Who is this "notorious woman"?

[Debra A]

Just adding stuff that was lost in case someone finds it useful in the future:



Plus, I did have a news clip from 1887 that reported that a Mrs Chapman and Bella Freeman were fined for running a brothel at 70 and 72 Oxford Street (which I think is the Mile End Oxford Street) but I can't find it at the moment.

[Debra A]

The notorious Bella Freeman

Bella freeman was first mentioned on the boards by Stewart Evans a few years ago now but that thread, with all the subsequent research information posted, was lost in the last big casebook crash.

Spiro Dimolianis mentions Bella as Bella Freeman briefly in his book " Jack the Ripper and Black Magic: Victorian Conspiracy Theories, Secret Societies and the Supernatural Mystique of the Whitechapel Murders" but didn't research her fully or identify her by her real name.
This is a passage from blackmailer Chicago May's autobiography, mentioning Bella Freeman and reproduced in Dimolianis's book:

"I went to a fence, Bella Freeman, in Whitechapel, and disposed of the stuff. She told me she had to
be cautious of Yanks, because they were so sharp that they would sell her swag, and then steal it from
her. She certainly was frank to me, thinking I was Irish. This gave me an idea, so I, when her back
was turned, robbed her of a package of unset stones worth about two hundred and fifty pounds. This
with what she paid me for the rings, etc., gave me a fair price for my work. When Bella died, she had
diamonds worth a king’s ransom. She left most of her estate to the Church, and spent a fortune trying
to identify Jack the Ripper, who killed the unfortunate woman on her property."

When Stewart originally started the Bella Freeman thread, AP Wolf noted that Booth's online notebooks mentioned the 'notorious Bella Freeman, a brothel keeper and gave an address for her of 36 Mayfield Rd.Hackney. At the time, through this address, I was able to ascertain that Bella Freeman was in fact Bella Poolman and posted some of my findings and newspaper articles about Bella. Researcher Chris Phillips found the reference number for Bella's will and I was able to obtain a hard copy of the 1901 will from that. Although I had mountains of information on Bella, her son George and other members of the Poolman family and their locations, I, nor Rob Clack who was helping me, was able to make any link to a victim of JTR, although we did discover that Bella did occupy property in the Whitechapel/Spitalfields area.

I was going through some old research lately and tidying up some loose ends on Bella Poolman and quite coincidentally while looking for some information on the brother in law of Martha Tabram, as a favour to another researcher, I discovered that Thomas Morriss, husband of Ann Morriss who gave evidence at Tabram's inquest, was seemingly lodging with Bella's son at Mile End Rd in 1881. I haven't fully explored or confirmed the possible connection ,it is probably just a complete coincidence, or perhaps notthe right Thomas Morris (although everything fits) but there is a possibility that the Poolman's knew Martha Tabram which is worth looking at I think
Although Bella did have West end property her main business was a Spitalfields coffee shop (traditionally coffee come knocking shops) at 2 White Lion Street, Norton Folgate (now Folgate Street) part of the Tillard estate. She occupied this property for years from at least 1884, right until her death in 1901 and was there in 88, right in the heart of things.

[DRoy]

Good evening DRoy and welcome to the Casebook discussion group.



Yeah it looks like Lynn (heh-heh)

No this was discussed some over at Forums and the woman's name revealed. Here the link (click) and here (click)

Thanks Roy!

I'm only 5 years too late

[Roy Corduroy]

Good evening DRoy and welcome to the Casebook discussion group.

Does "Jack" look like anyone we know?

Yeah it looks like Lynn (heh-heh)

No this was discussed some over at Forums and the woman's name revealed. Here the link (click) and here (click)

Again, welcome,

Roy

[lynn cates]

whiskers

Hello Roy. Thanks for posting this. I have no strong opinion.

The side whiskers look like Hurlbert's, but he was a fairly large man. Ironically, though, I am trying now to find the origin of the story of a woman who met a "strange and violent death" for spreading rumours about Hurlbert.

Cheers.
LC

[DRoy]

I understand why people are only reading and not commenting on this story...It sounds too crazy! That, and the photo looks nothing like what we...(or most likely anyone from 1888)... think the Ripper would look like.

That being said, I would appreciate some comments on either the notorious woman or the picture of "Jack". I've never heard of the woman nor have I heard of a photo of "Jack", nor have I seen this drawing of "Jack".

Anyone out there have an opinion or comment? Hello? Anyone?

DRoy

[DRoy]

This from The Pittsburgh Dispatch November 2, 1890

I'm not familiar with this story so perhaps someone can shed some light on who this woman may be.

Is this just another wanna-be who has determined who Jack is through no real reasoning or fact finding? Or another journalist in a different land making up a good story?

Does "Jack" look like anyone we know?

Cheers
DRoy