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** This is an archived, static copy of the Casebook messages boards dating from 1998 to 2003. These threads cannot be replied to here. If you want to participate in our current forums please go to https://forum.casebook.org **
The Philadelphia Times, December 3, 1888
Casebook Message Boards: General Discussion: Miscellaneous:
The Philadelphia Times, December 3, 1888
Author: David O'Flaherty
Wednesday, 17 July 2002 - 07:29 pm |        | Why would the police include this story in their files? The woman's story related in it can't be accurate since Kate Eddowes didn't return from a month of hop-picking until Sept. 27, and was in jail during the time this source claims to have been drinking with her. Why would detectives follow this story up?
Does anybody believe this clipping's inclusion in the files indicative of the police's belief that two men were responsible for the Stride/Eddowes murder?
I searched for past discussions on this story in the archives and found nothing--if anyone knows of one, I'd like to read it.
Best,
Dave |
Author: Christopher T George
Thursday, 18 July 2002 - 10:16 am | | Hi, David et al.:
Just to clue people in, this press report can be found in the press reports section under Philadelphia Times - 3 December 1888.
David, while we may seek to find some significance in this story being in the official files, I am sure there were often instances in which a clerk put something in a file that was in some way related to the case but that was really not of great importance. There is also a story from the New York Herald London edition of 11 September 1889 which is also in the Metropolitan Police files at the Public Record Office (PRO). It is the story that shows the sketch of the murder site in Buck's Row although much of the article is about the finding of Pinchin Street torso--the day previous to the appearance of the story (10 September). As we know, Pinchin Street murder today is not generally regarded as a Ripper murder though it was at the time counted among the series of "Whitechapel murders" thought by many to be by the same hand. Are we to infer that the New York Herald London edition of 11 September 1889 contains some vital clue to the identity of the Whitechapel murderer? Most probably not.
Best regards
Chris George |
Author: David O'Flaherty
Thursday, 18 July 2002 - 12:38 pm | | Hi, Chris
Thanks for the response and the link, which I should have provided.
I agree there aren't any vital clues in this story--names are wrong, stories recounted which even the most casual observer (like me) knows can't have happened. And then, the detectives flock to this Sherlockian lawyer, George Lewis. Hmmm, I wonder who the source for this story may have been 
I think the clipping's value might be that the headline at least might be in line with the thinking of the City Police (or their clerk)--"Not One Man's Work?" This is the first time the theory appears in print, isn't it? Why else would they even give this story a second thought? Personally, I believe that JTR did in Stride as well, but I'm interested in what the police thought at the time, even if it was only the clerk.
Other than the headline, I'm unclear what value this report had to the police. Maybe they just liked this line: "The city Vidocqs are, taken as a body, a far more intellectual class of men than their bretheren of Scotland Yard."
Thanks for the story about the Herald, by the way. One of the questions I had was how often press reports were included in the official files.
Best,
Dave |
Author: Christopher T George
Thursday, 18 July 2002 - 01:06 pm | | Hi, Dave:
I have copies of the official files and I can tell you that it is rare to find an article from a newspaper in the official files. These may be the only two instances, although Stewart or someone else could confirm that. Curious that both of the newspapers were American newspapers given the hundreds of articles on the case that had appeared in British newspapers!
Best regards
Chris |
Author: Jack Traisson
Thursday, 18 July 2002 - 04:25 pm | | Hi Chris,
The Daily Telegraph article on the Kelly murder from November 10 is also in the files. Easy to see why that one was included.
Cheers,
John |
Author: Christopher T George
Friday, 19 July 2002 - 11:59 am | | | Thanks Jack, good point. |
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