Doctor Bluitt

[Chris]

Here is an account of the inquest on Frank Richardson, from the Daily Mirror of 4 August 1917:

[Johnr]

When you can get Reverend Andy to say: "Holey Moley..You've really made a find!

Wow Chris!,
I'd say this is the most exciting find on the Druitt Suspicion, since Andy found the "West of England Member".
You must write it up for Ripperologist of somesuch.Well done!'
I have ploughed back through my notes on the Inner Temple Call Book ( members called to the Bar from the Inner Temple) for 1882-5, but can find no other " Richardson or Collins".
I've also looked through John Leighton's cricket cards for matches MJD played in .Only one " Richardson ":
SIDMOUTH versus INCOGNITI 12th & 13th August 1881.
When a feildsman for Sidmouth was "S.Richardson".Took a catch resulting in someone's wicket (being ruled "out" or "finished for the game" to non-cricket persons).As for batting he was out for naught.

Frank Richardson was a bit younger than Druitt, so he may have heard rumours at Inner temple banquets or annual dinners.
The Coroner spoke of his excessive drinking. It might have been in just such a situation, with other lawyers who had dined too well and too long, one of whom blurted out a name he should not have.
Another possible area, other than the very promising Garrick Club connection, is the fledgling discipline of psychology.Did Frank Richardson suffer depression? Had he seen an analyst?
I have long held the belief Macnaghten came to a firm conclusion as to Druitt's guilt after discussing the case with one or more psychiatrists.The Tukes.
I wonder? JOHN RUFFELS.

[Johnr]

When you can get Reverend Andy to say: "Holey Moley..You've really made a find!

Wow Chris!,
I'd say this is the most exciting find on the Druitt Suspicion, since Andy found the "West of England Member".
You must write it up for Ripperologist of somesuch.Well done!'
I have ploughed back through my notes on the Inner Temple Call Book ( members called to the Bar from the Inner Temple) for 1882-5, but can find no other " Richardson or Collins".
I've also looked through John Leighton's cricket cards for matches MJD played in .Only one " Richardson ":

SIDMOUTH versus INCOGNITI 12th & 13th August 1881.
When a feildsman for Sidmouth was "S.Richardson".Took a catch resulting in someone's wicket (being ruled "out" or "finished for the game" to non-cricket persons).As for batting he was out for naught.

Frank Richardson was a bit younger than Druitt, so he may have heard rumours at Inner Temple banquets or annual dinners.
The Coroner spoke of his excessive drinking. It might have been in just such a situation, with other lawyers who had dined too well and too long, one of whom blurted out a name he should not have.

Another possible area, other than the very promising Garrick Club connection, is the fledgling discipline of psychology.

Did Frank Richardson suffer depression? Had he seen an analyst?

I have long held the belief Macnaghten came to a firm conclusion as to Druitt's guilt after discussing the case with one or more psychiatrists.The Tukes.
I wonder? JOHN RUFFELS.

[Robert]

Hi John

Since Richardson says that he worked at the House of Commons, that's possibly another place he might have picked up a slightly garbled version of the story.

[Chris]

Since Richardson says that he worked at the House of Commons, that's possibly another place he might have picked up a slightly garbled version of the story.

I suspect the problem may be that there are too many plausible connections.

For example, in Shavings (1911), Richardson describes himself as "perhaps, the least successful of all the pupils of Sir Charles Mathews", who was then the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mathews was a member of the Western Circuit (and is even recorded as attending a dinner at which Druitt was present, in November 1887 - http://forum.casebook.org/showpost.p...26&postcount=1).

According to his Wikipedia entry, "Mathews was very sociable; he was a member of the Turf, Garrick, and Beefsteak Clubs ..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Willie_Mathews,_1st_Baronet

[aspallek]

The more I think about this, the more it suggests to me we have indication that Macnaghten was in the habit of revealing details about his prime suspect but with a garbled name.

To Sims he tells of a "Dr D" with Druitt's details.

To Richardson he tells of a "Dr. Bluitt" with Druitt's details.

When I say "Druitt's details" I mean details about Druitt from Macnaghten's memo, whether they be correct or incorrect.

[jason_c]

The more I think about this, the more it suggests to me we have indication that Macnaghten was in the habit of revealing details about his prime suspect but with a garbled name.

To Sims he tells of a "Dr D" with Druitt's details.

To Richardson he tells of a "Dr. Bluitt" with Druitt's details.

When I say "Druitt's details" I mean details about Druitt from Macnaghten's memo, whether they be correct or incorrect.

I think its more likely Richardson used the name Bluitt for legal reasons.

[aspallek]

I have to disagree. I don't see Macnaghten casually giving out the real name.

[Robert]

With the coming of the suffragettes, Richardson widened his hair interests to include cranial hair, suggesting (presumably tongue in cheek) that the suffragettes would jolly well shut up if they were taken out and balded. This was in the Pall Mall Gazette. I'm just wondering whether it might be worth checking letters columns in newspapers, satirical magazines etc to see if he commented on Anderson in 1910.

[Sam Flynn]

I have to disagree. I don't see Macnaghten casually giving out the real name.

Possibly not, Andy, but in confidence, to a former barrister, Oxonian and Freemason to boot, I don't see why the name shouldn't have come up - especially over brandy and cigars. "An Englishman's word...", and all that. Bear in mind that Macnaghten seemed to have no qualms about mentioning three suspects in a memo destined for the press.

Besides, I'm not convinced that Macnaghten was Richardson's source at all. Given the club and other society connections, Richardson could have heard this via a friend of a friend of a friend. I shouldn't be at all surprised if "Doctor Druitt" was the name that he'd heard, either - "Bluitt" (as in "he blew it") strikes one as a distinct comic device, as opposed to a misheard/obfuscated name.

[aspallek]

I don't believe Macnaghten's memo was designed for the press.

Also, when I say that Macnaghten was Richardson's source, I mean his ultimate source. Yes, it could have come second or third hand. You have a good point on the comic nature of the "Bluitt" name. It could well be an invention of Richardson's.

[Johnr]

I am mystified about just who appeared to have become a beneficiary of Macnaghten's jumbled clues.

As Chris has excellently pointed out, Frank Richardson also wrote of a dandy character ( kid skin gloves?) named Montague!!

By the early 1900's G R Sims was authoritatively decreeing in press articles that Scotland Yard's principal JTR suspect lived "with his people" some six miles from Whitechapel.

I wonder if anyone cares to troll through all of Richardsons short books after 1908 when he first mentioned "Bluitt" and subsequently, a character named " Montague"?

It is a wonder the gossip pages ( G R Sim's?) did not comment on Richardson's curious published remarks. JOHN RUFFELS.

[lynn cates]

widespread suspicion

Hello. Those of us interested in Druitt doubtless recall the story about a Whitechapel resident who was reassured about a reduction in police forces by being told a snippet about Jack's having committed suicide.

I also recall a story about some of the river people (who lived near to where Druitt is supposed to have drowned) who claimed that "Jack" had drowned on that spot.

Is it just possible that, among the lower echelon of the police, the Druitt suspicion was well known and, among a certain substratum of Whitechapel/Blackheath society, widespread?

LC

[Chris]

Here's another Ripper reference that occurs later in "The Worst Man in the World", on page 146:

[aspallek]

Interesting wording in that excerpt, Chris. Farquharson described his "son of a surgeon" as suffering from "homicidal mania." Macnaghten in his memoirs altered this slightly so "sexual maniac" to coincide with his "sexually insane" remark in his memorandum.