Hiding in the Vigilance Committee

[Tom_Wescott]

Aye that. But you'll enjoy this--I was talking to Gavin just a couple of days ago and one thing he asked was "Is Tom Wescott trying to break my record for article length?" I assured him he still was number one. LOL

Oh, is Gavin receiving Examiner? That's great. I'd love to get his thoughts. And yes, his 'Mrs. Kuer's Lodger' was definitely longer than mine, and what a great read it was!

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Monty]

Has anyone tried compiling a list of the members of the Vigilance committee from press reports, etc.? I for one would be interested in seeing such a list.

Closest we have so far.


Evening News
London, U.K.
17 September 1888


WHITECHAPEL MURDERS.
MEETING LAST NIGHT.
MEMORIAL TO THE HOME OFFICE.

Last night a large meeting of the Mile End Vigilance Committee took place at the Crown Tavern, Mile End-road, for the purpose of considering the best means for preventing a repetition of the late dreadful outrages, and securing the detection of the murderers.

The chair was taken by Mr. George Lusk, the well-known contractor, who was supported by Messrs. Cohen (vice-president) Aarons, Houghton, H. A. Harris, Laughton, Lord, Isaacs, Rogers, Mitchell, Barnett, Hodgins, Lindsay, Burgess, Jacobs, Reeves, B. Harris (hon. sec.), and others.

In the course of the proceedings, a long list of subscriptions towards a reward fund for the apprehension of the murderer was read, including £5 from Mr. Spencer Charrington, the well known brewer, and the chairman said that so soon as £100 had been subscribed the reward bills would be sent out. It was stated on all hands, and especially by Mr. Aarons and Mr. Rogers, that there was a consensus of opinion amongst the donees and others that the Home Office authorities were very unwise in withholding a Government reward for the detection of the murderers. A golden key usually opened all doors, and as no means should be left untried to discover and bring to justice escaped murderers, such rewards should always be offered. The Press and the public had over and over again expressed their views on the subject, and the Home Office were bound to give effect to those views in the interests of possible individual victims and of the community at large.

A resolution was put and carried that it was advisable to memorialise the Government in the matter, and in the course of the sitting a letter was drawn out, signed, and there and then despatched to the Home Secretary, embodying the views of the Committee and the meeting, and asking what Her Majesty's Government intended doing for the further protection of defenceless people from the knife of the murderer. Letters were also sent to Mr. W. Isaacson and others on the subject, and the proceedings were adjourned until Wednesday next, when sufficient money will probably be in hand for the offer of the reward.

It was stated that in the event of the definite escape of the murderer, the funds would be given to the London Hospital or some other charitable institution.

And here is a small bio of Committee member Charles Reeves.

http://www.casebook.org/notable_people/charles-reeves.html

Cheers
Monty

[Monty]

Tom,

And damn you for not catching 'stationary'!

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. On the other hand, should I post a list of all the ones I did catch?

Don.

No.......no Don, you shouldnt.

Monty

[Supe]

Tom,

Gavin Bromley and Sam Flynn are still sorely missed.

Aye that. But you'll enjoy this--I was talking to Gavin just a couple of days ago and one thing he asked was "Is Tom Wescott trying to break my record for article length?" I assured him he still was number one. LOL

Don.

[Supe]

Tom,

And damn you for not catching 'stationary'!

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. On the other hand, should I post a list of all the ones I did catch?

Don.

[Pinkerton]

list?

Has anyone tried compiling a list of the members of the Vigilance committee from press reports, etc.? I for one would be interested in seeing such a list.

[Archaic]

Too bad, I thought I was learning cool new British slang!

Cheers,
Archaic

[Monty]

It means Im using my mobile phone, with its tiny keyboard, to post.

I sometimes hit the wrong keys and miss the error when I check it.

I meant 'quirky'.

Monty

[Archaic]

Hi Monty, thanks for the reply. Now I have another question for you...

What in the world does "wuirky" mean?

Best regards,
Archaic

[Monty]

Don,

Thank you. Suffice to say I had help from many others, including Jakey, Rob, Debs, Stewart, Adam and yourself. The kudos must be spread.

And whilst it was chosen for me, Im glad it was. Because I learnt so much from doing it. And your observation about the October lull as its know, hadnt occured to me until you mentioned it. I must say, I agree. For October was by far the most active month, with the comittees swollen with members, and this surely impacted.

Archaic,

Another surprising aspect was the use of female Salvation Army members as information gatherers. I thought it wuirky however I was reading Jack Londons Into the Abyss and not that many destitute working men were suspicious of these Sally Annes. Mainly because the feared these women were being used by the authorities to obtain information regarding crime.

Monty

[Archaic]

I know many men who were unable to find work in the day voluenteered for vigilance work at night because on some occaisions tea and buns were supplied as refreshments.

Thanks guys, your answers are much appreciated.

Here's my idea for a fundraising t-shirt:

>> RIPPEROLOGIST <<
Will Work For Tea and Buns.

Cheers,
Archaic

[Tom_Wescott]

In the spirit of Tom, a brilliant article brilliantly edited.

Ahem. Mine was bloody brilliant, thank you very much. And damn you for not catching 'stationary'!

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

P.S. Gavin Bromley and Sam Flynn are still sorely missed.

[Supe]

Neil,

Whether you "tackled" or "chose" the topic, it made me change my thinking, such that I wrote "Why No October Surprise" in, I believe, the next issue of Ripperologist, in which I made the argument that the vigilance committees may have been a major reason for no muders in October.

In the spirit of Tom, a brilliant article brilliantly edited.

Don.

[Tom_Wescott]

That's a shame, because it was part of my 'Berner Street Mystery' series, which was bloody brilliant.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Monty]

Unfortuately I didnt have access to a copy Tom, else I would have.

Monty