A Fool of a Doctor

[mklhawley]

Greetings all,

Notice the following article:

Te Aroha News, 12 January, 1889.
The Whitechapel Atrocities.

London, November 16.

The state of excitement into which the East End was thrown by the seventh mysterious murder in Whitechapel…
…One amateur detective, a fool of a doctor in a painfully obvious disguise, narrowly escaped being torn to pieces. He had been poking about the scene of the murder for some time asking curious questions and attracting a good deal of suspicion by his theatrically blacked face, when a woman shrilly shouted, “That’s him, that’s Jack the Ripper,” In an instant the crowd fell upon the unfortunate fellow like furies. The police tried vainly to protect him, and it was in a half-killed condition a post of 20 constables eventually got him to the nearest police station…

I put this on the Tumblety thread, because it certainly sounds like him especially considering the date. Also, how many other doctors would do this? Interestingly, this person darkened his face. If it was Tumblety, recall he stated that he, "dressed as to not draw attention to himself". Only Tumblety would think this disguise would not draw attention.

Sincerely,

Mike

[Abby Normal]

Greetings all,

Notice the following article:

Te Aroha News, 12 January, 1889.
The Whitechapel Atrocities.

London, November 16.

The state of excitement into which the East End was thrown by the seventh mysterious murder in Whitechapel…
…One amateur detective, a fool of a doctor in a painfully obvious disguise, narrowly escaped being torn to pieces. He had been poking about the scene of the murder for some time asking curious questions and attracting a good deal of suspicion by his theatrically blacked face, when a woman shrilly shouted, “That’s him, that’s Jack the Ripper,” In an instant the crowd fell upon the unfortunate fellow like furies. The police tried vainly to protect him, and it was in a half-killed condition a post of 20 constables eventually got him to the nearest police station…

I put this on the Tumblety thread, because it certainly sounds like him especially considering the date. Also, how many other doctors would do this? Interestingly, this person darkened his face. If it was Tumblety, recall he stated that he, "dressed as to not draw attention to himself". Only Tumblety would think this disguise would not draw attention.

Sincerely,

Mike

Hi Mike
Not Dr T. This was a certain (not very bright)Dr-i forgot his name-who was trying to catch JtR by disguising himself which included black face. Someone else will surely provide his name.

[mklhawley]

Hi Abby Normal,

I did find this. Maybe it was him.

The Star, November 16, 1888.

...Because Wolff Leviohne, a Polish Jew, who went to Whitechapel on business, refused the solicitations of two women named Johnson and De Grasse, they shouted out, "You are Jack the Ripper," and drew an excited crowd about him. He had to take refuge in the Commercial-street Police-station the people became so threatening. The women were brought before the Worship-street magistrate to-day. They said they only remarked to Leviohne that he "looked like Jack the Ripper," as he had a shining bag. - Mr. Bushby said the public must be protected from this kind of molestation, and he fined the prisoners 20s. each. In default they were committed for 14 days.

Mike

[Chris]

It was Dr William Holt:

http://www.casebook.org/ripper_media/book_reviews/non-fiction/cjmorley/86.html

[c.d.]

I can't help but think of those two idiots who tried to rob a bank. Lacking masks, they decided to draw black masks on their faces with an indelible magic marker. Needless to say they were caught.

c.d.

[mklhawley]

I can't help but think of those two idiots who tried to rob a bank. Lacking masks, they decided to draw black masks on their faces with an indelible magic marker. Needless to say they were caught.

c.d.

Dr. Holt's face covered with burnt cork must have been a sight. Thanks everyone.

Mike