Candidates for Robert Sagars Jewish Butcher theory

[Patrick Differ]

Hello Patrick,



Some private asylums had more affordable fees than others. One did not have to be strictly upper class to be admitted to a private asylum. The "man suspected who worked in Butchers Row" being "sent to asylum by friends" indicated he and his friends/family had the resources to afford private treatment, which could have been reasonably priced, not exorbitant.

And certain private asylums accepted pauper patients, whose fees were charged to the poor law union. In either case, it doesn't have to be out of the ordinary for a "man who worked in Butchers Row" to enter a private asylum. It certainly could have happened as Detective Sagar described it.

Hi Paddy- there was a Lunacy Act in 1890 that opened up any Asylum to charge for Private care. There was a middle class in Whitechapel so its possible but my guess would be that it would have been a business owner. I dont think the average laborer would have private care, unless there were private funds.

Unfortunately Sagar never mentioned the Asylum. it could be Sagar was referring to Private care as it was beginning to transition? There might have been a scale?

Good points!

[seanr]

Some of the people living and working in Butcher’s Row were wealthy. As I’ve mentioned, a number of the carcass sellers also additionally had addresses across Deptford, the Islington Cattle Market and Smithfield.

There were families there who could have afforded private care in asylum.

[Patrick Differ]

Some of the people living and working in Butcher’s Row were wealthy. As I’ve mentioned, a number of the carcass sellers also additionally had addresses across Deptford, the Islington Cattle Market and Smithfield.

There were families there who could have afforded private care in asylum.

Who was put in the Asylum? Any ideas on suspects?

Joseph Hyam Levy was wealthy by that days standard and upon his death had several thousand pounds. ( He also retired and lived next door to his best friend Lawende). He had the money to take care of his first cousin Jacob. Jacob was in an asylum before and after the murders.

I would be interested in the names of the sellers you are mentioning and whether anyone has searched their backgrounds? Seems like an avenue that should be exercised?

Thanks Sean.

[seanr]

All of the butcher's in Butcher's Row were wealthier than people seem to realise.

Solomon De Leeuw, to take one example, is listed in the Commercial Directory for 1882 with the following business addresses:

De Leeuw Solomon, cattle &; sheep salesman, 8 Bank buildings, Metropolitan cattle market N; 6o West Smithfield E C; & meat salesman, 73 Aldgate High street E

The address of 60, West Smithfield appears to have been a banking house, and the address is used by a number of traders in the meat business (the address was later used by the Midland bank, and despite the 'Butcher's Hook and Cleaver' pub being at that address in 2025, it is still in use by HSBC according to the Swift interbank system). 8 Bank buildings may have been similar.

There's also the following entry in same edition of the Commercial Directory, which given the obscurity of the name De Leeuw in London of the time is probably him, too.

De Leeuw & Hamburger, cattle, sheep & calf salesmen, 6o West Smithfield E C

To get a sense of the size of the assets and liabilities which these livestock and butchering franchises could stack up, here's the bankruptcy declaration for a butcher's shop which I have selected at random (obviously).


Commercial Gazette (London) - Wednesday 10 September 1890, pp 30

As you may be able to see is that the Kosher butcher shop owned by David & Abraham W Smith, was owing £701 to Solomon De Leeuw of Butcher's Row. In 1890, according to the Bank of England's inflation calculator, that would be an equivalent to something in the region of £78,041.01 in modern money. And this is only one of De Leeuw's customer's.

They say when trying to investigate, you should always follow the money. I’m not suggesting this particular butcher’s shop was a front organisation for the Mafia. This is route one stuff.

De Leeuw himself was to declare bankrupt in November of 1890, with gambling debts being cited as the cause. Although the Smith family declaring bankrupt with that debt outstanding, may have had a knock on impact on De Leeuw.

De Leeuw was one of the smaller ones, his business at its height would not have been even close to that of John Nathan in size.