Did Jack wear a P. & O. cap?

[HelenaWojtczak]

The Daily Chronicle, 23rd March 1903 claimed that:

The man who was wanted in connection with the Whitechapel murders wore a ‘P. & O’ cap and carried a black bag, according to the tale of some of the women who escaped him.

Can anyone please confirm that this was true?

Thanks

Helena

[ChrisGeorge]

The Daily Chronicle, 23rd March 1903 claimed that:

The man who was wanted in connection with the Whitechapel murders wore a ‘P. & O’ cap and carried a black bag, according to the tale of some of the women who escaped him.

Can anyone please confirm that this was true?

Thanks

Helena

Hi Helena

The description of the Whitechapel murderer as originally given by Lawende underwent a kind of "description creep" in that it altered through the years, as it came to be described in the press and even in the police writings. It would appear that at the time of Chapman's trial, the description of "Jack" from 1888 was being made by the press to fit Chapman. The Lawende description spoke about a man wearing "a cap with a peak" which Swanson in his notes of 19 October 1888 interpreted to mean "appearance of a sailor". You can correct me but I believe Chapman is said to have worn a P. & O cap but this wasn't mentioned by Lawende nor, to my knowledge, in any of the other original witness descriptions from the time of the Whitechapel murders.

All the best

Chris

[HelenaWojtczak]

Thanks for your response Chris.

Yes indeed, Chapman DID wear a P & O cap, which is what led me to the quote that this was what Jack also wore.

I will have to research Lawende now lol.

Cheers

Helena

[Trevor Marriott]

Thanks for your response Chris.

Yes indeed, Chapman DID wear a P & O cap, which is what led me to the quote that this was what Jack also wore.

I will have to research Lawende now lol.

Cheers

Helena

Chapman wasnt a sailor but i know a man who was

[HelenaWojtczak]

Chapman wasnt a sailor but i know a man who was

Robert Maxwell?

Popeye?

Ted Heath?