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  • Help with prison records

    I came across a chap called Benjamin Eve born 18 October 1845 in Kensal Green . His Mother died when he was 9 and his father remarried .

    In 1861 Benjamin is living at 1 New Gloster Street in Shoreditch with his Father ; Benjamins occupation is ' Apprentice to a locksmith ' [ MJK door was locked and the Police did not understand how the killer locked it from inside ]

    In 1865 he joined The Royal Navy ; on Naval Records it states that Benjamin is 5 ft 5 and 1/2 inches , he has brown hair , dark skin , with hazel eyes and has a scar on his right arm .

    In January 1866 Benjamin was based in HMS Excellent in Portsmouth as an Armourer ; it seems that he went on a drinking spree with his friend and ended up going home with an older woman called Caroline . He raped her and beat her to death ; he also left her body with her skirts pulled up and on full view to whoever found her ! Her legs and arms were in a crooked form ??? At her feet was a counterfeit coin and two earrings which it seems had been ripped from her lobes - yet he did not take them . Under her right arm was her bonnet , she must have been removing her hat as she entered her home when Benjamin commenced his attack .
    The newspaper reporters were surprised that such a a young man - he was 20 years old , had committed this crime and remarked what a ' docile ' appearance he had !

    He was found guilty of Manslaughter and was given a 7 year sentence ; in 1871 census he is found in Parkhurst Prison , Isle of Wight Hampshire .

    In October 1872 he married Mary Ann Rebecca Nelson in Hoxton London . States that both he and his father are ' Engineers ' .

    In 1881 his occupation is Engineer and he is living in Newington / Lambeth with his wife , no children .

    In 1888 he is living with his wife [ still no children ] and they are running a confectionary shop at 179 Mare Street Hackney .

    Hackney and Kingsland Gazette dated Wednesday 18 July 1888
    Headline " Well Deserved Punsishment " .
    Benjamin Eve is convicted for behaving indecently towards women of Hackney and given three months hard labour [ I found this info from the newspaper but could not find it on the The England and Wales Criminal Registers 1791 - 1892 ] .
    Benjamin did state that he had an alibi but the magistrate said he considered the case proved .
    I really could do with help in finding out whether Benjamin Eve served that three month sentence and the date he was released .

    Lets not forget Benjamin was a confectioner and Lucky Liz Stride had a box of Cachou [ sweets ]

    In 1908 Benjamin is in Highgate Police Court and is charged with cruelty to a horse , he is fined and says to his daughter [ he has no children ] " Pay the money dear " .

    In 1911 census Benjamin and his long suffering wife were still at 179 Mare Street Hackney and it states that Mary Ann had no children in 38 years of marriage .

    Benjamin dies 6th June 1914 and was buried in Newham Cemetery which incidentally is where 3 of Jacks Victims are buried .

    Can anyone help with how I find out whether Benjamin Eve actually went to Prison for those 3 months ? Or did they get time off for good behaviour ?

  • #2
    Just realised that Newham was the district that Jacks victims were buried in - whoops

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    • #3
      Hi Joolz

      It's pretty difficult. I did a search on the National Archives and it seems that their release licence records only go up to - you've guessed it - 1887. I can only suggest that you call their enquiry line tomorrow (the line is closed today) and hopefully they will be able to tell you if it's possible for you to pursue this.

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      • #4
        Perhaps they are releasing records when they are 130 years old... If so, maybe the 1888 ones will be available next year. It's worth a hope.
        Last edited by Pcdunn; 10-09-2017, 08:02 PM. Reason: Typo correction
        Pat D. https://forum.casebook.org/core/imag...rt/reading.gif
        ---------------
        Von Konigswald: Jack the Ripper plays shuffleboard. -- Happy Birthday, Wanda June by Kurt Vonnegut, c.1970.
        ---------------

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        • #5
          Pat, if so, then maybe we can ask for an early release for the records, on the grounds that the records have exhibited good behaviour.

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          • #6
            Joolz, I have now spoken to a National Archives adviser. It appears that such a small sentence may not have been deemed worthy of preservation in the records. Her advice was : go to the NA site (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/) and click help with your research/criminals, courts and prisons/criminals and criminal court cases (maybe prisons and prisoners too) and then read the research guides. If none of that helps, send them an email, telling them that you've done all this, and ask them if they have any suggestions.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Robert View Post
              Pat, if so, then maybe we can ask for an early release for the records, on the grounds that the records have exhibited good behaviour.
              Indeed! Good one...
              Pat D. https://forum.casebook.org/core/imag...rt/reading.gif
              ---------------
              Von Konigswald: Jack the Ripper plays shuffleboard. -- Happy Birthday, Wanda June by Kurt Vonnegut, c.1970.
              ---------------

              Comment

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