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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 **
William Thick
Casebook Message Boards: Police Officials: General Discussion:
William Thick
Author: Joseph Triola Jr.
Saturday, 06 March 1999 - 08:54 pm |        | Hello Everyone,
My name is Joseph, I live in New Jersey, USA.
I was wondering about William Thick, after the glowing revue he recieved on the lead page,
what role did he play in this mystery?
Best Regards
Joseph |
Author: Jon Smyth
Saturday, 06 March 1999 - 09:16 pm | | Hello Joseph
Sergent William Thick was involved in the arrest of a prominent suspect John Pizer following the murder of Annie Chapman and gave testimony at the subsequent inquest.
He was aparently involved in the Ripper investigation throught but specific details are hard to come by.
Jack London mentions him in 'People of the Abyss'
Paul Begg may be able to help you further,
regards, Jon.
PS, there will be a Ripper convention in Park Ridge, New Jersey, on Apr. 8-9, 2000. If your interested. |
Author: Anonymous
Sunday, 07 March 1999 - 04:37 am | | William Thick was one of the H Division detective sergeants working under Detective Inspector Reid, head of the divisional C.I.D.
43 years old at the time of the murders, he had 20 years experience in the Metropolitan Police and was a very experienced officer.
His Press profile was raised when he arrested 'Leather Apron' (John Pizer), on 10 September, 1888, on suspicion of complicity in the murder of Annie Chapman
It is interesting to note that a year later, 10 September, 1889, a member of the public, H.T. Haslewood, of White Cottage, High Road, Tottenham, wrote to the Home Office using the following terms, "I have very good grounds to believe that the person who has committed the Whitechapel murders is a member of the police force, - upon hearing from you that my name shall not be mentioned in any way, especially to the police, I will immediately forward you the name of the officer who I suspect of course it is only a suspicion, based on very slight evidence, but with the assistance of the police records you could in a very few minutes ascertain where this person was on the respective days of the murders, you could also ascertain if he was now suffering from any complaint that might effect [sic] his mind at certain seasons."
In a subsequent communication dated 14 October, 1889, Haslewood wrote, "...through the information I have received I believe that if Sergt. T.Thicke [sic]otherwise called 'Johnny Upright' is watched and his whereabouts ascertained upon other dates where certain women have met their end, also to see what deceace [sic] he is troubled with, you will find the great secreate [sic] this is to be strictly private and my name is not to be mentioned."
This correspondence was dismissed by the Home Office as "...plainly rubbish - perhaps prompted by spite."
[Ref HO 144/220/A49301A] |
Author: James Stowe
Thursday, 29 July 1999 - 10:10 pm | | I would like to offer the following under the "For What It's Worth" Department. My name is James Stowe, and some years ago I began researching William Thick(e) for a Ripper novel I had in mind. I since abandoned the project when I began to feel that however clever the fictional possibilities might be, they paled in comparison to the facts as we known them. At any rate, my friend Victor Tambling, of Birmingham, England, managed to track down Thicke's grand-daughter, Isabel Warren, who, at the time (1983), was 70 years old. Thanks to Vic, I made contact with Mrs. Warren, and I thought some readers of The Casebook might be interested in what she had to say. There are no startling revelations here, no tantalizing clues as to the Ripper's identity, just the reminiscences of a fine and proud lady. Here is her letter to me:
"Dear Mr. Stowe,
I was surprised and delighted to receive your letter with reminiscences of my grandfather's (Mr. William Thicke) life. I was introduced to Mr. Tambling of Birmingham through an advertisement he had inserted in a London newspaper asking if there were any of Mr. Thicke's relatives still alive. My nephew who lives in London saw this advert and sent it on to me in Dorset. ... [When grandfather passed away] I was then a young girl of 17 or 18 years old and am now the grand age of 70 years, so years do dim ones memory. But my grandfather was born in Dorset in a small village called "6d Handley" and when he was a lad he walked to Salisbury with his pack on his back and caught a train to London (I suppose he would have been about 18 years old). He then got himself introduced to the Police Force at Scotland Yard. He was certainly a grand old Victorian gentleman.
"After my grandmother passed away my grandfather made his home with us. I was still a school girl and not then married, and it was my Father, when Grandfather got old and bedridden, who would sit for hours at his bedside listening to his stories. I am the only member remaining of my family and I'm sure if my 2 older sisters had now been alive they would have had more recollections of him. He lived with us for about 8 years and our home was then in South London, but after the Second World War we moved to Dorset my grandfather's birthplace. He had one sister who survived him for a few years, and Grandfather had 3 daughters and a son. My mother being the eldest.
"The Yard was my grandfather's whole life and he was quite a character.
"A few years ago our BBC Television put on a programme regarding the Ripper case, and my grandfather was characterised by an actor and gave evidence in the Witness Box. Coincidentally the actor was made up to look like my grandfather in plain clothes and he wore a moustache which to my recollection was how I remember him.
..."He was 84 years old when he passed away and our family took him back to the East End of London to be interred next to my grandmother.
..."He was also involved in the 'Siege of Sydney St' I recollect. I can remember him saying although Jack the Ripper was never caught he did say he was the only one to have caught a glimpse of him jumping out of a window as Grandfather opened the door of this room.
..."I too think he was worthy to be remembered in print, and I would be most interested to hear what progresses.
... "Yours very sincerely,
"Isabel R. Warren" |
Author: Jon
Friday, 30 July 1999 - 04:19 am | | Oh, what we'd give to hear some of those stories,....thankyou James, you didn't mention if Isabel is still with us, I suppose not, but thankyou for the above, really puts life into otherwise flat photographic characters.
All the best, Jon |
Author: S P Evans
Friday, 30 July 1999 - 11:07 am | | Photograph of Sgt William Thick, H Division, courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Museum.
 |
Author: Anon
Friday, 30 July 1999 - 10:15 pm | | Thanks, Stewart.
The pictures you've posted are a big help to understanding the lives & times of the period & area.
Many thanks.
Anon. |
Author: Ashling
Saturday, 31 July 1999 - 03:50 am | | Hi y'all.
JAMES: Alright, I give up - where was "this" room?
..."He was also involved in the 'Siege of Sydney St' I recollect. I can remember him saying although Jack the Ripper was never caught he did say he was the only one to have caught a glimpse of him jumping out of a window as Grandfather opened the door of this room."
STEWART: Thanks for the pic of Johnny Upright! It's amazing how much warmth and realism sepia tones invoke. BTW, did sargeants wear suits on duty instead of uniforms?
Take care,
Janice |
Author: Jon
Saturday, 31 July 1999 - 05:09 am | | Thanks, once again Stewart.
Ashling, ....William Thick was a Detective Sergeant attached to 'H' Division, so not a uniformed officer. In the photo there appears a crescent moon on his tie & possibly stars, hard to tell for sure. I think I've seen the group shot that this was taken from, but can't recall if it was a divisional shot or some other gathering.
I'm sure Stewart will have more info....
Regards, Jon |
Author: Jon
Saturday, 31 July 1999 - 05:17 am | | ....in keeping with the saying 'Look before you speak'.....
Stupid me....the shot is in the A-Z, a divisional shot of Whitechapel CID, 'H' division. |
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