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Greetings all,
In searching for the origins of Scotland Yard’s interest in American JTR suspects (hence, my American Slouch Hat thread), I came across this Bridgeport Morning News article discussing both secret Scotland Yard agents in America investigating the Whitechapel murder case AND Scotland Yard dedicating three Scotland Yard men in London specifically to potential American JTR suspects. It seems this interest in Americans was in mid-to-late September 1888 prior to the double event of Stride and Eddowes:
Bridgeport Morning News, October 8, 1888.
STILL UNCAPTURED.
LONDON, Oct. 7.-
…Every now and then some of the secret agents of Scotland Yard in America send over information which puts the Americans in England and those who happen to be on the way across in lots of trouble. The passengers arriving this week have been surprised at the vigilance with which their baggage has been examined. Probably Richard Kilkenny, on the Gallia, who had a revolver and ammunition taken from him at Queenstown and was arrested, would have got through all right two weeks ago [last week of September]. Three sharp men are told off in London to do nothing but watch Americans here. Three days ago a gentleman from Trenton was followed all over London by one of them, who called at the hotel in the evening and asked him for his card. A Tennessee lady called twice at Consul General Waller’s office on business, and then a detective dropped around t find out who she was. He said that he had seen her talking to a man on the street who was suspected of being a dynamiter.
Of course the article’s author might not have gotten the facts straight, but the details certainly suggest the reporter received information from someone as opposed to merely theorizing.
Any thoughts?
Mike
In searching for the origins of Scotland Yard’s interest in American JTR suspects (hence, my American Slouch Hat thread), I came across this Bridgeport Morning News article discussing both secret Scotland Yard agents in America investigating the Whitechapel murder case AND Scotland Yard dedicating three Scotland Yard men in London specifically to potential American JTR suspects. It seems this interest in Americans was in mid-to-late September 1888 prior to the double event of Stride and Eddowes:
Bridgeport Morning News, October 8, 1888.
STILL UNCAPTURED.
LONDON, Oct. 7.-
…Every now and then some of the secret agents of Scotland Yard in America send over information which puts the Americans in England and those who happen to be on the way across in lots of trouble. The passengers arriving this week have been surprised at the vigilance with which their baggage has been examined. Probably Richard Kilkenny, on the Gallia, who had a revolver and ammunition taken from him at Queenstown and was arrested, would have got through all right two weeks ago [last week of September]. Three sharp men are told off in London to do nothing but watch Americans here. Three days ago a gentleman from Trenton was followed all over London by one of them, who called at the hotel in the evening and asked him for his card. A Tennessee lady called twice at Consul General Waller’s office on business, and then a detective dropped around t find out who she was. He said that he had seen her talking to a man on the street who was suspected of being a dynamiter.
Of course the article’s author might not have gotten the facts straight, but the details certainly suggest the reporter received information from someone as opposed to merely theorizing.
Any thoughts?
Mike
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