Druitt and Monro

[Doctored Whatsit]

It's called masking. People put on a front. They act normal, even happy, yet inside they're struggling. And sometimes they get tired of the struggle. Druitt was a robust athlete, a successful barrister. And one fine day he filled his pockets with stones and jumped into the river.

Hi Fiver,

I don't disagree with your "masking" comments above, and I have not claimed that he didn't commit suicide or that he was murdered. Taking the suggestion on this thread at #1 that he was murdered for the stated reason, I have merely pointed out some genuinely odd aspects of his suicide that cause me to have reservations about it.

Why would a clear-thinking legally minded teacher/barrister write a suicide note demonstrating that the death is clearly planned, and then buy a return ticket, and carry quite a lot of cash and two cheques on your person, making it seem disorganized and suggesting it wasn't planned?

Why commit suicide on a Saturday, and write "since Friday" instead of "since yesterday" or "since a week last Friday" or "since Nov 30th"?

Why choose a very unpleasant death, drowning in the freezing cold Thames in December, when an overdose would have been easier?

I have strong reservations about the suicide, but I am not saying he was murdered as per #1 on this thread. I propose that there are good reasons to suspect that it may not have been suicide.

[The Rookie Detective]

Hi George,

Yes, I share your reservations about the "since Friday" aspect of the suicide note. If false it seems to use the 30th November date, with the writer either not knowing the date of death, or believing that nobody else would discover it. If the suicide note was genuine it would be expected to say "since yesterday", or "since a week Friday".

Yes indeed.

[Fiver]

Hi Fiver,

I quoted directly from the A-Z, or actually slightly misquoted, "he reportedly described himself and his mother as Montague's only relatives." This is from the Acton Chiswick and Turnham Green Gazette.

Ooops - already stated at #28 above!

But the transcription of the Acton Chiswick and Turnham Green Gazette from this site does not say the William Druitt claimed he and his mother were the only relatives. I think the A-Z is wrong on this one considering the papers covered several of the Druitts attending Montague's funeral.

"The funeral took place in Wimborne cemetery on Thursday afternoon, and the body was followed to the grave by the deceased's relatives and a few friends, including Mr. W.H. Druitt, Mr. Arthur Druitt, Rev. C. H. Druitt, Mr. J. Druitt, sen., Mr. J. Druitt, jun., Mr. J.T. Homer, and Mr. Wyke-Smith. The funeral service was read by the vicar of die Minster, Wimborne, the Rev. F.J. Huyshe, assisted by the Rev. Plater." - Southern Guardian, 1 January 1889

[Fiver]

Why choose a very unpleasant death, drowning in the freezing cold Thames in December, when an overdose would have been easier?

A fair amount of Victorians believed drowning was a peaceful death.

[rjpalmer]

But the transcription of the Acton Chiswick and Turnham Green Gazette from this site does not say the William Druitt claimed he and his mother were the only relatives. I think the A-Z is wrong on this one considering the papers covered several of the Druitts attending Montague's funeral.

"The funeral took place in Wimborne cemetery on Thursday afternoon, and the body was followed to the grave by the deceased's relatives and a few friends, including Mr. W.H. Druitt, Mr. Arthur Druitt, Rev. C. H. Druitt, Mr. J. Druitt, sen., Mr. J. Druitt, jun., Mr. J.T. Homer, and Mr. Wyke-Smith. The funeral service was read by the vicar of die Minster, Wimborne, the Rev. F.J. Huyshe, assisted by the Rev. Plater." - Southern Guardian, 1 January 1889

What do the mourners at Druitt’s funeral in Dorset have to do with William Druitt’s deposition before the inquest in Chiswick, West London? It’s a strange observation.

You may wish to go back and reread the Acton, Chiswick, and Turnham Green Gazette, this time focusing on the second paragraph.

William Druitt states that his mother went insane last July, and there “was no other relative.”

The A-Z authors see this as an indication that Druitt wasn’t being entirely truthful, for he and MJD had a brother and sister living in London itself who could have just as easily addressed the inquest.

Rightly or wrongly, some take this to mean that William Druitt, a lawyer who was by no means unfamiliar with inquests, came up from Bournemouth to take control of the “situation” and to promote a certain narrative.

[rjpalmer]

Rather than “sister,” I should have written cousin. He had several siblings other than William, but only one was in London in 1888.

[Fiver]

You may wish to go back and reread the Acton, Chiswick, and Turnham Green Gazette, this time focusing on the second paragraph.

William Druitt states that his mother went insane last July, and there “was no other relative.”-/quote]

Thank you for the correction.

The A-Z authors see this as an indication that Druitt wasn’t being entirely truthful, for he and MJD had a brother and sister living in London itself who could have just as easily addressed the inquest.

Rightly or wrongly, some take this to mean that William Druitt, a lawyer who was by no means unfamiliar with inquests, came up from Bournemouth to take control of the “situation” and to promote a certain narrative.

If William Druitt was trying to take control of the situation, then why would he claim there were no other relatives? Rather than gaining control, it would lead to questions from other relatives and friends of the family.

I suspect that section is William Druitt's responses to questions.

Question: Had the deceased attempted suicide before?
William Druitt: Witness, continuing, said deceased had never made any attempt on his life before.
Question: Have any other members of the family shown signs of insanity?
William Druitt: His mother became insane in July last.
Question: Had other relatives shown signs of insanity?
William Druitt: He had no other relative.

Everything in italics is speculation by me. I think it fits, but my opinions are not universal truths.

[Kattrup]

Yes indeed.

I’m not sure what exactly is being discussed. But I have a suspicion that some of the unfortunately conspiratorially minded posters imply that something was off about Druitt’s suicide.


Let’s therefore repeat that there’s absolutely ZERO indication that Druitt’s death was suspicious.

He had weighed down his pockets with stones.

The piece of paper referring to “since Friday” is UNDATED, described in one source as a letter to his brother. Since we don’t know WHEN Druitt committed suicide, and we don’t know WHEN the sentence was written, it is exceedingly useless to try to deduce anything untoward from it.

There was another letter found alluding to suicide. That IS NOT the same document.

If I seem frustrated and resort to allcaps, it is because these things have been known for YEARS, including known by the eager people propping up ridiculous and ludicrous theories because they seek to profit from them financially.
The sources are readily available on this very site.

Please prove me wrong and I will apologize

[Doctored Whatsit]

A fair amount of Victorians believed drowning was a peaceful death.

I don't believe that Druitt was an idiot or that he lived in a dream world as he was an educated man. Drowning is a very unpleasant and painful way to die, and the freezing cold waters of the Thames in December could not possibly have seemed "peaceful" and inviting in the slightest.

[rjpalmer]

If William Druitt was trying to take control of the situation, then why would he claim there were no other relatives? Rather than gaining control, it would lead to questions from other relatives and friends of the family.

I'm afraid I don't follow your reasoning.

You seem to be assuming that MJ Druitt's family and friends would want to raise questions. Why make that assumption? How do you know that William Druitt wasn't acting with their best interests in mind and with their full support?

Recall that Macnaghten's claim is that Druitt's own family believed or feared that he was Jack the Ripper. If you believe Macnaghten, then one must view the inquest in Chiswick in that light.

As such, I think it is possible that the Druitt family as a whole, wishing to avoid a scandal, put their heads together and decided it would be best to have William Druitt, the big gun from Bournemouth, handle the inquest and give a neat & tidy solution to Druitt's suicide in Hammersmith/Chiswick. He would also leave the false impression that Montague had no other local London relatives, thus they wouldn't be questioned or be forced to give evidence.

This would leave the inquest short & sweet without raising any unwanted complications. I suspect that that is what the original A-Z authors were suggesting may have happened.

Here's a question you might ask yourself. If Coroner Diplock and the jury had known that a few short years later the Chief Constable at Scotland Yard would suggest in an internal report that Druitt may have been 'Jack the Ripper,' would they have been satisfied with William Druitt's one-man act?


Or would they have wanted to hear from more witnesses, including Druitt's local family and friends who, presumably, may have known more about his recent behavior than William in Bournemouth? Would they also have wanted to hear from MJD's fellow barristers who shared his chambers in Kings Bench Walk? How about George Valentine at the school in Blackheath? Would he have not been called to give evidence?

You can either reject their thinking or not--your choice--but the Druitt theorists are merely suggesting that things aren't quite as neat & simple as William Druitt wanted to project. In other words, the adage, "Trust Not Appearances."

[Doctored Whatsit]

I’m not sure what exactly is being discussed. But I have a suspicion that some of the unfortunately conspiratorially minded posters imply that something was off about Druitt’s suicide.


Let’s therefore repeat that there’s absolutely ZERO indication that Druitt’s death was suspicious.

He had weighed down his pockets with stones.

The piece of paper referring to “since Friday” is UNDATED, described in one source as a letter to his brother. Since we don’t know WHEN Druitt committed suicide, and we don’t know WHEN the sentence was written, it is exceedingly useless to try to deduce anything untoward from it.

There was another letter found alluding to suicide. That IS NOT the same document.

If I seem frustrated and resort to allcaps, it is because these things have been known for YEARS, including known by the eager people propping up ridiculous and ludicrous theories because they seek to profit from them financially.
The sources are readily available on this very site.

Please prove me wrong and I will apologize

A killer would be just as likely to weigh the body down with stones.

The entry "since Friday" in a suicide note must logically only refer to the most recent Friday, but that was the day before the apparent suicide, and therefore "Friday" was a very strange choice of words from a teacher/barrister, and "yesterday" would have been appropriate.

The writing of wills and the settlement of estates etc is very much a legal matter, and Druitt was a barrister, so we would surely have expected a tidy and organized suicide. The suicide note suggests this was the case, but buying a return ticket instead of a single strongly suggests he intended to return from this visit. The presence of quite an amount of money, general valuables and two cheques on his person also suggests that he was intending to return. The note clearly suggests a firm and positive decision to die, but the return ticket, and the disorganized death leaving his estate "untidy", suggests that he didn't intend to kill himself.

I have never proposed that he was murdered. In view of the initial allegation at the outset which is the original purpose of this thread, I have pointed out some odd aspects of his alleged suicide which may well be regarded as relevant and suspicious if there were grounds to suspect murder. I leave the question of the murder to those who suspect it.

[Kattrup]

The entry "since Friday" in a suicide note must logically only refer to the most recent Friday, but that was the day before the apparent suicide, and therefore "Friday" was a very strange choice of words from a teacher/barrister, and "yesterday" would have been appropriate.

I’m sorry, I’m not going to bother repeat perfectly common knowledge after this, when people don’t bother reading the sources: it is NOT KNOWN when the phrase “since Friday” was written. It is NOT KNOWN that it was a suicide note.
In ANOTHER letter Druitt ALLUDED to suicide.

The writing of wills and the settlement of estates etc is very much a legal matter, and Druitt was a barrister, so we would surely have expected a tidy and organized suicide. The suicide note suggests this was the case, but buying a return ticket instead of a single strongly suggests he intended to return from this visit. The presence of quite an amount of money, general valuables and two cheques on his person also suggests that he was intending to return. The note clearly suggests a firm and positive decision to die, but the return ticket, and the disorganized death leaving his estate "untidy", suggests that he didn't intend to kill himself.

Completely wrong. Many suicides are unplanned, they’re acts of impulse, we do not expect an organized deed, the “note” does NOT suggest a firm and positive decision to die, in actual fact, it is literally mentioned that suicide is only ALLUDED to.

[Doctored Whatsit]

I’m sorry, I’m not going to bother repeat perfectly common knowledge after this, when people don’t bother reading the sources: it is NOT KNOWN when the phrase “since Friday” was written. It is NOT KNOWN that it was a suicide note.
In ANOTHER letter Druitt ALLUDED to suicide.




Completely wrong. Many suicides are unplanned, they’re acts of impulse, we do not expect an organized deed, the “note” does NOT suggest a firm and positive decision to die, in actual fact, it is literally mentioned that suicide is only ALLUDED to.

It is a genuine problem that Druitt's alleged actual wording is unknown, and therefore neither viewpoint can be established. Either way, the wording was sufficiently clear for the inquest to accept that suicide was intended.

"Since Friday" is a very strange thing to write unless he meant the previous Friday. If it was some other Friday, the addition of a date would have been logical.

It seems that Druitt did not intend to commit suicide when he left home on 1st December, but he did, leaving a note suggesting that the best thing for him to do was to die. The written note or notes were very odd things to write and then leave if suicide wasn't seriously contemplated.

I fully understand the points that you and others are making, and I don't disagree that they are perfectly reasonable, but as I keep saying, I accept that there are grounds for doubting that the death was suicide, despite the fact that I don't claim that I believe he was murdered.

If there is somehow any doubt in anyone's mind after all that I have written, I am firmly "sitting on the fence", and accepting there are some circumstances relating to Druitt's death which can lead to perfectly reasonable doubts as to the suicide.

[Wickerman]

. . .

He was said to have written a suicide note, which suggested that he chose to take his own life, but he then bought a return train ticket, and died with two cheques and quite a bit of cash on his person. That was a very untidy and disorganised suicide for someone as disciplined as a teacher/barrister who had written a suicide note and therefore planned his death! It was also a very unpleasant method of suicide, the cold waters of the Thames in December! An overdose would have been so much easier.

Did you consider brother William could have wrote the suicide note?

Obviously, if he didn't plan his suicide, he had to have a reason for going to Chiswick, and if it wasn't business, it could have been to take a look at Manor House Asylum. His mother was at an asylum in Brighton, which wasn't very convenient, and actually she was transferred to Manor House in May 1890.

Anne Druitt's medical record mentioned 'depression', I wouldn't think that was normally something you would choose suicide over, but then I've never had depression.

Assuming Druitt did commit suicide, the reference to not wanting 'to be like mother', I suspect meant he didn't want to be incarcerated in an asylum for the rest of his life.

[Herlock Sholmes]

How can we be sure that the “Since Friday, I felt like I was going to be like mother, and the best thing was for me to die” note hadn’t been written a month or two earlier (or longer) but not sent, for whatever reason? Maybe this might have been explained in the part of the note which wasn’t read out at the inquest?