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Chris Scott
Sergeant
Username: Chris
Post Number: 30
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 9:39 am: |       |
I have found this article from the Fort Wayne Sentinel in Indiana. It is dated 18 November 1890 and related to Tumblety being arrested and searched in Washington. Of interest is the fact that he seemed to be carrying printed material relating to the Whitechapel murders over 2 years after they ended.
The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Indiana) 18 November 1890
Washington Column
Dr. Francis Tumblety, who is known to the police of all the large cities of America dn Europe, and who was under the surveillance of the Scotland Yard force when the "Jack the Ripper" excitement was at its height, was arrested in this city last night on the charge of being a suspicious character. At the station the doctor was searched and a large number of valuables were secured from him, amounting in worth to several thousand dollars. In his pockets was a pamphlet containing the names of a number of prominent men, both of this city and elsewhere, and he also carried a letter from a well-known congressman. The testimonials were chiefly devoted to elaborate praise of the doctor;s character. In the pamphlet the doctor had an article of print to the charge advanced against him by the London authorities and spoke of his escape unscathed from the villifying (sic) statements of newspapers.
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Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2701
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 9:45 am: | |
Another interesting find, Chris. I don't recall ever having read of this particular arrest. I will be in D.C. next weekend and might take some time to examine the local police/court records for that time to see if anything might be found. At the very least, the local D.C. papers should have covered the news.
Stephen P. Ryder, Editor
Casebook: Jack the Ripper |
Chris Scott
Sergeant
Username: Chris
Post Number: 31
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 12:47 pm: | |
Hi Stephen
Many thanks for the comments and would be interested if you can find out more.
Again I have been asked to post the article so Im attaching below
Chris
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R.J. Palmer
Sergeant
Username: Rjpalmer
Post Number: 34
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 8:33 am: | |
I have some more information on the above incident. It didn't involve any specific charges; Tumblety was found loitering in the 'shadows' of 9th & Pennsylvania Avenue wearing a dark overcoat and rubber boots. He was taken in for questioning, and then released. He did make a brief appearance in court the next day, but was dismissed after being scolded. The suspicions probably involved male prosititution, as there was also a material witness (of sorts) described only as 'a boy.' T had been arrested for similar behavior in the past with youths. RP |
Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2702
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 9:55 am: | |
Hi R.J. - thanks for the info! Might I ask what was/were your sources? I'd love to read the full report.
Stephen P. Ryder, Editor
Casebook: Jack the Ripper |
Mark Andrew Pardoe
Sergeant
Username: Picapica
Post Number: 47
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 6:51 pm: | |
Are the rubber boots important?
Just wondering.
Cheers, Mark |
R.J. Palmer
Sergeant
Username: Rjpalmer
Post Number: 35
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 12:51 am: | |
Stephen. Hi. Two articles covering the arrest appeared in the Washington Post. I only have a minute just now (sorry) but maybe can copy them out at a later date. Cheers, RP |
Noel Charles Auger
Police Constable
Username: Seecomber
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 4:30 pm: | |
`Rubber Boots' were certainly very uncommon in Victorian England at this time, Police constables were still clomping about in their `hobnails' which had the merit that they gave good warning of the constables approach! It seems a few imaginitive constables (or reckless ones) fixed strips of rubber to their boots to silence their footsteps which I would sggest is what the newspaper are hinting at when mentioning T`s rubber boots.Ideal importuning wear!{arial,helvetica, |
Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2782
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 10:35 pm: | |
Washington Post
18 November 1890
DR. TUMBLETY IN TOWN
Immediately Placed Under Arrest as a Suspicious Character.
LOADED DOWN WITH VALUABLES.
Letter in His Possession Testify to His High Moral Character, and a Pamphlet Recites a Complete Vindication of the London Charges Against Him.
Dr. Francis Tumblety, who is known to the police of all the large cities of America and Europe, and who was under the surveillance of the Scotland Yard force when the Jack the Ripper excitement was at its height, was arrested in this city last night. Detective Ned Horne saw the notorious doctor standing in a shadow near Ninth street and Pennsylvania avenue. His actions were so suspicious that the detective at once placed him under arrest. He showed a disposition to resist, but Horne convinced him that he had better go with him.
At the station the doctor was searched, and an unexpectedly large number of valuables were secured from him, amounting in worth to several thousand dollars. There were $250 in greenbacks, a check for $160, and two magnificent diamond rings, each worth, he claims, about $2,500. The brilliant glitter of the diamonds dazzled the eyes of the officers. The doctor also had a gold watch and a ring of rubies, set with small diamonds, worth about $200.
The prisoner was placed in a cell, but soon afterward the detective concluded to take collateral for his appearance at court this morning and his valuables were returned to him. A boy who had been held as a witness was ordered to appear in court also.
Dr. Tumblety is an enormous man, over six feet in height, with broad shoulders. His hair is black, tinged with gray, and his skin is red and coarse. His moustache is a rather large affair, evidently dyed black, and extends around the corners of his mouth. His eyes are steely blue, and he gazed steadily at nothing, as he spoke in a weak, effeminate voice. He was dressed in a big black overcoat and wore a German cap, and had on rubber boots.
In his pocket was a pamphlet containing the names of a number of prominent men, both of this city and elsewhere, and he also carried a letter from a well-known Congressman. The testimonials were chiefly devoted to elaborate praise of the doctor’s character.
In the pamphlet the doctor had an article replying to the charge advanced against him by the London authorities, and spoke of his escape unscathed from the vilifying statements of the newspapers. Dr. Tumblety very gladly deposited the collateral demanded and walked away. He had a key in his pocket for a room in Myer’s Hotel.
The doctor was well known to the officers in the station, and Detective Horne told a POST reporter of the man’s character. He had lived here in former years, and sold herb medicines. If he appears in court to-day, interesting developments are expected.
Washington Post
19 November 1890
No Case Against Tumblety.
Dr. Francis Tumblety was given a hearing in the police court yesterday. He produced testimony as to his good character in years past, but there was strong circumstantial evidence of his recent suspicious conduct to show that Detective Horne was fully justified in placing him under arrest. Ju[d]ge Miller was compelled to dismiss the case, but did so with reluctance and commented strongly upon the reputation borne by the notorious doctor. The police will keep Tumblety under surveillance during his stay in Washington.
Stephen P. Ryder, Editor
Casebook: Jack the Ripper |
R.J. Palmer
Detective Sergeant
Username: Rjpalmer
Post Number: 106
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 10:59 pm: | |
Stephen--I see you've chased those down. Note Tumblety isn't wearing his leopard-skin smoking jacket (he owned one) nor his green velvet pantaloons. Cheers. |
Christopher T George
Inspector
Username: Chrisg
Post Number: 255
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 1:34 pm: | |
Hi, Stephen & RJ:
I see people are still trying to villify poor Dr. Tumblety. I am having a pamphlet printed especially for the Liverpool convention that will totally vindicate him. It will contain attestations to his good character from the high and mighty on both sides of the Atlantic. 
Best regards
Chris
P.S. I myself have used Dr. Tumblety's pimple cure for some years with no ill effects, except for a stutter that makes me sound like Joe Barnett. |
James D. Smith
Police Constable
Username: Diomedes
Post Number: 10
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 3:58 am: | |
Hey Everyone,
Dr Tumblety was nothing short of a sociopath. Why did he need to carry statements attesting to his "good character". The Police in London arrested that jerk on suspicion of the Whitechapel murders and to me I feel that they had very good reason to. |
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