Druitt and Monro

[rjpalmer]

I'm inclined to think any dismissal from the school would be done in person.
It would be etiquette for Mr Valentine to give Druitt the opportunity in person to explain himself.
Which suggests to me if he was dismissed, it would be done in writing, and in person, meaning Druitt was still alive on the date of his dismissal.

Good points, of course.

And Druitt being replaced by George Valentine on December 30 would have had no relevance to the inquest. Clearly, William Druitt, a solicitor who sometimes held inquests of his own, would know that. The decomposition of Druitt's body showed that Druitt had been dead for weeks before December 30th. That he was afterwards replaced by a different school master wouldn't have mattered.

In stating that Druitt had been dismissed, WHD was attempting to demonstrate his brother's mental state before he drowned himself in Chiswick/Hammersmith.

In other words, the purpose of the inquest was threefold:

(A) to identify the body (which William did).

(B) To determine the cause of death (MJD had drowned)

(C) To examine evidence of MJD's mental state to determine if it was an accidental drowning or whether it was a deliberate act while MJD was of "unsound mind."

William Druitt's statements all go to (C): evidence of his brother's mental state.

1. He felt he was going insane like his mother. 2. He had been dismissed for 'serious trouble' which contributed to his desire to die. 3. He left notes alluding to suicide.

As I see it, William Druitt's reference to the dismissal was solely due to its relevance to the purpose of the inquest. George Valentine deciding to replace him as the next term approached wouldn't have been relevant.

IMHO.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Actually, it was Kattrup who was the first on this thread to point out that the notes were undated, not Herlock, but how often are suicide notes dated?

I’d just like to point out that I wasn’t trying to make a claim that this was any kind of original idea from me.

[rjpalmer]

I’d just like to point out that I wasn’t trying to make a claim that this was any kind of original idea from me.

I realize that, Mike. My only intent was to alert George to Kattrup's earlier post, where he made a valid point. And your combined point is technically correct, of course--the notes were undated---but how often are suicide notes dated? The jury seemed to believe that they were suicide notes and thus ruled Druitt was of 'unsound mind' when he drowned himself.

Kattrup's original point, if I fully understand it, was limited to the observation that since they are undated there's no point in trying to wring out any meaning out of 'since Friday,' but it's pretty hard to ignore than November 30th was a Friday and it was the next day that Druitt reportedly bought his railway ticket to Hammersmith.

It's certainly tempting arithmetic, however uncertain it might be.

[Darryl Kenyon]

Off the net -
The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate – now known as Cambridge Assessment – was officially established on 11 February 1858. Its first exam took place on 14 December 1858. There were two examinations: the Junior (for students under 16 years of age) and the Senior (for students under the age of 18), and they took place in local ‘centres’ - schools or any suitable venues like church or village halls.

Now I am wondering if Nov 30 wasn't the end of term, but the pupils were sent home anyways on that date for a few days [ maybe just the weekend ] so the teachers could prepare the exams [ mock or half term to gauge how each individual was progressing ] and said pupils could study for said exams at home. Then they would return, and the exams would be held just before the Xmas break proper .

Just a thought Darryl

[Darryl Kenyon]

Quick question , do we know for certain how many notes/letters Druitt left alluding to his suicide, and were they all addressed to someone as such and who to ?

Regards Darryl

[Herlock Sholmes]

I realize that, Mike. My only intent was to alert George to Kattrup's earlier post, where he made a valid point. And your combined point is technically correct, of course--the notes were undated---but how often are suicide notes dated? The jury seemed to believe that they were suicide notes and thus ruled Druitt was of 'unsound mind' when he drowned himself.

Kattrup's original point, if I fully understand it, was limited to the observation that since they are undated there's no point in trying to wring out any meaning out of 'since Friday,' but it's pretty hard to ignore than November 30th was a Friday and it was the next day that Druitt reportedly bought his railway ticket to Hammersmith.

It's certainly tempting arithmetic, however uncertain it might be.

I’d say that it’s very hard to ignore Roger, especially when we add that on the 11th he hadn’t been seen at his chambers for over a week.

[Fiver]

Quick question , do we know for certain how many notes/letters Druitt left alluding to his suicide, and were they all addressed to someone as such and who to ?

Regards Darryl

"The deceased had left a letter, addressed to Mr. Valentine, of the school, in which he alluded to suicide. A paper had also been found upon which the deceased had written, "Since Friday, I have felt as if I was going to be like mother," who had for some months been mentally afflicted. " - Dorset Chronicle, 10 January 1889

"Witness [William Druitt] had deceased's things searched where he resided, and found a paper addressed to him (produced). — The Coroner read the letter, which was to this effect:-"Since Friday I felt I was going to be like mother, and the best thing was for me to die." - Acton, Chiswick & Turnham Green Gazette, 5 January 1889

So two letters, one to Valentine and the other to his brother, William. The second was read out by the coroner, but he have only a reporter's summary, not precise wording.

Is there any chance the inquest transcript still exists? I suspect not, otherwise it probably would have been unearthed by now.

[Darryl Kenyon]

"The deceased had left a letter, addressed to Mr. Valentine, of the school, in which he alluded to suicide. A paper had also been found upon which the deceased had written, "Since Friday, I have felt as if I was going to be like mother," who had for some months been mentally afflicted. " - Dorset Chronicle, 10 January 1889

"Witness [William Druitt] had deceased's things searched where he resided, and found a paper addressed to him (produced). — The Coroner read the letter, which was to this effect:-"Since Friday I felt I was going to be like mother, and the best thing was for me to die." - Acton, Chiswick & Turnham Green Gazette, 5 January 1889

So two letters, one to Valentine and the other to his brother, William. The second was read out by the coroner, but he have only a reporter's summary, not precise wording.

Is there any chance the inquest transcript still exists? I suspect not, otherwise it probably would have been unearthed by now.

Thank you Fiver. Do we have a rough idea what the letter to Valentine said ?

Darryl

[Fiver]

Thank you Fiver. Do we have a rough idea what the letter to Valentine said ?

Darryl

To the best of my knowledge, just the newspaper report that the letter to Valentine "alluded to suicide". No further details, nor if either letter was dated seems to have been given.