"Puckeridge"

[John Malcolm]

Exceptional posts! These are the finds that really add color to people like "Fussell" and the times. Reading these stories, I found myself inadvertently smiling- something that is an exceedingly rare happening when getting into the message boards...Thanks Chris.

[Phil Carter]

Hello Chris,

I must admit that the thought of riding a horse into a post office and then trying to send the horse by parcel post is an hilarious novelty....it is certainly Pythonesk. Can you imagine what he would have done 120 odd years later via ebay? This eccentric man had, as they say, a screw loose. A colourful character at election time that would be the envy of Screaming Lord Sutch and the Monster Raving Loony Party.. Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel not withstanding.
Totally agree with you John. Hilarious stuff.

best wishes

Phil

[Chris]

I must say I found these reports hilarious too, but I think by implication they may tell us something about police thinking as well.

In his memoirs, Major Smith said he had thought Puckridge "very likely" to be the Ripper, and added "He certainly had all the qualifications requisite. He had been a medical student ; he had been in a lunatic asylum ; he spent all his time with women of loose character ..." (Incidentally, it's interesting that one of these reports does describe him as a student of medicine - and a Salvation Army preacher!)

Reading about these antics, I can't take Puckridge seriously as a Ripper suspect. If the police had asked for details of his history from the asylum, they would presumably have been given some fairly similar material. So did they know what he was like, and still suspect him? Or did they not bother to ask, considering that any kind of lunatic possessed one of the requisite qualifications?

[lynn cates]

violent?

Hello Chris. Excellent finds, all. Certainly a whimsical character.

Were there any indications of violent behaviour prior to 1888, I mean an asylum judgment?

Cheers.
LC

[Chris]

Were there any indications of violent behaviour prior to 1888, I mean an asylum judgment?

Apart from what I've posted above, I don't have anything in my notes that indicates problems before 1888. The entry in the Home Office register in 1886 may indicate something more serious, if it does relate to him.

The 25 December 1884 report says he had been in prison in England before that, and had given bail in April for his future peaceable behaviour (I assume that means in Jersey). I get the impression that he had fled from England in the Spring of 1880 to avoid going to prison, and presumably hadn't returned openly before 1884, so those prison sentences were probably before 1880.

[Phil Carter]

I must say I found these reports hilarious too, but I think by implication they may tell us something about police thinking as well.

In his memoirs, Major Smith said he had thought Puckridge "very likely" to be the Ripper, and added "He certainly had all the qualifications requisite. He had been a medical student ; he had been in a lunatic asylum ; he spent all his time with women of loose character ..." (Incidentally, it's interesting that one of these reports does describe him as a student of medicine - and a Salvation Army preacher!)

Reading about these antics, I can't take Puckridge seriously as a Ripper suspect. If the police had asked for details of his history from the asylum, they would presumably have been given some fairly similar material. So did they know what he was like, and still suspect him? Or did they not bother to ask, considering that any kind of lunatic possessed one of the requisite qualifications?

Hello Chris,

I agree. With what you have pointed out, a more serious aspect may have to be considered perhaps.

1) Major Smith's comments ask more questions. If he really did take this man seriously... as "very likely" Jack the Ripper, do we

a) Consider this to be an example of the police thoughts in general when reflecting in their memoirs? Or even at the time of the murders perhaps?

b) See the publication of memoirs etc as a clear indication of what Andrew Cook in his book, "Jack the Ripper" (Amberley, 2010) pointed towards, namely the naming of a suspect to "push" the sales of the book?

2) If however, Major Smith was just using the name to push the book, as written above, do we

a) Consider the fact that this man, who is relatively harmless, but clearly eccentrically insane, then compare his candicacy in the same light as other people mention in other memoirs?

b) Compare the possibility that whatever name is used in memoirs, it is used as a cover for the fact that nobody really knew the identity (quote Reid) and that there was not a "tittle" of evidence against anyone? (again, Reid)

3) The usage of the words "very likely" are disturbingly comparable with the memoranda, the Aberconway "version" of the memoranda and the Anderson book TLSOMOL. It fits nicely between words such as "more likely", "little doubt" ""strong 'suspect' " from Sir MM about two of his mentioned names and "a definitely ascertained fact" from Sir RA.

The more I read these things, and the more information which comes out about these suspects, the more I am inclined to agree with Detective Inspector Edmund Reid, and the reality lies where he put it. No evidence at all, in the slightest, against anyone.

So we have an eccentric man, on the face of things harmless in comparison to a knife-wielding, throat-slashing disemboweller, who has had altercations with a man by knocking off his hat and kicking a hole in it. He is also said to have been a Salvation Army preacher, student of medicine, having frightened a child by wearing a sheepskin coat, rode a horse to a post office to post it, dyed the hair on two dogs yellow and yellow and blue, accused of having committed an assault accompanied by a tame sheep, a turkey and a goose, been drunk and disorderly and a public nuisance. Oh, and he hung around prostitutes. (Not surprising I would say, as any "normal" woman would run a mile from this loony!)

Compare:-

Druitt.. no known violent harm to any woman by and including 1888. Self confessed "troubled mind". Killed himself. Named "suspect" (Sir MM memoranda, memoirs, Aberconway "version" of memoranda)

Ostrog.. no known violent harm to any woman by and including 1888. Known thief. In prison in 1888 anyway. Named "suspect" (Sir MM in memoranda, Aberconway "version" of memoranda etc)

Kosminsky.. no known violent harm to any woman by and including 1888. Walked dog without a leash. Masturbated in gutters. Named "suspect"(DSS noted jottings in book by Sir RA and Sir RA in book(TLSOMOL) mentioned as a Polish Jew but without a name, also in memoranda by Sir MM etc)

Puckeridge.. no known violent harm done to any woman up to and including 1888. Eccentrically mad. Named "suspect"(Major HS)

Seems clear to me. A succession of people who do not measure up to being this all maniacal yet brilliantly elusive and deceptive, controlled yet frenzied, woman hating, disemboweller called "Jack the Ripper".. all of whom are mentioned by various Policemen in various memoirs, books they wrote etc. There is a clear pattern here. Detective Inspector Reid saw it and openly challenged it too.

These are indeed important finds Chris. Thank you very much for your hard and honest presentation of these facts. It really does underline a few things very clearly to my mind. Perhaps it does to others too.

best wishes

Phil

[Chris]

In defence of Smith, it should be mentioned that he didn't actually name Puckridge, referring to him only as a former medical student who lived in Rupert Street, and that he did conclude by saying "he proved an alibi without the shadow of doubt."

[Phil Carter]

Hello Chris,

Indeed. Accepted as such. Your finding and publication of these articles is indeed very impressive sir. Again many thanks.

best wishes

Phil

[lynn cates]

thanks

Hello Chris. Thanks. Perhaps fraud or forgery? I sometimes forget how common those offenses were.

Cheers.
LC

[Phil Carter]

Hello all,

In the National Archives, I found the following:-

Order for seizure of property of Oswald Puckeridge, Lunatic G/TH/A/Z/18/5 1892. These files are kept in the Centre for Kentish Studies. This comes under the general heading of Misc; and comprises the following section:-

Distraints, Maintenance Claims, etc. G/TH/A/Z/18 1868-1915


Hop picking in Kent anyone?

best wishes

Phil

[Chris]

In the National Archives, I found the following:-

Order for seizure of property of Oswald Puckeridge, Lunatic G/TH/A/Z/18/5 1892. These files are kept in the Centre for Kentish Studies. This comes under the general heading of Misc; and comprises the following section:-

Distraints, Maintenance Claims, etc. G/TH/A/Z/18 1868-1915

Thanks. That's interesting, as I don't have anything noted for 1892. The following August he was in trouble (drunk on Salvation Army property, mounting a cab horse and wandering around the City dressed as a naval officer), but was "discharged with a caution into the care of friends." I don't think he's known to have been in an asylum again until 1896.

[Phil Carter]

Hello Chris,

I will attempt to get hold of these papers from the Centre for Kentish Studies if you are interested. I will give them a call tomorrow if time allows me to.

best wishes

Phil

[Chris]

I'm starting to think someone is trying to tell me something. For the third time, Oswald Puckridge has popped up unexpectedly. This time in the City of London Board of Guardians lunacy records [LMA CBG/315/018, no 1887].

On 7 June 1889 Oswald Puckridge was brought before Alderman Walter H. Wilkin at the Mansion House Justice Room, and was examined by Charles Hope Buncombe and found to be "Not Insane." Buncombe was ordered to be paid 1 pound and 1 shilling, and the receiving officer James Curtois Webb 2 shillings and 6 pence, for their trouble.

This must have been a consequence of Puckridge assaulting a Mr Orange by hitting him over the head with a gun, as reported (under the name 'Buckridge') in the Illustrated Police News of 6 July 1889 (see Howard Brown's post on jtforums.com - http://www.jtrforums.com/showthread.php?t=10846).

[Debra A]

Just adding a couple of notes I had to this old thread (which Chris linked to yesterday from JTR Forums in a discussion of Major Henry Smith's suspect)

1889 June listed in City of London Union admissions and discharges, under the heading "Imbeciles Bow" Puckridge is listed as brought in 6 June 1889 and discharged 11 June 1889 as improved, his insanity caused by drink. he was brought in by police after being found wandering in Fleet Street.

1889 6 July 1889 admitted to St George's workhouse Mint Street, Southwark where his occupation is given as 'Accoucher'-the word 'Midwife' crossed through. Brought in by police as alleged lunatic. Discharged 11 July to asylum.

I hadn't seen Puckridge described as an 'Accoucher' before when I came across that record.

Also, a transcribed voter's record I came across (from Kent)
Oswald Puckridge from 1871 to 1872 on voters list at St Bartholomew's Hospital, Sandwich, Kent

[DJA]

I have no doubt that Major Henry Smith knew that Henry Gawen Sutton was Jack the Ripper and had a bolt hole at 6 Mitre Street.It was just a matter of time before there was a murder in close proximity.
After Nichols' murder near the London Hospital they were waiting for Eddowes to turn up.