Cutbush press source?

[Observer]

Hi Jake

A prime example as to why the press should be closely scrutinised in order to obtain clues. Our sunburned, blotchy, rash bedecked miscreant might well be identified yet.

Observer

[Chris Scott]

Hi jake
many thanks for the source
Below is a version which quotes an unnamed inspector as the source and ties him particularly to Mitre Square
Chris

Manitoba Daily Free Press
Winnipeg, Canada
8 March 1894

Is He The Ripper?
A remarkable statement concerning the perpetrator of the Whitechapel murders has been made by an inspector of the criminal investigation department. He was, it appears, on duty near Mitre Court (sic) and the scene of the other murders throughout the time in which they were effected. The officer set himself to find out the criminal, and during the prosecution of his inquiries became possessed of an Oriental knife of a curious pattern of blade. Some time later a man who manifested homicidal mania was arrested on a minor charge, and in him the officer considered that he had found the perpetrator of the Whitechapel crimes. At first the man was placed in confinement near London; later on the criminal was removed to Dartmore (sic), where he went completely mad. All his conversation is about Whitechapel and about the women who were so mysteriously done to death within its precincts. Prior to this, however, the officer from whom this statement now emanates had made his report to his superiors. He had placed the whole of his information before them, and received a bonus for his pains.

[Jake L]

Thanks guys,

Monty,
Working from memory here, so...mind....

Cutbush Cutlery is a very muddy issue....there are mentions of different places and dates of purchase:

There's the "Houndsditch knife", purchased in February '91 as well as the "Minories knife", seemingly purchased in early March '91.
One of these was reported as being a dagger-type piece of cutlery (if they aren't the same weapon with Macnaghten getting confused).

I believe the D.R. knives were Lister/amputation knives, so that bit doesn't seem to match. (Anyone ever seen a Rimmer knife? )

Chris,

Thanks for the follow-up.

Sorry I forgot the source... the "Dartmoor" report is from Reynolds Newspaper and the retirement piece is from Lloyds Newspaper.

/jake

[Chris Scott]

Hi jake
Great find!
I have certainly seen mention of the "Chinese knife" before but not this particular interview
Here is an example of the syndicated report which obviously refers to the same story:

New Era
Iowa, U.S.A.
14 March 1894
JACK THE RIPPER
Said to be Now an Inmate of an Insane Asylum
London, March 9.
The fact has developed that Scotland Yard detectives have discovered that the famous Jack the Ripper is an inmate of Dartmoor insane asylum, having been sent there shortly after the last of the Whitechapel atrocities. The fact has been kept a profound secret, but is now guardedly admitted.

The Scotland Yard authorities have possession of the knife, which is of Chinese make, with which the Whitechapel murders were committed. They are also familiar with his movements during the intervals between the murders, and have been able to trace him to the asylum after the last crime. Although pronounced incurably insane by the asylum physicians, the man has a clear recollection of the past and all his conversations and remarks have reference to his crimes in the east end. Correspondence has passed between the government criminal department and the asylum authorities relative to the murderer's condition, and as to whether now or at any time in the near future he is or will be likely to be sufficiently rational to be placed on trial.

The result of these inquiries has not yet been disclosed.


You gave the date of the first article in your post but can you let me know in which paper it appeared
All the best
Chris

[Monty]

Jake,

Nice spot, as usual.

This knife, Dons knife?

Monty

[Jake L]

What turned a perfectly competent & rational officer into one of those "wretched specimens of humanity"- a ripperologist!
--
But seriously, I hadn't come across the following report before:


Given the date - Feb. 18, 1894, the day after the last installment of Sun's Cutbush exposé - it is safe to say that the "sensational reports" referred to are the Sun reports.

Of particular interest is the fact that an unnamed inspector says that he's going to the press in order to get the Met to look into the matter.

The mention of the knife which the inspector has in his possession makes Insp. Race a good deep throat candidate, since it is Race whom Macnaghten chides in his memo for not having placed/returned the item to the prisoners' property store - and the intreviewee mentions as being in possession of a knife.

Of course it was Race who handled the original Cutbush investigation. If the article is anything to go by, he had been kept abreast of what was happening with the subject.

Further questions come to mind, first and foremost:

Were the Sun reports prompted by Race himself or the other way around? (the Sun refers to an "accidentally obtained chance clue" as igniting its interest in the case of TC).

Attached is a report on Race's retirement. From other reports I also noticed that he seems to have had his share of favourable press during his active years, so mere publicity does not seem a valid motive.

It would seem that Race simply thought he had nailed JtR....


If the Morning Leader article could be found, perhaps some more light could be shed on how "circumstanciallly" Race presented his case....

/Jake