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Eric Skinner
Sergeant
Username: Eric
Post Number: 16
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 7:50 am: |       |
Hi Everyone,
I have a question about a photograph of a letter which appears in "The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook." The letter is from Queen Victoria and the caption says the letter is about her concern about the crimes. Apparently penmanship was not one of Queen Victoria's strong suits and I can't make out what the letter says. Can any of you provide the text of the letter?
Thanks in advance.
Eric |
Alex Chisholm
Detective Sergeant
Username: Alex
Post Number: 107
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 9:15 am: | |
Hi Eric
The text can be found in chapter 19 (Sir Charles Warren Resigns and Royal Involvement) of Stewart & Keith’s Ultimate JtR Sourcebook, page 357.
It reads:
“This new and most ghastly murder shows the absolute necessity for some very decided action.
All these courts must be lit, & our detectives improved. They are not what they shld be.
You promised when the 1st murders took place to consult with your colleagues about it.”
Best Wishes
alex
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Eric Skinner
Sergeant
Username: Eric
Post Number: 17
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 9:39 am: | |
Thanks Alex,
I found that text but the book said it referred to a telegram, which I thought was separate from the letter. It didn't occur to me that the letter was Queen Victoria's draft of the telegram. I guess it should have occurred to me that any correspondence from Queen Victoria about the murders would have made it into the book. I need more coffee. 
Thanks again.
Eric |
Jeffrey Bloomfied
Inspector
Username: Mayerling
Post Number: 387
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 10:30 pm: | |
In my copy of LIVES & LETTERS Series: QUEEN VICTORIA IN HER LETTERS AND JOURNALS (a selection by Christopher Hibbert) (Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England, New York City: Viking Penguin Books, 1984, 1985), on page 314, are two items regarding the Ripper by the Queen. The first is the message, dated November 10, 1888 (to Lord Salisbury) which is given (word for word) on page 357 of chapter 19 in the Stewart and Keith book. But then comes this letter to Henry Matthews, the Home Secretary, dated 13 November 1888:
"The Queen fears that the detective department is not so efficient as it might be. No doubt the recent murders in Whitechapel were committed in circumstances which made detection very difficult; still, the Queen thinks that, in the small area where these horrible crimes have been perpetrated, a great number of detectives might be employed, and that every possible suggestion might be carefully examined and, if practicable, followed.
"Have the cattle boats and passenger boats been examined?"
"Has any investigation been made as to the number of single men occupying rooms by themselves?
"The murderer's clothes must be saturated with blood and must be kept somewhere."
"Is there sufficient surveillance at night?"
"These are some of the questions that occur to the Queen on reading the account of this horrible crime."
Some things from this letter suggests itself. The Queen seems to have some knowledge of that theory linking the murders to seamen or cattle boat crewmen that was built up by a custom's official. Also she has some knowledge of the theory (which one would think came later) about a "Lodger" Ripper. Obviously, in her conversations with the Prime Minister and with the Home Secretary, she was being told all the current theories. I just wonder what a larger review of her diaries and letters might have revealed about the police investigation (if they exist).
Best wishes,
Jeff
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Eric Skinner
Sergeant
Username: Eric
Post Number: 18
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 7:54 am: | |
Hi Jeff,
Thanks very much for that information. It would be fascinating to discover what else the Queen knew about the investigation. That she was so concerned about the murders speaks volumes to their importance in the society.
I'm curious to find out if anyone knows what was said when Queen Victoria telephoned the Home Office on Oct. 1, 1888 to express her concerns following the double event. Come to think of it, how would you like to be the civil servant who answered the phone only to have a voice say "Her Royal Highness is telephoning to speak with the Home Secretary."  |
d g cornelius
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 9:53 pm: | |
Sgt Skinner, Sir:
That's Her Majesty you have on the line, copper.
Ripperati:
Excellent concept for TV series: "V.R., C.S.I."
respex, d g cornelius |
Phil Hill
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:58 am: | |
After Queen Victoria's death, one of her daughter's (Beatrice, I think)copied - and HEAVILY edited/censored - all her mother's diaries. The Queen had kep such a journal every day since childhood. the originals were then destroyed. What remains following the Princess's activities are in the Royal archives at Windsor.
The exception, was a separate diary, seemingly recording the Queen's sex-life with Albert (!!) of which a photocopy exists thanks to the foresight of George VI. (I am not sure whether this has ever been released even to biographers of the Queen.) But I doubt whether it would tell us much about JtR!!
Personally, I think we have all most of what the Queen would have said and thought about the case. Leaving aside "potty" conspiracy theories, she took a proportionate interest in a cause celebre of the day and asked some half-way intelligent questions about the handling of the case. End of story.
Oh, and no, SHE didn't do it!! |
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