What 5 Questions Would You Like Answered?

[curious4]

Kate's picture

I don't know about that I have seen her photo you can clearly see the marks left behind where the barge poles have been !

Now, now, Trevor, no-one can be expected to look their best with a cut throat, sewn up the middle and hung up by the hair from a hook - not even in fishnet stockings - if she'd had any.

Cheers,
Gwyneth

[Observer]

Hi Gwyneth,

You certainly are a romantic.

Evening News 10th October 1888—

"Kelly is an interesting character from the fact that he is in some degree above the class which surrounds him. He is quiet and inoffensive in manner, and has fine features, with sharp and intelligent eyes . . . Kelly is not a strong man, as he suffers from an affection of the kidneys and a bad cough. These ailments have prevented him from doing much hard work, and he has earned his living by doing odd jobs about Spitalfields Market and running errands for the Jews . . ."

Interesting that his "affection of the kidneys and a bad cough" did not prevent him walking the thirty five miles from Maidstone to London in a single day.

Regards,

Simon

Don't leave it there Simon. Are you of the opinion that Kelly was lying about his medical condition? Or that he was incapable of walking from Maidstone to London in a single day due to his medical condition?

[Trevor Marriott]

Hello Lynn,

I must be particularly thick today, but can't see what you are getting at. I know Kelly is quoted as saying that Kate was locked up in the afternoon and I have seen him quoted as saying seven-thirty, that is before the time she was actually locked up, but apart from that, nothing. Does it matter whose name was on the pawn-ticket?

Confused,
Gwyneth

Hello Trevor,

I think she would have had more takers in London than in Maidstone! Know it well, grew up there. Kate was by all accounts a "jolly" and lively woman - I think she would have been more in demand than say Polly (despite bonnet) or Annie Chapman. Still, no accounting for taste.

Best wishes,
Gwyneth

I don't know about that I have seen her photo you can clearly see the marks left behind where the barge poles have been !

[lynn cates]

problems

Hello Gwyneth. Thanks.

"Does it matter whose name was on the pawn-ticket?"

Umm, if it were really his boots, yes.

But there are FAR worse problems.

Cheers.
LC

[Simon Wood]

Hi Jon,

What's all this?

Don't let whom distract Gwyneth?

Regards,

Simon

[Jon Guy]

You`re not wrong, C4.
Don`t let them distract you ...

[curious4]

Hmmmm

Hello Simon,

Hmmmm. I need a quiet hour or so to reread what I can find on Kelly and on my laptop - going cross-eyed trying to read everything on my phone! I shall have to spend some time reassessing Kelly - not saying I'm wrong quite yet though!

All good wishes,
Gwyneth

[Simon Wood]

Hi Gwyneth,

You certainly are a romantic.

Evening News 10th October 1888—

"Kelly is an interesting character from the fact that he is in some degree above the class which surrounds him. He is quiet and inoffensive in manner, and has fine features, with sharp and intelligent eyes . . . Kelly is not a strong man, as he suffers from an affection of the kidneys and a bad cough. These ailments have prevented him from doing much hard work, and he has earned his living by doing odd jobs about Spitalfields Market and running errands for the Jews . . ."

Interesting that his "affection of the kidneys and a bad cough" did not prevent him walking the thirty five miles from Maidstone to London in a single day.

Regards,

Simon

[curious4]

Eddowes and Kelly

Hello Lynn,

I must be particularly thick today, but can't see what you are getting at. I know Kelly is quoted as saying that Kate was locked up in the afternoon and I have seen him quoted as saying seven-thirty, that is before the time she was actually locked up, but apart from that, nothing. Does it matter whose name was on the pawn-ticket?

Confused,
Gwyneth

Hello Trevor,

I think she would have had more takers in London than in Maidstone! Know it well, grew up there. Kate was by all accounts a "jolly" and lively woman - I think she would have been more in demand than say Polly (despite bonnet) or Annie Chapman. Still, no accounting for taste.

Best wishes,
Gwyneth

[Trevor Marriott]

Hello Lynn,

Paul Begg again: "They stopped off in Maidstone. Kelly bought a pair of boots from Arthur Pash in the bustling High Street and Eddowes bought a jacket from a nearby shop." Daily Telegraph 4th October, 1888. "We did not have money enough to keep us until we got to town, but we did get there and came straight to this house. Luck was dead against us .... we were both done up for cash.." The Star, 4th October 1888.

I don't see where else they would have got the money. If Kate was earning money by prostitution, why not get money the "easy" way when they returned to London and keep the boots?

They may not have earned much hopping, but seem to have decided to use what they did earn on essentials. Kelly's boots may have been falling to pieces and Kate in dire need of a warm jacket for the winter.

Best wishes,
Gwyneth

Prostitution is a buy and sell occupation they are times when you want to sell but no buyers. Especially with the amount of sellers there were to be found. Then a buyer is spoilt for choice.

[lynn cates]

testimony

Hello Gwyneth. Thanks.

They did check. In whose name were the boots pawned, John Kelly or Kate Eddowes/Conway?

Try reading both "The Echo" interview with John and also "The Star." Now read his inquest testimony.

Any problems?

Cheers.
LC

[curious4]

Nope

Hello Lynn,

Nope, don't agree. The story was easy enough for the newspapers to check, the boots existed and were pawned. The fact that Kelly dithered a bit about exactly when they were pawned I think is understandable, he must have been in shock and grieving for his partner of seven years who had died in horrific circumstances. I still have him down as a "goody". But then I'm a romantic

Best wishes,
Gwyneth

[lynn cates]

reserve

Hello Gwyneth. Thanks.

I don't doubt the accuracy of the interview. Do have some reserve about John's story.

Cheers.
LC

[curious4]

Boots

Hello Lynn,

Paul Begg again: "They stopped off in Maidstone. Kelly bought a pair of boots from Arthur Pash in the bustling High Street and Eddowes bought a jacket from a nearby shop." Daily Telegraph 4th October, 1888. "We did not have money enough to keep us until we got to town, but we did get there and came straight to this house. Luck was dead against us .... we were both done up for cash.." The Star, 4th October 1888.

I don't see where else they would have got the money. If Kate was earning money by prostitution, why not get money the "easy" way when they returned to London and keep the boots?

They may not have earned much hopping, but seem to have decided to use what they did earn on essentials. Kelly's boots may have been falling to pieces and Kate in dire need of a warm jacket for the winter.

Best wishes,
Gwyneth

[lynn cates]

boots

Hello Gwyneth. Thanks.

"what I meant was that in a good or normal year they could make enough to live fairly well"

I agree. But I find it doubtful that Kelly was able to afford new boots from the hops pay.

Cheers.
LC