Dear Boss

[TradeName]

Not sure this answers any questions, but this might identify the London correspondent for the Post at that time:

To-day, Volume 2, April 21, 1894, Page 331

Mr. A. F. Robbins, whose "Early Public Life of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Four Times Prime Minister,” is announced by Methuen and Co., is a Cornishman by birth, though he has long been the London representative of the great organ of the Midlands, the Birmingham Post. Mr. Robbins is a tall, genial-looking man, with dark hair and eyes. Like so many authors, he suffers from weak sight.

--end

Library and Museum of Freemasonry, link

Sir Alfred Robbins (1856 – 1931)

"London Correspondent for the Birmingham Daily Post from 1888."

[Bridewell]

The Source

Just how would a journalist on the Birmingham Daily Post know which London detectives inspired confidence and which didn't? Even if it is presumed that the source was a Metropolitan police officer, how would such a journalist know that the informant's view was representative of those of his colleagues?

Why is Littlechild uniquely considered worthy of praise, especially when his rank is given (incorrectly) as Inspector?

'The consequence is that, with the exception of Inspector Littlechild, there is not a detective who inspires public confidence, and that all the best men are drifting out of it to become "private investigators"'.

Either the journalist showed remarkable prescience or the source (directly or indirectly) was Littlechild himself. Littlechild retired in 1893 and became - a private investigator.

Regards, Bridewell.

[Cogidubnus]

breathing fresh air into....

Now then, Trade that is indeed a very interesting question...quite whether or how we're going to achieve an answer, however, is a separate issue...

All the best

Dave

[TradeName]

I'd like to know which, if any, then current, former or future members of Scotland Yard were giving inside information to journalists in order to stir up public sentiment against Warren.

[Cogidubnus]

Who are we really discussing here? Littlechild, Warren, Monro, Anderson, McNaghten or who? I think we may have (seriously!) naturally got to the end of a thread...

No?

Dave

[Cogidubnus]

But is that simply contemporary and fashionable anti-Warren sentiment or a more genuine and learned assessment of Littlechild's worth? In all honesty I would have to say neither...

All the best

Dave

[TradeName]

An article on the situation at Scotland Yard which claims that Littlechild was the only remaining detective "who commands public confidence."

Birmingham Daily Post (Birmingham, England), Monday, October 1, 1888



Links to other versions of the Central News "Disputes" article found here at Casebook (might have to scroll):

Daily News
United Kingdom
5 September 1888

THE HOME OFFICE AND SCOTLAND YARD

link


The Star
Largest Circulation of Any Evening Paper in the Kingdom.
LONDON. WEDNESDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER, 1888.

THE WARREN-MONRO FEUD.
Matthews and the Chief - "A Gentleman of Large Indian Experience" for the London Police!


link

Echo
London, U.K.
5 September 1888

QUARRELS AT SCOTLAND-YARD
SIR C. WARREN AND MR. MATTHEWS.
WHY MR. MONRO RESIGNED.

link


Evening News
London, U.K.
5 September 1888

THE HOME OFFICE AND SCOTLAND YARD.

WHY MR. MONRO RESIGNED.

link


The "gentleman of large Indian experience" is Macnaghten, right?

[Cogidubnus]

Hi Colin

I was actually making a back-handed reference to the 1910 press conference called outside Andersons House, (regarding the Parnell affair) that led to Winnie reviewing his pension rights...then just three years later in Days of my Years he has the infernal gall to say it would be against the traditions etc etc...

All the best

Dave

[Bridewell]

Swanson

Anderson, MacNaghten and now Monro too? Not to mention Littlechild and Abberline...was Swanson the only one who didn't?

Hi Dave,

I suspect not. Anderson didn't name his Polish Jew in 1910 when The Lighter Side of My Official Life was published, but the name was entered by DSS in his own copy of the book. I speculate that this was done after 1919 when Aaron Kosminski was dead and buried.

Regards, Bridewell.

[Cogidubnus]

Thanks Colin

Yes, hence my caution...you express it so much more eloquently than I ever could...

It's a very interesting concept though that post-Ripper at least, Scotland Yard at the highest level was probably leaking like a sieve, and there's Anderson (himself leaking stuff away like mad and risking his pension in doing so) virtuously stating that it would be contrary to the traditions of the service...

Anderson, MacNaghten and now Monro too? Not to mention Littlechild and Abberline...was Swanson the only one who didn't?

All the best

Dave

[Bridewell]

What (If Anything) Did Littlechild Know?

No journalist of my time got such privileges from Scotland Yard as Bullen. Mr James Munro when Assistant Commissioner, and afterwards Commissioner, relied on his integrity.....

I have to wonder how Littlechild knew what privileges Bullen did, or did not, get from Monro. A Chief Inspector wouldn't ordinarily have such detailed knowledge (then or now) of the actions of an Assistant Commissioner - unless Bullen was of interest to Special Branch for some reason, in which case the nature of his relationship with such a senior officer might be discreetly examined. (Pure hypothesis - nothing more).

Regards, Bridewell.

[Cogidubnus]

OK, says he, cautiously...

Dave

[TradeName]

Hi Dave,

There's an implied link to Munro himself as I read it:

"With regard to the term 'Jack the Ripper' it was generally believed at the Yard that Tom Bullen of the Central News was the originator, but it is probable Moore, who was his chief, was the inventor. It was a smart piece of journalistic work. No journalist of my time got such privileges from Scotland Yard as Bullen. Mr James Munro when Assistant Commissioner, and afterwards Commissioner, relied on his integrity.....

Regards, Bridewell.

Yes, that's the quote I'm thinking of.

Thanks.

[Bridewell]

Link to Munro

Hi Trade

But I can't recall the Littlechild letter suggesting a direct link between "Bullen" and Monro...as I recall it merely implies Bulling was close to the pokice generally. Is there some other source?

Every good wish

Dave

Hi Dave,

There's an implied link to Munro himself as I read it:

"With regard to the term 'Jack the Ripper' it was generally believed at the Yard that Tom Bullen of the Central News was the originator, but it is probable Moore, who was his chief, was the inventor. It was a smart piece of journalistic work. No journalist of my time got such privileges from Scotland Yard as Bullen. Mr James Munro when Assistant Commissioner, and afterwards Commissioner, relied on his integrity.....

Regards, Bridewell.

[Cogidubnus]

Hi Trade

But I can't recall the Littlechild letter suggesting a direct link between "Bullen" and Monro...as I recall it merely implies Bulling was close to the pokice generally. Is there some other source?

Every good wish

Dave