Ripperologist Contents

No. 64 | February 2006 | click on the title to jump to the article

PO Box 735
Features
Maidstone The Canterbury Encore: The Further Adventures of Dr Tumblety
Kent ME17 1JF Joe Chetcuti stalks Dr Tumblety, confidence man and Ripper suspect, to bring you two tales
www.ripperologist.info separated by 22 years in time but very close in pattern.
contact@ripperologist.info Lights, Camera, Action and Cut! Did Jack the Ripper Invent Cinema?
Andy Aliffe leads us through the black-and-white world of early cinema - one of whose first
Editorial Team pioneers may have been the Whitechapel Murderer.
Executive Editor
The Green of the Peak: Part II. Thomas Bramah Diplock, 1830–1892
Paul Begg
Robert Charles Linford, John Savage and David O’Flaherty trace the life story of Dr Diplock, who
European Editor
conducted the inquest into the death by drowning of Montague John Druitt.
Eduardo Zinna

UK Editor
Adam Wood
Ripper Fiction
North American Editor
Christopher T George The Demon Spell
Hume Nisbet is back with a ghost story which was among the first to propose the Ripper as a
Contributing Editors
Christopher-Michael DiGrazia
malevolent, supernatural presence.
Monty (Neil Bell)
Wilf Gregg
Chris Scott Regulars
Consultants East End Life
Stewart P Evans
A Death in the Family: Adam Wood looks at the world of Victorian funerals.
Loretta Lay
Donald Rumbelow Cyber Jack
Stephen P Ryder Website Monty explores the Internet, spots the best it has to offer and tells you where to find it
Press Trawl
Subscriptions
Chris Scott is back in force with his superb compilation of news from half-forgotten newspapers
Ripperologist is published monthly of the past.
in electronic format. The cost is
In Brief: Best Books of 2005
£24.00 for twelve issues, or £12.00
Karyo Magellan chooses the best books of 2005 and shares with you his expectations for the
for six issues. Cheques can only be
future.
accepted in £sterling, made payable
to Ripperologist and sent to the I Beg to Report
address at the top of this column. News news news... if it happened, you’ll find it here.
The simplest and easiest way to The Worst Briton in History
subscribe is via PayPal - send to Eduardo Zinna presents the views of several notable Ripperologists on the significance of the
paypal@ripperologist.info Ripper’s choice as the Worst Briton ever.
Scottish Scoundrels
Back issues Eduardo Zinna completes this journey through British iniquity with a look at the Scots’ own
Some back issues are available in villains: cannibals, body-snatchers and everything in between.
hardcopy format at £4 each. Contact
Undercover Editor furtively removes Ripperologist from Wikipedia
us for details. Single PDF files of issue
Just what it says: sad but true.
62 onwards are available at £2 each.
Dear Rip: Your Letters and Comments
Advertising On the Crimebeat
Advertising in Ripperologist costs Wilf Gregg guides you through the latest additions to the True Crime shelf.
£50.00 for a full page and £25.00
Reviews: this month’s new titles
for a half-page. All adverts are full
colour and can include clickable links
Ripping Yarns: Books, Films, Television, CD, DVD
to your website or email, or movie The Last Word
and sound files. Christopher-Michael DiGrazia draws startling parallels between musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart and - Jack the Ripper.
Quote for February
“There’ve been men who killed for We occasionally use material we believe has been placed in the public domain. It is not always possible to identify
and contact the copyright holder; if you claim ownership of something we have published we will be pleased to make
pleasure. Strange pleasure. There was
a proper acknowledgement.
Bluebeard in France, Jack the Ripper
We would like to acknowledge the valuable assistance given by the following people in the production of this issue of
in London. It’s not uncommon.”
Ripperologist: David Canter, Clive Emsley, Stewart P Evans, Martin Fido, Shirley Harrison, Trevor Marriott, Robin Odell,
James Bell to Denis O’Keefe in The
Robert Smith, Colin Wilson. Thank you!
Leopard Man (1943).
Contributors
to this issue Editorial
ANDY ALIFFE
Andy Aliffe is former BBC Radio Producer, Remembrance
of things past
residing in High Wycombe. He has conducted
important research on many aspects of the
case, including D’Onston, Gurney and the
Seaside Home. He is an Organiser of the UK
Ripper conferences. PA U L B E G G
E X E C U T I V E E D I TO R
JOE CHETCUTI
Joe Chetcuti is a San Franciscan who has In 1888 a man named John J Loud patented the principle of the
put over 20 years of hospital work in an ballpoint pen. The idea was never taken up commercially. Had it
Emergency Room and Urgent Care Clinic. He
has studied the Littlechild Suspect for many been, we’d be writing with Louds today, because the principle
years and has gathered a large amount of
paperwork on him.
was ‘rediscovered’ and patented fifty years later, in 1938, by
a Hungarian named Laszlo Biro. During the war years, Biro fled
R O B E RT L I N D F O R D to Argentina, where he re-patented his idea and where his pen
Robert Linford is a writer from east London
and is a regular contributor to Casebook: was seen by Henry Martin, a British government clerk. Martin
Jack the Ripper.
realised that because the pen was not affected by assorted
K A RY O M A G E L L A N atmospheric conditions it could be used by aircraft navigators
Karyo Magellan is a consultant scientist with - I don’t know why they couldn’t use a pencil - and the British
over thirty years experience in toxicology
and pathology. He is the author of By Ear government bought the patent, produced a pen for the Royal Air
and Eyes, considered by Ripperologist as Force and called it a Biro. The pen wasn’t altogether reliable and
one of the best Ripper books of 2005, and
has a longstanding fascination with the it wasn’t a commercial success until the early 1950s, when the
Whitechapel murders and with Victorian life
and death. Karyo lives in Derbyshire.
problems were overcome by the British company Parker and the
French company BiC (named after Marcel Bich). Today it’s hard to
HUME NISBET imagine life without the ballpoint pen.
Hume Nisbet was born on 8 August 1849
in Stirling, Scotland. At the age of sixteen Quite recently, Professor John Sutherland, the Lord Northcliffe professor
he began to travel and spent seven years emeritus of English literature at University College, London, and Chairman of the
exploring Australia. On his return, he was Man Booker prize panel of judges, lent his support to a project that compressed
appointed Art Master at the Watt College
the plots of classic novels into a couple of lines of text message talk. He was
and Old Schools of Art, Edinburgh. He
resigned the post in 1885 and was sent by quoted as saying that texting was an underused but promising educational
Cassell & Co. to Australia and New Guinea. resource and observing that the text ending of Jane Eyre - MadwyfSetsFyr2Haus
From 1905-6, he visited China and Japan. In - ‘excellently expressed the climax of the novel’.
the latter part of his life he concentrated
on his work as a novelist. He died on 4 June I’m not sure about that, but the other day (as I write this) Professor Sutherland
1923 in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England. was the guest of Sue Lawley on the long-running radio series Desert Island
Discs. For those who don’t listen to it, in this radio series guests are invited to
D AV I D O ’ F L A H E RT Y choose eight pieces of music they’d want to take with them to a desert island.
David O’Flaherty has contributed articles The music usually has some relevance to an episode in the castaway’s life and,
on Albert Bachert and Alfred Blanchard to
Casebook: Jack the Ripper, and transcribed
between extracts from the music choices, the castaway’s life is explored in a
articles for Casebook’s Press Project. His comfortable and relaxed way by the hostess. Ms Lawley began her career in
short stories have appeared in Twilight journalism working for the Western Mail and South Wales Echo, where one of
Times and Stirring, and in 2004 he wrote the things she sometimes did - and has probably forgotten - was to have a bacon
an audio drama, The Cleveland Street
Scandal, for Actors Scene Unseen in North
roll and cup of tea delivered to her desk by a young, thin and slightly spotty
Carolina. He is 39 and lives in the southern future Executive Editor of Ripperologist. Undaunted by this, Ms Lawley went on
United States. to enjoy an excellent career with the BBC and took over as host of Desert Island
Discs in 1988, one hundred years after John J Loud, and fifty years after Laszlo
J O H N S AVA G E Biro, patented the ballpoint.
John Savage is a shipping consultant living
in Hull, East Yorkshire. He has been taking
Anyway, Ms Lawley asked Professor Sutherland about his championing this text
an interest in Jack the Ripper for over 30 messaging business and by way of an answer he recalled his schooldays and an
years and first became “hooked” through occasion when someone busily writing some essay on a work of literature was
watching the BBC Barlow and Watt series.
told by the tutor that he’d lose serious marks if he wrote with ‘that pen’. The

Ripperologist 64 February 2006 1

pen, of course, was a ballpoint. always jealous because some other or adventurously exploring the
Professor Sutherland’s story seems kid had a great biro that combined benefits of new technology like
unbelievable today, but I can testify red, green and blue inks in a single Ripperologist.
to its truth because I, too, belong to pen. Magic. I eventually got one,
For the past year, Eduardo Zinna
a generation who grew up in a time but couldn’t find any use for the red
has been responsible for the hands-
when ballpoint pens were frowned and green.
on running of Ripperologist. As for
upon.
Now, I am grateful for the ballpoint me, being somewhat distanced
The point of this long-winded pen. Most people, even people of from the daily bustle and rush at
bit of nonsense, apart from my age, pick up and throw down Ripperologist Towers has enabled
demonstrating that almost any their cheap plastic ballpoint without me to look at the magazines with
subject can be linked to 1888 or giving it a moment’s thought. a refreshed eye - and gosh, we
anniversaries thereof (1938, 1988), But I often recall my ink-stained can be nit-picky about them, but
is that Professor Sutherland’s story schooldays and treat that ballpoint they’re good! Okay, being someone
illustrates how resistant some with a degree of respect and, I who actually remembers the mess
people are to change. There was suppose I should say, gratitude. of a dip ink pen and the time when
some spluttering and coughing at it wasn’t possible to videotape
I likewise remain enamoured of
the very idea of compressing the Cheyenne or Dragnet or Sunday
the video tape recorder. I still
plots of classic novels into a text Night at the London Palladium to
appreciate not having to miss
message format - and I must admit watch at leisure, my appreciation of
television programmes because I’m
that I also spluttered and coughed Ripper magazines may be coloured
otherwise busy and being able to
and thought it a crass idea. But by my memory of Ripperology
tape the programmes I like and
then I heard Professor Sutherland when they didn’t exist. So maybe
watch them at a time convenient to
on the radio and felt shamed. What I’m inclined to overlook minor
me. Yet everyone takes this pretty
was the difference between my hiccoughs such as a slightly late
much for granted. It’s much like
reaction and the reaction to the arrival or a not very exciting cover
music on cassette; I remember when
biro of those folk in my youth? illustration, and having observed
music on the move was carting the
Surely the content, the ultimate the brouhaha in some quarters over
Dansette and a shopping bag of 45s
meaning of a text, is what matters, the Rip going electronic, I must say
to a mate’s house.
not whether it’s written with a biro that I don’t really care whether
or compressed into text shorthand. Once upon a time there were no I get my information on paper or
Ripper magazines. I remember how electronically; I’m just glad to get
The thought took me a little deeper
isolated everyone was then. We it. And I guess that’s why I find it
in the psyche. We are resistant
asked questions, shared our ideas in difficult to understand some of the
to change, but gradually we don’t
letters and learned things through people who moan and whinge and
merely accept new things; we
correspondence. I still have letters carp and criticise the magazines,
actually forget what it was like not
from people like Chris George and and I feel baffled by those who
to have them. I don’t mean the
Christopher Michael DiGrazia which profess an interest in the mystery
people who are younger than we are
are probably more than 15-years old. of Jack the Ripper, especially those
and were born into a world where
Back then we’d have been grateful who may be writing a book or
the biro always existed. I mean
for a ‘fanzine’ typed on a stencil, planning to write a book or whose
those of us who are old enough
reproduced on cheap paper with a involvement is more than a passing
to recall what life was like before
roneo machine and stapled together interest, who - believe it or not -
the biro came along. When I was in
- which is actually pretty much how don’t read the Ripper magazines.
infant school the desks had inkwells
Ripperana and Ripperologist began
and you had to write with a pen that Okay, we can get critical and in some
life. It’s almost unbelievable that
you dipped in the ink; ink got on cases justifiably so, but I’m grateful
today we have superbly produced
your fingers and clothes and stained that magazines like Ripperologist
Ripper magazines written and
your books, ran out quickly, would exist and I’m especially grateful that
produced by dedicated people
blot, or a sneeze would scatter ink people take the time and make the
who give their time, learning and
over the page and the kid next to effort to contribute to them. And,
expertise for no financial reward.
you, or the nib would wear down frankly, I’m not sure how people can
Every issue probably contains more
and catch in the weave of the consider themselves even modest
information and ideas than we old
paper or break altogether. Later we Ripperologists without subscribing
hands in Ripperology managed to get
were allowed to use fountain pens, to the Ripper magazines.
in a whole year before Nick Warren
which were great but ran out, and
paved the way with Ripperana. But then I would say that, wouldn’t
the ink bottles were easily tipped
Not only that, but the magazines I?
or knocked over or the top would
are produced to an extraordinarily
come off in your satchel. Ah, the
high quality, whether they are
biro just made life easier. I was
paper-based like Ripper Notes
> > >
2 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 boarded at Le Havre, France, but he
also hid inside his cabin throughout

The Canterbury
the eight-night voyage to America.
For the previous two weeks many
news stories were printed about him

Encore
in American papers, and it was widely
known that his return to the United
States was imminent. Those who
waited to witness his disembarkment
The Further Adventures needed only to have brought the
JOE CHETCUTI of Dr Tumblety morning paper to read of the man’s
odd behavior. The New York World had
printed a large story about Dr Francis
Tumblety that day. As the crowd
viewed the approach of the French
steamship, one would imagine that
the dockside chatter must have been
quite lively. The reporters certainly
had numerous questions that needed
to be addressed to Tumblety, and the
subject wouldn’t have been confined
to the Whitechapel murders. There
were many items in the morning paper
which surely deserved a response from
the bail jumping doctor. The article
had portrayed him as a former teen
peddler of porn material; a misogynist
who had once owned a collection
of uteri; a former publicity-seeker
who had purposely brought upon his
own 1865 arrest for a germ warfare
plot; and an impostor who tried to
pass himself off as a surgeon in the
Union Army. Yet, there was still one
other matter that appeared in that
article which has received very little
New York Harbor from the Battery (circa 1906) showing Castle Garden. attention. It concerned Dr Tumblety’s
The Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division,
Detroit Publishing Company Collection.
theatrical performance in Washington
DC. I’ll attempt to shed more light
on this 1862 exhibition and relate it
Before Ellis Island opened in as Crowley and Hickey were to observe to the memorable activities which
1892, Castle Garden was New a particular passenger make his walk occurred shortly after the 2 December
down the gangplank. This fugitive 1888 arrival of the La Bretagne in New
York’s processing center for
not only disowned his name when he York.
international travelers. Located > >
on the southern tip of Manhattan,
this active port would become
part of the Ripper World on
2 December 1888. Detectives
Crowley and Hickey were
occupying their assigned posts
at a Castle Garden dock on
this late autumn Sunday. Chief
Inspector Thomas Byrnes had
stationed the duo there and
instructed them to await the
docking of a French vessel.
As the steamship’s 1:30pm arrival
time drew near, a crowd of New
Yorkers gathered alongside the
two detectives in anticipation of a
successful transatlantic journey by the
La Bretagne. Amongst the crowd were
Hay Market and Canterbury Theater
New York World and New York Herald at Louisiana and Pennsylvania Avenues NW, Washington, DC.
reporters who were just as determined
>
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 3
 The Canterbury Music Hall was - pictured next to the Canterbury had enough of an interest in him
initially named the Washington Theater - was one of the more active to view another performance of Dr
Assembly Rooms. During the 1861 places in the city. Dr Tumblety’s First Tumblety’s First Patient during the
Christmas season and throughout that Patient took advantage of the doctor’s second week of March 1862. They
upcoming winter, it was called the notoriety and was performed in an were in a position to expose Tumblety
Canterbury Music Hall. When this ideal location. and really ruin his reputation that
photograph was taken in 1865, the The story was told that during the evening. The New York World’s 2
place was known as the Canterbury first week of March 1862 Tumblety December 1888 story was building up
Theater. Its location was always approached Union military officers towards a very interesting crescendo.
Louisiana Avenue, near the corner of to complain that he was being The scene was set that night in
6th Street, in close proximity to the impersonated at the Canterbury Music the Canterbury Music Hall as the
National Hotel. The proprietor of the Hall. The doctor accused Mr Percival 10pm hour approached and the
Canterbury Music Hall was Mr George of being responsible for this shameful audience waited in anticipation of
Percival, a man who wanted the doors burlesque. The military officers an amusement. Newspapers had
of his theater opened to the public would view the performance for publicized the filing of the libel
every night. He developed his building themselves on Friday night, 7 March, lawsuit, and the boozed up crowd was
into a concert saloon that embraced and upon witnessing the event they going to determine for themselves
music, dances, and farces in the were unanimously convinced that the if they were viewing an impostor or
traditional burlesque fashion. Though quack was up to one of his ploys. a sly crank. Tumblety had initiated
he billed his performers as being They felt it was Tumblety who was contact with the military officers, but
amongst ‘the first talent in America’, oddly impersonating himself during these men were determined to call
his theater could not be considered a the bit, and they reported this to his bluff and trap this annoying pest
first class venue. Admission into his their Lieutenant-Colonel who in turn on his own stage. The music played,
music hall was no more than a dime, approached Tumblety the very next the dog was released, and Tumblety
and the saloon atmosphere attracted day. The charlatan appeared hurt by strutted forth in front of the watchful
Union Army personnel who were in the Lieutenant-Colonel’s allegation patrons at the appointed time. Within
need of some alcoholic relief from and promptly filed a lawsuit against seconds, Tumblety’s trump card would
the Civil War. Percival. A local newspaper reported: be played. From the crowd sprung
It appeared that Dr Tumblety was On Saturday afternoon (8 March) Tumblety’s paid lackey. The angry,
associated with as many as three a charge of libel was preferred well-built young man instantly recited
different theatrical performances before Justice Johnson, by Dr Francis the lines which the quack probably
during this period. A Tony Pastor song Tumblety, against Mr George Percival had rehearsed him on:
entitled The Carte-de-Visite Album the proprietor of the Canterbury Music Dr Tumblety is my friend! I won’t
had briefly mentioned the doctor in its Hall. Dr Tumblety charges that George see him insulted by an effigy such as
lyrics. It’s unknown what Tumblety’s Percival did on the 7th instant, and you are!
reaction was to this, but the song on divers other occasions, utter and After a few more moments of this
portrayed him in unison with an illegal publish a false and malicious libel, treatment, the effigy ran away, never
abortion matter. George Percival had to the great injury and detriment to return to a stage again. No further
advertised a performance of ‘Tumblety to his reputation as an authorized word was heard about the ‘lawsuit’
Undone’ in the 4 December 1861 physician. either.
Washington DC Evening Star. Unlike The military officers considered this The disrespectful ‘impostor’ was
in the Tony Pastor song, Tumblety’s a bogus lawsuit and assumed Tumblety vanquished, and all that remained
name received solitary billing for was only seeking more notoriety. The was Tumblety’s saved reputation. The
this act. Our attention, though, will St Thomas Weekly Dispatch was in clever shyster had beaten the military
be focused on a Tumblety skit that agreement with this assessment for officers to the punch and left them
was performed on the Canterbury they assuredly reported: holding the bag. The trickster had
Music Hall’s stage in March 1862:
It will be strange if the present drawn these men inside the theater
Dr Tumblety’s First Patient. The St
lawsuit does not result in its being, as just so he could teasingly slip away
Thomas Weekly Dispatch of Ontario,
the slang phrase has it, ‘played out.’ and burn them. The triumphant
Canada, labeled it a hilarious farce.
It looked like Tumblety tried to protection of his name was all that
At 10pm, a character that looked
pull a fast one and got detected. Tumblety left behind. The conniving
exactly like Tumblety would strut
Regardless, this was a cunning doctor doctor must have been in cahoots with
around the Canterbury stage followed
who had injected himself into military Percival who probably enjoyed the
by an obedient dog. A singer would
matters inside the nation’s capital publicity his theater received. It was
comically bellow out a ridiculous song
during a major war. He was a person to an elaborate scheme which involved
to embellish the performance. This act
be leery of, and he penetrated many news articles and a court appearance.
was repeated on numerous occasions,
military boundaries. He wore military It’s hard to define a motive for all of
so it seemed to be well received by
attire and circulated lies that he this other than Tumblety fulfilling his
the audiences. The 20 March 1862
was affiliated with General McClellan. desire to antagonize the military while
St Thomas Weekly Dispatch reported
Tumblety had even been spotted having his persona publicly defended.
that Dr Tumblety had been doing a
daringly following McClellan’s staff on Just when you think you’ve got the
thriving business in Washington DC
horseback. The quack intruded upon scoundrel trapped, he turns the tables
for ‘the past six to eight months,’
the New York Infantry’s 13th Regiment on you as he planned all along.
so the quack was well-known to the
at Fort Corcoran, Virginia, and was That was the story that Sandford
locals. Tumblety’s medical office on
later accused of selling fraudulent Conover told to the New York World.
Pennsylvania Avenue was not far at
military discharge papers to young Was it real? Conover had a reputation
all from here, and the Haymarket
Union soldiers. The military officers for tinkering with the truth. There
> > >
4 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
are a number of facts from this story and a Crowd of Curious People Gaze Mr Percival’s role: A quiet owner of
that can be verified, but the climactic at the House He Lives In. - Inspector a property that had gotten publicity
scene can’t be confirmed by anyone Byrnes’s Men Have Been On His Track due to the antics of a mysterious
other than Conover himself. Just like Since He Landed. physician.
in his ‘uteri jars’ account, Conover Mrs McNamara, who owned the An English detective was stationed
suspiciously failed to reveal the property, found it difficult to defend outside McNamara’s property late
names of the military associates who her tenant. On Monday, 3 December, on Monday evening and was stirred
witnessed these events with him. The she told the press that Tumblety had into excitement when a man entered
final scene in the music hall deserves spent Sunday night in his room but the basement at No. 79. Why this
to be doubted, yet the moral of the deceived them by claiming he had now got reported in the New York World
story strangely held its own weight. gone out to retrieve his other luggage. is unclear, but I feel that Tumblety
Tumblety’s manipulative behavior was She told the New York Herald that got word out from his East 10th
accurately depicted. Tumblety ‘would not harm a child’, Street nest sometime on 3 December.
The inventive quack would put his
plan into action the next day. The
scene was intensifying on Tuesday,
4 December, as more New Yorkers
were informed of the happenings at
East 10th Street by the New York
World. To fuel the flames, the English
detective had talked freely about
Tumblety being Jack the Ripper at the
corner bar, and the news reporters
were questioning the neighborhood’s
merchants. Just like the Canterbury
audience had waited for Tumblety
to exit his dressing room and appear
before them 26 years prior, the crowd
outside the McNamara house was
anxious to view a Tumblety-event as
well. Both those audiences had been
filled with gossip talk, and they each
contained men amongst them who
Postcard View of the La Bretagne leaving dock in France. could have made life miserable for
the much publicized doctor.
There was no subtlety when
The French steamship anchored at but this was getting her nowhere. The Tumblety’s plan went into effect.
her pier and permission was granted New York World reported that the Arriving on the scene was an athletic-
for the travelers to go ashore. bells on her front door were merrily looking young man who called upon
Byrnes’s two best men scrutinized jingling all day with people asking for No. 79. After announcing his arrival
the passengers as they walked by. Tumblety. McNamara’s fibs worsened to McNamara, he turned toward the
Finally, they spotted their prey when she claimed that the doctor had press and crowd. His rehearsed lines
scurrying across the deck of the La not returned from Europe and then were peculiarly familiar: ‘All I have
Bretagne. Tumblety was attired in a consistently clung to her final lie by I owe to the doctor, and I think he is
blue Ulster as he abruptly descended declaring that she didn’t even know the best friend I ever had.’ Instantly,
the gangplank right past the two who Tumblety was. The only role she Conover’s Canterbury account went
detectives and the news reporters. would now play would be similar to from being doubtfully reminiscent to
If a question was asked of him, it > >
received no reply. Despite checking
in four bags at Le Havre, Tumblety
had just one small steamer trunk
placed into a horse-drawn cab. He
may never have separated himself
from this trunk during the eight-night
confinement inside his cabin.
Crowley and Hickey along with
the news reporters tailed Tumblety
to 79 East 10th Street. At 2:20pm,
Tumblety entered into the residence
and wouldn’t come out. The New
York World’s headlines spoke of the
commotion that was created outside
the place:
TUMBLETY IS IN THIS CITY. HE
ARRIVED SUNDAY UNDER A FALSE
NAME FROM FRANCE. A Big English
Contemporary sketch of Castle Garden
Detective Is Watching Him Closely,
>
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 5
eerily foretelling. The young man, Wednesday, 5 December. At this point, a venue and dispersed after listening
Martin McGarry, would paint a good McGarry may have provided a false to a verbal Tumblety-tribute. So the
picture of Tumblety. He told how the lead. The Thursday, 6 December doctor seemed to achieve his vain
doctor provided him with employment New York World had referred to goals regardless of how strange they
in the past and spoke of Tumblety’s Tumblety as ‘Thomas’ and declared were. He was a man who would boldly
letters of commendation from General that they had contacted ‘people who interact with his enemies and victims
Grant. He announced how Tumblety had known Tumblety best.’ The tip and know the precise time to depart
had taken him to the Morton Theater which the reporter ascertained from from the scene with a victory. Elusive,
House and described all about their this enquiry was that Tumblety had daring, and deceptive. Whether he
wide range travels together. McGarry’s gone off to live in a quiet country instigated trouble or was forced to
words of praise would get printed. town. It sure appeared that the New face trouble, the trickster didn’t fear
All that remained now was for York World swallowed all of the bait being targeted because he knew how
Tumblety to exit the stage as he McGarry had dangled in front of them. to win.
was said to have done a quarter of a McGarry may have protected Tumblety
Acknowledgements
century before. He accomplished this by intentionally steering people in
I thank Timothy Riordan for
the very next morning, Wednesday, the wrong direction with this ‘quiet
information on Tumblety’s four bags
5 December. The escape artist was country town’ tip. The truth was
at Le Havre and Mr Riordan and
detected leaving his dwelling just that the doctor would eventually be
Jeff Bloomfield for Tony Pastor song
before boarding a nearby trolley detected hiding out in Brooklyn.
research.
car which took him uptown. The East 10th Street and the Canterbury
persistent New York World reporter Music Hall. Two stories with similar Sources
would soon slip through McNamara’s patterns. One we know was real, while Chetcuti, Joe: The Price of False Freedom:
front door and get inside Tumblety’s the other seemed partly apparitional. Dr Tumblety and the American Civil War,
room, but all the phantom had left Yet, the Canterbury’s final scene Ripperologist 57, January 2005; Evans,
behind were a pair of boots and his almost materialized into something Stewart P and Paul Gainey: Jack the
defended reputation. The Canterbury legitimate when it stood beside the Ripper: First American Serial Killer, New
Encore was completed. The press, the East 10th Street account. What can York: Kodansha, 1996; New York Herald,
authorities, and the crowd were left be learned from this? I think there are 4 December 1888; New York Times, 4
December 1888; New York World, 2, 4, 5,
short changed again. Tumblety played lessons to be remembered which are
6 December 1888; Rochester Daily Union,
them like a fiddle just as he had done common to both stories. Dr Tumblety 5 April 1881; St Thomas Weekly Dispatch,
in 1862. was at his best when the pressure 20 March 1862; Washington Evening Star,
Martin McGarry was a bit of a was turned on. He didn’t lose his 4 December 1861.
shady one himself. He revealed his head, and his well planned schemes
business address to the press during usually freed him from danger while
his Tumblety-speech and purposely his enemies suffered embarrassing
referred to the doctor as ‘Thomas.’ I defeats. He didn’t put himself into
believe the New York World reporter situations he didn’t know how to Comment
went to McGarry’s business address get out of. We can see by these two
Next article
on East Broadway sometime during accounts how crowds were lured to
> >

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6 Ripperologist 64 February 2006

 Lights, Camera,
Action and Cut!
Did Jack the Ripper invent Cinema?
ANDY ALIFFE

Imagine being able to capture contemporary author whose solution

on film contemporary black and to a man’s unexplained disappearance
was that he may have been Jack the
white moving images of Jack the
Ripper!
Ripper murder sites, witnesses,
On 16 September 1890, a
police and victims. Suddenly, distinguished figure carrying a case
all the work of the Illustrated of documents, patent diagrams and
Police News sketch artists comes equipment boarded the Paris Express
alive: the crowds outside Millers at Dijon, France, en route to England.
But he never arrived at his destination.
Court, the interviewing of
Despite exhaustive searches by
George Hutchinson by Inspector French, English and American police, made their fortune. This enabled
Abberline, the detention of his body, papers and materials them to carry out further research
‘Leather Apron’ by PC Thicke, were gone; and no explanation was and development of animated
photographic images. Following in
Sir Charles Warren’s failed trials ever found for his disappearance.
This man was Augustin Le Prince, a the footsteps of earlier pioneers,
with bloodhounds ‘Burgho and they showed their experimental
French showman, engineer, artist and
Barnaby’ in Hyde Park, even the trials at private scientific functions.
inventor who was the true father of
arrest of the Ripper himself. cinematography. They succeeded with both cinematic
All become real but with silent reproduction and projection, using
Cinema as we know it today was
captioned comment. their Cinématographe to show the
born in the last decades of the
first sustainable moving pictures to
Would it have been possible? The nineteenth century. The Lumière
a paying public on the evening of
answer lies in an unsolved Victorian brothers, Louis and Auguste, first
28 December 1895. An enthusiastic
mystery. All the usual elements of a established themselves in the world
and amazed audience gathered at
Ripper tale are present: Freemasons, of photography. They owned a factory
the Salon Indien, a small hall in the
shadowy figures, corruption and studio and made and supplied
basement of the Grand Café in Paris,
and conspiracy at the highest photographic materials, including the
saw a twenty-minute programme of
levels, suspected suicide, possible sensitive gelatine emulsion used in
ten short films.1
murder, insanity and, in passing, a the ‘dry glass plate process’ which
One journalist present at one of
> >
the first shows wrote:
When these inventions are in the
hands of the public, when anyone can
photograph the ones who are dear
to them, not just their immobile
form, but with movement, action,
familiar gesture and the words of
their mouths, then death will no
longer be absolute or final.
The Cinématographe soon toured
the capitals of Europe. After a first
public showing on 20 February 1896 at
the Marlborough Hall in London, it was
installed at the Empire Theatre, in
Leicester Square, where it attracted
full houses from 9 March 1896.
Screenings in England were organised
by Félicien Trewey, a French magician
and shadow illusionist who had made
his name in this country. He was a
friend of the Lumière brothers’ father,
Antoine, and appeared opposite him in
From A Game of Cards, 1895. Left Antoine Lumiere, right Felicien Trewey La Partie d’Ecarté (The Card Game),
an 1895 film that was among the
>
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 7
original ten shown at the first public camera with which he obtained Englishman William Kennedy Laurie
viewing in Paris. twelve images on a circular plate. In Dickson. On 17 October 1888,
Back in 1888, Trewey had been 1888, Marey perfected his system by Edison filed a patent describing his
a popular favourite in the East End constructing the Chronophotographe Kinetoscope. During 1889, Edison and
Music Hall circuit and had appeared which used rolls of paper film. During his assistants abandoned the cylinder
at all the major theatres in the area the same year, Parisian Émile Reynaud for a celluloid roll with side sprocket
at the time of the Jack the Ripper was granted a patent for the use holes recently invented by George
murders. On 8 November 1888, the of perforations on visual strips with Eastman. By 1891 the perfected
eve of Mary Jane Kelly’s death, drawn animated pictures, which Kinetoscope was a large cabinet with
he presented his turn at the Royal were shown with great success at the a peephole through which one viewed
Cambridge Music Hall, Commercial Musée Grévin starting in 1892. By the an animated scene recorded on a
Street - only a short distance away end of 1888, an Englishman, William continuous loop of film. It was only
from Millers Court. Trewey was a keen Friese-Green, had also patented and for individual viewing and did not
photographer and employed ‘trick’ developed both a single-lens camera allow for projection of images on to
magic lantern effects in his act. As and perforated paper roll film. In a screen. Some had the option of an
England agent for the Lumières, he early 1889 he used his camera to earpiece to listen to synchronised
also directed several films in the produce moving images taken at Hyde phonograph recordings to accompany
Park Corner. the pictures.
Across the Atlantic, American To supply the Kinetoscopes with
inventor Thomas Alva Edison conceived material to show, Dickson assumed
a moving-image device based on the the job of recording films with the
model of the cylinder he had already Kinetograph. Another Edison employee,
used to construct a sound recording Fred Ott, became the earliest ‘movie
machine. He assigned the job of star’. Dickson captured him sneezing
studying two apparatus, one named on celluloid in the first week of
the Kinetograph, for recording images, January 1894 and Edison had the film
and the other, the Kinetoscope, for copyrighted as a photograph at the
viewing the images, to an employee, Library of Congress on 9 January 1894
> >

capital in 1896. Within two decades

of Trewey’s first ‘moving picture’
performances in England, almost all
of the surviving East End Music Halls
he had played in 1888 were converted
to cinemas. The first East End ‘Moving
Picture House’, the King’s Hall Electric
Cinema, was established in 1909 at
83/85 Commercial Road.2
Experimentation with the
recording and analysis of movement
using photographic techniques and
emulsions allowing extremely short
exposures had started as early as
the 1870s. By the mid 1880s, the
key issues were the need for long
strips of pictures and a method of
moving the strips intermittently at a
rate fast enough to record movement
smoothly. In 1885, George Eastman
introduced a paper roll film. Several
techniques of film advancement were
available, including an adaptation of
the movement of a sewing machine
to the intermittent motion of the
pictures, thus enabling progression in
early film-making.
During this period, many of the
technologies associated with the
invention of cinema were developed.
Eadweard Muybridge toured the United
States and Europe showing examples
of the sequential photography he took
with his Zoopraxiscope. To understand
the flight of birds, professor of
physiology Étienne-Jules Marey had
developed in 1882 a revolving-gun The Empire Theatre on Leicester Square, where the Lumieres’ Cinématographe was shown.
>
8 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
under the title Edison Kinetoscopic
Record of a Sneeze. It was the first
film officially copyrighted.
But the greatest of the early
cinematography pioneers, whose
achievement predated everybody
else’s, was Le Prince, who in
October 1888 produced the first
motion pictures ever made and, two
years later, vanished from the Paris
Express.
Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince was
born in Metz on 28 August 1842. His
father, a French Army officer, was a
friend of the photographic inventor
Jacques-Louis-Mandé Daguerre, at
whose studio young Augustin was a
frequent visitor. Le Prince studied
chemistry and physics at the University
of Leipzig. After some training in
Paris, he took up oil painting and
Le Prince in 1888

and joined the ‘Fidelity Lodge’ in York Institute for the Deaf, where his
Leeds. The Masonic connection wife taught art. He produced a 16-
would eventually lead to a personal lens camera in the 1880s. Its design
betrayal. included the caveat ‘Be it known
In 1819 the Viceroy of Egypt had that I, Augustin Le Prince, of the
given to Britain Cleopatra’s Needle, City, County and State of New York,
a monument steeped in Masonic have invented certain new and useful
symbolism and mythology, in gratitude improvements: The art of producing
for Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the animated pictures of natural scenery
Nile. Sixty years later, the Needle was and life on glass, canvas or other
erected on London’s Embankment. Its prepared surfaces.’ This complex
shipping was organised and funded device, started in 1885, was the
by the Masonic Brotherhood. Joseph subject of the American patent Le
Whitley obtained the commission Prince applied for on 2 November
to cast the inscribed bronze tablets 1886.
Le Prince’s 16-lens camera that were built into the base of the Le Prince returned to Leeds in May
‘obelisk’ and to design and construct 1887, leaving his wife in New York. On
the air-tight time-capsule buried 10 January 1888, the US Patent Office
pastel portraits, specialized in the beneath. This contained documents in Washington granted his patent, No.
painting and firing of art pottery and and artefacts of the time, including 376,247, entitled ‘Method of, and
also worked as a photographer. enamelled miniatures of the Royal Apparatus for, Producing Animated
In 1866 Le Prince met and befriended Family created by Augustin himself. Pictures.’ On the same date he
John Whitley, a young British engineer. Le Prince moved to New York applied for a British patent describing
At Whitley’s invitation, he came in 1881 with his family to work on the principles of cinema-photography
to Britain, to the Yorkshire city of the development of the ‘Lincrusta’ using a multi-lens camera which
Leeds, where he joined the family wallpaper process in which his included an extra clause concerning
engineering firm, Whitley & Partners, brother-in-law, John Whitley, had an a single-lens camera and projector.
first as a designer and then as manager interest. When the patent rights were The patent was issued only on 16
of the valve department. He married sold to an American company, Le November 1888.
John’s sister Elizabeth, known as Prince found work managing a group In the meantime, Le Prince
Lizzie, in 1869. Together they set up a of artists who painted large circular continued developing his invention
School of Applied Art in Park Square, panoramas on military subjects in at a workshop in Woodhouse Lane,
Leeds. Lizzie and Augustin were New York, Washington and Chicago. Leeds. He secured the services of
leading lights in the Yorkshire artistic During this period Le Prince Frederic Mason, a wood-maker, to
and cultural community during the continued to experiment in search of make parts of cameras, and of James
1870s. As accomplished sculptors and a successful cinematography process. Longley as his assistant. Some of
painters, they exhibited in England According to Le Prince’s wife Lizzie, the metal work was made by his
and Europe, attending many civic ‘his conception of moving photographs father-in-law. On 14 October 1888,
and social functions. Both were also and earliest experiments to find the experimenting with his single lens
members of the ‘Philosophical and best material for films dated back camera, Le Prince recorded a few
Literary Society’, the hub of Leeds’ to Park Square, Leeds, before his seconds of moving pictures at the
middle-class life. In 1875, Le Prince journey to New York with my brother.’ rate of 10-12 frames per second at his
was invited to become a Freemason In New York, Le Prince was allowed parents-in-law’s garden in Roundhay,
by his father-in-law, Joseph Whitley, to use workshop facilities at the New Hunslet, Leeds. Le Prince’s son,
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 9
Adolphe, Joseph Whitley and his wife, making sure he was the first in line to victims of ‘industrial espionage’?
Sarah, are shown in the pictures, as register an idea. His favourite reading It was time for Lizzie to take
well as a young lady, Harriet Hartley. was about other people’s inventions. >
The date is definitely determined He had a team of linguists translating
because of the death of Mrs Whitley foreign patents and employed
only a few days later. a small army of lawyers to press
The sequences filmed at the claims with legendary dishonesty and
Whitley family home and later in ruthlessness. The bullying tactics of
1888 at Leeds Bridge, which once his legal machine were notorious.
existed only as photographic copies Edison asserted: ‘everyone steals in
made in the 1930s from parts of the industry and commerce. I have stolen
surviving paper filmstrips, have now a lot myself. The thing is to know how
been reconstructed to full animation. to steal’.3
They can be seen at the website of Augustin needed to prove he
the National Museum of Photography, had been the first to demonstrate
Film & Television. successfully the process several years
In 1890, Le Prince wrote to his earlier. His applications, however,
wife that he was planning to return were continually delayed, and he
to New York and she hired premises began to suspect that lawyers and the
in preparation for showing his moving Patent Office were working together
pictures. But first, Le Prince went against him. He had thought of taking
to Dijon, France, where his brother his ideas to Edison, but persisted in
Albert was an architect and surveyor, the re-writing of the required and
to discuss with him his share of an requested specifications. A sense of
inheritance. As we now know, he then paranoia and foreboding overtook his
vanished, never to be seen again. work in Leeds. On several occasions he
According to a statement made by observed a shadowy character skulking
Frederick Mason, who had constructed about, a sighting which prompted him
the wooden body of Le Prince’s single- to install extra security measures in
lens camera, ‘After waiting about his workshop.
a month, Mr Longley, the mechanic For some inexplicable reason,
who worked for Le Prince, and Augustin gave Lizzie instructions that
myself entered the workshop and if something unusual were to happen
found everything quite normal, the to him she was to contact a friend, a
machines intact, and tools, drawings, lawyer called Clarence Seward, and his
photographs, as well as a quantity partner William Guthrie. Seward was
of discarded material, lying about.’ a fellow Freemason who’d helped to
Richard Wilson, a friend of the family, set up Le Prince’s interior decorating
manager of Lloyds Bank, Leeds, and venture in 1882 and had offered
fellow Freemason, took charge of all professional advice concerning the
the effects and proceeded to dispose possible exploitation of his invention
of such parts as could readily be sold. in America. William Guthrie had
He retained the camera and parts of also given valuable assistance over
the projector, including a lens and patent laws and had been extremely
a machine with multiple lenses that impressed by the early trials of the
Le Prince made in Paris in 1887 for ‘moving picture apparatus’.
the purpose of ‘proving his patent’. Le Prince had arranged to return
They eventually passed to Le Prince’s to America with his ailing father-
daughter Marie in New York City. in-law, but didn’t arrive in Leeds at
What was the mystery behind the expected time. Joseph Whitley
Augustin’s disappearance? made the journey escorted by
In the 1890s the patent war of another family member. On a New
‘moving picture infringement’ was York dockside, he broke to his grief-
raging. Every inventor knew deliberate stricken daughter the news that her
obstruction was a common occurrence. husband had vanished without a trace.
All knew of cases where the Patent Exhaustive searches were undertaken
Office had been bribed to divulge by Augustin’s brother Albert in France
secrets or where patent lawyers had and Lizzie’s brother John in England.
been in the pay of other inventors to They discovered nothing.
pass on information. One of the worst Lizzie was visited twice by a
offenders was the ‘Wizard of Menlo mysterious ‘Mr Rose’ who demanded
Park’, Edison. His technique was to to know what had happened to Le
write a caveat on every invention of Prince and his work. On the second
occasion he showed up at her door in Footage taken on Leeds Bridge 1888
which he became aware declaring the
idea his own, irrespective of its true the feeble disguise of a milkman, but
source. He kept an ear to the ground ran off when Lizzie threatened to call
Click here to see this animation
and watched out for competition, the police. Had the family become
> >
10 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
action. Armed with a photograph and Bell’s Telephone. She called at his used the surname Whitley, left from
description of her husband she went residence, taking the filed patents a less obtrusive port than New York
to seek help. The New York Police granted after Le Prince’s return to and decided to communicate only by
was sympathetic but, because of a Leeds in 1887. Choate was interested code and if absolutely necessary. He
peculiarity of the state law, they were in taking the case and suggested that returned with statements, diagrams,
unable to report Le Prince as a missing Lizzie leave all the documentation equipment and photographic
person unless he had committed a with him for closer scrutiny, saying materials.
crime. They suggested desertion, ‘They’re much too valuable to be The case opened on 27 June 1898.
a misdemeanour, as an option. As left lying around a private residence, In court, Adolphe came up against the
Lizzie was unwilling to besmirch her they’ll be better off in my safe.’ devious games played by the legal
husband’s character she was left in Months later he reneged on his word. henchmen of rival patent contenders.
a hopeless position. Remembering He stated that litigation would be too He was let down by the treachery
Augustin’s last words, she arranged costly and that there were no grounds of his own lawyer acting for the
an appointment with Seward and for legal action. The Le Prince family American Mutoscope and Biograph
Guthrie, the recommended lawyers, were never again to see the original Company. The outcome followed in
who said they would do their best to patents kept by Choate, who seemed July 1901. A clause had been found in
help. They pointed out, however, that
seven years must elapse from the
time of her husband’s disappearance
before he could be legally presumed
dead and she could take legal action
on the patents.
Satisfied she had done all she
could, Lizzie travelled to Europe to
wind up affairs in Leeds and try to
uncover some helpful information.
Those she spoke to believed that
‘some people were up to no good’
and that her husband was being held
somewhere against his will. Lizzie also
became suspicious when her arrival
at Augustin’s former workshop was
pre-empted by a phone call asking
if she was already there - although
no one knew she was expected. Had
she been followed? In Paris she found
that police documents relating to her
husband’s disappearance had gone
Lizzie Le Prince
missing.
On her return to the United States,
she followed up on the promises of Adolphe’s defence which deemed his
help from Seward and Guthrie to to have been also associated with evidence inadmissible in court.
establish the patent rights. But she Edison. Still unwilling to give up without
was horrified to discover that they Lizzie was not alone in her struggle. a fight, Adolphe proposed to write
had both been for several years in Two years earlier her son Adolphe, a series of magazine articles to give
the ‘pay’ of Le Prince’s notorious now 24 years old, had agreed to credence to his father’s inventions.
rival in the field of moving pictures: appear in court to testify concerning It was time to name names. An initial
the talented but unscrupulous Edison. his father’s work in a lawsuit involving positive response from publishers soon
Lizzie now believed the family had the American Mutoscope and Biograph encountered the familiar series of set
been betrayed by Freemason Seward, Company, a rival of Edison’s company backs with which the Le Princes’
along with Guthrie, who when later founded by his former employee were now familiar. Adolphe’s written
questioned would deny ever having William Dickson. Lizzie felt it would material was for some unknown
been at the first viewing of Le Prince’s be of no use but Adolphe pleaded reason suddenly rejected in what
moving pictures. with her, saying: ‘I have to testify looked like deliberately orchestrated
The last year had taken its toll mother. Don’t you see? It’ll mean obstructions. It seemed editors had
on Lizzie. She was exhausted by father’s release. As soon as his work is closed ranks and were reluctant to
her attempts to have recognition recognised by the court, which it will, publish anything critical of those
bestowed on her husband as the ‘True whoever kidnapped him will let him named as involved. Lizzie thought
Father of Cinematography’. It was go, there will be no point in holding they had declined to publish the truth
now 1898. The seven years needed on to him.’ for fear of legal action.
before legal action on Le Prince’s In preparation for his court A sense of overwhelming failure
patents could be pursued had elapsed. appearance, Adolphe went on a ‘cloak descended over Adolphe and his
Lizzie must make one more attempt. and dagger’ style trip to England mental health began to deteriorate.
On recommendation she approached to gather sworn testimonies and In the late summer of 1901, his world
Joseph Choate, sometime American artefacts associated with Le Prince’s fell apart. He had spent nearly half
Ambassador to Great Britain, who work in Leeds. Fearing the worst and his short life searching for his father
had fought a spectacular defence of cautious about being followed, he and fighting to get recognition for
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 11
 was unmistakably linked with Edison’s
claims to have invented the motion
picture camera. Yet the tragedy of
her husband’s disappearance was
compounded for Lizzie by another
tragedy: she never succeeded in
getting the world to listen to her
story.
The headline in the Leeds Mercury of
12 December 1930 proclaimed ‘Leeds
Honours Vanished Inventor.’ Marie Le
Prince had been invited from America
by the Lord Mayor for the unveiling of
a plaque to commemorate the work of
her father. She brought with her some
of his remaining equipment, including
two cameras. The ceremony was
attended by a representative of the
French Ambassador, Members of the
Society of Motion Picture Engineers
from America, a contingent from
the Royal Photographic Society and
surviving friends and colleagues of Le
Prince, from his early days in Leeds.
Marie Le Prince unveils the plaque to her father
Marie made a short speech. She
his achievements. He was guided in the corruption and dubious working said: ‘I came as a witness from
this by an almost reverential sense of practices of large corporations and America, that my father did make
loyalty and fired by the conviction that business moguls. Lizzie’s anger was moving pictures in New York, Paris
his father had been ‘put away’ for his directed against those who she and perfected them here in Leeds.
inventions. Now every possible avenue believed had kidnapped and murdered This is his single lens camera and
had been explored and injustice had her husband, stolen his invention and this is his film. My father included
prevailed. One afternoon, he went falsified the history of the origins of sound in his early experiments. He
duck hunting. He was extremely cinema. Her statement that Le Prince used one of the first phonographs to
careful with firearms, ensuring that was ‘removed through the agency of provide music. I often heard him say
the safety catch was always on when persons who wished to get control that film would one day talk and have
he walked. Yet he was later found of the moving picture situation’ was colour.’ She outlined the history of her
dead, shot with his own gun. The aimed at none other than Thomas Alva father’s battles and the hardship he
autopsy concluded that he must have Edison. In the light of information endured in his attempts to establish
tripped on the tufted grass at the top she had gathered over the years and the copyright of his inventions and
of a sand dune and tumbled into a the skulduggery, lies, cheats and the attempts of her mother and
hollow. His thumb somehow released deception she had encountered on the Adolphe, her brother, to find the
the safety catch as he fell and his gun way, Le Prince’s disappearance in 1890 truth of Le Prince’s disappearance,
twisted round and went off, blasting > >
his head. Lizzie always held the belief
that he had been murdered. ‘They
didn’t like the way he’d spoken up for
his father’s camera at the trial. He
knew too much,’ she said.
How did Adolphe die? Was it an
accident or was it murder? He had
been devastated by the grossness of
the verdict and the many years of
struggle, which had come to nothing.
Had he become insane and suicidal?
Perhaps he pulled the trigger because
of the pain of acknowledging his
father’s failure.
Le Prince’s widow, Lizzie, died in
Memphis, Tennessee, in 1926. She left
an unfinished 160-page typed memoir
called The Life of Augustin Le Prince -
Inventor of Moving Pictures. The tone
of this manuscript is uncomplimentary
to the cut-throat politics of the infant
film industry, the underhand dealings
of the US legal system, the conspiracy Commemorative plaque on Leeds Bridge
within the US Patent Office and
>
12 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
prove his patents and disprove others death have been attributed to such William Friese-Green et alia, would
subsequent fraudulent claims. She factors as that he had ‘gone abroad’, have shifted their own development
concluded: ‘My mother once said he was dead or incarcerated. The Le time frame to an earlier date. The
felt certain he was being watched Prince family also considered all Lumières could have attracted a paying
during his experiments in Leeds. I three factors in their attempts to audience with their Cinématographe
solve and explain why Augustin had
vanished so completely, but were
never able to turn up any clue as to
what had actually happened. Despite
the many years of investigation, the
case remains open. There is no hard
evidence either way to solve the
enigma of Augustin’s fate; yet some
have speculated on it.
Various theorists adduce the cause
of Le Prince’s disappearance were
his financial problems. In preparation
for an interview with Marie Le
Prince, French film historian Georges
Potonnier tracked down Augustin’s
grand-nephew in France. His opinion
was that there had been some kind of
scandal and that Le Prince, on the brink
of ruin, had committed suicide on that
fateful trip from Dijon in September
1890, taking all the necessary steps
not to be found. Others hypothesized
that he might have joined the French
Foreign Legion. In 2003, a Yorkshire
Television programme, Inside Out,
Edison Le Prince
employed retired detective Robert
Taylor in an attempt to solve the
mystery. Taylor located Paris police
understand that this workshop was records concerning the body of a man in Paris in 1887. More important, their
entered and parts taken away soon who was fished from the Seine at the agent in England, Félicien Trewey,
after his disappearance.’ time of Le Prince’s disappearance, who was noted in 1896 for always
The unveiling commenced. The including a photograph which bears a carrying his ‘moving pictures’ camera
plaque read: Louis Aimé Augustin Le strong resemblance to him.4 with him, would have been on the
Prince had a workshop on this site, Another theory saw light in 1990, scene in 1888 to record the events of
where he made a one-lens camera and when British film-maker Christopher another great Victorian mystery. Yet I
with it he photographed animated Rawlence published The Missing Reel, believe that he would have refrained
pictures. Some were taken at Leeds a biography of Le Prince. In the from using the words Light, Camera,
Bridge in 1888. Also he made a closing chapter of his book, which Action and - Cut!
projection machine and thus initiated charts the whole of this intriguing Notes
the art of ‘Kinematography’. He ‘who-done-what-to-who’, Rawlence
was assisted by his son, also Joseph 1 For more information on the Cinéma-
says: ‘One afternoon I had tired of
tographe visit Institue Lumiere, or
Whitley, James Wilson Longley and tracking Edison through newspaper The ‘Cinématographe Lumière’: a
Frederick Mason of Leeds. reports. I wound idly on through the Myth?
Marie donated Le Prince’s surviving Le Temps microfilm to 1890. The
equipment to the Science Museum. front pages were full of reports of 2 For information on the early cinemas
in the East End circa 1909/1914 click
At present, however, the equipment ‘Jack l’Eventreur’ in Whitechapel,
here.
is displayed at the National Museum and it was uncanny to come across
of Photography, Film and Television in his name at the time of Le Prince’s 3 Cited in Rawlence, Christopher: The
Bradford, only a few miles from Leeds. disappearance and I wondered if he Missing Reel: The Untold Story of
Le Prince’s workshop in Woodhouse might have been the crazed killer.’6 the Lost Inventor of Moving Pictures,
Lane, where he first projected his Atheneum, November 1990.
Could the atmosphere of London’s
moving pictures, is now the site of the East End and the dastardly deeds of 5 Go to www.victorian-cinema.net/
BBC studios in Leeds. A photograph of Jack the Ripper have been captured news.htm
Le Prince and 16 blown-up images of as ‘animated images’ in 1888?
5 Rawlence, Christopher, loc. cit.
the film strips of Leeds Bridge are on Undoubtedly. The technology did
display. There is also commemorative exist. If Le Prince’s work, particularly
recognition of Le Prince’s film on the his multi and single lens cameras, Comment
bridge itself. had gained the necessary recognition
The sudden disappearance of and financial backing in 1885, the Next article
Jack the Ripper and the cessation synchronistic work of other pioneers,
of his murders after Mary Kelly’s such as Edison, the Lumière Brothers, Back to contents

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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 13
 The Green of the Peak Part II
Thomas
Bramah Diplock
R O B E RT JOHN D AV I D 1830-1892
LINFORD S AVA G E O ’ F L A H E RT Y

‘An Alarming Amount of Work’ To further his knowledge of his Diplock’s later career. Therefore, we
family – which spread across the Sussex dedicate our effort to the memories
During one of the holiday breaks of Roger Diplock, John Manwaring
boroughs of Lewes, Brighton, and
of the late 1950s, time appears Hastings – Roger Diplock sought the Baines, and the ‘alarming amount
to have hung heavy upon a rather assistance of John Manwaring Baines, of work’ they undertook nearly half
bored schoolboy living in Kent, the curator of Hastings Museum. a century ago, after a father once
far away from the bustle of Between the two, one an amateur thought to enliven his son’s holiday.
whatever school he attended. genealogist, the other a professional The Diplocks, the Bramahs,
scholar, they compiled a partial family and a Rather Cross Historian
Attempting to rouse his son’s
tree for the branch living in Hastings Family history is like a jig-saw
interest, the boy’s father, Mr Roger
during the eighteenth and nineteenth puzzle with many pieces missing.
Hubert Diplock, set him the holiday
centuries. Researching Thomas
task of researching their family I must admit I should like to
Diplock’s family background, we draw
history in Sussex. For a long time, hear if you manage to complete the
material from Manwaring Baines’
the Diplocks had been a successful picture!
pedigree chart for the Diplocks, his
and influential family, so it is no John Manwaring Baines
notes, and his correspondence with
wonder that one of the family finally to Roger Diplock, 1958.
Roger Diplock, as well as several
wondered how they had all started
articles that Roger Diplock wrote for
down the smooth road of prosperity.
the Sussex Family Historian during The Diplocks’ roots in Hastings go
Of course, they had always worked
the 1970s. back at least as far as a 1728/9
hard. Roger Diplock was a former
Roger Diplock once briefly reflected marriage between one Joshua Diplock
captain in the Royal Sussex Regiment
on the work that would occupy him and Mary Barry of St Clements, which
during World War II1 and recipient
for the next twenty years. Writing resulted in five children.8 Untraced to
of the Order of the British Empire.2
to Manwaring Baines in 1958, he the 1728 Diplocks, but likely related
He was presumably the same man
marvelled, ‘Really, all this started with to them, was Joseph Diplock of All
who, during the 1950s and 1960s,
a wish to give my son ...an interesting Saints (c1748–1799), whom Manwaring
wrote several letters to The Times
holiday task, but I am now quite Baines noted was admitted to the
as Secretary and then Director of the
fascinated with the investigation.’6 freedom of Hastings on 21 June 1783.9
Retail Trading-Standards Association.3
Manwaring Baines empathized. ‘It About 1790, Joseph opened the Ship
Even more impressive was that his
is surprising,’ the museum curator Inn on Bourne Street, where a riot
brother, Lord Kenneth Diplock, was a
replied, ‘how quite an ephemeral broke out in 1793.10 Diplock family
High Court Justice and proponent of
plan to enlighten one’s offspring can tradition remembered the Ship Riot.
the controversial Diplock Courts4 that
lead one into an alarming amount of As Roger Diplock wrote:
introduced non-jury trials in Northern
work, but also rewarding interest. I I do recollect my own grandfather
Ireland during the 1970s. The Diplocks
have found this myself.’7 joking about a riot or burning which
were no slackers, but where had they
We agree. Up to this point, Dr he said had once taken place and
come from? In 1958, Roger Diplock
Thomas Bramah Diplock has only ever involved one of his forebears. But
tried to get his son to find out about
been a name briefly referenced in my grandfather made the story
the family history with no success,
Ripper literature, yet because the rather sedate by relating it to some
and ended up being bitten by the bug
inquest that Diplock held into the Chapel!!11
himself and becoming an expert in
Diplock history. Thus, what had begun death of Montague John Druitt has In 1977, Roger Diplock engaged in
as a holiday assignment for the son fascinated so many, it is rather some light-hearted speculation about
soon evolved into a passion for the rewarding to be able to present a the cause of the disturbance:
father. fuller (if still incomplete) portrait The following year Joseph opened
Of course, you have already guessed of him. Since their work focused the ‘Ship’ alehouse in Bourne Street,
a connection with our topic. The two on the family in Hastings, it seems and there it was that the riot took
brothers, Roger and Lord Kenneth, that Roger Diplock and Manwaring place in 1793. According to my
were the great-grandchildren of Baines were unaware of the coroner’s grandfather, who had garnered the
William Diplock, a nineteenth century subsequent career in West Middlesex, information from his grandfather,
librarian of Hastings, Sussex, and his important work there on behalf the riot was of such dimension that
the elder half-brother of Dr Thomas of the public safety, and his place in the militia had to be called in to
Bramah Diplock, coroner of West the history of the Ripper murders. We quell it. The reason for such uncouth
Middlesex, 1868–1892.5 suspect the two researchers would behaviour on the part of Joseph’s
have been keenly interested in Dr clientele can only, in my opinion, have
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14 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
been actual and positive confirmation in London, a family business that is Esther Bramah Diplock also seems
that the landlord had been watering still in operation today as Bramah to have taken under her wing her
the beer. Nothing else could have Security Equipment, Ltd. The Bramah husband’s motherless children from
given reasonable cause for such a Lock was notoriously difficult to his previous marriage, or at least
violent reaction on the part of the pick – so difficult that the Bramahs one of them – William Diplock Jr
customers. An occasional problem of proudly displayed a specimen in their (1810–1886), the elder half-brother of
wrong change or of short measure Piccadilly showroom window for 61 Thomas and the great-grandfather of
might have occasioned protest but years, with an invitation for members Roger Diplock. The Diplock Pedigree
for the landlord to water the beer of the public to pick it. The lock records that William Jr named his
– an unforgivable outrage worthy of remained on display and undefeated daughter Fanny Bramah, in what could
nothing short of riotous behaviour of until the Great Lock Controversy only be a salute to his stepmother.
the most violent form.12 of 1851, when the American A C When he was not auctioneering or
In 1787, Joseph married Elizabeth Hobbs finally succeeded in opening it assisting with the making of babies,
Saunders and the All Saints parish during the Great Exhibition. Despite William Sr worked as a librarian at
register records the baptism of their using tools he created from a wax one of Hastings’ several subscription
son, William, on 5 March 1788. (13) impression of the Bramah Lock, it libraries, the Royal Marine Library,
William Diplock settled in Brighton took Hobbs several days to solve its also known as Barry’s Library, located
and worked as an apprentice for a puzzle – where it had taken him only on the Marine Parade facing the sea.25
dissenting shopkeeper before opening minutes to pick other locks.19 Although William Jr joined him there, and
his own shop, dealing in wool clothing, Hobbs declared eventual success, if ultimately wound up managing the
which stood opposite Brighton’s Royal we accept that time is the lock pick’s library and then later acquiring it
Pavilion.14 Manwaring Baines notes enemy, we must question the value of outright in 1838. This library was
that William Diplock was also a such a victory. Regardless of the Great eventually renamed Diplock’s Library.
Dissenter.15 Lock Controversy of 1851, the Bramah In the nineteenth century,
In 1809, William married a woman Lock remains the Rolls Royce of the subscription libraries were common
known only as Sarah Ade,16 and that lock world to this day. institutions. People paid a subscription
union produced twelve children, of Tracing Esther Bramah Diplock to or short-term fee to access books
whom not much is known except for the ingenious Bramah clan takes us on and newspapers, or perhaps relax
William Diplock Jr, who was born a rather circuitous route. However, and play billiards. Sometimes, as a
in Brighton on 23 May 1810,17 and we can establish her connection to side venture, such libraries published
who became the great-grandfather John Joseph Bramah (1798–1846), one local maps and guides. This was the
of Roger Diplock. According to Roger of the nephews of Joseph Bramah case with Diplock’s Library, which
Diplock, Sarah Ade died in 1819, and a Staffordshire industrialist who published a local guide to Hastings.
and William then married a second established a business in Pimlico William Diplock Jr made a number of
time. This second wife was a rather that supplied structural ironwork to improvements to his library by the
enigmatic figure who would play a the new railway companies during sea, at least according to his own
critical and most positive role in the the 1830s.20 An 1853 death notice guide:
fortunes of the Diplocks. Her name for Samuel Robey Diplock, the third The Royal Marine Library... was
was Esther Frances Bramah. son of William Diplock and Esther established in the year 1791, by
Apart from knowing her name, Bramah, lists him as John Joseph Mr Barry. The Library has received
Manwaring Baines and Diplock knew Bramah’s nephew.21 Therefore, Esther considerable improvements since it
little of her. In their pedigree charts, Bramah was the sister of John Joseph has been conducted by Mr Diplock, in
there are no dates for her birth or Bramah, niece to Joseph Bramah, and the increased number of new books,
death; all we know is that between presumably had access to what we can with the addition of nine daily and
1824 and 1830 she was young enough only assume was considerable wealth, six weekly papers, besides every
to give birth to a succession of four given the practical applications for new work deserving encouragement,
children. She was apparently well to Joseph Bramah’s inventions. which, with the periodical publications
do, wealthy enough to help set up Apparently armed with a cushion of and other accommodations, together
William Diplock the wool draper in a Bramah wealth, it would appear that with its fine situation, render it a
new business – auctioneering. She also Esther Bramah smoothed the road for pleasant, convenient, and agreeable
appears to have been responsible for her husband William Diplock in a new lounge. Over the Library is a very
the family’s return to Hastings. Roger home and career in Hastings. There good Billiard Room, from which there
Diplock wrote, ‘[William Diplock Sr] they produced four more children to is a fine view of the sea.26
married somewhat above himself, as add to the dozen William already had That ‘fine view of the sea’ would
it would have been said, and was from his previous marriage. In 1823, become a bone of contention in a
forthwith removed from Brighton Edward Bramer (likely Edward Bramah) long-standing feud that the Diplocks
by his new wife and transferred to was born (buried 16 September 1824, had with a prominent citizen of
Hastings where he took over the aged 13 months), followed by George Hastings named Thomas Brandon
slightly more elevated trade of an Joseph in 1825 (buried 10 April 1827, Brett. Still highly regarded in Hastings
auctioneer.’18 aged 1-and-a-half years), Samuel today, Brandon Brett was something
Esther Bramah was in fact the Robey in 1828, and, on 14 May 1830, of a Renaissance man – blacksmith,
niece of a somewhat remarkable Thomas Bramah.22 Manwaring Baines postman, schoolmaster, amateur
18th century figure, Joseph Bramah notes that Thomas’s christening was meteorologist, musician, composer,
(1749–1814). Inventor of the Bramah performed 13 June at Croft Chapel – a poet, newspaper editor, and local
Lock, a workable hydraulic press, and ‘somewhat forbidding, square building historian – students of Hastings lore are
the flushing water closet, Bramah of wooden construction’, according to indebted to his thirty large scrapbooks
founded the Bramah Lock Company Roger Diplock.23 24 of local history.27 Roger Diplock
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 15
explains the nature of the conflict, Elizabeth Langham,31 her promise of William Jr’s family continued to travel
from the Diplock perspective: their five unborn children, and the the road that Esther Bramah had set
So far as the two Williams, father billiard table from the deceased upper upon with William Sr in the 1820s
and son, were concerned, Brett floor, William Jr might have smiled to – their ancestor, that wool-draping son
showed a good measure of dislike... himself while thumbing through a of an innkeeper with watery beer and
an indication of their steady climb up thick wad of pound notes. Sitting accents clear.
the social ladder from the somewhat before a window, watching the figure Possibly even Thomas Brandon
lowly rung occupied by Joseph. Jane of the angry historian recede down the Brett would have been proud that
Austen would have described their Parade with his band, perhaps Diplock Lord Kenneth Diplock, an amateur
progress with acid wit; the more so softly recited verses that Brandon historian named Roger Diplock and
since in each case it basically involved Brett had once derisively applied to one of Her Majesty’s coroners, Dr
marrying a woman not only above his father: ‘Going, going, going.’ Thomas Bramah Diplock, all had their
his station but most fortunately Such was the world of Hastings roots in Hastings.
possessing some small fortune to that Thomas Bramah Diplock was The prosperity and influence of
enhance the marriage.28 born into in 1830. It was a world the Diplocks were the legacy of a
Class does appear to have been a of modest beginnings, new wealth, generous and kind woman, of whom
factor in the feud, illustrated when love, auctions, a library overlooking we know almost nothing. Esther
Brandon Brett publicly ridiculed the a sea. A world that in 1066 had Frances Bramah is practically invisible
humbly rooted, elder William Diplock welcomed William the Conqueror and to history. Although, like Esther’s
in verse: more recently had seen inventors, husband, the dead are always going,
Here Diplock too, engineers, locksmiths, and one rather going, going, they are never quite
his friends to woo, cross historian. Yet we believe young gone. We continue to feel their
Thomas would have had no firsthand influence, recognized or not, and we
His Auction Room was showing:
memory of that world. We suspect can be grateful for that. If William Jr
Then made them hear
that, had William Jr ventured to indeed stood before the lost windows
his accents clear
leave his cramped library in 1839, and doors of Esther’s abandoned home
Of ‘going, going, going’.29 perhaps to share the news of the while offering a silent thanks, or if his
latest battle in the Diplock/Brandon naming his daughter Fanny Bramah was
Therefore, when William Diplock Brett feud with his stepmother, or a tribute, or if the family’s continued
Jr bought Barry’s Library and called meaning to thank her for smoothing successes were a tribute – if the study
it Diplock’s Library, it could only have the road of prosperity for the Diplocks of genealogy and history is a tribute
irritated the local historian. When in the first place (and he undoubtedly – then perhaps such tributes do not
the Diplocks published their Guide did thank her, given the naming of fall upon deaf ears. If the dead can
to Hastings without giving credit to his daughter, Fanny Bramah), it is speak in the post-mortem, as coroner
one Miss M M Howard, whose work likely that he would have found her Thomas Wakley was then insisting to
apparently appeared within its pages house darkened and deserted, its lost wary jurors in London, then perhaps
without acknowledgment – that too windows shuttered and dead. Any they can also hear.
annoyed him. But perhaps the greatest thanks he might have offered could
sin that the Diplocks ever committed
The Black Country
only have been silent ones.
– at least in Brandon Brett’s eyes – was This is the muddiest area of Thomas
For, in 1831, death, that implacable
when William Diplock Jr rebuilt the Diplock’s life, and we are simply
enemy of William’s infant half-brother
library in 1839 and restricted it to a not sure what happened to Esther
Thomas, the future surgeon and
single floor. The renovation involved Bramah’s little family after the 1831
coroner, had claimed their father,
the removal of a ‘magnificent balcony’ death of William Diplock Sr. There is
William Sr, at the age of 43. The
where Brandon Brett had been in the clear evidence, however, that Esther
coroner’s profession had called on
habit of playing music with his band Bramah’s brother, the industrialist
Thomas early in life, and now his
as they enjoyed their ‘fine view of John Joseph Bramah, adopted at least
path led away from Hastings and
the sea’ over the Marine Parade. The one of her children, Samuel Robey
ultimately to that black country in
destruction of such a grand balcony Diplock, as noted in Samuel’s 1853
which coroners sought to understand
must have been exasperating enough death notice in The Times:
and prevent sudden death.
for someone with the sensibilities of On the 2d inst., at Woodford-
We suspect, but cannot say for
a Renaissance Man, but how Brandon grange, aged 25. Samuel Robey
sure, that after 1831 Esther Bramah
Brett must have felt galled when it Diplock, nephew and adopted son of
Diplock, widowed with two very young
was revealed that a wealthy female the late Mr John Joseph Bramah, of
children, had retreated to another
resident living behind the library had Ashwood-house, near Dudley.32
Black Country, to the West Midlands
paid William Jr a ‘very substantial home of her industrialist brother, Two years earlier, the 1851 census
sum’ to remove the upper floor of John Joseph Bramah. We believe finds Samuel Robey and Thomas
Diplock’s Library, simply so that she that sudden death followed them Bramah Diplock at Ashwood House
herself might enjoy an uninterrupted there, and that it claimed Esther, (which was in the village of Summerhill,
view of the sea.30 As he gazed on the for we find no further record of that in Kingswinford parish, not far from
renovated library, Brandon Brett might daughter of the Bramahs. Except, Wolverhampton). Since John Joseph
have told himself acidly, ‘Aesthetics perhaps, in the lives of William Jr’s Bramah died in 1846, the head of
are wasted on the upwardly mobile.’ descendants, who were made up of the household in the 1851 listing is
Meanwhile, as he sat within the solicitors, tea dealers, a High Court Martha Bramah, his widow. There is
confines of his single storied library, Justice, a bored schoolboy and an no sign of Esther Bramah.33 Samuel’s
now made comfortably cramped amateur genealogist. Throughout the occupation is listed as an ironfounder,
by the presence of his future wife, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and since we know J J Bramah supplied
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16 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
structural ironwork to the railroads, engineering, he settled on a career continued his medical studies.
most likely Samuel worked for the as a surgeon. Engineering, though, Admitted as a Member of the Royal
family business. Initially, Thomas might have continued to be a life-long College of Surgeons in 1853, Diplock
Diplock also attempted to follow in the interest for him for, as a surgeon, he travelled in the fall of 1856 to St
Bramah footsteps, beginning life as an paid particular attention to the heart, Andrews University, Scotland, for
engineer, but by 1851 he had switched nature’s remarkable mechanism for his medical examination.40 After
to medicine, as the census lists him as moving blood through the body.37 undergoing testing in the University
a medical student. He apprenticed to After J J Bramah’s death in 1846, Library on 15 October 1856,41 he
a Dr Benet of Shaftesbury, followed by Martha became (or continued to be) received his medical degree on 18
an internship at St George’s Hospital a benefactor to the Diplock boys, October,42 and returned to London as
in London.34 as she tended to the administration Dr Thomas Bramah Diplock. He and
John Joseph Bramah appears to have of her husband’s business (with the Eleanor set up house in Brompton.43
run a successful business, as indicated advice of an associate and probable Martha Bramah remained a part of
by his will, in which he left everything friend of the family, Robert Dickens, the young doctor’s life, and the 1861
to his ‘dear and amiable’, ‘excellent who himself ran a considerably large census finds her at 6 Lindsey Row,
and affectionate’, wife, Martha (born agricultural operation). Thomas began Chelsea, with little Frank Bramah
c1801 in Finsbury, London). On his studying medicine in London. In 1853, Diplock and Bramah Joseph Diplock,
death in 1846, she inherited all of Samuel died at the age of 25 (since as aged 5 and 4, respectively, present in
her husband’s personal estate and his a young man he had the foresight to her home.44 Her residence in Chelsea
‘houses, buildings, lands’ (including draw up a will, he may have died of a might be one reason that the Diplocks
his ironworks) and was made sole lingering illness). moved there, and by 1861, Thomas
executor ‘so she may have and enjoy By the time Thomas Diplock was Diplock had become involved in
the sole and absolute control and 23, death had evidently visited him Chelsea’s public affairs.
dominion over my personal estate and four times, striking down his father, Victorian coroners, you see, were
can adjust, settle, and [compromise] his mother (apparently), his uncle born of two components. Of course,
all my partnership claims and and probable adopted father, and his they acted out of a sense of civic
interests’.35 brother Samuel. Thomas Diplock may duty, but, as we saw in Part I, the
One of the witnesses of the will was have felt he truly lived in a black office also had a strong political
Robert A Dickens, who also appears in country, no matter where he actually aspect. Therefore, aspiring coroners
the census entry for Martha Bramah’s lived. ‘networked’ – and that is what Diplock’s
household, where he is described as Things were not pitch-black, early career was about – becoming a
being 37 years of age and a ‘farmer however. Around this time (the mid- familiar figure through public service
of 380 acres employing 12 labourers.’ 1850s), he took up with his future while making influential contacts in
Also listed is his wife, Marianne wife, Eleanor Read, who was born the West End. They were his keys to
Dickens, aged 35 and a native of circa 1836 in St George’s, London. the gates of an even blacker country
Brighton. Presumably J J Bramah had Her family, too, appears to have a than Staffordshire – London and the
Dickens in mind when, via his will, he Bramah connection, for her sister world of inquest.
advised his wife to use the guidance was born Louisa Bramah Read (two The Early Career
of friends to her own advantage other sisters were born in Pimlico, of Thomas Bramah Diplock
concerning business matters. location of John Joseph Bramah’s iron
After earning his MD degree in
Both Martha and Samuel Diplock business). If the Reads had Bramah
1856, Diplock spent the next twelve
appear to have taken Bramah’s advice connections, perhaps they invited the
years establishing a public presence.
as Dickens once again appears as young medical student studying at
In 1882, he was surgeon for the
a witness in young Samuel Robey St George’s Hospital to a dinner or
London Friendly Institution located at
Diplock’s will of 1853 (‘I, Samuel two. To Eleanor, Diplock might have
27 Farringdon Street, EC.45 Friendly
Robey Diplock of Ashwood House seemed a highly eligible bachelor.
Societies were associations that
Kingswinford, County of Stafford’). Grown to adulthood, he was ‘a man of
functioned as types of insurance
‘My dear brother, Thomas Bramah fine physique, standing over six feet
companies for their members. Members
Diplock’ and his heirs receive mention high... in manner he was reserved and
regularly contributed, or subscribed,
as Samuel’s sole beneficiary and quiet, but beneath this placid exterior
to their particular society (in 1872,
executor.36 there lay a keen observant nature.’38
there were hundreds of Friendly
An impressionistic picture emerges. Through the Bramahs, he was also
Societies numbering some 153,545
After the death of her husband in well connected.
members), and the Society provided
1831, Esther Bramah Diplock However they met, for Thomas financial, medical, and burial aid in
relocated her young family to the and Eleanor it was the beginning of times of distress. Originating with
village of Summerhill and Ashwood a nearly forty-year relationship. They the medieval craft guilds, they were
House, the home of her brother and were married (probably circa 1854 a reaction to wage earners’ poverty
sister-in-law, John Joseph and Martha or 1855), and their union produced and insecurity during the Industrial
Bramah. Sometime in the twenty-year at least six children: Frank Bramah Revolution. They undoubtedly lived in
period 1831–1851, Esther died. Up Diplock (27 February 1856), Bramah fear of ending their lives as workhouse
through his death in 1846, J J Bramah Joseph Diplock (27 April 1857), Leonard paupers, just as Americans agonize
exposed his two nephews, Samuel Bramah Diplock (1859), Esther Martha over losing their insurance today. Old,
and Thomas, to the Bramahs’ world (c1862), Maud W (c 1864), and Arthur alone, and bereft is no place to
of engineering and business, with Bramah (c1868).39 In the names of his be. It was so for one 70-year-old
Samuel later working in his uncle’s children, the Bramah influence on the labourer named William Haynes, a
business as an ironfounder. Although Diplocks is apparent. hard-working man of good character
Thomas contemplated a career in The new husband and father who had subscribed to a Friendly
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 17
Society for forty years when his club two years after Diplock became West Diplock’s medical education would
suddenly went broke. Middlesex coroner: have already acquainted him with
But the club just began to break SILK G C, B Weston WELLS, Albert, Thomas Wakley’s medical and coronial
at the time he began to want it; and, MILSTEAD, J B THOMPSON, and Thos B reforms. Diplock’s own experience
with all the money he had subscribed DIPLOCK, printing ink manufacturers, with dismal workhouse conditions
for forty years to it simply thrown Castle-st, Holborn & Stewart’s-[Is], might have sparked a greater interest
away, he had nothing to look forward Battersea, as regards Wells, 19th in the coronial system, and remember
to but the workhouse. This prospect April.49 that we saw in Part I how the Births,
was intolerable to him, and he killed As a churchwarden, Diplock became Deaths, and Marriages Act of 1836 had
himself.46 involved in the West End’s political led to greater coronial scrutiny of
workhouses by requiring registration
of workhouse deaths. Certainly, as a
surgeon himself, Diplock must have
appreciated Wakley’s views on the
qualification, role and power of the
coroner, particularly his conviction
that coroners should have medical
backgrounds.
Signature of Dr Thomas Bramah Diplock, from an inquisition form related to the inquest
held on Charles Cordery Baglin, 26 January 1892 Like Wakley, Thomas Bramah
London Metropolitan Archives, COR/MW/1890-1891/01, box COR/MW/01. Diplock would need to be a strong
Courtesy of Corporation of London, London Metropolitan Archives coroner, since he would face tough
opposition from the very moment the
Initially, the Friendly Societies life, and was part of a deputation freeholders of West Middlesex elected
offered no medical aid of their own; that sought the formation of Chelsea him (as they had elected Wakley in
rather, they either offered financial and Kensington into a borough that 1839). As it turned out, Diplock’s
assistance to their members or would have direct representation in worst enemy was another medical
arranged a visit from Society officers Parliament.50 In January 1861, Diplock coroner.
or clergymen who, of course, were presided over a public meeting that The 1868
not properly trained surgeons. resolved to circulate a petition for West Middlesex Election
Following Thomas Wakley’s efforts support, and in March, he was a
James Bird – who in 1862 had
to professionalize medicine, an 1858 member of the Chelsea delegation
succeeded Thomas Wakley as West
Act of Parliament stipulated that the that met with Viscount Palmerston to
Middlesex coroner – died on 6 January
Friendly Societies’ medical officers discuss the subject.51 52
1868. Supporters of Dr Diplock’s
had to be registered medical men, Diplock further added to his public candidacy for the open position held
and that push toward professionalism service curriculum vitae by serving a ‘crowded and influential’ meeting
led to Diplock’s own involvement with as house surgeon for London’s Lock at the Swan Inn in Hammersmith
the London Friendly Institution. Hospital in Harrow Road.53 ‘Lock on 30 January – a testimony of how
Besides providing care for ill or Hospitals’ were charity hospitals Diplock had spent the previous
destitute members, Friendly Societies located across Britain whose main twelve years.58 ‘Influential’ was an
also provided their membership with a purpose was to treat venereal understatement. The meeting was
social outlet. Their monthly meetings diseases. In 1746, the surgeon to chaired by Thomas Heron Jones,
– held in that hub of English society, Queen Charlotte, Dr William Bromfield, seventh Viscount Ranelagh. According
the public house – were occasions founded London’s Lock Hospital at to his 1885 obituary, Ranelagh, a
for social activity, and some societies Grosvenor Place, near Hyde Park. founder of the Volunteer force in
provided their members with an annual The facility moved to Harrow Road in 1859, former High Sheriff of Norfolk
feast out of society funds. They also 1842 and served as medical facility for and future nominee of the title Knight
provided a network for the making Paddington Workhouse, located across Commander of the Order of the Bath
of contacts and the transaction of a field from the hospital.54 55 A second (Civil Division), cut a familiar figure in
business.47 facility – at 91 Dean Street – for male West London’s fashionable clubs.(59)
Diplock was also involved in patients was built in Soho in 1862, The relationship between Diplock
business, acting as a trustee guarding leaving the Harrow Road Lock Hospital and Ranelagh is not clear, but the
the interests of a parish clerk in to care for female sufferers.56 57 It is not 1871 census lists the Diplock family
debt. Perry’s Bankrupt and Insolvent clear when Diplock was house surgeon at ‘Ranelagh House’ in Fulham.60
Gazette records: there, but if his service dates from Whatever the relationship, after
SHERRELL, James Samuel, (Jan 1862 or later, then it would appear hearing Diplock cite his qualifications
16) deputy parish clerk, King’s-rd, he was primarily attending female for the office, Ranelagh and the other
Chelsea. Trustees – Thomas Bramah inmates of Paddington Workhouse, supporters at the Swan Inn ‘pledged
Diplock, doctor of medicine, Dudley- with an emphasis on treating venereal [themselves] to use every effort in its
villa, Upper Cheyne-walk, Chelsea, & disease. power to secure his election’.61
John Matthews, brewer, Oakley-sq, We have speculated that the We don’t know what case Diplock
Chelsea. Deed of arrangement to pay experience of sudden death during made for himself at that meeting,
£40 per annum, by equal monthly Diplock’s early life might have led him but we can reasonably speculate
instalments [sic], till debts are paid to his coronial career. It is also tempting that it was probably similar to the
in full.48 to speculate that attending inmates case made by Thomas Wakley nearly
There was also a printing ink of Paddington Workhouse further forty years earlier: the advocacy
manufacturing business involving strengthened his desire to become of a medical coroner over a legally
Diplock that dissolved in April 1870, a coroner, a magistrate of the poor. trained one. Probably relying most
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18 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
on his experience in London Lock Workhouse. Hardwicke had the added 1830 – that medical coroners were
Hospital, Diplock’s explanation of his allure of five years’ experience as Dr susceptible to promoting their own
qualifications might have included Edwin Lankester’s deputy coroner in dogma to the jury rather than the
a vision of the coroner as champion Central Middlesex. Thus, for Diplock, rule of law – Hardwicke and Diplock,
of public health against institutional Hardwicke’s similarity presented both of whom must have campaigned
and medical incompetence, whose quite an obstacle as the freeholders for Wakley’s vision of the medical
role would be to guide juries through of West Middlesex geared up for the constable, but who were pitted
expert medical testimony reinforced, nomination on 19 February. About against each other. Diplock’s agent,
when necessary, with an increased the middle of the month, most of Thomas Gilbert, appears to have
use of the post-mortem procedure. the other candidates melted away, repeatedly tried to distinguish Diplock
Diplock’s obituary places him squarely possibly due to lack of backing and the as ‘the resident candidate’, perhaps
in Wakley’s class: high costs associated with elections, in an attempt to paint Hardwicke
[His] medical knowledge was of and Hardwicke became Diplock’s from Central Middlesex as an outsider
the most valuable assistance to him strongest obstacle. to West Middlesex, unfamiliar with
in the different enquiries he had to There appears to have been the concerns of its residents.
undertake, and it was he, along with controversy over the withdrawal of With the pro-medical platform
other medical coroners of Middlesex, Brown, who initially offered to retire divided, it would seem that James
headed by Mr T Wakley, MP, who, as in favour of Diplock, but Diplock Walter would have had easy pickings,
far as their county was concerned, refused to meet some condition Brown but according to The Times’s account
settled the moot point in their had made – possibly over whether of the election, by the time the
favour as to whether medical or legal Diplock would agree to allow Brown remaining candidates assembled
knowledge is the more useful in the to be his deputy coroner.64 Diplock’s at Brentford market place for the
discharge of coroners’ duties.62 agent, Thomas Gilbert, placed in a nomination on 19 February 1868,
Therefore, we can reasonably notice in The Times which referred to the contest was primarily between
classify Diplock as a follower of the controversy: Hardwicke and Diplock. Apparently,
Wakley, although by 1868, the fiery In withdrawing from the contest the freeholders of West Middlesex
reforms of Wakley had cooled. That for the office of Coroner, Mr Brown were also adherents of their former
doesn’t necessarily make Diplock a intimates that ‘another candidate medical coroner, Thomas Wakley, and
Radical. We don’t know what Diplock’s is endeavouring to take advantage therefore Walter found little support.
political leanings were, although the of his retirement,’ and states ‘that The election had the normally quiet
knowledge of workhouse conditions he has written to all his friends town of Brentford electrically charged
he gained at London’s Lock Hospital who had promised him to support Dr and animated. Likewise so were the
might have encouraged some liberal Hardwicke.’ He might have added the supporters of the candidates. Shortly
leanings. Of course, we speculate. undoubted fact that, before doing so, before noon, Diplock’s people arrived
Further study of Diplock’s political he (Mr Brown) had made overtures to in a procession of three carriages and
backers might shed some light here, resign in favour of Dr Diplock, though a fourth, accompanied by a band,
because as we noted in Part I, political on conditions with which Dr Diplock and followed by ‘a long line of less
parties used the coroners’ contest as could not comply, simply because he pretentious equipages’. A parade of
an opportunity to test party strength. believed the Freeholders of Middlesex Hardwicke’s supporters came next.
Diplock’s initial opponents numbered to be too independent and high- (The Times mention no procession
five. There appear to have been three minded to be handed over, as goods for Walter, possibly because he was
men with legal background: Frederick bought and sold, on the mere dictum already doomed).
Hand, James Bird’s former deputy of a candidate for their suffrages. As in the 1830 East Middlesex
coroner; James Walter; and George Electors of Middlesex, support Dr elections, at noon the sheriffs
Brown, about whom we know little Diplock, the resident candidate, who and Aldermen rose to make brief
except that he appears to have had will not work by deputy.65 speeches, probably appealing for a
a substantial following. Unlike the As indicated, it appears that calm election by guaranteeing fairness
clear-cut choice Middlesex freeholders Brown tried to procure for himself for each candidate and beseeching the
had faced in 1830 and 1839 between the position of deputy coroner under freeholders to refrain from violence.
medical and legal coroners, 1868 saw Diplock, a possibility that Diplock Each candidate was then nominated
a more complex contest with Diplock rejected. Actually, another of and seconded. Dr Cooper of Brentford
facing opposition from two additional Diplock’s opponents, Frederick Hand, proposed Hardwicke, remarking on
candidates, both medical men. They appears as Diplock’s deputy in an 1889 the benefits of the medical coroner
were Dr J Whitmore, the Medical directory.66 Presumably Diplock had and Hardwicke’s experience as deputy
Officer of Health for St Marylebone, already agreed to a similar deal with coroner. During W T Farnell’s seconding
and Dr William Hardwicke, the deputy- Hand, and despite Gilbert’s assurance of Hardwicke, a disruption broke out
coroner for Central Middlesex, and that Diplock would ‘not work by among the crowd – caused no doubt by
former Medical Officer of Health for deputy’, he certainly had one in 1868 Diplock’s supporters. The noise of the
Paddington. – presumably his former opponent, crowd drowned out Farnell’s speech.
Of the medical candidates, Hand.67 With Brown and Diplock After the nominations were
Hardwicke was the more formidable unable to reach an accommodation, complete, the candidates addressed
opponent to Diplock. He had similar Hardwicke then managed to secure the freeholders. Hardwicke stressed
qualifications to Diplock. Having Brown’s support for himself. his experience, and although he ‘did
worked in Paddington, Hardwicke was Now only three candidates of the not wish to disparage his adversaries
concerned with sanitary conditions63 initial five remained: James Walter, ... he was afraid that one of them
and would have been familiar with the solicitor, no doubt repeating had been misled by his advisers’ (a
London’s Lock Hospital and Paddington William Baker’s arguments of kick likely aimed at Diplock as Walter
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 19
was no longer a threat). Walter spoke ‘Worthy of My Hire’: granting another rule nisi on the
next, advocating the concept of the The Queen vs Diplock subject of salary.75 It meant that as far
legal coroner and painting the medical With only a slim victory margin as the Queen’s Bench was concerned,
coroner as an advocate rather than a of 100 votes, Hardwicke’s strategy Diplock’s salary was, like his position,
judge, ‘for they had always to uphold was to disallow votes. That spring, pending. The county treasurer,
a particular theory.’ he appealed to the Court of the however, reassured Diplock’s solicitor
Diplock spoke last. He made the Queen’s Bench to overturn the in writing, ‘that he should have
point that he had filled several local election result, citing that the no objection in recommending the
offices, and he was fully cognizant majority of people voting for Diplock Justices to pay [Diplock] after what
of the responsibilities of the position did not hold freeholder status – a he had heard in court.’76
he was now seeking at their hands. If necessary requirement to vote in the But behind the scenes, Hardwicke
elected, he said he would endeavour election – and that even Diplock once again switched the battlefield.
to fulfil the duties of that office in a himself wasn’t actually a freeholder He seized on the Court’s last nisi
manner which would be satisfactory (remember that the only technical ruling and wrote to the Middlesex
to the electors as well as to his own qualification for coroners was a land magistrates, the coroners’ financial
conscience.68 qualification). Hardwicke’s barrister authority, complaining, ‘Dr Diplock
Diplock’s mention of ‘conscience’ argued that Diplock’s supporters was unduly returned, and praying the
was reminiscent of Thomas Wakley’s had led some voters to believe they Court to withhold payment until Dr
arguments in the elections of 1830 were freeholders simply because they Diplock had justified himself.’ The
that coroners had a moral duty were graveholders in West Middlesex magistrates – always ready to pinch a
to uphold. As Wakley said at that churchyards. The barrister sought an penny when it came to coroners – of
time ‘no longer would the wretched order preventing Diplock, who had course agreed with Hardwicke, and
sufferers be neglected; no longer already held the office for some two despite the county treasurer’s earlier
would they be the victims of ruthless months, from acting as coroner. The reassurance to Diplock’s barrister,
and incompetent practitioners.’69 Bench granted a temporary verdict the magistrates bench decided to
Diplock, of course, must have seen on 30 April, a rule nisi for a quo withhold Diplock’s salary and only
some hard cases in the Harrow Road warranto.72 That is, Diplock would pay his expenses while the case
Lock hospital. be prevented from carrying out his was pending.77 The problem, from
There was a show of hands in official duties unless he demonstrated Diplock’s point of view, was that the
Diplock’s favour. Hardwicke then why he should hold the office. On case was not scheduled to be heard
demanded a poll, which Diplock also 4 June, Diplock’s barrister made a until the Michaelmas term of 1869,
won, just squeaking by 1,593 votes to case that the return of the sheriff nearly a year away. As far as the
Hardwicke’s 1,482.70 Faced with such a was conclusive, but Hardwicke’s side magistrates were concerned, West
narrow defeat, Hardwicke demanded contradicted the argument with an Middlesex had no coroner, at least in
further scrutiny of the votes, but the - unfortunately for us - unnamed, regard to payment of salary.
sheriff refused. The election was over. contradictory case that apparently Hardwicke had struck Diplock a
Diplock, as the new coroner for West found favour with the Bench, for now crippling body blow. Diplock now
Middlesex, placed an announcement they made their earlier, tentative found himself working without pay,
in The Times of 26 February thanking decision against Diplock absolute.73 and even worse, it appears that the
the freeholders: It would seem that at this point magistrates did not even bother to
For the high honour you have Diplock had lost his office, but it inform him of their decision, instead
conferred upon me in electing me appears his barrister must have made leaving him to read of it in the
to the office of Coroner for your some appeal allowing his client to newspaper. He fired off an angry letter
division, permit me to return my continue operating as de facto coroner, to Henry Pownall, Chairman of the
most heartfelt thanks, and to express pending another ruling by the Queen’s Bench of Magistrates for Middlesex,
my determination to discharge the Bench. There was no new election calling their refusal to pay his salary
duties devolving upon me in such a and in October Diplock presided over ‘unjustifiable.’ Legalities aside, he
manner as will prove my appreciation an inquest that returned a murder argued, was he not in the meantime
of your confidence.71 verdict against a surgeon who had performing the work of a coroner?
performed a botched abortion.74 Diplock questioned the magistrates’
When the two major candidates
Hardwicke, not content that Diplock authority and common sense:
had similar qualifications, only
politics and networking on the ground should act in de facto until the High Is the bench of magistrates to
could determine victory or defeat. Court made its decision, took further assume to themselves the power to
In 1868, Diplock could only have action on his own. Unable to remove decide on the merits of a question now
succeeded with the aid of effective Diplock from office quickly, he now before the highest court of judicature
ground support. However, the new tried to cripple his ability to function in England before those merits have
West Middlesex coroner would need as coroner. even been argued in that Court?
determination to discharge his duties, As everyone waited for the pending But by refusing to pay my salary
for although William Hardwicke had court case that would ultimately you are virtually deciding against
lost the election, the crafty deputy- decide Diplock’s fate, Diplock sought me on the merits without hearing
coroner from Central Middlesex had to secure an order from the Queen’s me upon them. Now, supposing that
not given up his aspirations for the Bench directing the Middlesex the Court of Queen’s Bench were to
position of coroner of West Middlesex. magistrates to pay his salary. The decide eventually against me upon
Hardwicke simply changed the field Court refused to do so, and Justice the merits, am I to be deprived
to the court system, a place where Blackburn opined that, ‘He thought of the salary affixed to the office
the freeholders had no influence, and the county would be tolerably safe for the time that I de facto fill
where Diplock would stand isolated. in paying Diplock’s expenses,’ while that office and perform the duties
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20 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
attached thereto? Why is my outlay his salary.80 the 1860 Act only indicated that
in time and in mental and bodily The Queen’s Bench surpassed that renegotiations were lawful and not
labour, necessarily expended by me happy conclusion when on 2 June mandatory, magistrates could manifest
in the performance of those duties as 1869, they ruled in Diplock’s favour, their disapproval over what they still
coroner, to be put upon a different upholding the sheriff’s declaration considered were unnecessary inquests
footing to that of my outlay for that had declared him coroner of by refusing to consider raises.
necessary expenses? Surely justice, West Middlesex in February 1868.81 In 1868, despite the decision to
equity, and common sense would say Finally defeated, William Hardwicke resume paying the coroner, Diplock’s
that while I am de facto coroner, and eventually got his own coronership financial situation was soured by the
until removed by competent authority, a few years later, succeeding Dr Middlesex magistrates’ hesitancy to
I am, like any other labourer, worthy Edwin Lankester as Central Middlesex pay his salary during the post-election
of my hire. Moreover, my status as coroner. As coroner for that district, he crisis. This uneasy relationship with
coroner has been recognized, for I caused tremendous outrage in 1875, the magistrates endured, with the
have appointed a deputy, and his when he performed what was widely magistrates grumbling about Diplock’s
appointment has been confirmed by regarded – even by his colleague, expenses on nothing more than a vague
the Lord Chancellor. City of London coroner William Payne suspicion he was holding unnecessary
Diplock warned the magistrates – as an unnecessary inquest into the inquests. By doing so, the magistrates
that their decision would effectively natural death of famed geologist Sir once again went against the advice of
harm the public’s confidence in their Charles Lyell.82 Sixteen months after their own Committee of Accounts. In
coroner: his election, Diplock was now West November 1869, when the Committee
I wish further to direct the Middlesex coroner in title as well as recommended reimbursing Diplock
attention of the bench to the fact in action, but his conflict with the £123 on 60 inquests held from 1
– the proceedings of which I complain magistrates continued. October to 17 November (averaging
are calculated to do me serious injury more than two inquests per day), one
Money Considerations
in the eyes of the public, and to lower magistrate unfavourably compared
In Part I, we examined the battle
me in estimation, as well as cripple Diplock’s figures to those of Central
coroners and magistrates fought
me in the due performance of my Middlesex coroner Edwin Lankester’s
over funding when our ‘Big Four’
duties...78 considerably larger statistics (£600
of the 1830s were responsible for a
The magistrates ignored Diplock’s in expenses for 237 inquests held in
general rise in coroners’ inquests and
appeal on three levels: 1) because the same period). The magistrate,
expenses, a rise which magistrates
Diplock was fulfilling the obligations Kemshead, grumbled that it was a
– the coroner’s fiscal authority
of his office, 2) because another very large sum for West Middlesex,
– generally misunderstood and were
letter from Diplock’s solicitor offered ‘but they could not help themselves
suspicious of since the system of
a valid guarantee against any possible and must put up with it.’83
remuneration was fee paid per inquest
double payment, and 3) because of a A decade and two review periods
held. On one side, the coroner wanted
recommendation from the magistrates’ later, relations between Diplock and
and was obligated to investigate all
own Committee of Accounts to pay the magistrates had not improved,
sudden deaths reported to him; on
Diplock’s salary. Despite all that, and Diplock found it difficult to get his
the other, the magistrates, suspecting
the magistrates decided to defer salary raised. As Parliament prepared
coroners were getting fat holding
remuneration until the Queen’s Bench to consolidate coronial law following
unnecessary inquests, wanted to
settled the election dispute the the first and second Bravo inquests,
save money and insisted coroners
following year.79 Presumably, Diplock in 1879, Diplock took his case to The
only inquire into deaths where
relied on independent income during Times in the hope that Parliament
there was reasonable suspicion a
this period – a throwback to the would save him from the magistrates:
crime had taken place. Therefore,
coroners of medieval days, who also the magistrates began exercising [On] the 8th of May, 1876, I
went without pay and relied on their their direct financial control over attended by invitation a meeting
estates. the coroner, arbitrarily disallowing of a committee of the Middlesex
Hardwicke’s tactics and the decision inquests they deemed unnecessary, magistrates ‘to confer on the
of the magistrates had dangerous with the result that ‘subtle’ murders, salaries,’ when my return of inquests
ramifications for the citizens of such as poisonings and infanticide, and of miles travelled was accepted
West Middlesex, as Diplock noted. remained undetected. In 1860, and my salary for the ensuing five
By financially crippling the coroner, Parliament had passed legislation years assessed at £961 18s 10d.
the magistrates also crippled the that removed the magistrates’ direct On the 2nd of June, 1876, I received
coroner’s court itself and its ability control over coroners by paying the a letter from the Clerk of the Peace
to hold inquests (since all payments coroner a salary taken from five- informing me that a resolution had
for witnesses, post-mortems, and year averages of individual districts been passed at Quarter Sessions
officers originated from the coroner). that were based on population, the ‘that no alterations be made in the
Likewise, they potentially damaged number of inquests held, and mileage. salaries of the several coroners.’ I
Diplock’s authority in the eyes of the Magistrates and coroners negotiated consequently, in accordance with the
public. salaries, and in the event that they Act 23 and 24 Vic, cap 116, appealed
By October, perhaps some of were unable to reach accommodation, to the Home Secretary ‘to fix and
Diplock’s arguments had started to sink the coroner could then appeal to determine the amount of such salary.
in to the members of the Magistrates’ the Home Secretary to fix his salary. On the 24th of August 1876, at the
Bench. Based on Diplock’s guarantee Theoretically, inquests were to be Quarter Sessions, a letter was read
that he would not apply for a second renegotiated every five years as a from the Right Hon R A Cross [the
payment, the magistrates reversed check against fears salaried coroners Home Secretary] in which occur the
themselves and voted to allow him would neglect their duties, but since following sentences:
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 21
 The report admits considerable scandalous allegation, and though to made careful inquiries as to other
increase of inquests and mileage in him and then to the chairman of the 239 reported cases in which I did not
both Mr Payne’s and Dr Diplock’s magistrates asking for investigation consider inquests necessary.
districts. Nowhere is it stated that to prove or disprove the charge, the I think these are facts that should
the magistrates were dissatisfied with only redress I received – if redress it be publicly known when it is proposed
the figures returned, – that either can be called – was a letter from the to place the determining of the
unnecessary inquests had been held Clerk of the Peace, dated December amount of coroners’ salaries in the
or unfair mileage charged... Mr Cross 5, 1876, in which is this sentence: “I hands of the local authority, and
considers that if an increased number am also to call your attention to the as the Coroners Bill is about to be
of inquests have been fairly held and fact that you were not individually considered by the House of Commons,
an increased expense for mileage mentioned in the resolution referred it appears to me that this is the
incurred, such elements should not be to in your letter.” fittest time to lay them before the
entirely left out of the calculation in The Coroners Bill to be considered public.
arriving at the basis of what is a fair on Monday leaves it to the local Apologizing for the length of this
salary to be paid to those coroners for authority to fix the salary. My salary communication, I will only add that
the ensuing five years. has thus been fixed at £650 a year, out the salary of this division of the
The magistrates then passed a of which I have to pay all my office county has been increased only £50
resolution that: The justices have now expenses and travelling, also for a year in 14 years, whereas the
no means of discovering in what cases assistance from the deputy-coroner: population has risen in that period
inquests have been fairly held, but also I have to advance money to pay from 285,000 to about 600,000.84
have still every reason to believe that the disbursements of the inquests, After agreeing on an increase
the larger number are unnecessary amounting at times to more than amounting to a salary of £961, the
and improper. £300 out of pocket at once. magistrates then proposed to give
On 1 September 1876, a letter was Last year I held 685 inquests, Diplock no raise at all. Diplock’s
sent from the Home Office informing paid £1,316 19s 6d. in fees and appeal to the Home Secretary resulted
me that Mr Secretary Cross had fixed disbursements, and travelled at my in a brusque £650 annually, without
my salary at £650 per annum. This was own charges about 3,500 miles, at allowing Diplock to make a case for
without allowing me to disprove the my salary of £650, besides having himself. In fact, despite the Home
> > Secretary’s rather curt allowance that
increases in expenses and mileage
should be considered while fixing
salaries, the amount Assheton Cross
arrived at was most insufficient.
Based on Diplock’s expenses for one
quarter – £123 for 60 inquests – we
can tentatively multiply that figure
by four (always keeping in mind these
figures fluctuated). That gives Diplock
annual expenses totalling £492 – and
those are only the expenses the
magistrates reimbursed him for. As
we see in the above letter, Diplock
claimed his actual annual expenses for
one year were much greater, £1,316.
Subtracting even our tentative amount
of £492 from £650 leaves only a salary
of £158 a year – we must remember
that expense reimbursements went
right back toward holding new
inquests and so never remained long
in the coroners’ pockets. If we accept
Diplock’s account that his actual
expenses were much higher, we see
he operated at a deficit.
The Home Secretary, Richard
Assheton Cross – supposedly
Diplock’s failsafe against magisterial
intimidation – had simply left the
coroner to fend for himself against
an increasing population in West
Middlesex. Diplock’s very public office
was a lonely one.
Since Diplock had to pay his expenses
out of his own pocket before the
magistrates reimbursed him, financial
tightness threatened the functioning
Richard Assheton Cross (Home Secretary, 1874–1880)
of his office. In November 1880, a
>
22 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
year after Diplock pleaded his case the dead in a case like this, when all the same as it was ten years ago, so
in The Times, the following criticism but professional opinion is worthless? that it is probable delays in holding
appeared in the same paper: A doctor was present at the birth of inquests will occur simply from
Sir, the child; his opinion, not that of my inability to provide necessary
Will you allow me to give a simple the jury, is required. Surely this law assistance. Primarily, then, any such
statement of what has just occurred requires alteration.85 cases must be assigned to the ruling
in this parish, in order to show the Diplock fired back a reply, which motive at the Quarter Sessions – that
grievous wrong inflicted on the poor appeared in print the next day: it is a first duty to save the rates, and
by the present working of the law of Ostensibly written to deprecate this sanctioned by the decision of the
inquest? The law says: ‘The coroner the necessity of a coroner’s jury late Home Secretary on my appeal to
has no authority to take an inquisition having to view the body on which an him nearly five years ago.86
of death, except upon view of the inquest is held, the letter is made Besides defending his justification
body by himself and the jury; and if a means of insinuations, of latent for holding the inquest and the
he does so, the inquisition is wholly causticity, bearing on the reasons why timeliness of his response, Diplock
void.’ the inquest was held, and the cause of connected such criticism to a lack of
My tale is this: On Monday week a delay in taking it is attributed to the funding and attention on the part of
young wife died, after being confined coroner’s having ‘other engagements,’ the magistrates and the Government
with a dead child. The funeral was – the delay being stated as of ‘ten itself. Those who proposed to save
to have been held last Sunday, which days’ extent. money and spare the feelings of
seemed hardly soon enough, but The inquest was taken to ascertain grieving families by curbing the
there was a common difficulty about and take evidence whether the activities of coroners did not build
bearers at work and friends from midwife had contributed by rash proper mortuaries to house their
a distance. On Sunday morning we or violent means to the woman’s bodies. Neither did they care to fund
were told the funeral must be put death, and cases have occurred of the coroner’s court so that he could
off that an inquest might be held such nature as to necessitate a charge adequately function.
to inquire into the conduct of the of manslaughter against midwives. The fiscal meanness of the
midwife for not having sent for a Therefore, it is not justifiable to magistrates, non-professionals who
doctor when dangerous symptoms set say that it was held ‘to inquire controlled the accounts of qualified
in. The inquest was not held until this into the conduct of the midwife for medical and legal coroners and who
morning, and the funeral is only just not having sent for a doctor when sometimes questioned the necessity
over – that is to say, the dead bodies dangerous symptoms set in.’ As to of their inquests, must have been
have been left from Monday in one the delay ‘from Monday in one week galling for Diplock and other
week to Wednesday in another. The to Wednesday in another,’ I can only Middlesex county coroners. Given
relations have behaved extremely say that the information of the case the magistrates’ petulance regarding
well in the circumstances, but their first came to me on Monday, and income, when Diplock later held an
trouble has been much aggravated by I held the inquest on Wednesday inquest on one Middlesex magistrate
the fact that the poor girl’s mother, – that is to say, two days after I who had died of apoplexy, we wonder
daily expecting her own confinement, received the information. The danger if Diplock wondered wryly if coroners’
is under the same roof in the next to neighbours and residents would expenses were a contributing factor in
cottage. be best obviated by the erection of the death.87
Now, bad as this case is, and far mortuaries in similar cases, but in this The truth was that Thomas Bramah
worse as it might have been in hot instance the disanguined condition of Diplock, like Thomas Wakley before
weather, perhaps no one is much to the body should have prevented any him, was no parasite on the ratepayers.
blame except the law that coroner supposition of danger of exhalations. His annual statistical report for
and jury must see the dead. The Such critical letters are of service 1887 cites that out of 1,106 deaths
Registrar lays a hesitating certificate when strictly correct, and I am well reported, Diplock disallowed 299 cases
from the doctor before the Board aware that changes must be made where he did not think inquests were
of Guardians, who forward it to in the office and duties of coroners necessary.[88] Because his salary was
the coroner, who comes when other before many years are over, but such based on an average of inquests held,
engagements permit. And yet what change should be radical, and not Diplock received no compensation for
has happened ought not to be possible. tentative, as in the Bill printed by those cases that yielded no inquiries
We endeavour to set the poor free the late Government; and I cannot (other than expenses), despite his
from that loving superstition which but think much light might be having to investigate them. His 1892
holds fast their dead until corruption thrown on this subject if the Home obituary in the West London Observer
has done much of its work; we speak Secretary would address a circular to observed:
of typhus and other probable harm the coroners asking for suggestions His whole ambition was to discharge
to the living, and then the law comes (as he has done to the various his duties efficiently to the ratepayers.
to sanction horrors which even they Quarter Sessions in reference to the If at times, in connection with his
protest against vehemently. And all punishment of juvenile offenders), office, he appeared parsimonious,
this for what cause? That unwilling and and allowing their suggestions due he would explain that it was the
shrinking jurymen may be compelled consideration. ratepayers’ money that he was
to the ghastly sight of bodies dead The population of my division of spending. The district the deceased
ten days, when their verdict could the county has doubled in the last had to cover was one of great extent,
not possibly be affected by it. If any ten years, and the number of inquests reaching as it did from Feltham on
one has been killed by a gunshot, consequently increased, whereas my the one hand, to Knightsbridge on the
it may be necessary to inspect the salary of £650 (out of which all other, and comprising 78 parishes. At
wound, but why bring them before expenses have to be paid) remains one time he used to keep a trap, but
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 23
he found that owing to his great bulk allow it in his court, remarking, ‘It before had lost its tail to an engine at
this did not suit him, and for some amounted to manslaughter to prescribe the same crossing. At the conclusion
years indulged in an extraordinary a poisonous drug negligently or in of the inquest, Diplock and the jury
amount of pedestrian exercise, the ignorance of its properties.’ The jury discussed different strategies to
distance he used to cover during the returned a verdict of manslaughter improve safety at crossings (measures
day being surprising.89 and the herbalist was committed for like bridges or crossing guards). In the
trial.91 end, the public’s enduring belief that
The Blacker Country
But murder and manslaughter cases they move faster than trains defeated
While magistrates like Kemshead
formed only a minority of Diplock’s them.93 The coroner and his jury could
viewed the coroner’s inquest with
inquests. Let us look again at his annual not save West Enders from themselves
a barely grudging tolerance and
report for 1887, as given in The Times (or their dogs).
limited understanding of the coroner’s
of 1 February 1888. Keep in mind that Other accidental deaths were more
purpose, Diplock went about the
these figures would have fluctuated exotic. When George Stevens, an
business of protecting the public over
for any given year. The year 1887 saw elephant attendant, was crushed in
the years 1868–1892. Although Thomas
a marked decrease in the number of the line of duty in December 1889,
Wakley’s West Middlesex district had
suicides in West Middlesex. Out of 807 the jury returned a verdict that must
been divided in 1862 (part forming
inquests held that year, there were 4 have bugged eyes in the Registrar’s
Central Middlesex), it still presented a
murder verdicts, 2 manslaughters, 44 Office: ‘accidentally crushed by an
large amount of territory to cover, as it
suicides (36 males and 8 females), 280 elephant’.94 As was the case of Miss
sprawled across 78 parishes. As noted,
accidental deaths, with the remaining Attwood’s dog twenty years earlier,
in 1878, Diplock travelled some 3,500
bulk of 477 deaths being from various Diplock’s jury attached no blame to
miles as he crisscrossed the district,
other causes (disease, natural causes, the elephant.
holding roughly two inquests per day
etc). There was the tragic, typified by Rosa
on average.
We tend to associate coroners Hughes in September 1882. Hughes, a
Like Wakley, he concerned himself
most with murder inquiries, probably 62-year-old widow left destitute after
with quackery and utilizing the post-
because such cases receive extensive the death of her husband, lived on six
mortem as a means of linking such
press coverage, but actually, cases shillings a month. When her furniture
practices with causes of death. When
of a more decidedly mundane nature was seized for rent, she was ‘greatly
Dr J Powell of Chelsea performed an
occupy most of the coroner’s time. For grieved’ and ‘said she should not get
abortion on Louisa Thomas without
example, there were investigations over it.’ She applied to the parish
chloroform, a post-mortem suggested
of industrial accidents. Among such guardians for relief, but they refused
that the shock of the abortion
inquests handled by Diplock, railway- her and told her to go to the dreaded
accelerated an existing disease of
related accidents figure prominently, workhouse. Hughes refused, declaring
the heart, killing her. Powell left
as the following cases show. that she would rather die in the
Thomas dead on the floor of his
In September 1869, short-sighted streets, and that is just about what
consulting room and fled (a letter
Thomas Showell died due to a fall she did. She collapsed in the street
alleging intimacy between doctor and
from a parapet on the Metropolitan after she complained of feeling faint
patient suggested Powell aborted his
Railway system, thinking his train had and begged Charlotte Turner – who in
own child). On Diplock’s advice, the
stopped at a station (when the train better days had called her ‘mother’
jury returned a verdict of ‘wilful
had actually stopped at a stop signal). – ‘not to let her be taken away.’ She
murder’ and Diplock issued a warrant
The jury attached no blame to the was taken to her lodging in Richards
for Powell’s arrest.90
railway, but recommended that the Place and, because all her furniture
In 1884, the widow Matilda
parapets be protected against future was gone, she was placed on the bare
Sainsbury, suffering from bronchitis
occurrences.92 floor of her room as her unemployed
and lung disease, sought aid from
In December 1869, Miss Violet son, William Hughes, attempted to
a herbalist named James Wallace.
Mary Elizabeth Attwood was walking borrow a bed for his mother to die
The herbalist prescribed a mixture
her dog when they came to a level in. He was unsuccessful, and the
and advised Sainsbury to exceed
crossing, where Miss Atwood’s feisty parish medical officer found Hughes
the recommended dosage of one to
dog rooted himself to the rails in an expiring on the floor, covered in a
two spoonfuls by taking the entire
attempt to stare down an approaching few rags. She died shortly after, and
bottle. She drank half, and was dead
train. ‘Come here, Sir,’ Miss Attwood a post-mortem revealed that she had
within forty minutes. A post-mortem
called several times, but her dog starved to death. Although Hughes
revealed she had died of an irritant
stood his ground. Suddenly, despite had been despondent over the loss
poison. Dr Thomas Stevenson, a
appeals from onlookers, Miss Atwood of her furniture, Charlotte Turner
lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence at
gathered her skirts and dashed into reported that she ‘was more cheerful
Guy’s Hospital, examined Sainsbury’s
the path of the train in an attempt on the morning of the day of her
viscera and stomach and analyzed the
to save the dog. She succeeded in death than she had been for a long
remaining medication. He testified
saving the dog, but sadly the engine, time. She was singing hymns before
that Wallace’s mixture of lobelia and
unable to stop, caught Miss Atwood she complained of being faint.’95 After
acetic acid was ‘extensively used in
at the last second, just as she was all, she had succeeded in avoiding the
quack medicine as an emetic, but
clearing the rails. The train cruelly workhouse.
it was powerfully irritant, and if no
mangled her, severing her torso. Trickiest of all were bodies that
vomit resulted it was likely to cause
After taking three last breaths, she had lain concealed for an extended
death.’ When the herbalist, Wallace,
expired at the scene. The jury ruled period. Let us have a special look at
tried to contradict Stevenson’s
it an ‘accidental death’ and attached how Diplock juries dealt with bodies
evidence, saying, ‘It was a pity the
no blame to the railway or to Miss found exposed, particularly those who
medical profession did not recognize
Attwood’s dog, which two months had drowned. Bodies found in the
its usefulness,’ Diplock refused to
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24 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
Thames must have been especially door, and we hear the footsteps of not to know that the making of plans
problematic for Diplock or any coroner young Rose, the parlour maid,98 as is the most optimistic of actions.
who had a substantial body of water she moves to answer. You and I, Death takes no holiday, they know,
in his jurisdiction. How, when bodies citizens of the future, already know and neither does the Thames.
had been underwater for weeks at who’s waiting outside. The visitor is a We hope that readers will excuse
a time, with the attendant decay constable, who has brought news that our little fictionalization. Facts
of physical evidence, could juries a body has just been discovered off concerning the Druitt inquest are
satisfactorily determine whether the wharf of Thorneycroft’s torpedo hard to come by. We don’t have the
the death was a result of accident, factory. After submersion of the body depositions. Newspaper reports – our
suicide, or murder? of Montague John Druitt for around only remaining sources for the inquest
a month, the Thames has finally – were sparse. As was the practice
A Drowning, A Tavern Inquest,
given up the corpse. Bramah Joseph’s with most inquests, coverage was
and A Verdict of Suicide
passionate monologue about granite limited to only a paragraph or two –
Here we are, the last afternoon
and caterpillars tapers off. The eggnog not surprising as Thames suicides were
of 1888, very near the end of a
disappears, as does Dr Diplock’s smile. relatively common and not terribly
lazy holiday season. Let us imagine
Leonard becomes interested in a sensational events. Given Sir Melville
for a moment that we are guests
volume resting in his father’s bookcase Macnaghten’s linkage of Druitt with
at a New Year’s Eve celebration at
– perhaps a worn copy of Erasmus the Ripper in 1894, practically all
Arlington House in Brandenburgh
Wilson’s Healthy Skin. Eleanor bids students of the Ripper case will have
Road, Chiswick, the home of Dr
Rose fetch Dr Diplock’s overcoat and pored over those accounts with a fine-
Thomas Diplock. We are drinking
muffler, as she silently calculates how tooth comb.
Eleanor’s eggnog while sitting around
she is going to rearrange the evening’s For the sake of completeness, we
the fireplace, admiring Dr Diplock’s
dinner round her husband’s absence, include the most detailed account
12-foot mahogany winged bookcase.96
which may or may not keep him from the Acton, Chiswick & Turnham
We’re smoking our meerschaum pipes
throughout the afternoon and into the Green Gazette of Saturday, 5 January
with amber stems and chatting with
night. Arthur and Esther continue to 1889:
Bramah Joseph Diplock, who at this
play, but softly.
time is a thirty-one-year-old granite FOUND DROWNED. Shortly after
No one at Arlington House mid-day on Monday, a waterman named
merchant. He appears destined to live
complains of interrupted New Year’s Winslade, of Chiswick, found the body
up to the Bramah reputation, keen on
Eve celebrations. No one is perturbed. of a man, well-dressed, floating in
engineering and the hauling of granite.
After twenty years of living in a the Thames off Thorneycroft’s. He
He is excited by an observation he
coroner’s house, the Diplocks are all at once informed a constable, and
has made concerning the practical
much too familiar with sudden death without delay the body was conveyed
possibilities of caterpillar legs moving
heavy loads.97 Dr Diplock listens and > >
smiles as his son speaks, much amused
by Bramah Joseph’s enthusiasm.
Perhaps he is pleased that the ingenious
Bramah blood continues to sing in the
veins of his son. Maybe, relying on
his own engineering background, he
supplies a helpful comment or two
for Bramah Joseph’s consideration.
In the background, Arthur Bramah
and Esther Martha play a jaunty
music-hall favourite on the family
piano. As her fingers dance over the
keys, Esther Martha imagines giant
caterpillars hauling Bramah Joseph’s
granite all across the country, and the
terrifying image produces a shudder.
Leonard Bramah Diplock – a surgeon
like his father – frowns as he quietly
listens to the conversation between
his brother and father. It is not that
he disapproves of caterpillars; he is
simply having trouble easing an itch
below his shoulder blades until he
finally finds relief by rubbing against
a corner of the mahogany bookcase.
We notice that, all along the length of
that particular corner, are little areas
Leonard has rubbed into smoothness
over the years, and when he moves
away to accept another glass of
eggnog from his mother, a chart of his
growth is revealed.
Found drowned: Montague John Druitt ©Jane Coram
Suddenly, there is a knock at the
>
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 25
on the ambulance to the mortuary. Diplock is our subject, and our desire range of civic uses.104 In the eighteenth
On Wednesday afternoon, Dr Diplock, here is to understand how his inquest century, the Royal Humane Society
coroner, held the inquest at the Lamb functioned. Therefore, we also made arrangements with landlords
Tap, when the following evidence reference the Thames Valley Times, along London’s main waterways to
was adduced: William H. Druitt said 2 January 1889, which reported, ‘The bring the bodies of people found
he lived at Bournemouth, and that Coroner was acquainted with the fact drowned to locations where a medical
he was a solicitor. The deceased that the remains had been removed to man would be summoned to try to
was his brother, who was 31 last the mortuary.’101 resuscitate them.105 In 1889, the
birthday. He was a barrister-at-law, Where was the mortuary? In 1889, Society utilized four locations in
and an assistant master in a school the nearest public mortuary was at Chiswick to serve as receiving houses
at Blackheath. He had stayed with Brentford Union Workhouse Infirmary for drowned persons: 1) The Bull’s
witness at Bournemouth for a night in Twickenham Road, Isleworth, about Head, Strand-on the Green, Grove
towards the end of October. Witness three and a half miles away.102 This Park Road, 2) Maynard’s Boat house,
heard from a friend on the 11th was a distance, given that Diplock Grove Park, 3) The Red Lion, Chiswick
of December that deceased had not would have had to transport the jury Mall, and 4) The Pumping Station.106
been heard of at his chambers for there and back so they could view However, since the whole purpose
more than a week. Witness then went the body. Had Druitt been taken to behind the Royal Humane Society was
to London to make inquiries, and at a hospital or workhouse mortuary, resuscitation, it seems unlikely they
Blackheath he found the deceased had we might expect the inquest to would have been concerned with the
got into serious trouble at the school have taken place in some premises month-old corpse of Druitt.
and had been dismissed. That was on on the grounds, given that Diplock Coroners and the police also utilized
the 30th of December. Witness had would presumably have wanted the taverns to deposit their corpses, some
deceased’s things searched where he inquest held near the body in order less than fresh, and in doing so,
resided, and found a paper addressed to keep his expenses down. Instead, they probably did not treat publicans
to him (produced). The Coroner read it is likely that either constables as politely as the Royal Humane
the letter, which was to this effect: or Diplock’s officer103 brought Druitt Society had. With few dedicated
‘Since Friday I felt like I was going to a nearby undertaker or, as was mortuaries available, coroners and
to be like mother, and the best thing common practice with persons found police had little choice in where
was for me to die.’ dead out of doors, a tavern shed, in they stored bodies, and it takes no
Witness, continuing, said deceased Druitt’s case, the Lamb Tap, scene of great imagination to suppose that
had never made an attempt on his life the inquest and therefore the most innkeepers objected to the stench
before. His mother became insane in convenient location for Diplock and of decaying corpses wafting through
July last. He had no other relative. his jury. their pubs and tickling the noses of
Henry Winslade was the next witness.
He said he lived at No. 4, Shore-
street, Paxton-road, and that he was
a waterman. About one o’clock on
Monday he was on the river in a boat,
when he saw the body floating. The
tide was at half flood running up. He
brought the body ashore, and gave
information to the police. PC George
Moulson, 216T, said he had searched
the body, which was fully dressed
excepting the hat and collar. He found
four large stones in each pocket in
the top coat; £2 10s in gold, 7s in
silver, 2d in bronze, two cheques on
the London and Provincial Bank (one
for £50 and the other for £16), a first-
class season pass from Blackheath to
London (South-Western Railway), a
second half return Hammersmith to
Charing Cross (dated 1st December),
a silver watch, gold chain with a
spade guinea attached, a pair of kid Front door of Lamb Cottage, formerly the Lamb Tap pub, Chiswick.
gloves, and a white handkerchief. Photograph courtesy of Robert Linford

There were no papers or letters of

any kind. There were no marks of The tavern was a common, if frowned their customers. Burney tells us that
injury on the body, but it was rather on, setting for the nineteenth century the practice of coronial appropriation
decomposed. A verdict of suicide inquest. Traditionally, the public became so common that in 1906, The
whilst in an unsound state of mind house had long served as the centre Licensed Victuallers’ Official Annual,
was returned.99 100 of English social and political life. Legal Textbook, Diary and Almanack,
In this article we do not hunt As Ian Burney has written, the public had to remind publicans with an entry
Jack the Ripper, nor do we wish to house was one of the few buildings that, in fact, they had no obligation to
tackle the full implications of the to which everyone had access, so it serve as mortuaries:
mystery of Druitt’s apparent suicide. was regularly appropriated for a wide Dead Body. In some quarters
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26 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
there is a belief that an innkeeper County Councils would replace tavern entered the twentieth century: 56.5%
is compelled by law to receive into inquests with dedicated mortuaries in 1907, 62% in 1918, and 79% in 1930.
his house a dead body, found in and coroner’s courts, but not soon Burney also cites the work of Gary and
the streets or washed ashore, for enough for Druitt. With no mortuary Mary White Greenwald, who studied
the purpose of an inquest, but such constructed until 1891 (on the south Westminster inquests, where post-
is perfectly erroneous. Inns are side of the High Road)111, the sad mortems were hitting similar marks
established to supply the wants of circumstances of his death were much earlier in time: up from 17% in
the living, and have nothing to do heard among the sounds of fun and 1835 and 38–49.7% in 1865.113 This was
with the dead.107 merriment, of clinking glasses and one of Thomas Wakley’s legacies – in
Despite the widespread utilization clouds of pipe smoke. London, people were getting used to
of taverns, inquests held in them With Druitt ensconced indoors, it post-mortems. They were beginning
were extremely unpopular and no was time to examine the body. We to associate them with inquests,
doubt added to public and magisterial know from our contemporary sources not just criminals and paupers. The
distrust of coroners, as it was no for the inquest that PC George Moulson, dissection stigma, which Wakley had
mystery what went on in taverns – fun 216T, had already searched the body fought to overcome during the 1840s,
and merriment. ‘Could anything be and recovered personal items that was dissipating as the later decades of
more prejudicial,’ Lord Francis Hervey identified Druitt. It would also appear the nineteenth century unfolded.
had asked the Commons in 1876, ‘to that Moulson inspected Druitt for Based on the above data, we might
the proper holding of a Coroner’s signs of violence.112 From the dates of speculate that Diplock ordered post-
inquiry than the holding of it, as was Druitt’s railway ticket and check, plus mortems in perhaps just less than half
so often the case, in a public-house? the decomposed state of the body, his cases. Possibly then the odds are
Surely there was something perfectly certainly a constable could tentatively roughly 50/50 that a post-mortem was
disgusting in holding an inquiry so conclude that Druitt had been in done on Druitt.
solemn and sometimes so delicate in the water for upward of a month, However, it is entirely possible
a public-house.’108 but Dr Diplock would seek a medical that Diplock ordered an external
It is likely that coroners such as opinion. Following the tradition of examination of Druitt and not an all-
Dr Diplock who held inquests in pubs Thomas Wakley, no medical coroner out post-mortem. ‘Wait a minute,’
disliked the environment but simply would be satisfied with a constable’s you might ask. ‘What about Wakley’s
had no other facilities available. examination. Diplock would have influence on Diplock?’ In Part I, we
Another coroner who was compelled to ordered a medical examination, one discussed Wakley’s views on the
hold inquests in taverns, Diplock’s old that went unmentioned in the known post-mortem. Let us revisit some of
adversary, Dr William Hardwicke, said press. Undoubtedly, just as we see what he had to say during his first
he ‘was of opinion that a Coroner’s in the inquests of Ripper victims, Dr inquest in 1839, when he made a
Court should not be held in a public Diplock would have brought in a solid, strong argument for conducting post-
house. Persons in attendance were qualified, and registered medical mortems on a regular basis (the
tempted to drink, and there was often witness, most probably the surgeon emphasis is ours):
a great noise while the inquiry was for T division. This surgeon would It might transpire that an
proceeding.’ When the Guardians of have performed his own examination, individual, heir to property, might
No.1 Ward offered the use of their which likely took place on New Year’s wish to get rid of a second person, who
workhouse offices during an inquest Day, 1889 (in between the discovery of stood between the former’s speedy
at the Prince Alfred Tavern, Hardwicke Druitt and his inquest on 2 January). possession of it, and for that purpose
gratefully accepted.109 Post-mortem examinations were of might administer to him morphiate,
At the beginning of 1889, the two varieties: external and internal. the principle of opium, and cause
tavern inquest was on the cusp of Which was performed on Druitt? It death. To detect if such had been
its decline (one of the last English is difficult to say, and without the done, it was necessary in all cases
tavern inquests to be held was the depositions or detailed press reports, of sudden death that a post mortem
inquest on later named Ripper suspect we can only speculate. Because examination should take place, but
James Maybrick, held at the Aigburth Diplock’s 1892 obituary likens his not so much so in cases resulting
Hotel, Liverpool, in May 1889). During coronership to that of Wakley, we from known accidents, or palpable
the 1890s, the newly formed London would guess that Diplock favoured the instances of suicide. He intended to
County Council, which in conjunction internal post-mortem examination. put the county to as little expense
with the Middlesex County Council had We do not know what proportion of as possible; but he should feel it
replaced the Middlesex magistrates as Diplock’s inquests utilized internal his duty, where no judgment could
the financial authority for London post-mortems, but we do have Burney’s be fairly formed from an external
coroners (per the Local Government citation of Thomas Forbes’s study of appearance of a body, always to order
Act 1888), would move to put an end the London County Council records a post mortem examination.114
to the public house inquest and its that post-mortems were conducted in ‘Palpable suicide’ – tangible,
‘desecrating’ influence of unseemly 48% of inquests held in London during apparent suicide – could be excluded
noise, drinking and smoking.110 The 1894. Their number rose as London to save money. As we have seen,
> > >

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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 27

Diplock had already had his problems especially those who had endured a position where they were locked in
with the magistrates and their desire long submersion – did not necessarily to give ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ verdicts based
to save burdening the ratepayers, indicate cause of death. Damage on the available evidence. They had
and, as it was, there were persistent occurred when bodies hit the water the third option of saying, ‘We just
press complaints of inquests centred at high speeds or as the body don’t know how this person died.’
upon a perceived waste of tax money. collided with debris during its sojourn Furthermore, The Coroner’s Act 1887
Coroners saw themselves as medical underwater. In Druitt’s case, there set out a wide array of verdicts the
police and guardians of the public; were no signs of violence, and besides jury could choose from: manslaughter
we must also remember that they indicating that he was not assaulted, or murder, death by misadventure,
were political figures. According perhaps they show that Druitt did not justifiable homicide (with an addition
to the obituary on Diplock in the fall into the water from some height, for accessory before the fact), and
West London Observer, ‘his whole such as a bridge, or that his body felo de se (self-murder) and suicide
ambition was to discharge his duties – despite its month in the water – was while of unsound mind. The 1888
efficiently to the ratepayers. If at somehow shielded from debris moving edition of Jervis cautioned against the
times, in connection with his office, along in the current. This is simply our over-use of the unsound mind verdict
he appeared parsimonious, he would non-professional suggestion. over the rarer verdict of felo de se:
explain that it was the ratepayers’ It seems that the external post- In this, as in other offences, the
money that he was spending.’ Diplock mortem when applied to drowning consent of the will is necessary,
was so parsimonious that he didn’t was often inconclusive. We submit and therefore the offender ought
even employ a trap for travelling that an internal examination would to be of the age of discretion, and
around his huge district of seventy- not have settled the issue either. compos mentis; for if an infant under
eight parishes – he walked from inquest A nineteenth century surgeon might the age of discretion, or a lunatic
to inquest (the Observer article puts diagnose drowning, but in cases where during his frenzy, destroy himself, he
that down to his large frame of over he could not discern whether marks of cannot be felo de se. But this excuse
six feet, but saving expenses must violence were made before or after ought not to be strained to that
have been a factor as well). death, or where there were no marks length to which coroners’ juries have
However, we should not get the whatsoever, he would not have been sometimes been too apt to carry it.
idea that external examinations were able to diagnose what had caused the A notion too generally prevails that
cursory affairs. By this time, coroners drowning. If post-mortems of persons he who destroys himself must be non
were some decades past the reforms presumed drowned offered doubt on compos, that the very act of suicide is
of Wakley – a competent, trained, the subjects of suicide and murder, evidence of insanity, and that no one
registered surgeon would have then the coroner and his jury could in his senses would commit that which
performed the examination. It is true only rely on other evidence supplied is so contrary both to reason and
that after a month underwater, Druitt by witnesses. This was the case with nature. This very argument urged in
would have been in rough shape. Captain Richmond, who perhaps extenuation, is in fact the aggravation
However, that would not necessarily because of his marks of injury, would of the offences. If tenable, it would
have rendered signs of violence have presented a more suspicious excuse every criminal equally with
invisible from the eyes of the trained case to a jury than the one Druitt the suicide, and would apply more
observer. What would have such signs offered. forcibly in proportion to the enormity
signified? Note the open verdict in Captain of the crime. To murder a parent,
Consider one of Diplock’s inquest Richmond’s case. That is the work of or a child, is as much repugnant to
reported two years later in The Times Diplock, advising the jury on what the nature as self-murder, but if none but
of 8 January 1890. The body of Captain evidence had or had not determined. madmen could commit such crimes,
Henry Fullerton Richmond, a 59-year- In the Richmond case, the jury did no one would be culpable in the eye
old retired military officer, was found not assume that the death was a of the law. The law very rationally
in the Thames, like Druitt’s, apparently suicide or a murder. They did not feel judges that every melancholy and
after long submersion in the river. the evidence was conclusive either hypochondriac fit does not deprive
Also similar to Druitt’s corpse, the way. Inquest juries often issued open a man of the capacity of discerning
captain’s body was in an advanced verdicts when they were not sure good from evil, which is necessary to
state of decomposition. Dr Martindale of the circumstances of death, and form a legal excuse. And therefore, if
C Ward, police divisional surgeon, they sometimes added explanatory a real lunatic kills himself in a lucid
performed an external examination causes such as ‘found drowned in the interval, he is felo de se as much as
of the body. He determined that Thames, but... how [he or she] came another man.117
Richmond’s right hand was ‘completely into the water there was no evidence Of course, in Druitt’s case, the
smashed’ and found marks of injury to show.’116 Indeed, in Part I, we saw jury returned a verdict of while in an
on the forehead. There was testimony how the first Bravo jury returned an unsound state of mind. In case they
that Richmond had been ill and had inconclusive verdict finding of neither entertained doubts concerning the
not slept for several nights before his suicide nor murder in that case of non-medical evidence, they had at
death. However, he had not discussed poisoning, because they felt they had their disposal an option, upheld by
suicide. Since Dr Ward was unable to not heard all the evidence. In their the High Court in 1876, to deliver an
determine whether Richmond’s hand review of that case, the High Court inconclusive verdict if they felt the
and head injuries had occurred before had upheld the jury’s right to do so; evidence lacking. In Druitt’s case,
or after death, the jury returned with it was better to reach an inconclusive they chose not to exercise the option.
a verdict of ‘found drowned.’115 finding than to falsely accuse someone The evidence of Druitt’s note and the
The presence or absence of marks of murder. witness testimony evidently impressed
of violence on drowned persons – Juries were therefore not in a them.

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28 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 Two Remarkable Cases: fact, a number among the crowd Coroner’s inquest – it is difficult to
The Inquests on Dr Edwardes outside did wait for her to make see in what other manner such a case
and on a Murdered Child her departure so they could pounce, could be thoroughly investigated.’123
No account of the career of Thomas though in the end, Bignall was able to Oddly, although the second Bravo
Diplock would be complete without escape from the inn unharmed. The inquest ruined the career of Dr
brief mention of two of his more spectators also made clear that they James Manby Gully, the disgraced Dr
remarkable cases. The first case despised Dr Whitmarsh. They hissed Michael Whitmarsh was not run out of
occurred in Hounslow on New Year’s him during the inquest. Hounslow. Six years later, in January
Eve 1882 and early 1 January 1883, A riot broke out several days into 1889, he ran for a seat representing
and concerns the suicide of Dr William the proceedings. A police constable Hounslow in the Middlesex County
Whitfield Edwardes, a Hounslow was critically injured when a youth Council. He lost that campaign, 634
surgeon and former medical witness struck him on the head with a stone, votes to 270.124 Had he won, ironically,
for Diplock.118 and a police inspector was also hurt. he would have found himself a member
As 1882 ended, Dr Edwardes was in Dr Whitmarsh’s home in Staines Road of the body holding partial fiscal
big trouble. One of his patients, Rose was vandalized. The mob threw control over Thomas Diplock’s salary.
Bignall, had accused him of making stones, breaking many of his front Given that Whitmarsh was able to
improper advances toward her and windows and denting the shutters. scrape together 270 votes in an area
was threatening legal action. Even They tore the curtains, damaged the where the inhabitants had stoned his
worse, Edwardes’ partner, Dr Michael front door, broke two large mirrors house only five years earlier, perhaps
Whitmarsh, was using Bignall’s claim and damaged his conservatory. When it was he, and not William Whitfield
as an excuse to force Edwardes out Whitmarsh prosecuted the vandals, Edwardes, who had the last word after
of his share of their joint practice. anonymous letters were sent to the all. The second remarkable case is
In Edwardes’ time of emergency, Chairman and the Magistrates’ bench mentioned briefly in the West London
Whitmarsh offered him a substantially at Brentford Police Court warning Observer’s obituary of Diplock:
reduced rate than Edwardes had paid them not to prosecute the case. So During the course of his career
to enter into it – only £500 compared great was public sentiment against it is evident that he must have had
with the £1,800 Edwardes had paid Whitmarsh that placards asking for many inquests of a sensational and
for the practice only the year before. solicitations for the vandals’ defence important nature. Perhaps the most
If Edwardes did not sell and leave fund were publicly placed in the curious was one which occurred
Hounslow, Whitmarsh threatened, he streets. Meanwhile, thousands of recently. It was in connection with an
would testify against him in court. sightseers from London came to see inquiry held on the body of a child that
Arranging to meet Whitmarsh and the scene of the Hounslow riots.120 was found in a railway carriage with a
Bignall’s solicitor at Brentford Police Ultimately, the police had to take blow on its skull. The facts of the case
Court the next morning, Edwardes Whitmarsh into protective custody for were exceedingly simple, the medical
went home to his wife and confided his own safety. Even then, the unruly evidence pointing conclusively to the
to her the terrible mess he was in. crowds chased the carriage carrying fact that death was due to violence.
Despite her assurances that she Whitmarsh and his escort, the mob Four or five of the jurymen were for
and their children would stand by hissing and yelling on all sides.121 returning a verdict of wilful murder,
him, Edwardes went downstairs and In the death of William Edwardes, but the remainder wished to return
drank acid. He left behind what is the jury returned a verdict of suicide an open verdict. To the surprise of
arguably the best suicide note of the during temporary insanity. However, the disagreeing jurymen they were
nineteenth century, in which he laid they added their further opinion, with bound over to attend at the Old Bailey
out Whitmarsh’s betrayal. Edwardes no apparent objection from Thomas on the following Monday. Accordingly
left no doubt that Whitmarsh was Diplock, that Edwardes ‘was driven the ‘good men and true’ appeared
culpable in his suicide, calling him to his death by the pressure brought before the Recorder, who, along
‘that fiend in human form’ and a ‘vile to bear upon him by his partner, Dr with the officials of the Court, was
wretch, whom may God yet torment Whitmarsh, using the false charge of equally surprised as the jury at this
with all the tortures of Hell, both in Mrs Bignell [sic] as a means to drive apparently novel procedure. The law
this world and the next.’ Edwardes him to a dishonourable dissolution on the matter was looked up, and Dr
wrapped up his denunciation of his of partnership.’ Diplock took half an Diplock was found to be perfectly in
partner with a postscript: ‘The last hour to sum up the case. We don’t his rights in doing what he had done.
words of William Whitfield Edwardes – have a copy of his actual remarks, but The Recorder reviewed the evidence,
May God curse Michael Whitmarsh.’119 Diplock could not have been flattering and a verdict of wilful murder against
The good citizens of Hounslow, to Whitmarsh, who walked out as the some person or persons unknown was
moved by the Victorian melodrama coroner was speaking, again to great returned. It was remarked that such
and outraged by Whitmarsh’s conduct, boos and hisses from the spectators, an occurrence of binding a jury over
attended the inquest at High Street’s who relished the verdict.121 to appear at the Old Bailey had not
Red Lion Inn in droves. The Inn was Unlike the press reaction to another been known for many years.
packed to its limit and hundreds inquest with moral overtones and no Indeed, Diplock knew his business.
more people crowded around outside. criminal accusation – the second Bravo Under the 1887 Act, ‘if twelve [jurors]
When ‘the woman Bignall’ came to inquest – The Times praised Diplock’s do not agree he [the coroner] should
testify, Diplock was forced to confine handling of the lengthy inquest of over exercise his discretion in either
her to an anteroom at the Red Lion two weeks. As the Coroner remarked detaining them or adjourning the
Hotel for her safety; he feared that during the case, ‘if this latitude of inquest to the ensuing assizes.’125 The
the mob outside, infuriated by the investigation had not been allowed coroner also had the discretion to
plight of the late young surgeon and – we should rather say, if it were hold juries without food, drink or
his widow, would tear her apart. In not inherent in the very nature of a comfort until they returned a verdict.
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 29
That was an old practice no longer For the sake of the truth, I shall be attended, and as they had in his 1868
in use by the end of the nineteenth obliged if you will allow me to state election, his supporters arrived in a
century, but the jury would have that I give only the date, hour, and string of coaches, the first carrying
cringed to hear the coroner instruct place of every inquest held by me, his widow and children. Among the
his officer: which list is free to the inspection of attendees paying their respects were
You shall well and truly keep the any reporter who calls any morning at Mr J Diplock, nephew,131 Dr W B
jury upon this inquiry without meat, my office. This has been my practice Gordon-Hogg (who would succeed
drink, or fire; you shall not suffer any for nearly 24 years, and I have never Diplock as West Middlesex coroner)
person to speak to them, nor shall heard any complaint of it nor any and Dr George Danford Thomas.
you speak to them yourself, unless it demand for detailed information. Unable to attend, but expressing
be to ask them if they have agreed I am, Sir, your obedient servant, their sympathies were A Braxton
upon their verdict, until they shall be THOMAS B DIPLOCK, Coroner for Hicks (who was holding an inquest
agreed. So help you God.126 West Middlesex and West London the day of Diplock’s funeral), Samuel
Such incidents were rare Langham (doubtlessly doing the same
Mornington-house, 13, High-road,
occurrences, however, as the West as Braxton Hicks), Sir R Nicholson
Chiswick, Oct 9.129
London Observer tells us. In this case, and members of the Chiswick Fire
it took the murder of a child to drive Brigade.132 Leonard Diplock was the
It was the last time the public brigade’s captain133 and Chiswick’s
Diplock to it.
heard from him. On 12 December, The new mortuary may have shared a
‘Your Obedient Servant’ Times reported that Dr Diplock was space with the fire department.
In February 1891, Thomas Diplock in critical condition. He hung on for
We have said it before, and it is
was seriously ill but insisted on another four months before passing
worth repeating now: it is often by
continuing with his duties. When he away on 29 April 1892. His deputy, A
examining the death that we learn
entered the room for one inquest, Braxton Hicks, took a few moments to
something of the life. If his well-
he ‘sank exhausted into his chair, praise his superior during an inquest
attended funeral says anything about
and seemed as though he was about he was holding. Diplock’s colleague in
him, it is that, despite the electoral
to expire.’ He gradually recovered, Central Middlesex, Dr George Danford
and fiscal battles of Diplock’s career,
apologized to the jury, and explained Thomas, also had kind words for the
London thought highly of the quiet
away his illness as being due to the son of Hastings, saying that Diplock
but keenly observant auctioneer’s
heavy fog of that day before resuming had stayed in the ‘harness until he
son from Hastings. Eleanor Diplock
the inquest. In reality, Diplock was could not work any longer.’ Danford
received so many sympathy letters
suffering from cancer of the tongue Thomas’s jury offered Eleanor Diplock
that she took out an advertisement
and had apparently been suffering in a vote of condolence.130 Danford
in The Times to thank all who had
silence for some time, concealing his Thomas – who succeeded Diplock’s
expressed sympathy on the death of
illness from his family, friends and old enemy, William Hardwicke – would
her husband:
colleagues.127 Now he could no longer himself die in harness as he began the
Mrs Diplock regrets that she is
hide the truth; he was dying. His Crippen inquest in 1910.
unable to reply to the numerous
condition worsened throughout the
spring and summer, and by September
he was unable to uphold his duties.
His deputy, A Braxton Hicks, stood in
his place.128
Throughout the fall of 1891, Diplock
lingered inside his new residence,
Mornington House, in Chiswick’s High
Road where Eleanor and their son, Dr
Leonard Bramah Diplock, cared for
him. They could do nothing except
try to make him comfortable, an
impossible task. Suffering what must
have been terrible pain, Diplock’s
health sank as autumn approached.
Still, when the press criticized a
fellow coroner, John Troutbeck, for his
court’s lack of openness, and asserted
that Troutbeck did not give journalists
sufficient notice of pending inquests,
Diplock sprang to his colleague’s
defence. He managed to dash off a
letter, laying out his own method of Grave of Dr Thomas Bramah Diplock in Chiswick cemetery.
Photograph courtesy of Robert Linford
informing the press of inquests:
Sir,
Diplock was buried in Chiswick
I am informed that it has been letters she has received expressing
cemetery, in a wreath-covered coffin
stated in The Times that Mr Troutbeck, sympathy and condolence with her
of polished oak bearing the memorial
Coroner for Westminster, gives no in the great loss she has sustained
plate: ‘Thomas Bramah Diplock, MD,
information to the reporters, and in the death of her dear husband, Dr
MRCS, died 29th April, 1892, in his
that all other coroners supply it. Diplock, Coroner for West Middlesex.
62nd year.’ The funeral was well
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30 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
She hopes her many kind friends Diplock described his son, Leonard, as regardless of the hail that splashed its
will accept this notice in place of an ‘much respected’. He was a partner, skin with bright new specks of lead. It
answer to each letter. She begs to say with W B Cooper, in a Chiswick was singing a mechanical little ditty
that she has received great comfort medical practice, Diplock and Cooper to itself, ‘Tuf-tuf, tuf-tuf, tuf-tuf,’
from the many communications (dissolved in 1906).139 He married and squirting out little jets of steam
received.134 Helen Maude Fanny Cooper at Christ behind. It had humped itself up, as a
At the end, cared for by family, Church on 8 August 1883; her father limpet does before it crawls; it had
saluted by colleagues, Dr Thomas was Henry Cooper, Paymaster of the lifted its skirt and displayed along
Bramah Diplock had left the lonely Royal Navy, and her great-grandfather the length of it – feet! They were
black country of his profession for a was Bidingfield Wise of Thornham, thick, stumpy feet, between knobs
greener land. We believe that once Kent.140 Leonard and Helen had two and buttons in shape – flat, broad
he arrived, he returned to a place daughters, Elsie Maude Diplock (born things, reminding one of the feet of
that seemed like the old home of circa 1887) and Dorothy May Diplock elephants or the legs of caterpillars;
the Bramah-Diplocks in Hastings, (born circa 1889).141 Leonard Bramah and then, as the skirt rose higher,
rather like his brother William might Diplock died suddenly on 8 May 1918. the war correspondent, scrutinizing
have done in 1839. Yet where William Bramah Joseph Diplock achieved the thing through his glasses again,
had found that place darkened and a modest fame similar to that of his saw that these feet hung, as it were,
deserted, its lost windows shuttered great-grand uncle, Joseph Bramah. In on the rims of wheels. His thoughts
and dead, Thomas now found the home 1893, the quarry merchant patented whirled back to Victoria Street,
of his parents stuffed wonderfully full an ‘improved means for transmitting Westminster, and he saw himself in
of departed Bramahs and Diplocks power to the driving or road wheels the piping times of peace, seeking
relishing a grand supper, and they of gear-driven locomotives for use matter for an interview.
had flung the windows wide open on ordinary roads or railways’,142 ‘Mr – Mr Diplock,’ he said; ‘and
and lighted them a warm yellow and in 1902, he authored A New he called them Pedrails . . . . Fancy
against the night. Looking through System of Heavy Goods Transport on meeting them here!’145
one, Thomas could plainly see that his Common Roads.143 For his smooth- At the age of 62, Bramah Joseph
place at the table had already been running system of heavy load Diplock suddenly died of a cerebral
set. In the Green Country, no window, transport, Diplock replaced the wheel haemorrhage on 9 August 1918 at
no door, no person, is ever lost. by inventing something he called the the home of his recently deceased
pedrail, which was a caterpillar-like brother, Leonard.146 In Bramah Joseph,
‘Fancy Meeting Them Here!’
tread of numerous ‘feet’ on a roller. the Bramah blood ran mighty, and the
Now that Diplock’s office was
Diplock’s pedrail could roll over rough tank – at least its ability to cross over
vacant, a postponed administrative
terrain, and by distributing the weight rough terrain – was another legacy of
reorganization of the West Middlesex
of heavy loads among its numerous Esther Frances Bramah’s marriage to a
district took place, as designed by
‘feet’, it did not bog down in soggy Brighton wool-draper named William
the Local Government Act 1888. The
ground. Diplock Sr. The smoothing of roads had
west London portion of the district
In 1915, when England’s war effort always been typical of that daughter
was parcelled out and placed under
devised a crude, uni-wheeled armoured of the Bramahs.
the control of the newly created
shield to help soldiers advance across The jigsaw puzzle of history can
London County Council; the remaining
No Man’s Land which insisted on never really be complete, but we
portions of West Middlesex went
sinking into the mud during trials, it think that John Manwaring Baines
under the control of the Middlesex
turned to Diplock’s Pedrail Transport and Roger Diplock would have been
County Council. The coronial election
Company in Fulham. On 13 January delighted with that particular piece
by freeholder now obsolete, the
1915, Diplock supplied a mock-up of it.
county councils were responsible
for the Admiralty Air Department
for appointing Diplock’s successors. Acknowledgements
– a truck running on pedrails, which
In July 1892, the Middlesex County Special appreciation must go to
was demonstrated for Winston
Council appointed Dr W B Gordon-Hogg Roger Bristow, Information Services
Churchill.144 Bramah Joseph Diplock’s
as coroner for that district.135 That Librarian, Hastings Library, for the
mock-up eventually became a major
September, the London County Council considerable time and effort he took to
design component that evolved into
appointed Dr Clifford Luxmoore Drew introduce us to the work of Manwaring
the tank. Such a development would
coroner of the new Western District Baines, Roger Diplock, and Thomas
have come as no surprise to writer
of London. In appointing Dr Drew, who Brandon Brett. We also gratefully
H G Wells, who foresaw the pedrail’s
was both a surgeon and a barrister acknowledge the assistance of the
importance to trench warfare and
with a specialty in legal medicine, the following people: David Andersen;
who also recognized Diplock’s role
London County Council handily made Barbara Belford; Jeremy Bramah;
in devising the innovation. In his
the medical/legal question moot, at Elaine Cartwright, Alumni Relations
short story, The Land Ironclads (1903),
least for Drew’s tenure.136 One of the Officer, University of St Andrews;
Wells wrote:
failed candidates for the office was Diane Coke, Archivist Historian, Royal
Thomas Diplock’s son, Dr Leonard ‘Bang! Bang! Bang! Whir-r-r-r-r!’
Humane Society; Tina Craig, Deputy
Bramah Diplock.137 [It] was a sort of nervous jump,
Head of Library and Information
and all the rifles were going off by
All the same, Leonard Diplock Services, Royal College of Surgeons
themselves. The war correspondent
went on to have a successful career. of England; Jim Dainty, Christ Church,
found himself and the artist, two
Besides practicing as a surgeon, he Turnham Green; Chris Dickerson;
idle men crouching behind a line of
served thirty years on the Chiswick Julia Elton; Clare Freestone, Assistant
preoccupied backs, of industrious men
District Council.138 Even as early as Curator of Photographs, National
discharging magazines. The monster
1892, the West London Observer Portrait Gallery; Monica Grose-
had moved. It continued to move
obituary of coroner Thomas Bramah Hodge; Jenny Handley, Administrative
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 31
Officer, Hastings Museum and Art 5 The Diplock pedigree is not complete December 1977, 74–6.
Gallery; Trevor Hanson, editor of on the subject of Roger Diplock’s
15 John Manwaring Baines, ‘Diplock of
Sussex Family Historian, the quarterly branch of the family, but as we
Hastings. Notes. Note C.’
magazine of the Sussex Family History have pieced it together – through
census returns, newspaper notices, 16 E-mail correspondence, Roger Bristow
Group; Rachel Hart, Archivist, Special
and correspondence with Roger to David O’Flaherty, 5 April 2005.
Collections Department, Library and
Bristow of Hastings Library – we found Bristow cites Roger Diplock’s 1970
Information Services, University of St that Roger and Kenneth Diplock’s notations to Manwaring Baines’
Andrews; Hermione Hobhouse; Bridget father was a Croydon solicitor named Diplock pedigree.
Howlett, Senior Archivist, London William John Hubert Diplock, the
Metropolitan Archives; The Staff of son of a tea dealer named William 17 John Manwaring Baines, ‘Diplock
Hull Central Library, Kingston upon Thomas Diplock. The tea dealer was of Hastings. Notes. Note E.’ Manwaring
one of the sons of William Diplock Jr, Baines cites an obituary in an unnamed
Hull; James Hunt, ScienceDirect Web-
the librarian, who was the half- newspaper.
Support; Jim Hunter, Area Curator,
Red House Museum; Antonia Leak, brother of Thomas Diplock. Roger 18 Roger Diplock, ‘Up the Social Ladder,’
Diplock was also in possession of Sussex Family Historian, Vol 3 (3),
Librarian and Study Room Manager,
a family Bible that traced his family December 1977, 74.
Heinz Archive and Library, National
up through William Diplock Sr (1788–
Portrait Gallery; James Marshall, 1831), the father of Thomas Diplock. 19 ‘The Lock Controversy,’ Letter to the
Hounslow Library Local Studies; Kate (‘Ever Hopeful, Never Sure!’ Sussex Editor, The Times, 1 August 1851.
Maunsell, Archivist, Hastings Museum Family Historian, Vol 2 (8) March,
20 Mike Chrimes, Entry in Biographical
and Art Gallery; Caroline Morris; 1977, 273–4). Since Roger Diplock
Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great
Jonathan Oates, Archivist, Borough already had information concerning
Britain and Ireland Volume 1,
of Ealing Archives; Chris Phillips; his immediate ancestry, that may be
1500–1830, 71 books.google.com/
Catherine Read, Institute of Advanced the reason why the pedigree (both
books accessed 4 November 2005.
Legal Studies, University of London; the 1958 and 1970 versions) maintains
silence regarding that particular 21 ‘Deaths,’ The Times, 5 November
Peter Reed; Tim Ruggles, W K Kellogg
branch. 1853. Furthermore, in his will, Samuel
Health Sciences Library; Stephen left his estate to his ‘dear brother,
P Ryder; Frank Sharman; Elizabeth 6 Correspondence, Roger Diplock to
Thomas Bramah Diplock’. John Joseph
Scudder, Principal Archivist (Access John Manwaring Baines, 15 November
Bramah’s widow, Martha Bramah, was
& Enquiries), London Metropolitan 1958.
a witness to the will. (National
Archives; Prof Robert Shoemaker, 7 Correspondence, John Manwaring Archives, Prob 11/2182, image
Co-Director, Old Bailey Proceedings Baines to Roger Diplock, 17 November reference 122).
Online, Department of History, 1958.
22 John Manwaring Baines, Diplock
University of Sheffield; Keith Skinner; Pedigree. The date for Thomas
8 John Manwaring Baines, Notes on
Catherine Taylor, Archivist, Chiswick Joshua Diplock, died 1762. Diplock’s birth was supplied via e-
Local Studies Library; Lynn Waterman; mail correspondence by Rachel Hart,
Anne Wheeldon, Archivist-Public 9 Baines and Diplock, Diplock Pedigree. St Andrews Library Archivist, to David
The term ‘entered the freedom’ O’Flaherty, 20 April 2005, citing R N
Service, Hammersmith & Fulham
means that a person (usually male Smart, Biographical Register of St
Archives and Local History Centre.
in Victorian times) became a freeman Andrews University, 1747–1897 (St
We also thank the Editors of and was given rights and privileges Andrews, 2004), 233.
Ripperologist: Paul Begg, Eduardo (the liberty) together with communal
Zinna, Adam Wood and Christopher responsibilities. From at least 23 John Manwaring Baines, Diplock
T George. medieval times someone could Pedigree.
become a freeman by taking an oath
Notes and Sources and paying a fee, and often this right
24 Roger Diplock, ‘Up the Social Ladder,’
Sussex Family Historian, Vol 3 (3),
1 ‘Births,’ The Times, 29 August 1944. could be passed down to the eldest
December 1977, 74.
son. In Hastings, entering the freedom
2 Death notice of Roger Diplock, The cost 40 shillings (£2), but there was 25 E-mail correspondence, Roger Bristow
Times, 30 October 1985. a reduction for the eldest son to 6s to David O’Flaherty, 5 April 2005. Mr
3 ‘Exports from Hong Kong,’ Letter 8d. Manwaring Baines notes that Bristow cites the 1826 baptism record
to the Editor, The Times, 25 November Joseph Diplock paid 40 shillings for of George Joseph Diplock and the
1954. his freedom, therefore indicating he 1828 record of Samuel Robey Diplock,
was not an eldest son. both of which give William Sr’s
4 ‘Deaths,’ The Times, 1 July 1960. In occupation as ‘librarian.’ Mr Bristow
November 1958, Roger Diplock wrote 10 Baines, John Manwaring. ‘Diplock of
also cites the 5th edition of The
to Manwaring Baines, ‘I would have Hastings. Notes. Note B.’
Hastings Guide, printed circa 1825
replied earlier but tried to get some 11 Correspondence, Roger Diplock to for ‘W. Diplock, Royal Marine Library.’
further views from my brother. Alas, John Manwaring Baines, 15 November Mr Bristow theorizes there might have
he has been very busy in the High 1958. Diplock’s grandfather was a tea been a family link between the
Court and has had no time to reply dealer named William Thomas founder of the library, James Barry,
about the writing at the back of Diplock. and Mary Barry, a possible grandmother
an old oil painting.’ (Letter to John of William Diplock Sr.
Manwaring Baines, 15 November 12 Roger Diplock, ‘Dipping into the
1958). Lord Diplock was a justice on Beer,’ Sussex Family Historian, Vol 3 26 Roger Diplock, ‘Up the Social Ladder,’
the Queen’s Bench Division 1956–1961 (1) June 1977, 7–8. Sussex Family Historian, Vol 3 (3),
(‘Lord Diplock: Influential Law Lord,’ December 1977, 76.
13 E-mail correspondence, Roger Bristow/
The Times, 16 October 1985). Roger 27 E-mail correspondence, Roger Bristow
Hastings Library to David O’Flaherty,
and Lord Kenneth appear to have died to David O’Flaherty, 19 April 2005.
5 April 2005.
within two weeks of each other, Roger
Diplock’s death notice appearing in 14 Roger Diplock, ‘Up the Social Ladder,’ 28 Roger Diplock, ‘Up the Social Ladder,’
The Times on 30 October 1985. Sussex Family Historian, Vol 3 (3), Sussex Family Historian, Vol 3 (3),
> > >
32 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 December 1977, 74. 41 Rachel Hart, citing Minutes of the Hospital.
Senatus of the University, Vol 17,
29 Roger Diplock, ‘Up the Social 56 Death notice of Richard Fleming,
339–40.
Ladder,’ Sussex Family Historian, Vol manager of the Dean Street Lock
3 (3), December 1977, 75. Roger 42 Rachel Hart, citing Minutes of the Hospital, The Times, 18 December
Diplock, a century removed from Senatus of the University, Vol 17, 1867.
the lash of Brandon Brett’s verses, 342.
57 ‘Administrative/Biographical history
acknowledged that the local historian
43 ‘Births,’ The Times, March 3 1856 and of London Lock Hospital.’ www.aim25.
‘brought Hastings alive’ and was ‘a
April 28 1857. These are the birth ac.uk/cgi-bin/search2?coll_
splendid fellow for his recollections
notices for Frank and Bramah Joseph, id=859&inst_id=9 accessed 9
and up-to-the-minute gossip.’
although their names are not given. September 2005.
30 Roger Diplock, ‘Up the Social Ladder,’ The Diplocks resided at the time still
58 Advertisement, ‘The Coronership for
Sussex Family Historian, Vol 3 (3), in Brompton.
the Western Division of Middlesex,’
December 1977, 76.
44 RG9 30/38. The Times, 31 January 1868.
31 Elizabeth Langham’s father was J G
45 The Post Office London Directory 59 ‘Obituary,’ The Times, 16 November
Langham, a noted solicitor in Hastings,
for 1882, comprising, amongst other 1885.
who shared the same birthplace
information, official, street,
– Holborn – as another noted solicitor, 60 RG10 68/54.
commercial, trades, law, court,
Samuel F Langham, the father of
parliamentary, postal, city & clerical, 61 Advertisement, ‘The Coronership for
Samuel Frederick Langham, City of
conveyance & banking directories. the Western Division of Middlesex,’
London coroner.
[Part 4: Law, Court & Parliamentary The Times, 31 January 1868.
32 ‘Deaths,’ The Times, 5 November Directories, etc.]. London: Kelly,
1853. 1882, 1864. historicaldirectories.org 62 Ibid.
accessed 13 April 2005. 63 Obituary for Dr William Hardwicke.
33 HO107 2036/146.
46 The Times, 12 November 1844. The Times, 16 April 1881.
34 E-mail correspondence, Rachel Hart,
St Andrews Library Archivist, to David 47 P Geddes and J P Holbrook, Friendly 64 Advertisement, ‘Coroner for West
O’Flaherty, 20 April 2005, citing from Societies, A Textbook For Actuarial Middlesex,’ The Times, 6 February
Smart, Biographical Register of St Students. Cambridge: Cambridge 1868.
Andrews University, 1747–1897, 233. University Press, 1963; R H J H 65 Advertisement, ‘Coroner for West
Gosden, The Friendly Societies Middlesex,’ The Times, 14 February
35 Will of John Joseph Bramah. The
in England 1815–1875. Manchester: 1868.
National Archives, Prob 11/2044,
Manchester University Press, 1961.
Image reference 141. 66 The listings for Public Offices and
48 Perry’s Bankrupt and Insolvent Officers in Kelly’s Ealing, Acton,
36 Will of Samuel Robey Diplock. The
Gazette. London: 1865, 59. Hanwell, Gunnersbury & Chiswick
National Archives, Prob 11/2182,
Image reference 122. 49 Perry’s Bankrupt Monthly Gazette. Directory 1889–90 lists Hand as
London, 1870, 281. Diplock’s deputy. However, the authors
37 ‘Death of Dr Diplock, the West found no accounts of Hand holding an
Middlesex Coroner,’ West London 50 ‘Court Circular,’ The Times, 18 inquest. Another Diplock deputy of
Observer, 7 May 1892. This obituary January 1860. the early 1890s, Dr A Braxton Hicks,
notes Diplock’s 1872 article on 15 would hold numerous inquests for
51 ‘Chelsea and Kensington,’ The Times,
cases of ruptured hearts that Diplock, filling in for him during his
23 January 1861.
appeared in the ‘Medical Times’ illness.
(possibly the London Medical Times 52 ‘Court Circular,’ The Times, 6 March
and Gazette). 67 For London coroners who held
1861.
sometimes as many as two inquests a
38 Ibid. 53 ‘Death of Dr Diplock, the West day (and on some occasions four a
Middlesex Coroner,’ West London day), the value of deputy coroners
39 RG10 68/54. Also see ‘Births,’ The
Observer, 7 May 1892. might seem evident to us. When a
Times, 3 March 1856 and 28 April 1857;
coroner had to be absent from
the sons referenced are most likely 54 ‘Administrative/Biographical History
his district, or was ill, the importance
Frank and Joseph Bramah, of London Lock Hospital,’ www.aim25.
of a deputy is clear. However, in
respectively. At this time, the Diplocks ac.uk/cgi-bin/search2?coll_
the nineteenth century, there was
lived in Brompton. id=859&inst_id=9 accessed 9
some controversy around the office
September 2005.
40 E-mail correspondence, Rachel Hart as there were considerable fears that
to David O’Flaherty, 20 April 2005. 55 ‘Brief History During the Snow Era,’ a lazy coroner might simply delegate
Given his activity in London, it appears UCLA, Department of Epidemiology, his responsibilities to a deputy of
that Diplock did not study at St School of Public Health. www.ph.ucla. his own choosing – a deputy who
Andrews. Rather, as Ms Hart suggested, edu/epi/snow/1859map/lock_ might have no particular legal or
‘he would simply have attended St hospital_a2.html accessed September medical qualifications, or as was
Andrews for his examination rather 9, 2005. The site reproduces details expressed in the House of Commons
than being here for a protracted of the 1859 Reynolds Map and the in 1875, ‘some broken-down man,
period of study.’ 1872 Old Ordnance Survey Map that with the nominal qualifications, would
features the Harrow Road Lock be appointed as deputy at a low salary,
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 33

 or on small fees, to perform the 2 March 1875, Col 1051–2. The Lyell Marshall, Hounslow Library Local
duties.’ (Hansard, 12 May 1875, controversy is covered in Robert Studies, to Robert Linford, 21 January
Col 523). Thus, while coroners could Linford, John Savage, and David 2006.
pick anyone they liked as their O’Flaherty, ‘The Green of the Peak,
103 Diplock’s officer in Chiswick is
deputy, the Lord Chancellor approved Part I: The Coronial System in Britain,’
currently unknown. In Kensington and
all such appointments. In 1868, Ripperologist 64, January 2006, 34–
Hammersmith, the officer was
Diplock’s choice was a solicitor, who 5.
named Goodenough – yes, seriously.
could advise the MD upon matters
83 ‘Middlesex Sessions, Nov. 25. The In 1892, Goodenough had served
of law. At the time of his death
Committee of Accounts and General Diplock for 15 years. ‘Death of Dr
in 1892, Diplock’s deputy was another
Purposes,’ The Times, 26 November Diplock, The West Middlesex Coroner,’
medical man, A Braxton Hicks, who
1869. West London Observer, 7 May 1892.
later became a coroner in his own
right. The West London Observer 84 ‘A Coroner’s Salary,’ The Times, 21 104 Ian A Burney, Bodies of Evidence:
obituary for Diplock records coroner July 1879. Medicine and the Politics of the
George Danford Thomas as saying English Inquest 1830–1926. Baltimore
that until his final illness, Diplock 85 ‘Coroners’ Inquests: The Unburied
and London: The Johns Hopkins
had never missed an inquest in 23 Dead,’ The Times, 19 November
University Press, 2000, 81.
years. (The West London Observer, 1880.
7 May 1892.) This explains why we 105 E-mail correspondence, Diane Coke,
86 ‘The Inquest at Hillingdon,’ The
were unable to find examples of archivist historian for The Royal
Times, 20 November 1880.
Deputy Hand holding inquests on Humane Society, to David O’Flaherty,
Diplock’s behalf, while Braxton Hicks 87 The Times, 9 September 1875. 18 April 2005.
held many from late 1891–1892. 106 Kelly’s Ealing, Acton, Hanwell,
88 ‘A Coroner’s Annual Report,’ The
Diplock simply was not one to call in Gunnersbury & Chiswick Directory
Times, 1 February 1888.
sick. for 1889–90. London: Kelly. www.
89 ‘Death of Dr Diplock, The West historicaldirectories.org accessed 17
68 ‘The Coronership of West Middlesex,’
Middlesex Coroner,’ West London April 2005.
The Times, February 20, 1868.
Observer, 7 May 1892.
69 ‘To the Wives, Mothers, and Daughters 107 Burney, 86. Burney references Albert
90 ‘Verdict of Murder Against a Surgeon,’ B. Deane, ed., The Licensed
in the County of Middlesex,’ The
The Times, 29 October 1868. Victuallers’ Official Annual, Legal
Times, 20 September 1830.
91 ‘Inquests,’ The Times, 4 January Textbook, Diary and Almanack for
70 ‘In the Matter of the Coronership of the Year 1906 (London, 1907), 211.
1884.
Middlesex,’ The Times, May 1, 1868. Regarding the South Staffordshire
92 ‘The Fatal Accident on the case, Burney references the Annual
71 Advertisement, ‘To the Freeholders
Metropolitan Railway,’ The Times, 3 Report of the Coroners’ Society,
of the Western Division of the County
September 1869. 1895.
of Middlesex,’ The Times, 26 February
1868. 93 ‘Killed at a Level Crossing,’ The 108 Hansard, 11 July 1876, Col 1301–14.
Times, 8 December 1869.
72 ‘In the Matter of the Coronership of 109 ‘Inquests,’ The Times, 11 May 1875.
Middlesex,’ The Times, 1 May 1868. 94 ‘Inquests,’ The Times, 7 December
1889. 110 Burney, 80–1.
73 ‘Court of Queen’s Bench, The Queen
v Diplock,’ The Times, 5 June 1868. 95 The Times, 16 September 1882. 111 ‘Chiswick: Local government’, A
History of the County of Middlesex:
74 ‘Verdict of Murder Against a Surgeon,’ 96 Advertisement for Thomas Diplock’s Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing
The Times, 29 October 1868. estate auction, The Times, 24 and Brentford, West Twyford,
September 1892. Besides the Willesden (1982), 86–90. www.british-
75 ‘Court of Queen’s Bench, In the
bookcase, the Diplocks owned many history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=
Matter of the Coronership for
elegant pieces: velvet pile carpets, 22564 accessed 20 January 2006.
Middlesex,’ The Times, 12 June
oil paintings, choice proof engravings,
1868. 112 ‘Found Drowned,’ Acton, Chiswick &
two very fine tulipwood and inlaid
French escritoires, ornamental Turnham Green Gazette, 5 January
76 ‘Middlesex Sessions, August 13, The
china and a pair of bronze horses on 1889. Transcribed in Evans and
Coroner for Western Middlesex,’ The
marble stands. The finery is evidence Skinner, The Ultimate Jack the Ripper
Times, 14 August 1868.
of an income independent from his Companion, 649–50.
77 ‘Middlesex Sessions, July 16. The work as coroner – possibly a legacy of 113 Burney, 195.
Coroner for the Western District of the Bramahs.
the City,’ The Times, 17 July 1868. 114 ‘Mr Wakley’s First Inquest,’ The
97 RG12 1033/6. Times, 27 February 1839.
78 ‘Middlesex Sessions, August 13, The
Coroner for Western Middlesex,’ The 98 RG12 1033/6. 115 ‘Inquests,’ The Times, 8 January
Times, 14 August 1868. 1890.
99 Stewart P Evans, Keith Skinner, The
79 Ibid. Ultimate Jack the Ripper Companion. 116 ‘Inquests,’ The Times, 11 January
New York: Carroll & Graf, 2001, 649– 1887.
80 ‘Middlesex Sessions, Oct. 15, The 50.
Committee of Accounts and General 117 R E Melsheimer, ed. The Coroner’s
Purposes,’ The Times, 16 October 100 Sugden has made a logical case that Act, 1887, with forms and precedents.
1868. the actual date of Druitt’s death was By R E Melsheimer. Being the Fifth
30 November 1888. Philip Sugden, Edition of the Treatise by Sir J Jervis
81 ‘Court of Queen’s Bench, The Queen The Complete History of Jack the on the Office and Duties of Coroners.
v Diplock,’ The Times, 3 June 1869. Ripper. New York: Carroll & Graf, London: H Sweet & Sons, 1888, 150.
82 For Payne’s reaction, see ‘Coroners’ 1994, 383.
118 The Times, 9 September 1882.
Inquests,’ The Times, 27 April 1875. 101 Evans and Skinner, 651. Edwardes was the attending surgeon
For an account of Richard Assheton
102 E-mail correspondence, James for an inquest subject named
Cross’s displeasure, see Hansard,
> > >
34 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 Joshua Philmore, a 76-year-old 129 ‘Coroners’ Inquests: To the Editor of 139 ‘Partnerships Dissolved,’ The Times,
labourer. Edwardes performed a post- The Times,’ The Times, 12 October 12 May 1906.
mortem for Diplock that showed that 1891.
140 ‘Marriages,’ The Times, 10 August
Philmore had died of syncope, caused
130 ‘Death of Dr Diplock, The West 1883.
by a lack of food – starvation.
Middlesex Coroner,’ West London
141 RG13 1200. No folio stamp present.
119 ‘Inquests,’ The Times, 1 January Observer, 7 May 1892.
1883. 142 ‘Patents, Designs, and Trademarks,’
131 Most likely, this was the solicitor
The Times, 21 December 1897.
120 ‘The Hounslow Riots,’ The Times, 8 James Langham Diplock of Hastings,
January 1883. who was a son of William Diplock, 143 ‘The Times Column of New Books and
the librarian, and Elizabeth Langham. New Editions,’ The Times, 31 October
121 ‘The Suicide of a Surgeon,’ The Times,
Possibly, he represented a blood link 1902.
17 January 1883.
to Samuel Langham.
144 J P Harris, Men, Ideas, and Tanks:
122 ‘The Suicide of a Surgeon,’ The Times,
132 ‘Funeral of Dr Diplock,’ West London British Military Thought and
19 January 1883.
Observer, 7 May 1892. Armoured Forces 1903–1939.
123 Editorial in The Times, 19 January Manchester: Manchester University
133 ‘Death of Dr Diplock, The West
1883. Press, 1996, 18–19. print.google.com
Middlesex Coroner,’ West London
accessed 23 January 2006.
124 ‘The County Councils,’ The Times, 31 Observer, 7 May 1892.
January 1889. 145 H G Wells, ‘The Land Ironclads,’ The
134 Advertisement, The Times, 31 May
Strand Magazine, December 1903,
125 Melsheimer, 43. 1892.
506–7. Reproduced by The Scrapboard,
126 Melsheimer, 212. 135 ‘Middlesex County Council,’ The www.angelfire.com/art/enchanter/
Times, 30 July 1892. title1.html accessed 23 January
127 ‘Death of Dr Diplock, The West 2006.
Middlesex Coroner,’ West London 136 ‘The London County Council: New
Observer, 7 May 1892. Coroner for the Western District,’ The 146 ‘Deaths,’ The Times, 12 August 1918.
Times, 28 September 1892.
128 Readers who have children will be
familiar with Braxton Hicks 137 ‘The Vacant Middlesex Coronerships,’
contractions, which were first The Times, 6 May 1892. Comment
described by the deputy-coroner’s
138 ‘News in Brief,’ The Times, 9 May Back to Contents
father, John Braxton Hicks in 1872.
1918.
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 35

 RIPPER FICTION
‘She is possessed,’ whispered my
host on the other side of me. ‘Wait,
and she will speak presently, and tell

The Demon
us whom we have got beside us.’
As we sat and waited the table
moved several times under our hands,

Spell while knockings at intervals took place

in the table and all round the room, a
most weird and blood-curdling, yet
ridiculous performance, which made
me feel half inclined to run out with
HUME NISBET
fear, and half inclined to sit still and
laugh; on the whole, I think, however,
It was about the time when with shadows; something about the that horror had the more complete
spiritualism was all the craze fragile figure at my side, with her possession of me.
drooping head, which thrilled me with Presently she raised her head and
in England, and no party was
a curious sense of fear and icy horror laid her hand upon mine, beginning to
reckoned complete without such as I had never felt before. speak in a strange monotonous, far-
a spirit-rapping séance being I am not by nature imaginative or away voice, ‘This is my first visit since
included amongst the other inclined to superstition, but, from the I passed from earth-life, and you have
entertainments. moment that young girl had entered called me here.’
One night I had been invited to the the room, I felt as if a hand had been I shivered as her hand touched mine,
house of a friend, who was a great laid upon my heart, a cold iron hand, but had not strength to withdraw it
believer in the manifestations from that was compressing it, and causing from her light, soft grasp.
the unseen world, and who had asked it to stop throbbing. My sense of ‘I am what you would call a lost
for my special edification a well- hearing also had grown more acute soul; that is, I am in the lowest sphere.
known trance medium. ‘A pretty as and sensitive, so that the beating of Last week I was in the body, but met
well as heaven-gifted girl, whom you the watch in my vest pocket sounded my death down Whitechapel way. I
will be sure to like, I know,’ he said as like the thumping of a quartz-crushing was what you call an unfortunate,
he asked me. machine, and the measured breathing aye, unfortunate enough. Shall I tell
I did not believe in the return of of those about me as loud and nerve- you how it happened?’
spirits, yet, thinking to be amused, disturbing as the snorting of a steam
The medium’s eyes were closed,
consented to attend at the hour engine.
and whether it was my distorted
appointed. At that time I had just Only when I turned to look upon imagination or not, she appeared
returned from a long sojourn abroad, the trance medium did I become to have grown older and decidedly
and was in a very delicate state of soothed; then it seemed as if a cold- debauched-looking since she sat
health, easily impressed by outward air wave had passed through my brain, down, or rather as if a light, filmy
influences, and nervous to a most subduing, for the time-being, those mask of degrading and soddened vice
extraordinary extent. awful sounds. > >
To the hour appointed I found
myself at my friend’s house, and was
then introduced to the sitters who had
assembled to witness the phenomena.
Some were strangers like myself to
the rules of the table, others who
were adepts took their places at
once in the order to which they had
in former meetings attended. The
trance medium had not yet arrived,
and while waiting upon her coming
we sat down and opened the séance
with a hymn.
We had just finished the second
verse when the door opened and the
medium glided in, and took her place
on a vacant set by my side, joining in
with the others in the last verse, after
which we all sat motionless with our
hands resting upon the table, waiting
upon the first manifestation from the
unseen world.
Now, although I thought all this
performance very ridiculous, there
was something in the silence and the
dim light, for the gas had been turned
low down, and the room seemed filled
>
36 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
had replaced the former delicate that night. I turned up the court for you to find it.’
features. where my lodgings were, intending to ‘Is he an Englishman?’ I gasped, as
No one spoke, and the trance go home and get a sleep, since I could the vision faded away and the room
medium continued: ‘I had been out get no food, when I felt something once more became definite.
all that day and without any luck touch me softly from behind like as ‘It is neither man nor woman, but
or food, so that I was dragging my if someone had caught hold of my it lives as I do, it is with me now and
wearied body along through the slush shawl; then I stopped and turned may be with you to-night, still if you
and mud for it had been wet all day, about to see who it was. will have me instead of it, I can keep
and I was drenched to the skin, and ‘I was alone, and with no one near it back, only you must wish for me
miserable, ah, ten thousand times me, nothing but fog and the half light with all your might.’
more wretched than I am now, for the from the court lamp. Yet I felt as if The séance was now becoming too
earth is a far worse hell for such as I something had got hold of me, though horrible, and by general consent our
than our hell here. I could not see what it was, and that host turned up the gas, and then I saw
‘I had importuned several passers it was gathering about me. for the first time the medium, now
by as I went along that night, but ‘I tried to scream out, but could relieved from her evil possession, a
none of them spoke to me, for work not, as this unseen grasp closed upon beautiful girl of about nineteen, with
had been scarce all this winter, and I my throat and choked me, and then I think the most glorious brown eyes I
suppose I did not look so tempting as I I fell down and for a moment forgot had ever before looked into.
have been; only once a man answered everything. ‘Do you believe what you have
me, a dark-faced, middle-sized man, ‘Next moment I woke up, outside been speaking about?’ I asked her as
with a soft voice, and much better my own poor mutilated body, and we were sitting talking together.
dressed than my usual companions. stood watching the fell work going on ‘What was that?’
‘He asked me where I was going, - as you see it now.’
‘About the murdered woman.’
and then left me, putting a coin into Yes I saw it all as the medium ceased
‘I don’t know anything at all. Only
my hand, for which I thanked him. speaking, a mangled corpse lying on a
that I have been sitting at the table.
Being just in time for the last public- muddy pavement, and a demoniac,
I never know what my trances are.’
house, I hurried up, but on going to dark, pock-marked face bending over
Was she speaking the truth? Her dark
the bar and looking at my hand, I it, with the lean claws outspread,
eyes looked truth, so that I could not
found it to be a curious foreign coin, and the dense fog instead of a body,
doubt her.
with outlandish figures on it, which like the half formed incarnation of
the landlord would not take, so I went That night when I went to my
muscles.
out again to the dark fog and rain lodgings I must confess that it was
‘That is what did it, and you will
without my drink after all. some time before I could make up my
know it again.’ she said, ‘I have come
mind to go to bed. I was decidedly
‘There was no use going any further

> > >

Ripperologist 64 February 2006 37

 naked form, with the disarranged
bedclothes, as the uniformed demon
of muscles clutched that delicate
throat, and then I was at it like a
fury with my Kandian dagger, slashing
crossways at those cruel claws and
that evil face, while blood streaks
followed the course of my knife,
making ugly stains, until at last it
ceased struggling and disappeared
like a horrid nightmare, as the half-
strangled girl, now released from that
fell grip, woke up the house with her
screams, while from her relaxing hand
dropped a strange coin, which I took
possession of.
Thus I left her, feeling that my work
was done, going downstairs as I had

upset and nervous, and wished that I Instantly the feeling of a light cold
had never gone to this spirit meeting, hand touched my brow and passed
making a mental vow, as I threw off over my face.
my clothes and hastily got into bed, ‘In God’s name what do you want?’
that it was the last unholy gathering I ‘To save the girl I was in tonight. It
would ever attend. is after her and will kill her if you do
For the first time in my life I could not come quickly.’
not put out the gas, I felt as if the In an instant I was out of the
room was filled with ghosts, as if this bed, and tumbling my clothes on
pair of ghastly spectres, the murderer any way, horrified through it all, yet
and his victim, had accompanied me feeling as if Polly were helping me to
home, and were at that moment dress. There was a Kandian dagger on
disputing the possession of me, so my table which I had brought from
instead, I pulled the bedclothes over Ceylon, an old dagger which I had
my head, it being a cold night, and bought for its antiquity and design,
went that fashion off to sleep. and this I snatched up as I left the
Twelve o’clock! and the anniversary room, with that light unseen hand
of the day that Christ was born. Yes, I leading me out of the house and along
heard it striking from the street spire the deserted snow-covered streets. come up, without impediment or even
and counted the strokes, slowly tolled I did not know where the trance seemingly, in the slightest degree,
out, listening to the echoes from medium lived, but I followed where attracting the attention of the other
other steeples, after this one had that light grasp led me through the inmates of the house, who rushed
ceased, as I lay awake in that gas-lit wild, blinding snow-drift, round in their night-dresses towards the
room, feeling as if I was not alone this corners and through short cuts, with bedroom from whence the screams
Christmas morn. my head down and the flakes falling were issuing.
Thus, while I was trying to think thickly about me, until at last I arrived Into the street again, with that
what had made me wake so suddenly, at a silent square and in front of a coin in one hand and my dagger in the
I seemed to hear a far off echo cry house which by some instinct, I knew other I rushed, and then I remembered
‘Come to me.’ At the same time the that I must enter. the man whom I had seen looking up
bedclothes were slowly pulled from Over by the other side of the street at the window. Was he there still? Yes,
the bed, and left in a confused mass I saw a man standing looking up to but on the ground in a confused black
on the floor. a dimly-lighted window, but I could mass amongst the white snow as if he
‘Is that you, Polly?’ I cried, not see him very distinctly and I did had been struck down.
remembering the spirit séance, and not pay much attention to him at the I went over to where he lay and
the name by which the spirit had time, but rushed instead up the front looked at him. Was he dead? Yes. I
announced herself when she took steps and into the house, that unseen turned him round and saw that his
possession. hand still pulling me forward. throat was gashed from ear to ear,
Three distinct knocks resounded How that door opened, or if it and all over his face - the same
on the bedpost at my ear, the signal did open I could not say, I only know dark, pallid, pock-marked evil face,
for ‘Yes.’ that I got in, as we get into places in and claw-like hands, I saw the dark
‘Can you speak to me?’ a dream, and up the inner stairs, I slashes of my Kandian dagger, while
‘Yes,’ an echo rather than a voice passed into a bedroom where the light the soft white snow around him was
replied, while I felt my flesh creeping, was burning dimly. stained with crimson life pools, and
yet strove to be brave. It was her bedroom, and she was as I looked, I heard the clock strike
struggling in the thug-like grasp of one, while from the distance sounded
‘Can I see you?’
those same demon claws, and the rest the chant of the coming waits. Then
‘No!’
of it drifting away to nothingness. I turned and fled blindly into the
‘Feel you?’ darkness.
I saw it all at a glance, her half-
> >
38 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 EAST END LIFE
was opened in 1793 at Gibraltar
Row Burial Ground, Bethnal Green,
followed by Tower Hamlets Cemetery,

A Death
Southern Grove (1841); West Ham
Cemetery, Cemetery Road (1854);
City of London Cemetery, Aldersbrook

in the Family
Road, Manor Park (1856); Romford
Cemetery, Dagenham Road (1871);
Manor Park Cemetery, Serbert Road
(1874); East London Cemetery, Grange
Road, Plaistow (1874); and Rippleside
ADAM WOOD Cemetery, Ripple Road, Barking
(1886). The burial place of Mary Kelly,
Death was never far away for Norwood (1837), Highgate (1839), St Patrick’s Leytonstone Cemetery,
the Victorians. Cholera, typhoid, Nunhead (1840), Abney Park, Stoke was opened in 1861.
Newington (1840), and Tower Hamlets With the intense Jewish population
tuberculosis; any number of
(1841). in the East End, several Jewish
contagious diseases could result cemeteries were opened: Alderney
The deceased of certain areas of
in a swift and early grave. Infant London have tended to predominate Road Cemetery (Orthodox), Alderney
mortality was high: three out of in certain cemeteries: those of North Road (1697-1852); Brady Street
every 20 babies died before their London in Highgate Cemetery; those Cemetery (Orthodox), Brady Street,
first birthday. Death was talked of East London in Tower Hamlets, (1761-1858); Hackney Cemetery
Victoria Park and Brookwood (Orthodox), Lauriston Road (1788-
about openly and was the topic
Cemeteries; those of South London 1886); Hoxton Cemetery (Orthodox),
of children’s stories, something in Norwood and Nunhead Cemeteries; Hoxton Street (1707-1878); Sephardi
expected and prepared for. and those of West London in Kensal Nuevo Cemetery (Spanish &
The funerals of the Ripper’s Green Cemetery. Portuguese), Mile End Road (1733);
victims attracted great attention,
and were increasingly well attended,
until an enormous crowd gathered
at St Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in
Leytonstone for Mary Jane Kelly’s
funeral.
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Mile
End, was opened as a cemetery in
1841. Between this date and 1889,
247,000 bodies were interred. The
cemetery was finally closed for graves
in 1966, right up to 2001, when it was
designated part of Tower Hamlets’
first Local Nature Reserve.
London Cemetaries
Under common law, every
parishioner and inhabitant of a parish
had a right to be buried in his or her
parish churchyard or burial ground.
There were few exceptions to this
right of Christian burial. An Act of
St Patrick’s Cemetery, Leytonstone ©Sue Bailey
1823 put an end to the practice
of burying suicides in some public
Economic status could affect
highway with a stake driven through the Bancroft Road Cemetery, Mile End
the location of burial. Brookwood
them and directed that they be buried (1810-1920); and West Ham Cemetery
Cemetery in Woking, opened as a
in the usual churchyard, but between (Orthodox), Buckingham Road (1857).
private cemetery by the London
the hours of 9pm and midnight,
Necropolis & National Mausoleum The Victorian Funeral
and without rites of the Church.
Company in 1854, and others competed The 19th Century was the ‘Golden
However, the compulsory dissection of
to undertake contracts tendered each Age’ of ornate funerals. There were
murderers’ bodies was not abolished
year by several London boroughs for big business too, careers were forged,
until 1832, and hanging in chains
the burial of their poor. Brookwood with shops run specialising in all
lingered on until 1834.
probably buried half of East London manner of mourning paraphernalia.
Burial Grounds (as distinct from
and to facilitate this Waterloo Station
parish churchyards) were started by Professional mourners (called
had a special casket-loading platform,
non-conformists in the 17th century. ‘mutes’) would walk in the funeral
and trains containing funeral parties
The first public cemetery in London procession, looking melancholy.
ran daily to a Gothic station built
was established in 1827 in Kensal Punch of 17 October 1857 questioned
within the cemetery itself.
Green. Other landscaped public the sincerity of these ‘mourners’ in an
The first cemetery in East London
cemeteries were soon opened at article entitled Performers in “The
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 39
 Grave Scene”: as many classes of funerals as there
Awaiting Burial Some “Funeral contractors” (that is are of railway trains. There are,
the new term) advertise to “perform apparently, First Class, Second Class,
From City of London Medical
funerals” with a due regard to the and Third Class Funerals. We hope,
Reports, Special Report on
feelings of the bereaved, and the for the sake of the poor, that there
Intra Mural Interments
solemnity of the occasion. The regard are no Parliamentary funerals that
(Dr John Simon, 1852)
that is due is mainly proportioned, stop on their dreary-way as often
we suppose, to the amount of ready as a Parliamentary train. But who,
There is no part of the subject money that is paid? They have different we ask, could possibly forego the
which I have considered with qualities of grief, you may be sure, above inducement when offered at
more anxiety than that which according to the price you pay. For so contemptible a price? Is there
relates to delays in interment, £2 10s., the regard is very small. For anybody, in possession of so small a
and to the prolonged keeping of £5, the sighs are deep and audible. sum as £5, who would not gladly put
dead bodies in the rooms of their For £7 10s. the woe is profound, only it aside for the unutterable luxury
living kindred. properly controlled; but for £10, the of being buried in a “Gothic State
Evils arising in this source are despair bursts through all restraint, Hearse!” Put another sovereign to it,
unknown to the rich. Soldered and the mourners water the ground, and we should not be surprised if a
in its leaden coffin, on tressels no doubt, with their tears. We wonder “Gothic State Coachman” wasn’t also
in some separate and spacious these black crocodiles do not openly thrown in.
room, a corpse may await advertise the sale of their lachrymae? Such cynicism was lost on the
the convenience of survivors We dare say that the luxury would be majority of Victorians, who took
with little detriment to their every drop as expensive as early peas, their mourning seriously and kept
atmosphere. Not so in the poor or anything else that was forced. the ‘mourning shops’ in business.
man’s dwelling. The sides of a We wonder what is the market-price Richard Davey, in 1889’s A History of
wooden coffin, often imperfectly of “tears per pint?” - and we are, Mourning, gives an account of such a
joined, are at best all that also curious to know, whether these shop on London’s Regent Street:
divides the decomposition of funeral pantomimists make up so small Jay’s London General Mourning
the dead from the respiration a quantity of mitigated grief as “one Warehouse, Regent Street, an
of the living. A room, tenanted
tear,” and what is the lowest price establishment which dates from the
night and day by the family of
they charge for the same? We notice, year 1841, and which during that
mourners, likewise contains the
in the same grinning advertisement, period has never ceased to increase
remains of the dead. For some
that “The Gothic Stale Hearse is its resources and to complete its
days the coffin is unclosed. The
used for every class funeral above organisation until it has become, of
bare corpse lies there amid the
£5.” It seems, then, that there are its kind, a mart unique both for
living; beside them in their sleep;
> >
before them at their meals.
The death perhaps has occurred
on a Wednesday or Thursday; the
next Sunday is thought too early
for the funeral; the body remains
unburied till the Sunday week.
Summer or winter makes little
difference to this detention: nor
is there sufficient knowledge on
the subject, among the poorer
population, for alarm to be
excited even by the concurrence
of infectious disease in a room
so hurtfully occupied... On an
average, there would probably
be lying within the City at any
moment, from thirty to forty
dead bodies in rooms tenanted
by living person...
It is much to be wished that
an altered practice might ensue
in the upper classes of society,
fixing their time of burial within
three or four days of death. Such
example of wealthier neighbours
aided by greater enlightenment
and education among themselves,
would greatly tend to detach the
poor from many observances and
delays, in relation to the dead,
which, in their narrow dwellings
cannot continue with impunity.

40 Ripperologist 64 February 2006

the quality and the nature of its after the decease of a near relation, same time causing the relatives to
attributes. Of late years the business and even content themselves with pay considerably more than if they
and enterprise of this firm has a black hat-band and dark-coloured had gone themselves in the first place
enormously increased, and it includes garments. Funeral ceremonies, to the person who really makes all
not only all that it necessary for too, are less elaborate, although necessary preparations and performs
mourning but also departments during the past few years a growing the funeral. A little trouble is,
devoted to dress of a more general tendency to send flowers to the grave however, sometimes saved in return
description, although the colours are has increased in every class of the for the increased expenditure.
confined to such as could be worn for community. With the view to give every facility
either full or half mourning. Black Indeed, so formal was the Victorian for choosing the kind of funeral,
silks, however, are pre-eminently a approach to death and mourning that it is customary for undertakers
speciality of this house, and the a chapter - Death in the Household in a large way of business to give
Continental journals frequently - in Etiquette and Household Advice their customers a book containing
announce that “la maison Jay de Manuals from the 1880s issues some particulars of the various classes of
Londres a fait de forts achats.” Their strict guidelines for the newly- funerals, and with the prices printed
system is one from which they never
swerve. It is to buy the commodity
direct from the manufacturers, and
to supply it to their patrons at the
very smallest modicum of profit
compatible with the legitimate course
of trade. The materials for mourning
costumes must always virtually remain
unchangeable, and few additions can
be made to the lists of silks, crapes,
paramattas, cashmeres, grenadines,
and tulles as fabrics.
The fame of a great house of
business like this rests more upon
its integrity and the expedition with
which commands are executed than
anything else. To secure the very
best goods, and to have them made
up in the best taste and in the latest
fashion, is one of the principal aims
of the firm, which is not unmindful of
Traditional Victorian hearse

bereaved: at which they can be performed. With

In addition to the registration of a view to afford this information,
death and the selection of a place we will now lay before our readers
for burial, it is advisable as soon as particulars of funerals at various
possible to arrange with an undertaker charges, from a £3 5s to £53, the
about the character and cost of the prices marked being those charged
funeral. To enable our readers to do by an extensive London undertaking
this more readily, we shall give them firm, which guarantees that every
as briefly as possible an insight into article is of the best workmanship and
the manner in which the trade is sub- quality, the attendants well trained
divided, and also the cost of burial. and attentive to their duties, and all
Besides the persons who make funerals conducted with the strictest
the coffin, there are the coffin- possible attention to respectability
furniture manufacturers, the funeral and decorum. We will commence with
robe, sheet, and ruffle makers, the funerals for adults.
funeral-carriage masters, and funeral Funeral costing £3 5s - Patent
feather-men. All these supply at first- carriage, with one a horse ; smooth
hand the furnishing undertaker, who, elm coffin, neatly finished, lined
‘Mutes’
in his turn, supplies the trade and inside, with pillow, &c. ; use of pall,
the public. It is not usual for one mourners’ fittings, coachman with
legitimate economy. For this purpose, house to represent all these different hat-band; bearers; attendant with
every season competent buyers visit departments. hat-band, &c.
the principal silk marts of Europe... Funeral costing £5 5s - Hearse,
Besides the regular undertakers,
Private mourning in modern times, there is a large class of men who with one horse ; - mourning coach,
like everything else, has been greatly are mere agents, and only call with one horse; stout elm coffin,
altered and modified, to suit an age themselves undertakers, and who, covered with fine black, plate of
of rapid transit and travel. Men no when they chance to obtain an order inscription, lid ornaments, and three
longer make a point of wearing full for a funeral, transmit it to a regular pairs of handles, mattress, pillow, and
black for a fixed number of months undertaker for execution, at the a pair of side sheets ; use of velvet
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 41
pall; mourners’ fittings, coachmen cloaks, hat-bands, and gloves; use with pairs, nineteen plumes of rich
with hat-bands and gloves; bearers; of mourners’ fittings; and attendant ostrich-feathers, and complete velvet
attendant with silk hat-band, &e. with silk hat-band. covering for carriages a and horses;
Funeral costing £6 6s.-Hearse, with Funeral costing £14 14s.-Hearse strong inch elm shell, covered with
pair of horses ; a mourning coach and pair of horses; a mourning coach black; tufted mattress, lined and
and pair; strong elm coffin, covered and pair, fifteen plumes of black ruffled with cambric; and pillow;
with a black, plate of inscription, ostrich-feathers, and complete velvet fine cambric winding-sheet, inch elm
lid ornaments, and three pairs of covering for carriages and horses; case to receive the above, covered
handles, mattress, pillows, &c.; use stout inch elm coffin, with inner lid, with fine black cloth; lead plate
of velvet pall, mourners’ fittings; covered with black cloth, set with of inscription, lid ornaments, four
coachmen with hat-bands and gloves; two rows all round of best black a pairs of shield handles and grips, and
bearers; attendant with silk hat- nails; lead plate of inscription, lid furnished with two rows all round of
band, &c. ornaments, four pairs of handles and best nails; use of silk velvet pall; two
Funeral costing £8 15s.-Hearse and grips, all of the best improved jet mutes with gowns, silk hat-bands,
pair of horses; mourning coach and and bright black; tufted mattress, and gloves; eleven men as pages;
pair; velvet covering for carriages lined and ruffled, and fine cambric and coachmen with truncheons and
and horses; strong elm coffin, covered winding-sheet; use of silk velvet pall; wands, crape hat-bands, &c.; use
with fine black, a p late of inscription, two mutes with 2 gowns, silk hat- of mourners’ fittings; and attendant
lid ornaments, three pairs of cherub bands, and gloves, eight men as pages with silk hat-band, &c.
handles and grips, and finished with and coachmen, with truncheons and Funeral costing £30.-Hearse and
best black nails, mattress, pillow, wands, crape hatbands, &c,; use of four horses, two mourning coaches,
and side sheets; use of silk velvet mourners’ fittings; and attendant with pairs, nineteen plumes of rich
pall; two mutes with gowns, silk with a silk hat-band, &c. ostrich-feathers, complete velvet
hat-bands, and gloves; four a men Funeral costing £23 10s.-Hearse and covering for carriages and horses, and
as bearers, and two coachmen with four horses, two mourning coaches, an esquire’s plume of best feathers;
> > >

The Nether World

George Gissing, 1889

Funeral guests were beginning to

assemble. On arriving, they were
conducted first of all into the front-
room on the ground-floor, the Peckovers’
parlour. It was richly furnished. In the
centre stood a round table, which left
small space for moving about, and was
at present covered with refreshments.
A polished sideboard supported a row of
dessert-plates propped on their edges,
and a number of glass vessels, probably
meant for ornament alone, as they could
not possibly have been put to any use. A
low cupboard in a recess was surmounted
by a frosted cardboard model of St Paul’s
under a glass case, behind which was
reared an oval tray painted with flowers. Over the mantel-piece was the regulation mirror, its gilt frame enveloped in
coarse yellow gauze; the mantel-piece itself bore a ‘wealth’ of embellishments in glass and crockery. On each side of it
hung a framed silhouette, portraits of ancestors. Other pictures there were many, the most impressive being an ancient
oil-painting, of which the canvas bulged forth from the frame; the subject appeared to be a ship, but was just as likely
a view of the Alps. Several German prints conveyed instruction as well as delight; one represented the trial of Strafford
in Westminster Hall; another, the trial of William Lord Russell, at the Old Bailey. There was also a group of engraved
portraits, the Royal Family of England early in the reign of Queen Victoria; and finally, The Destruction of Nineveh, by
John Martin. Along the window-sill were disposed flower-pots containing artificial plants; one or other was always being
knocked down by the curtains or blinds.
Each guest having taken a quaff of ale or spirits or what was called wine, with perhaps a mouthful of more solid
sustenance, was then led down into the back-kitchen to view the coffin and the corpse. I mention the coffin first,
because in everyone’s view this was the main point of interest. Could Mrs. Peckover have buried the old woman in an
orange-crate, she would gladly have done so for the saving of expense; but with relatives and neighbours to consider, she
drew a great deal of virtue out of necessity, and dealt so very handsomely with the undertaker, that this burial would be
the talk of the Close for some weeks. The coffin was inspected inside and out, was admired and appraised, Mrs Peckover
being at hand to check the estimates. At the same time every most revolting detail of the dead woman’s last illness was
related and discussed and mused over and exclaimed upon. ‘A lovely corpse, considerin’ her years,’ was the general
opinion. Then all went upstairs again, and once more refreshed themselves. The house smelt like a bar-room.

42 Ripperologist 64 February 2006

strong elm shell, with tufted mattress, funerals. If, however, you inter in the or more, and were often worked in
lined and ruffled with superfine country (out of the metropolis), at a relays, much on the same plan as the
cambric, and pillow; full worked fine parish church, it generally happens coach-horses, only that rapid progress
cambric winding-sheet outside lead that the clergyman is more or less through the towns and villages was
coffin, with inscription plate and known to the family, and for that impossible, for the same reason that
solder complete ; stout inch elm reason he generally receives them. In no living undertaker dare trot with
case, covered with superfine black those cases where the family minister a tradesman within the limits of
cloth, set with three rows round, and officiates, he then always has fittings the district in which the deceased
lid panelled with best black nails ; given him. In the case of a funeral happens to have been known and
registered lead plate of inscription, in a wealthy family he is supplied respected. Even nowadays the black
lid ornaments to correspond, and with a scarf, band, and gloves, but masters of London can be counted on
four pairs of handles, and grips all of where economy is studied, then only, one’s fingers, the chief, according to
the best imperial black ; use of the perhaps, the band and gloves, or general report, being Dottridge, of
best silk velvet pall; two mutes with even the gloves alone. Amongst great East Road.
gowns, silk hat-bands, and gloves, families the doctor is treated like A wonderful place is Dottridge’s. It
&c.; twelve men as pages, feather- the clergyman, but among the middle is the centre of what may be called the
men, and coachmen, with truncheons classes, although he may not so often wholesale undertaking trade, where
and wands, silk hatbands, &c.; use of attend the funeral as formerly, yet the retail undertakers are themselves
the mourners’ fittings; and attendant in most cases he has something sent undertaken and supplied with all they
with silk hat-band, &c. him in the way of complimentary need, from coffin to tombstone. From
Funeral costing £53-Hearse and mourning. To friends at a distance all parts of the country telegrams
four horses, two mourning coaches it is an old-fashioned custom, now and letters are continually coming in
with fours, twenty-three plumes nearly obsolete, to send a pair of and packages continually going out
of rich ostrich-feathers, complete gloves, and a memorial card may by carrier and fast train, all labelled
velvet covering for carriages and accompany them. ‘immediately for funeral,’ to insure
horses, and an esquire’s plume of Even the horses used to draw the quick delivery. If anyone wants a
best feathers; strong elm shell, with hearse were hand-picked. W J Gordon parcel to go promptly and surely to
tufted mattress, lined and ruffled in his The Horse World of London from hand, he has only to label it with
with superfine cambric, and pillow; 1893 described what was known as these mystic words, and the railway
full worked glazed cambric winding- the Black Brigade: men will pounce upon it and be off
sheet, stout outside lead coffin, with A good many of the coal horses with it at a run - that is, if they
inscription plate and solder complete; are blacks and dark bays, and by treat it as we saw them do with the
one and a half inch oak case, covered some people they are known as the first one that came under our notice,
with black or crimson velvet, set with ‘black brigade’; but the real black which they handled as if it had arrived
three rows round, and lid panelled brigade of London’s trade are the red hot, and was required at its
with best brass nails ; stout brass horses used for funerals. This funeral destination before it cooled. ‘Haste,’
plate of inscription, richly engraved business is a strange one in many ‘urgent,’ ‘immediate,’ are but poor
four pairs of best brass handles and respects, but, just as the job-master incentives to speed compared with
grips, lid ornaments to correspond is in the background of the every-day the red funeral label, such as was
; use of silk velvet pall ; two mutes working world, so the jobmaster is once accidentally stuck on a boy’s
with gowns, silk hat-bands and gloves; at the back of the burying world. hamper, and sent the matron into
fourteen men as pages, feathermen, The ‘funeral furnisher’ is equal to hysterics as it was hurriedly bumped
and coachmen, with truncheons and all emergencies on account of the on to the school door-mat.
wands, silk hat-bands, &c. ; use of facilities he possesses for hiring to Hundreds of men are at work.
mourners’ fittings; and attendant an almost unlimited extent, so long Here is a wood yard, such as one
with silk hat-band, &c. as the death rate is normal. The is accustomed to see by a canal
What adds very much to the cost wholesale men, the ‘black masters,’ side. Here are ‘caskets’ of every size
of a funeral is the amount of “new are always ready to cope with a rate and pattern being made by steam
goods,” such as kid gloves, scarfs, of twenty per thousand - London’s machinery, sawing machines, planing
hatbands, &e., used, and which are normal is seventeen - but when it machines, fretting machines, bending
not included in the tariff. In a large rises above that, as it did in the machines, sand-papering machines,
funeral, very often new crape and influenza time, the pressure is so all in full swing; besides a complete
silk scarfs and hat-bands are used, as great that the ‘blacks’ have to get outfit for marble working and carving,
well as kid gloves, and retained by help from the ‘coloured,’ and the another for brass working, and, to say
the mourners, the crape scarfs and ‘horse of pleasure’ becomes familiar nothing of the carriage repairing and
band being worn by the relatives, and with the cemetery roads. harness making, a battery-room for
those of silk by the friends. A hundred years ago there was electro-plating. if anyone wants a
Even in those cases where new but one black master in London. He shudder, let him take a peep at the
fittings are not used and kept by owned all the horses; and there are sample room and the stores below,
the mourners, but those lent by wonderful stories of the funerals in which are those terrible boxes of
the undertaker are employed, it is in those days when railways were one shape but all kinds - brass, lead,
customary to give “fittings” (in fact, unknown. The burying of a duke or wood, paper, wickerwork, the last
his fee in kind) to the officiating even a country squire, in the family recommended as ‘looking well when
minister. Suppose the officiating vault, was then a serious matter, for covered with green moss and flowers’
minister to be the clergyman attached the body had to be taken the whole ; you can try one on if you like, as
to the cemetery then he has fittings distance by road, and the horses you would an overcoat, and see if
given him, as a rule, only on large were sometimes away for a week it fits. There they are in dozens, of
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 43
all qualities, from the panelled and at exercise. But of late he has had the black-job business, and covered
carved down to the simplest, plain, exercise enough at work, and during with japan, varnish, and black cloth;
unpolished undecorated shell in which the influenza epidemic was doing are re-lined with the same sad colour;
every Jew, from the millionaire to his three and four trips a day, and and thus, at an expense not exceeding
the sweated Pole, goes to his grave the funerals had to take place not to thirty-five pounds, including the cost,
- for Dottridge’s have for years held suit the convenience of the relatives, are changed into mourning-coaches,
the contract of burying all the Jews but the available horse-power of the likely to be serviceable in their new
of London. undertaker. Six days a week he works, business for many years.
These funeral things - funereal for after a long agitation there are Among other items of information,
does not quite give the meaning - are now no London funerals on Sundays, I learned that Saturday is looked upon
ordered, not in ordinary language, except perhaps those of the Jews, for as the aristocratic day for funerals,
but by code, as foreign telegrams are which the horses have their day’s rest while poor people are mostly buried
worked, some trivial word doing duty in the week. on Sunday; that there is a very
for perhaps a full page of descriptive The black coaches pulled by general wish among undertakers
matter. A telegram will come in at nine the horses were similarly part of a that cemeteries should be closed
o’clock with, perhaps, merely a word business run by just a few companies, on Sundays; that very frequently
in it, say Malachite - or whatever it as relayed in The Business of Pleasure no hearse is employed, the coffin
may be - and in reply there will be at by Edmund Yates in 1879: being placed crossway under the
Euston, or St. Pancras, or Paddington, The black-job or black-coach coachman’s seat, and hidden by the
ready for the twelve o’clock train, a business (as it is indifferently called) hammercloth ; that in cheap funerals
long flat package of six boards, which of London is in the hands of four large one horse has often to convey from
the country or suburban undertaker proprietors, who manage between eight to twelve passengers; and that,
will put together like a puzzle. He them the whole vehicular funeral after the ceremony is over, the most
wires for ‘the wood,’ and the wood arrangements of the metropolis. effectual thing to stanch the flow
comes to him all ready for ‘building,’ These men are wholly distinct from of mourners grief is often found to
drapery, furniture, and all complete, the undertakers; they will take no be a game of skittles at the nearest
the plate to follow within an hour or direct orders from the public, but public-house, accompanied by copious
two of the receipt of the inscription, are only approachable through the libations of beer.
the quickest thing of all being the undertakers, whose contract for the Pauper burial
silver-plating, for no plated goods are funeral includes conveyance. They
But what if you were unable to
stocked, and the brass is invariably provide hearse, mourning-coaches,
afford such a lavish send off, or
plated, polished, and despatched on horses, and drivers; and one of their
indeed any at all? The most likely
the day the order is received. standing rules is, that no horse can
answer would be a pauper burial
Altogether there are about 700 of be let without a driver, that is, that
arranged by the workhouse.
these black horses in London. They none of their horses must be driven
In James Greenwood’s Mysteries of
are all Flemish, and come to us from by persons not in their employ. These
Modern London, by One of the Crowd
the flats of Holland and Belgium by horses are fine, strong, handsome
(1883), a section entitled Buried by
way of Rotterdam and Harwich. They animals, costing £50 apiece, and
the Parish describes the indifferent
are the youngest horses we import, are all imported from Holland and
attitude taken by the authorities:
for they reach us when they are rising Belgium. They are all entire horses,
three years old, and take a year or no mares are ever used in the trade, Tuesday, as well as Friday, is a
so before they get into full swing in and their breeding - for what reason parochial burying day, and one could
fact, they begin work as what we may I know not - is never attempted in not but wonder how it fared with
call the ‘half-timers’ of the London this country. They are mostly of a the string of black conveyances on
horse-world. dull blue-black colour, but they vary Hurricane Tuesday in the midst of
in hue according to their age; and, as the furious blast and the blinding
The funeral horse hardly needs
their personal appearance is always snow. Snow there was still, in cruel
description. The breed has been the
closely scanned by bystanders, they abundance. It lay heaped up on either
same for centuries. He stands about
are the recipients of constant care. side of the road so high that of those
sixteen hands, and weighs between
A gray patch is quickly painted out; who walked in the narrow lane cut
12 and 13 cwt. The weight behind him
and when time has thinned any of through it by way of a foot-path
is not excessive, for the car does not
the flowing locks of mane or tail, a no more than their upper half was
weigh over 17 cwt., mid even with a
false plait, taken from a deceased visible, while in the road the clogging
lead coffin he has the lightest load of
comrade, is quickly interwoven. They mass so muffled wheel-tires and
any of our draught horses. The worst
are for the most part gentle and hoofs of horses that we glided along
roads he travels are the hilly ones
docile, but very powerful, and often noiseless almost as sledges.
to Highgate, Finchley, and Norwood.
These he knows well and does not have to drag their heavy burdens a Our number of living riders, all
appreciate. In a few months he gets to long distance. The black-job masters counted, and including coachman
recognise all the cemetery roads ‘like manufacture their own hearses, at and “helps,” was eighteen, of whom
a book,’ and after he is out of the a cost of forty-five pounds each; thirteen were mourners; of pauper
bye streets he wants practically no but mourning-coaches are never bodies for burial we carried eleven.
driving, as he goes by himself, taking built expressly for their dreary work. Within a mile of our destination we
all the proper corners and making all They are nearly all old fashionable were in difficulties respecting the
the proper pauses. This knowledge of chariots, which, at their birth, were hearse. It did not get on well at all,
the road has its inconveniences, as the pride of Long Acre, and in their and the end of it was we left it to
it is often difficult to get him past heyday the glory of the Park; but make the best haste it could, while
the familiar corner when he is out which, when used up, are bought for we with the two “machines” went
> > >
44 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
on so as to put in an appearance and Take our load this morning - eight grave-diggers amongst themselves.
be in time according to our contract ‘growns’ and three ‘small,’ and two “I’ll take a turn this morning,”
and the cemetery rules, which are of the growns regler horseloads of remarked one of them ; “it’s warmer
planned so that this bi-weekly pauper themselves. Fancy carting all that down there than up here;” saying
business may be over and done with lot into church and out again when which he swung himself in at the
before respectable people bring their you’re tied, and got to clear out by a mouth of the pit-hole, clambering
dead to be buried. certain time!” down by means of the shoring
Arrived at the church within the We arrived at the place of sepulture timbers, and presently stood on the
cemetery gates, we were enjoined by in time. It was at the extreme end last arrangement of coffins previously
someone to look alive, for we were of the cemetery and close by the deposited there.
awfully late, and I began to wonder boundary wall, in that part devoted “They’ll want a little shifting,
how much time would be consumed to interments generally. There was Bill,” called out one digger to his
in carrying such a large number of nothing in the aspect of the ground to mate below.
coffins into the sacred edifice, and denote it as commoner than any other “I see they will,” came up Bill’s
whether they would wait for the part, for the snow lay everywhere muffled voice. “Chuck down a plank-
lagging hearse that at present had more than a foot deep, its surface hook.”
not hove in sight. But I was not aware unbroken, glistering beautifully in
The “plank-hook was shaped like
of the peculiar rites and ceremonies the bright sunshine, excepting where
a boat-hook, but much more massive
attending pauper burial, nor, unless the pits were dug. The particular pit
and shorter in the handle, and having
I am mistaken, did several of the to which those we had brought were
busied himself with it just as though
weeping and shivering mourners to be consigned was about forty yards
he were adjusting a stowage of
themselves either understand or from the path where the hearses
packing-cases in a warehouse cellar,
appreciate them. Those that were halted, and there the pipe-smoking
Bill in a few minutes announced that
brought to be buried were not to be gravedigger and his mate alighted, to
he was ready, and that “they might
carried into the church at all. join two other grave-diggers, and the
bring ‘em on as soon as they liked.”
The thirteen mourners, seven of business of burying was immediately
The first instalment was but an
whom were women and little girls, proceeded with, the presence of
insignificant one. Somebody brought
were hurried out of the “machines” minister and mourners being for the
it under his arm, as a not very heavy
and beckoned by someone who stood present dispensed with. And certainly
parcel might be carried. It was the
at the church door, and as soon as it was the most amazing funeral
coffin of a little child-a mere baby-
they had all alighted the vehicles performance it was ever my lot to
made of bare rough elm like the rest,
containing their dead relatives began behold.
and looking somehow curiously unfit
to move off. The poor mourners, There was but one grave, pit,
for an innocent little infant to lie in.
as though not knowing what to trench, or whatever may be the
“Where’ll you have this?” the man
make of it, stood regarding the proper name for it. How deep it was
asked of him who was down in the pit,
retreating coaches in a bewildered originally I cannot say. It was wide
at the same time thrusting it forward
and beseeching kind of way, but the enough to contain, I think, three
that he might see what it was.
person, who continued to beckon, coffins, and when I looked down into
then exclaimed impatiently, it before our hearses were unloaded, “Nowhere just yet - shove it a one
there were to be seen several coffins, side,” was the response; “I’ll find a
“Come, make haste! This way!
new and close packed, resting there. corner for it by-and-by.”
You’re all behind!” and in they
trooped. The friendly hearse-driver was by And the little coffin was deposited
my side (smoking a short pipe) and on the snow by the pit’s mouth, into
But barely had the last pauper
I asked him if there had been other which it sank of its own weight,
mourner disappeared when a couple
burials there already that morning. and was more than half-buried. The
of grave-diggers, I suppose to save
To which he replied, “Oh, them you arrangements generally presented a
themselves the inconvenience of
see down there are some of the lot grim and striking contrast to the
walking through the snow, mounted
we brought last Tuesday.” And will pomp and ceremony that attends
up to the hinder part of one of the
there be no earth put between them the sepulture of persons of more
hearses. One of them lit a pipe.
and those that are now to be buried? consideration.
There was no great harm in the act,
perhaps, but it jarred somehow with “What would be the good of that? A blue-nosed cemetery subordinate
one’s ideas of the solemnity as well They wouldn’t pack half as neat-like, with a comforter wrapped round his
as the propriety of Christian burial. I to say nothing of taking up space.” neck and his coat collar turned up to
did not go with the mourners into the “But am I to understand that it is his ears, stood at the pit’s edge with
church. They would, I was assured by customary to keep the grave open a paper and a stump of a pencil in his
a communicative hearse-driver, be from time to time until it will hold hand, his business being to compare
sure to “ turn up again to see the last no more?” the name on each coffin plate with
of ‘em.” I questioned this individual, his list on the paper, and to cross it
“That’s it. What would be the good
who had seemingly enjoyed much off as soon as a box was lowered.
of digging a hole big enough to hold a
experience in such matters, and he Seemingly it was nobody’s business
whole lot of em if you shut up before
informed me that the bodies used to but that of the men in clay-stained
it was full.”
be carried into the church, but that habiliments to relieve the hearses
By this time the hearse that had
the practice had been abandoned of their burden, and they did it as
been delayed on the road came up in
for several months past. I ventured decorously as could well be expected
a hurry and with the horses smoking,
the opinion that it was somewhat of rough men who are so habituated
and all was ready to commence
hard on the poor people, to which he to this sort of work that they think
unloading.
retorted,- no more of its solemn nature than do
“Who’s going down?” asked the upholsterer’s men of stowing trunks
“And what about the contractor? > >
> Ripperologist 64 February 2006 45
and crates in a furniture van. callousness struck the observer as
There was only one who lost his being inexpressibly shocking. From
temper a little, and he was a young “What next?” they would call down The Penny Illustrated Paper
gravedigger, possibly new to the to the stower. (17 July, 1875)
work. His grounds of aggravation “I can do with a narrow un’,” was
were that almost every time when the answer, and the clayey men went
a “box” was brought up the slippery off, and presently returned laden. From a calculation lately
planks, and half breathless with their published by the “London City
“Put it down for a minute; I ain’t
shoulder load, the bearers called to Mission” we learn that in the
quite ready,” and the narrow box
the man down below to know “how metropolitan area a death takes
was laid on the snowy ground, and
he’d have it “-he almost invariably place every six minutes. There
on its scanty tin plate was inscribed
replied, “Tother end for’ad,” which is one phase of the subject of
“Margaret -----, aged 19.”
necessitated the two or three bearers this vast recurrence of mortality
Who was the Margaret that had
turning round, burdened as they which demands attention,
come to this pitiful ending? What
were, within a very limited space. however, and discussions not
was the life she had led that this
The raw-boned, broad-backed young only as to the advantage of
was the last of her, and that of all
digger merely muttered his wrath, “cremation”... but on the best
her kith and kin, there was not one
however, and I should be sorry indeed mode of burial, have been
to stand by the coffin of this young
to believe that he was in the least for some time past occupying
creature, to drop a tear or breathe a
actuated by malice, or that it was public attention. Not a few
prayer for her, ere all that pertained
anything but an unavoidable accident, persons are convinced that
to her mortal body was put away
when the aggravating man down in cremation will be ultimately
out of human sight for ever. What
the pit presently came alarmingly adopted; and, although there
was her story, that this should be
close to a terrible and sudden end. is a widely-spread repugnance
the last chapter of it? Was she one
There was a considerable amount to consuming the bodies of
of the poor and poverty-stricken,
of hurry, for the “checker off” with relatives on a funeral pyre, it
a wretched, half-starved drudge of
the paper and pencil had said “Get is argued that some of the most
the factory or slop-shop, grateful at
em in, get ‘em in! We shall have dignified nations have adopted
last for workhouse asylum, and glad
the parson here presently.” It was a this method and invested it with
to die and be at rest - or was she
box of large dimensions (one of the a certain grandeur which have
of a superior class, treacherously
horseloads mentioned by the hearse- made the funeral urn containing
entrapped to sin, perhaps, and sunk
driver very probably) and the young the ashes of the dead a classical
at length so low that it mattered not
digger stood with his lowering ropes and solemn symbol to this day,
to her where she hid her shameful
at the narrow end, two men being at used to denote the spot beneath
head and died? Who can tell?
the other, when suddenly the first- which the bodies of our own
There are Margarets who, departing dead lie in the ground, to decay
mentioned ropes slipped off their
this life, aged nineteen, would by a slower and more doubtful
holding, and the awful weight hung
occasion such a clustering round their process of transition into the
on the remaining rope, balancing
untimely graves of sorrowing relatives elements to which fire reduces
like the beam of a scales. There was
that the minister’s solemn words them at once.
a cry from everybody to the man
would be unheard because of their
below to get out of the way or he’d We have nothing to urge in
sobbing. What a difference! There
be crushed. He didn’t seem much favour of cremation, and we
lay this poor girl, in her shabby coffin
put out, however, though his peril confess that though the vast
of parish make - contracted for and
appeared so extreme. number of burials within or near
contrived with such severe economy
“Don’t mind me,” his gruff voice to large centres of population
that even the convenience of handles
came up laughingly, “take your time has frequently presented
was denied it - all alone and desolate,
; I’m out o’ sight if I ain’t out o’ a danger to the living, there
with no one more sympathetic to
danger.” is some doubt whether the
attend her lowering into the grave
Knowing nothing of the hidden establishment of furnaces where
than cemetery labourers and hearse
mysteries of that dreadful pit I can’t, the same number of dead bodies
drivers; leaving behind her no other
of course, explain what he meant or would have to be consumed
record of how she passed away and
where he stowed himself; but he was at no considerable distance
when, except that afforded by the
all ready to receive and pack this from a vast capital would not
certificate the workhouse doctor
last consignment when the rope had impregnate the atmosphere with
gave, and the fact that the checker
been readjusted and it was lowered gases that might themselves be
at the pit’s mouth found her name on
to. him. I do not say it to their dangerous.
his scribbled list, and put his pencil
disparagement, but I don’t believe through it. Apparently they have but
that any man there - checker, parish small respect for the departed at a
hearse-drivers, or grave-diggers - parochial burying. “Let’s have it, then.”
gave one single thought to what it “You can’t reach it down there,”
“Where’s that small ?” inquired the
was the bare inch thickness of rough said the hearse-driver.
packer in the hole, alluding to the
elm planking hid from their sight.
little child that was laid aside at the “Can’t you chuck it down to me?”
They spoke of the coffins as “boxes,”
commencement of the proceedings. returned the pit-hole man.
and of their differences as “short
There happened to be nobody on the But the hearse-driver declined, and
‘uns” and “long ‘uns,” and “wide
spot at the moment but one of the it was lowered by a rope.
‘uns” and “narrow ‘uns,” but there
drivers. Rather more than half the number
were instances. when this seeming
“Here it is.”
> > >
46 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
of “boxes” had been borne from bodies to be used for research by the was becoming a necessary sanitary
the black coaches to the pit when a Surgeons Company, but London was precaution against the propagation
straggling procession of men, women, at the heart of international medical of disease among a population daily
and children was seen in the distance, research and would-be surgeons growing larger in relation to the area
and a very long distance it was, required at least a dozen bodies to it occupied”.
considering the depth of snow on the complete their studies. Thompson suggested cremation
ground, making for the burying-place. They often relied on Resurrection would reduce the expense of funerals,
These were the thirteen mourners, Men - shadowy figures who roamed the spare mourners the necessity of
and dreadfully bad it must have been graveyards at night with their shovels, standing exposed to the weather
for the poor women if their shoes prepared to provide a freshly-buried during interment and the ashes,
were thin and unserviceable, as the corpse at the back door for £4. kept in urns, would be safe from
shoes of poor women sometimes are, The infamous Ben Crouch Gang vandalism.
to come shuffling through that icy used to pay bent grave-diggers in Encouraged by the response to his
cold and saturating mass that reached London to slip a fresh body from suggestions, Thompson drew up a
higher far than their ankles. But its coffin soon after mourners left declaration and on 13 January 1874,
they needn’t have hurried so; there the open graveside. The hole would The Cremation Society of England
was plenty of time for them. Say it be filled in with the corpse on top, came into being.
took five minutes to unload a “box,” under a thin layer of earth, to await The first duty of the Council of the
carry it to the pit, deposit and pack “collection after dark.” Cremation Society was to ascertain
it - and it must be admitted that that
Some undertakers took special whether cremation could be legally
would be sharp work - and there were
precautions to thwart grave robbers. performed in Britain and a case was
yet four to be so disposed of after
An example is recorded of 73-year-old drawn up and submitted to eminent
the mourners had come up, there
Mary Mason, buried at Christ Church, counsel. It was proposed to erect
would be twenty minutes at least.
Spitalfields, who had three iron bands a building for the performance of
And for that time or longer there
fastened around her coffin. Another the rite and a large sum of money
they stood, shivering and huddled
was chained to the wall. was subscribed for this purpose.
together, stamping their chilled feet
Undertaker William Horne was The Council sought an independent
in the snow, and with their teeth
so concerned about his own resting site and an acre of freehold land
chattering.
place, at Spitalfields in 1826, that adjoining the cemetery at Woking was
They did not approach the pit bought from the London Necropolis
he had three coffins, one inside the
as yet - that was not allowed; but Company. It was both secluded yet
other. One was lead, another iron and
they gathered at the spot where readily accessible, as a train service,
the last one wood.
the unloading was going on, and suitable for the conveyance of the
in some cases of course saw their Cremation
dead, already ran between London
loved ones carried off and put away, An ancient practice in other parts and Woking.
their only privilege being to follow of the world, cremation had become
Professor Gorini of Lodi, Italy, was
them with their woeful eyes. There increasingly popular in Victorian
invited to supervise the erection of his
remained still some work to do when Britain since Sir Henry Thompson,
apparatus, assisted by William Eassie,
the minister arrived, and in his cold- Surgeon to Queen Victoria, had
the Cremation Society’s Honorary
looking white surplice, with a red recommended it as an alternative to
Secretary. On 17 March, 1879 the
comforter tied over his head and burial on health grounds. Thompson
furnace was tested when the body of
ears to protect him from the cold, had attended the Vienna Exposition
a horse was cremated.
he stood awhile shivering with the in 1873 and viewed the cremation
On 8 and 9 October 1882 the
rest. But eventually the last load was apparatus of Professor Brunetti. He
Cremation Society carried out the
deposited, and then the mourners wrote a paper titled The Treatment
cremation of one Captain Hanham’s
hurried up and crowded round the of the Body after Death, which was
wife and mother, which drew much
pit, and while they looked down published in The Contemporary Review
coverage in the press.
wondering, no doubt, which was for January 1874. His main reason for
which, the minister stood at the pit supporting cremation was that “it The first official cremation, a Mrs
side, and in a brief two minutes he > Pickersgill, took place at Woking on
had said all of the Burial Service 26 March 1885.
he had reserved to say, and nothing Cremations grew more popular; in
remained but to drive the forlorn 1888 28 took place, and in 1892 104
thirteen homeward again, with a were carried out.
charitable stoppage at the nearest In 1912 over 1,000 bodies were
available public-house to be found cremating; in 1936 10,000, until today
on the frosty road, to bait the horses in Britain 70% of deaths result in
and refresh the drivers, and give cremation.
the baker’s dozen of poor benumbed Further information
mourners a chance of having a warm
at the tap-room fire. The Victorian Celebration of Death
by James Stevens Curl
Bodysnatching
Life and Death in Spitalfields
With the overcrowded cemeteries,
1700-1850 by Margaret Cox
it’s not surprising that bodysnatching
was a common problem, particularly Bodysnatchers by Martin Fido
in the East End. The Victorian Undertaker
Sir Henry Thompson
An old law allowed murderers’ by Trevor May
>
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 47
 Cyber Jack: The Ripper on the Internet MONTY

“LIFE... is full of surprises.

Ladies and gentlemen, consider
the fate of this creature’s poor
mother. In the fourth month of
her maternal condition, she was
struck down by a wild elephant.
Struck down, if you take my
meaning, on an uncharted
African isle. The result is plain to
see ladies and gentlemen, I give
you... THE TERRIBLE MONTY”
Monty shuffles into view, dressed
in sackcloth. A shambling individual,
deformed yet strangely handsome.
He turns to the audience who have
gathered together in a run down
building on the Whitechapel Road.
Sighs and gasps of fear, terror even,
emanates from the small crowd. He
opens his mouth slowly. He speaks...
motive too. Either misunderstood or Chapman’s body. Yet he states he
Unfortunately we will never know
too fanciful for some, this reasoning didn’t. Why not?
what he said because he is too busy
for Jacks crimes is often too quickly The final Jack the Ripper Forums
getting this article together. Yes folks,
dismissed. Therefore I include this thread we shall visit this month is
I’ve been given a second chance.
forum thread about Occult Ritual the enigma that is ‘Pipeman’. The
Bribery pays along with blackmail
Murders for those of you interested in ‘Pipeman’ is an obvious reference to
too. Try it, you know it makes sense.
pursuing this fascinating topic. the man in Schwartz’s statement. An
If you need photos of Adam Wood and
Regarding D’Onston, this thread assault upon a woman was observed
Paul Begg in compromising positions
raises the question could D’Onston by the passing Israel Schwartz. This
holding a copy of Ripperana then
have left the London Hospital to attack occurred 15 minutes before
mail me.
commit the crimes. It would be Stride was found murdered only
Right, lets start with a site that is a
interesting if this could be put to yards away in Berner Street. As the
baby compared to the Casebook: Jack
bed... see... see the pun I put in? attack continued Schwartz noticed a
The Ripper forums, a baby only in age
Another mystery concerns the crime man with a pipe. This man followed
I may add: www.jtrforums.co.uk
scene photographs of Mary Kelly. Schwartz once the assailant shouted
Now those in the know are well out. An innocent man fleeing or
Where are they now? Thankfully
aware of how this site came to be. someone more sinister?
an answer has been provided in the
Just like Joseph Merrick’s story,
thread but it begs the question with They say impersonation is a high
something good always comes out
regards other documentation. Do you form of flattery. Casebook: Jack the
of something bad so I will not dwell
have something in your lofts, or know Ripper, having gone through another
upon that side. Especially as things
the whereabouts of that vital report enforced regeneration that surely
have moved on and how they have
or note which may hold the answer to outnumbers Dr Who, is now similar
too. Though run by Ripper author Ivor
identifying Jack? In fact, once you’ve in format to Jack the Ripper Forums.
Edwards and Tyler Hebblewhite, this
read this go and search your spare I would say that in itself is a big
site does not continually push Ivor’s
room for Great Great Great Uncle compliment to the Forums. However,
suspect, Robert D’Onston Stephenson.
Fred Abberline’s suitcase of curiosities do not assume the two are the same
Sure, it is predominantly D’Onston
and peculiars. beast in differing fur. Anyway, word
but this is down to the fact that
Annie Chapman’s disputed time of on the street is that Jack The Ripper
users bring the subject up rather than
death is the topic of this thread. It Forums is soon to be improved.
continual promoting by Ivor. If you
tackles the discrepancy in Richardson’s You heard it here first. The Forums
want to find out about D’Onston then
timing of when he was in the yard and certainly stands on its own feet and
this is the place to visit. This site is
Dr Phillips’ timing of Annie Chapman’s often brings forward fresh ideas
more than RDS though. The occult
death. Apparently, if Dr Phillips’ and and questions. Ivor’s indomitable
aspect, a subject rarely touched
Richardson’s times were correct, style and no nonsense stance with
upon by other sites, is highlighted
Richardson would have stumbled upon troublemakers coupled with Tyler’s
as a possible motive. And a valid
> > >
48 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
seriously laid back methods, not to be Still running with the Occult theme. opens a small window upon the exact
confused with carefree I add, makes Aleister Crowley and his connection time period of Jack’s operations.
this site knowledgeable and unique. with Jack the Ripper is the subject of As a native of Leicester, this caught
Visit and see for yourselves. this article entitled Jack The Ripper: my eye: Stephen Butt is giving a talk
Since last month’s ‘column’ went A Biographical Sketch of a friend & in Leicester. All about how a local
out, Casebook: Jack The Ripper has Acquaintence of Aleister Crowley. lad caught Jack. Come and have a
celebrated its tenth Birthday, so Picture this, a bucket full of look-see folks. I may try this one out
congrats to all involved with jelly and Popcorn, Pearl and Dean blasting out myself.
Ice cream all round. Yum. Another and an advert for the Curry Pot, Melton Robert F Haggard calls his
development is the updating of the Road, just behind DFS, next to Raj’s interesting 1993 essay Jack the Ripper
Dissertations thread. Apparently my Cash & Carry, quality authentic Indian as the Threat of Outcast London. A
gentle kick in the pants prompted cuisine for all the family. All you need superb piece of work.
Stephen to shrug out of his lazy stupor is a decent film. Hollywood Ripper And finally, Monty’s site of the
and add the new stuff. Not that Im guides you through the celluloid world month: I feel that the personal
taking the credit of course. of Jack, TV included. What more do aspects of this crime are sometimes
On to the Casebook threads. One you want? A drink? overlooked. This is no Sherlock Holmes
of the largest threads this month Ok, a drink it is. One Jack the novel folks, or an Agatha Christie
was The Swanson Marginalia. Ripper with Canadian Whisky and whodunnit. These crimes were as real
Started by Greyhunter (who is this Butterscotch Schnapps, served in a as the life you or I lead, actually life
masked, spectacle wearing hero?) Brandy snifter coming up. was harder and, for the victims, the
with contributions from well-known Uncle Jack slayer Jennifer Pegg end tragic. The murders are often
authors, makes this an interesting and next. A 2002 article on Queen looked at with zeal akin to viewing
informative thread to read. Victoria’s own - and Ripper suspect a slasher movie. I think it is worth
Another great contribution comes to boot - Robert J Lees. A good old taking time out to regain a little
from Jake L. This thread, though fashioned honest appraisal that we perspective. I am including this site
short, is a fantastic idea. Jake takes have come to expect from Jenni. for those of you who would like
us through PC Watkins’ beat with Why are we obsessed with Jack to pay your respects to those who
pictures of notable and not so notable the Ripper? asks Finlo Rohrer of the were brutally killed in that Autumn
buildings. Places Watkins would have BBC. Cornwell, Sickert, Neil Storey, of 1888. Find a Grave shows photos
seen and experienced. Its as if we are along with film hunk Johnny Depp of the graves and provides links to
walking his beat. Like I say, a fantastic and author hunk Paul Begg (who does the Cemeteries. You can add your
and novel idea. his own bit for Anglo-US relations) all own virtual flowers (and note) on the
As the suspect list grows ever longer make an appearance in this online site without having to visit the actual
and fanciful a more ‘unknown’ suspect article. grave, but if you are inclined to do so,
is Timothy Donovan. I say unknown Whilst Jack the Ripper was the relevant cemetery is noted.
suspect but this person is pretty well wandering around London with knife Well, that’s your lot. I’m off to see
known to those who have studied the in hand, Clara Collett was working for Dr Treves and see if I can get a room
case for sometime. Donovan was the the social analyst Charles Booth in the at the Royal London Hospital. And
Deputy at the notorious Crossigham’s very same area at the very same time. remember, I have a stack of those
Lodging House where Annie Chapman Commissioned by Booth to conduct photos of Messrs Wood and Begg... a
stayed before her death. It would an investigation into women’s work stack.
seem that pinning him down is a bit within the East End, Clara Collett and Adieu
of a problem. Research has thrown up Jack the Ripper explains her work and Monty
some possible links. Was he Timothy 0
Donovan who killed his wife with a
knife in 1903? Or was he the Donovan
who died in December 1888, shortly
after Mary Kelly’s murder? Worth
investigating further.
Bond’s Report thread is born out of
S. Gouriet Ryan’s excellent article in
the Criminologist. It questions Bond’s
compilation of Kelly’s autopsy report
and queries who completed it. Bond
himself, as we all thought, or his
assistant Dr Charles A Hibbert?
Robert D’Onston Stephenson seems
to be flavour of the month. Here he is
on the Casebook. As a contemporary
suspect this chap is worth investigating.
A serious contender Charlie, instead
of a.... ahem, anyway.
And its there that we leave the big
two Jack the Ripper sites. We shall
return next time I assure you. It is
now time to hit the less known and
more unusual.
>
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 49
 murders.
The announcement of the
resignation in the House of Commons
was received with cheers.

Press Trawl Trenton Times

9 November 1888
The London Murder Fiend
Again At Work
By Associated Press to the Times
CHRIS SCOTT London, Nov. 9.
The murder fiend has added another
Sandusky Daily Register (US) Whitechapel Inquest to his list of victims. At 11 o’clock this
18 July 1889 morning the body of a woman, cut to
London, Oct. 9.
pieces, was discovered in a house on
ANOTHER WHITECHAPEL VICTIM At the Whitechapel inquest
Dorset street, Spitalfields. The police
The Victim from the Same Degraded yesterday several surgeons deposed
are endeavoring to track the murderer
Class as Those of Recent Occurrence that the body found in Whitehall was
with the aid of bloodhounds. The
London, July 17. that of a woman of unusually fine
remains were mutilated in the same
Another bloody deed has been appearance and evidently of good
horrible manner as were those of the
committed within the precincts of social standing.
women murdered in Whitechapel.
Whitechapel. A woman whose body
was found in Castle Abbey (sic), in Decatur Saturday Herald
Davenport Morning Tribune
the Whitechapel district, last night, 15 September 1888
9 October 1888
was of middle age and of bad repute. THE POLICE ALL AT SEA
Her throat had been cut to the spine. Many Arrests for the
London, Sept. 10. Whitechapel Murders -
When the body was found it was lying Ridiculing the Bloodhound Idea
Numerous arrests have been
on its back. The clothing had been London, Oct. 8.
made of persons suspected of being
thrown up, exposing the abdomen,
connected with the recent horrible Saturday’s Telegraph publishes two
which had been gashed in a horrible
murder in the vicinity of Whitechapel, sketch portraits from descriptions
manner in several places, though the
but none of those arrested have been of the man last seen in company
intestines were not exposed. No part
held. of the woman named Stride, one
of the body was missing.
of the victims of the Whitechapel
Warm blood was flowing from murder fiend. The result has been
the wounds when the body was Decatur Republican
20 September 1888 the unceremonious arrest of every
discovered. A policeman who, with the man bearing any resemblance to
watchman of an adjacent warehouse, A German named Ludwig has been
the pictures, and a great deal of
must have been within a few yards arrested under suspicion of being
discomfort has been caused by this
of the spot where the murder took the perpetrator of the recent awful
new phase of police activity. Many
place when it was committed, heard murders in Whitechapel, London.
of the arrests are made by self
no noise. Policemen have been placed constituted detectives or ambitious
at fixed points in Whitechapel since Ogden Standard vigilance committeemen. The victims
the murders of this character began 14 November 1888 are generally discharged from custody
there, and since the murder preceding The Whitechapel Murderer as soon as brought before a magistrate,
that of last night, officers have been but some are unlucky enough to be
London, Nov. 13.
stationed within a hundred yards of able to satisfy the officials of their
The police are confident they are
the scene of the latest tragedy. rectitude, and are subjected to more
on the right track in their search
An old clay pipe smeared with or less annoying detention. One of the
for the Whitechapel murderer. Two
blood was found alongside the body. men arrested carried a bag in which
persons have been found who saw the
It is supposed by the police that this was found a razor. This subject is still
man that accompanied the last victim
may furnish a clue to the murderer, held, and will have to give a very
to her room on the night that she was
although it may have belonged to the good account of himself and his razor.
murdered. Their descriptions of the
victim. Several arrests of suspected Another perplexity attending the
man tally in every respect.
persons have been made, but they Whitechapel muddle is due to the fact
were discharged from custody, there that the regular police do not know by
being no proof on which to hold Morning Oregonian
sight the various amateur detectives,
them. 13 November 1888
and the latter are occasionally “held
A letter was received by the police RESIGNED up” and put to the embarrassment
officials before last night’s murder in London’s Chief of Police of explaining their presence and
Whitechapel, signed Jack the Ripper, Will Vacate His Office mysterious movements in the much
in which the writer said that he was London, Nov. 12. watched district. Experts ridicule Sir
“about to resume his work.” Gen. Warren, chief of police, Charles Warren’s determination to
has tendered his resignation. It is use bloodhounds to search for the
Newark Daily Advocate understood this action is due to the murderer. Scent training is now a
9 October 1888 severe criticisms upon his efficiency neglected art, and only show points
in connection with the Whitechapel are cultivated in the bloodhound,
> > >
50 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
making him the most stupid of canine man believing that it will enable them THE LONDON FIEND AGAIN
varieties and useless in manhunting. to run him down. The witness who THE NINTH VICTIM OF THE
At the noted dog show in Warwick testified Monday to having seen the WHITECHAPEL MONSTER
two years ago, though the crack dogs woman enter the house with a man THE BODY OF A WOMAN FRIGHTFULLY
of the kingdom were represented, with a blotched face was evidently MUTILATED, FOUND IN A ROOM IN
only one bloodhound displayed even mistaken as to the night, as his DORSET ST., SPITALFIELDS
fourth rate gifts. The dog that tracked description of her companion is totally BLOODHOUNDS OF NO AVAIL
Fish, the Blackburn murderer, twelve unlike that of Hutchinson’s in every THE MATTER BROACHED IN
years ago, was not, as has been particular. The bulk of the evidence PARLIAMENT
stated, a bloodhound of pure blood, taken fixes the time of the murder London, Nov. 9.
but a mongrel. But even if a genuine at between half past three and four The Whitechapel murder fiend has
tracker were secured the dog would o’clock. It transpired yesterday that added another to his list of victims.
be useless in the East End, where a in addition to the facial mutilation of At 11 o’clock this morning, the body
trail could not remain many minutes the murdered woman, the uterus was of a woman, cut into pieces, was
unfouled. wholly and skilfully removed and laid discovered in a house on Dorset
in a corner of the bed. street, Spitalfields. The police are
Decatur Daily Republican London, Nov. 14. endeavoring to track the murderer
15 November 1888 The police consider they are on the with the aid of bloodhounds.
The London Police Secure a Clew to track of the Whitechapel murderer. The body was mutilated in the same
the Whitechapel Murderer Two witnesses at the inquest yesterday horrible manner as were those of the
England described the appearance of the women murdered in Whitechapel.
man seen going into the house with The appearance of the body was
A Clue for the Police
the Kelly woman shortly before the frightful, and the mutilation was
London, Nov. 14.
killing, the descriptions being almost even greater than in the previous
The hopes of the police of catching identical. cases. The head had been severed and
the Whitechapel murderer, which had
placed beneath one of the arms. The
almost entirely died out, were raised
Decatur Daily Dispatch ears and nose had been cut off. The
to the acme of buoyancy yesterday
11 September 1889 body had been disembowelled and
in consequence of testimony at the
ANOTHER WHITECHAPEL MURDER the flesh was torn from the thighs.
Kelly inquest of George Hutchinson, a
Certain portions of the body were
groom who had known the victim for But It Differs From Preceding Ones
in That Vicinity - No Clews missing. The skins had been torn off
some years and who saw here with a
the forehead and cheeks. One hand
male companion shortly before two London, Sept. 10.
had been pushed into the stomach.
o’clock on the morning of the murder. At 5.30 o’clock this morning the
The victim, like all the others, was
Hutchinson testified that he saw a dead body of a fallen woman was
a fallen woman. She was married
well dressed man with a Jewish cast found lying at the corner of a railway
and her husband was a porter. They
of countenance accost the woman on arch on Cable street, Whitechapel.
had lived together at intervals. Her
the street at the hour mentioned on An examination of the remains shows
name is believed to have been Lizzie
Friday morning and the circumstances that the head and arms had been cut
Fisher, but to most of the habituÈs of
of his acquaintance with her induced off and the stomach ripped open, the
the haunts she visited she was known
him to follow the pair as they walked intestines lying on the ground. There
as Mary Jane. She had a room in
together. He looked straight into the was no blood on the ground where
the house where she was murdered.
man’s face as he turned to accompany the body was found, neither was
She carried a latch key and no one
the woman, and followed them top there any blood on the body. From
knows at what house she entered
Miller Court out of mere curiosity. this it is evident that the murder
the house last night, and probably no
He had no thought of the previous was committed on some other place
one saw the man who accompanied
murders, and certainly had no suspicion and that the body was subsequently
her. Therefore it is hardly likely that
that the man contemplated violence deposited under the railway arch.
he will ever be identified. He might
since his conspicuous manifestations Although the murder is generally
easily have left the house at any time
of affection for his companion as they spoken of as the work of the
between 1 and 6 o’clock this morning
walked along formed a large part of mysterious Jack the Ripper, a close
without attracting attention.
the incentive to keep them in sight. examination of all the facts leads to
The doctors who have examined the
After the couple entered the house the conclusion that this murder is
body refuse to make any statement
Hutchinson heard sounds of merriment not one of the Ripper’s. Police and
until the inquest is held.
in the girl’s room and remained at medical men familiar with the details
the entrance to the court for fully of the recent London horrors of this Three bloodhounds belonging to
three quarters of an hour. About three class say that this last murder must private citizens were taken to the
o’clock the sounds ceased and he be classified with those known as place where the body lay and placed
walked into the court, but finding Embankment murders, of which there on the scent of the murderer, but they
that the light in the room had been have now been four in all including were unable to keep it for any great
extinguished he went home. During the one in which the headless body distance, and all hope of running the
the hour occupied in standing at the of the victim was recently discovered assassin down with their assistance
entrance to, or promenading the court, in Chelsea, and of which the head has will have to be abandoned.
he did not see a policeman. There is never been found. The murdered woman told a
every reason to believe Hutchinson’s companion last evening that she was
statement, and the police place great without money, and would commit
New York Tribune
reliance upon his description of the suicide if she did not obtain a supply.
10 November 1888
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 51
 It has been learned that a man, August 31. The victims were all of remain six unfortunates to fall before
respectably dressed, accosted the the same class of fallen women. Then the mysterious murderer.
victim and offered her money. They a panic of horror and fear began to
went to her lodgings on the second seize upon the people of London, Dunkirk Observer Journal
floor of the Dorset street house. No especially among the class which the 17 July 1889
noise was heard during the night, unknown fiend seemed to single out
JACK THE RIPPER AT WORK
and nothing was known of the murder for his awful work. This panic was
until the landlady went to the room intensified by the murder of a fourth Another Victim of the Whitechapel
Fiend Found Horribly Mutilated -
early this morning to ask for her rent. woman eight days later. This time the Police Paralyzed by this Last Crime
The first thing she saw on entering the woman was butchered in the backyard London, July 17.
room was the woman’s breasts and of No. 29 Hanbury street, not 100
One more murder has been added
viscera lying on a table. yards from the place where one of
to the long list credited to Jack
Dorset street is short and narrow, the former victims was murdered. On
the Ripper, in Whitechapel. The
and is situated close to Mitre square a wall above the mangled body were
body of a woman, evidently one of
and Hanbury street. written these words:
the disreputable frequenters of the
In the House of Commons today Fifteen before I surrender. district, was found in Castle alley last
Mr Conybeare asked the question The police were now thoroughly night, only a short distance from where
whether, if it was true that another aroused, but all efforts to track down the other murders were committed.
woman had been murdered in London, the monster proved unsuccessful. The body was horribly mutilated and
General Warren, the Chief of the Scarcely had they begun to relax bears undoubted evidence of the
Metropolitan Police, ought not to be their efforts before the murderer work of the fiend whose atrocities
superceded by an officer accustomed struck again, killing his fifth victim in Whitechapel have repeatedly
to investigate crime. on September 23, at Gateshead, near terrorized the whole district.
The question was greeted by cried Newcastle on Tyne. On September The police are as far as ever from
of “Oh! Oh!” The Speaker called, 30, at 1 o’clock in the morning, the a clue to the identity of the murderer
“Order” Order!” and said that notice sixth murdered woman was found and seem perfectly paralyzed. The
must be given of the question in the in Berners street, Whitechapel, but excitement throughout Whitechapel,
usual way. the murderer had probably been where the news of the discovery of a
Mr Conybeare replied: “I have given frightened away, as the body was not fresh victim of the Ripper has spread
private notice.” mutilated as in all the other cases. with lightning rapidity, is at fever
Fifteen minutes after discovering the heat.
The Speaker - The notice must be
sixth body, the seventh was found
made in writing.
in Mitre square, Whitechapel. This
Mr Cunninghame-Graham then Atlanta Constitution
time the murderer had completed his
Asked whether General Warren had 14 February 1889
work for the body was mutilated as in
already resigned, to which Mr Smith, THE WHITECHAPEL FIEND
the other five instances. On the day
the Government leader, replied,
following, the eighth body was found Dundee Policemen Think They Have
“No.” Caught Jack the Ripper
on the Thames Embankment in the
This last addition to the number of Whitechapel district. This last victim, London, February 13.
terrifying murders in the Whitechapel however, had been dead for some The body of a woman concealed
district makes the ninth victim who time when found. in a wooden chest, was discovered
has been butchered under the same
This series of atrocities rapidly Monday by the police of Dundee. The
mysterious circumstances. The first
succeeding each other created the body was mutilated. The chest was
Whitechapel murder occurred about
wildest excitement in London, and so small that the murderer had been
a year ago. No notice was taken
the clamor against the police officials compelled to squeeze the body into
of the crime as the victim was a
for their failure to find the fiend was it. The husband of the woman has
fallen woman, and it was supposed
great. The London papers devoted been arrested on suspicion of being
to be nothing uncommon that such
many columns to the murders, and her murderer.
a deed should be committed in such
many suggestions as to the method of It was positively ascertained that
a locality, where the vilest resorts
finding the murderer were advanced. Wm. H. Bury, the victim, murdered her.
of London are located. The victim
Bloodhounds were used without effect Bury was a resident of Whitechapel,
was buried in the Potter’s Field, and
by the police. People who live in London, and his antecedents suggest
little effort was made to discover the
the Whitechapel neighborhood came that he is probably Jack the Ripper,
murderer. The second murder did not
forward and gave descriptions of a and that he is subject to fits of
occur till August 7 last, but it was
shabby genteel man with a wild look unconscious murder mania. The post
undoubtedly the work of the same
in his eyes who had been noticed in mortem examination held on the body
hand, the woman being mangled and
the vicinity and had been seen with proved that the woman had first been
mutilated in a peculiar manner. The
some of the murdered women. The strangled, and that her body had then
police made some unusual efforts
papers were full of descriptions of him been mutilated, the abdomen being
to find the murderer this time, but
and it is supposed that the length of ripped open and the legs and arms
without success.
time which has elapsed since his last twisted and broken.
The excitement caused among the victim fell was due to the murderer’s Bury says that he left Whitechapel
people of the East End over this desire to let the excitement subside three weeks ago. He refuses to say
second crime had hardly begun to so that he could resume his awful why he left there, and acknowledges
subside then a third woman was found work in safety. According to his legend that he had no business requiring his
murdered under the same revolting on the wall above the body of the attention at Dundee. He says that he
circumstances, on the morning of Hanbury street victim, there still and his wife drank heavily last night
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52 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
before retiring, and that he does Shaw protested his innocence and prevails in Whitechapel. Crowds
not know how he got to bed. Upon declared that he had kissed his wife surround the mortuary in which the
awakening, he says he found his wife goodbye Nov. 9 at Leeds, near which body lies.
lying upon the floor with a rope round town he lived. He was going west Later details concerning the finding
her neck. and had $5. He was lodged in Ludlow of the body of the murdered woman in
Actuated by a sudden mad impulse, street jail pending further instruction Whitechapel show that there was no
for which he cannot account, he from England. blood on the ground where the body
seized a knife and slashed the body. Shaw fully answers the description was found, neither was there any blood
Upon reason returning he became of Jack the Ripper and there was on the body. From this it is evident
alarmed and hastily crushed the body in his pocket a paper containing an that the murder was committed in
into the chest in which it was found, illustrated account of the Whitechapel some other place, and that the body
thinking to make his escape. He found, horror, and the rumor spread that the was subsequently deposited under the
however, that he could not leave his Whitechapel murderer was a prisoner railway arch. The trunk was nude. A
wifeís remains, and he finally resolved in New York. rent and bloody chemise was found
to inform the police. But Marshal Bernhardt pumped his lying near the body. The arms were
The theory of the police officials prisoner in his own peculiar way and intact, but the legs were missing. It
is that Bury’s wife knew of facts satisfied himself that Shaw as not the is believed that the woman had been
connecting him with the East end Ripper, nor the Yorkshire wife killer dead for two days. Three sailors who
atrocities, and that she took him to either. were sleeping under the arch next
Dundee in the hope of preventing a Shaw admits that it is an assumed to the one under which the body
recurrence of the crimes. name - he real name is Heddington was found were taken into custody
- but he declines to say who he is by the police. They convinced the
travelling incognito. authorities, however, that they had
Frederick News
heard or seen nothing of a suspicious
17 September 1888 He cannot read nor write, and
nature and they were discharged.
The Whitechapel tragedies still is rather confused in his accounting
for the presence in his pocket of the Although the murder is generally
remain a mystery, and the helplessness
newspaper containing the Whitechapel spoken of as the work of the mysterious
of the police gives rise to invidious
story. Jack the Ripper, a close examination
contrasts with the efficiency of the
of all the facts leads to the conclusion
New York detective service. Arrests
that this murder is not one of the
are made daily, but all prove futile. Lima Daily Times
Ripper’s. The police and the medical
The “knifer” remains at large, though 11 September 1889
men familiar with the details of the
every man wearing a leather apron is Victim Number Ten recent London horrors of this class
a suspect.
Another Whitechapel Murder say that this last murder must be
Public excitement continues. Startles London classified with those known as the
Apart from the series of undiscovered London, Sept. 11. Embankment murders, of which there
murders in the East End, numerous
At 5.30 o’clock yesterday morning a have now been four in all, including
street robberies in daylight and the
policeman found the body of a fallen the one in which the headless body
increase of burglaries have spread
woman lying at the corner of a railway of the victim was recently discovered
general terror over the metropolis.
arch on Cable street, Whitechapel. An in Chelsea, and of which the head has
Vigilance committees are forming in
examination of the remains showed never been found.
several districts to meet the outburst
that the head and arms had been cut Although there is a general
of crime. The first question to be
off and carried away, and the stomach resemblance between the horrible
agitated at the winter session of
ripped open, the intestines lying on work of the two murderers, both
parliament is the unprotected state of
the ground. taking special pains to mutilate their
the metropolis.
A cordon of police instantly victims and to carry off portions of the
surrounded the spot, but no arrests bodies, each carries off a different
Frederick News have up to this hour, been made. portion. Besides this, there are other
24 November 1888 Policemen pass the spot every fifteen evidences of differences in the surgical
A MYSTERIOUS ENGLISHMAN minutes. Those on duty that night work involved in all the mutilations,
He is Charged with Murders and sat they saw nothing suspicious. The the embankment murderer being by
Looks Like Jack the Ripper physicians who examined the body far the more scientific of the two. For
New York, Nov. 24. state that in their opinion the murder some time it was doubtful whether all
A mysterious man, who admits and mutilation occupied nearly an these horrors were the work of one
that he is travelling incognito, was hour. or two persons, but this last murder
arrested as he alighted from the It is surmised that the murderer convinces the medical men that there
steamer Wyoming. He was a steerage carried off the head and arms in a bag. are two entirely distinct murderers.
passenger and registered the name The murder is the worst of the whole It is believed that in the present
of James Shaw. He was arrested on a series of Whitechapel murders. The instance the body was purposely
cablegram from England to the British manner in which the limbs had been brought to the Whitechapel district
consul general, Mr. Hoare. severed from the body shows that to throw the police off the scent by
The cablegram asked that steerage the murderer was possessed of some inducing the belief that the body
passenger James Shaw be detained, as surgical skill. The woman was about was that of another victim of Jack
he was James Pennock, of Pickering, 30 years old. Her clothing was shabby the Ripper. In this the perpetrator,
North Riding, Yorkshire, England, and and she was evidently a spirit drinker. however, went to trouble that is
that he had murdered his wife on The remains have not been identified. entirely superfluous, for the police
Nov. 7. The most intense excitement again are as much in the fog about the class
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 53
of murders as the other. The Murderer Caught and Jailed Vigilance association, which has only
London, July 20, 1889 just resumed its work. Before the man
Morning Oregonian A man supposed to be Jack the had time to get far he was seized and
5 June 1889 Ripper was arrested in Whitechapel a dreadful struggle ensued. He had
district early this morning. He had a long knife in his hand. It was some
Jack the Ripper’s Work
just killed a woman and had the time before he could be deprived
A Woman Murdered and of it. Eventually it was taken from
Horribly Mutilated in London knife on his person with which he had
committed the deed. After being taken him. Even then his fight for liberty
London, June 3.
into custody the prisoner confessed was of a most determined nature. In
A parcel containing the lower the first affray the woman crawled
that he had killed the woman. He said
portion of a woman’s body cut in away. Police whistles were heard in all
the weapon he used to accomplish
half was found in the Thames at directions. A great number of officials
his purpose was an ordinary pocket
Narsley Down this morning. Another both of the city and metropolitan
knife. He carried no other weapon. He
parcel in which were a woman’s thighs force appeared on the scene. When
declared that he lived nowhere and
was picked up at Battersea. Both the police reached the spot the man
that he had just arrived from abroad.
were wrapped in pieces of a woman’s was cut and bleeding profusely from
The prisoner is six feet tall, of fair
drawers, on which the name Gasher wounds inflicted by the crowd who
complexion, and carries himself with
was marked. The trunk and thighs had raised the cry of “Lynch him” and
a military air. His actions indicate that
evidently belonged to the same body, was throwing all kinds of missiles at
he is insane. He has confessed that
which was of a well developed person. the prisoner. With the aid of a strong
he murdered all the women whose
The remains had probably been in the escort of police he was got to the
bodies have been found in and about
water ten days. It is feared that Jack police station. In reply to a question,
the Whitechapel district. He gave
the Ripper has again been at work. he said: “The woman robbed me.”
the names of his victims, the dates
upon which he killed the victims and When asked why he drew the dagger,
Portsmouth Times (Ohio) all the ghastly and indecent details he replied that he had done so in self
7 September 1889 connected with the terrible crimes. defence. He said he was a sailor, and
Jack the Ripper has reappeared in had arrived from South Shields about
The arrested man yesterday, who
London in the form of an old man, who a week ago. When asked where he was
confessed to being the Ripper, is
stabbed two women in Whitechapel on the morning on the 17th, he could
regarded as a lunatic, but there is
because they declined his company. not say. He did not know where he had
little doubt that the real author of the
stayed while in London. A small knife
atrocities which have appalled London
Morning Oregonian was found in his possession, together
is now in custody.
21 July 1889 with his seaman’s discharge papers.
The man arrested yesterday, and
Jack the Ripper Decatur Daily Despatch
whom the authorities kept so close,
A Drunken Sailor Creates 21 July 1889
is not Jack the Ripper, nor is he a
a Sensation in London The Whitechapel Suspect murderer. He is a harmless lunatic
London, July 20. London, July 20. with just enough sense to appreciate
Last night a hue and cry was aroused The name of the man who was a good joke and he played it. The
by a report that Jack the Ripper had arrested this morning on suspicion police are awfully chagrined and will
been caught while attempting his of being the Whitechapel murderer, vent their spite on the poor fellow by
ninth murder in Oldgate (sic) High and who is said to have subsequently sending him to prison as a vagrant.
street. A crowd was attracted by a confessed that he was guilty, is William
woman by a woman’s cries of murder Brodile (sic). He was arraigned before Decatur Daily Despatch
and shouts of “Jack the Ripper.” The a police magistrate this morning. He 24 July 1889
police secured the man and locked stated to the magistrate that the
him up. He was a sailor and he kicked The Ripper Described
confession made by him was true. The
a woman who attempted to rob him. London, July 23.
prisoner was remanded for a week.
He drew a knife when he saw the The London police at last feel that
Towards midnight last night he
crowd approach. He was arrested, but they have secured a slight clew to the
attempted the life of another woman
discharged. identity of the author of the many
close to castle alley. A man and a
The man who gave himself up mysterious murders in Whitechapel.
woman were seen to approach a dark
yesterday, claiming he was the Ripper, At least they have found a young
portion of the thoroughfare, near the
said his name was Brodie, and that man who declares that he saw the
Aldgate east station. The pair did
he left London in September for murderer just after the latter’s
not remain long in the corner before
Kimberley, South Africa. He was an attempt to butcher Dark Sarah, who
the woman was heard to cry: “No, I
ex convict, and reached Southampton escaped with a cut throat, but was
won’t.” The remark was addressed to
on Monday, making the return voyage unable to identify her assailant. The
a dark man of medium height, with a
as a fireman. Brodie was pronounced assault on Dark Sarah was made on
slouch hat and of foreign appearance.
insane from consumption and hard use Nov. 21 and was the first botched job
The man seized her, dragged her a
of liquor. of the murderer. He met the woman in
short distance, flung her upon the
a public house and assaulted her while
curbstone and produced a dagger.
Decatur Daily Despatch on the way to her room. The woman
Screams of “Jack the Ripper!” and
20 July 1889 was very strong and succeeded in
of “Murder!” attracted crowds of
breaking loose from her assailant, but
Still Another Victim men and women from all directions.
strangely enough she has not been
Among the first arrivals on the scene
Another Woman Slain in seen by the London police since a
Whitechapel by Jack the Ripper were several members of the local
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54 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
day or two after the assault. The only and the suspicion arises that their The first of the series of Whitechapel
other known witness of the murderous visits are not as often made as they horrors was discovered on the morning
assault was Francis Russell, the driver ought to be. The belief is guessed of August 31st. I had planned for
of a greengrocer’s wagon. Russell was that the murder is the work of the the first of September a round of
driving a wagon delivering coke to Ripper, who has changed the scene of afternoon calls, but the great, black
lodging houses on the morning of the his crimes in order to bluff the police. lettered bulletins trodden under foot
attempted murder. He was standing The police are tracking a man who where the newsboys had spread them
near the sidewalk at No 19 George was seen to enter a hansom cab at the on the pavements at every street
street early in the morning when he place where the body was found and corner decided me to make my visits
saw a man about 30 years old walking drove away at a furious pace, and are in the Bowery of London.
rapidly toward him. The stranger certain that they will run him down. In the endless succession of dingy
was semi respectable in appearance, streets and dark, narrow lanes, in the
looking neither like a working man nor Reno Evening Gazette squalid houses that wall in the blind
a gentleman. He wore a black diagonal 5 December 1888 alleys and dismal courts of Whitechapel
suit and round black felt hat, and had district, in the more pretentious blocks
CALLING IN WHITECHAPEL
a light mustache cut square off at the that front upon its main artery, the
ends. He was about five feet six or AFTERNOON VISITS AMONG THE broad, busy Whitechapel road ablaze
WOMEN OF A LONDON SLUM
seven inches tall, neither very slight with gin palaces and the paradise of
“Winkles!”
nor very heavy. He had a straight cheap shops, there live more than
Grecian nose, but not very large, and Heads were thrust out of half a
half a million people, and, according
had blue eyes. After he passed Russell dozen window and grimy doorways.
to London estimates, from 10 to 12
he began to run. Then Russell heard “Winkles!” per cent of the girls and women are,
the cry of the woman in No 19. She The shrill sound echoed through or at some time in their lives have
came out and he noticed that the the dusky alley and was tossed back been, harlots. How there comes to
front of her dress was covered with and forth from one wall of blackish be such a colony of prostitutes, such
blood. She told Russell to stop the stone tenements to the other almost a glut of female degradation, such a
man and he started after him, but meeting it overhead. swarming population of abandoned
by the time Russell had reached the “Winkles!” women for Jack the Ripper to wreak
corner the man was out of sight. “Lor’! It almost give me a turn. his vengeance on in the very heart
Russell ran as far as Brick lane where Only Polly Lupkins a callin’ of Moll of the city was the point I hoped my
he met two policemen who said they and Jem.” afternoon calls might clear up for
had seen nobody. Russell thinks he The heads disappeared and the me.
would know the man if he could see alley was quiet, save for the bare It was at the end of Buck’s Row, an
him again. feet of Molly pattering towards the eighth of a mile maybe from the spot
outstretched tin platter from the left, where poor Polly Nichols had been
Decatur Review and Jem, who had his eyes fixed on found disembowelled the day before
26 October 1890 the utensil from the right. that I had opportunely dropped one or
ANOTHER FOUL MURDER Molly was a low necked, short two halfpence from my change purse
sleeved, white pinched child with a just abreast of Mrs. Lupkins calling for
Jack the Ripper Again at Work
shock of light brown hair falling over a Jem and Molly to go for their winkles,
THIS TIME IN SOUTH HAMPSTEAD and in course of the search for the
dirty face and obscuring large, pretty,
London, Oct. 25. coins had made her acquaintance.
blue eyes. Jem was a smaller and
The body of a murdered woman masculine issue of the same edition. “Deed an’ I’m ashamed,” said
was found at South Hampstead Friday she, “as any lady wa’at knows wa’at
“It’s goin’ on a fortnight since
with the head almost severed and decent things is should find me ‘ere,
they’ve ‘ad winkles to their dinner.
otherwise mutilated. The woman is for times ain’t been this bad with
See ‘em run,” said the mother, waiting
supposed to have been of abandoned me.” And she glanced around at the
their approach.
character. The finding of the body has mouldy wallpaper hanging in patches,
“You see, I ‘ad an uncommon large
revived the Jack the Ripper scare. the ragged pitfalls for the feet which
bundle o’ h’army shirts from the
The condition of the body indicates constituted all that was left of the
Pimlico stores this week, and I told
that her murder was the most fiendish carpet, the baby lying asleep in a
the chil’en, sez I, ‘If I get ‘em done
of any that has occurred in England heap of soiled bedclothes on the floor,
fer you to take back this afternoon
since Jack the Ripper’s horrible the chair or two which made up the
you shall ‘ave a penn’orth o’ winkles
Whitechapel series. The character of furniture.
for yer dinner afore startin’. Now
the wounds clearly establishes the Mrs. Lupkins herself was a woman
then, you Moll and Jem, look alive and
fact that the woman was stabbed of 26 or 27, with the same tumbled
see’t they give you fresh ones.”
by someone behind her, after which brown hair and large, pathetic blue
her prostrate body was hacked and Moll and Jem darted off to the
winkle stand around the corner, and eyes which were the prominent
slashed almost to pieces. features of the children. Two or three
Moll and Jem’s mother led the way
Is it Jack the Ripper again? years earlier she must have been an
through a dingy passage to a low,
The scene of the crime is a lonely square, dingy room, where the midday attractive figure, but now her front
part of the section haunted by the meal was already spread, at least so teeth were gone, as well as most
lowest class of abandoned women. It far as the setting out of a loaf of of the buttons of her dress, and it
is supposed to be frequently patrolled bread, a bowl of dripping and a knife seemed that a very gentle push would
by the police but the constables and spoon for the distribution of those shove her over the brink of the pit of
themselves admit that they perform edibles constituted spreading. hagdom.
that duty with feelings of trepidation, “I’ve ‘ad to put all my things
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Ripperologist 64 February 2006 55
away,” she said in explanation of shillings, and without at the same time shrewdly suspected, apropos of her
the scantiness of the furnishings. By recommending to the School Trustees comment on Mrs Lupkins, that in
putting away the London poor always of the district the future remission of spite of her tidy room and efforts at
mean pawning. the tax on the ground that the woman respectability she was weighing the
“My ‘usband died last winter. ‘E was manifestly unable to pay. choice between mangling herself into
was a soldier and I’ve been to India Moll and Jem, made frisky by the a coffin and going on the street.
with ‘im an’ pretty near round the winkles, played in and out of the I saw women employed by umbrella
world. ‘E was consumptive an’ ‘ad room and the narrow passageway, manufacturers to knot the tops of
to leave the service, an’ for two occasionally tumbling with some tassels at 4 shillings 6 pence per
years ‘e was janitor to a ‘abitation emphasis against a door opposite gross and the work was so fine that
of the Primrose League. Then ‘e died their own. Finally the rickety barrier the gross kept them busy a week. I
wi’ fo’ shillins in ‘is pocket, and me burst open, and a curious noise to visited other women making brushes
gone six months with Nellie there. which I had been listening received a penny per hundred holes filled with
The ladies of the League they sent an explanation - the next room was fibres of hair. I found one woman
me three pounds to last over the occupied by a woman who was turning making sacks for the navy. She was
confinement, but said as ‘ow I was a mangle. paid by the government 4 shillings for
never to ask them for a penny more. “Such young ‘uns,” she ejaculated, ten large sacks, each of which had
It was good starvin’ till I got so’s I making ready to eject the intruders. eight holes in it, four splices and two
could do summut again, and ‘taint so Making much of the fact that a mangle patches. Each must be sewn, roped,
much better now. They ‘ad to give me was to me an unknown instrument and marked with a broad arrow. There
work at the guv’ment stores, because of music, I begged to be allowed an were women making neckties at 9
I was a soldier’s widow, and they can’t inspection. While the heavy press shillings a gross, and girls who were
refuse. They give out army and navy was grinding out coarse underwear I paid tuppence halfpenny per gross
shirts at Pimlico, but the pay is only studied this second specimen of the for making the covers and trays of
thrippence apiece an’ if you ain’t got Whitechapel woman. She was a widow, matchboxes. I saw women making
a sewin’ machine it ain’t many in a like my first acquaintance, older, babies’ boots and earning about
day you can do. Weeks w’en I ‘ave all neater, thin, probably consumptive. two pence an hour, women making
I can make I earn maybe six shillins, “Been talkin’ to Mrs. Lupkins, ain’t paper bags, purses, lifebelts, baskets,
but there’s lots after the work, and ye?” she panted, turning the groaning tobacco pouches and twenty other
oftener’s not it won’t go round. Bad handle round and round. “Ever see ‘er things which are done at home. Every
weeks I don’t ‘ave fo’ shillins worth, before? No? W’en she come ‘ere last day the pay for home business grows
and once in a w’ile none at all. Now winter she was the decentest woman less, for many men who are out of
then, Jem an’ Moll, did ye eat them in Buck’s Row. She kept ‘erself nice work take to these small occupations
winkles on the way?” ‘an tidy, an’ them children was slick and undersell the women who a
Jem and Moll produced the platter as pins. But she’s got discouraged an’ few years ago controlled the home
of molluscs and a slice of bread fell into low company an’ nex’ time industry market. Whitechapel women
thickly spread with dripping was cut she’s out o’ work she’ll go on the sell themselves because they have
for each, with two winkles apiece to street. I’ve seen fifty women go that nothing else left to sell.
persuade the unattractive meal. way an’ I know the signs. It’s ‘er turn The apprenticeship system of
“You can’t think what a comfort next, trust me.” England tells heavily against the
winkles is, winkles an’ bloaters. We To go on the street means in Buck’s squalid children of the Whitechapel
ain’t ‘ad a bit o’ meat since winter Row to starve on the casual hire of streets. “What will become of the
and summut snacky you can buy for a prostitution instead of starving on the swarms of urchins lurking in every
penny’s a treat now an’ then.” hire of government shirts. passage?” I asked an intelligent
Mrs. Lupkins’ rent is three shillings woman who knows Whitechapel as
The woman with the mangle
a week for the very dirty room, and I other women know Belgravia. “These
had three children also and the
asked her how she managed to feed women can’t apprentice their girls
four occupied one room. She had
herself and three children on from one to milliners or dressmakers or other
supported herself for three or four
to three shillings, that is from twenty tradespeople, because they can’t
years by washing and mangling at nine
five to seventy five cents more. raise the £25 or £30 premium. They
pence per dozen pieces. She paid 4
have not the faintest chance of
Remembering the compulsory shillings a week for rent of a room a
learning any business that will yield
school law I asked her how it little larger than Mrs. Lupkins’, and
living waged.
happened that the children were at was able to earn about 7 shillings
home. Bare feet and inability to pay a week in summer and 9 shillings a “They will grow up as street Arabs,”
the school fees were the reasons. Moll week when times were good in winter. she said, “marry very young and
and Jem had no shoes in two years but She had been doing, she considered, without 10 shillings ahead. By and by
those the school board presented at very well, but the work was too hard work will fail and they will be driven
Christmas and Mrs. Lupkins was even for her, and she was obliged to have to the streets for bread and lodging,
then under summons to appear before in a boy once or twice a week to if indeed their mothers did not sell
a police magistrate to answer the turn the mangle while she fed it, them before they were grown.”
non-payment of fees. The Solomon paying for his services a penny an Whitechapel is an awful fact,
before whom she was taken - as I hour. A charity doctor had warned for many of its women practically
learned at a later day - fined her her that she was straining her chest choose between semi starvation and
five shillings with an alternative for and that if she wanted to live she harlotry.
a fortnight’s imprisonment for failing, must give up the work, but there
out of an income of four to six was absolutely nothing else she could ELIZA PUTNAM HEATON.
shillings, to pay school fees of two do to maintain her children, and I
> >
56 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 IN BRIEF

case ahead of the first edition?

Although not strictly a Ripper book
I see that John Barber is set to publish

Books of his work on the Camden Town Murder,

that of Emily Dimmock. John shared
his thoughts with me a couple of years

the Year back and I know the book will be of

interest.
What books would I like to see
in the future? This is a difficult
K A RY O
question and I can’t see matters
MAGELLAN
progressing much further without
new information appearing or new
The best book of 2005? I liked directions of research being prised
Will the Real Mary Kelly...?, open and we’re fast running out of
the book by Christopher Scott, contemporary celebrities upon whom
because he objectively looked at to pin the crimes! There is always
the life and the murder of Mary room for books with objective and
detailed analyses but what we don’t
Jane Kelly who is central to my
need are any more books that identify
own interest and complemented marginal suspects on the basis of
my work by taking into account opportunity and with the support of
broader sources of information. fragile circumstantial evidence.
Scott and I quite independently We would like to add another
came to remarkably similar book to the list of Best Books of
2005 compiled by Karyo Magellan.
conclusions on several issues
It is Magellan’s own book, By Ear
relating to the death of Kelly, but and Eyes: The Whitechapel Murders,
reached fundamentally different Jack The Ripper and the Murder of
conclusions on other issues using Mary Jane Kelly. In its review of
the same information. By Ear and Eyes, Ripperologist said:
The book that I most look forward ‘If there’s any justice at all in our
to seeing in 2006 is the revised and little square-mile corner of historical
updated second edition of Patricia study, Magellan’s book will emerge
hits the shops. It is of course unwise
Cornwell’s Case Closed which as the most controversial, if not the
to prejudge any book on the strength
‘includes even more evidence for her most important, book of 2005.’ Very
of what had gone before but if this is
compelling and credible conclusion’. strongly recommended. Rip.
not another gravity defying selective
But I am looking forward to this use of the facts, misdirected use of
offering for all the wrong reasons and science, and mind bogglingly abstract Comment
many Ripperologists I imagine already deduction then it’ll be a pleasant
have a coach and horses lined up to Back to Contents
surprise. I wonder will there be a
drive right through it the moment it kitschy film of the book as was the Next article
> >

Coming in April:
The Secret Lives of MontagueDruitt

Ripperologist 64 February 2006 57

 experience in hair analysis it doesn’t
look like human hair. However this is
personal opinion only as we are not
qualified to judge. Re treatment of
All the news that’s fit to print... hair. Very possible, don’t know as I
understand the provenance of the

I Beg to Report hair is uncertain. As our tests are

complete, we are now sending the
braid back to the owner.’
Casebook: Jack the Ripper

JACK AND JEKYLL AND RIPPER AND

will team once more for a musical HYDE. The Aquila Theatre Company, a
NEWS adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s New-York-based production company,
Sweeney Todd. Depp will portray title will be on tour until spring 2006 with
THE RIPPER MADE ME DO IT. A Jack
character Sweeney Todd - the demon Hamlet and The Strange Case of Dr
the Ripper collector on trial for first-
barber of Fleet Street - who slits the Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Writer-actor Louis
degree murder in Polk County District
throats of his customers and sends Butelli adapted for the stage Robert
Court, Des Moines, claimed he was
them down a trapdoor to be made Louis Stevenson’s classic horror story
insane and didn’t know right from
into Mrs Lovett’s tasty pies. Sweeney of dual personality sprinkling it with
wrong when he stabbed a man to
Todd first opened on Broadway in liberal doses of comedy and music and
death in a motel room. Jon Matthew
1979 starring Len Cariou and Angela incorporating some characters better
McGee, 24, had met his victim, Terry
Lansbury. The show is currently on known in the context of a different
Graham, 52, a married businessman
Broadway in its second revival, starring Victorian saga: Jack the Ripper and
and former minister from Nebraska,
Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris. Prince Albert Victor. In its website,
on gay.com, an Internet chat room,
Its score is by composer Stephen Aquila recalls that Stevenson’s story
shortly before their fatal encounter.
Sondheim who in his career has offers compelling views of the nature
Dr William Logan, a psychiatrist for
earned eight Tony awards, including of human emotion and the bounds
the defence, said McGee suffered
Best Score for Sweeney Todd. of scientific research, a fascinating
from mood disorders and borderline
personality disorder and couldn’t MovieMusicals.net, 7 January 2006 detective story and a fictional parallel
control his urge to kill. McGee for the unsolved murders of Jack
See also johnnydepp-zone.com
collected books and videos about the Ripper, and reminds us that the
famous serial killers, including Jack
the Ripper, Ted Bundy and Jeffrey
Dahmer. He had come close to
indulging his homicidal fantasies once
before when he arranged to meet a
man who said he wanted to be choked
to the point of death during sex. This
man, however, failed to show up at
their meet point. McGee’s homicidal
thoughts had remained ‘abstract’
Eddowes’s Hair?
rather than focused on a specific Photograph courtesy of Stephen Ryder
person and had been suppressed by
an antipsychotic medicine. But he
did not take his medicine, which he MORE ON EDDOWES’S HAIR. An American actor Richard Mansfield,
had accidentally left behind during a interesting exchange took place on who played the role in London in
vacation, in the two days before the the Message Boards at the Casebook: 1887, was actually a leading suspect
killing. Dr Logan testified that during Jack the Ripper on 24-25 January in the case. The story deals with Dr
his interview with the police McGee concerning the alleged braid of Jekyll who, in his tortured quest to
seemed to reconstruct what likely Catherine Eddowes’s hair being tested formulate a potion to create love and
happened during the actual moment for DNA by Professor Ian Findlay of happiness, unleashed the evil side of
of the stabbing because he didn’t Brisbane, Australia. A poster asked: his humanity in the fearsome form
have an actual memory of it. ‘Was the hair braid treated in any of Mr Hyde, a base, malformed and
way? I ask because jewelry made of powerful creature whose unfettered
Quad City Times, 28 January 2006
human hair was quite in vogue in behaviour creates havoc as he stalks
that era and the process used may the nocturnal streets of London. In a
have actually skewed the results. I’m review of the production presented
THE RETURN OF SWEENEY TODD.
speculating not being a scientist but at the Clay Center, Galveston, West
According to what we are told are
as I remember the hair was treated Virginia, USA, on 27 January, the
reliable sources, director Tim Burton
to preserve and harden it.’ Professor Sunday Gazette-Mail noted that the
and actor Johnny Depp, who have
Findlay replied: ‘Re microscopic tests ‘conceptual staging of a play-within-
worked together on five major motion
on the hair. We did examine the hair a-play was quite cleverly done, with
pictures including Edward Scissorhands
under the microscope and although use of a backdrop picturing theatre
and more recently Charlie and the
we are not qualified and have no real balconies and boxes, minimalist multi-
Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride,
> > >
58 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
sided set pieces and a very sturdy mysterious, forbidding; the Dahlia on her wrists and ankles indicated
freestanding double door that figures - an exotic, mysterious flower. Any that she had been bound. She had
prominently in the plot. Upstage other name and it wouldn’t have been brutally beaten and tortured
became downstage and downstage been the same.’ Back in 1947, Hansen and her face had been slashed so
became upstage depending on the was in charge of the investigation that the mouth was extended into an
plot. When the actor who played into the murder of Elizabeth Short, a unnatural smile. The photographs of
the central duo was emoting into 22-year-old aspiring actress and good- her body and face were so shocking
the play theatre, his back was to time girl known as the Black Dahlia that newspapers did not publish them
the real audience. When the action for her black clothing and her dark, but ran retouched versions instead. It
was backstage at the theatre, or sometimes flower-adorned hair. was not until 1984 that several of the
in Dr. Jekyll’s laboratory, the actors
faced front.’ The Sunday Gazette-
Mail added: ‘Special effects such as
billowing smoke and atmospheric
noises were smooth, and ominous
musical soundtracks were frequently
used and generally effective. Lighting
was generally so dark that stage action
was often barely visible. A few heavy
puns offered slight comic relief, but
a very broad scene of Scotland Yard
inspectors in drag, playing electrified
prostitutes, missed the mark and
seemed overly long.’ To conclude,
it stated: ‘In the circumstances of
murder, dismemberment and evil
personalities, it’s not easy or even
possible to evoke genuine laughter.
So Aquila’s The Strange Case of Dr
Jekyll and Mr Hyde began as a mixed
metaphor and ended as a protracted Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia (left) and Mia Kirshner, who plays her in the movie.
mixed message that was indeed
stranger than it needed to be.’
Elizabeth Short grew up in Medford,
unretouched photographs appeared
Aquila Theatre Company’s website Mass. At 18 she moved to the Bay
in print. Film director Brian de Palma
Aquila Theatre Company Area to live with her father, who had
believes that the Dahlia’s mystique
4 Washington Square North #452, deserted his family years earlier. She
was derived from the crime-scene and
New York, NY 10003, USA soon struck out on her own, making her
coroner photographs. ‘Once you have
Ticket hotline: 212-998-8017 way towards Santa Barbara, California.
looked at the real pictures, you never
aquila@aquilatheatre.com For the next few years, she moved
forget the Black Dahlia.’
between Southern California and
Miami, Chicago and Boston. According The still unsolved crime has grown
WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE TROUBLE? to reports filed by investigators, she so legendary as to have become
‘This is the equivalent of admitting spent the last five months of her life Hollywood’s answer to Jack the Ripper.
that you’ve just hired Jack the Ripper moving from place to place — at least In 1987, James Ellroy, the foremost
as your chief surgeon because he 11 different residences. That wasn’t practitioner of the roman noir and
demonstrates exceptional handling of all. One report said ‘the victim knew author of LA Confidential, wrote a
the scalpel.’ Kevin T Bauder, President at least 50 men at the time of her novel entitled The Black Dahlia. ‘I
of the Plymouth, Minneapolis, Central death.’ She was frequently spotted on was interested in art and theme,’
Baptist Theological Seminary, on the Hollywood Boulevard in the company said Ellroy, ‘rather than in solving
choice of gay activist Chad Allen of servicemen, but she was not a the actual case.’ Ellroy was largely
to play Nate Saint, an American prostitute. As a matter of fact, a drawn to the Dahlia case because
missionary who was slain in 1956 by physical malformation prevented her his own mother was murdered when
an indigenous tribe in Ecuador, in the from having regular sexual relations. he was ten. ‘Elizabeth Short and my
film End of the Spear because ‘he In the evening of 9 January 1947, mother kind of merged,’ he said. In
had the best audition of anyone else a salesman dropped her off at the his 1996 memoir, My Dark Places,
by far.’ Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Ellroy examined his mother’s murder,
Angeles. A week later, on 15 January, which also remains unsolved. The
Let’s Be Serious, 16 January 2006
a woman saw what she thought was film version of his novel, also entitled
See also the New York Times, 2 a mannequin lying in a vacant lot on The Black Dahlia, was directed by de
February 2006 Norton Avenue, between 39th Street Palma with a $45-million budget and a
and Coliseum Drive. After moving in cast that includes Scarlett Johansson,
for a closer look, she called the police. Hilary Swank, Josh Hartnett, Aaron
JACK AND THE DAHLIA. ‘It was that The officers who responded to her call Eckhart and, in the title role, Mia
name, Black Dahlia, that set this found a naked body that had been Kirshner. The film will make its debut
one off,’ said Los Angeles Police cut in two at the waist and drained at Cannes in May and reach cinemas
Department Detective Sergeant of blood. The two halves appeared to next autumn. Both Ellroy’s book and
Harry Hansen. ‘Black is the night, have been carefully posed. Rope marks de Palma’s film tell a tangled tale of
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 59
friendship, love and desire involving Short, the murder of Jeanne Axford Ripper,’ adds de Palma. ‘America has
two LAPD detectives and a trio of French (The Red Lipstick Murder) and the Black Dahlia.’
mysterious women. The Dahlia herself other cases.
The Observer, 29 January 2006
is dead at the time the action takes The New York Times, 5 February 2006
In January 2006, Donald H Wolfe
place and only appears in flashback.
published The Black Dahlia File: The
‘It is not the story of Elizabeth Short,’
Mob, the Mogul, and the Murder That
said de Palma in a recent interview. THE DARING YOUNG WOMAN IN THE
Transfixed Los Angeles. Wolfe has
‘The movie is complicated. It’s about FLYING TRAPEZE. The two main
had access to two boxes of case files
characters who are impacted and characters in the stage version of
from the District Attorney’s office.
obsessed with what happened to her.’ Angela Carter’s novel Nights at the
From this evidence he has identified
De Palma was reportedly surprised Circus are Fevvers, the Cockney Venus,
an entirely new suspect: gangster
by the public fascination with the a bird-woman who was hatched from
Bugsy Siegel. According to Wolfe,
Black Dahlia. ‘There are all these an egg, has wings and makes her
Siegel killed Elizabeth Short because
books,’ he said. ‘It just goes on and living as a circus aerialist, and Jack
she was pregnant with the child of
on. People getting new information, Walser, a sceptical and bespectacled
Norman Chandler, publisher of the
having recovered memories, finding New York Times reporter who joins
Los Angeles Times, and the LAPD then
old files and new theories.’ the circus as a clown to be near
covered-up the crime. Since each
In Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius new theory must attempt to disprove her, very much like the Professor in
for Murder, Steve Hodel, a retired the previous ones - a methodology The Blue Angel. Fevvers - you get
detective, concluded that the Black with which Ripperologist readers it, don’t you? - is played by Natalia
Dahlia killer was his own surgeon are quite familiar - Wolfe’s book Tena, a rising young actress who
father. During his policeman years, contains an appendix dedicated to seems to specialise in sexy roles, like
Hodel used to answer the phone to exploding Hodel’s hypothesis. Larry
people who claimed to have leads on Harnisch, a Los Angeles Times copy
the Dahlia case. When his father died, editor who catalogued the case files
he found photographs of a woman that the Los Angeles County district
he believes was Elizabeth Short in attorney’s office only recently made
a photograph album. He has now available to researchers, is digging
written a sequel to his book called through files, speaking with members
The Black Dahlia Avenger: The True of the Short family and working on his
Story. According to the publisher, own hypothesis: that the killer was a
Hodel discloses the killer’s obsession surgeon named Walter Bayley.
with the Marquis de Sade and Jack
Not everybody, however, is fully
the Ripper and how he modelled
convinced of the practical usefulness
his own crimes on their behaviour.
of the files released by the district
Janice Knowlton, author of Daddy was
attorney’s office. ‘People love to go
the Black Dahlia Killer: The Identity
through the stuff, but I don’t know
of America’s Most Notorious Serial
if anyone will solve the case,’ said
Murderer-Revealed at Last, averred
Sandi Gibbons, a public information
that the murderer was her father,
officer in the DA staff. ‘Besides,’
who had abused her sexually in her
she added, ‘There would be nobody
childhood. She based her book on
around to prosecute, because they’d
memories recovered during therapy
be dead.’ The files at the Los Angeles
of having witnessed the murder
Police Department are off limits even
of Elizabeth Short. Ms Knowlton
today. Thirty-five boxes of files remain
committed suicide a year ago.
sealed. ‘The case is still open,’ said
John Gilmore, author of the first full- detective Brian Carr, who calls himself Natalia Tena as Fevvers
length book on the case, the 1994 ‘the keeper of the Dahlia files.’ ‘I
Severed: The True Story of the Black read the letters that come in,’ he Hazel Woodus in Gone to Earth, for
Dahlia Murder, met Short briefly when said. ‘There’s one guy who uses which she is undoubtedly gifted. In a
she visited his grandmother’s house. numerology and triangulation. Many review of the play, the Independent
Mary Pacios knew her as a child. In would-be detectives inquire about critic, Paul Taylor described Miss Tena
her memoir, Childhood Shadows: The DNA evidence,’ he added, but ‘there enthusiastically as ‘youthful, slender,
Hidden Story of the Black Dahlia isn’t any. The body was cleansed.’ As medium-sized’, and added that it
Murder, she identifies the Dahlia’s for all the theories, ‘We aren’t taking was ‘arguable that this performer,
killer as Orson Welles, hitherto better any official stance,’ he averred. with her pert, studded breasts and
known as actor and film-maker. In very modern streaked hair, [was]
The Dahlia remains a powerful
Corroborating Evidence: The Black too straightforwardly sexy for such
cultural icon. Jazz composer and
Dahlia Murder, William H Rasmussen a smoke-and-mirrors character, but
saxophonist Bob Belden inspired
establishes connections between the she [was] fiery and fierce, earthy and
himself in Ellroy’s work to write the
Cleveland Torso Murders, the murder airy, a tempest and a tease’. You get
12-part musical suite Black Dahlia. A
of socialite Georgette Bauerdorf, the picture. Mr Taylor added: ‘Her
heavy metal group is called the Black
the murders of Josephine Ross and feather-tipped wire wings certainly
Dahlia Murder. ‘The Dahlia is arguably
Frances Brown, the murder and look like a theatrical prop. But then,
America’s most celebrated unsolved
dismemberment of Suzanne Degnan, contradicting that impression, there’s
murder,’ says Ellroy. ‘And a story
the murder and bisection of Elizabeth the chilling scene, reminiscent of
like no other.’ ‘London has Jack the
> > >
60 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
Jack the Ripper and Lulu, where a WOE AND SCANDAL IN THE FAMILY.
pervy stalker offers her diamonds ‘Lady Tallish (daughter of Tallish), in
in exchange for these pinions and an anti-abortion pleading, cited some
starts to remove them with a knife.” greats in support of that argument
The critic noted that many passages but deliberately omitted the likes of
from the novel have been cut in Hitler and Jack the Ripper; products
its adaptation for the stage. ‘But of the same philosophy.’ You figure
with the central couple eventually this one out. A tip: it’s from the
somersaulting in a rapturous aerial review of a Calypso show.
display of hard-won parity, Carter’s
Terry Joseph, Bally shows ‘em at
myth has not had its wings clipped.’ Calypso Revue, Trinidad & Tobago
Sounds good to us. Express, 4 February 2006

NOBLESSE OBLIGE. ‘Yet, that didn’t THAT’S A’ THE LEARNING I DESIRE.

stop the throng from unleashing The Glasgow Sunday Mail Posers and
etiquette befitting Jack the Ripper.’ Puzzlers: Quiz of the Week run on
John Sleeper, on the crowds present Sunday 5 February 2006 consisted of
at a press conference in Detroit 20 questions among which were the
with players and coaches from the following: 1. In which country was a
Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle tacky Princess Di doll sold under the
Pvt. Ellis Logan, Confederate Army.
Seahawks in preparation for Super name ‘Princess of Whales’? 2. Crooks
Bowl XL. in Scotland made £18.3million last
experiences are associated with a
The madness of the media, lifetime of increased physical disease year from which kind of crime? 3.
The Daily Herald, 31 January 2006 and mental health difficulties. Which classic horror movie is being
Unfortunately, it’s likely that the remade - with a release date of June
deleterious health effects seen in a war 6 this year - 6/6/6? The answers to
WAR MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR conducted more than 130 years ago these questions are as follows: 1.
HEALTH. A University of California are applicable to the health and well- USA. 2. Fraud. 3. The Omen. Question
research team has concluded that being of soldiers fighting wars in the 7 was: BBC History Magazine claims
many soldiers who fought in the US 21st century.’ A spokeswoman for the which Victorian villain is the most
Civil War suffered a life of ill health UK’s National Gulf War Veterans and notorious Briton ever? You’ll never
afterwards. The researchers, who Families Benevolent Association said guess the answer to this one. Try, but
examined 15,000 soldiers’ records, it was hard to draw parallels between we know you won’t succeed. No way.
found that 85% of them suffered from wars in the 19th Century and modern You’d better give up and go to the
physical or mental health problems, warfare. She said: ‘When we discuss Sunday Mail website for the answer
or both. The most common disorders ill-health now, it is related to vaccines to this question and the remaining 16
were heart, stomach and mental they give soldiers and chemical and questions and answers.
health-related. The researchers said biological weapons.’ Obviously, during
that this was ‘objective’ evidence the civil war these were not an issue.
of a link between war experiences But it is true to say that the effects NIAGARA JACK. When we think about
and a lifetime of health problems. of war can last for many years, both Niagara Falls we think about tons
They added that young soldiers were physically and mentally.’ Some British and tons of water, bustling casinos,
the most at risk, with under 17- Gulf War veterans have long argued busloads of honeymooners, the Skylon
year-olds being 93% more likely to they have suffered from a syndrome Tower and its revolving restaurant,
have suffered ill-health than those linked to exposure to vaccinations and and the faded memories of daredevils
aged over 31, probably because biological and chemical weapons. The balancing precariously on tightropes
young soldiers were still developing Ministry of Defence, however, stands high above our heads or dashing past in
emotionally and physically at the by its position there is no proof that old beer barrels. But there is another
time. Soldiers who were in regiments ‘Gulf War syndrome’ is a ‘discrete side, a darker side, to Niagara Falls,
where more people were killed had pathological entity’ - a specific a Canadian bordertown of less than
a far increased risk of problems - up condition with a specific cause. 80,000: a world teeming with illicit
to 51 per cent - as did prisoners- sex, drugs, massage parlours, strip
BBC News, 7 February 2006 clubs, street drugs and, seemingly,
of-war. The US Civil War, which was
fought from 1861 to 1865, pitted serial murder. On 24 January, a person
the Union against the Confederacy, walking through a desolate, wooded
a coalition of 11 southern states that QUOD ME NUTRIT ME DESTRUIT. ‘The area made a grisly discovery. Wrapped
declared their independence. A total Loch Ness Monster. Jack the Ripper. in a sheet, amid garbage and animal
of 3 million people fought in the war. Atlantis. Britney’s breasts. The great bones, were the remains of 22-year-
The casualties were over 970,000 - 3% mysteries of our time surely now old Cassey Joyce Cichocki, who had
of the population - including about need to squeeze up on the bench and disappeared more than a month
560,300 deaths. Professor Roxane make room for one of the IT industry’s earlier. She was the fifth woman who
Cohen Silver said the data from the US longest running mystery/rumours: had led what Canadian authorities
Civil War presented a great opportunity Dell/AMD.’ call a ‘high risk lifestyle’ to be found
to assess the impacts of war. ‘For The Inquirer, 1 February 2006 slain in the Niagara Falls region over
the first time, we have objective the last 11 years. Four out of the five
records indicating that horrific war victims ‘worked the streets,’ said
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 61
Detective Sgt. Cliff Sexton of the hadn’t been previously agreed to.
Niagara Regional Police, who heads a They also point at Vancouver, where
task force investigating the murders. Robert William Pickton is on trial
The odd one, Nadine Gurczenski, 26, for the murder of 27 prostitutes.
who was found dead in 1999 in a For years, police there dismissed
ditch, was an exotic dancer. The first the women’s disappearances - until
victim in the five homicides was Dawn their remains were found at Pickton’s
Stewart, whose skeletal remains, pig farm. ‘We don’t want another
along with those of her 6-month-old Vancouver,’ Niagara Falls sex trade
foetus, were found on a dirt road near worker advocates say.
a farm in 1996. Although the Canadian
The Buffalo News, 5 February 2006
police quickly arrested a suspect in Ashworth Hospital
Cichocki’s death, they don’t know
whether they have a modern-day Jack addition, the stance of Ian Brady has
LITERARY SLUTS AND STRUMPETS. ‘On
the Ripper on their hands or are faced changed, and I have not found that
a much smaller and weirder scale, I got
with a disturbing increase in violent the disclosure was made without his
a book this month from Ramble House,
behaviour towards women involved consent,’ he also said. Mersey Care
a spit-and-bubblegum publishing
in stripping, prostitution and drugs. NHS Trust issued a statement saying:
house out of Shreveport, Louisiana
Sexton said drugs and prostitution ‘The confidentiality of patient notes
run by Fender Tucker. The place has
have always plagued the city. ‘I don’t is an underlying principle of the NHS
rescued some truly uncommon books
see it as a growing problem,’ he said. and this breach was the first and
from the slush pile like the literary
‘But I do think there’s a problem.’ only one of its kind to have occurred
works of Ed Wood Jr, a compendium
While drugs are a major concern at the high-security hospital. This is
of newspaper articles about Jack the
as regards street workers, escorts why the Trust welcomes the ringing
Ripper, and other potboilers from
- who probably make up the majority endorsement for the maintenance
obscure or forgotten authors.’
of prostitutes in Canada - are not of patient confidentiality included
as affected. Canada’s laws involving Clayton Moore, Mystery Strumpet, in today’s judgment. The judge
prostitution are not exactly clear-cut, Bookslut, February 2006,
stresses medical records are no less
and Canadian strip clubs are legally See also Ripping Yarns in this issue. private, no less confidential and no
allowed to have all-nude dances less deserving of protection than
as well as lap-dances, leaving grey previously and he warns that nothing
areas that are readily exploited by WE HAVE WAYS TO MAKE YOU TALK. in his judgment should be taken as
customers and cash-driven dancers. It Mr Justice Tugendhat, a High Court providing encouragement to those
is, in fact, an open secret that there judge in London, rejected the request who would disclose medical records.’
are plenty of dancers in clubs who are by Mersey National Health Service Some of the information disclosed
willing to provide ‘extras’ if the price Care Trust - which runs high-security to Mr Ackroyd came from Brady’s
is right. The Canadian government Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside - that medical records on a database known
has taken steps to regulate the adult journalist Robin Ackroyd be ordered to as the Patient Administration and
entertainment industry through reveal his sources for a story about the Clinical Information System (PACIS).
special licenses similar to those medical treatment of Ian Brady, the The Mirror fought unsuccessfully all
issued to taxicab drivers and street Moors murderer. Brady, 67, was jailed the way to the House of Lords to
food vendors. Niagara Regional for life with Myra Hindley in 1966 for avoid having to disclose its source - Mr
Police Services currently has licenses the murders of five children in the Ackroyd - who then became the target
issued to 2,238 people in the adult Manchester area and has been at the of the action brought by the NHS trust
entertainment business, of whom Ashworth Hospital for over 20 years. to find the leak. A High Court judge
about 40 are operators, and the rest, The Hospital maintained that public ruled in October 2002 that Mr Ackroyd
exotic dancers. Police throughout interest was second to confidential had no arguable defence and must
Ontario have taken steps to stem medical records and Ackroyd should reveal his source. But in May 2003,
violence against women in the sex disclose how he obtained the the Court of Appeal held that he
trade without punishing them for information about Brady’s being force should be allowed to defend himself.
reporting attacks. Niagara Regional fed and the treatment extended to
Police and Toronto Police operate him published in the Daily Mirror in
‘Bad Date’ hotlines - toll free phone December 1999. Mr Justice Tugendhat VELCROW RIPPER FILM MAKING THE
lines that allow women anonymously said: ‘Considering the facts now, in my ROUNDS. A film called Scared Sacred
to report robberies, assaults and judgment it has not been convincingly by an Canadian filmmaker called
rapes. That information is put into established that there is today a Velcrow Ripper has been making the
a database and used to identify pressing social need that the sources rounds of film festivals. Scared Sacred
potential serial predators. The task should be identified.’ He stressed that has been described as ‘a documentary
force investigating the Niagara Falls nothing he had said should be taken about how different people in
murders will mine this database for ‘as providing any encouragement to different cultures and places of great
any possible clues. Sex trade worker those who would disclose medical suffering, of genocides, massacres
advocates also maintain their own records’. The judge added that he and disasters, are coping through
‘Bad Date’ Websites where they list made his decision in the light of the spirituality.’ In a five-year journey to
descriptions and even cell phone passage of time and because of new Bhopal, New York’s Ground Zero and
numbers of customers who stood evidence indicating that the source sites of other disasters, the filmmaker
them up, refused to pay, got violent did not act for money and that the finds that humanity can, against all
or forced them to do things that material leaked was ‘limited’. ‘In odds, turn the experience of being

> > >

62 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 added.’ We are not sure about John Series for 2006, to be presented on
Stalker as a Ripper authority but do six consecutive Sundays in February
note that there is a John Stalker, a and March, is Heroes and Villains of
Former Deputy Chief Constable of the Gilded Age, including Christopher
Manchester Police, who has written Columbus, George Washington,
about IRA terrorists, and that Mr Thomas Edison, William ‘Buffalo
Stalker and recent Ripper author Bill’ Cody and Andrew Carnegie.
Trevor Marriott are both represented Lecture number three, centred on
by the Gordon Poole Entertainment Jack the Ripper, was scheduled to
Agency. (‘Jack the Ripper remains be delivered on 19 February, at 3pm
one of most mysterious maniacs of by Ripperologist’s Executive Editor,
Still from Scared Sacred all times,’ Paul Begg. The Museum noted that
Courtesy director Velcrow Ripper ‘More than a century later, Jack the
Pravda on-line, 14 December 2005
Ripper remains one of the most well
scared into something sacred. The known and compelling villains of any
film has won a number of awards, age, and certainly the most well
JACK THE RIPPER TOUR AND THAMES
including best of the fest at the known of the Gilded Age. Just who
TERROR CRUISE. A Ripper tour and
New Orleans International Human Jack the Ripper was has become the
Thames Terror Cruise is being offered
Rights Film Festival in November most enduring murder mystery in the
by Premium Tours now through
2005. The Shreveport Times on 22 world.’ It described Mr Begg as ‘one
Saturday, 31 March 2007. Billed as
November reported that the Zeitgeist of the world’s foremost experts on the
‘The ultimate murder mystery,’ the
Multidisciplinary Arts Center in New Whitechapel murders’ and added that,
tour operators say the tour is ‘not
Orleans showed the documentary as ‘Based on the research documented
suitable for children under 14 years.’
part of an ongoing fundraiser for the in his book Jack the Ripper: The
Highlights include ‘a coach drive
New Orleans-based, nonprofit film Definitive History,’ Mr Begg would
through the dark side of London,’
group. It was the first film screened ‘discuss the environment of London’s
a visit to the Old Bailey, to where
at the New Orleans center since East End and the events that gave rise
the Elephant Man lived and where
Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans to the most infamous murders of the
Braveheart was tortured, and to ‘walk
region on 29 August. The Velcrow Gilded Age.’
in the foot steps of Jack the Ripper
Ripper documentary is now going
and inspect the murder sites.’ The
into wider release across the United
terror cruise will include tales of EASY DOES IT. ‘It’s like the police
States.
KGB murders and suspicious suicides being told that Jack the Ripper had
(Druitt?) ‘as we creep back from slashed and murdered a number of
the Tower of London to Embankment women and planned to keep doing
PRAVDA PAGE ON SAUCY JACK. An
Pier where the tour ends.’ A fish and it. The police go to the Ripper and
on-line English language page from
chip repast, just like Mary Jane Kelly say: “Jack, old boy, did you slaughter
Russia’s famed newspaper Pravda
enjoyed on her last night, is a feature these women? Got any of the knives
came to our attention, but it seems to
of the cruise. used in the act?” “Certainly not,” says
suffer some translation problems. We
Jack. “Well then, that’s all right, Mr
are told, for example, ‘Soon after the
Ripper. In the light of your emphatic
second killing, a news agency in Flit
LEICESTER TALK ON JACK THE RIPPER. denial you’re now totally in the clear.
Street [sic] got a strange letter signed
On June 6, local historian and Oh, by the way, sir, the best way to
by the name “Jack the Ripper.” It
author Stephen Butt is scheduled to get those bloodstains out of that fine
said: “There is much rumor saying the
present a lecture on ‘Jack the Ripper white shirt is to wash it in cold water -
police have caught me. But they have
– The Leicester Connection.’ Mr Butt cold water, mind, not hot. Well, thank
not yet got on my tracks. I hunt women
is expected to reveal how a local you sir and we won’t be troubling
of a particular type and will continue
Leicester man may have tracked down you again.”’ Michael Costello on
killing them until the police catch me.
Britain’s most notorious serial killer. Australian officials’ denial of charges
The last killing was a wonderful work.
An MGM event. of corruption and bribery.
The lady uttered not a sound. Soon
you will hear of me again and know A Belgrave Hall Evening Talk at Opinion, The Australian,
me by a funny trick. Next time I will Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens, 17 February 2006
cut my victim’s ears and send them to Church Road, off Thurcaston Road,
Leicester, LE4 5PE.
the police just for fun.”‘ The Pravda
Tel: 0116 266 6590 RETURN OF THE HOLLYWOOD RIPPER.
discussion of Jack continues: ‘High- Anita.Harrison@leicester.gov.uk The website devoted to Ripper movies
ranking police official John Stalker
and television, Hollywood Ripper, is
[sic] studied the case of Jack the
back online after a two-year hiatus
Ripper and stated there was no real PAUL BEGG UNDER THE PALM TREES.
during which the site’s administrator,
evidence against any of the suspects During 2006, the Flagler Museum,
Cindy Collins Smith, was obliged to
to be presented at court. “This is One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach, (561)
deal with some compelling family
perfectly clear that Jack the Ripper 655-2833, continues to offer lectures
obligations. Welcome back, Ripper!
never feared to be caught. I am sure of the highest quality in the Whitehall
The listings in Hollywood Ripper
the police was several times close to Lecture Series. The Museum is host
include the full range of Ripper
catching him but still failed. In 1888, to speakers from prominent museums
cinema, including Ripper cameos,
the police faced a new phenomenon and universities around the country
Ripper fantasies and films that get
of series crimes committed by some and experts in architecture, history,
confused (or intentionally confuse
man because of sexual grounds,” he fine arts, decorative arts and historic
themselves) with Ripper movies -
house museums. The theme of the
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 63
from 1917 to 2001. Ripper films are years. Brady, who is on hunger strike, Hospital staff inspect visually and
placed within various, often multiple, claimed he was being force-fed so that open patients’ incoming and outgoing
categories. The site also includes he could be kept alive for ‘political letters if there is cause for concern.
Curse Upon Mitre Square pages. Ms purposes’. Despite not referring to his ‘It might have been passed to a visitor
Collins has extended an invitation to victim by name, he boasted about the to post on his behalf or it might
anybody who’s interested in Ripper ‘clarity’ of his memory as to how he have been via a letter to a lawyer,
films to come visit her site. died. He also claimed to be ‘perfectly MP or independent advocate,’ she
rational’. added. ‘The hospital doesn’t open
these letters as these relationships
EACH MAN IN HIS TIME. Andy Serkis, a Mrs Johnson told the Sun Brady’s
are regarded as private.’
British actor who has played Gollum and letter had come as ‘a shock.’ ‘It
King Kong, has defended his decision nearly killed me when I saw who the Fiona McTaggart, Home Office
to take on the role of Moors Murderer letter was from. It frightened the life undersecretary of state with
Ian Brady in Longford, a controversial out of me,’ she said. ‘I’ve written to responsibility for the criminal justice
Channel 4 drama about the murders him four or five times over the years system, has written to Mrs Johnson
alongside Samantha Morton as Myra trying to get him to help me find to tell her that she has asked police
Hindley and Jim Broadbent in the Keith’s body - but I’ve never heard to brief her on their investigation.
title role. ‘A lot of people have very back off him. He’s just trying to It is understood that the letter was
strong feelings about Myra Hindley further his own means. It’s all about written before it became known that
him - Brady. He’s just playing games. Brady had written to Mrs Johnson.
I’ve written back and told him what But it does not pledge to dig up areas
I think of him. But I can’t get over of Saddleworth Moor where Keith
this.’ was believed to be killed and buried
by Brady and Myra Hindley. A Home
In an interview with Sky News, Mrs
Office spokesman said: ‘The Home
Johnson added: ‘[Brady] knows a lot
Office understands Winnie Johnson’s
more than what he is saying. He’s
sense of anguish and is committed
admitted he can take police to within
to doing what it reasonably can to
20 yards of where he buried Keith, so
find the body of Keith Bennett. We
that man’s not insane, and they just
can confirm that Fiona McTaggart has
ignored him. Why should they ignore
written to Winnie Johnson and said
Andy Serkis
a thing like that?’
she has asked Greater Manchester

and Ian Brady,’ Serkis told The Sun.

‘People get very defensive about it,
saying “how can you possibly make
a drama about these demons?” But I
often have to think to myself it is the
job of an actor to somehow interpret
events that have happened. If you are
playing a real character, you’re not
representing the character’s belief
system. You are trying to show them in
an objective way so that the audience
can make up their own mind and to
look on these characters, however
dark, as members of the human race
that you can learn something from.’
Digital Spy, 13 February 2006

Portion of letter from Ian Brady to Winnie Johnson

A LETTER FROM IAN BRADY. Winnie
Johnson, 72, finally received a letter
from Ian Brady, who murdered her ‘My son’s body should have been Police to brief her about the work
son, 12-year-old Keith Bennett, over found years ago,’ she has also said. ‘I they are doing to review all the
40 years ago. The letter is dated even tried to get the Home Office to evidence available to them which
21 December 2005 and addressed to hypnotise Hindley, which they agreed might indicate the likely whereabouts
‘Dear Mrs Bennett’. Mrs Johnson has to. But the next thing I knew she had of Keith Bennett.’
spent years clinging to the hope that fallen down the stairs and broken her
Keith Bennett was the second youngest
Brady would one day disclose where leg. Now she is dead.’ Mrs Johnson
of the five children abducted and
he had buried her son. Until now, added: ‘I want Keith buried properly.
murdered in the mid-1960s by Brady
Brady had ignored her entreaties, but I am not going to give up. With the
and Myra Hindley, who died in prison
on this occasion he responded with grace of God I hope he will be found
in November 2002. Keith vanished on
a two-page letter. Rather than offer and buried in my lifetime.’
the way to his grandmother’s home
Mrs Johnson any comfort, however,
A spokeswoman for Ashworth Hospital in 1964, apparently after being given
he complained about his treatment at
said Brady must have sent the letter a lift by Hindley. She took him to
Ashworth Hospital, Merseyside, where
to Mrs Johnson via a third party. Saddleworth Moor, near Manchester,
he has been confined for the past 20
> > >
64 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
where she watched as Brady strangled the submarine is still encrusted with (perhaps belonging to a cat), wood
and later buried him. Repeated hardened sediment. In 2006, Miss from the pyre and a piece of clothing.
searches of the moors have so far Cornwell visited the Hunley at the After passing from apothecary to
failed to uncover Keith’s remains. It Warren Lasch Conservation Center. apothecary, these remains became
is the only body that police have been She said one of the purposes of her the propriety of the bishopric of Tours
unable to recover. donation is to bring in equipment such in the 17th century. Four centuries
as high-tech computers that might help later, DNA tests are to be carried out
Jackie Powell, who worked as Brady’s
solve the mystery of the sinking. That on Joan of Arc’s remains. The relics,
mental health advocate, believes
equipment includes an infrared device carefully placed in a small wooden
there is ‘a fair chance’ that he could
able to show structural weaknesses in box, have been taken to the Raymond-
still help police find Keith’s body. ‘He
metal. She also said she may recruit Poincaré hospital at Garches (Hauts-
seems quite adamant that he could,’
other scientists she has met over the de-Seine), west of Paris, where they
she added.
years, including experts in metal from will be examined by a group of 16
Daily Telegraph, 22 February 2006 the Oak Ridge National Laboratory specialists under the direction of Dr
BBC News, 21 February 2006 who may be able to help unravel the Philippe Charlier, a forensic medicine
Daily Mail, 22 February 2006 mystery. ‘They may not find anything expert. According to him, Joan died of
that answers the question,’ she has smoke inhalation, and when she was
THAT SINKING FEELING. Author Patricia said. ‘I’m simply saying this should burned a second time, her internal
Cornwell has moved from Jack the not be put to rest without us doing organs were not fully consumed by
Ripper to submarines. She will donate everything we can to try to figure the flames. Dr Charlier added: ‘Today
at least $500,000 to help researchers out what happened to the Hunley we can give medical reasons why the
solve the mystery of a Confederate and what killed these eight people on heart, lungs and intestines might not
submarine that went down after board.’ Miss Cornwell reportedly has have burned, but in those days it was
sinking an enemy ship. ‘This is a crime no plans to write a book about the considered a miracle. They burned the
scene and you are doing an autopsy Hunley. remains twice more as they were very
on that submarine,’ Cornwell said determined there should be nothing
San Jose Mercury News,
on 14 February 2006. ‘It’s much like 14 February 2006 left.’ He added: ‘We won’t be able
Jack the Ripper; you take the best to say, “Yes this is Joan of Arc”, but
Friends of the Hunley within six months we will able to say
modern science and apply it to a very
old investigation and see if you can if these remains belong to a 19-year-
make the dead speak after all these THE ASHES OF JOAN OF ARC. A line old female whose body was burned
years.’ On 17 February 1864, the in a lovely old poem by medieval three times in Rouen in 1431.’
eight-man, hand-cranked Confederate French poet François Villon, the The Guardian, 14 February 2006
submarine H L Hunley, commanded Ballade des Dames du Temps Jadis, Le Fígaro, 15 February 2006
by Lt George E Dixon, rammed a spar goes: Et Jehanne, la bonne Lorraine/
torpedo with black powder into the Qu’Englois brûlèrent à Rouan. The
Union steam sloop-of-war Housatonic line recalls Joan of Arc, the Maid
off Charleston, South Carolina. When of Orleans, who was burned at the
the Housatonic went under, the stake in Rouen on 30 May 1431 for a
Hunley became the first submarine in heretic and a witch. Born in Domrémy
history to sink an enemy warship. She in 1412, Joan began hearing voices at
surfaced long enough for her crew to 13 years of age telling her to liberate
signal their comrades on shore with France from the English. At 17, she
a blue magnesium light, indicating a led an army to relieve Orleans. After
successful mission. The shore crew accepting the surrender of Troyes,
stoked their signal fires and anxiously she and her army escorted Charles
awaited the Hunley’s safe return. VII to Rheims for his coronation in
But minutes later the Hunley and all 1429. She was later captured, handed
hands on board vanished into the sea over to the English and tried by an
without a trace. It is still not known ecclesiastical court that found her
why. One theory is that the glass guilty and sentenced her to death.
in the conning tower was shot out Although her body was burned, her
during the attack, allowing water to heart remained miraculously intact. Joan of Arc
rush into the iron vessel. The other is Her remains were gathered from the
that the crew ran out of air as they pyre and cremated twice more before
LOCKED UP FOR THEIR OWN
tried to crank the submarine back to being thrown into the river Seine at
PROTECTION. Among the Tower of
shore. The Hunley was located off the behest of the Bishop of Rouen,
London’s claims to fame are the
Charleston in 1995 and raised in 2000. who wished to eliminate all traces of
illustrious or infamous prisoners
In December 2005, scientists removing her. According to legend, however, a
who have been incarcerated within
encrustation from the front conning devoted follower concealed some of
its walls and the no less famous
tower discovered that the view port her remains, which have been kept to
ravens that roam free within the
glass was missing. If shattered glass is this day as precious relics. They consist
same confines. The Tower has now
found at the bottom of the submarine, of a 14-15cm-long human rib wrapped
decided to combine both traditions by
it could indicate it was broken during in a blackish bituminous substance
imprisoning its ravens for their own
battle. But if it is found largely intact, allegedly picked up at the pyre at
protection - against bird flu. Special
it might indicate it broke when the Rouen, several smaller fragments
aviaries have been created for the
submarine was sinking. The floor of of human bone, animal remains
six ravens, named Baldrick, Branwen,
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 65
Gwyllum, Hugine, Munin and Thor. The Humble, 50, a former labourer and Following the receipt of the letters
Raven Master, Yeoman Derrick Coyle, window cleaner from Sunderland, had and tape, the police decided the
said: ‘Although we don’t like having pleaded not guilty to four counts voice on the tape was that of the
to bring the Tower ravens inside, we of perverting the course of justice, murderer and moved resources from
believe it is the safest thing to do an offence that carries a maximum Yorkshire to the Sunderland area,
for their own protection, given the sentence of life imprisonment. His where accents matched the voice of
speed that the virus is moving across counsel said: ‘A defence statement the hoaxer, dubbed ‘Wearside Jack’.
Europe.’ He added: ‘We are taking has now been drafted whereby the The police questioned thousands of
advice on the vaccinations against defence concedes that he wrote the men, eliminating those who didn’t
avian flu, and in the meantime, we letters and in fact made the tape. have a Wearside accent. The real
will continue to give our six ravens The issue now is not one of whether killer, lorry driver Peter Sutcliffe,
as much care and attention as they it actually was him; it’s solely the was questioned several times by the
need.’ question of intent.’ He underlined that investigation team, but was discarded
Humble’s not guilty pleas still stood. because of his West Yorkshire accent.
BBC News, 20 February 2006
Following the hearing, Humble’s trial During the respite afforded him by
was adjourned until March 20. Wearside Jack, Sutcliffe claimed a
further three victims: Barbara Leach,
The hoaxer, now identified as
Margarita Walls and Jacqueline Hill.
Humble, began to send out letters
and recordings in March 1978. He sent Sutcliffe was finally arrested in
two of the letters directly to Assistant January 1981, after police found him
Chief Constable George Oldfield, West with a prostitute in a car with false
Yorkshire, who led the investigation registration plates during a routine
into the Yorkshire Ripper murders. A traffic inquiry. It was only then
letter sent from Sunderland began: that ‘Wearside Jack’ was exposed
‘Dear Sir, I am sorry I cannot give my as a hoaxer. Sutcliffe, now 59, was
name for obvious reasons. I am Jack jailed for life for the murder of 13
The Ravenmaster at the Tower of London the Ripper.’ The hoaxer sent a further women and is currently being held at
letter to a national newspaper office Broadmoor Special Hospital.
in Manchester. In the tape, he said:
PUSH THE RIPPING BUTTON. ‘And when Before Humble’s arrest last October,
‘I’m Jack. I see you are still having no
the first killing occurs - in a booby the identity of the hoaxer remained a
luck catching me. I have the greatest
trap that seems jointly designed by mystery, with a number of books and
respect for you George, but Lord,
Rube Goldberg and Jack the Ripper TV documentaries speculating as to
you are no nearer catching me now
- it comes as a genuine shock.’ his identity. Theories have included
than four years ago when I started.
Mindhunters Film Review, that he was Sutcliffe’s accomplice; a
I reckon your boys are letting you
Daily Yomiuri Online, Japan, disaffected police officer; and the real
down, George. They can’t be much
23 February 2006 perpetrator of a murder in Preston
good can they?’ He added: ‘They
pinned on the Yorkshire Ripper which
never learn do they George? I bet
Sutcliffe has always denied.
A BROADCAST BY CHRIS GEORGE. On you’ve warned them, but they never
the morning of 23 February, the Rip’s listen. At the rate I’m going I should Although the ‘Wearside Jack’ letters
own North American Editor, Chris be in the book of records. I think it’s were destroyed more than 20 years
George, was interviewed on overnight eleven up to now isn’t it? Well, I’ll ago by chemicals used during tests
news radio 850 KOA-AM out of Denver, keep on going for quite a while yet. I for fingerprints, advances in forensic
Colorado, which goes out nationwide can’t see myself being nicked just yet. science have reportedly led to DNA
to some 35 North American radio Even if you do get near I’ll probably clues being obtained either from the
stations as well as broadcasts on the top myself first. Well, it’s been nice envelopes or packaging in which the
Internet. Chris was interviewed by chatting to you George. Yours, Jack items were sent. Sutcliffe admitted
telephone link by host Rick Barber the Ripper.’ After three minutes and to 13 murders and seven attempted
as part of a series of broadcasts 16 seconds of monologue, the tape murders, but denied responsibility for
examining famous mysteries. Rick and contained several more seconds of killing Joan Harrison, whose body was
Chris discussed the result of the recent silence and a 22- second snatch of the found in a disused garage in Preston,
BBC History Today poll naming Jack song Thank You for Being a Friend, by Lancashire, in November 1975. Traces
‘Worst Briton in History’ and went on Andrew Gold. of semen on her body were of the
>
to review the canonical murders and same blood group, found in only six
the key suspects and theories. per cent of the population, as that
identified through saliva on one of
the envelopes sent four years later to
AN ADMISSION FROM WEARSIDE JACK. Assistant Chief Constable Oldfield. An
After 25 years, the mystery of the official report said that, although it
Yorkshire Ripper hoaxer has been was never established that the seminal
solved. On 23 February, defence staining was that of the killer, the
counsel David Taylor told Leeds Crown coincidence of the limited grouping
Court that his client, John Humble, ‘assumed considerable importance’.
admitted writing the three letters
and making the audio tape sent to Daily Telegraph, 23 February 2006
Guardian, 23 February 2006
West Yorkshire Police during the hunt Police listen to the Wearside Jack tape
Yorkshire Post, 24 February 2006
for the Ripper in the late 1970s.
>
66 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 I B E G TO R E P O RT
Eichmann. In Eichmann in Jerusalem:
A Report on the Banality of Evil,
she concluded that Eichmann was

The Worst Briton

constitutively incapable of exercising
his capacity of thinking, of having an
internal dialogue with himself which

in History
would have permitted self-awareness
of the evil nature of his deeds. In
On Evil, Adam Morton noted that
most evil-doers are not motivated by
hatred or sadism. What distinguishes
EDUARDO ZINNA them from other people is that is
that they are able to transmute their
On 30 January 2006, the BBC desires into actions, circumventing
History Magazine announced their inhibitions about hurting others
in order to achieve their goals.
that a poll of nearly 5,000
The poet Gavin Ewart put it more
readers had declared Jack succinctly: ‘Bad men do what good
the Ripper the worst Briton in men only dream.’
history. One month earlier, the BBC History Magazine left the
magazine had published a list criteria to the ten historians asked
of the ten nastiest Brits of the to nominate the worst Britons. ‘It’s
their definitions of wickedness,’ said
last thousand years compiled
Editor Dave Musgrove, ‘that give us
by ten historians, each of whom such a diverse selection of figures on
had chosen the vilest rogue of a our list of evilness.’ The historians
particular century. nominated serial traitors, like Eadric
Apart from the Ripper, the villains Streona, greedy land-grabbers, like
included a King, two Archbishops Hugh Despenser the Younger, and
of Canterbury, a Duke, an Earl, a merciless commanders, like ‘Butcher’
couple of high-level officials and a Cumberland. They picked people like
wayward clergyman. As the only serial Sir Richard Rich, who is not known to
killer among them, the Ripper was
certainly the odd man out. In the
Jack the Ripper:
final poll, however, he was first, Britain looked at her evil children
with an impressive 24 per cent of and chose the worst among them.
the vote. Thomas Becket came in
second, with 11 per cent, followed non-existent. To Spinoza, nothing is
by the Duke of Cumberland, Titus good or bad, except to the extent
Oates, Eadric Streona, King John and that it is subjectively perceived as
Sir Richard Rich, who each gathered 9 such by an individual. ‘The same
per cent of the vote. Hugh Despenser thing may be called both good and
the Younger and Thomas Arundel each bad,’ wrote Spinoza, ‘according to
obtained 8 per cent. The least bad of the relations in view, in the same
the worst Britons was Oswald Mosley, way as it may be called perfect or
who received 4 per cent of the vote. imperfect.’ Leibniz believed that the
Britain had looked at her evil children world, as a creation of God, was
and chosen the worst among them. fundamentally harmonious and good.
The reality and nature of evil is a He saw evil as a mere set-off to the
question that has occupied humankind good in the world, which it increases
for many centuries. Socrates held by contrast. For many years, the
that to prefer evil to good is not in reality of God served to prove that
human nature. In his view, people evil did not exist. In a changing world, Spinoza: Neither good nor evil
seek the good, but fail to achieve it. the argument is often reversed: God
They do evil either unintentionally and evil are incompatible, and evil
or because they do not know what clearly exists; ergo, there is no God. have killed anybody, but who gained
is good. As he awaited execution Outside philosophy, the nature of the confidence of Sir Thomas More in
for conspiracy, Boetius wrote De evil has been addressed in the fields order better to ensure his downfall.
Consolatione Philosophiæ, where he of psychology, history, criminology Thomas Arundel, twice Archbishop
averred that real evil cannot exist and the political and social sciences. of Canterbury, spent his early
because God is all powerful and does In A Criminal History of Mankind, years intriguing with the powerful
not wish evil. The Pseudo Dionysius the Colin Wilson pointed out that ‘the Lancasters against Richard II. The King
Areopagite, an influential philosopher worst crimes are not committed by responded by depriving him of his see
and successful forger, held that to evil degenerates, but by decent and and exiling him to France. Arundel
live is to be united with God; evil is intelligent people taking “pragmatic” returned with Bolingbroke and was
severance from God and therefore decisions.’ Hannah Arendt attended instrumental in tricking Richard and
the trial of Nazi official Adolf contriving his capture, abdication,
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 67
imprisonment and death. Restored Becket was not what we believed him was “Jack”, and it probably was, but
to his former rank, Arundel spent the to be. But was he indeed the worst it just might have been “Jill”.
remainder of his days persecuting the Briton of his century? The Ripper has become a villain -
members of a religious sect known as Most of these impious men have for all time - and his shadow extends
the Lollards and burning them at the been forgotten. The evil that they to the present day. And the way in
stake for their beliefs. Was Arundel did has not lived after them. Some which the world responds to modern
at his worst as a political plotter, a still lead a precarious existence serial killers such as the Yorkshire
traitor or a murderous bigot? in literature and the arts. Eadric Ripper is influenced by the way we
King John was brutal, cowardly Streona, for instance, is the traitorous responded to the most notorious serial
and lazy, and alienated even his own Edricus in the anonymous Elizabethan killer of all, Jack the Ripper. All sorts
supporters through the assassination play Edmond Ironside, and has more of people have been accused of being
of his nephew Arthur, who had a and better lines than anyone else. He Jack the Ripper: the painter Walter
better claim than him to the throne of also has the final lines. As Edmund Sickert; rogue Royals; freemasons,
England. Titus Oates was a confidence and Cnut are reconciled and exeunt you name it - but it seems unlikely
man, a sexual perjurer and, above all, in hand and heart in heart, Edricus we’ll ever know his true identity.
a prodigious liar who invented a vast turns to the audience and, in the However, this has just served to add
Popish conspiracy pervading every best tradition of stage villainy, swears to the mystique surrounding this most
corner of the realm. His fabrications that he will be revenged upon them wicked of men.
brought him preferment and wealth, both. The younger Despenser hovers As we now know, Professor Emsley’s
but rocked the country, imperilled the ineffectually in the background choice eventually garnered the highest
throne and caused untold suffering. through most of Christopher Marlowe’s number of votes and was proclaimed
Edward II, feeding lines to the main the very worst of all Britons. We asked
characters. Richard Rich, Beckett and Professor Emsley and several notable
John Lackland have shown their true Ripperologists for their views on the
colours on stage and screen - though results of the poll.
Becket has been the best served of
the three. In Shakespeare’s King John,
Lackland dies nobly, begging cold
comfort as burning poison courses
through his veins. In real life, he died
of dysentery.
On nominating the Ripper as the
worst rogue of his century, Professor
Clive Emsley, of the Open University,
explained his choice as follows:
No-one can touch Jack the Ripper
Oswald Mosley: an ideology of intolerance
for sheer wickedness during 19th
century Britain. Firstly, because he
Professor Joanna Bourke thought preyed on the most pathetic and
Oswald Mosley, the founder of the vulnerable women in London’s East
British Union of Fascists, was the End. Secondly, for the sheer horror of
worst Briton of his time. Yet Mosley his crimes. During his murder spree in
did little more than seek inspiration the autumn of 1888, Jack the Ripper
in the political regimes of Germany definitely killed five prostitutes - and
and Italy a few years before both possibly a couple of other women
countries became Britain’s bitter too - in the most appalling and
enemies. In Professor Bourke’s view, Matthew Hopkins
extreme circumstances. His victims
however, it was not what Mosley were disembowelled, their intestines
did that mattered but what he left draped over their shoulders and ‘I was staggered by the suggestion
behind: an ideology of intolerance their breasts cut off. This man was that Jack was the worst Briton in
that others might adopt as their manifestly a savage brute and while history!’ said Martin Fido. ‘In his own
own. Professor John Hudson named he may have had mental problems century I’d rate Dr Isaac Baker Brown
Thomas Becket, another Archbishop - he must have had to do what he a far more serious evil: the inventor
of Canterbury, as the worst Briton of did - they can’t excuse his terrible of clitoridectomy to stop little girls
the 12th century. He obviously knew actions. from masturbating and grown women
what he was doing, since Becket came The murders had huge repercussions from standing up to their husbands.
in second in the poll. But what had at the time - and have of course (His evil ideas were still current in
Becket done to deserve this dubious influenced our view of serial killers America in the 1920s: happily the
distinction? Surely he was a man of ever since. For months after the Jack British medical profession had kicked
God, a martyr and a saint? Well, not the Ripper murders women across the him out, although the Church, shame
really. Most historians consider that land, be it in Norwich or Newcastle, on it! liked his horrible practices).
the notion of Becket as a saintly were terrified to go out at night. And In other centuries, sticking to the
man ill-treated by a tyrannical king while the press might have coined historians’ selections, I think Richard
is misleading and that he was in the name by which the world’s most Rich and Titus Oates were far nastier
fact inflexible, arrogant and self- notorious serial killer is known, this than David Cohen [Mr Fido’s preferred
promoting and went repeatedly out does not detract from the savagery Ripper suspect]. Going beyond
of his way to seek his martyrdom. So, of his crimes. Of course, we assume it them, so were Matthew Hopkins,
> > >
68 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 victims.’ Mr Wilson was not the only
one who remembered this particularly
vicious character. ‘That poll is a joke!’
said Shirley Harrison. ‘Who on earth
ARE half those people... and where is
Fred West?’
Others also felt that the list of
British baddies included some
unfamiliar names. ‘It is strange
that an anonymous figure should be
voted the worst Briton in history,’
remarked Robin Odell. ‘Apart from
King John and Oswald Mosley, most
of the other characters on the black
list are virtually unknown. The Duke
of Cumberland? Didn’t he invent a
sausage? Hugh Despenser? Sounds as
if he worked in a chemist’s shop,
possibly weighing out arsenic. And
what about Eadric Streona, a man
with an impossible name, who fell
foul of Cnut, the Danish King whose
name is a challenge to proof-readers
John Reginald Christie everywhere? Everyone, of course, has
heard of Jack the Ripper, the killer
the Witchfinder-General (d1647),
with many names but no real identity.
and Richard Topcliffe (1532-1604), a
He (or she) is just about as villainous Richard the Lionheart:
sadistic witch-hunter, persecutor and
as they come, even though he may not Don Rumbelow’s vilest Brit
torturer of Catholics, gipsies, and
have been a Briton at all. Who would
anybody else he could lay hands on.
vote for Jack el Destripador or Jack quaffing tankards of ale and chewing
And in the 20th century, I think poor
l’Eventreur? No, I would go for Eadric great hunks of venison with Robin
old Ozzy Mozzy doesn’t deserve to
Streona in his anagrammatic form as Hood in Sherwood Forest. Romantic
be rated worse than John Reginald
Dr Asa E O’Cretin. Well, he sounds as but rotten is the reality. In a ten-year
Halliday Christie (especially in the
if he might be a Briton with lunatic or, reign he was in the country for just
month when Mosley’s widow has just
possibly, occult tendencies.’ six months. England was just a place
died).’
Nor did Donald Rumbelow think where he could get more money for
Colin Wilson felt that the question of
that the Ripper was that very bad. his wars in France and Palestine. He
the worst Briton was ‘too trivial to be
‘Jack fades into insignificance when famously said that if he could get a
worth writing about’. He nevertheless
compared with Richard the Lionheart, buyer for London he would sell it.
remarked that ‘Fred West, the
who gets my vote as the vilest Brit,’ At Acre, when the ransom was slow
Gloucester murderer, was far worse
said Mr Rumbelow. ‘The popular in coming for 3,000 prisoners, he
than Jack the Ripper - he tortured his
cinema image is of a bluff, hearty king had them killed together with their
> > wives and children. The butchering
took several days. JTR was nothing by
comparison.’
‘It’s a difficult thing to say just who
the “worst Briton in history” was,’
stated Stewart Evans. ‘Obviously the
tendency will always be to go for
the infamous names, but “Jack the
Ripper” does seem an odd choice to
me. The main reason I would not have
chosen him is the mere fact that he is a
total unknown. In fact, even the exact
number of his victims is not known for
sure. Add to that the fact that he may
not have been a Briton at all, and the
selection of this unknown killer seems
even stranger. The answer probably
lies in the popular myth that has built
him into a character on a par with
the worst of the fictional villains - a
bogeyman whose name has been used
to frighten and unsettle ever since it
was invented in 1888. The majority of
James Mason as Watson, and Christopher Plummer as Sherlock Holmes: those voting for him probably have a
as iconic as the Ripper total misconception of the true nature
>
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 69
 the other “worst Britons” were
either little known outside of the
historical community or responsible
for crimes that people tended to
regard as less horrendous than the
savage disembowelling and mutilation
of some of the poorest and most
pathetic women in Victorian London.
The other key, and very significant,
point about “Jack” is that we don’t
know who he was (unlikely, but
might “he” even have been a “she”?)
People have their pet theories, and
might spill oceans of ink and even
spend considerable sums of money
to convince others - witness Patricia
Cornwell’s determination to convict
the artist Walter Sickert. But we
still don’t know for sure, and at this
distance it is unlikely that we ever
will. This means that people can
impose their own image on the facts,
something that is done today in much
the same way that it was done at the
time.
In the autumn of 1888, for example,
there were assumptions that such
murders must have been done by a
foreigner since no Englishman would
commit such crimes. Unpleasant anti-
Fred and Rose West Semitic notions were popular with
some who turned back to the old ideas
of the Whitechapel murders and “Jack the fact that to date his identity has of Jews ritually killing Christians. In
the Ripper”. The significance of his remained a mystery that have fuelled the Middle Ages the idea had focused
selection? Well, it will ensure, as the British public’s interest in the on the murder of Christian children;
always, that the name stays high in murders for several generations,’ said there was an equally repellent belief
the public perception of all things evil Trevor Marriot. ‘Over 100 years have that if an Orthodox Jew had sexual
and indicates that as a bogeyman he now passed since these crimes were intercourse with a Gentile woman,
is as “popular” as ever.’ committed but, as we know even then he could only purge himself by
‘In terms of sheer evil Jack the today, the search still goes on. The killing her. On continental Europe
Ripper is probably no worse than any mystery has deepened to the degree towards the end of the nineteenth
other murderer and is a lot better that the real truth surrounding the century these ideas were whipped up
than some,” said Paul Begg. ‘In terms murders is almost totally obscured. by anti-Semites on several occasions
of treachery he’s not in the frame, Innumerable press stories, books, to explain mysterious and particularly
and for consistent villainy he doesn’t plays, films and even musicals have grisly murders.
even get to the starting block; and his dramatised and distorted the facts The idea of Jack as a “toff” in top
villainy didn’t do much or arguably to such a degree that, unfortunately, hat and silk cloak was also around
did nothing to influence the course the fiction is publicly accepted more at the time. This doubtless drew
of history. But by what criteria is than the facts. Today when either on the appearance of Robert Louis
the worst Briton judged? If it’s by a new film or a book is published it Stevenson’s novella Dr Jekyll and Mr
notoriety and impact on the public generates new interest from both Hyde only two years before, and on
consciousness, then Jack the Ripper young and old. So when you look a popular stage play based on the
wins hands down. Like Sherlock Holmes, at the list of other candidates for book that was staged in London a few
Jack the Ripper is iconic, instantly this award, who probably had their months before the murders. It also
recognisable, known all round the moment of fame, their names now fitted well with the late nineteenth-
world. He’s inspired pastiches galore, perhaps do not conjure up as much century ideas of how degeneracy and
radio shows, movies, television series imagination as Jack. However, Jack’s criminality were linked. So what we
and theatrical productions. Few of the final moment has perhaps yet to have with the murders is a broad
other nominees have been the subject come!’ outline that people can colour as the
of so many books, so much interest We would like to conclude with fancy - and that, I think, is the lasting
and so much speculation. None has another passage from Professor fascination with his evil.
impacted on the public consciousness Emsley, who gave us his views on the
more than Jack the Ripper.’ results of the poll: Comment
‘It is the fact that Jack the Ripper I suspect that Jack the Ripper Back to Contents
was undoubtedly Britain’s first figured so highly in the voting because
serial killer, the horrific way these everyone had heard of him and had Next article
murders have been portrayed and their own image of him. Many of
> >
70 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 I B E G TO R E P O RT
behaved during the 16th century,
when none of them was considered to
be nasty enough to get into the list.

Scottish
But in the 17th century
Sir Robert Grierson
of Lag earned his place through

Scoundrels his persecution of the Covenanters.

In February 1638, Scottish noblemen,
clergy, gentry and burghers signed
a National Covenant committing
EDUARDO ZINNA themselves to preserving the purity of
the Kirk and calling for the immediate
withdrawal of the Book of Common
When the Scots saw the list of Prayer introduced by King Charles
the Worst Britons of the last ten I. Copies of the Covenant were
centuries compiled under the distributed throughout the country,
aegis of the BBC History Today bringing the Kirk into direct conflict
magazine, they felt a twinge in with the monarch. Throughout the
south and west of Scotland, Grierson
their national pride. Not one of became notorious for his persecution
the notorious miscreants was of those who refused to give up the
a Scot. Professor Tom Devine, Covenant. In 1685 Grierson surprised
Glucksman Professor of Irish & an illegal Covenanter service at
Scottish Studies at Aberdeen Kirkconnell. In the struggle that
ensued, most of the worshippers were
University, set the record
killed and Grierson was said to have
straight: ‘Contrary to myth, refused to give them a decent burial.
Scotland does not have to look Whether the story was true or not, it
towards England to find its quickly spread, earning Grierson his
villains,’ he said. Soon several fearful reputation. Professor Cowan
Scottish academics nominated said: ‘Grierson was a real baddie.
He put condemned covenanters into
their choice baddies - twelve of barrels full of spikes and rolled them
them as against the Sassenach down hills. He also had people shot
ten. The nominators were not for refusing to give up the Covenant.’
Sawney Bean: what’s for supper?
bound by a time-frame, but The period known as the Killing Times
picked their blackguards freely culminated with the death of the
in Ballantrae in Ayrshire, which they
Solway Martyrs, Margaret Wilson
from any century in which left at night to ambush and kill single
and Margaret McLachlan, who were
wicked Caledonians flourished. people or small groups. It is estimated
tied to a stake and drowned in the
The list of nominees was first that they killed and ate more than
fast-moving tide at Wigtown Bay
1,000 victims. One night, the Beans
published in Scotland on Sunday, on Grierson’s orders. Grierson was
attacked a man and wife who were
The Scotsman, 1 January 2006. arrested in 1689 and held prisoner for
returning on horseback from a fair.
The worst Scot of the 14th century some months until a substantial cash
Being on horseback and having a
was surety was paid. He was imprisoned
sword, the husband was able to hold
on two subsequent occasions, being
Sir John Menteith, off his assailants, but they knocked
at one point accused of a conspiracy
who betrayed William Wallace to his wife off the horse and killed
to counterfeit money. Although he
the English King, Edward I, on 5 her instantly. The same fate would
was cleared of all allegations, his
August 1305. Ted Cowan, Professor of have almost certainly befallen the
ordeal had broken his health and
Scottish History at Glasgow University, husband, but the Beans were forced
he died in 1736. He has secured a
said: ‘Menteith surrendered William to retreat when a large party of
measure of immortality, however, as
Wallace at Robroyston and then people coming from the fair arrived
Sir Walter Scott drew on his life in
shipped him south where Wallace on the scene. King James I himself
Red Gauntlet.
suffered a terrible death. He should led 400 men and many bloodhounds
in a search for the cannibals. They The following century,
be universally condemned as the
worst kind of traitor and worst kind soon found their cave, captured them Captain Caroline Scott
of Scot.’ Not much one could add to alive, took them in chains to the won his spurs, so to speak, as an
this. Tolbooth Jail in Edinburgh and later associate of one of the BBC History
transferred them to Leith or Glasgow Today worst Britons: the Duke of
In the 15th century,
where they were executed without a Cumberland. Scott was among the
Alexander ‘Sawney’ Bean trial. Sawney and the rest of the adult officers responsible for some of
headed a family of cannibals males in his family were dismembered the most notorious atrocities in the
composed of himself, his wife and and allowed to bleed to death, while persecution of the Gaelic people
their 46 children and grandchildren. the women and children were all after the Battle of Culloden in
The Beans lived in a Galloway cave burned at the stake. 1745. ‘There is little doubt that he
now believed to be Bennane Cave, The Scots were particularly well- was psychologically imbalanced,’
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 71
 had no land.’
More than half the Scottish
scoundrels lived in the 19th century,
which must have been a particularly
unpleasant period north of the Border,
though some of the most enterprising
villains went to try their luck abroad.
William Jardine (1784-1843),
from Lochmaben, near Dumfries,
and
James Matheson (1796-1878),
from Lairg, in Sutherland, were
highly successful business tycoons who
made enormous fortunes exporting
China tea and silk to Britain. But
their early profits derived from the
importation of opium into China.
When the Chinese emperor tried to
ban the trade, Jardine, Matheson and
Company, Ltd. called on Britain for
Hunting for Jacobites after Culloden

said Professor Devine. ‘There was in Scotland; not that many would
a psychopathic tendency in his consider this as a redeeming feature.
mentality.’ Professor Allan Macinnes, His motto was: ‘Hang a thief when
of Aberdeen University, said: ‘Having he’s young, and he’ll no steal when
instigated and encouraged genocide, he’s auld’. He told a man brought
Cumberland largely left this unsavoury before him: ‘Ye’ll be nane the waur
task to enthusiastic underlings. His o’ a hingin’ - which, translated into
compatriots commanded psychotic Standard English, means: ‘You’ll be
Lowlanders like Captain Caroline Scott none the worse for hanging.’ Pithy.
to run amok on land.’ When a member of the Scottish
Another exponent of a century establishment pleaded with him: ‘But
where the Scots were uncommonly remember, my Lord, Jesus Christ was
mean was a reformer too,’ Braxfield retorted:
‘Muckle he made o’ that. He was
Robert Macqueen,
hanged.’ Braxfield’s conservative vein
Lord Braxfield,
was apparent in his treatment of
who died in 1799. Braxfield was ‘radicals’ who sought reform of the
a hard drinker, a crusty old political political system whereby Scotland was
reactionary and a ‘hanging judge’ ruled largely from London. The most
who displayed a corrosive sense of famous casualty of his courtroom James Matheson
humour. He was also the best lawyer politics was Thomas Muir, who was
> sentenced to transportation to assistance. The result of their appeal
Australia in a trial that lasted just one was the First Opium War (1839 - 1842)
day and inspired Robert Burns to write which ended with China’s defeat and
Scots Wha Hae. To explain his harsh the resumption of the opium trade.
sentence, Braxfield said: ‘The British Both men returned to Scotland, where
constitution is the best that ever was they bought estates from their vast
since the creation of the world, and profits. When Matheson purchased the
it is not possible to make it better. Isle of Lewis in 1844, Benjamin Disraeli
Yet Mr Muir has gone among the described him as: ‘One MacDrug
ignorant country people and told them who has come from Canton with a
Parliamentary Reform was absolutely million of opium in each pocket.’
necessary for preserving their liberty.’ Professor Cowan said: ‘Their actions
Professor Richard Finlay, director of are difficult to excuse. They knew
the Scottish History Research Centre what they were doing. When they
at Strathclyde University, said of came back to Scotland they had a lot
Braxley: ‘He was a particularly vicious of money. Most Scots did not question
sentencer of radicals, which was good whether the pound notes were dirty or
for the aristocracy but no one else.’ not. They just took their investment.’
Professor Cowan added: ‘He was Professor Finlay added: ‘At the time
certainly a demon in the eyes of the of opium wars they still wanted to sell
radicals but he was also a very good opium against the Emperor’s wishes.
lawyer. He thought that the radicals In essence, they were drug pushers
Lord Braxfield: If you hang a thief when had no right to vote as long as they who destabilised China.’
he’s young he won’t steal when he’s old.
> >
72 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 Another 19th century villain, a love of war and disorder; a hatred he executed his master’s business.’
for order and patient industry; no Never too far from their chief
Major Donald Macleod
accumulative habits; restless, customer Dr Knox (qv),
of Skye, left his native land to carry
treacherous, uncertain: look at
out his dastardly deeds in his adopted William Burke
Ireland.’ Knox died in London where
country, Australia, where he caused the and William Hare
he is buried in an unmarked grave.
deaths of large numbers of Aborigines became Scotland’s best-known
A further 19th century contender,
when he annexed their land for sheep villains, though in fact they were
farming. Eric Richards, Professor Patrick Sellar not Scots but Irish immigrants They
of History at Flinders University, in was the factor of the Countess acquired their celebrity as body
Adelaide, said: ‘The likes of Macleod of Sutherland’s estate. So that they snatchers - criminals who made a
were ruthless capitalist colonists who might lease their glens and braes to profit from providing corpses to
came to Australia and thought they sheep-farmers from the Lowlands and surgeons and anatomy students in
had the right to take over the land. England, many Scottish landowners Edinburgh. Burke and Hare stumbled
They got rid of anyone who was in cleared the crofts of men, women across their money-making scheme
their way, making it extremely rough and children, using police and soldiers when a tenant known as Old Donald
for the indigenous people.’ where necessary. Hundreds, bereft died before he could pay £4 in rent to
A celebrated Scottish baddie of the of all, emigrated to England, Canada Hare. Together with his friend Burke,
19th century was anatomist and the United States. Others had Hare sold the elderly man’s body to Dr
to content themselves with moor Knox for the sum of £7.10s. Pleased
Dr Robert Knox,
and rocky land unfit for cultivation. with the financial results of their new
who is chiefly remembered for
At the time of the Clearances, venture, but determined to eschew
purchasing the bodies that Burke and
Sellar showed great enthusiasm the heavy labour involved in grave
Hare (qv) supplied. The three partners
and brutality in evicting tenants robbing, the pair turned to murder.
in crime have been immortalised
whose families had farmed there for Their 16 victims ranged from sickly
in a well-known ditty: ‘Burke’s the
generations, often destroying their neighbours to prostitutes. Burke and
butcher, Hare’s the thief/Knox the boy
possessions and setting fire to their Hare were eventually caught when
who buys the beef.’ But Knox could be
crofts. In 1816 Sellar was charged lodgers came across the body of Mary
obnoxious on his own as well. In the
at Inverness, before the Court of Docherty, their last victim. Confronted
wake of the Burke and Hare scandal,
Justiciary, with culpable homicide and by the police, they blamed each other
he resigned his post as conservator
fire-raising, but was acquitted. After for their crimes. But Hare was offered
at the Museum of the Royal College
the trial, he ceased being a factor but immunity if he testified against Burke.
of Surgeons and turned to medical
continued to make money from sheep On Christmas Morning 1828, after just
writing and lecturing for a living. In
farming. Christopher Smout, emeritus 50 minutes’ consideration by the jury,
his 1850 book The Races of Men, he
professor of history at the University Burke was found guilty and sentenced
attempted to assess and evaluate
of St Andrews, said: ‘Patrick Sellar to death by hanging. Since he was
the various types of human found in
was incompetent, unscrupulous and an executed criminal, his body was
the world. Like other scientists, he
a thoroughly nasty piece of work. handed over to anatomy students who
used cranial and other measurements
He was much more self-interested dissected it with application and glee.
to prove that whites were racially
than other factors involved in the Hare, on the other hand, was released
superior to other peoples. But he was
Clearances and took advantage of the in February 1829 and disappeared.
not kind to the Jews and the Irish
situation to enrich himself.’ Professor Legend has that he died an old blind
either. He wrote: ‘I appeal to the
Cowan said: ‘Sellar was a bit extreme beggar in London. ‘Their actions speak
Saxon men of all countries whether I
by any stretch of the imagination. His for themselves,’ said Professor Smout.
am right or not in my estimate of the
methods were questionable even in ‘They were thoroughly despicable.’
Celtic character. Furious fanaticism;
his own day. He was savage in the way Click for full story
> >

Burke the Butcher Hare the Thief Dr Knox, “the boy who buys the beef.”

Ripperologist 64 February 2006 73

 I B E G TO R E P O RT
‘notable’ or ‘cuts it’ and describes it

Undercover Editor
as ‘borderline spam’?
So Chris patiently reinstated the
Wikipedia link to the Rip one more

furtively removes time. Whoosh! Faster than a speeding

bullet in comes DreamGuy again to

Ripperologist link
wipe out the link, saying ‘not sure
it meets notability guidelines, and I
believe “ChrisGeorge” is one of the

from Wikipedia people behind this ejournal so link is

self-promo.’
So DreamGuy wasn’t sure whether
Ripperologist, widely acclaimed as
Internet users are familiar with electronic, full-colour, massive, 88- the number one publication in the
the free on-line encyclopaedia page long issue offering more and field, met the ‘notability guidelines’.
better articles, essays, reviews and Otherwise knowledgeable DreamGuy
Wikipedia, which is maintained
news coverage on Jack the Ripper merely believed that Chris George
by thousands of dedicated than ever before. Or was DreamGuy was one of the people behind the
volunteer editors who continually implying that going electronic meant
revise, update and expand the Rip no longer merited an entry
What happens when volunteer
entries. But what happens in Wikipedia? In which case, the Rip
was faced with the irony of having editors abuse their position at
when these editors abuse their
its link removed from an electronic Wikipedia to post incorrect
position at Wikipedia to post encyclopaedia because it had become
incorrect information or delete
information or delete information
an electronic publication.
information or sources they or sources they don’t like or
Chris went ahead and reinstated
don’t like or don’t agree with the link to the Rip. Moments later, don’t agree with or which they
or which they just plain want to whoosh, in comes another volunteer just plain want to censor out?
censor out? editor called ‘Victrix’ - where do they
find these names? - and deletes the
Ripperologist found itself recently
link again because ‘professional print Rip - but didn’t know for sure. Nor
the target of such an experience. On
publications would be notable, don’t did DreamGuy know that Chris was
the surface it may appear that this
see how an ejournal cuts it/borderline a former editor of Ripper Notes, a
incident resulted, at best, from an
spam.’ Borderline spam? Well, you magazine listed in Wikipedia. Not
excess of zeal by people who don’t
gotta smile. The Rip has been running only that, but DreamGuy dismissed
know as much about the field of
for ten years, has published over 60 the link to a major publication such
Ripperology as they think they do,
print issues and goodness knows how as Ripperologist as merely Chris’s
or, at worst, from a petty and small-
many hundreds of thousands of words, ‘self promo’. At this point we began
minded action, not much more than
is highly respected, widely cited and to wonder who this dreamy character
a prank in dubious taste. But in fact
quoted, and little Victrix coming out was and who soulmate Victrix was and
this incident involved a deliberate and
of nowhere doesn’t see how it is whether these ostensibly dedicated
malicious abuse of editor privileges
> >
on Wikipedia whose implications will
soon be all too obvious. Read on.
On 10 February, Ripperologist’s
North American Editor, Christopher
T George, checked out the Jack
the Ripper entry on Wikipedia
and discovered that the link to
Ripperologist had been deleted on
27 December by a volunteer editor
using the screen name ‘DreamGuy’. In
the editing page history, Chris found
the following entry by DreamGuy:
‘removed Ripperologist link, as
apparently that magazine is no longer
being printed, added Whitechapel
Society 1888’. Well, it looks like
DreamGuy was well-informed enough
to be aware of the Whitechapel
Society 1888 but not to know that,
although Ripperologist was not being
‘printed’ any more, it still existed.
Indeed, at precisely the time when
DreamGuy was deleting the link in
Wikipedia, Ripperologist had sent out
through the Internet its first monthly, Editing history of ‘Jack the Ripper’ entry

>
74 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
volunteer editors had a hidden agenda
somewhere.
Chris dropped DreamGuy an email
and the link to the Rip was restored.
On the Wikipedia editing history,
DreamGuy stated: ‘Well, OK... the guy
emailed me... I know we used to have
Dear Rip
this here until it went out of print... it
appears to still be somewhat notable
Your Letters and Comments
in the field...’
So DreamGuy still knows nothing
about Chris, whom he calls ‘the guy’ C L I C K TO E M A I L U S
and whose name he’s put in quote
marks earlier. And all DreamGuy
knows about the Rip is that it’s gone The Green of the Peak
‘out of print’. It’s mid-February, Email to Ripperologist
and DreamGuy still doesn’t know,
Dear Rip,
or doesn’t want to admit, that two
issues of the electronic, monthly Many thanks to the editors for your hard work in preparing for publication in
Ripperologist have gone out and a Ripperologist 63 the first in our series of articles on coroners entitled The Green
third one is on the way. To DreamGuy, of the Peak: The Coronial System in Britain. I thought the cover and all the added
it only ‘appears’ that the Rip is still illustrations were just great. Many thanks for that.
‘somewhat’ notable in the field. How We wished to clarify, however, there is really no such thing as a coronial system
could someone who volunteers to edit for Britain, because Scotland has its own system and Irish coroners before the
Wikipedia’s Ripper page, presumably establishment of the Irish Free State operated under separate legislation. The
to make it more useful for the general system we wrote about applied to England and Wales only.
readership, not know who Chris is and In addition, as modified, our final sentence appears to indicate that we are
what the Rip’s status in Ripperology only concerned with Dr Thomas Bramah Diplock’s missing papers for the inquest he
is? conducted on Ripper suspect Montague John Druitt. We wish to make clear that we
But the sad thing about this whole will be addressing the missing records of both Dr Diplock and Wynne Edwin Baxter.
incident is that DreamGuy knows very We’re very proud of this last bit – we will be discussing the custody of coroners’
well who Chris is. And he knows records, specifically the missing records of Thomas Diplock and Wynne Baxter. We
everything there is to know about have put together a partial paper trail of what happened to these papers after
Ripperologist and its position in the deaths of Diplock and Baxter, and we believe this is the first time this has
the field. As for us, we know who ever been done.
DreamGuy is. And we are going to David O’Flaherty
tell you. 29 January 2006
Can you guess who was feigning We thank Dave for conveying his, John Savage and Robert Charles Linford’s
ignorance about Ripperologist? Can kind remarks as well as for the clarifications contained in his message. As a
you guess who wasn’t sure who Chris matter of fact, we gave some thought to the title for the first part of their
George was? Can you guess who series The Green of the Peak before settling for The Coronial System in Britain.
thought a Wikipedia link to the Rip We felt The Coronial System alone might have created some confusion with other
was just Chris’s self promo? coronial systems such as the American. We thought The British Coronial System
Are you sitting down? Please do. inappropriate for reasons analogous to those given by the authors and The English
DreamGuy is the editor of a major Coronial System because it would not have made clear that the system applied
Jack the Ripper journal, one of to Wales as well. We finally chose the title we did because the coronial system
Ripperologist’s main competitors. described existed in England and Wales, which are in Britain - though it did not
Don’t take our word for it. Check it exist in all of Britain. As for the second point, we regret that we understood the
out. There are many web pages in the statement at the end of their article to mean that they would be dealing with
Internet which give DreamGuy’s real the whereabouts of Diplock’s missing inquest records only. We note that they do
name and geographic location next in fact mean the missing records of both Diplock and Baxter and we are looking
to his screen name. You won’t have forward to their further research on this subject. Missing records... Wow! Rip.
any trouble verifying this information.
Just Google him. He can run but he Information, please
can’t hide.
Email to Ripperologist
Sheeesh, folks. We don’t know
about you, but we think it’s really Dear Rip,
pathetic for the editor of a journal I’m after names of people who were given sight-seeing tours by police officials
to stoop to such tactics as these or others round the Ripper murder sites at the time or soon after (early 1900s). I
to undermine the competition. For think Conan Doyle was one, as well as a Canadian woman reporter and a French
shame, DreamGuy. We thought better or American detective. Jack London may also have been taken round. Any ideas?
of you. I’d also like to hear of any interesting odd facts, anecdotes or coincidences about
anything in the whole of Ripper lore.
Andy Aliffe
29 January 2006

>
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 75
 Well, we knew a bit about Conan use of hypertext is appreciated - Sugden’s words about the trek through
Doyle’s going on tour with Dr Gordon something that the printed magazine the jungles. These three men have
Browne and others, so we told Andy couldn’t offer. So, along with the bad, established a grundlagen for future
about it, and we gave him a hint there’s some good. Hopefully, I’ll get reference on how coroners operate
about Lloyd George, but if anybody used to this new form of magazine, and saved you and I the drudgery of
has more information to share please just keep up with the excellent swinging that swath in the future by
write to him c/o Ripperologist, PO content! their own hard and praiseworthy work
Box 735, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1JF UK Cliff Korsedal in this aspect of historically valuable
or email us at contact@ripperologist. 10 February 2006 data.
info, attention Andy Aliffe. Thank Glad you’re coming round to Mr Carman Cumming’s article on
you, Rip. appreciate the wonders of the new Tumblety is well worth perusing.
Rip, Cliff. We knew it would be a bit The gist of his article deals with the
of a gamble, but it’s beginning to pay less than believeable pronouncements
off. Rip. of Sandford Conover, who is the source
of the uteri jars ostensibly owned by
the alleged misogynist Tumbelty.
Ripperologist 63
The I Beg To Report section had a
(January 2006) (III)
few reports that “begged” interest
Email to Ripperologist this month.
Dear Rip, In particular, the horrific total
of missing prostitutes in Edmonton,
A few words in appreciation for
Alberta.. 83 women have been
the efforts made in making this issue
either reported missing or dead
of Ripperologist. The content is
[undoubtedly more of the former] in
exceptional as well...
the Western Canadian city over the
Right off the bat,the article [or
last few years... Has anyone heard of
perhaps book] by the trio of Robert
this before? Fortunately for the street
Linford, John Savage and David
working girls, the RCMP has launched
O’Flaherty is a trove of information
a project known as KARE, devoted
on the coronial [coroner] system in
to sharing information between the
Great Britain which augments the
various police agencies. Unfortunately
previous work done by Adam Wood on
for the citizenry and dedicated police
Wynne Baxter [issue 61, September]
personnel of Edmonton, this probably
Ripperologist 63 and offers insight to the position of
won’t prevent women from plying
(January 2006) (I) coroner in Britain,a position often
their trades on the streets...
looked upon in the past with disdain.
Email to Ripperologist Jose Scarsi offers an article on
There is more to come from the
Dear Rip, Alois Szemeredy which states
trio regarding the Druitt inquest, the
May I say that the current issue is that the eventual suicide by this
depositions from Dr Diplock having
again exceptional in its content and contemporaneous suspect was not
been lost, in a future issue, as well as
presentation and that I, as a researcher his first attempt. Twice before, the
other utile information..
with an interest in the subject, find Austro/Hungarian had tried it only to
Most of us are familiar with the
that the Rip is clearly ahead in its be thwarted in his attempts.
El Dorado reference in the foreward
standards and an invaluable resource Messrs. Wood and Zinna are better
from Mr Sugden’s book, The Complete
in the accurate and groundbreaking qualified to discuss Szemeredy
History of JTR, which describe how
determination of Jack the Ripper and than I ,so in closing the article was
we Ripperologists set out to hunt
associated Victorian studies. interesting for its revelations on the
for the Ripper and often wind up in
I’d like to add that the editorial thefts by this man of mystery.
“desolate plains”.
team’s attempt to include some light Adam Wood’s story on the history
I dissent from a lot of fellow
relief and entertaining snippets is of East End “fast food”, the import
Ripperologists in my view that the
well received, is in good taste and of Portugese marranos [marrano
study of what is seen as “peripheral”
demonstrates a reliable and consistent indicating a Jew who concealed his
to the crimes themselves [ie, work
sense of subtle humour. or her religious affiliation due to a
on fish and chips... costermongers...
Spiro Dimolianis sense of impending persecution.] of
daily police routine... and now the
1 February 2006 fish and chips had my mouth watering
encyclopedic study of coroners in
Thanks for your kind comments, and eyes working overtime. What
Britain] is less than germane to
Spiro. We’ll do our best to continue a terrific view into this profession/
the overall study/history of the
to deserve your praise. And keep your business which at one time [1910] had
Whitechapel Murders.
contributions coming. Rip. 25,000 shops in Britain !
In a “quick fix” society, often times
My fellow Manchester United
we unintentionally develope a sense of
devotee included Israel Zangwill’s
Ripperologist 63 entitlement, a mindset that dictates
Children of the Ghetto [1892] coverage
(January 2006) (II) that every article on Ripperological
of fried fish. Zangwill, as some may not
matters should or must be devoted to
Email to Ripperologist know, was the author of the term,The
“a crime”, “a suspect”, “a victim” or
Melting Pot. Whats interesting in
Dear Rip, an aspect that is specifically “murder”
Adam’s great article,is that often
related.
The first couple of articles I read times the primary way one immigrant
were worth the wait, and the generous We would do well to remember
> > >
76 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
group will gain acceptance in a host who, after reading about the latest like Hearst. Hearst may actually,as
nation is from and through their adventures of JTR, decided to kill his rumor stated, have been trying to kill
staple foods. In America,for instance, wife with a hatchet. British citizen Charlie Chaplin,whose
the Italian-Americans had a rough go Mr Wilf Gregg deserves credit for his amorous ways cost him more than
in the 19th Century in many areas. now-monthly ascertations of current once in his life.
However, their food is synonomous crime and Ripper related books. It’s a Mr Digrazia ties in the WM press and
with their successes in the States. basically thankless job,but Mr Gregg the power of a man like Hearst [Joe
Likewise,the Hispanic communties should be praised for taking the time Pulitzer, the Hungarian Jew publisher
of the Caribbean [especially Cuban to offer his insights into the books HE and prize giver being another] and
barbecue and Puerto Rican foods ] are took the time to peruse. how the media can extend the life
well recieved ambassadors of their Least, but not last, is the new of a story. A very nice tie-in by Mr
cultures. Pasta and pasteles are a column by my friend “Monty”. DiGrazia.
staple at this reviewers hacienda. Great issue gentlemen... and great
Monty, like a KGB agent,will now
No one will give me an award,but scour the Internet for sites that efforts much appreciated.
my thumb deserves one for voting interest him and are Ripper based Howard Brown
several hundred times on the BBC Being an idiot, I told him that he was Proprietor, JTR Forums.com
site that still has JTR as the “Worst voted “worst Brit” on our site before 11 February 2006
Briton”. Eduardo Zinna covers this realizing the editors of Ripperologist We would be humbled and
contest in depth and it’s a worthwhile were so hard up for a columnist, that overwhelmed by your praise, Mr
read. The BBC History Magazine ran a they had to go to the hinterlands of Brown, if we only knew how. We
contest in which our favorite subject Leicestershire and use Monty... Just are lapping it up instead! If you’re
won over numerous other “bad Brits” let us know when you plan to check reading this, you’ve come back for
in the magazine’s contest. While JTR our site out Monty. I’ll make sure we more of what the Rip has to offer. We
was most certainly NOT the “worst put up new curtains and sweep the sincerely hope we’re doing OK by you.
Brit”, his ranking does indicate the carpets. Thanks again. Rip.
influence of the crimes on Great
In all seriousness,Monty [Neil Bell to
Britain’s consciousness.
you ] did an excellent job on his first
It’s to our collective benefit that assignment. He covered the Casebook
the Great Scott... my friend Chris We love to hear from you! Please
and The Met Police Crime Museum
Scott... is back in the swing of things. write to us at PO Box 735, Maidstone,
sites. He done good, that Monty.
In this latest Press Trawl, one of the Kent ME17 1JF or email us at
Last on the list is the Last Word by
stories discusses the Billingsgate Fish contact@ripperologist.info. We look
Mr DiGrazia.
Market [it ties in with Mr Wood’s forward to your views. Ripperologist.
Mr DiGrazia discusses the death of
delicious... I mean... excellent article
Thomas Ince in 1922 aboard the Oneida,
on fish and chips]. These fish porters
a yacht owned by William Randolph
had a helluva job. Often hauling 300
Hearst, the subject of the great film, Comment
to 400 pounds of fish around on their
Citizen Kane and how Hearst may have
backs... they were well respected
[in contrast to the coroners of the
been the murderer of Ince, whose Next article
body was quickly cremated after his
Linford/Savage/O’Flaherty article]
demise. Cremation would be the best Back to Contents
for their feats and importance.
way to avoid exhumation... especially
Another story Chris fished out
for the benefit of a publishing giant
was the one on the Connecticut man
> >

D E A R D I A RY

UK tour starting 20 January 2006 30 January - 26 May 2006 February 2006

NIGHTS AT THE CIRCUS MOST GLORIOUS OF THEM ALL: BRITISH OUTLAW TRADITIONS
THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE Hardcover, University of Wales Press,
‘It’s 1899 and all of Europe is agape at
INSTITUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS ISBN: 0708319858, £47) by Helen Phillips
the arrival of the new century! The world
IN 1856 (Editor), offers research and critical
crackles with possibilities – and its people
interpretations about British outlaw
dance to the irresistible rhythms of To mark the 150th Anniversary of the
traditions and the way they have been
money, sex, love and freedom. Swinging institution of the Victoria Cross in 1856,
imagined and presented in the Middle
above them all is a showbiz sensation; the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Ages and the centuries since. This volume
a fierce, vulgar, pant-droppingly sexy is mounting a new exhibition about
focuses on the ways in which rogue-
trapeze artist called Fevvers. The story some of the holders of Victoria Cross
heroes have been used in literature, film
charts her unlikely love affair with who were freemasons. The exhibition
and other areas of popular culture and
Walser, a world-weary journalist on a draws extensively on a private collection
imagination.
mission to expose her as a fake...’ of objects associated with individual
winners. It includes everyday objects, March 2006
West Yorks Playhouse 21 Feb-4 Mar
fighting tools, ceremonial items, PUBLICATION OF UNCLE JACK
Warwick Arts Centre 7-11 March
photographs and masonic regalia. Humphrey Price’s and Tony Williams’s,
Bristol Old Vic 19 March–1 April
Theatre Royal Plymouth 4-8 April The Library & Museum of Freemasonry paperback edition of the controversial
Sheffield Lyceum 11–15 April Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street book proposing the candidacy of Royal
Monday to Fridays only, 10am to 5pm obstetrician Sir John Williams as Jack
Admission free the Ripper.

Ripperologist 64 February 2006 77

 Workman case
without mentioning
the chapter heading

On the
– “The Death of
Riley”.
Mr Bleksley

Crimebeat
gives a convincing
account of his
experiences with
the cases – sometimes he was
welcomed by locals in the crime areas
WILF GREGG
and in others attempts were made to
intimidate him.
Old Bones and Shallow Graves objective account Although no concrete results
T J English of the investigations emerged from his enquiries, he
S/B, 468 pp., Illus., – arguably the most had the satisfaction of turning the
Mainstream Publishing, £9.99 traumatic and spotlight on these cases again. He
Sub-titled The involved enquiry writes convincingly on his desire to
Untold Story of in recent times. re-open these cases. An interesting
the Irish-American By eschewing the book.
Gangster, this book first person – Mr
Bennett is referred Buy now
is that and a whole
lot more. The to as John in the book – the authors
author charts the went a long way to achieving these Cambridgeshire Murders
position of the Irish- aims.
Alison Bruce
American gangster A fascinating part of the book deals
S/B, 154 pp., Illus.,
from the nineteenth century to the with the involvement of Rose West.
Sutton Publishing, £12.99
present. In addition, the book covers The team was determined to bring
Another in Sutton’s
many of the most notorious names charges against her and when after
True Crime History
of American organised crime: Johnny Fred West’s suicide, the CPS considered
series.
Torrio, Al Capone, Legs Diamond, Bugs dropping the charges against her, the
team fought their corner against this Cases include Walter
Moran, Owney Madden, Dutch Schultz,
with great determination. Horsford, the St
Frank Costello and Vincent ‘Mad Dog’
Neots poisoner, the
Coll, to name but a few. Several of the books on the West
unsolved murder of
Many of the early Irish-Americans case came from relatives and in one
Alice Lawn in 1921
featured in the book are new to me, case a victim and while these may have
and Douglas Potts,
but Mr English brings them to life helped these unfortunates exorcise
the Cambridge undergraduate who in
as he details their fight for survival their own particular demons, their
1930, killed his tutor and a policeman
and betterment - albeit by taking very emotionalism and sometimes
before committing suicide. Several
up crime. From these early days, dwelling on the more sordid issues did
early eighteenth century cases are
the book moves on to the one-time not give the objectivity this excellent
also included. All accounts have been
Czar of Boston crime, James ‘Whitey’ book provides.
excellently researched and well told.
Bulger, who is still on the run from A must for all True Crime
I am not sure whether it was fair for
the FBI. aficionados.
Ms Bruce to include the assassination
Mr English has produced a well- Buy now of the Prime Minister, Spencer Percival
written and structured book which, I in the House of Commons in 1812, on
am sure, will become a must for fans the grounds that he was educated
of American gangsterism. Ten Most Wanted at Cambridge and his killer John
Buy now Peter Bleksley Bellingham was born in the county.
H/B, 260 pp., Illus., But why not! I can’t let this case pass
John Blake Publishing, £17.99 without emphasising the timeframe.
The Cromwell Street Murders Another book by an ex-policeman Assassination 11th May, 1812, tried
John Bennett with Graham Gardner turned author. and convicted 15th May, 1812, hanged
S/B, 346 pp., Illus., Mr Bleksley set out to re-investigate 18th May, 1812. Swift justice indeed.
Sutton Publishing, £8.99 ten unsolved murders from the last A worthy successor to its
John Bennett was the officer in charge five years. High profile cases include predecessors in the series.
of the West murders investigation and Milly Dowler, the horrendous burning Buy now
this book charts the highs and lows to death of Wayne Trotter in 2002 and
encountered by him and his team. the bizarre killing of the octogenarian
The team ethic is apparent Colonel Robert “Riley” Workman
throughout the book as is the thread in the village of Furneaux Pelham
of wanting to produce a factual and in Hertfordshire. I can’t leave the Next article
> >

Got an email address? Got the Rip!

78 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 Wentworth Model Dwellings, Goulston
Street, following the ‘Double Event’
– the murders of Elizabeth Stride
and Catherine Eddowes on the night
of 30 September 1888. As Jeffers

Reviews recounts, Ripper author Stephen

Knight in Jack the Ripper: The Final
Solution (1976) saw a Masonic motive
behind the Whitechapel murders,
supposedly to hide the fact that,
as Knight asserted, the heir to the
British throne, Prince Albert Victor,
had married a Catholic woman, with
Freemasons: Inside the leading to their arrests and execution whom he had fathered a child. Knight
World’s Oldest Secret Society in the manner they themselves had pointed out that the Commissioner of
H Paul Jeffers described. the Metropolitan Police, Sir Charles
Jeffers points out that there is Warren, was a leading Freemason,
New York:
no actual proof that the Freemasons and that he recognized the Masonic
Citadel Press Books, 2005 reference to the Juwes, and for that
actually do stretch back to biblical
Paperback, 237 pp., bibliog., index reason had the graffito erased. The
times. He also notes that although
ISBN 0-8065-2662-9 Hiram Abiff is mentioned in the Masonic conspiracy theory, often with
US $14.95; Canada $20.95 Bible there is no mention in the Sir William Gull as the actual killer,
Oddly, this book good book of the Juwes. Rather, has featured in several Hollywood
has a different title the Freemasons as we know them films. Warren himself said he ordered
once you open it only became organized in the early the inscription erased because it
up – the title page eighteenth century, although Masonic made a reference to the Jews, and
reads, Freemasons: organizations evidently started to gel he was afraid that an anti-Semitic
A History and in the middle ages with the building of riot might occur. The East End at
Exploration of the the great cathedrals of Europe and the the time, of course, was teeming
World’s Oldest Knights Templar. Today, despite some with immigrant Jews and the doorway
Secret Society. loss of membership, Jeffers tells us, where the inscription was found led to
Oh, dear – is this ‘Of the world’s estimated 5.9 million the homes of Jews.
a Masonic conspiracy? Or did the Freemasons, the majority live in the Jeffers confirms that Warren was
publisher and/or the author merely United States (4 million).’(p. 177) a long-time Freemason in a position
change their mind and go for the of authority within the order. He
snappier title with that ‘wink wink’
allure that we would learn what
really goes on in that world of secret
handshakes and symbols?
New York-based Paul Jeffers, who
has previously published books on US
presidents Theodore Roosevelt and
Grover Cleveland, as well as Diamond
Jim Brady, has written a readable
and entertaining examination of the
world of Freemasonry. Jeffers says he
is not a mason but admits to being a
member of the Baker Street Irregulars.
He recounts the alleged origins with
the masons who worked on Solomon’s
temple and the supposed three jealous
‘Juwes’ who murdered Hiram Abiff,
the architect appointed by Solomon
to build the temple. Supposedly the
murderous three, Jubela, Jubelo,
and Jubelum, tried to coerce Abiff
to name them grand masters. They
confronted Abiff in the temple but he
refused saying they could not receive The Freemason’s Hall in Great Queen Street, London
the ‘mysteries’ without the approval
of Solomon and the King of Tyre, who
had recommended him to Solomon. Those three bloody assassins, the writes: ‘Initiated into Freemasonry on
The three ended up killing Hiram Juwes, of course, find a place in December 30, 1859, [Warren] became
Abiff. They then fled the murder scene Ripper lore because some maintain past master in 1863 and belonged to
and guiltily predicted the manner they are referenced in the chalked the Royal Lodge of Friendship No.278
of their own bloody deaths at Jaffa, graffito discovered in the doorway of at Gibralter [sic] and was past deacon
of the United Grand Lodge of England
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 79
(1887). At the time of the Ripper City for Ransom
murders, he was worshipful master of Robert W Walker
the Quatuor Coronati Lodge No.2076. New York:
Its meetings were not held far from
Avon Books, 2006
the [Mary Jane] Kelly murder scene
[at 13 Miller’s Court, Spitalfields]. Paperback, 324 pp.
Warren had been elected its founding ISBN-13 978-0-06-073995-9
master in 1884. The lodge warrant US $6.99; Canada $9.99
had been granted on November 28, In this mystery,
1884. Because of Warren’s departure novelist Robert W
[on Army assignment in 1884–5] to Walker introduces
Buchuana [Bechuanaland], the lodge his sleuth, Inspector
did not meet until after return at Alastair Ransom,
the end of 1885. He was installed who investigates a
at a meeting on January 12, 1886. series of gruesome
When the lodge was consecrated, he murders at the
attended three of the seven meetings time of the great
called during his almost three-year Chicago World’s Fair
term of office.’ in 1893. In essaying
Sir Charles Warren this theme, he is following in the
Jeffers is quick to dispel the idea
that Warren’s position in the masons at all times in every way promotes footsteps of Erik Larson’s entertaining
had anything to do with the murders. tolerance...’ (p.180) Could the expert nonfiction bestseller The Devil in
He cites Ripperologist Donald be an idealist who brooks no evil White City about serial killer H H
Rumbelow and Masonic authority intentions on the part of Freemasons? Holmes (Herman Webster Mudgett).
Paul M Bessel to demolish Knight’s After examining the different types Walker’s book even has a cover like
theories. This is a bit disappointing in of masons and their history, Jeffers Larson’s, showing the blazing fairy
that it would have been nice to get concludes that the Freemasons lights of the exposition, with his
Jeffers’ own views rather than for are little different to other civic rotund Nero Wolfe-like detective with
him to reference the work of other organizations and are basically social cane in profile in the foreground.
authors. He cites Masonic historian clubs with no secret agendas. It would Walker’s novel also brings to mind
Bessel as pointing out that Knight have been nice to see Jeffers go Caleb Carr’s period mysteries, The
had based his theory on what he had more deeply into the possible Masonic Alienist and The Angel of Darkness.
been told by Joseph Gorman Sickert, connection to the Whitechapel The book makes for an entertaining
who was supposedly told about the murders with some research of his diversion. The mystery and suspense
conspiracy by his father, artist Walter own rather than merely accepting play out nicely in Walker’s hands and
Sickert, and in the Sunday Times the opinion of other authors about the novel augurs well for a proposed
of 18 June 1978 admitted, ‘It was the flaws in Knight’s theory. He series of Ransom novels. However,
a hoax; I made it all up.’ Bessel is knows about Warren’s archaeological given the era in which the novel is set
quoted as saying that ‘the story of the investigations in Palestine, and he – 1893 – the author appears a bit early
three ruffians [who killed Hiram Abiff: tells us: ‘As an agent of the Palestine to portray his protagonist as accepting
Jubela, Jubelo, and Jubelum] had Exploration Fund in 1867, [Warren] the usefulness of fingerprint evidence
been removed from Masonic ritual in surveyed Herod’s Temple on the site as well as crime scene photography.
England (but not in the United States) of Solomon’s Temple, made significant In fact, he somewhat naively writes,
70 years before Jack the Ripper’s excavations in Jerusalem, and wrote ‘Ransom found the new art and
murders took place. The erasure of of them in two books, The Temple science of photography – an invention
the ‘Juwes’ message near a murder or the Tomb and Under Jerusalem.’ catapulted to prominence during
site could have been a well-meaning It would be interesting to examine the Civil War – a godsend to police
attempt to prevent anti-Semitic mob Warren’s writings and activities in investigators. It’d become another
violence...’(p.117) Palestine in more detail with a view new source of applied science in police
Annoyingly, Jeffers does not tell to any connection to the Ripper detection.’(p.10) This statement not
us where this quote from Masonic murders and to throw into the mix only seems to miss the point that
authority Paul Bessel comes from. We Warren’s archaeological colleague and photography was hardly newfangled in
are told (p.66) that Bessel is (or was) recently proposed suspect Colonel 1893 – by that time, rich and poor alike
librarian of the George Washington Claude Reignier Conder to see what had enjoyed being photographed for a
National Memorial (in Alexandria, can be discovered. But perhaps that number of decades – but that police
Virginia) and secretary of the Masonic investigation awaits the work of forces worldwide would take until the
Museum Association, but Jeffers’ another writer who is willing to dig early twentieth century generally to
bibliography of ‘further reading’ fails both into Masonic history and the accept the usefulness of crime scene
to cite anything written by Bessel, careers of Warren and Conder. photography and fingerprints.
although an essay and a talk by Bessel Buy now
Further information:
are mentioned in the text. From a talk
The Library and Museum of
Bessel gave on 8 September 2000 to Freemasonry
La France Lodge No.93 in Washington,
The Jack the Ripper Murders and Comment
DC, the Masonic historian is quoted
as saying, ‘Freemasonry could be, their Alleged Masonic Connections
by Paul Bessel Next article
and could have been in the past,
the only institution in the world that Buy the book now Back to Contents
> >
80 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 Vespasia. Pitt manages to annoy the
powerful Inner Circle by sending one

Ripping Yarns
of their number to the gallows and,
as a consequence, loses his command
of the Bow Street station and must
go undercover in the East End slums
Books, Films, Television, chasing anarchists. Who says East End,
Radio, DVDs, Compact Discs and Whitechapel, and conspiracy,
and Other Media says Jack the Ripper; and indeed the
mysterious murderer figures in the
narrative. Does Anne Perry reveal his
identity? You’ll have to read the book
to find out.
BOOKS MARY JANE KELLY: LA
DERNIÈRE VICTIME
Oldies But Goodies
(Paperback, 90pp, Recently Published
DAS PHANTOM VON L’Harmattan, Co-
LONDON. EINE llection: Graveurs
GESCHICHTE UM ANTI-SEMITISM AND
de mémoire, ISBN:
JACK THE RIPPER – BRITISH GOTHIC
2747525244, €9,50)
SCHAUSPIEL (Paper- L I T E R AT U R E ,
by Didier Chauvet,
back, 97pp, Monsen- (Hardcover, 256
is described as the
stein und Vannerdat, pages, Palgrave
first biography of
ISBN: 3865821502, Macmillan, ISBN:
Mary Jane Kelly, the
€15) by Mathias 0333929519,
last victim of Jack the Ripper.
Schwappach, is a £47.50), by Carol
German-language Margaret Davison,
play based on the SLUMMING: SEXUAL examines Gothic Literature’s
Whitechapel Murders. AND SOCIAL engagement with the Jewish Question
POLITICS IN and British national identity over the
VICTORIAN LONDON course of a century, from Romanticism
DEATH AT WHITE- (Cloth, 368pp,
CHAPEL (Paperback, to Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897). The
illust. 28 halftones, book assesses Dracula as a crypto-Jew
288pp, Berkley, 1 map, Princeton
ISBN: 0425173410, and immigration, syphilis, Jack the
University Press, Ripper, corporate capitalism and the
$6,99), by Robin $29.95 / £18.95,
Paige, the pseud- New Woman as fin-de-siècle concerns
ISBN: 0691115923), by Seth Koven, is connected with the assimilation of
onym of a husband- an account of prominent 19th century
and-wife writing the Jews.
Britons who felt compelled to visit,
team, deals with a live, or work in the London slums
husband-and-wife BLACK BY GASLIGHT
in order to see for themselves how
detective team on the trail of Jack (Paperback, 342pp,
the poor lived and acquire the first-
the Ripper. We might not be giving Cavalier Press,
hand experience essential for all
too much away by revealing that the ISBN: 0974621064,
who claimed to speak authoritatively
authors have embraced the Masonic $17.95), by Nene
about social problems. Slumming
conspiracy theory that supposedly Adams, starts in
also allowed many to act on their
reached to the highest levels of August 1888 as
irresistible ‘attraction of repulsion’
the British government. Secondary consulting detective
for the poor and permitted them,
characters include Lady Churchill and Lady Evangeline St
with society’s approval, to get dirty
her son Winston, and the dastardly Claire rescues prostitute Rhiannon
and express their own ‘dirty’ desires
deeds investigated, blackmail and Moore from the clutches of Jack the
for intimacy with slum dwellers and,
murder. Ripper. The two women embark upon
sometimes, with one another.
an investigation that soon becomes
LONDON VON a race against a killer whose only
THE WHITECHAPEL motive is madness. While trying to
SCOTLAND YARD BIS C O N S P I R A C Y,
JACK THE RIPPER save themselves, Evangeline and
(Paperback, 352 Rhiannon fall desperately in love. A
(Hardback, 240 pp., pages, Ballantine
Eulen Verlag, ISBN: secondary character is a detective
Books, $6.99, ISBN: called Sherringford Pike.
3891024495) by 0449006565), by
Gerald Hagemann, Anne Perry, is an
is a German- BY EAR AND EYES: THE WHITECHAPEL
intricate, fast-
language guide to MURDERS, JACK THE RIPPER AND
paced, atmospheric
350 London crime THE MURDER OF MARY JANE KELLY
Victorian mystery
sites frequented (Paperback, 320 pages, Longshot
cum political
by the likes of Mrs Publishing, ISBN: 0955024005, £12.99),
thriller featuring Inspector Thomas
Pearcey, the Ripper by Karyo Magellan, presents a new
Pitt, his wife, Charlotte, their cockney
and Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber theory on the most enigmatic of the
maid, Gracie, her suitor, Sergeant
of Fleet Street. Ripper’s victims. In Ripperologist’s
Tellman, and Charlotte’s great-aunt
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 81
 view, ‘If there’s of a bygone age: Jennie Hawthorne’s London: Newgate.
any justice at all affectionate memoirs will entrance Built during the
in our little square- anyone who reads them. twelfth century,
mile corner of Newgate was a
historical study, EYE ON LONDON, (Paperback, 160 place of cruelty
Magellan’s book pages, Capita Publications, ISBN: and wretchedness,
will emerge as the 0954868102, £9.99) by Colin Kendell, at various times
most controversial, who chose Jack the Ripper as his holding Dick Turpin,
if not the most specialist subject when he appeared Titus Oates, Jack
important, book of 2005.’ Very on the BBC programme Mastermind Sheppard, Casanova
strongly recommended. ten years ago, deals with famous and Daniel Defoe - and his heroine
London landmarks, such as the Moll Flanders. Housing varied from a
EAST END CHRON- Tower of London, the Albert Hall and private cell with a cleaning woman
ICLES (Hardcover, Kensington Palace, and their historical and regular female company to a spot
320 pages, Allen background. A chapter is devoted to on the floor. Only a quarter of the
L a n e / Pe n g u i n , the Ripper. prisoners survived Newgate. Those
ISBN: 0713997745, who died inside remained inside until
£20) by Ed Glinert, relatives of friends paid to have the
JACK THE RIPPER
includes chapters on body released.
COMPREHENSIVE A-
the Silk Weavers of Z (Hardcover, 499
Spitalfields, Docks, pages, Castle Books, PORTRAIT OF A
Dockers and River Pirates, Murder and ISBN: 078581616X, KILLER: JACK THE
Mayhem on the Ratcliffe Highway, £19.98) edited by RIPPER - CASE
Mystics and Myth-Makers, The Blitz Maxim Jakubowski CLOSED (Paperback,
and Bombs, The Jewish Ghetto and and Nathan Braund, 400 pp., Penguin
others. Glinert discerns the influence is a re-issue of the Group (USA), ISBN:
of ‘esoteric measurements’ in the Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper 0425205479, $15,),
location of the Ripper’s killings and first published in paperback in 1999. by Patricia Cornwell,
the murder in 1974 of Alfie Cohen, is a revised edition
the owner of a tobacco kiosk in of her controversial book reportedly
JACK THE RIPPER: A CONFESSION
Commercial Road, which were linked including more evidence for her
(Paperback, 257 pages, ripperArt,
by traces of Masonic ritual. conclusion that the killer was the
ISBN: 0954660331, £9.99) by Geoff
artist, Walter Sickert. A British edition
Cooper and Gordon Punter.
EAST END MEMORIES will follow in September.
(Hardcover, 352
JACK THE RIPPER:
pages, Sutton PRINCE EDDY: THE
END OF A LEGEND
Publishing, ISBN: KING BRITAIN NEVER
(Paperback, 316
0750939966, HAD (Hardcover,
pages, Athena
£14.99) by Jennie 272 pages, Tempus
Press Pub, ISBN:
Hawthorne, is an Publishing, ISBN:
1844014843,
account of the 0752434101, £20)
$15.95) by Calum
author’s early life. by prolific author
Reuben Knight,
Born in 1916 into an Irish Catholic Andrew Cook, is a
argues that Jack the
family, she spent her formative years revisionist account
Ripper wasn’t one
in the heart of the East End, in a truly of Eddy’s life.
person but three, including a French
multicultural community. This vivid
woman who successfully masqueraded
account of growing up is told with RIPPED FROM THE
as the final victim – known as Mary
passion and humour - even though her HEADLINES: BEING
Jane Kelly. Knight reveals the identity
drunken father struggles from crisis THE STORY OF
of the three Rippers, recounts their
to crisis, and illness and crime are JACK THE RIPPER
lives and explores their motives.
part of everyday life. The author’s AS REPORTED
captivating anecdotes, poignant and IN THE LONDON
entertaining, are suffused by the NEWGATE: LONDON’S PROTOTYPE OF
AND NEW YORK
sights, sounds and smells of the East HELL, (Hard-cover, Sutton Publishing,
TIMES (Paperback,
End in the 1920s and ‘30s. East End ISBN: 0750938951, £20), by Stephen
139 pages, cover
Memories is a wonderful evocation Halliday, relates the story of the
illustration by Gavin L O’Keefe, Ramble
largest and most notorious prison in
> > >

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82 Ripperologist 64 February 2006

House, $12) is a collection of news THE HUMAN PRED- THE TRIAL OF JACK
items published in The Times and the ATOR: A HISTORICAL THE RIPPER: THE
New York Times in chronological order CHRONICLE OF CASE OF WILLIAM
(1885-1895). SERIAL MURDER AND BURY (1859-89)
FORENSIC INVEST- (Paperback, 192
SHERLOCK HOLMES: IGATION (Hardcover, pages, Mainstream
THE BIOGRAPHY 320 pages, Berkley, Publishing, ISBN:
(Hardback, 240pp., ISBN: 042520765X, 1845960114,
Atlantic, ISBN: 184 $24.95) by Dr £9.99) by Euan
3542749, £14.99) Katherine Ramsland PhD, is a detailed Macpherson, discusses Ripper suspect
by Nick Rennison, and comprehensive anthology of William Henry Bury, who was hanged
ventures beyond multiple murder events and serial in 1889 in Scotland for the murder
Holmes’s published killers from the ‘Alphabet Murders’ of his wife. ‘Whether Bury was Jack
cases and recounts through the infamous ‘Zodiac the Ripper or not,’ said Ripperologist,
how the great detective prevented Killings’. Starting with the Dark Ages ‘Macpherson’s book is a damn good
Fenian attacks, advised Oscar Wilde and culminating with events of the read and a penetrating analysis of
to hotfoot it, helped Conan Doyle new millennium, Dr Ramsland takes a nasty murder by an equally nasty
to solve the Edalji case and almost the reader through history with her little man.’
caught Jack the Ripper. But why presentation and documentation of
wasn’t the Ripper case recorded by famous cases of multiple and serial TO KILL RASPUTIN:
Watson? As the Ripper skulked about murders, the journalistic coverage of THE LIFE AND
Whitechapel, Mary Morstan, Watson’s these crimes and the social reaction D E AT H OF
future wife, made her appearance to the ‘evil’ of serial murder. She GREGORI RASPUTIN
into his life. The good doctor set forth shows that the darkness that exists (Hardcover, 288
her story as The Sign of Four, but in human nature is not the product of pages, Tempus
did not think the Ripper case worth modern society. Publishing Ltd, ISBN:
chronicling. It takes all kinds. 0752434098, £ 20),
THE NEW ANNO- by Andrew Cook, is
TATED SHERLOCK a re-investigation of Rasputin’s death
HOLMES: THE which reveals for the first time the
THE AMERICAN
NOVELS (A STUDY real masterminds behind the murder
MURDERS OF
IN SCARLET, THE of the ‘mad monk’ who journalist
JACK THE RIPPER:
SIGN OF FOUR, William Le Queux claimed knew the
TA N TA L I Z I N G
THE HOUND OF true identity of Jack the Ripper.
EVIDENCE OF
THE BASKERVILLES,
THE GRUESOME
THE VALLEY OF WILL THE REAL
A M E R I C A N
FEAR) (Hardcover, 992 pages, illust., MARY KELLY...?
INTERLUDE OF
W W Norton, Slipcase edition, ISBN: (Paperback, 154
THE PRIME RIPPER
039305800X, $49.95) by Sir Arthur pages, Christopher
SUSPECT (Paperback, 240 pages,
Conan Doyle and Leslie S Klinger Scott, ISBN:
The Lyons Press, ISBN: 1592286755,
(Editor), is the third book in a series 1905277059,
illus., $ 14.95) by R Michael Gordon,
begun in 2004. ‘A must-have for any £10.99) by
posits Severin Klosowski, aka George
serious mystery fan, this edition will R i p p e r o l o g i s t ’s
Chapman, as the Ripper and explores
stand as the benchmark for generations contributing editor
his responsibility for a number of
to come.’ Publishers’ Weekly. Chris Scott, is a definitive take on
murders committed in the United
States. the Miller’s Court victim. ‘Without
THE SEDUCTION OF question Will the Real Mary Kelly will
MARY KELLY: FINAL become a “must-have” resource for
THE BLACK DAHLIA
VICTIM OF JACK THE any serious Ripperologist.’ Stephen P
FILES: THE MOB,
RIPPER (Hardback, Ryder, Exec. Editor, Casebook: Jack
THE MOGUL AND
591pp, Coulsdon, the Ripper. ‘Highly recommended.’
THE MURDER
Surrey: D’Arcy Antonio Sironi. ‘Best Book of 2005.’
THAT TRANSFIXED
Collection, 2005, Karyo Magellan, Ripperologist 64.
LOS ANGELES
ISBN: 0954977009,
(Hardcover, 416
£17.95) by William January 2006
pages, Regan Books,
J Perring, is a novel recounting ‘the
ISBN: 0060582499, BLACK BARTY: THE
“known” career of Mary Kelly with
$26.99), by Donald H Wolfe, deals with REAL PIRATE OF
all the familiar faces emerging as
one of the most notorious American THE CARIBBEAN
flesh and blood characters instead
murder cases. The mob is represented (Paperback, 320
of the often one-dimensional figures
by Benjamin ‘Bugsy’ Siegel, the mogul pages, Sutton
they appear in the non-fiction books.’
is Norman Chandler, the publisher Publishing, ISBN:
(Ripperologist) The Rip also told its
of the Los Angeles Times, and the 0750943122, £8.99)
readers: ‘You should like this book
murder that transfixed Los Angeles by Aubrey Burl,
and it’ll keep you occupied and out of
is that of Elizabeth Short, the ‘Black is the story of
trouble for a while.’
Dahlia’. Bartholomew Roberts, Black Bart, one
of the most successful and deadly
> > >

Ripperologist 64 February 2006 83

pirates of all time. He was tall, good- or controversy exposed. side of Oxford’s past populated with
looking, teetotal, and always well footpads and prostitutes, murderers
dressed and is believed to have been and conmen, thieves and philanderers.
FORTHCOMING PUBLICATIONS
the first to fly the skull and crossbones. Crime stories based on contemporary
He possessed a ruthless skill in the court records and newspaper accounts
piratical arts of intimidation and February 2006 dating from 1750 to 1920 include
seamanship, and was highly regarded infamous murders, hangings and dying
by his crew. BRITISH OUTLAW TRADITIONS, confessions, grand and daring thefts,
(Hardcover, University of Wales Press, escapes from the county gaol, suicide
BLOOD AND FIRE: ISBN: 0708319858, £47) by Helen in the name of love and great drinking
THE DUKE OF Phillips (Editor), offers research and deaths.
WINDSOR AND THE critical interpretations about British
STRANGE MURDER outlaw traditions and the way they PLAYERS: THE MYS-
OF SIR HARRY OAKES have been imagined and presented TERIOUS IDENTITY
(Paperback, 252 in the Middle Ages and the centuries OF WILLIAM SHAKE-
pages, LMH Books, since. This volume focuses on the ways SPEARE (Hardcover,
ISBN: 9768184957), in which rogue-heroes have been used 320 pages, Sutton
by John Marquis, is in literature, film and other areas of Publishing, ISBN:
a novelistic retelling of the facts popular culture and imagination. 0750943742, £20),
and conjectures concerning the by Bertram Fields,
death in 1943 of Sir Harry Oakes, JACK THE RIPPER questions William
who was found, a hole in his head - ANATOMIE Shakespeare of Stratford’s authorship
and burnt to death, at his home EINER LEGENDE of the plays and poems that bear
in Nassau, Bahamas. Although foul (Hardcover, 256 his name. Fields proposes instead
play was never proved, suspicions Pages, Illust., ‘a magnificent collaboration between
surrounded the circumstances of his Militzke Verlag, two men, a partnership protected for
death, with speculation that the Duke €18, ISBN: centuries by the greatest conspiracy
and Duchess of Windsor were in some 3861897539) by in literary history.’
way involved. Hendrik Püstow and
Thomas Schachner, is the first original ROYAL BLOOD:
BODIES WE’VE German-language book on the Ripper. KING RICHARD III
BURIED: INSIDE THE AND THE MYSTERY
NATIONAL FORENSIC OF THE PRINCES
ACADEMY, THE
March 2006 (Paperback, 352
WORLD’S TOP CSI pages, Sutton
TRAINING SCHOOL, AN ACRE OF Publishing, ISBN:
(Hardcover, 286 BARREN GROUND 0750943904, £9.99),
pages, Berkley (Paperback, 352 by Bertram Fields,
Publishing Group, pages, Scribner, attempts to answer the intriguing
ISBN: 425207528) by Bill Bass ISBN: 0743259726, questions inherent in the drama of
(Foreword), et al. ‘This wonderful £7.99) by Jeremy Richard III, history’s most infamous
book will take you on a fascinating Gavron, is a novel royal villain, and his nephews, the
journey through the real world of covering events princes in the tower. The book ends
crime scene investigation and the real in Brick Lane, re-envisioning British history: what
people in it... original, informative Spitalfields, over many centuries, if Richard had never accepted the
and delightfully readable.’ Patricia from the life and death of a mammoth Crown? What if he had instead insisted
Cornwell. in prehistoric times to Gunther von his young nephew reign as Edward V?
Hagens’s exhibition of corpses at How would our lives be changed?
the Old Truman Brewery a few years
D E B U N K I N G
back, and everything in between:
HISTORY: 152 SPARTACUS: THE
Bangladeshis, Jews, Huguenots,
POPULAR MYTHS MYTH AND THE
brewers, soldiers, farmers and
E X P L O D E D MAN (Hardcover,
medieval monks. During the Victorian
(Paperback, 348 256 pages, Sutton
period, the victim of a savage serial
pages, Sutton Publishing, ISBN:
killer is found at Number 30 Brick
Publishing, ISBN: 0750939079, £20),
Lane, and Inspector Abberline wonders
0750941510, £8.99), by Ripper author M
whether he’ll ever find the murderer
by Ed Rayner and J Trow, traces the
they call Jack.
Ron Stapley, presents some of the most story of Spartacus,
popular and enduring myths, legends, through slavery in Rome and training
fables, folklore, misinformation and OXFORD: CRIME, as a gladiator, to the slave rebellion
misconceptions from the American D E AT H AND which pitted an army of 3,000 men
and French Revolutions to the two D E B A U C H E R Y against the might of Rome and ended
world wars and beyond. Arranged (Paperback, 192 pages, with the survivors of Spartacus’s
within well-defined geographical or Sutton Publishing, defeated army either crucified or
thematic sections, and through a mix ISBN: 075093820X, returned to slavery.
of short and long entries, each topic is £16.99) by Giles
clearly explained and the myth, error Brindley, explores a
> > >
84 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
 THE BTK MURDERS: the abduction of Great Train Robber UNHOLY MESS-
INSIDE THE ‘BIND Ronnie Biggs in Brazil in 1981. ENGER: THE LIFE
TORTURE KILL’ CASE AND CRIMES OF
THAT TERRIFIED MURDER IN HOLLY- THE BTK SERIAL
A M E R I C A ’ S WOOD: SOLVING KILLER (US List
HEARTLAND (Mass A SILENT SCREEN Price Hardcover,
Market Paperback, MYSTERY (Hard- 304 pages, Scribner
352 pages, St. cover, 208 pages, Book Company,
Martin’s True Crime The University of ISBN: 0743291247,
Classics, $6,99, ISBN: 0312939051), Wisconsin Press, $23.00), Stephen Singular.
by Carlton Smith, is an account of ISBN: 0299203603),
the criminal career of the recently by Charles Higham, WHO KILLED
captured serial killer. scrutinizes the so far unsolved murder KING TUT? USING
of William Desmond Taylor, a leading MODERN FORENSICS
THE COCK LANE silent film director, and the massive TO SOLVE A 3,300-
GHOST: MURDER, cover-up that protected the famous YEAR-OLD MYSTERY
SEX AND HAUNTING star responsible for Taylor’s death. (Hardcover, 258pp,
IN DR. JOHNSON’S According to the publishers, ‘The Illus., Appendices,
L O N D O N result is a compelling answer to a long- Index, Prometheus
(Hardcover, 224 standing mystery and a fascinating Books, ISBN: 1-
pages, Sutton study of a place, and an industry, that 59102-183-9, $25), by Detectives
Publishing, ISBN: let people reinvent themselves.’ Michael R King and Gregory M Cooper,
0750938692, investigates the circumstances of
£14.99), by Paul Chambers, is the true RIPPER SUSPECT: the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s
story of William Kent’s elopement THE SECRET LIVES premature death sometime in his late
with Frances Lynes to lodgings in Cock OF MONTAGUE teens. Speculation on the cause of his
Lane, London, Frances’s mysterious DRUITT (Hardcover, untimely demise has ranged from an
death and her alleged return from 224 pages, Sutton infected mosquito bite to a bash on the
beyond the grave to confront her Publishing, £18.99, head, either intentionally inflicted or
killer. The story of the Cock Lane ISBN: 0750943297) the result of a fatal chariot accident.
Ghost had such effect on society by D.J. Leighton, After considering natural causes,
that the term Cock Lane was still explores the life accident, and suicide, the authors,
synonymous with folly, superstition of Montague John Druitt, barrister, who are law enforcement specialists
and corruption 150 years later. schoolmaster, cricketer, suicide and in forensics and the psychology of
prime suspect in the Whitechapel criminal behaviour, come to the
THE THEFT OF murders case, with special emphasis conclusion that Tutankhamen was
THE IRISH CROWN on his intriguing links with Prince murdered and identify the most
JEWELS: THE UN- Eddy, the Cambridge Apostles, Sir probable suspect.
SOLVED MYSTERY Arthur Conan Doyle, Virginia Woolf
(MOMENTS OF and the cricketing legend Prince Spring 2006
HISTORY) (Paper- Kumar Ranjitsinhji.
back; 272 pages,
DID THEY REALLY
ISBN: 1843810077, RONNIE BIGGS (AMAZING STORIES) DO IT?: FROM
£11.99), by Tim Coates, investigates (Paperback, 128 pages , Altitude LIZZIE BORDEN TO
the mysterious disappearance from Publishing (Canada), ISBN: THE 20TH HIJACKER
Dublin Castle in July 1907 of the Irish 1552659046), Art Montague. (Paperback, 256
Crown Jewels - the regalia or insignia
pages, Thunder’s
of the Order of St Patrick - which have
THE MAMMOTH Mouth Press,
never been found.
BOOK OF FAMOUS ISBN: 1560257741,
TRIALS (Paperback, $14.95), Fred
UNCLE JACK, (Paperback, Orion) by 550pp, Constable Rosen.
Humphrey Price and Tony Williams, and Robinson, ISBN:
is the paperback edition of the 1845293045, £7.99), JACK OF JUMPS
controversial book proposing the by Roger Wilkes, (Hardcover, 400
candidacy of Royal obstetrician Sir features 35 famous pages, Granta
John Williams as Jack the Ripper. trials, including Books, ISBN:
Bianchi and Buono, the Hillside 1862077703,
April 2006 Stranglers, the Moors murderers £18.99), by David
Brady and Hindley, OJ Simpson, Seabrook, is an
Bruno Hauptmann, the kidnapper and account of the
KIDNAPPING RONNIE!: ONE OF THE
murderer of Baby Lindbergh, eleven- murders of eight
MOST SPECTACULAR CAPERS IN
year-old Mary Bell, convicted of killing prostitutes in West London between
BRITISH CRIMINAL HISTORY (Hardcover,
two little boys, Oscar Wilde and ‘one 1959 and 1965 by a serial killer known
288 pages, Allison & Busby, ISBN:
of the most evil, satanic men who as Jack the Stripper. In 1970, the
0749082976), Patrick King & Tudor
ever walked the face of the earth’, detective who had led the enquiry
Gates, recounts the story behind
Charles Manson. announced that the police had vowed
> > >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 85
never to reveal the identity of the the author’s own father, Dr George £7.99), by David James Smith, is
killer, who had committed suicide as Hodel. a new investigation of the case of
the net closed round him. Seabrook American Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen,
questions the police’s assertion and JACK THE RIPPER: his wife, a music-hall artiste who
conjures up the disturbing possibility THE FACTS called herself Belle Elmore, and his
that the killer may still be at large. (Paperback, 560 mistress, Ethel le Neve, against the
pages, Robson background of Edwardian England.
JACK THE RIPPER Books Ltd, ISBN: Crippen murdered his wife, buried her
(Paperback, 160 1861058705, £8.99) remains in the cellar and escaped to
pages, Pocket by Ripperologist’s Canada in an ocean liner with Ethel
Essentials, ISBN: Executive Editor le Neve disguised as a boy. They were
1904048692, £4.99), Paul Begg, is arrested on arrival by Inspector Walter
by Mark Whitehead simply one of the most complete and Dew, of Whitechapel fame, thanks to
and Miriam Rivett, authoritative books on the subject. A the wireless telegraph newly installed
is described as the must-have. on the ship. The lovers went on trial
Essential Guide for murder. Ethel was acquitted but
to ‘Jack the Ripper’, contains an Crippen was convicted and hanged .
LONDON: THE
introductory essay and considers many EXECUTIONER’S
of the Ripper’s proposed identities, CITY (Hardcover THE A-Z ENCY-
a summary of his crimes, victims 256 pages Sutton CLOPEDIA OF SERIAL
and the ill-fated investigation, plus a Publishing, ISBN: KILLERS (Paperback,
guide to the Ripper’s many fictional 0 7 5 0 9 4 0 2 3 9 341 pages, Pocket
outings, from Hitchcock’s The Lodger £18.99), by David Books, ISBN:
to Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell’s Brandon and Alan 0671537911), by
From Hell. Brooke, is described Harold Schechter,
by its publishers as ‘a vivid picture of consists of brief
REVELATIONS OF THE TRUE RIPPER capital punishment in a capital that articles examining
(Ivory Moon), by Vanessa A Hayes. seems to have thrived on executions.’ serial killers, their crimes and victims,
The book ‘reveals the capital as a and the methods they used to kill and
place where the bodies of criminals dispose of the bodies.
RIPPEROLOGY, by highly respected
Ripper author Robin Odell will be defined the boundaries of the city
launched by Kent State Press at the and heads on poles greeted patrons on THE CAMDEN TOWN MURDER: WALTER
American Jack the Ripper Conference London Bridge.’ RICHARD SICKERT, ROBERT WOOD,
in Baltimore, Maryland, in April 2006. EMILY DIMMOCK: ARTISTS, MURDERER
Mr Odell has described Ripperology SOJOURN (Dragon Moon Press), by AND VICTIM IN ANOTHER NOTORIOUS
as ‘the story of what we have all Jana G Oliver, combines science fiction ‘RIPPER’ CRIME (Paperback, 250
come to know as “Ripperology” with (time travel), fantasy (shapeshifters) pages, Mandrake of Oxford, ISBN:
some personal reminiscences and and history (the Whitechapel 1869928148), John Barber. ‘I know
a modicum of analysis.’ The book murders) as time rover Jacynda the book will be of interest.’ Karyo
will have an introduction by Donald Lassiter struggles against time to Magellan, Ripperologist 64.
Rumbelow. find an overdue ‘tourist’ and return
him to 2057 before he alters history. THE FATHER OF
She arrives in Victorian London in FORENSICS: THE
Summer2006
perilous times, as the Whitechapel GROUNDBREAKING
murders have the city in an uproar. CASES OF SIR
ASSASSINS IN THE The Transitives (shapeshifters) are BERNARD SPILS-
PARK: MURDER, fretting the killer might be one of BURY, AND THE
BETRAYAL AND their own. Why else would he be so BEGINNINGS OF
RETRIBUTION hard to catch? When she encounters MODERN CSI (Paper-
(Paperback, 192 Dr Alastair Montrose, a shape shifter back 336 pages
pages, Mercier who is denying his heritage, the stage Berkley Publishing Group, ISBN:
Press, ISBN: is set for a confrontation between 0425210073, $14), Colin Evans.
185635511X), by those who wish to remain hidden and
Senan Molony, those who seek to change the course THE MAMMOTH
deals with the assassination of Lord of history. To prevail, Jacynda and BOOK OF PIRATES
Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Alastair must outwit a madman whose (Paperback, 512
Burke in Phoenix Park in May 1882 legacy will endure for centuries. pages , Constable
by men wielding surgical knives, the
and Robinson, ISBN:
police investigation and the attempts
SUPPER WITH 1845291158, £7.99)
to infiltrate the Fenians.
THE CRIPPENS Jon E Lewis (Editor),
(Paperback, 352 contains 28 first-
BLACK DAHLIA AVENGER: A GENIUS FOR pages, Orion (an hand memoirs and
MURDER (Revised edition) (Paperback, Imprint of The contemporary reports of such pirates
624 pages, Harper Paperbacks, ISBN: Orion Publishing as Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, ‘Calico
0061139610, $15.95), by Steve Hodel, Group Ltd) ISBN: Jack’ Rackham, Alexander Exquemelin,
identifies the mysterious killer of 0752877720, Frances Drake, Anne Bonney, Jean
Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia, as
> > >
86 Ripperologist 64 February 2006
Lafitte and the Joassamee Pirates. in recent years.’ Eckhart as Sgt. Leland ‘Lee’ Blanchard,
Tales retold include Francis ‘Scourge Mia Kirshner as Elizabeth Short, Amy
of Spain’ Drake’s audacious night Irving as Ramona Cathcart Sprague
Still Unscheduled
treasure raid on Nombre de Dios; the and Rose McGowan as Sheryl Saddon.
capture of Panama by Henry Morgan, Like Ellroy’s novel, the film is about
the life of Louis ‘Half-Arse’ Le Golif, CUATRO MIRADAS SOBRE JACK EL two LA police officers in the 1940s
whose buttock was shot away by DESTRIPADOR is a Spanish-language who investigate the brutal murder of
cannon fire, and Henry Avery’s seizure collection of original essays on the aspiring film actress Elizabeth Short,
of the Moghul of India’s treasure Ripper to be published in Buenos known as the Black Dahlia. Officer
ship. Aires. The authors are the late Juan- ‘Bucky’ soon realizes that his girlfriend
Jacobo Bajarlía, Juan José Delaney, Kay had ties to the deceased, and
Christopher-Michael DiGrazia and soon after that, he begins uncovering
THE ROBIN HOOD
Eduardo Zinna. corruption and conspiracy within the
H A N D B O O K
(Hardcover, 448 police department. Of the two films
pages, Sutton SHADOW PASTS, by Professor William on the same subject mentioned in this
Publishing, ISBN: D Rubinstein, looks at Ripperologists issue, this seems by far the classier
075093977X, £25), and other ‘amateur’ historians. item.
by Mike Dixon-
Kennedy, explores And Don’t Forget... ZODIAC (USA, Paramount, 2006),
the reality behind directed by David Fincher, based on
the legend of one of the most captivating the Robert Graysmith books, with
THE ROYAL LEGACY OF HATE, a further
and controversial of figures. This book a screenplay by James Vanderbilt,
volume of revelations concerning the
provides a comprehensive guide to stars Robert Downey Jr as Paul Avery,
regal ancestry of Joseph Sickert, who
the characters, places, people, stories Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Graysmith,
died on 9 January 2003, the Second
and background of this enduring folk Mark Ruffalo as Dave Toschi, Anthony
Edition of Jack the Myth, by A P Wolf,
hero and endeavours to present as Edwards as Armstrong and Bijou
and journalist Tom Slemen’s book on
complete a picture as possible of his Phillips as Linda Ferrin. Gary Oldman
Charles Regnier Conder. No current
doings as reflected in ballads, poems, also stars. The film deals with the
information is available as to the
proverbs, films, novels, folklore, real-life serial killer Zodiac, who
present status of these books.
musicals and place-names. terrorized San Francisco with a string
of seemingly random murders during
September 2006 FEATURE FILMS the 1960s and 1970s.

BLACK DAHLIA (USA, 2005) Written, DOCUMENTARIES

PORTRAIT OF A KILLER: JACK THE
produced and directed by Ramzi Abed
RIPPER - CASE CLOSED (Paperback,
(who also may have shot and edited
416 pages, Time Warner Paperbacks, Summer 2006
the film and designed the costumes),
ISBN: 0751537225, £8.99), by Patricia
stars Kristen Kerr as Lisa Small/
Cornwell, will be the British edition of
Beth Short, Lizzy Strain as the Black JACK THE RIPPER’S SWEDISH VICTIM is
her revised book.
Dahlia/Elizabeth Short, Khris Kaneff a documentary by Daniel Olsson and
as Fatty Arbuckle and Ramzi Abed as Wulvarich shot on location in Store
Late 2006 Ramzi. The film has been described as Tumlehed, Gothenburg and other
‘a present day re-telling of the Black places frequented by young Elisabeth
THE QUEST FOR JACK THE RIPPER: Dahlia murder [which] unfolds as days Gustafsdotter, better known as Long Liz
A LITERARY HISTORY 1888-2000 by in the life of a young woman looking Stride. The documentary will consist of
Richard Whittington-Egan has for fame and fortune in the city of the following sections: 1. THE LONDON
been several years on the making. dreams. As men enter and exit her MURDERS, 1888: General Information
Ripperologist has learnt that the life, the young woman finds herself on the Whitechapel Murders and
delay has been partly due to the in the middle of a carnivalesque Jack the Ripper; 2. LIZ: CHILDHOOD
scrupulous checking of all the facts mystery. Taking place in the real AND TEENAGE YEARS: History of
by Mr Whittington-Egan’s editor, Tom world, love brings desire, and desire Torslanda and Tumlehed. The God
Kelly, and the minute attention and can sometimes end in tragic results. Thor and the Cult of Thor. Liz’s Birth.
meticulous research which he has This is the story of the girl behind the Important Events in Sweden, 1843.
displayed in the construction of a shadows.’ The cutting-edge tagline Liz’s Baptism. Connections between
really comprehensive bibliography, is more to the point: ‘One woman, the Torslanda Church and the God
taking in for the first time all manner two lives. One knife, two halves. The Thor. Liz’s Upbringing. Her Brothers.
of obscure American book, magazine eternal murder mystery...’ Probably Ordinary Daily Life in Sweden. Liz’s
and newspaper reference sources. Ramzi Abed wrote it. Confirmation. 3. LIZ’S MOVE TO
GOTHENBURG. General Information
THE BLACK DAHLIA (USA, Universal about Gothenburg . King Gustav II
UNCOVERING JACK THE RIPPER’S
Pictures, 2006) Directed by Brian Adolf and the Mystic Events which Led
LONDON by Richard Jones, was
De Palma, based on the novel by to the Birth of the City). Elizabeth
announced several months ago.
James Ellroy, with a screenplay by Settles in ‘Majorna’. Allmanna Vägen:
Jones’s documentary, On the Trail
Josh Friedman, stars Josh Hartnett the Name and the Prostitutes. How Liz
of Jack the Ripper, was described
as Officer Dwight ‘Bucky’ Bleichert, Learned English in Majorna. Brothels
by Ripperologist as ‘Perhaps the best
Scarlett Johansson as Kay Lake, Hilary in Allmanna Vägen. 4. PROSTITUTION
documentary to have been produced
Swank as Madeleine Sprague, Aaron AND THE ‘REGISTERS OF SHAME.’ Liz
> >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 87
Settles in Gothenburg. Prostitution. and Lindsay Duncan as Elizabeth murders, is available on CD from
Sillgatan Street. Liz’s Registration. Longford. Longford is an HBO Films Actors Scene Unseen, a Live Internet
Pilgatan Street - Where Liz Probably presentation in association with Radio Theatre company broadcasting
Learned Yiddish. (This is an exclusive Channel 4; produced by Granada. live from Charlotte, NC, USA. The live
feature only available on the DVD). Directed by Tom Hooper (Prime program was originally broadcast on
Kurhuset. How Liz Got struck off the Suspect 6, HBO’s upcoming miniseries 19 June 2004 on Actors Scene Unseen.
Register. 5. LIZ’S MOVE TO LONDON. Elizabeth I),Written by Peter Morgan Also available is MILLER’S COURT, a
The Journey. Weather Conditions. 6. (whose credits include The Deal, The two-person drama by James Jeffrey
LIZ’S MURDER. 7 THEORIES ABOUT Queen, Henry VIII. Andy Harries (The Paul about the Ripper’s encounter with
JACK THE RIPPER. The schedule for the Queen, Prime Suspect 6) and Peter his last victim. To find information on
release of VICTIM will be as follows: Morgan executive produce; Catherine programmes and schedules, to listen
February: Cutting and Editing; March Wearing (Our Mutual Friend, Nature to live broadcasts or to buy the CDs,
or April: Swedish Narration; May: Boy) produces. The film’s original go to their website.
Post Production; June or July: DVD soundtrack will be composed by Rolfe
Release (Swedish Version); October: Kent (About Schmidt, Sideways). JACK THE RIPPER, DIE GESCHICHTE
English Narration; December: DVD EINES MÖRDERS, (Audio-CD, Luebbe
release (English Version). You’ll find Verlagsgruppe, ISBN: 3785711999),
AUDIO
more details about progress on the by Frank Gustavus, Dietmar Mues,
completion of VICTIM, its availability Dagmar Puchalla and Heinz Lieven,
and price, right here in this column. JACK THE RIPPER’S REIGN OF TERROR
is a German-language account of the
is a London Audio Walk tour of the
murders.
murder sites recorded on MP3 or Audio
TELEVISION CD which sells for £5.99. The 3-mile
(4km) walk covers from Whitechapel JACK THE RIPPER. MIT CD. PRE-
Tube Station to Aldgate, visiting the INTERMEDIATE. STEP 4. 9./10. KLASSE
April 2006
five murder sites with a stop at the (LERNMATERIALIEN), By Peter Foreman.
Ten Bells in Commercial Street. Sights Perfect (2006/01) Langensch. Schulb.,
SEE NO EVIL, ITV1 – Dramatised Mchn.
include Spitalfields Market and Brick
documentary about the Moors
Lane. The full audio lasts 50 minutes
murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.
and the walk usually takes round 1.5 DVD
Stars Maxine Peake as Hindley, Sean
- 2 hours. Best time to go, anytime,
Harris as Brady and Joanne Froggat
although Spitalfields Market is only
as Hindley’s sister Maureen. Airing Already Issued
open 11-3 on Sundays whereas it
to mark the 40th anniversary of
is open 9-6 the rest of the week.
the 1966 trial of Brady and Hindley
You can order the tour on CD, or JACK THE RIPPER’S LONDON (DVD,
for kidnapping and murdering five
if you have an MP3 player, you can Castle Home Video, Run Time: 60
children and burying their bodies on
download it straight away from the minutes, Region 0, PAL, ASIN:
Saddleworth Moor in Cheshire. Written
Internet. The downloads are between B000AXWCYO, Catalogue Number:
by Neil McKay, made by Granada.
17Mb and 18Mb, which should take CHVBB0095, £2.99). No further details
around five minutes to download on a available at present.
Summer 2006 broadband connection, but if you are
on a slower connection then we would
LONGFORD, Channel 4 – One-off advise you order the CD instead. For
drama starring Jim Broadbent as more information or to order go to Comment
the title character as he battles Bluebrolly.
to win parole for Moors murderess Next article
Myra Hindley (played by Samantha SAUCY JACK, an original radio drama
Morton). With Andy Serkis as Ian Brady by James Vita focusing on the Ripper Back to Contents
> >

The real Worst Brit?

88 Ripperologist 64 February 2006

 easily as a fart, the lustily scatological
Mozart would be the first to say.
While purists damned Amadeus as
historically shoddy hackwork, they

The Last Word

were forced to admit that they, too,
continued to be as baffled by Mozart
as Shaffer’s Salieri was. In the words
of musicologist Robert Harris:
[his] work seems to bear no
CHRISTOPHER- relationship of any kind to the
MICHAEL DIGRAZIA external circumstances of his life.
Pieces of elfin lightness and grace
I’ve just come back from a lovely spinner for the cities of Vienna and were composed during periods of
concert, a ‘Mozart Marathon’ Salzburg – a candyfloss tragic genius intense emotional distress; they
churning out music to order as he were also composed during times of
celebrating the composer’s
rolled balls around a billiard table. happiness and contentment... [h]is
250th birthday. There was
most innocent and joyful work, The
an interesting moment late Magic Flute, and one of his most
in the afternoon when the serious and tragic, the Requiem, were
concertmaster began talking composed at exactly the same time,
about the joy and wonder he near the end of his life.
always felt when performing a Wolfgang Mozart, indeed, seems
Mozart piece. And although his to have been that rarest of creatures
– a true ‘one off,’ utterly unlike
emotions were heartfelt, he
anyone before or after him. And while
stumbled along incoherently for God may have indeed touched the
a few moments, then, shrugging composer, we must never forget that
in surrender, picked up his bow he wasn’t an amazing boy genius.
and began playing, letting the Unlike truly gifted child prodigies such
as Mendelssohn or Korngold, Mozart’s
music give voice to his thoughts.
earliest works were derivative,
Which made me wonder – why reflective of his own limited experience
is it that, when attempting to and could have come from the pen of
describe Mozart or his music, nearly any contemporary. But work,
people find themselves reduced development and single-mindedness
to gibbering idiots? (he was, after all, the first freelance
musician of his time) enabled him to
Certainly Mozart’s music is beautiful
become great. Virtually every major
– the Lachrymosa of the Requiem and
piece he wrote in the last ten years
the quintet Di scrivermi ogni giorno
of his life is a concert staple, and
from Cosi Fan Tutte are among the
nearly every major piece he wrote
most heartbreakingly lovely pieces
in the last five years of his life – Eine
ever written, but similar arguments Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart >
can be made for emotional music
by admittedly second-rank composers
– Schumann’s Rhenish Symphony or It is a view reinforced by
Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake, just playwright Peter Shaffer in his stage
to be perverse – and it would be a play Amadeus, where incomparable
brave man who would deny Bach’s music pours forth from the pen of
Mass in B Minor it’s spot in as (in Your a callow, gutter-minded Mozart as
Musical Columnist’s Humble Opinion) the hapless Antonio Salieri looks on
the most profoundly moving work with amazement, bemusement, and,
ever composed. Surely it’s not just an finally, outright loathing. The 1984
æsthetic awe? film adaptation (for which Shaffer
Perhaps it is the uber-Romantic wrote the screenplay) made this
story of his life, then, that renders view of the composer a worldwide
us tongue-tied? The spoiled, cosseted phenomenon, embodied in actor
little fellow in a tiny powdered wig Tom Hulce’s braying, doltish laugh
and satin knee breeches who proposed which acted as a leitmotif through
to marry the young princess Marie the movie. Shaffer’s Mozart appeared
Antoinette becoming the unwanted, to be nothing more than an empty
unappreciated musical genius who was vessel through which the voice of
dumped to eternal rest in a Viennese God would speak. He was hardly ever
pauper’s grave, only unpaid bills and a shown in the throes of compositional
half-finished manuscript to his name? agony; indeed, music simply seemed
Certainly that Mozart is a money- to flow from him as easily as – well, as Antonio Salieri

> >
Ripperologist 64 February 2006 89
 cool-headed understanding of what
he was, whom he killed and why we
persist in applying our little grey cells
to the Great Victorian MysteryTM. And
though we might spend long, weary
years toiling in the grubby vineyard of
Ripperology, there’s always a moment
when something new comes on the
scene to answer that why. In this
case, it is Simon Wood’s fascinating
The Enigmas of Miller’s Court (in
Rip 62), which, through painstaking
applications of geometry, chemistry
and photography, concludes that
the famous second picture of Mary
Kelly – the view over her right leg
and eviscerated pelvis – is a cropped
and painted fake, one created at
the behest of Inspector Abberline to
Tom Hulce as Mozart in Amadeus
make the Miller’s Court murder into a
Whitechapel Murder.
Kleine Nachtmusik, the Coronation ambitious tycoon Charles Foster Kane In other words, just as Amadeus’s
concerto, Don Giovanni, The Magic is determined to transform into a star. Mozart blinds us to the multifaceted
Flute, the Jupiter Symphony - is a Similarly, the charming, impulsive, genius of the real Wolfgang Mozart,
genuine masterwork. dirty-minded, magnificent Mozart is, has the presumption that we were
But surely you protest, having read in the lay world, inextricable from the all looking at the remains of Mary
this far and realizing we’ve reached hee-hawing smutty scribbler portrayed Jane Kelly blinded us to the identity
the usual compare-and-contrast that by Tom Hulce (who, perhaps in a bit of of the real occupant of Number 13...
is the staple of these columns, the cosmic justice, has never had another and, perchance, to that of Jack the
filthy murderer Jack the Ripper is starring role nearly as impressive as Ripper?
unworthy even to breathe the same Amadeus). Further information
air as this musical titan! Absolutely, The Ripper and his victims too
A concise website on
I say – but what did I talk about last are, outside our own little corner
Mozart and his work.
month? If you recall (and even if you of the world, interchangeable killer
don’t), I mentioned the charming and killed, with no personality – on Was Citizen Kane Really About
silent screen comedienne Marion his side – beyond a quaint Victorian Hearst? by Orson Welles
Davies, whose posthumous reputation gargoyle, and – on their side – beyond
has been overshadowed by that of chirpy gin-soaked Cockneys.
her cinematic doppelganger, Susan Which is not to say that the ‘image’ of Comment
Alexander, the supremely talentless the Ripper needs redemption, heaven
Back to Contents
nonentity whom Orson Welles’s forbid. But what it does require is a
> >

In Future Issues
Future issues of Ripperologist will feature the continuation of Robert Linford, David O’Flaherty
and John Savage’s study of the Coronial system in England and Wales, Michaela Koristova on a
Czech Ripper, John Ruffels on The East End Murderer - I Knew Him, StanLey Dean Reid on the most
wanted criminals in world history, Leslie A Klinger on Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes, Robert
McLaughlin on Vacher l’Eventreur, John Crawford on Algernon Haskett-Smith, Spiro Dimolianis
on Vittoria Cremers, Antonio Sironi and Jane Coram on the Night of the Double Event, Stepan
Poberowski on Russian perceptions of Jack the Ripper, Daniel Olsson on Long Liz Stride’s journey to
England, Jeffrey Bloomfield, Zoraida Dunne, Christopher T George and Eduardo Zinna on doctors
who kill, regular columns by Christopher-Michael DiGrazia, Wilf Gregg, Monty, Chris Scott and Adam
Wood, Ripper Fiction, In Brief, I Beg to Report, Ripping Yarns and more, much more... can you afford
to miss out? Subscribe now!

www.ripperologist.info

90 Ripperologist 64 February 2006

 Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Lisa Gillespie as Mrs Lovett and Alan Lee in the title role