New Jersey knife incident

[HelenaWojtczak]

I've read so many references to this incident from all and sundry but I cannot yet find its provenance.

I just read in an old newspaper that Lucy "testified in court" that he had done this to her, but she did not stand witness in court. Her siblings testified, but they didn't mention the 'knife' incident.

Does anyone have any idea of the provenance of this 'knife' story?

Helena

[HelenaWojtczak]

Sorry ignore that previous message I had not made myself clear.

I will start again.

The Daily Chronicle in 1903 as quoted in the long Chapman biog on this site claimed that Lucy had told (them) of an incident concerning a knife. However, it is entirely uncorroborated.

How do we know it was not a complete invention of the reporter?

Lucy did not give evidence in court, but her siblings did. If this story is true, why did they not tell the court? I would have thought that such evidence of his brutality or murderous intent, if it were genuine, would have been too important to omit.

This story has been repeated by books, newspapers and websites ever since.

It does not appear in Adam's book, however.

Helena

[HelenaWojtczak]

70 views and not a single comment. I wonder what I am supposed to make of that