how widespread was graffito in 1888??

[ianincleveland]

the reason im asking is that the GSG could have been there a few days and nobody bothered if it was reasonably widespread.

[robhouse]

I dont know the answer to this, but here is a photo (from the East End Photos thread) showing some chalk writing on a wall in a Bethnal Green slum.
Rob H

[Sam Flynn]

the reason im asking is that the GSG could have been there a few days and nobody bothered if it was reasonably widespread.

Indeed - and there's no reason to assume it wasn't, Ian. As far as we know, graffiti has been around since before man discovered writing.

Great photo, Rob - missed that one the first time round.

[Jez]

Graffiti might have been around since we lived in caves, but how long would the inmates of that Goulston Street address have suffered it to remain? As it seemed to incriminate jews - and hence it was removed - I imagine it would have been rubbed out by the occupiers had it been there for any length of time.
Chalk on a black brick fascia, partly open to the elements, I would imagine it would have a shelf life of several weeks before it became unreadable. Has anyone done any....experiments?

[Mr.Hyde]

As a junior school kid in the 1950s.On red brick.Don't know how long it lasts-headmaster made me wash it off-wouldn't rub off easily.
Gonna borrow some chalk now!

[Sam Flynn]

Graffiti might have been around since we lived in caves, but how long would the inmates of that Goulston Street address have suffered it to remain?

Who would rush to remove some chalked graffiti even today? Remember, the GSG gets an extra charge by association with the Eddowes murder - before that happened, it might well have been ignored or overlooked as another piece of scribble. Bear in mind, also, that a significant proportion of Wentworth Model Dwellings' residents were Eastern European immigrants - and this at a time when even the indigenous population were hardly 100% literate themselves.

[DVV]

Who would rush to remove some chalked graffiti ?

Not Jack.
He first intended to erase the GSG with the bloody piece of apron, but he finally gave up. To appear normal, I suppose.

Amitiés,
David

[Jez]

Of course, Sam, this is quite true. But the odd thing to my mind is that the police - having obliterated the evidence and been roundly criticised for so doing - would have surely welcomed any evidence that the graffito was days/weeks old before the double murders. They clearly interviewed all the residents in their search. But not one statement was forthcoming that anyone had seen the graffito before. Had only one resident done so, the police would surely have publicised it to prove that the message was not relevant to the torn apron. It would have got them off the hook. It seems they were out of luck with that one.

[DVV]

Had only one resident done so, the police would surely have publicised it to prove that the message was not relevant to the torn apron. It would have got them off the hook.

Good point, Jez.
Only one policeman said the Gsg looked "old". Uncorroborated statement, of course.

Amitiés, and a nice night,
David

[Monty]

Graffiti might have been around since we lived in caves, but how long would the inmates of that Goulston Street address have suffered it to remain? As it seemed to incriminate jews - and hence it was removed - I imagine it would have been rubbed out by the occupiers had it been there for any length of time.
Chalk on a black brick fascia, partly open to the elements, I would imagine it would have a shelf life of several weeks before it became unreadable. Has anyone done any....experiments?

Jez,

Yep, I did many years ago. I also observed som chalked graffiti near Puma court and Bruin Street.

The Bruin Street stuff was open to the elements and was there 9 months later, albeit extremely faint.

DVV,

Halse stated it looked 'fresh'. Though Id ask him what fresh means.

Monty

[Nothing to see]

the reason im asking is that the GSG could have been there a few days and nobody bothered if it was reasonably widespread.

What a great idea for a thread. Never thought of it before. Did the police ever ask the inhabitants of Goulston St whether they'd seen the GSG before? Did anyone in the police force ever bother to check that the beat cops were where they said they were at the right time?

[DVV]

DVV,
Halse stated it looked 'fresh'. Though Id ask him what fresh means.
Monty

Why don't you pm him, Monty ?

Amitiés,
David

[Nothing to see]

Why don't you pm him, Monty ?

Amitiés,
David

OK Halse passed through GS after Eddowes' murder about 2.20 am. He didn't see anything. He wasn't looking for anything.

[DVV]

Hi Nts,
he had no reason to pay attention to the graffito. Which was considered a possible clue only once the piece of apron was discovered.

Amitiés,
David

[Crystal]

Does anyone know where the phrase 'The writing(s) on the wall' comes from? Is it biblical, or could it have come from here?