian Christmas the of Whitechapel, who may have won- Cole invented the Christmas card in poor of Whitechapel would have seen dered if the holiday would bring the 1843. By the 1880s, sending cards is debatable. They were at least enti- Ripper out to kill again, as it had done had become popular; in part due to tled to two days off work (but not nec- on the August Bank Holiday all those the introduction of a reduced half essarily paid days). The Christmas months before. It would certainly have penny postage stamp. Tom Smith, a Day itself was considered a common- been a sad occasion for the families of resourceful confectioner, invented the law holiday in England, but Boxing those whose loved ones had perished THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 5 December 2010 3 at the hands of Jack the Ripper, and find themselves horribly murdered at first victim of Jack and to have been if we needed reminding some of the the hands of an unknown assailant and killed on Boxing Day (26th December) women were mothers. It would seem their names added to the Whitechapel 1887, the year before the so-called Father Christmas would be unable to Murders case file. The tide of opin- autumn of terror. Of course, there is give those children the gift they would ion would say that these were not the little evidence that anyone died in such want the most. Ripper’s victims, but still, the streets a way on Boxing Day 1887, she seems Still, as it is Christmas time, we were not safe. The women already on to be a press invention, the Fairy part will, with the benefit of hindsight, note the bottom rung of society would find of her name having nothing more than that there was no need to be afraid that they were still in great peril walk- seasonal connotations concocted by of Jack the Ripper striking again at ing the streets of London. some humbug or other. Christmas time. Indeed, the last of the As a side note it must be pointed Well, one thing I am sure of is so-called canonical victims was killed out that some say the first of the that Jack the Ripper is now long dead, nearly two months previously, and Ripper’s killings did indeed happen at the injustice of his evasion of capture, 1889 would see those murders attrib- Christmas time, making this a very sadly, remaining with us forever. This uted to Jack the Ripper’s hand ceased. good reason in fact, to be afraid at was not perhaps the most cheery of But alas, as the residents entered the Christmas time. Fairy Fay was said festive editorials but I will end by new year of 1889, women still would by some press reports to have been the saying… …SEASONS GREETINGS & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL FROM EVERYONE AT THE CASEBOOK EXAMINER. It’s Christmas Time… There’s No Need To Be Afraid 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 WWW.CASEBOOK.ORG/EXAMINER 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 5 December 2010 5 Full of Devices: George Hutchinson’s “Turn on the defensive” BENEDICT HOLME It looked more like THE WORK OF THE than of DEVIL a man. I had heard a great deal about the Whitechapel murders, but I DECLARE TO GOD I had never expected to see such a sight as this. The whole scene is more than I can describe. I HOPE I MAY NEVER SEE SUCH A SIGHT AS THIS AGAIN. John McCarthy issued this statement not long after …seeing the grossly mutilated corpse of Mary Jane Kelly lying in the room he rented to her for 4/6 per week. With these few words McCarthy tells us more about Jack the Ripper than do many of the full-length volumes writ- ten on the Whitechapel Murders. He not only manages to convey the horror of the Ripper’s crimes, but the fear and sense of helplessness felt by those who lived within his shadow. The killer, of course, was never identified. Yet more then a century after his crimes stunned the world, the hunt for Jack the Ripper continues.