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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 "Crawford Letter"
Casebook Message Boards: General Discussion: Pictures From Various Threads:
The "Crawford Letter"
Author: Spryder
Monday, 06 January 2003 - 03:32 pm |        | The "Crawford Letter", two sides of a single sheet of paper. Undated. Sent to Sir Robert Anderson by Lord Crawford, introducing an unnamed woman to Anderson who believed the Whitechapel murderer was "nearly related" to her. Currently resides in the Rare Book and Special Collections section of Perkins Library, Duke University.
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Author: Brian Schoeneman
Monday, 06 January 2003 - 04:26 pm | | Stephen,
How totally random - I was reading the dissertation about that letter today. Get outta my head! 
B |
Author: Christopher T George
Monday, 06 January 2003 - 08:22 pm | | Hi, Stephen and Brian:
And just a random thought from me. There is much mystery about this letter but as Stephen has conjectured it is possible that the suspect being referred to is Montague John Druitt, and the woman with whom Sir Robert Anderson met being MJD's cousin Emily Druitt who could have known Lord Crawford through their common interest in books. However, what if the term "the author of the Whitechapel murders" means not just that the person was responsible for the murders but that they were, besides being the murderer, actually An Author? That could open up other possibilities, for example, J. K. Stephen or the mysterious man with Scottish connections who was said to have published a volume of poetry circa 1887 as stated in a New York Times article of 1897 that was the subject of recent discussion on these boards.
Best regards
Chris George |
Author: Spryder
Monday, 06 January 2003 - 08:52 pm | | Hi Chris -
I noted this today on a different board, but to recap here ... I just this week found evidence that proves the Emily Druitt who worked on the Quaritch facsimiles in 1886/87 was NOT the cousin of Montague John Druitt, but rather another Emily Druitt altogether. She was the daughter of Jabez Druitt of Mile End, apparently unrelated to our Monty. Both Emily's were artists, coincidentally enough, which aided in my original confusion of the two.
With that in mind I no longer have any solid reason to believe Montague John Druitt was the "author" referred to in this letter, though of course the possibility remains. As I noted on the Kosminski board, it is perhaps more likely that it refers to Kosminski - as he was Anderson's favored suspect, and this was the only letter in his voluminous surviving personal correspondence that had anything to do with the Whitechapel murders. Perhaps Anderson kept it as a memento of his first introduction to Kosminski? With no names or dates to go on, I'm not sure we'll ever know for sure - though I do believe there is still merit in an attempt to link Lord Crawford to the relatives of the 'police suspects', possibly via a common acquaintance or friend, in order to hash out the mystery. |
Author: Christopher T George
Monday, 06 January 2003 - 09:46 pm | | Hi, Stephen:
Thanks for the interesting word that you now believe the Emily Druitt you identified is not Montague Druitt's cousin of that name but an entirely different lady from the East End borough of Mile End. It just shows the pitfalls one finds in making assumptions about people with similar names doesn't it?!!!
Spry, expect shortly the communication you have been expecting from me. Thanks for your patience.
All the best
Chris |
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