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  • The Windsor Street Stakeout

    First of all, I want to credit Dr. Frederick Walker (don't know who he is ) for his dissertation on this site about this subject. (Casebook: Jack the Ripper - The Windsor Street Stakeout). Dr. Walker claims the City Police suspect may have been Joseph Barnett. That is not the intention of this thread, but if anyone chooses to go that route, I have no objections. Joe Barnett went to live on New Street (seen on this map, left of Rose Alley) after he left Mary Kelly.

    I have mentioned this subject a few times in regard to the murder in Mitre Square. Let me set this up by providing the relevant news article relating to this event that took place on the evening of September 28, 1888. As we know Catherine Eddowes the murdered in the early morning hours of September 29th, 1888. I have different thoughts on this subject but wanted to see what kind of ideas you all may have? It seems clear that the City Police had their eye on someone in the vicinity of the Police Station and I found it interesting how fast news got back to the two plain clothes detectives on the stakeout near Windsor Street. I believe they heard of the murder even before the doctors and many other key witnesses.

    The Times
    October 2, 1888


    Many adverse remarks have been made concerning the want of vigilance on the part of the police in connexion with the outrages; but it should be remembered, as urged by them, that the women are of a class who know that they are liable to punishment if detected, and who, therefore, go alone to the places where they agree to meet their male companions. Shortly after the first horrible murders were committed some weeks ago, special precautions were taken by the City Police authorities with a view to detect the criminal or criminals, several plain-clothes constables being ordered on the beats in the district which has now become so notorious. Instructions were given to the constables to watch any man and woman seen together in suspicious circumstances, and especially to observe any woman who might be seen alone in circumstances of a similar nature. At about the time when the Mitre-square murder was being committed two of the extra men who had been put on duty were in Windsor-street, a thoroughfare about 300 yards off, engaged, pursuant to their instructions, in watching certain houses, it being thought possible that the premises might be resorted to at some time by the murderer. Five minutes after the discovery of the murder in Mitre-square, the two officers referred to heard of it, and the neighbourhood was at once searched by them, unfortunately without result. It is believed that had any man and woman been in company with each other going to Mitre-square they must have been observed, and that the man in that case would have been detected and captured. The supposition of the police is that the murderer and the ill-fated woman went to the place separately, having made an appointment. The general impression is that no man in his right senses could have perpetrated such a series of dreadful crimes. Some of the doctors who have been engaged in the examination of the bodies believe it quite possible that the murders may have been committed in from three to five minutes.


    Below is a map of Windsor Street (bottom right side of map) and it's location relative to the Bishopsgate Police station. Also on this map is Sandy's Row and Widegate Street which relate to the following story by Mrs. Paumier after the murder of Mary Kelly. Paumier's suspicious gentleman would walk right into the area of the Windsor Street Stakeout during the Eddowes murder, and vanish.(Edit: On this map is Sandy's Street not Row, Sandy's Row is just off the bottom of this map. Next Street.)

    Morning Advertiser
    10 November, 1888


    A Mrs. Paumier, a young woman who sells roasted chestnuts at the corner of Widegate-street, about two minutes' walk from the scene of the murder, told our reporter yesterday afternoon that at about twelve o'clock that morning a man dressed like a gentleman came to her and said, "I suppose you have heard about the murder in Dorset-street." She replied that she had, whereupon the man grinned and said, "I know more about it than you." He then stared into her face, and went down Sandy's-row, a narrow thoroughfare which cuts across Widegate-street. When he got some way off, however, he looked back as if to see whether she was watching him. Mrs. Paumier said the man had a black moustache, was about five feet six inches high, and wore a black silk hat, a black coat, and speckled trousers. He also carried a black shiny bag, about a foot in depth and a foot and a half in length. Mrs. Paumier stated further that the same man accosted three women whom she knows on Thursday night, and that they chaffed him and asked what he had in the bag, and he replied, "Something that the ladies don't like." Mrs. Paumier told her story with every appearance of truthfulness. One of the three young women she named, Sarah Roney, a girl about 20 years of age, corroborates her statement.


    Last edited by jerryd; 03-13-2021, 05:38 AM.

  • #2
    Originally posted by jerryd View Post
    First of all, I want to credit Dr. Frederick Walker (don't know who he is ) for his dissertation on this site about this subject. (Casebook: Jack the Ripper - The Windsor Street Stakeout). Dr. Walker claims the City Police suspect may have been Joseph Barnett. That is not the intention of this thread, but if anyone chooses to go that route, I have no objections. Joe Barnett went to live on New Street (seen on this map, left of Rose Alley) after he left Mary Kelly.

    I have mentioned this subject a few times in regard to the murder in Mitre Square. Let me set this up by providing the relevant news article relating to this event that took place on the evening of September 28, 1888. As we know Catherine Eddowes the murdered in the early morning hours of September 29th, 1888. I have different thoughts on this subject but wanted to see what kind of ideas you all may have? It seems clear that the City Police had their eye on someone in the vicinity of the Police Station and I found it interesting how fast news got back to the two plain clothes detectives on the stakeout near Windsor Street. I believe they heard of the murder even before the doctors and many other key witnesses.

    The Times
    October 2, 1888


    Many adverse remarks have been made concerning the want of vigilance on the part of the police in connexion with the outrages; but it should be remembered, as urged by them, that the women are of a class who know that they are liable to punishment if detected, and who, therefore, go alone to the places where they agree to meet their male companions. Shortly after the first horrible murders were committed some weeks ago, special precautions were taken by the City Police authorities with a view to detect the criminal or criminals, several plain-clothes constables being ordered on the beats in the district which has now become so notorious. Instructions were given to the constables to watch any man and woman seen together in suspicious circumstances, and especially to observe any woman who might be seen alone in circumstances of a similar nature. At about the time when the Mitre-square murder was being committed two of the extra men who had been put on duty were in Windsor-street, a thoroughfare about 300 yards off, engaged, pursuant to their instructions, in watching certain houses, it being thought possible that the premises might be resorted to at some time by the murderer. Five minutes after the discovery of the murder in Mitre-square, the two officers referred to heard of it, and the neighbourhood was at once searched by them, unfortunately without result. It is believed that had any man and woman been in company with each other going to Mitre-square they must have been observed, and that the man in that case would have been detected and captured. The supposition of the police is that the murderer and the ill-fated woman went to the place separately, having made an appointment. The general impression is that no man in his right senses could have perpetrated such a series of dreadful crimes. Some of the doctors who have been engaged in the examination of the bodies believe it quite possible that the murders may have been committed in from three to five minutes.


    Below is a map of Windsor Street (bottom right side of map) and it's location relative to the Bishopsgate Police station. Also on this map is Sandy's Row and Widegate Street which relate to the following story by Mrs. Paumier after the murder of Mary Kelly. Paumier's suspicious gentleman would walk right into the area of the Windsor Street Stakeout during the Eddowes murder, and vanish.(Edit: On this map is Sandy's Street not Row, Sandy's Row is just off the bottom of this map. Next Street.)

    Morning Advertiser
    10 November, 1888


    A Mrs. Paumier, a young woman who sells roasted chestnuts at the corner of Widegate-street, about two minutes' walk from the scene of the murder, told our reporter yesterday afternoon that at about twelve o'clock that morning a man dressed like a gentleman came to her and said, "I suppose you have heard about the murder in Dorset-street." She replied that she had, whereupon the man grinned and said, "I know more about it than you." He then stared into her face, and went down Sandy's-row, a narrow thoroughfare which cuts across Widegate-street. When he got some way off, however, he looked back as if to see whether she was watching him. Mrs. Paumier said the man had a black moustache, was about five feet six inches high, and wore a black silk hat, a black coat, and speckled trousers. He also carried a black shiny bag, about a foot in depth and a foot and a half in length. Mrs. Paumier stated further that the same man accosted three women whom she knows on Thursday night, and that they chaffed him and asked what he had in the bag, and he replied, "Something that the ladies don't like." Mrs. Paumier told her story with every appearance of truthfulness. One of the three young women she named, Sarah Roney, a girl about 20 years of age, corroborates her statement.


    hi jerry
    i have no thoughts on this post (yet) because i can be a little slow on the uptake and dont have the vast and intricate knowledge of the case as you and other great researchers have.

    so i kindly ask your thoughts and what youre getting at?
    "Is all that we see or seem
    but a dream within a dream?"

    -Edgar Allan Poe


    "...the man and the peaked cap he is said to have worn
    quite tallies with the descriptions I got of him."

    -Frederick G. Abberline

    Comment


    • #3
      You don't have to quote the whole thing back, including the map, if you're just asking for clarification.

      Comment


      • #4
        I'm with Abby on this. What kind of thoughts would you like to hear about this? You're implying that the man in Paumier's story is the man being watched in Windsor Street?
        You're stating that he would "vanish", it seems you think the police should have noticed him? Perhaps you can elaborate on what you find interesting, it's not immediately clear.

        Comment


        • #5
          Abby and Kattrup.

          I guess a couple of things this event brought to my mind. The "ripper" murders stopped, as far as we know, during the month of October. Maybe the City Police were on the right track looking in that neigborhood. The stake-out could have put enough heat on the suspect to make him re-think his tactics. Then, after the Kelly murder in November, we have a suspicious man in that area lurking about. When I said "vanish" Kattrup, it was almost as if he disappeared into that area as if he may have lived nearby.

          Second, I have a weak theory that the latter victims were working for the police as decoys to catch the killer. Was Catherine Eddowes set-up to decoy the killer into a trap but was lost in the shuffle, the rain etc. and was ultimately killed. Think of the well dressed men asking Blenkinsop if a man and woman had passed through St. James passage. Why did the City Police set up a stake-out that night and coincidentally have a murder the same night? Did they have a credible lead that a ripper event was imminent? The fact Eddowes was released in that very neighborhood makes me wonder if the killer was close at hand during her release or she met him in the area.

          But generally speaking, I wondered if this conjured up any ideas about what was happening on that night. The City Police police seemed to be on heightened alert.

          Comment


          • #6
            Another idea is the possibility Catherine Eddowes was under surveillance by the police as early as March, 1888. I say this if this clip Chris Scott found has any truth to it at all.

            From the St Louis Republic of 5 January, 1889 entitled "Seven of the Slain". The section that reads "Six months before her murder she was photographed by the police, and her picture is given by the one taken then."


            Comment


            • #7
              There are also just general coincidences, that may mean something with further research.

              -Harry Harris of Lawende's group of three, lived for some time in Catherine Wheel Alley, which is an off shoot of Windsor Street. At the time of the murders in 1888/1889 he was living in Castle Alley. Directly across from the spot Alice McKenzie was found murdered.

              -Detective Daniel Halse was neighbors with Joseph Lawende in Norfolk Street, Dalston in 1890.

              -By 1899 Joseph Hyam Levy (Lawende's group) had moved down the Street from Joseph Lavender (Lawende) at 124, Mildmay Road in Dalston. Lavender resided at 140, Mildmay Road.

              - From Gary Barnett's research, Kate Marshall (a notorious thug in Dorset Street) likely had residence in Catherine Wheel Alley in 1888. Her maiden name appears to be Catherine McCarthy. In 1898, Kate Marshall murdered her sister, Eliza Roberts (McCarthy?), in the room above Mary Kelly's murder scene. Were these McCarthy's related to John McCarthy?
              Last edited by jerryd; 03-14-2021, 02:50 AM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by jerryd View Post
                Abby and Kattrup.

                I guess a couple of things this event brought to my mind. The "ripper" murders stopped, as far as we know, during the month of October. Maybe the City Police were on the right track looking in that neigborhood. The stake-out could have put enough heat on the suspect to make him re-think his tactics. Then, after the Kelly murder in November, we have a suspicious man in that area lurking about. When I said "vanish" Kattrup, it was almost as if he disappeared into that area as if he may have lived nearby.

                Second, I have a weak theory that the latter victims were working for the police as decoys to catch the killer. Was Catherine Eddowes set-up to decoy the killer into a trap but was lost in the shuffle, the rain etc. and was ultimately killed. Think of the well dressed men asking Blenkinsop if a man and woman had passed through St. James passage. Why did the City Police set up a stake-out that night and coincidentally have a murder the same night? Did they have a credible lead that a ripper event was imminent? The fact Eddowes was released in that very neighborhood makes me wonder if the killer was close at hand during her release or she met him in the area.

                But generally speaking, I wondered if this conjured up any ideas about what was happening on that night. The City Police police seemed to be on heightened alert.
                hi jerry
                thanks for elaborating. well if they were trying to use them as decoys they sure mucked it up.
                on similar note, what they should have done was to stop and search every man who was seen with a known prostitute or unfortunate to see if they carried a large knife, and if they did to take the mans name and address down.
                "Is all that we see or seem
                but a dream within a dream?"

                -Edgar Allan Poe


                "...the man and the peaked cap he is said to have worn
                quite tallies with the descriptions I got of him."

                -Frederick G. Abberline

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Abby Normal View Post

                  hi jerry
                  thanks for elaborating. well if they were trying to use them as decoys they sure mucked it up.
                  on similar note, what they should have done was to stop and search every man who was seen with a known prostitute or unfortunate to see if they carried a large knife, and if they did to take the mans name and address down.
                  Like I said Abby, a weak theory, but not impossible.

                  Chicago Tribune
                  Sunday, 7 October 1888
                  THE WHITECHAPEL HORRORS.
                  Public Excitement Not Abating and the
                  Police Still Without a Clew.
                  SPECIAL CABLE DISPATCH TO THE TRIBUNE.
                  [Copyright, 1888, by the Press Pub. Co., N. Y. World.]


                  Some private detective agencies, tempted by the $8,000 reward, have got decoy women in the street, but all avails nothing. Innumerable arrests have been made, but no one is now in custody.


                  Pall Mall Budget, 9 October 1890.


                  THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN.
                  But by far the most important arrangement, in the opinion of the shrewdest detectives, yet made to entrap the assassinator is the employment of the class of women he has formerly chosen as his prey. A number of these outcasts, about the same age and character of those who have died, though not, of course, officially appointed, have practically been engaged by the authorities to aid in the endeavours being put forth to capture him. They have been converted for the time being into female detectives, for which, provided they can be kept sober, the police consider them well qualified. They are instructed not to repulse any man who solicits them. They are guaranteed that they will be followed, and that there will be help near at hand should their companion attempt to harm them.

                  HOW THE NEW DETECTIVES ARE WORKING.
                  They have an unrestrained license to go just where they please - a privilege strangely contrasting with their treatment by the police at the periods the murders were done. Then the police were persistent in their efforts to clear the streets of the "unfortunates" at as early an hour as possible, and it was seldom that a woman was seen out alone after one o'clock in the morning. Now, from midnight till almost daylight they are to be found prowling about in all directions. When unintoxicated they are sensible of the great peril they run - they place themselves really in the way of death - but they are so hardened, their spirits so bold and reckless, that they do not hesitate to encounter even the danger of their life.
                  Last edited by jerryd; 03-14-2021, 06:48 PM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by jerryd View Post
                    Why did the City Police set up a stake-out that night and coincidentally have a murder the same night? Did they have a credible lead that a ripper event was imminent?
                    During the murders the police probably had stake-outs every night in suspicious locations.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Scott Nelson View Post

                      During the murders the police probably had stake-outs every night in suspicious locations.
                      Hi Scott.

                      You're probably right, but the City Police hadn't had a "ripper" murder on their turf yet.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hi,

                        Just posting a map to help orient people. The blue line shows one possible route that Eddowes may have taken when she left the police station. She was described as turning left and heading to Houndsditch, so I've drawn it as if that's what she did, turned onto Houndsditch and went to Algate High Street, in the vicinity of St. Botolph's Church. The red circle is, I believe, Windsor Street. The above maps are rotated 90 degrees relative to this one.

                        Click image for larger version  Name:	EddowesFromPolice.jpg Views:	0 Size:	137.0 KB ID:	753178
                        Mitre Square is just below the 9 of the 597.670 metres.

                        - Jeff
                        Last edited by JeffHamm; 03-15-2021, 08:26 AM.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by JeffHamm View Post
                          Hi,
                          The red circle is, I believe, Windsor Street.
                          Actually, Jeff, the alley you've circled is called **** Hill. Windsor Street is just to the north of it, under the "Back" of "Background map".

                          Here is a closer look.
                          ​​​​https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoo...rs=163&b=1

                          Click image for larger version  Name:	_20210315_105129.JPG Views:	0 Size:	116.7 KB ID:	753194
                          ​​​​​​​

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Joshua Rogan View Post

                            Actually, Jeff, the alley you've circled is called **** Hill. Windsor Street is just to the north of it, under the "Back" of "Background map".

                            Here is a closer look.
                            ​​​​https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoo...rs=163&b=1

                            Click image for larger version Name:	_20210315_105129.JPG Views:	0 Size:	116.7 KB ID:	753194
                            ​​​​​​​
                            Yes, you're correct. I got confused trying to rotate one map and zoom on the other. I had it right before when I looked it up, and this time thought I was previously mistaken, but it seems I was right before and wrong now! Go figure.

                            Thanks for pointing that out.

                            - Jeff

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Hi,

                              Ok, I've used a different overlay map this time (corresponding to the one Joshua used) as it clearly labels Windsor Street and I don't have to try mentally rotating the maps into each other and count streets and alleys. Clearly, I'm not very good at at least one of those, and quite possibly both.

                              So, the blue line just indicates a route from the police station (at the top) to St. Botolph's Church (at the bottom).

                              The green line, near the top, is Windsor Street.

                              The red circle at the bottom is Mitre Square, and the red dot is the crime scene location.

                              And for good measure, the green dot is the Goulston Street Graffitti.

                              Fingers crossed the coffee has kicked in.

                              - Jeff Click image for larger version

Name:	EddowesFromPolice2.jpg
Views:	323
Size:	127.2 KB
ID:	753229



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