Kate Eddowes as Mary Ann Kelly.

[joelhall]

Evening all. Something I've always wondered is why did Mary Kelly (of Millers Court) only use that name?

[QUOTE=caz;41272]

from barnetts testimony it seems she also went under the name of marie jeanette kelly. although id have to agree with caz on this point. despite her varied lovers, and being married allegedly to a mr davies/davis, it seems she was not one to want to share much of her life. preferring to do her own thing in an independent way (always comes across like a rebellious child/teenager like way... could this be because of her bad past with lovers). she seems to think nothing of telling barnett how she was once a high-hooker, for example, or of her various love-affairs.

though the thing we dont know of course is if mary jane kelly was even her real name. with someone as mysterious as kelly, even her name becomes a mystery. indeed the death certificate & her grave are in the marie jeanette name - could she have been french or born in france, maybe using others pasts to lead people on the wrong path? was davis her maiden name & kelly her married name? of course its hard to be certain.

doubtful of course, though possible, as it seems from records that kellys background is dubious, not least because no family (despite her having a large family, getting letters from her mother & a visit from her brother) ever showed an interest in their relative or were traced. the letters were never found (maybe they were burnt?).

its a shame that the witnesses were never questioned further, or if they were that the records are not found.

[Salome]

Sorry, I should have put that she only used the surname Kelly as far as we know. I think Marie Jeanette is possibly an affectation, maybe as a result of her having travelled to France with the mysterious West End lady if that is true. I agree that it is most probable that Mary Kelly was not her name at all, given the amount of publicity her death had all over the world. Surely if she was one of eight or nine children someone would have come forward to claim her?

[richardnunweek]

Hi, Joelhall,
Would it just be lovely if we knew who Mjks next of kin was, then tracing would become so much easier.
Wait a minute.....
A certain poster to casebook in the past surely could provide info in this matter, for Fiona[ Kendall-lane] did state her great grandmother [ McCarthys wife] actually parcelled up the deseased belongings and forwarded them on.
Well there was have it , unfortunately for reasons best known to Fiona, she appears to be withholding discussing the points that 'Casebook' was invented that being 'Who was Jack The Ripper'.
She even knows that..... The whole of the McCarthy clan apparently, not only that but the actual motive thrown in.
What incredible information could be made avaliable, not only to us Motley crew, but to the annuals of crime.
But its not to be is it Fiona.?
Regards Richard.
PS. By the way I believe Fiona, and addressed that point when her initial posts were made.

[Salome]

Hi Richard,
I remember the postings that you refer to and I remember being infuriated by the carrot-dangling, 'wait until my book' that went on. The only point that I would add to what you've said is that if the McCarthys knew the address of MJK's next of kin why didn't they tell the police so that they could contact them? Apparently Jack McCarthy was on good terms with the police especially Abberline (according to Fiona Kendall-Lane) so why would they withhold this information and necessitate the police sending men over to Limerick to try and trace relatives? Even if you disregard FKL's assertion that Jack McC was the policeman's friend, there is testimony from MJK's murder that states he told Bowyer to fetch Inspector Beck which indicates that he knew at least one local policeman by name.

[DVV]

Yes Salome, but being the owner of lodging houses inhabited by prostitutes, he had to know some policemen. Nothing surprising.

Amitiés,
David

[Salome]

Right then, to go back to my point, if he knew the police why didn't he tell them how to contact Mary Kelly's family?

[DVV]

I certainly missed something here. If so, sorry.
I only know that Mac Carthy said Mary sometimes received letters from relatives in Ireland...
So what? Did he keep that letters with him?
Whatever, I have no doubt that Mac Carthy was well known to the police, and vice-versa.

Amitiés,
David

[richardnunweek]

Hi,
I would assume that McCarthy was well known by the local police, just by simply being a shop keeper, and a landlord of properties in the area, also we have it from Dew[ doubted by some] that when the youth[alias Bowyer] rushed into the station he muttered 'Come quick McCarthy sent me'.
As for the clothing that allegedly was sent, I may be wrong here.....did not Mrs M send kellys belongings to her brother who was in the army, but he requested that it was done without drawing attention to her identity, because it might ruin his promotion/career, her brother being Mjks only link with her family.
I really wish Fiona would reconsider her policy , ie not giving Casebook any information , albeit hearsay.
We are not here to pass judgement on her family, we simply all have a desire to get to the killers 'identity'.
Regards Richard.

[Salome]

Hi Richard,
I was just about to recap for the benefit of David,we were discussing the veracity of FKL's claim about her ancestors knowing the address of MJK's next of kin and, that being the case, why did they not inform the authorities. I have actually found the post from Fiona Kendall-Lane which reads:

"Mary Jane Kelly was her real name. My father said his father (my Grandfather Steve McCarthy) saw her passport when his mother Elizabeth (wife of my Great Grandfather Jack McC) packed up her personal effects and sent them to her brother - he was serving with an Irish brigade in Ireland"

[Simon Wood]

Hi Richard,

I agree with you about Fiona reconsidering her policy, but after the beating she took from certain Casebookers is it really any wonder that she prefers to remain silent?

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies.

Regards,

Simon

[Salome]

I can completely understand that she may not want to give away the ending of her book and probably her publishers would insist on that anyway but I wonder if Coral could ask her when the book is likely to be out and who the publisher is so that those interested could pre-order?

[Tom_Wescott]

Didn't Fiona already publish her book? The other threads are alight with it..'The Worst Street in London'. This is the first I've heard of her claiming to be a Kelly descendant though.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Simon Wood]

Hi Tom,

Different Fiona.

Regards,

Simon

[Tom_Wescott]

How is that possible? That's like there being two different Toms. I guess I missed the coming of this other Fiona.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[richardnunweek]

Hi Salome,
What book?,
And pray tell me why Coral [ who I have every respect for] has to be the spokeswoman for Fiona, she [ fiona] is a educated woman and can surely discuss her personal feelings through the written word, which is essential in writing a book is it not?
I will however attempt to put myself in Fiona's shoes, and fully understand that she feels she will have members that show reservations, but that has been apparent since 'Casebook began, she may also feel that by giving details of Mjks history she may well offend desendants of the unfortunate woman, she may also strongly worry that if she declares a suspect, that has been handed down by her family, that the desendants of that family may resent her admission,.
Summing up Fiona proberly feels, now at herself passed retirement age, does not need all of this.
Quite understandable, but Fiona any information your family has handed down, and you are aware of, is of paramount importance to this case, so can i request you talk to Casebook. if not personally, via Coral.
Regards Richard.