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While trawling through my JTR: The Bloody Truth by Melvin Harris, i stumbled upon a cutting that i had taken from my local paper at the time. I think it was re-printed in the 100 years ago section so would have been November 16 1988. I will try and get a pic of it but for now here is the transcript, which makes interesting reading.
1888, November 16th. WHITECHAPEL MURDER
Inquiries made yesterday show that since the previous evening nothing of importance has transpired in connection with the recent murders. At Leman Police Station yesterday morning there was no-one in custody, the men arrested on the previous night having been discharged on their identification being established. At Commercial Street two men were detained, but neither of them bore any resemblance to he whom the police are now in search. The agitation in regard to the alleged insufficient police protection in Spittalfields is taking a new form, and it is expected that within a few days a deputation from the district will wait upon the Home Secretary.
The extraordinary statement from Mathew Packer, the Fruiterer of berner Street, caused some sensation, but rightly or wrongly, the police are stated to regard it as not of the highest importance. Although investigations are being made in quarters indicated by the Informant, the police have not yet discovered the two men who, as alleged, had the interview with Packer and to one of whom the startling statement is attributed. Nothing important is expected to result from the arrest in Old Kent Road.
At Midnight there were no persons in custody in connection with the recent murders. Yesterday a man answering the published description entered a coffee shop in Battersea and displayed some hair, apparently human, clotted with blood. He was not detained, but it is stated, left the hair behind. The police recieved another letter signed " Jack the Ripper", commencing Dear Boss, explaining that he always addressed his cousin in these terms; and threatening to perpretate another murder in the locality on Wednesday next, inflicting injuries similar to those in the last case.
Now! A couple of points stand out in this article for me.
1/ Packer was taken by 2 detectives (Messrs. Grand and J.H.Batchelor of 283 Strand) to Golden Lane mortuary to view the body of Catherine Eddowes as they had found a grape stalk near Dutfields Yard. So can we assume that these are the 2 men mentioned in the article as interviewing Packer. But why take him to view Eddowes body when the stalk was found near Stride's body.
2/ The article mentions a Dear Boss letter indicating another crime the following Wednesday. Now If the article was written on the Nov 15th 1888 ( Thu) that would make it Wednesday 21st 1888. Looking at the "other" suspected victims; Annie Farmer was killed in the early hours of the 21st. However i note that this case is not taken seriously as an actual victim! And the injuries were nowhere near as brutal as stated in the alleged letter as similar to the last case( Assuming the writer meant Kelly)
3/ I cant see any reference to a Dear Boss letter which mentions addressing his cousin as this.
4/ What about the reported coffee shop visitor with the blod clotted human hair?
Anyway! your thoughts and comments would be appreciated to this humble Newbie to the casebook
Chris
1888, November 16th. WHITECHAPEL MURDER
Inquiries made yesterday show that since the previous evening nothing of importance has transpired in connection with the recent murders. At Leman Police Station yesterday morning there was no-one in custody, the men arrested on the previous night having been discharged on their identification being established. At Commercial Street two men were detained, but neither of them bore any resemblance to he whom the police are now in search. The agitation in regard to the alleged insufficient police protection in Spittalfields is taking a new form, and it is expected that within a few days a deputation from the district will wait upon the Home Secretary.
The extraordinary statement from Mathew Packer, the Fruiterer of berner Street, caused some sensation, but rightly or wrongly, the police are stated to regard it as not of the highest importance. Although investigations are being made in quarters indicated by the Informant, the police have not yet discovered the two men who, as alleged, had the interview with Packer and to one of whom the startling statement is attributed. Nothing important is expected to result from the arrest in Old Kent Road.
At Midnight there were no persons in custody in connection with the recent murders. Yesterday a man answering the published description entered a coffee shop in Battersea and displayed some hair, apparently human, clotted with blood. He was not detained, but it is stated, left the hair behind. The police recieved another letter signed " Jack the Ripper", commencing Dear Boss, explaining that he always addressed his cousin in these terms; and threatening to perpretate another murder in the locality on Wednesday next, inflicting injuries similar to those in the last case.
Now! A couple of points stand out in this article for me.
1/ Packer was taken by 2 detectives (Messrs. Grand and J.H.Batchelor of 283 Strand) to Golden Lane mortuary to view the body of Catherine Eddowes as they had found a grape stalk near Dutfields Yard. So can we assume that these are the 2 men mentioned in the article as interviewing Packer. But why take him to view Eddowes body when the stalk was found near Stride's body.
2/ The article mentions a Dear Boss letter indicating another crime the following Wednesday. Now If the article was written on the Nov 15th 1888 ( Thu) that would make it Wednesday 21st 1888. Looking at the "other" suspected victims; Annie Farmer was killed in the early hours of the 21st. However i note that this case is not taken seriously as an actual victim! And the injuries were nowhere near as brutal as stated in the alleged letter as similar to the last case( Assuming the writer meant Kelly)
3/ I cant see any reference to a Dear Boss letter which mentions addressing his cousin as this.
4/ What about the reported coffee shop visitor with the blod clotted human hair?
Anyway! your thoughts and comments would be appreciated to this humble Newbie to the casebook
Chris
Sink the Bismark
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