Richard Walter and an Alleged 'Secret' Letter of 1888 at Scotland Yard

[ChrisGeorge]

So, the story goes that Druitt took revenge on 'the prostitues that had given PAV syphilis' - what all of them had given PAV the pox? Has it been established that any of the women killed had syphilis? And why is it always assumed that it was the women who carried the pox? How did they catch it then?

I also find it hard to believe that a Royal Prince would switch from having sex with a nice, clean, sober (we presume) chap, in favour of a collection of possibly rather smelly and drink-sodden old (not Kelly)women. It's fantasy in the true Gothic style. Instead of a vicious and cold-blooded killer, we have the image of a poor tortured soul, seeking revenge for some imagined wrong inflicted on self/lover/member of family by diseased and immoral women.

Hi Limehouse

Of course it doesn't have to be the identical women who gave PAV syphilis, just that the Avenger aka Jack the Ripper wielded his bloody knife like a sword of Damocles on a class of women, which is how most of these revenge-type motives for the Whitechapel Murderer usually work.

Hi Chris,

I shall read your article with interest.

A secret vault at Scotland Yard, eh? I love melodramatic plot devices.

Could this be what it contains?

Rocky Mountain News, 17th January 1892—

"It is understood that the death of a Catholic priest in the East End of London has placed some important revelations in the hands of the police. There can be no doubt that the priest, under the seal of confession, died possessed of information that might have led to the arrest of the murderer or murderers of the wretched women known as "Jack the Ripper's" victims. That the priest had qualms of conscience regarding the sanctity of confession, even in connection with such atrocities, is evinced by the sealed packet he left behind him addressed to Sir Edward Bradford, chief of London's police department. On the package was inscribed, in the dead priest's handwriting, 'This is to be opened after my death - my lips must never reveal it.'

"Beyond the above, carelessly mentioned by a garrulous official who has since been severely reprimanded for his indiscretion, no further information can be obtained from the police. Whether it will lead to the detection of the Whitechapel fiend is a problem difficult to solve . . ."

Good stuff. Yes this could have been about Druitt confessing though I am not sure that he would have confessed to a Catholic priest seeing that he was a demonstrably Anglican country gentleman.

And just four days after Prince Eddy turned up his toes. Cue conspiratorial music.

Catholic priest. PAV's secret marriage to a Catholic girl.

You could make a best-seller out of ingredients like these.

Unfortunately, Simon, I hate to tell you, it has already been done. But the money machine can always be made to churn again.

Best regards

Chris

[Simon Wood]

Hi Chris,

I agree with you. And I know it's already been done. I was there.

But when that Ripperological money-machine starts churning again [and it will: give it time] don't be surprised if you discover that, before she was hauled off by Sir William Gull for a quick lobotomy, Annie Elizabeth Crook [PAV's alleged Catholic bride] confessed to a priest about her threesomes with PAV and Druitt.

Jack the Ripper is the ultimate all-purpose plot device.

Regards,

Simon

[Supe]

Chris,

This tale has definite echoes of Michael Harrison's theory (and book) about J.K. Stephen and PAV, even to Stephen embarking upon a murderous spree after being jilted. Stephens at least was a Cantab (and Eddy's quondam tutor) so it worked on that level (if only that level), but there is no evidence (rumor or innuendo) that Montie and PAV crossed paths ever.

Don.

[ChrisGeorge]

Thanks for your input, Simon and Don. If we are talking about fantasy or actual books where elements of this story came from it's important to examine the different aspects to assess where we are. At the least, each new complicating tale helps to make the Ripper case both fascinating and irritating equal measures.

Chris

[lynn cates]

confiteor

Hello Simon. That sounds oddly like the vicar who heard "Jack's" confession and kept it close for 10 years.

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

a tale twice told

Hello Don. Precisely.

Cheers.
LC

[Stewart P Evans]

Par For the Course

This is about par for the course in Ripperology. Start with obvious nonsense and dismiss it as such, then discuss it ad infinitum to give it a life of its own.

[The Grave Maurice]

SPE,

Well yeah, true, that's what we do. But how else can we have any fun with it?

[Tom_Wescott]

Fyi

I'm the unimpeachable source. This should teach you not to ask me who the Ripper is on April 1st.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Stewart P Evans]

Well...

SPE,
Well yeah, true, that's what we do. But how else can we have any fun with it?

Well, yes, I suppose, if you look at it that way...

[Hunter]

At least there seems to be a consensus on this one...a rarity indeed... good to know that a point can be reached when everyone considers something too far fetched... I was beginning to wonder.

[Mayerling]

Chris,

This tale has definite echoes of Michael Harrison's theory (and book) about J.K. Stephen and PAV, even to Stephen embarking upon a murderous spree after being jilted. Stephens at least was a Cantab (and Eddy's quondam tutor) so it worked on that level (if only that level), but there is no evidence (rumor or innuendo) that Montie and PAV crossed paths ever.

Don.

Hi Don,

I already noted Chris's blog (I found it on Facebook at the time) and made my conmment. I am sorry for the member of the Vidocq Society, but I am glad to see the early 19th Century French Detective has a society named in his honor. Perhaps the membership can view at one sitting Douglas Sirk's 1944 movie, A SCANDAL IN PARIS with George Sanders as Vidocq.

It does soun like a rehashing of Harrison's suggestions regarding a connection between Eddy and James Kenneth, and you are right - the latter was connected to Eddy at Cambridge (right college for the Apostles). Maybe we can extend the rumors, linking Eddy, James Kenneth, and Monty, with James Kenneth's mad old dad deciding to destroy Florence Maybrick at her trial because she may have killed her husband James before Justice Stephen could unmask him as the real Jack from a hitherto unknown diary!

Jeff

[Supe]

Jeff,

You could not -- no one could be -- so cruel as to bring up the Diary in this connection.

Don.

[John Bennett]

Interesting to note Chris G's mention that Richard Walter's knowledge of the case is not good. When stuff like this comes up, those whose familiarity with the subject is limited do tend to run with it.

For all their differences of opinion and interpretation, informed 'ripperologists' in general do have a highly developed BS-detector!

JB

[Tom_Wescott]

There's no question the story was BS, because Prince Eddy was in love with Le Grand, and there's no way he'd throw away a good thing like that for a tryst with some melodramatic look alike school marm. I'm glad we're all sticking with the facts.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott