Francis Hermans - Update - Solid evidence of him being in vicinity of torso murders.

[MrBarnett]

Nice photo, Kattrup.

[MrBarnett]

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1896-10-11/ed-1/seq-1/

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1896-11-10/ed-1/seq-1/

These should be the two you're looking for.

I can’t see what I’m looking for there.

I found the clipping on an Ancestry Tree, but it’s illegible. You may have seen it already.

Hermans is a very interesting subject. I wish you well with your research.

[Astatine211]

I can’t see what I’m looking for there.

I found the clipping on an Ancestry Tree, but it’s illegible. You may have seen it already.

Hermans is a very interesting subject. I wish you well with your research.

It's a fascinating lead. Thank you for finding it. It's on page 5 of the October issue but I'll attach it here. It explains how he insured Emmeline before murdering her and has lots of info about his surviving son.

[MrBarnett]

Thanks for that, A!

I’m very intrigued by the reference to the Ratcliff Highway. This is a photo of the Seaman’s Rest in the Highway. I’ve got a better one somewhere.

A few years after Emmeline married Frank this was Mary Kelly’s patch.

[rjpalmer]

It is strange that there is one single, solitary but elaborate account from Salt Lake City, dating to 1917, claiming that Hermans was currently being held in a prison in Sweden, but nowhere else is it reported in the U.S.A.

Either it is a bogus report, or his capture received no national news outside of Salt Lake, which seems hard to believe.

[jerryd]

Astatine.

Do you know when, exactly, Hermans was in Glasgow with Emmeline? Her death notice in your clip above seems to indicate she died in Glasgow Nov. 16, 1889. Also, how old was Emmeline? Have you determined that yet?

[MrBarnett]

Curious, RJ. It has the whiff of fake news about it.




Emiline was living in Chester Place, Lambeth in 1881. Her occupation was recorded as ‘Infirmary to Foreign Sailors’. She was recorded as a boarder in the household of Emma M. Ratcliff.

[Abby Normal]

is there anything on when and how long he was in england/ london and when he left? i think if were going to rule him out for any of the london torso murders we need to establish this first.

[MrBarnett]

is there anything on when and how long he was in england/ london and when he left? i think if were going to rule him out for any of the london torso murders we need to establish this first.

Not that easy, Abby. In 1887, while running the Sailors’ Home in Le Havre, he popped up in the City of London to attend a conference.

[Abby Normal]

Not that easy, Abby. In 1887, while running the Sailors’ Home in Le Havre, he popped up in the City of London to attend a conference.

i know and thanks gary. but i know you crack researchers can find it!

[Astatine211]

is there anything on when and how long he was in england/ london and when he left? i think if were going to rule him out for any of the london torso murders we need to establish this first.

In May 1887 he was definitely in London, in December 1887 he was in Le Havre, then in November 1889 he was in Glasgow and in early April 1891 he was in Liverpool.

He definitely traveled around a lot!

[MrBarnett]

In May 1887 he was definitely in London, in December 1887 he was in Le Havre, then in November 1889 he was in Glasgow and in early April 1891 he was in Liverpool.

He definitely traveled around a lot!

But his wife was said to have worked in France for 5 years before going to Scotland.

[MrBarnett]

i know and thanks gary. but i know you crack researchers can find it!

If his diary comes to light, we’ll have him bang to rights. ;-)

[Astatine211]

But his wife was said to have worked in France for 5 years before going to Scotland.

Even better if he was staying and occasionally working in London on his own.

[Astatine211]

This hints there could've been even more unknown victims murdered by him however it could also easily be myth. Also that sure is a pretty scary looking church.