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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 **
East End 1888 - William Fishman
Casebook Message Boards: Ripper Media: Specific Titles:
Non-Fiction:
East End 1888 - William Fishman
Author: chris scott
Thursday, 19 December 2002 - 06:45 pm |        | I found at this url
http://homepages.gold.ac.uk/genuki/LND/Indexes/EASTEND.txt
a listing from the Fishman publication East End 1888
This list includes all 6 of the "Ripper" victims (it includes Tabram under the namd of Turner) but if you look at in the alpha listing it mentions MR BARON and notes "Led a post-Ripper vigilante group in Mile End"
Does anyone know anything about this Mr Baron and what this incident refers to?
Many thanks
Chris Scott |
Author: Christopher T George
Friday, 20 December 2002 - 12:40 pm | | Hi, Chris:
Thanks for the URL. George Lusk is listed in the newspaper reports as alternately head of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee and of the Mile End Vigilance Committee in October 1888. It is not clear whether they were one and the same body. I have not heard of Mr. Baron before. In 1889, Albert Bachert was head of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, so whether Baron took over from Bachert or preceded Bachert, presuming the Whitechapel and Mile End committees were one and the same, and if this information is right that Baron "led" the Mile End committee, needs to be determined.
All the best
Chris |
Author: The Viper
Friday, 20 December 2002 - 01:13 pm | | The text on page 220 of the book reads as follows:-
"On 17 September, a Mile End Vigilantes Committee was formed at the 'Crown', 74 Mile End Road, under the auspices of a Mr Baron."
I believe this to be a misprint, or possibly a misreading of the name on the part of Prof. Fishman. Rather than Baron he probably meant Joseph Aarons. There is some similarity in the names. Since Fishman researched the bulk of his book from the local newspapers of 1888 he may well have gleaned his information from the 22nd September's article in the East London Advertiser.
We looked into the names of the Vigilance Committees once before, Chris. It was concluded that the Mile End and Whitechapel Vigilance Committees were one and the same. From memory, what we never ascertained was the correct 'official' name of the organisation.
Regards, V. |
Author: Christopher T George
Friday, 20 December 2002 - 03:12 pm | | Hi, Viper:
Thanks for that clarification and for pointing to the Advertiser of 22 September 1888 as the likely source of the information which said that Joseph Aarons was the man who formed the committee. I think this section of the article bears quoting in full because it also does seem to indicate that the official name of the committe was the Mile End Vigilance Committee. Perhaps it was only known informally as the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee. This also seems to indicate that Aarons although he may have helped set up the committee did not "lead" it as Dr. Fishman appears to indicate in giving the name incorrectly as "Baron." Here Lusk is shown to be head of the committee:
"The local committee, which has been formed chiefly through the efforts of Mr. Aaron, of The Crown, Mile End-road, Mr. B. Harris, Mr. Lusk, and a few other gentlemen, has been steadily working with the object of gaining enough money to offer a further and additional reward to that already published by Mr. Montagu, M.P., but up to the present a large measure of success has not attended their efforts. The committee complain that the people generally do not respond quickly to their appeal for funds. On Monday evening, a meeting of the committee, formed under the title of the Mile End Vigilance Committee, was held at the Crown Tavern, for the purpose of considering the best means for preventing a repetition of the late dreadful murders, and for securing the detection of the criminals. Mr. Lusk occupied the chair, and there were present, amongst others, Messrs. Cohen, Aarons, Houghton, H. A. Harris, Laughton, Lord, Isaacs, Rogers, Mitchell, Barnett, Hodgins, Lindsay, Reeves, Jacobs, and B. Harris, the hon. sec. In the course of the proceedings a long list of subscriptions towards the reward fund for the apprehension of the murderer was read, including £5 from Mr. Spencer Charrington. It was decided that as soon as £100 was gathered the reward bills would be sent out. It transpired that on the 15th inst. the committee sent a letter to the Home Secretary on the subject, which was to the following effect:- "At a meeting of the committee of gentlemen, held at 74, Mile End-road, E., it was resolved to approach you upon the subject of the reward we are about to issue for the discovery of the author or authors of the late atrocities in the East End of London, and to ask you, Sir, to augment our fund for the said purpose, or kindly state your reasons for refusing." To this letter he had received the following communication: "Sir, - I am directed by the Secretary of State to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th inst. with reference to the question of the offer of a reward for the discovery of the perpetrators of the recent murders in Whitechapel, and I am to inform you that had the Secretary of State considered the case a proper one for the offer of a reward he would at once have offered one on behalf of the Government, but that the practice of offering rewards for the discovery of criminals was discontinued some years ago, because experience showed that such offers of reward tended to produce more harm than good, and the Secretary of State is satisfied that there is nothing in the circumstances of the present case to justify a departure from this rule. - I am, sir, your obedient servant, G. LEIGH PEMBERTON. - Mr. B. Harris, The Crown, 74, Mile End-road, E." |
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