William Grant Grainger and censorship

[Chris]

Maybe they did find out and dismissed him as the Ripper without telling anyone

I think the phrase used was something like he couldn't be linked to the East End at the time of the Ripper murders, not that he had a good alibi because he was in prison, which might be the same thing in press language

But the Pall Mall Gazette article did print that very detailed account of his movements that had been traced between 1888 and 1891, including time spent in the militia, workhouses and asylum. I can't imagine they would have omitted prison terms - unless they were deemed too early to be relevant (the account starts in May 1888). So it will certainly be interesting to see when in 1888 he was in prison.

[Debra A]

But the Pall Mall Gazette article did print that very detailed account of his movements that had been traced between 1888 and 1891, including time spent in the militia, workhouses and asylum. I can't imagine they would have omitted prison terms - unless they were deemed too early to be relevant (the account starts in May 1888). So it will certainly be interesting to see when in 1888 he was in prison.

So far, it looks like he was in prison for 4 days only in early April 1888. There are a couple of entries in the index I looked at for 1888 but I think one is just referencing the actual index in the register itself. There appears to be an entry for 1890 though, if so, that was missed in the PMG article.

[Nemo]

Hi Chris,

I was thinking more that the police were aware of him being in prison but it wasn't mentioned in the PMG article

There was a suggestion of a cover-up of his "antecedents" so there's a possibility these arrests Deb has uncovered were known but not disclosed in 1895

Was he under the name Grant/Grainger or Green in 1888/89 do you know Deb?

[Tom_Wescott]

So far, it looks like he was in prison for 4 days only in early April 1888.

Before/during/after the murder of Emma Smith?

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Debra A]

Before/during/after the murder of Emma Smith?

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

19th to 22nd April 1888

[Debra A]

Hi Chris,

I was thinking more that the police were aware of him being in prison but it wasn't mentioned in the PMG article

There was a suggestion of a cover-up of his "antecedents" so there's a possibility these arrests Deb has uncovered were known but not disclosed in 1895

Was he under the name Grant/Grainger or Green in 1888/89 do you know Deb?

He was under 'William Granger or Green' (that's how it's written in the records), in 1888, Nemo.

[Debra A]

I've just been checking the descriptions in the prison records compared to the habitual criminal register descriptions, posted by Chris earlier in the thread.
They match in almost everything apart from eye colour. In the HC registers Grant/Grainger is said to have blue eyes but in the Irish prison records they are described as Hazel.
Apart from that, his age (b c 1860 but varies over each prison a year on either side as well as 1860), height of 5ft 9.5 in, brown hair , sallow complexion, occupation of sailor and ships fireman (both given) are exactly the same in both sets of records and there's a link to Grant Grainger research done by Chris with addresses of Ballyhooley rd and Barrackton given in the prison records. Both have tattoos as distinguishing features ( Prison records says tattooed hands and sears and tumour on neck. )

[Cogidubnus]

But that's a pretty different eye-colour...hmmm

All the best

Dave

[Debra A]

But that's a pretty different eye-colour...hmmm

All the best

Dave

hmmm...musn't be him then.

[Cogidubnus]

You're putting words in my mouth Debs!

But eye colour surely isn't one of the more usual innacuracies is it?

All the best

Dave

[Debra A]

When first my brave Johnie lad came to this town,
He had a blue bonnet that wanted the crown..

[Cogidubnus]

I'll refrain from the very obvious and unsavoury Burnsian comments Debs and merely ask what 1684 has to do with 1888?

All the best

Dave

[Debra A]

Nothing except how people can suddenly turn once they get a feather in their cap?

[Cogidubnus]

Hi Debs

Fair enough, but I wasn't aware anybody had either turned or got a feather in their cap.

All the best

Dave

[Debra A]

You have certainly changed, Dave.
And I won't waste another minute or pound on posting research to casebook from now on.