What SHOULD the police have done?

[protohistorian]

Now Sally, it is only useless in some contexts. That was quite helpful in this context, and so in my book not useless, Well done. Dave

[Sally]

Pubs

Now Sally, it is only useless in some contexts. That was quite helpful in this context, and so in my book not useless, Well done. Dave

Dave - I'm pleased to hear it has some relevance outside my own study - certainly makes a change

The tenancy tier will likely apply even when, as you can obviously see from your list, you have a business, and not an individual listed. Boozers are big business there and then, lots of companies, large and small, are vying for a slice of the cake. You get a lot of female publicans, they always call themselves 'Mrs' - though this is not unanimously the case in reality.

Now, please think carefully before encouraging me to bore further - I'm very proficient at it!

Kind regards

Sally

[Hunter]

Hello Hunter, do we have the addresses of these 223 lodging houses? Dave

Hi Dave,

No, I do not have the addresses. My figures came from a letter sent by Commisioner Warren to the Home Office in regards to a query about the number of prostitutes, brothels and common lodging houses in the Whitechapel district on Oct 25, 1888. ( Mepo file 3/141, ff. 158-9)

Since the letter is compelling in its own right as to police procedure and attitudes I have posted the relevant parts -

'In reply to your letter of 22nd October there has been no return hitherto of the probable numbers of brothels in London, but during the last few months I have been tabulating the observations of Constables on their beats, and have come to the conclusion that there are 62 houses known to be brothels on the H or Whitechapel Divn and probably a great number of other houses which are more or less intermitently used for such purpose.

The number of CLH's ( Common lodging houses) is 233, accomodating 8,530 persons. We have no means of ascertaining what women are prostitutes and who are not, but there is an impression that there are about 1200 prostitutes, mostly of a very low condition.

...Mr. Charrington has been very active in evicting the holders of brothels... the result however is not conductive to morality. The unfortunate women are driven to plying for hire among respectable people, or else execise their calling in the streets.

The lower class of CLH's is naturally frequented by prostitutes, thieves and tramps as there is nowhere else for them to go, and no law to prevent their congregating there.

I fear that in driving the brothel keepers away from certain neighbourhoods much is being done to demoralize London generally. It is impossible to stop the supply when the demand exists...

I think that it is probable that a good number of people who are not married live together at the CLH's, but this also takes place in hotels in the West End.

I do not think there is any reason whatever for supposing that the murderer of Whitechapel has necessarily any connection with the condition of Whitechapel (or) is one of the ordinary denizens of that place..."

Imagine that. A policeman who has a common sense outlook on the situation as it existed... a soon to be beleaguered one at that. Of course, the press nor the public never had access to this document and based their opinions upon conjecture.

Ain't much changed.

[protohistorian]

Thank You very much Hunter! Dave

[YankeeSergeant]

What should the plice done?

Great information everyone. In my humble and under informed opinion, there wasn't much they didn't try given the state of police forensics in 1888. Finger prints were not being used and it is doubtful the Bertrillion system would have been useful. Interviewing prostitutes would have helped but I don't know how much help interviewing Landlords of the public houses would have been as the landlords would be geared then as today to immediate trouble. Doubling the police presence might have helped but then as now you had budget concerns. Given the state of forensics in1888, I believe they did the best they could.