Question about Druitt's occupation

[Mondegreen]

This question may sound very ignorant, but why is so much discussion here centred on the fact that Druitt was a doctor or studied medicine?

I ask this because all I've read was that he was a teacher and worked in the Law field. What I've read about his studies here on casebook (in the suspects page) and Wikipedia (not a great source, but that statement was credited to some books in the footnote the last time I checked, I don't know if it still is) indicates he studied Classics.

I know that his relatives were doctors but that does not make someone a medical student or professional.

I've seen some posts here suggesting that he may have shadowed one of his relatives or one of their colleagues to see if he had any vocation to become a doctor. I find that more plausible but is it conjecture or do we know that happened?

Thank you in advance.

[GUT]

G'day Mondegreen

This question may sound very ignorant, but why is so much discussion here centred on the fact that Druitt was a doctor or studied medicine?

The rumour starts with an early news report, then the MP for Dorset and Mcnaghten, who all refer to him as a Doctor.

I ask this because all I've read was that he was a teacher and worked in the Law field. What I've read about his studies here on casebook (in the suspects page) and Wikipedia (not a great source, but that statement was credited to some books in the footnote the last time I checked, I don't know if it still is) indicates he studied Classics.

Yes he was a Master at Valentine's School and a Barrister, and he had studied Classics at University.

I know that his relatives were doctors but that does not make someone a medical student or professional.

There is possibly a year missing in his resumee and the question is "did he study medicine in that time?", or what did he do? If there was a Gap Year.

I've seen some posts here suggesting that he may have shadowed one of his relatives or one of their colleagues to see if he had any vocation to become a doctor. I find that more plausible but is it conjecture or do we know that happened?

Seems hard to imagine [to me] that he didn't observe some medical practice when his father was a surgeon.

[pinkmoon]

The rumour starts with an early news report, then the MP for Dorset and Mcnaghten, who all refer to him as a Doctor.



Yes he was a Master at Valentine's School and a Barrister, and he had studied Classics at University.



There is possibly a year missing in his resumee and the question is "did he study medicine in that time?", or what did he do? If there was a Gap Year.



Seems hard to imagine [to me] that he didn't observe some medical practice when his father was a surgeon.

Hi gut,Is it possible that the famous memo that names Druitt was copied from some less detailed notes which deliberately had a false age and occupation to disguise his real identity and montys name was added in the final draft.

[GUT]

G'day Pinkmoon

Hi gut,Is it possible that the famous memo that names Druitt was copied from some less detailed notes which deliberately had a false age and occupation to disguise his real identity.

I wouldn't rule it out. I am trying to find the report that I am thinking of [too many different computers] but from memory it also had him aged in his 40's. Sound familiar?

[GUT]

The only press report on Casebook that comes close is

Thames Valley Times
Wednesday Evening 2nd January 1889

That has him aged in his 40's.

[pinkmoon]

The only press report on Casebook that comes close is

Thames Valley Times
Wednesday Evening 2nd January 1889

That has him aged in his 40's.

Abberline refers to a drowned doctor pulled out of the Thames in a 1903 edition of the pall mall gazzette .

[GUT]

Griffiths and Sims

Of course the Dr rumour was continued by Griffiths and Sims in their works.

[GUT]

Abberline refers to a drowned doctor pulled out of the Thames in a 1903 edition of the pall mall gazzette .

G'day Pinkmoon

I've seen one [from memory] Jan 1888.

Also you did good with the beans.

[GUT]

there is also the report of PC Moulson who was the first officer to the body of MJ Druitt which from memory had him as a Dr.

I have also read suggestions [for what they're worth] that it came from his initials MD.

[Mondegreen]

Thank you for your replies, especially GUT's detailed ones.

I don't think it's impossible that he may have witnessed medical practice at all, in fact like you, I agree it's likely. I was just wondering because since he didn't study Medicine, it's hard to know exactly how much knowledge and experience he had, whereas if he'd formally studied it we'd be able to guess based on the expected level of knowledge of someone with those qualifications.

I wonder if he could have travelled abroad during that gap year, in France or Italy or something. It was a rite of passage of sorts of young men who could afford it to spend some time abroad to see works of art and visit archaeological sites.

[pinkmoon]

there is also the report of PC Moulson who was the first officer to the body of MJ Druitt which from memory had him as a Dr.

I have also read suggestions [for what they're worth] that it came from his initials MD.

Hi gut,could someone have assumed that Druitt was the doctor Druitt (montys cousin)who had worked in the east end a year or so before the suicide after all Druitt isn't a very common name.

[GUT]

G'day Mondegreen

I wonder if he could have travelled abroad during that gap year, in France or Italy or something. It was a rite of passage of sorts of young men who could afford it to spend some time abroad to see works of art and visit archaeological sites.

That certainly can't be ruled out, the "Grand Tour" was common.

A number of works say that he spent a year studying medicine but none gve any reference to support that contention.

[GUT]

BTW I have lost my fle on PC Moulson can anyone point me to a copy of his report as have been working purely from memory bus as I recall Mcnaghten's "Mistakes" about Montie equated with Moulson's report.

[David Andersen]

PC Moulsom never referred to Druitt as a Doctor. Nor to his age. His evidence at the inquest appears only to state that he had found and searched the body.

[David Andersen]

MacNaghten only claimed that Druitt was 'SAID' to be a doctor.