Montague Druitt and 9 Kings Bench Walk Chambers

[aspallek]

Robert,

I think the remark of Druitt's friends that he hadn't been seen at his chambers for more than a week is a loose remark. I think they were just saying "we haven't seen Montie around for more than a week" rather than "Montague has not shown his face at KBW in more than a week." His friends were used to seeing him around every day or two and they hadn't seen him now in over a week and that must have been strange, particularly when he was involved in active cases.

But if he were at his chambers and decided to go to Hammersmith, why would he walk right past the nearby station at Temple and walk all the way to Charing Cross? He would catch the same Metropolitan District train at either station. Perhaps he merely wanted to take a walk along the Embankment but if I remember correctly it was an inclement day.

[Robert]

Hi Andy

I suppose that Druitt could have visited his chambers on 1st. Then let's say William's friend writes to him from London on 10th, the letter reaches William on 11th, and it would be 9 days between 1st and the despatch of the letter on 10th, during which time Druitt would not have been heard of.

If Druitt's chambers were non-residential, and he only used them for the odd hour or two each day or every other day, then I don't quite see how the other chamber-holders could feel sure that Druitt hadn't called in and gone out again - unless there was a book for the barristers to sign?

Robert

[aspallek]

An interesting question, Robert. But then, I'm sure Montague carried a key to Valentine's with him as well and that key was not found on him, either.

An interesting question is whether Montague went to his chambers on December 1 before travelling on to Hammermsith. Of course, we cannot know. He was involved in a legal case during the preceding week that was supposed to be continued on 1 December but was not. Although the case was not continued that day, he may still have needed to take care of some related matters at his chambers or he may not have even been informed that his presence was not required in court until he arrived at his chambers.

The factor that argues against his turning up at chambers on December 1 regards his apparent rail movements. Working backward, the ticket found on him was for travel between Charing Cross and Hammersmith. If he were at his chambers and wanted to travel to Hammersmith, he could have boarded a train at Temple rather than walking or taking a taxi or omnibus all the way to Charing Cross.

[Robert]

Hi Andy

If I rented such chambers, I would expect the door to have a lock, and I would carry the key with me at all times, to guard against the possibility of arriving there and finding I'd left the key at home. As far as I can recall, no keys were found on Druitt. Of course, the key may have fallen out in the water - maybe even along with Mary Kelly's - but coins were found in his pockets. So I find that a bit of a puzzle.

Robert

[aspallek]

Well, here's something. Make a note of it, John, because a week from now I'll have forgotten where I posted it - or even if I posted it.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....mond/kings.htm

Thanks for that informative link which does confirm that there were residences in some of the KBW buildings in 1888. Indeed, we know from Sophia Lonsdale's memoirs that in the 1880s her brother John resided at "The Temple," certainly a reference to his chambers at KBW, but that sometime in the period he "changed his rooms" (which must have been his move to Blackheath).

A basement set of chambers at KBW in 1888 went for £40 per annum. That's about £3000 today. Somewhere I found the cost of Druitt's rail pass between Blackheath and London. I believe that was £12 for the season, or £920 today. Ground floor chambers at KBW went for £80. Even if Montague had a basement set of rooms he was into it for £4000-£6000 in today's values between his rent and commuting expense, depending on how many "season" rail passes he would require in a year.

[Johnr]

Hello Robert and Chris Phillips and Chris Scott,
I hope you are going to release a compendium of your one-liners one day Robert.Some of them are rather good.Nil Aspadistrum.
Sorry for rousing you Chris P. But good to see you on the boards!
Chris Scott. Sorry I did not acknowledge your sterling work in posting all the occupants of Kings Bench Walk for 1891.Curious how few people actually lived in the area. (Would that make it better as a hideout for a possible Ripper? No...).
Interesting how the neighbourhood changed in that decade from 1881.
JOHN RUFFELS.

[Robert]

So David Anderson now becomes the Prime Suspect.

John, I can't find a Nil Desperandum but there was a Nils Desperandum, Danish barrister, if that's any help.

Robert

[Chris]

Oh well, thanks John. So now, the spotlight shifts to Chris Phillips.

Sorry, I don't think it was me. I did a bit of looking for Druitt and Lonsdale in directories and electoral registers, but I don't think I posted anything beyond that.

[Johnr]

Hello Again,
Needless to say Rob, I posted the above before noticing your very helpful posted link.Thank you for that.I will make a note of it.JOHN RUFFELS.

[Johnr]

Thanks Rob and John S.,
I may be wrong but I don't think Chris Phillips supplied that information.
I hate to let another hare loose, but now, I think it might have been Dave Andersen.
Whoever it was, I recall, provided these 9KBW details from a reply to a letter.
Theletter was from the Inner Temple.So they must have had some control of the records for 9KBW.
Nil desperandum... JOHN RUFFELS.

[Robert]

Well, here's something. Make a note of it, John, because a week from now I'll have forgotten where I posted it - or even if I posted it.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....mond/kings.htm

[Chris Scott]

King's Bench Walk
1891 Census
London / St Dunstan in the West/ District 5

1:
Head: Hennan W. Loehnis aged 33 born New York - Barrister

Head: Harold Cor aged 31 born Wimbledon - Journalist
Wife: Helen Cor aged 30 born London - Accountant and Auditor

2:
Head: Partick Colquhoun aged 75 born London - Queen's counsel
Servant: Eliza A Everett aged 41 born Gravesend - Housekeeper

3:
Head: George Court aged 69 born Oxford - Carpenter
Wife: Ann Court aged 72 born Nazing, Essex - Housekeeper
Lodger: Edwin D S Vidal aged 32 born Bideford, Devon - Barrister at Law

4: Uninhabited

5:
Head: Thomas A Greene aged 75 born Leigh, Lancs - Barrister
Servant: Emma Ingledew aged 64 born Marylebone - Housekeeper

John R Knight aged 28 born Northfleet, Kent - Barrister

Lodger: William Higgins aged 32 born Ireland - Barrister

6:
Head: Henry Horton aged 47 born Broadstairs, Kent - Under porter, Inner Temple
Wife: Emily Horton aged 43 born City of London
Mother: Harriet Horton aged 88 born Hove
Niece: Rose Libthorp aged 18 born Rochdale - Helpmaid

Charles R S Payne aged 32 born London - Folding box maker
William R Fann aged 39 born Ireland - Barrister
Arnold Austin aged 37 born Hertford - Solicitor

7: Uninhabited

8: Uninhabited

9:
Henry George Cooper aged 62 born Storrington, Sussex - Living on own means

10:
Samuel Hulton aged 29 born Emberton, Bucks - Barrister

11:
Head: David Lyell aged 52 born Scotland - Barrister at law
Servant: Alice Lenaine aged 44 born Portsmouth - Housekeeper

Henry C A Bingley aged 39 born Bridgesworth Rectory, Suffolk - Barrister

12: Uninhabited

13:
James Sheil aged 61 born Tyrone, Ireland - Metropolitan Police Magistrate

[Robert]

Oh well, thanks John. So now, the spotlight shifts to Chris Phillips.

[John Savage]

It Wasn't me Gov, Honestly

Hi Robert,

I am afraid I don't recall posting anything like that, I wonder if it might have been Chris Phillips?

The phrase "At 9 Kings Bench walk itself, on the floor below Druitt", sounds to me as if the information might have been obtained from a Kelly's Directory of the time, as I recall they did often list the floor on which people worked. However there is no mention of Kelly's in the ackowledgements section of The Ripper Legacy.

Rgds
John

[Robert]

John, I have a feeling that John Savage may have posted something like that. I'll ask him.