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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 **
P.C. Robert Spicer
Casebook Message Boards: Police Officials: General Discussion:
P.C. Robert Spicer
Author: Jacunius
Sunday, 10 June 2001 - 08:26 am |        | Can anyone help me with an exact copy of Spicer's article written in the 'Daily Express' of March 16th 1931?
Few points from it are not completely understood;
-which Police Station did Spicer take his suspect?
-When did Spicer make the arrest?
-When was suspect released to go, or how long did this process take?
Information regarding this would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Yours
sincerely,
Jacunius. |
Author: Jon
Monday, 11 June 2001 - 06:19 pm | | Jac.
I know of no-one who has that article, except possibly Melvin Harris.
According to McCormick....
- Spicer took his doctor to Commercial St. police station.
- Spicer made the arrest between 2-3:00am on Sept. 30th.
- The doctor was only detained "a very short time" then allowed to go.
I think some research was done on this individual and the name Dr. Frederick Chapman was suggested, but this is from memory so have it confirmed.
All the above (except the name) is from McCormicks book.
Regards, Jon |
Author: Rosemary O'Ryan
Tuesday, 12 June 2001 - 12:29 pm | | Dear Jacunius,
You do see the problem...maybe, just maybe PC Spicer invented this story?
Rosey :-) |
Author: Jacunius
Wednesday, 13 June 2001 - 03:27 am | | Rosemary,
Yes I am aware that old Spice may have created that story, and I could probably suggest few reasons why? But I can not ignore the possibility he was getting back at an old employer. With as many years between him and the actual events, he might have decided to dump the dirt so-to-speak. I have also discovered a certain probability for other reasons why Spicer wrote this article, especially concerning my suspect! However, this much I will elaborate as you are indeed a faithful Jacunian.
I have noticed that a lot of writers have wondered where old Jacky was during that golden hour immediately following Eddowes's murder, and the time when the message and part of apron was found. Had he escaped northwest towards Henage Court to make it a triple? And could he have been arrested by Spicer, taken to Police station, only to be released where he took off to write the message, and discard the bloody contents from his bag? (the part of apron, which might have been found if the inspectors took Spicer seriously, and checked his suspects bag!)
Any comments?
Yours
faithfully,
Jacunius. |
Author: Rosemary O'Ryan
Wednesday, 13 June 2001 - 05:35 am | | Dear Jacunius,
As a "faithful Jacunian" may I point out that your
proposed 'house' is being built from snad & warts,
or combination thereof...
Is there a "missing hour"? I thought they were all accounted for! As a Trinitarian (believes in Anything, Everything and Nothing), PC Spicer's story lacks every ingredient...but thats only Rosy's opinion- who's bin there :-) |
Author: Paul Begg
Wednesday, 13 June 2001 - 08:56 am | | Daily Express, March 16 1931
‘I CAUGHT JACK THE RIPPER.’
EX-CONSTABLE AND A STRANGE NIGHT MEETING
MAN RELEASED
A claim to have captured Jack the Ripper is put forward by a former member of the Metropolitan Police in a remarkable letter to the “Daily Express.”
The writer is Mr. Robert Clifford Spicer, of Saville-row, Woodford Green, Essex, who was a uniformed constable aged twenty-two, at the time of the Jack the Ripper outrages were terrorising London. His letter is as follows:-
“I have read with interest the most extraordinary articles by the late Robert James Lees on the capture of jack the Ripper.
“I had the pleasure of capturing him, and taking him to Commercial-street police station, after he had committed two murders.
“On this particular night I had walked my beat backwards and had come to Henage-street, off Brick Lane. About fifty yards on Henage-street is Henage-court. At the bottom of the court was a brick-built dustbin.
THE BROWN BAG
“Both Jack and a woman (Rosy) were sitting on this. She had 2s in her hand and she followed me when I took Jack on suspicion. He turned out to be a highly respected doctor and gave a Brixton address.
His shirt cuffs still had blood on them. Jack had the proverbial bag with him (a brown one). This was not opened, and he was allowed to go.
“I saw him several times after this at Liverpool-street Station accosting women, and I would remark to him, ‘Hello, Jack! Still after them?’ He would immediately bplt.
“He was always dressed the same – high hat, black suit with silk facings and a gold watch and chain. He was about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches and about 12 stone, fair moustache, high forehead and rosy cheeks.
“There have been several articles and confessions from time to time in the newspapers. Jack is supposed to have admitted he was arrested by a young constable, but was released. I claim to be that constable.”
THRILLING DAYS
Mr Spicer is now sixty-four years of age. He left the police force five months after the suspect had been released, and he has worked until recently as the groundsman of a school sports ground.
A “Daily Express” representative found him yesterday hard at work in a garden in Woodford Green. His deep eyes lit up with excitement when he recalled the thrilling days of the hunt for the Ripper, and he shook a gnarled forefinger to emphasise his conviction that the man he arrested was the criminal.
“I was so disappointed when the man was allowed to go that I no longer had my heart in police work,” he said. “The case was taken out of my hands by the detective branch, but I am sure I would have been able to prove my suspicions if the matter had been left to me.
“As soon as I saw the man in that dark alley-way in the early hours of the morning I felt sure he was the Ripper.
“The woman to whom he was talking was a notorious character of the class to which all the Ripper’s victims belonged.
QUESTIONS EVADED
“He evaded my questions when I challenged him. ‘That’s no business of yours,’ he replied when I asked him what he was doing. ;Oh isn’t it?’ I replied. ‘Then you come along with me and I marched him off to the police station, with the woman following.
“The news that the Ripper was caught spread like lightening through the district. Women peered out of bedroom windows and shouted and cheered. Some were so excited that they ran half-naked into the street. A crowd followed us to the station.
“I took the man before the inspector, and said that I charged him on suspicion with being Jack the Ripper. There were about eight or nine inspectors in the station at the time – all taking part in the hunt for the criminal.
“Imagine how I felt when I got into trouble for making the arrest! The station inspector asked me what I meant by arresting a man who had proved to be a respectable doctor.
“‘What is a respectable doctor doing with a notorious woman at a quarter to two in the morning?’ I asked, but no one would listen to me. The man was released, and that, as far as I was concerned, was an end to the matter.”
(A Dr. Merchant was suggested as the Brixton doctor by B.E. Reilly in "City", February 1972) |
Author: Jacunius
Wednesday, 13 June 2001 - 10:11 am | | Paul Begg,
Cheers, thank you, much appreciated, this will clarify many things.
Rosemary,
To see why this may be important, regardless if Spicer is telling porkies(which I doubt), is where was Jack after killing Eddowes from about 1.45am to about 2.55am when the message was found? Would he be hanging around this immediate area, I think not! But then again if Spicer did possibly arrest Jack, why would he tempt fate by heading into Goulston St to possibly write that message, and drop part of Eddowes's apron? Remembering of course, that little ol Jacky boy seemed to like tempting fate.....
What do ya reckon??
Yours
still pondering,
Jacunius |
Author: Rosemary O'Ryan
Wednesday, 13 June 2001 - 01:07 pm | | Dear Jacunius,
Supposing there is a 'thread' of truth in Spicer's story...what was the arrested doctor's name? I know that Spicer does'nt say...or won't say...his name. This omission is interesting from a number of perspectives,
Rosey :-) |
Author: Jacunius
Thursday, 14 June 2001 - 08:58 am | | Rosey,
I luv ya Trinitarian way of approaching things, and only wish there were more people like you...mmmm I wonder, what do you think about cloning?
Anyway enough deviance from me (slap!)
You have definitely touched on the three basic essentials to why I am researching this as a possibility for my suspect-
1)Could Spicer be telling the truth?
2)Is he holding back on who he thought it was?
(remembering it was a respectable doctor)
3)Who was he?
The first one I can presume is obvious, as I would not pursue this if it did not contain some credibility.
I think he was holding back on who he thought it was, and this leads me on to who he may have been...sorry but can not give away my suspect as yet.
Yours
empathetically,
Jacunius. |
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