Goulstan Street Graffito.

[NotBlamedForNothing]

London Evening Post, Oct 2:

A BATCH OF RUMOURS

Members of the International Club in Berner-street, including the steward, are all agreed that it was quite possible for the murderer to escape in the confused scene that followed the discovery of the body of “Long Liz” in the yard. None, however, seem to recollect having seen any stranger amongst those who were then present. The rumour that during the night cries of “Murder!” and “Police!” were heard by the inmates of the club-house proves to be without foundation, and this justifies the emphatic contradiction given to the report by the police from the first. Another rather widespread rumour proves to be equally inaccurate. It was to the effect that Sir Charles Warren, on visiting the yard on Sunday morning last, discovered some writing on the wall in chalk, which gave expression to some very objectionable sentiments of a religious character, and which was supposed to have been the handiwork of the murderer. This was alleged to have given such great offence that Sir Charles, fearing a disturbance in the neighbourhood, directed the writing to be washed out – an order said to have been promptly complied with by the police. Investigation, however, has proved the absolute fallacy of the story.

This is an interesting rumour, given the date and text of the Moab and Midian letter...

Dear Mr Williamson

At 5 minutes to 9 oclock tonight we received the following letter the envelope of which I enclose by which you will see it is in the same hadwriting as the previous communications

"5 Oct 1888

Dear Friend

In the name of God hear me I swear I did not kill the female whose body was found at Whitehall. If she was an honest woman I will hunt down and destroy her murderer. If she ['was an honest woman' deleted] was a whore God will bless the hand that slew her, for the women of of [sic] Moab and Midian shall die and their blood shall mingle with the dust. I never harm any others or the Divine power that protects and helps me in my grand work would quit for ever. Do as I do and the light of glory shall shine upon you. I must get to work tomorrow treble event this time yes yes three must be ripped. will send you a bit of face by post I promise this dear old Boss. The police now reckon my work a practical joke well well Jacky's a very practical joker ha ha ha Keep this back till three are wiped out and you can show the cold meat

Yours truly
Jack the Ripper"

Yours truly
T.J. Bulling

[NotBlamedForNothing]

Evening News, Oct 8:

SPONGED OUT.

Most unfortunately one of the police officers gave orders for this writing to be immediately sponged out, probably with a view of stifling the morbid curiosity which it would certainly have aroused. But in so doing a very important link was destroyed, for, had the writing been photographed, a certain clue would have been in the hands of the authorities. The witnesses who saw the writing, however, state that it is similar in character to the letters sent to the Central News and signed "Jack the Ripper," and though it would have been far better to have clearly demonstrated this by photography, there is now every reason to believe that the writer of the letter and postcard sent to the Central News (facsimiles of which are now to be seen outside every police station) is the actual murderer.

The police, consequently, are very anxious that any citizen who can identify the handwriting should without delay communicate with the authorities.

The Central News, since the original letter and postcard of "Jack the Ripper" was published, has received from 30 to 40 communications daily, signed "Jack the Ripper," evidently the concoction of silly notoriety hunters.

ANOTHER COMMUNICATION KEPT SECRET.

A third communication, however, has been received from the writer of the original "Jack the Ripper" letter and postcard, which acting upon official advice, it has been deemed prudent to withhold for the present. It may be stated, however, that although the miscreant avows his intention of committing further crimes shortly, it is only against prostitutes that his threats are directed, his desire being to respect and protect honest women.

In view of the interest and importance of the above news, we think it well to state that back numbers of our issue of Thursday, October 4, containing complete facsimiles of the letter and postcard may be obtained at our office.

[etenguy]

We only know that they said that it was erased because it posed a potential threat to local jews. Ergo, they felt it was a negative commentary about Jews/Juwes/Jewes...whathaveyou. Coupled with a message just above it, and the fact that Long stated empirically that "it was not there" around 2:20, both could easily have been put there at the same time. The proximity and timing in fact suggest just that.

I agree with you, Michael. Alas, the reason provided by Warren does not have credibility, particularly that the area could not be secured for an hour. And given the very high profile of the case, the pressure on the police to find the murderer and the lack of any evidence obtained by the police, to destroy potential evidence on such a flimsy excuse was either the height of incompetence or there is another reason that has not been shared.

[Michael W Richards]

We only know that they said that it was erased because it posed a potential threat to local jews. Ergo, they felt it was a negative commentary about Jews/Juwes/Jewes...whathaveyou. Coupled with a message just above it, and the fact that Long stated empirically that "it was not there" around 2:20, both could easily have been put there at the same time. The proximity and timing in fact suggest just that.

[NotBlamedForNothing]

Those in power often protect their peers or those they value (Dominic Cummings is a case in point).

The question which taxes me more is why did Warren do it. Was it incompetence, real concern about violent riots or something else?

The Foreman: Why was the writing really rubbed out?

[DJA]

Those in power often protect their peers or those they value (Dominic Cummings is a case in point).

The question which taxes me more is why did Warren do it. Was it incompetence, real concern about violent riots or something else?

We have Jack's approximate height,or lack thereof, from the graffito (confirmed by Mrs Long at Hanbury Steet).
We did have his handwriting,before it was wiped.
We know of his expertise with a knife.
Does anyone who fits the bill have an alibi for that night's time frame and the previous two murders?

[etenguy]

The emphasized text would appear to be a lie.
Why has Warren been allowed to get away with it?

Those in power often protect their peers or those they value (Dominic Cummings is a case in point).

The question which taxes me more is why did Warren do it. Was it incompetence, real concern about violent riots or something else?

[Aelric]

Regarding how the GSG became known as a 'graffito' - isn't it merely the singular form of 'graffiti' in Latin? Is too much being read into what is simply a matter of grammar?

[DJA]

Could be. Or could his superiors have thought that he'd missed the apron through negligence when he'd first passed the doorway?

I wonder why we tend to favour 'juwes' over 'jeuws' as the correct spelling?

At this point Constable Long returned, and produced the pocket-book containing the entry which he made at the time concerning the discovery of the writing on the wall.
Mr. Crawford: What is the entry? - Witness: The words are, "The Jews are the men that will not be blamed for nothing." [Coroner] Both here and in your inspector's report the word "Jews" is spelt correctly? - Yes; but the inspector remarked that the word was spelt "Juwes."
[Coroner] Why did you write "Jews" then? - I made my entry before the inspector made the remark.
[Coroner] But why did the inspector write "Jews"? - I cannot say.

[DJA]

'cos it's closer to iwes.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Could be. Or could his superiors have thought that he'd missed the apron through negligence when he'd first passed the doorway?

I wonder why we tend to favour 'juwes' over 'jeuws' as the correct spelling?

[DJA]

Jews vs Juwes,I suspect.

[Herlock Sholmes]

As I'm waiting for a book to be delivered I thought I'd re-read something so I chose Neil Bell's excellent Capturing Jack The Ripper. I saw something that I either missed first time or that I'd forgotten about. I'm not saying that it's at all relevent to the case but...

I wonder why PC Long was suspended from duty in the Autumn of 1888 and was reinstated in December. I'd love to know what he'd done wrong?

[NotBlamedForNothing]

How does a message written with chalk, and with ¾" tall letters, in a dark passage separating an entrance to building and a staircase inside, with a obvious link to serial killer, lying right under it, become known as 'graffito'?
Is it part of an attempt to protect Charles Warren's reputation?

PC Long: The apron was lying in the passage leading to the staircase of Nos. 106 to 119, a model dwelling-house. Above on the wall was written in chalk, "The Jews are the men that will not be blamed for nothing."

In a memo from Warren to Henry Mathews:

Subject: 'The writing on the wall'

'...I accordingly went down to Goulston Street at once before going to the scene of the murder; it was just getting light, the public would be in the streets in a few minutes, in a neighbourhood very much crowded on Sunday mornings by Jewish vendors and Christian purchasers from all parts of London.

There were several police around the spot when I arrived, both Metropolitan and City. The writing was on the jamb of the open archway or doorway visible to anybody in the street and could not be covered up without danger of the covering being torn off at once.....'

The emphasized text would appear to be a lie.
Why has Warren been allowed to get away with it?

The purpose of the lie seems obvious; it provides some of the rationalization for having stupidly ordered the message to be wiped off - because it is (supposedly) not in a camera friendly position. There is no other reason for Warren to have (falsely) claimed the writing was in the archway.

There was no excuse for not temporarily blocking the entrances to the passage (outside and in), taking a photograph, or at the very least, having an official version of the message recorded by hand.

Having the coroner attempt to resolve the differences in the notes written by police constables on the night, instead of relying on an official transcript, was embarrassing.

[Spider]

............. and was there chalk dust! Does it really matter? No