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Evans wrote a number of lengthy letters on the subject of the murders (see below) and I have found out a certain amount about his background.
1) Letters from Evans
Letters from Alfred Eubule Evans:
The Scotsman
5 October 1888
A PLAUSIBLE THEORY
Mr A Eubule-Evans, Hillcote, Ilkeston, writes to the Standard of yesterday:-
I am not at all surprised that the police should have been baffled in their attempts to unravel the mystery in which the Whitechapel murders are involved. A normal police is efficient as against ordinary crime; but, unless largely helped by chance, it must fail if it applies only its usual system to the detection of crime anomalous alike in its motive and its method. May I suggest that it would be well if the police were, for once, not to confine their attention to "suspicious characters" (so called)? When a man commits four separate murders in the same way, and on each occasion escapes without notice, the inference is irresistible that there is nothing whatever suspicious in his appearance. On the contrary, he is probably a man of most repectable exterior, calm and composed in manner, certainly dressed in dark clothes, wearing probably dark gloves, and, possibly, even a tall hat. His modus operandi involved no such struggle as would tear or disarrange his clothes. Standing, as he does, at the right shoulder of his victim, and a little behind her, he would not be bespattered with blood. His left hand, which he places over his victim's mouth and chin, would also escape pollution. Nor is it at all necessary that in his horrible subsequent proceedings he need be covered with blood, if he stands well away from his victim as he bends over her. That his hands should altogether escape blood stains is improbable, working, as he does, in the dark. and it seems clear that he wipes them, and then, in all probability, puts on a pair of dark gloves. Thus, then, he leaves the scene of the crime, there is nothing in his appearance to excite suspicion. For my part, I do not doubt that he passed several policemen on Sunday morning. The respectability of his appearance is proved by another consideration. Nothing else would account for the willingness of his last two victims to be led into danger while the whole neighbourhood was still aghast at the murders previously committed. Each must have said to herself, "Well, I am quite safe with him!" - that is, there can have been nothing rough or suspicious in his appearance. Probably, too, there was the offer of gold; but even this by itself would not have been sufficient to induce them to place themselves at a stranger's mercy, had not his appearance been such as to disarm suspicion. When to these considerations we add the fact that the manner in which the crimes have been perpetrated goes far to prove that the perpetrator is a man of education, we are, I think driven to a conclusion very different to that at which the police have arrived. It is not in the common lodging houses of Whitechapel that such a criminal must be sought. Were he such a man as haunts these places, he must have been detected long ere this. It seems much more likely that he does not live in Whitechapel at all. He is probably a lonely, brooding monomaniac, well provided with money; occupying, very likely, a house by himself. Then, at night, he puts on the murder suit, lets himself out with the latch key, does his deed of horror, and quietly returns home, none knowing when he went out or when he came back, or having any reason to suspect him. In fine, this is, I think a case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in real life, suggested possibly to some diseased imagination by that very story. The murderer lives two lives, and is saved fronm detection by the extreme respectability of his everyday life, and by the fact that he has no accomplices or confidants. For this reason, no reward seems likely to prove effectual; nor is he likely to be detected, unless caught red handed. On the other hand, his motive being notoriety, and the specific mutilation of his victims being only, so to speak, his ghastly trademark, he is sure, sooner or later, to give himself up. He wishes to be known as the greatest monster of modern times, and when he has done enough to achieve this fearful object of ambition, he will make himself known, as he probably values his own life just as little as those of his victims. In fact, to such men, life is a mere interesting phenomenon; they have no realisation of its deeper meaning.
Pall Mall Gazette
6 October 1888
THE PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE EAST-END MURDERER.
To the Editor of the Pall Mall Gazette.
SIR,--If, as seems highly probable, the four last East-end murders are the work of the same individual, he has involuntarily supplied those who have studied the connection between character and appearance with certain indicia respecting himself which may prove useful in the search which is now being made after him. To give in full the reasons for every statement made below would need several columns of your paper. Suffice it to say, that a careful study of all the circumstances of the case have led me to the conclusion that the following description represents roughly the appearance of the murderer:--He is a man of about the middle height, or not much above it, with broad shoulders and powerful muscular development. The hands are muscular, the fingers short, the thumbs thick and stunted. The feet are broad in proportion to their length. He is of dark complexion, with dark hair, but, in all probability, stone-grey or steel-grey eyes, as these are the only absolutely relentless eyes. These eyes at times open in such a way as to show some of the white above the pupils, but, as a rule, the lids are half-closed, the lower lids rising more than is usual. The jaw is square and firm, and the ears are situated low down in the head. He is probably about forty years of age, and is certainly not under thirty. He is dressed in dark clothes and wears a flannel shirt, and a dark silk handkerchief round the neck. He also wears dark gloves and thin side-spring boots. His hat is probably a dark stiff "bowler." He is a man of education and some means, and his appearance is entirely respectable. His manner is quiet and composed, and there is nothing to betray the monomaniac except a certain mingled restlessness and some cunning in the expression of the eyes. Such a description may seem somewhat fanciful, but there is a reason more or less valid for every item; in fact, it would be strange if coincident and convergent circumstances gave no clue to personal appearance as well as character.--Faithfully yours,
October 4. A. EUBULE EVANS.
The Star
15 Nov 1888
Mr. A. Eubule-Evans writes to the Standard pointing out that a month ago, with only reason to guide him, he gave
AN EXACTLY SIMILAR DESCRIPTION
of the man he supposed had committed the murders. He adds :- In this latest murder we have fresh data for calculating the personal equation of the assassin. Finding that it is no longer so easy as before to murder his victims in the open street, he does the deed of horror in a room; and these altered circumstances enable him to carry out to a fuller extent than before the work of butchery. Two things are clear from this - the man is not only cunning, he is original also. He has struck out a new line in crime, and he is capable of changing its method to meet specific exigencies as they arise. It is this originality of mind, far more than his cunning, which has rendered him such a baffling study to the detective police, who are very clever in working along traditional grooves, but are powerless before the unexpected. Another proof of the originality which mingles with this man's cunning is to be found in the curious limitation of the area within which he commits his crimes. In this way, he induced the police to believe that he must have his habitat in Whitechapel, and he succeeded in confining the search after him almost entirely to that district. Living, however, as he does, elsewhere,
HE NEEDS ONLY A QUARTER OF AN HOUR'S START
to get out of this district, and practically to place himself beyond suspicion. Every man must act in accordance with the law of his specific nature, and the Whitechapel murderer, cunning though he be, is no exception to the rule. For instance, he betrayed himself, to some extent, by the periodicity which he suffered to mark his crimes. They were committed at certain definite times in the month. A detective of original character would have noticed this and have turned it to good account. He would have felt a moral certainty that between 7 and 10 Nov. another attempt at murder would be made, and he would have organised for those nights a special service of decoys. No doubt such a service has its dangers, but these dangers might be reduced to a minimum. In fact, the assassin is hardly dangerous except to the unsuspecting and unwary. His terrible procedure cannot be carried out against those on their guard. What is wanted is a man in authority possessing originality and imagination. Such a man would divine beforehand when the next attempt will be made - the cycle will be changed now - and he would devise a trap for the assassin.
2) Background
Albert Eubule Evans
Died 1896 aged 55 in Hendon, Middlesex
Born circa 1841
Author of:
Elma's Trial
Published circa 1888 by SPCK
Posthumous Contributor to "Fifty Two Stories for Boyhood and Youth", published in 1920's
Probable identification:
1861:
16 Pembroke Place, Clifton, Bristol, Gloucs
Head: Ann Evans (Widow) aged 52 born Islington - Fund holder
Children:
Ernest J aged 22 born Halstead, Essex
Albert E aged 21 born Halstead, Essex - Undergraduate
Howard H aged 17 born Norwood Grange, Middx - Schoolboy
Beatrice A aged 10 born Bristol
In 1851 the family is listed as follows:
10 Unity Street, Bristol
Head: Robert Evans aged 47 born Southwark - Headmaster of Grammar School
Wife: Ann Evans aged 42 born Islington
Children:
Leopold aged 14 born Paddington
Ernest aged 12 born Halstead
Albert aged 10 born Halstead
Howard aged 7 born Norwood
Beatrice aged 10 months born Bristol
This identification is confirmed by the following entry in the Alumni Oxoniensis (List of Oxford Students) referring to Alfred Evans's father.
EVANS, Rev. Robert 2s. Thomas of Kidwelly, co. Carmarthen, gent. Jesus Coll. matric. 28 March 1822 aged 18; BA 1825, MA 1830, DCL 1848, fellow 1827-35, tutor, dean, and catech. lecturer 1831, Latin lecturer 1832, bar-at-law, Middle Temple 1832, head-master of Bristol Grammar School, died 14 Oct 1854 aged 52, father of Rev. Albert Eubule Evans.
Albert was also an Oxford man, and his own entry in the list of Alumni reads as follows:
Evans, Albert Eubule, 3s. Robert, of Bluebridge, Essex, arm. (D.C.L.). St. Mary Hall, matric. 17 Feb., 1859, aged 19; B.A. 1866, Rector of Kirk Hallam, co. Derby, 1875.
In 1881, Alfred was living in London with his brother, Ernest.
12 St Stephens Square, Paddington
Head: Ernest Evans aged 42 born Bluebridge, Essex - Captain half pay, 94th Foot active list
Wife: Emily Evans aged 41 born Teignmouth, Devon
Children:
Theodore aged 19 born Ferryside, Carmarthen - Student at Oxford
Edgar aged 17 born Goodwick, Pembroke - Student at London
Harold aged 14 - Student at London
Catherine aged 10 born Sligo, Ireland
Lawrence aged 5 born Clifton, Bristol
Brother: Albert aged 41 born Bluebrideg, Essex - Vicar of Kirk Hallam, Derby
Currently unable to trace Evans in 1891 census
1) Letters from Evans
Letters from Alfred Eubule Evans:
The Scotsman
5 October 1888
A PLAUSIBLE THEORY
Mr A Eubule-Evans, Hillcote, Ilkeston, writes to the Standard of yesterday:-
I am not at all surprised that the police should have been baffled in their attempts to unravel the mystery in which the Whitechapel murders are involved. A normal police is efficient as against ordinary crime; but, unless largely helped by chance, it must fail if it applies only its usual system to the detection of crime anomalous alike in its motive and its method. May I suggest that it would be well if the police were, for once, not to confine their attention to "suspicious characters" (so called)? When a man commits four separate murders in the same way, and on each occasion escapes without notice, the inference is irresistible that there is nothing whatever suspicious in his appearance. On the contrary, he is probably a man of most repectable exterior, calm and composed in manner, certainly dressed in dark clothes, wearing probably dark gloves, and, possibly, even a tall hat. His modus operandi involved no such struggle as would tear or disarrange his clothes. Standing, as he does, at the right shoulder of his victim, and a little behind her, he would not be bespattered with blood. His left hand, which he places over his victim's mouth and chin, would also escape pollution. Nor is it at all necessary that in his horrible subsequent proceedings he need be covered with blood, if he stands well away from his victim as he bends over her. That his hands should altogether escape blood stains is improbable, working, as he does, in the dark. and it seems clear that he wipes them, and then, in all probability, puts on a pair of dark gloves. Thus, then, he leaves the scene of the crime, there is nothing in his appearance to excite suspicion. For my part, I do not doubt that he passed several policemen on Sunday morning. The respectability of his appearance is proved by another consideration. Nothing else would account for the willingness of his last two victims to be led into danger while the whole neighbourhood was still aghast at the murders previously committed. Each must have said to herself, "Well, I am quite safe with him!" - that is, there can have been nothing rough or suspicious in his appearance. Probably, too, there was the offer of gold; but even this by itself would not have been sufficient to induce them to place themselves at a stranger's mercy, had not his appearance been such as to disarm suspicion. When to these considerations we add the fact that the manner in which the crimes have been perpetrated goes far to prove that the perpetrator is a man of education, we are, I think driven to a conclusion very different to that at which the police have arrived. It is not in the common lodging houses of Whitechapel that such a criminal must be sought. Were he such a man as haunts these places, he must have been detected long ere this. It seems much more likely that he does not live in Whitechapel at all. He is probably a lonely, brooding monomaniac, well provided with money; occupying, very likely, a house by himself. Then, at night, he puts on the murder suit, lets himself out with the latch key, does his deed of horror, and quietly returns home, none knowing when he went out or when he came back, or having any reason to suspect him. In fine, this is, I think a case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in real life, suggested possibly to some diseased imagination by that very story. The murderer lives two lives, and is saved fronm detection by the extreme respectability of his everyday life, and by the fact that he has no accomplices or confidants. For this reason, no reward seems likely to prove effectual; nor is he likely to be detected, unless caught red handed. On the other hand, his motive being notoriety, and the specific mutilation of his victims being only, so to speak, his ghastly trademark, he is sure, sooner or later, to give himself up. He wishes to be known as the greatest monster of modern times, and when he has done enough to achieve this fearful object of ambition, he will make himself known, as he probably values his own life just as little as those of his victims. In fact, to such men, life is a mere interesting phenomenon; they have no realisation of its deeper meaning.
Pall Mall Gazette
6 October 1888
THE PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE EAST-END MURDERER.
To the Editor of the Pall Mall Gazette.
SIR,--If, as seems highly probable, the four last East-end murders are the work of the same individual, he has involuntarily supplied those who have studied the connection between character and appearance with certain indicia respecting himself which may prove useful in the search which is now being made after him. To give in full the reasons for every statement made below would need several columns of your paper. Suffice it to say, that a careful study of all the circumstances of the case have led me to the conclusion that the following description represents roughly the appearance of the murderer:--He is a man of about the middle height, or not much above it, with broad shoulders and powerful muscular development. The hands are muscular, the fingers short, the thumbs thick and stunted. The feet are broad in proportion to their length. He is of dark complexion, with dark hair, but, in all probability, stone-grey or steel-grey eyes, as these are the only absolutely relentless eyes. These eyes at times open in such a way as to show some of the white above the pupils, but, as a rule, the lids are half-closed, the lower lids rising more than is usual. The jaw is square and firm, and the ears are situated low down in the head. He is probably about forty years of age, and is certainly not under thirty. He is dressed in dark clothes and wears a flannel shirt, and a dark silk handkerchief round the neck. He also wears dark gloves and thin side-spring boots. His hat is probably a dark stiff "bowler." He is a man of education and some means, and his appearance is entirely respectable. His manner is quiet and composed, and there is nothing to betray the monomaniac except a certain mingled restlessness and some cunning in the expression of the eyes. Such a description may seem somewhat fanciful, but there is a reason more or less valid for every item; in fact, it would be strange if coincident and convergent circumstances gave no clue to personal appearance as well as character.--Faithfully yours,
October 4. A. EUBULE EVANS.
The Star
15 Nov 1888
Mr. A. Eubule-Evans writes to the Standard pointing out that a month ago, with only reason to guide him, he gave
AN EXACTLY SIMILAR DESCRIPTION
of the man he supposed had committed the murders. He adds :- In this latest murder we have fresh data for calculating the personal equation of the assassin. Finding that it is no longer so easy as before to murder his victims in the open street, he does the deed of horror in a room; and these altered circumstances enable him to carry out to a fuller extent than before the work of butchery. Two things are clear from this - the man is not only cunning, he is original also. He has struck out a new line in crime, and he is capable of changing its method to meet specific exigencies as they arise. It is this originality of mind, far more than his cunning, which has rendered him such a baffling study to the detective police, who are very clever in working along traditional grooves, but are powerless before the unexpected. Another proof of the originality which mingles with this man's cunning is to be found in the curious limitation of the area within which he commits his crimes. In this way, he induced the police to believe that he must have his habitat in Whitechapel, and he succeeded in confining the search after him almost entirely to that district. Living, however, as he does, elsewhere,
HE NEEDS ONLY A QUARTER OF AN HOUR'S START
to get out of this district, and practically to place himself beyond suspicion. Every man must act in accordance with the law of his specific nature, and the Whitechapel murderer, cunning though he be, is no exception to the rule. For instance, he betrayed himself, to some extent, by the periodicity which he suffered to mark his crimes. They were committed at certain definite times in the month. A detective of original character would have noticed this and have turned it to good account. He would have felt a moral certainty that between 7 and 10 Nov. another attempt at murder would be made, and he would have organised for those nights a special service of decoys. No doubt such a service has its dangers, but these dangers might be reduced to a minimum. In fact, the assassin is hardly dangerous except to the unsuspecting and unwary. His terrible procedure cannot be carried out against those on their guard. What is wanted is a man in authority possessing originality and imagination. Such a man would divine beforehand when the next attempt will be made - the cycle will be changed now - and he would devise a trap for the assassin.
2) Background
Albert Eubule Evans
Died 1896 aged 55 in Hendon, Middlesex
Born circa 1841
Author of:
Elma's Trial
Published circa 1888 by SPCK
Posthumous Contributor to "Fifty Two Stories for Boyhood and Youth", published in 1920's
Probable identification:
1861:
16 Pembroke Place, Clifton, Bristol, Gloucs
Head: Ann Evans (Widow) aged 52 born Islington - Fund holder
Children:
Ernest J aged 22 born Halstead, Essex
Albert E aged 21 born Halstead, Essex - Undergraduate
Howard H aged 17 born Norwood Grange, Middx - Schoolboy
Beatrice A aged 10 born Bristol
In 1851 the family is listed as follows:
10 Unity Street, Bristol
Head: Robert Evans aged 47 born Southwark - Headmaster of Grammar School
Wife: Ann Evans aged 42 born Islington
Children:
Leopold aged 14 born Paddington
Ernest aged 12 born Halstead
Albert aged 10 born Halstead
Howard aged 7 born Norwood
Beatrice aged 10 months born Bristol
This identification is confirmed by the following entry in the Alumni Oxoniensis (List of Oxford Students) referring to Alfred Evans's father.
EVANS, Rev. Robert 2s. Thomas of Kidwelly, co. Carmarthen, gent. Jesus Coll. matric. 28 March 1822 aged 18; BA 1825, MA 1830, DCL 1848, fellow 1827-35, tutor, dean, and catech. lecturer 1831, Latin lecturer 1832, bar-at-law, Middle Temple 1832, head-master of Bristol Grammar School, died 14 Oct 1854 aged 52, father of Rev. Albert Eubule Evans.
Albert was also an Oxford man, and his own entry in the list of Alumni reads as follows:
Evans, Albert Eubule, 3s. Robert, of Bluebridge, Essex, arm. (D.C.L.). St. Mary Hall, matric. 17 Feb., 1859, aged 19; B.A. 1866, Rector of Kirk Hallam, co. Derby, 1875.
In 1881, Alfred was living in London with his brother, Ernest.
12 St Stephens Square, Paddington
Head: Ernest Evans aged 42 born Bluebridge, Essex - Captain half pay, 94th Foot active list
Wife: Emily Evans aged 41 born Teignmouth, Devon
Children:
Theodore aged 19 born Ferryside, Carmarthen - Student at Oxford
Edgar aged 17 born Goodwick, Pembroke - Student at London
Harold aged 14 - Student at London
Catherine aged 10 born Sligo, Ireland
Lawrence aged 5 born Clifton, Bristol
Brother: Albert aged 41 born Bluebrideg, Essex - Vicar of Kirk Hallam, Derby
Currently unable to trace Evans in 1891 census
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