Author: Scott Russell Chapman
Friday, 23 February 2001 - 04:57 pm |        |
Hi,
I have been researching my family and have discovered that Albert Bachert is (or was) my Great Great uncle.
I know that there is a lot of information out there about him but i just cant get my hands on it, so i just wondered if anyone out there knows more information about him?
All the best, Scott Chapman |
Author: Jim DiPalma
Friday, 23 February 2001 - 06:43 pm | |
Hi All,
Scott, welcome to the boards. If you go to the Casebook and use the search engine, you'll turn up about half a dozen hits. I ran such a search some months back, though I can't recall why.
There is also an entry in the JtR A-Z.
You may be of more help to us. If you have any oral traditions in your family regarding your great-great uncle, they would certainly be of interest. An photograph of him would be of even more interest. No diaries, please.
Regards,
Jim |
Author: Christopher T George
Friday, 23 February 2001 - 06:47 pm | |
Hi Scott:
The following should help you.
William Albert Bachert (sometimes spelled "Backert"), an engraver and resident 13 Newnham Street, is known for several connections to the Ripper case. In a lot of ways, he is one of the curious people on the periphery of the case.
Early in September 1888, Bachert wrote to the Evening News expressing horror at the murders. On October 2, Bachert was reported in the press as having seen "a dark man, height 5 ft 6 in or 5 ft 7 in . . . [who] wore a black felt hat, dark clothes, morning coat, black tie, and carried a shiny bag" in The Three Tuns, Aldgate (often erroneously called in the press "The Three Nuns"). The man furtively asked questions about streetwalkers and expressed hostility to prostitution. When an old match-seller looked in, however, he made a speedy appointment to go up Northumberland Alley off Fenchurch Street with her.
Ripperologist Donald McCormick learned from Dr Thomas Dutton that in March 1889 Bachert was badgering the police about the murders and was confidentially told by the police that the murderer had died by drowning at the end of 1888. Dutton's source is unknown, but if his statement is true the information reinforces belief in police suspicion of M. J. Druitt.
By September 1889, Bachert was Chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, previously headed by building contractor George A. Lusk, formed during the murders to urge official action.
Stewart P. Evans and Keith Skinner in The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Companion (p. 537) reprint an article from the New York Herald of September 1889, that in part says that Bachert, speaking as Chairman of the Vigilance Committee, stated that the police at Leman Street Station "had received a letter stating . . . that a tall strong woman has for some time been working at different slaughter-houses, attired as a man" and that the police were following up that report.
Ripperana editor Nick Warren has speculated that Bachert had not been told that the murderer had drowned at the end of 1888, or that the Pinchin Street murder may have caused him to doubt the story given to him by the police in March 1889. (Ripperana 26, 1998).
Nicholas Connell and Stewart Evans in The Man Who Hunted Jack the Ripper: Edmund Reid and the Police Perspective (p. 93) publish a newly found letter to the editor of The Daily Chronicle, written the day of the murder of Frances Coles (February 13, 1891) in which he expressed his opinion that Coles could not be a Ripper victim.
Two days later, on February 15, 1891, Bachert was called as a reserve juror at the inquest into the murder of Frances Coles. Coroner Wynne Baxter refused to let him be empanelled, despite Bachert's loud protest that he was being deliberately excluded because he would "enquire too closely." In the letter to the editor of the Daily Chronicle, significantly, Bachert wrote, "If evidence is brought forward which can prove that [the murder] has been committed by the late Whitechapel fiend, I shall at once re-form the Vigilance Committee and appeal to the public for aid." This tells us that 1) the Vigilance Committee was defunct and 2) Bachert appeared to believe the Ripper murders had ceased.
It is possible that Bachert was also the "engraver and agitator" of Tower Hamlets who became secretary of the Unemployed Relief Committee, and who was charged with using counterfeit florins in 1889 (acquitted), and fraudulent theft of bread and flour in 1893 (convicted and sentenced to 3 months hard labor).
I hope the above information is helpful to you. If you find out anything additional about Mr. Bachert let us know.
Chris George |
Author: Martin Fido
Friday, 23 February 2001 - 10:03 pm | |
In re The Three Tuns/Nuns: histories of the east End gangs and the Stinie Morrison murder case sometimes also give the name The Three Nuns for the pub that was Aldgate gangleader Reuben Michaels' informal headquarters. Like Chris I have never been able to find anything but a Three Tuns in the neighbourhood, but I'm puzzled by the constant recurrence of reference to The Three Nuns. If Scott turns up anything about this in his searches for his great-uncle, it would be most interesting.
And welcome, indeed, into our merry and occasionally quarrelsome band, Scott.
Martin Fido |
Author: Christopher T George
Friday, 23 February 2001 - 10:15 pm | |
Hi Martin:
I happened to mention to East End expert Adrian M. Phypers, author of the Casebook dissertation on "THE HOUSE WHERE JACK SWILLED? An Investigation Of Pubs, Beer & The Ripper" that "The Three Tuns" sounded the more logical name for a pub, but he remarked that "The Three Nuns" might have been the correct name. This might bear some more investigation. A shame we can't just walk in there and raise a pint and know for sure, eh?
Best regards
Chris George |
Author: A.M.P.
Saturday, 24 February 2001 - 05:30 am | |
Hi Chris,
The Three Nuns Hotel at 13 Aldgate High St. was a narrow-fronted building on the north side of the road between St. Botolph’s Church and the train station. It was an entirely separate establishment to the Three Tuns public house in Jewry Street. There had been an inn on the site for centuries and it has been suggested that the first may have acted as a source of income for the Abbey of St. Clare Minoress without Aldgate, a nunnery which gave its name to the street called Minories. The ‘Poor Clares’, as they were known, was one of several religious orders given land to the east of medieval London - something which you and other board writers have correctly alluded to before.
With respect to the Albert Bachert story, it was widely reported, but the contemporary sources conflict and the incident could have taken place at either the Three Nuns or the Three Tuns. More than two years have elapsed since writing that dissertation and if compiling it today I would have included both pubs as alternatives.
Bachert’s name is frequently misspellt (he had German roots). If Scott Chapman or yourself are still looking for him at the Casebook you should try using Backert, Bechart and Baskert in the search engine as well. Best Wishes. |
Author: Martin Fido
Saturday, 24 February 2001 - 07:25 am | |
Wow, A.M.P. - Thankyou. That magisterially clears up a problem that had been niggling at me for a long time.
Martin F |
Author: Christopher T George
Saturday, 24 February 2001 - 10:23 am | |
Hi AMP:
Thank you for clarifying that there were in fact two pubs of similar name, the Three Nuns Hotel at 13 Aldgate High St. and Three Tuns public house in Jewry Street. No wonder the journalists of the day were confused! This might make for an interesting little piece in Ripperologist or Ripper Notes if you feel inclined to write one. As Martin said, we owe you for this information.
Best regards
Chris George |
Author: Jon
Saturday, 24 February 2001 - 07:37 pm | |
Bravo A.M.P.
You dont contribute often, but when you do, its always worthwhile.
Regards, Jon
(Glad the Tuns/Nuns is finally settled) |
Author: Scott Russell Chapman
Sunday, 25 February 2001 - 01:16 pm | |
I am very sorry but will be unable to get hold of any kind of photograph of Albert due to the fact that my family were so secretive and have probably distroyed any photographs there may have been.
I was actually hoping that a newspaper may have had some kind of photograph or sketch of him, as i know that he was in thepapers quite regularly.
Yours, Scott |
Author: Jon
Sunday, 25 February 2001 - 04:03 pm | |
Scott
Sounds to me like you need to visit Colindale Newspaper Library in London.
Regards, Jon |
Author: Scott Russell Chapman
Sunday, 25 February 2001 - 05:16 pm | |
Hi,
Does anyone in here know anything about the grafitto on Bachert's house? I read about it another forum on this site.
Thanks, Scott |
Author: Christopher T George
Sunday, 25 February 2001 - 08:22 pm | |
Hi Scott:
Stewart P. Evans on the Goulston Street graffito board stated on Tuesday, June 29, 1999 at 07:25 am: "I believe that graffiti was common in 1888, as it is today. Albert Bachert had some scrawled on his wall at a later date, to the effect that 'Jack the Ripper' lived at the address, in Newnham Street. This was probably as a result of the publicity he received in the newspapers."
Possibly Stewart could address this question and let you know if there are any more details about this graffiti scrawled at Bachert's address in Newnham Street.
I was sorry to hear that you do not have a photograph of Mr. Bachert. His name sounds German, am I right? Can you tell us anything else about his family background and his last days. I believe I have read that he was aged 28 in 1888, is that right?
Best regards
Chris George |
Author: Paul Begg
Monday, 26 February 2001 - 09:35 am | |
| Back to the Tuns of Nuns, there was a Three Tuns public house loacted at 1 Whitechapel High Street -that's on the south side, on or almost on the corner of Mansell Street. |
Author: Scott Russell Chapman
Monday, 26 February 2001 - 02:31 pm | |
Hi Chris,
Yep you are right Albert was born in London, 12 Mountford Street, but his mother and father were indeed German.
In 1888 Albert would have been 28, so you are right on that one aswell.
But sadly he did not have any children, well not that i know of yet anyway.
Thanks, Scott |
Author: Paul Begg
Tuesday, 27 February 2001 - 04:42 am | |
| Back to the Tuns. I just checked Arthur Harding and he definitely said Three Tuns in Aldgate as the HQ of Ruby Michael. So I guess the pub in question was the The Three Tuns at 1 Whitechapel High Street, rather than the Tuns in the rather more distant Jewry Street. |
Author: Martin Fido
Tuesday, 27 February 2001 - 08:21 am | |
But Paul, Arthur Harding also tells us that MJK's inquest was held in The Gun on Artillery Row. The old villain's useful for many things, but not acurate information....
Martin |
Author: Paul Begg
Wednesday, 28 February 2001 - 01:00 am | |
Hi Martin
I know, but I was simply pointing out that he based Ruby Michaels in Aldgate and that there was a Three Tuns in Aldgate, albeit at 1 Whitechapel High Street, so in this instance Harding does name a pub in an area and the pub existed where he said it did. I didn't think a Three Tuns in Jewry would thus throw any real doubt on which pub Harding meant. In any event, we have the Three Nuns in Aldgate, the Three Tune in Aldgate/WHS, and the Three Tone in Jewry. |
Author: Martin Fido
Wednesday, 28 February 2001 - 01:10 am | |
A fascinating collection of closely-spaced similarly named establishments, Paul. What's the source for the Three Tuns on Whitechapel High St? Kelly's Directory?
Martin |
Author: Paul Begg
Wednesday, 28 February 2001 - 10:16 am | |
| Indirectly, yes. I'd noticed it ages ago on one of those folding maps of the East End you could (well, still can) buy. "East End Underworld" and "Rothschild Dwellings" are, in my opinion, absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in the Ripper for the colour and understanding they give to the area. I just wish Routledge had added more to that series. |
Author: Scott Russell Chapman
Thursday, 01 March 2001 - 04:15 pm | |
Hi All,
Does anyone think the grafitto on Bacherts wall was actually written by Jack himself?
For those of you who don't know what i'm talking about, Albert Bachert had written on his wall,
'DEAR BOSS,-I AM STILL ABOUT. LOOKOUT,-YOURS JACK THE RIPPER'
I think this would make a great discusion!
Scott |
Author: Christopher T George
Thursday, 01 March 2001 - 09:05 pm | |
Hi Scott:
Just as the innumerable Jack the Ripper letters were almost certainly all, or possibly nearly all, hoaxes written by probably scores of different people, such graffiti signed "Jack the Ripper" or mentioning the Ripper was probably written by kids or other pranksters. Bachert was not the only person to have such graffiti written on his wall. The convicted murderer William Bury, who moved from the East End to Dundee, where he murdered his wife in their basement flat at 113 Princes Street on February 5, 1889, had written on the wall outside his tenement door, "Jack the Ripper is at the back of this door" and on the stairway wall, "Jack the Ripper is in this Seller [sic]." So, no, to answer your question, I think it is highly unlikely that the Ripper himself would have taken the risk of writing that graffiti on Albert Bachert's wall.
Best regards
Chris George |
Author: Scott Russell Chapman
Saturday, 24 March 2001 - 06:26 pm | |
Hi all,
I'm afraid i have a bit of a problem!
After 2 visits to the Family Records Centre, i have been unable to find Albert's Death.
He was born in 1860 and was last heard of in 1893. So i searched from 1893 to 1960!!!, but still no sign.
Has anyone got any suggestion for me that i can do which may help me find my Uncle's death?
All the best, Scott |
Author: Paul Begg
Sunday, 25 March 2001 - 03:57 am | |
| Did you check all spelling variants? Did you check deaths in Scotland or outside the UK? |
Author: Scott Russell Chapman
Sunday, 25 March 2001 - 02:42 pm | |
I did check the deaths abroad, but there were only about 20 names beggining with "B" so i'm not cure weather i did it right?
No i must admitt i didn't check all spelling varients!
Do you think that it is possible, as i know he was in trouble with the police, that he changed his name? |
Author: Paul Begg
Monday, 26 March 2001 - 01:37 am | |
Hi Scott
Anything is possible. But it is more likely, I suspect, that he will be registered under a variant spelling like Bachert, Backert, and so on. Have you checked probate records, assuming her left a will? How about the birth and marriage certificates of his children, if he had any. These might indicate the favoured spelling variant. |
Author: Scott Russell Chapman
Tuesday, 24 April 2001 - 06:13 pm | |
Hi all,
Does anyone fancy visiting my new site it is a bit dull at the moment but soon i will be putting on some information about Albert Bachert!!!!!!!
The address is http://jtr.homestead.com/jacktheripper.html
Thanks, Scott |
Author: Christopher T George
Tuesday, 24 April 2001 - 06:50 pm | |
Hi, Scott:
I will be pleased to have a look at your new site.
Incidentally, in trying to dig out some information on the Albert Bachert of 1888 I came across another, I think modern, Albert Bachert who had something to do with making (or renovating) a church clock in Hamburg. See http://www.st-michaelis.de/MichelBauwerk.htm I don't speak German so I was unable to glean the full facts. Perhaps this A. Bachert is another relative of yours? In any case you may think that the site is worth a link if so.
Best regards
Chris George |
Author: Scott Russell Chapman
Wednesday, 25 April 2001 - 03:26 pm | |
Hi Chris,
Thanks a lot for that information but sadley i don't speak German!!!! i will try and find someone who can and then i will be able to give you the full facts!
See your e-mails for the pictures of Abberline's House, i wouldn't mind you stating that the picture appears curtocy of me as it is part of a personal collection.
Yours, Scott.
P.S It is an exclusive to you and if anybody asks you for permision to use it would you please refer them to me before accepting, thanking you. |
