Dutfields Yard interior photograph, 1900

[George Hutchinson]

Hi Stan and Anna

Stan, there was certainly pressure to show the photo when I didn't want to do it. However, the reason I referred to you after it was shown was because I was saying your response when you saw it had made me more comfortable about doing so - you took a look and said cheers. That's the sign of a gentleman, and not this "So you showed us the photo - put it up permanently" that is posted above.

PHILIP

[The Grave Maurice]

Geez, I've already forgotten the details of the photo but, if there is an ankle or two showing in it, it's because, as I said before, of the angle. The photographer was almost sitting on the setts of Berner Street when she took the shot. The low angle might reveal slightly more Victorian leg than one would normally see.

Stop your whining, all of you. This photo is completely legit. Philip is to be congratulated, not quibbled with. Now, sit quietly and wait for his book and let's move on to a more profitable discussion.

[Supe]

Philip,

Arr... Captain Hook and his parrot.

A minor point, but one that should be clarified. Ever since he badly imjured his hand a couple months ago my friend and colleague Eduardo Zinna has identified himself in posts as "Hook" (or crochet to Francophones). I know you did not mean him, but Cap'n Jack should not be confused with Captain Hook aka Eduardo Zinna.

Don.

[George Hutchinson]

Don - I know that the respected Eduardo (Hook) is not the less-respected whatever-his-real-name-is. It was a play on the 'Captain' bit and I would indeed hope that no one could confuse the two; talk about chalk and cheese. Apols to EZ for any distress caused by this unwarranted comparison and you are of course right to have brought it up.

PHILIP

[Howard Brown]

Now that Phillip Gielgud Olivier Hutchinson has had his 15 minutes of fame..lets applaud Phil for what he has really done in a larger sense.

He has proven to one and all...above all...that there are still important or at least relevant materials "out there" amongst the civilian population and hopefully, someone else will be as fortunate and alert and diligent as Phil has been and get their 15 minutes of fame as well...

Just kidding Phil. You've been and always will be a 24 hour a day star with yours truly.

[Bailey]

I think How has nailed an especially important point there, and one which had certainly occurred to me. Of course, Mr Shelden proved the same a couple of years back with his Chapman photo, and we could even go back to '88 and all the goodies that turned up then (not to belittle Philip's achievement!) - there''ll always be more stuff lurking out there waiting to be found.

And when it's found, most of us will be interested and and glad. Some will be justifiably skeptical and ask reasonable questions about authenticity and provenance. But others will just be dickheads. 'Tis the way of things, alas.

B.

[Dr. John Watson]

I haven't seen the photo in question, but I have read the various comments posted here. Apparently Mr. Hutchinson (or Phil) not only purchased the photo of what purports to be Dutfield's Yard, but also the album it came in. And I am led to understand that while there were many other photos in the book, complete with captions, there were none showing any of the other Ripper sites. The question is, why not? It would be hard to believe the photographer did not know of the other murders. Why not, then, simply visit the other sites and photograph them as well? Could have done them all in an hour. Bucks Row and Mitre Square were on public streets, and a small fee would certainly have made the backyard on Hanbury and Kelly's room in Miller's Court accessible. Perhaps the photographer happened to be in Berner Street for another purpose and decided to shoot Dutfield's Yard "just for a jolly." Still, if someone is sightseeing with a camera in London's East End - with the Whitechapel murders still fresh in mind - wouldn't it be worth an hour's walk to see, and photograph them, first hand?

[Fisherman]

Well, Dr Watson, much as I can see your point, history is crowded with people holding a much sounder interest in the Ripper and his activities than you and I do! Had it been the other way around, all the fuss about Philip´s photo would never have been there, since the world would have been flooded with pic´s of the sites...
Meaning that you share your frustration with a very limited number of people. Cherish the moment, Doc - feel unique!

The best!
Fisherman

[richardnunweek]

Hi,
Forgive my ignorance, but one question if I may.
In the photograph why are the people all lined up, as in some works presentation, what is the significance of the number of people being photographed, if the intention was to capture a Whitechapel murder scene?
Also as a recent post suggested, why did the person who captured this scene , not have ventured on to other venues, such as mitre square?
Of course they may well have done so, and it is not beyond possibility that other gems lay dormant.
I still have this slight niggling doubt, it reminds me of a certain diary, and words being uttered 'Here take this and do something with it'.
The fact appears that one American elderly gentleman, who appears to be ignorant of the name 'Jack the Ripper' [ which is a bit like us Brits being unaware of the assasination of JFK] decides to approach his PC, and enter E-bay, and proceed to offer a item [ that would be of much intrest] to the world for absolute pittance.
That must qualify for such a programme as 'Strange but true' come in Michael Aspell..
I am a annoying cad am I not Philip?
Regards Richard.

[Mike Covell]

Dr Watson....

I visited the East End in January and managed to get pictures of only 2 of the C5 murder sites and George Yard. I had only planned to visit the archival centres and a trip around the East End was not on my agenda, but I had a couple of hours to spare.

[caz]

Morning Yarders,

Many thanks, Supe, for your post about Eduardo. I didn't realise he was posting as 'Hook' or had injured his hand badly. I do hope he's on the road to recovery and won't need the username permanently!

Now then, Philip, what are we to do with you? You should have been ignoring AP and clever Trevor from the outset and not wasted any time or blood pressure on the daft pair. AP was at Trevor's throat about his contribution to Ripperology before he loosened his grip to start on yours. And Rob and I did tell you at the last WS1888 why Trevor's organ-harvesting theory wasn't nearly as impressive as he evidently made it sound at Docklands.

Here ! Here! Cap"n! Well said!

Nats, I just don't understand this at all. Has someone pinched your username? How would you like to be doubted when you know you've done all your homework and passed with flying colours? Let me show you what it feels like.

Linguistics degree, Nats? What linguistics degree? You must think we were all born yesterday. You don't even know that the expression quoted above should be 'Hear, hear!'. Where did you buy your degree - off the internet for a tenner? What a faker!

Not very nice, is it?

Now get the old Nats back or get off Philip's back.

Even well to do young ladies in 1888 (12 years before Philip's photo was taken) did not necessarily wear ankle length skirts until they became grown women. My grandmother was eleven in this one taken in 1888 and her dress comes to just below the knee.



Love,

Caz
X

[Mike Covell]

What a wonderful photo Caz. Who would the gentleman be who is seated with the grapes?

[Bailey]

I'm with Mike - a fabulous photo! I particularly like the slightly sad look on the face of the boy in the middle, and the rather goofy one on the young chap to his left.. or rather camera left. However, clearly that isn't your grandmother, Caz, the whole thing's obviously a fake and that's some other family, elsewhere in the world a week ago last Wednesday.

B.

[Suzi]

Mike-That's Caz's great-grandpa Packer of course!

AND I'll back Caz and a lot of others here- this 'mud slinging' (to put it mildly!!) doesn't make for pleasant reading-and-it gets us nowhere!

Suz x

[Chris]

Good-oh, Nats. That being the case, there's no reason to callooh and callay at AP's mission to decapitate every Jabberwocky that gallumphs into his imagination.

In this case it seems to be the beamish boy who's getting the sharp end of the vorpal snicker-snack.

If you see what I mean.