Request for info

[Jon Guy]

In the East London Observer, Sept.1, 1888, the mortuary keeper is a Mr. Edmunds



The ELO version of events seems garbled compared to the inquest testimony, I suppose Mann and Hatfield could be the two scavengers mentioned, but odd that Edmunds is not mentioned anywhere.

I don’t think this Edmunds has been identified?
At any rate, just thought I’d mention the ELO-report since it shows that Vallance had no real business at the mortuary, which had its own keeper.

Hi Kattrup

I believe Edmunds is a corruption of Mann.

[Kattrup]

Hi Kattrup

I believe Edmunds is a corruption of Mann.

Yes, I thought that might be the case, but as Mann was described as a workhouse inmate, it seemed a little odd, as the Mr. Edmunds mentioned in the ELO seemed more…respectable?

[Herlock Sholmes]

.
Does not quite explain why Vallance would be there, the infirmary had its own staff.

My guess at the moment is that Chapman being a special highprofile case, he was informed and chose to go to assist and keep an eye on things.

I guess that another option might just have been chance Kattrup? Maybe he just happened to be on site early that day and felt that he should make an appearance?

[Kattrup]

I guess that another option might just have been chance Kattrup? Maybe he just happened to be on site early that day and felt that he should make an appearance?

Quite possible. I was just trying to account also for Anderson’s comment that Vallance had helped out at several of the inquests, that seems to imply a more structured approach.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Quite possible. I was just trying to account also for Anderson’s comment that Vallance had helped out at several of the inquests, that seems to imply a more structured approach.

It does appear that way. It would be interesting to know what “helped out” actually involved or was it just that the bodies were sent to a mortuary of which he had overall charge?

[Kattrup]

It does appear that way. It would be interesting to know what “helped out” actually involved or was it just that the bodies were sent to a mortuary of which he had overall charge?

I would personally speculate that he may have helped circulate descriptions of the victims among staff and neighboring Unions, and perhaps also helped identify and locate workhouse witnesses.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I would personally speculate that he may have helped circulate descriptions of the victims among staff and neighboring Unions, and perhaps also helped identify and locate workhouse witnesses.

That’s a good call Kattrup. Very possible.