Doctor Bluitt

[Sam Flynn]

Let's remember what Littlechild actually wrote:
"I never heard of a Dr D. in connection with the Whitechapel murders....

Which suggests that the suspects on Macnaghten's list might not have penetrated all that far into police awareness in the first place. The fact that a "clubber" like Richardson evidently knew a "Druitt/Bluitt" story in 1907, whereas Littlechild had never heard of same by 1913, casts an interesting light on how "official" Macnaghten's musings might have been in the first place.

[Natalie Severn]

I dont really see a problem here.If Littlechild is taken literally,then he probably never had heard of anybody referred to as " Dr D" being a serious suspect.After all Littlechild worked mostly as a special branch agent involved in Irish work,he wasnt particularly involved in the Ripper investigation.His bosses were Monro and Anderson and its possible that Anderson never expressed any interest whatsoever in Druitt,Druitt appears to have been Macnaghten"s prime suspect.He certainly wasnt Anderson"s or Abberline's or Smith"s.
James Monro,when he talked about the subject of Jack the Ripper being a "hot potato", may in fact have been thinking of Tumblety as being a "likely suspect",given the press interest in him in America at the time.Also Monro and Littlechild may well have heard Melville,another special branch man, leading off, when Tumblety,having skipped bail, slid past him in Le Havre where he was based .All these men would have known about Tumblety I believe,given their wires to New York and him arriving on the very same ship as one of their men [Andrews] and causing the American press to write stories about Tumblety being suspected of being jack the Ripper.

I dont believe any of them really had a clue in 1888 who the Ripper was but Tumblety may well have been someone they had strong suspicions about.

[Chris]

Just to confirm the information about Macnaghten's and Sims's clubs - according to Who Was Who 1916-1928, Macnaghten's club was the Garrick and Sims's clubs were "Devonshire, etc."

[Chris]

And with reference to Richardson's publisher - although Grant Richards published some of Richardson's novels, The Worst Man in the World was published by Eveleigh Nash - who was later George Sims's publisher - just one more connection to add to those posted earlier by Robert and John.

[Johnr]

Intesting about the common Sims/Richardson publisher, Eveleigh Nash, Chris.
I agree several spores or coincidences seem to trail across these people's paths.
I agree too, that Macnaghten seemed to have been the one promoting M.J.Druitt as his prime JTR candidate. And Anderson, Swanson, Littlechild and presumeably, Munro, did not.
So -given Farquharson was dead by 1896- this presumeably, leaves only Macnaghten or someone as yet not connected, as being the person who told Richardson.
After all, Richardson, whilst a failed barrister, and an ex Inner Temple bencher, was about four years behind Druitt.
Something in the back of my mind is bringing the year 1891 to the fore.
Yes, that was the year press mention of the "West of England" member
saw the light of day. Were there other significant JTR events which might relate to this scenario which occurred in 1891?
Was that the year of the Coles murder? And when did McCormick allege
Bachert claimed to find out JTR had suicided? Was that 1891?
I suppose I could go over to the Timeline pages hereon, and see for myself....
JOHN RUFFELS.

[Johnr]

Just checked the Timeline pages, nothing there to bolster my hunch that 1891 was significant for this Bluitt/Druitt mystery. JOHN RUFFELS.

[Chris]

I hoped Frank Richardson's will might shed a bit of light on his circle, but the only person it mentions is his unmarried sister, Hilda Evelyn (1878-1958).
_______________________________

Will

FRANK COLLINS RICHARDSON of 4 Albemarle Street Piccadilly London W. in the county of [Middlesex], dated 29 May 1916. Sister Hilda Evelyn Richardson to be executor [sic] and sole beneficiary.
Signed by FCR in the presence of:
Alf H. Pegler Director & Secretary of the WeardaleLead Co Ltd Imperial House Kingsway W.C.
Percy Warren (Clerk) "Ivy Dene" Canterbury Rd Leyton.

Probate

Died 1 August 1917 at 4 Albemarle Street.
Administration granted to Hilda Evelyn Richardson of 6E Bickenhall Mansions Gloucester Place [in the county of Middlesex], Spinster, sister, the sole executrix.
13 September.
Gross value £2087-7-7.
Net value of Personal estate £1879-18-2.

[Howard Brown]

Not that anyone has or was going to suggest otherwise, but it appears that Bluitt may indeed be an actual surname.

And a doctor to boot....

The Derby Mercury (Derby, England)
Wednesday, May 11, 1881

[Robert]

How, I think this may have been John BluEtt, as per the 1881 census, and I think he may have died in 1895. There was another one, given by the 1901 online site as George A Bluitt and by Ancestry as George A Bluck, but I think he was BluEtt too. This one was still knocking around in 1901.

[Robert]

Yes, these Derbyshire and Sussex directories from 1891 confirm it.

[Natalie Severn]

Just checked the Timeline pages, nothing there to bolster my hunch that 1891 was significant for this Bluitt/Druitt mystery. JOHN RUFFELS.

re the Bluitt/Druitt mystery, it may have been 1891 that a Bristol paper carried a brief column about "JtR being rumoured to have been a 'surgeon"s son who committed suicide " -I think they also mentioned, "bloodied clothing having been found in his room."

You are right John about Frances Coles who was murdered February 13th 1891 and it may also be significant that Thomas Cutbush was arrested and detained in institutions for the mentally ill from March 5th 1891 until he was sent to Broadmoor soon after.Clearly the JtR case had "resurfaced" so to speak.[---meanwhile George Chapman started packing his suitcase ready to sail to America that Spring or Summer of 1891!
Norma

[ChrisGeorge]

Not that anyone has or was going to suggest otherwise, but it appears that Bluitt may indeed be an actual surname.

And a doctor to boot....

The Derby Mercury (Derby, England)
Wednesday, May 11, 1881

Hello Howard

I have no doubt that Bluitt is a legitimate surname, but does it have anything to do with the Jack the Ripper case? My guess is not, except only as a gloss on the Druitt name, either deliberately so or coincidentally.

Best regards

Chris

[Johnr]

I agree with you Chris G.,
The only form of the name I have encountered is: BLUETT.
It is possible some genealogical pages will list BLUITT. And possibly, BLUETTE
-likely the French original.
Not only am I getting messages from Outer Space about the year 1891 ** ( and thanks for those supporting discoveries Norma) but during my extensive researches into "Montague Druitt's acquaintances" I am sure I have seen a class-mate or at least some contemporary of Druitt's who was a
' Bluett.'
Yes, the name as spelt by Richardson, only makes sense as an alternative for "Druitt". Richardson seems to have been playing to a privileged group of cognicenti, rather like the way children's cartoons often have another level which appeals to grown-ups. JOHN RUFFELS.

[ChrisGeorge]

I agree with you Chris G.,
The only form of the name I have encountered is: BLUETT.
It is possible some genealogical pages will list BLUITT. And possibly, BLUETTE
-likely the French original.
Not only am I getting messages from Outer Space about the year 1891 ** ( and thanks for those supporting discoveries Norma) but during my extensive researches into "Montague Druitt's acquaintances" I am sure I have seen a class-mate or at least some contemporary of Druitt's who was a
' Bluett.'
Yes, the name as spelt by Richardson, only makes sense as an alternative for "Druitt". Richardson seems to have been playing to a privileged group of cognicenti, rather like the way children's cartoons often have another level which appeals to grown-ups. JOHN RUFFELS.

Hi John

Google appears to throw up a large number of people with the surname of Bluitt:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...WN:en&q=Bluitt

Chris

[Johnr]

Thanks Chris George,

There was recently a Federal parliamentary Minister in the Liberal Government, with the name of " Dr. Neil Bluett ".
Don't remember what colour his eyes were, but he was definitely too young to have been accused of being JTR. (Although politicians do get the blame for lots of extraordinary things).
I'll dig out my "Friends of Montague Druitt" files and see what I can find.

For those curious about my mention in a previous post of ' Voices From Outer Space ', I forgot to footnote the asterisks saying I was joking. JOHN RUFFELS.