Mitre Square Timeline

[Herlock Sholmes]

Maybe I’ve imagined it (although I don’t believe that I have) but I’m sure that somewhere on Casebook there is a lengthy timeline of the events of September 30th. I can’t find it though - maybe it will be found at some point?

I thought that I’d do a timeline using the various pieces of information that we have. I’ve by no means looked at everything. At the end I’ve added some points/questions so maybe the gaps can be filled in. There are some things that we can’t know of course because they weren’t recorded (or at least no records survive)



1.44 - The body is found by PC Watkins.

He informs George Morris about the murder and sends him for assistance. Morris runs into PC’s Harvey and Holland who return with him to Mitre Square. Holland is then sent by Watkins for Dr. Sequiera.


1.55 - Dr. Sequiera arrived in Mitre Square.


1.55 - Inspector Collard is told about the murder at Bishopsgate Station.

(I can only assume that he was informed by PC Harvey?) He then telegraphed headquarters and then sent a PC to fetch Dr. Brown.


1.58 - DC. Halse is on duty near Aldgate Church with detectives Outram and Marriott when they hear of the murder.

All three men run to Mitre Square. On arrival Halse gives orders for a search and he himself goes to Wentworth Street via Middlesex Street.


2.00 (shortly after, according to Brown) - Dr. Brown is informed about the murder in Mitre Square.


2.02/2.03 - Inspector Collard arrived in Mitre Square.

Dr. Sequiera is already there with 2 or 3 police officers also present.


2.18/2.20 - Dr. Brown arrived in Mitre Square.

Before the body is removed from Mitre Square Dr. Brown sends for Dr. Phillips as he wants him to look at the injuries. He said that Phillips saw the body “..in the mortuary” but he doesn’t say at what time and he doesn’t say “at the post mortem.”

According to Inspector Collard the doctors stayed with the body until the ambulance arrived and they saw it being placed on it. It was taken to the mortuary and stripped, in the presence of Brown, Sequiera and Collard by the mortuary keeper, a Mr. Davis.


2.20 - DC. Halse passes along Goulston Street as part of his search.

He then went on to Mitre Square where learned about the apron piece that had been found. He then went, with DS Lawley and DC Hunt, to Leman Street Station before moving on to the doorway in Goulston Street. He stayed there but Lawley went on to Mitre Square.


2.55 - PC. Long (who had been temporarily drafted from A Division) finds the apron and sees the chalked message in Goulston Street.

He checked the staircase and the building and then took the apron to Commercial Road Station and reports to the duty Inspector.


3.45 - Inspector McWilliam arrived at the Detective Office where SS Izzard updates him on events so far.

He wired Scotland Yard to inform the Met about the murder and then went, with DS Downes, to Mitre Square via Bishopsgate Police Station. At Mitre Square he finds Major Smith, Superintendent Foster, Inspector Collard and several detective officers.

Lawley and Hunt told him about the discovery in Goulston Street and McWilliam ordered the writing to be photographed. He also ordered officers to search the model dwellings and the local lodging houses.

McWilliam then went to the mortuary and saw that the apron piece corresponded to the apron that the victim was wearing.

He then returned to the Detective Office where he telegraphed Divisions and the Metropolitan Police with a description of Eddowes. Additional officers then arrived and were assigned to various duties.


5.00 (just before) - Commissioner Warren arrived at Leman Street Station after visiting Commercial Street Station.

He was briefed about the two murders by Superintendent Arnold. Arnold had sent for Inspector with a sponge to wipe out the message but had told him to wait until he’d arrived. Warren attended the scene himself and made the order for the message to be wiped away before going to the City Police and to inform him of his reasons for having the message wiped out.


5.00 - PC. Long returned to Goulston Street.


5.30 (approx) - Long sees the chalked message erased.


2.30pm - Brown begins the inquest.


…..



Questions/Points


Point - Despite my previous suggestion I now accept that when Brown mentioned at the inquest the apron part produced by Phillips he didn’t necessarily mean that Phillips had presented it to him at the mortuary. More likely that Phillips had presented it at the inquest. So, questions..



1. How did the apron piece get from Commercial Road Police station to the mortuary - do we know who took it?

2. What time did the apron piece arrive at the mortuary? We know that McWilliam saw the two parts matched when he was at the mortuary.

3. What time was the body moved from Mitre Square to the mortuary? We know that there were still officers in Mitre Square at 3.45 when McWilliam arrived there.

4. What time did Brown and Sequiera arrive at the mortuary?

5. What time did Phillips get to the mortuary?

6. Where does McWilliam mean by the ‘Detective Office’?

7. About the Stride post mortem, Dr.Phillips said “At 3 p.m. on Monday, at St. George’s mortuary, in the presence of Dr. Rygate and Mr. Johnston, Dr. Blackwell and I made a post mortem examination.”

But, with Eddowes…

Brown - Made a post mortem examination at ½ past 2 on Sunday afternoon

Why would they wait until the next day to perform Stride’s post mortem?

…..

Corrections, answers, suggestions, alternative explanations all welcome.

[Doctored Whatsit]

With regard to the apron and Dr Phillips, the following, whilst not specific about exact times, may be helpful.

DC Halse reported that the piece of apron had already been handed to Dr Phillips, before he (Halse) returned to Goulston Street and observed the chalked GSG. Phillips must have taken the piece almost directly to the mortuary because Insp McWilliam is clear that he went to the mortuary and saw the torn piece of apron being compared to the rest of the apron, immediately after he had ordered the GSG to be photographed. The Times reported that the apron piece was taken to the mortuary by Dr Phillips "soon after the body had been removed there." Dr Brown reported that before they moved the body from Mitre Square, he asked that Dr Phillips be sent for, and that the latter "came to the mortuary" - sadly no specific time, but putting all of the evidence together, it would seem to have been reasonably promptly.

With regards to a previously disputed issue, Swanson reported that Brown and Phillips conducted the Eddowes' post mortem, so Phillips would not have been able to conduct two post mortems the same day..

[Tom_Wescott]

'Detective Office' would be on Jewry?

I suspect the autopsies were scheduled a day apart to allow all doctors who wanted to attend.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Herlock Sholmes]

With regard to the apron and Dr Phillips, the following, whilst not specific about exact times, may be helpful.

DC Halse reported that the piece of apron had already been handed to Dr Phillips, before he (Halse) returned to Goulston Street and observed the chalked GSG. Phillips must have taken the piece almost directly to the mortuary because Insp McWilliam is clear that he went to the mortuary and saw the torn piece of apron being compared to the rest of the apron, immediately after he had ordered the GSG to be photographed. The Times reported that the apron piece was taken to the mortuary by Dr Phillips "soon after the body had been removed there." Dr Brown reported that before they moved the body from Mitre Square, he asked that Dr Phillips be sent for, and that the latter "came to the mortuary" - sadly no specific time, but putting all of the evidence together, it would seem to have been reasonably promptly.

With regards to a previously disputed issue, Swanson reported that Brown and Phillips conducted the Eddowes' post mortem, so Phillips would not have been able to conduct two post mortems the same day..

Hi Doc,

Thanks for this. I’ll check it out properly tomorrow and amend the timeline. I need to mention Halse going to the mortuary (which i missed for some reason) It says that Halse went with Collard to the mortuary. They probably went at the same time as Brown and Sequiera - after the body had been removed.

So Halse: Aldgate Church - Mitre Square - Goulston Street (2.20) via Wentworth and Middlesex - Mitre Square - mortuary - Mitre Square - Leman Street Station - Goulston Street.

Then when he got to Leman Street Station he heard that the apron piece had been handed to Phillips. Long had found the apron piece at 2.55, looked around the staircase and building, and then taken straight to Leman Street. It’s reasonable (I think) to estimate sometime around 3.30 give or take x minutes. So Phillips had the apron in his possession some time after 3.30 but not long after because Halse was in time to hear about it.

This also tells us that Phillips arrived at the mortuary, with the apron piece, soon after the body had arrived (with Brown, Sequiera, Collard etc already there.)

Thanks Doc,

So if Phillips was at the Eddowes pm this might explain why the Stride pm was done the next day. Perhaps Eddowes was prioritised because there might have been more information to discover due to the more extensive injuries?

[Herlock Sholmes]

'Detective Office' would be on Jewry?

I suspect the autopsies were scheduled a day apart to allow all doctors who wanted to attend.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

I think you’re right Tom. Headquarters of the City of London Police.

[Elamarna]

Maybe I’ve imagined it (although I don’t believe that I have) but I’m sure that somewhere on Casebook there is a lengthy timeline of the events of September 30th. I can’t find it though - maybe it will be found at some point?

I thought that I’d do a timeline using the various pieces of information that we have. I’ve by no means looked at everything. At the end I’ve added some points/questions so maybe the gaps can be filled in. There are some things that we can’t know of course because they weren’t recorded (or at least no records survive)



1.44 - The body is found by PC Watkins.

He informs George Morris about the murder and sends him for assistance. Morris runs into PC’s Harvey and Holland who return with him to Mitre Square. Holland is then sent by Watkins for Dr. Sequiera.


1.55 - Dr. Sequiera arrived in Mitre Square.


1.55 - Inspector Collard is told about the murder at Bishopsgate Station.

(I can only assume that he was informed by PC Harvey?) He then telegraphed headquarters and then sent a PC to fetch Dr. Brown.


1.58 - DC. Halse is on duty near Aldgate Church with detectives Outram and Marriott when they hear of the murder.

All three men run to Mitre Square. On arrival Halse gives orders for a search and he himself goes to Wentworth Street via Middlesex Street.


2.00 (shortly after, according to Brown) - Dr. Brown is informed about the murder in Mitre Square.


2.02/2.03 - Inspector Collard arrived in Mitre Square.

Dr. Sequiera is already there with 2 or 3 police officers also present.


2.18/2.20 - Dr. Brown arrived in Mitre Square.

Before the body is removed from Mitre Square Dr. Brown sends for Dr. Phillips as he wants him to look at the injuries. He said that Phillips saw the body “..in the mortuary” but he doesn’t say at what time and he doesn’t say “at the post mortem.”

According to Inspector Collard the doctors stayed with the body until the ambulance arrived and they saw it being placed on it. It was taken to the mortuary and stripped, in the presence of Brown, Sequiera and Collard by the mortuary keeper, a Mr. Davis.


2.20 - DC. Halse passes along Goulston Street as part of his search.

He then went on to Mitre Square where learned about the apron piece that had been found. He then went, with DS Lawley and DC Hunt, to Leman Street Station before moving on to the doorway in Goulston Street. He stayed there but Lawley went on to Mitre Square.


2.55 - PC. Long (who had been temporarily drafted from A Division) finds the apron and sees the chalked message in Goulston Street.

He checked the staircase and the building and then took the apron to Commercial Road Station and reports to the duty Inspector.


3.45 - Inspector McWilliam arrived at the Detective Office where SS Izzard updates him on events so far.

He wired Scotland Yard to inform the Met about the murder and then went, with DS Downes, to Mitre Square via Bishopsgate Police Station. At Mitre Square he finds Major Smith, Superintendent Foster, Inspector Collard and several detective officers.

Lawley and Hunt told him about the discovery in Goulston Street and McWilliam ordered the writing to be photographed. He also ordered officers to search the model dwellings and the local lodging houses.

McWilliam then went to the mortuary and saw that the apron piece corresponded to the apron that the victim was wearing.

He then returned to the Detective Office where he telegraphed Divisions and the Metropolitan Police with a description of Eddowes. Additional officers then arrived and were assigned to various duties.


5.00 (just before) - Commissioner Warren arrived at Leman Street Station after visiting Commercial Street Station.

He was briefed about the two murders by Superintendent Arnold. Arnold had sent for Inspector with a sponge to wipe out the message but had told him to wait until he’d arrived. Warren attended the scene himself and made the order for the message to be wiped away before going to the City Police and to inform him of his reasons for having the message wiped out.


5.00 - PC. Long returned to Goulston Street.


5.30 (approx) - Long sees the chalked message erased.


2.30pm - Brown begins the inquest.


…..



Questions/Points


Point - Despite my previous suggestion I now accept that when Brown mentioned at the inquest the apron part produced by Phillips he didn’t necessarily mean that Phillips had presented it to him at the mortuary. More likely that Phillips had presented it at the inquest. So, questions..



1. How did the apron piece get from Commercial Road Police station to the mortuary - do we know who took it?

2. What time did the apron piece arrive at the mortuary? We know that McWilliam saw the two parts matched when he was at the mortuary.

3. What time was the body moved from Mitre Square to the mortuary? We know that there were still officers in Mitre Square at 3.45 when McWilliam arrived there.

4. What time did Brown and Sequiera arrive at the mortuary?

5. What time did Phillips get to the mortuary?

6. Where does McWilliam mean by the ‘Detective Office’?

7. About the Stride post mortem, Dr.Phillips said “At 3 p.m. on Monday, at St. George’s mortuary, in the presence of Dr. Rygate and Mr. Johnston, Dr. Blackwell and I made a post mortem examination.”

But, with Eddowes…

Brown - Made a post mortem examination at ½ past 2 on Sunday afternoon

Why would they wait until the next day to perform Stride’s post mortem?

…..

Corrections, answers, suggestions, alternative explanations all welcome.

Hi Herlock, there will be a detailed timeline for Mitre Square, same format as in Inside Bucks Row , in Death in Mitre Square , which is due the end of 2026.
I will be watching this thread carefully to see if I need to amend or include events.

Steve

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi Herlock, there will be a detailed timeline for Mitre Square, same format as in Inside Bucks Row , in Death in Mitre Square , which is due the end of 2026.
I will be watching this thread carefully to see if I need to amend or include events.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Happy for you to point out errors or alternative explanations as always.

[Herlock Sholmes]

First amendment (after points made by Doc and Tom)



1.44 - The body is found by PC Watkins.

He informs George Morris about the murder and sends him for assistance. Morris runs into PC’s Harvey and Holland who return with him to Mitre Square. Holland is then sent by Watkins for Dr. Sequiera.


1.55 - Dr. Sequiera arrived in Mitre Square.


1.55 - Inspector Collard is told about the murder at Bishopsgate Station.

(I can only assume that he was informed by PC Harvey?) He then telegraphed headquarters and then sent a PC (unknown?) to fetch Dr. Brown.


1.58 - DC. Halse is on duty near Aldgate Church with detectives Outram and Marriott when they hear of the murder.

All three run to Mitre Square. On arrival he gives orders for a search and he himself goes to Wentworth Street via Middlesex Street.


2.00 (shortly after, according to Brown himself) - Dr. Brown is informed about the murder in Mitre Square.


2.02/2.03 - Inspector Collard arrived in Mitre Square.

Sequiera is already there with 2 or 3 police officers also present.


2.18/2.20 - Dr. Brown arrived in Mitre Square.

According to Collard the doctors stayed with the body until the ambulance arrived and saw it placed on it. It was taken to the mortuary and stripped, in the presence of Brown, Sequiera and Collard by the mortuary keeper, Mr. Davis.

Before the body is removed Dr. Brown sends for Dr. Phillips as he wants him to look at the injuries. He said that Phillips saw the body “..in the mortuary” but he doesn’t say at what time and he doesn’t say “at the post mortem.”


2.20 - DC. Halse passes along Goulston Street as part of his search.

Then he went on to Mitre Square before going on to the mortuary with Collard where he saw that part of the victim’s apron missing.

He then returned to Mitre Square with Major Smith where they learned of the discovery of the apron piece in Goulston Street.

He then went with DC Hunt to Leman Street Station, where he learned that the apron piece had been handed to Dr. Phillips, before moving on to the doorway in Goulston Street. He stayed there but Hunt went to receive McWilliams instructions.


2.55 - PC. Long (who had been temporarily drafted from A Division) finds the apron and sees the chalked message in Goulston Street. He checked the staircase and the building and then takes the apron to Commercial Road Station and reports to the duty Inspector.


3.45 - Inspector McWilliam arrived at the Detective Office where SS Izzard updates him on events so far.

He wired Scotland Yard to inform the Met about the murder. He then went, with DS Downes, to Mitre Square via Bishopsgate Police Station. At Mitre Square he finds Major Smith, Superintendent Foster, Inspector Collard and several detective officers.

Lawley and Hunt told him about the discovery in Goulston Street and McWilliam ordered the writing to be photographed. He also ordered officers to search the model dwellings and the local lodging houses.

McWilliam then went to the mortuary and saw that the apron piece corresponded to the apron that the victim was wearing.

He then returned to the Detective Office where he telegraphed Divisions and the Metropolitan Police with a description of Eddowes. Additional officers then arrived and were assigned to various duties.


5.00 (just before) - Commissioner Warren arrived at Leman Street Station after visiting Commercial Street Station.

He was briefed about the two murders by Superintendent Arnold. Arnold had sent for Inspector with a sponge to wipe out the message but had told him to wait until he’d arrived. Warren attended the scene himself and made the order for the message to be wiped away before going to the City Police and to inform him of his reasons for having the message wiped out.


5.00 - PC. Long returned to Goulston Street.


5.30 (approx) - Long sees the chalked message erased.


2.30pm - Brown begins the inquest.


…..


Questions/Points


Despite my previous suggestion I now accept that when Brown mentioned, at the inquest, the apron part produced by Phillips he didn’t necessarily mean that Phillips had presented it to him at the mortuary. More like that Phillips had presented it at the inquest. So, questions..

1. How did the apron piece get from Commercial Road Police station to the mortuary - do we know who took it?

A - It was handed to Dr. Phillips. (?)


2. What time did the apron piece arrive at the mortuary?

3. What time was the body moved from Mitre Square to the mortuary?

4. What time did Brown and Sequiera arrive at the mortuary?

5. What time did Phillips get to the mortuary?




6. Where does McWilliam mean by the ‘Detective Office’?

A - The headquarters of the City Police at Old Jewry.


…………


About the Stride post mortem, Dr.Phillips said “At 3 p.m. on Monday, at St. George’s mortuary, in the presence of Dr. Rygate and Mr. Johnston, Dr. Blackwell and I made a post mortem examination.”


But, with Eddowes…


Brown - Made a post mortem examination at ½ past 2 on Sunday afternoon

It seems a little strange that they waited until the next day to perform Stride’s PM.


7. What was the reason for this?

A - Because Phillips was involved with the Eddowes PM (as per Swanson) and the Eddowes PM perhaps took priority because there was more that could be learned medically than from Stride? There may well be a different reason. Any suggestions welcome.

[jerryd]

Maybe I’ve imagined it (although I don’t believe that I have) but I’m sure that somewhere on Casebook there is a lengthy timeline of the events of September 30th. I can’t find it though - maybe it will be found at some point?

This one, Herlock?

Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Timeline - Catherine Eddowes

[Herlock Sholmes]

Jerry, I was beginning to think that I’d imagined the thing. Thank you. I’ll have a look through it and compare it to mine later today.

[Herlock Sholmes]

This is a headache! I’ve been trying to cross-reference the sources (inquest versions and Casebook Timeline) to come up with a coherent version of events. So..

Second Amendment (thanks to Jerry for finding the Casebook Timeline and to Casebook for providing it)



1.44 - PC Watkins enters Mitre Square from Mitre Street and finds the body in the South-West corner.


1.45 - Watkins goes over to the warehouse of Kearley and Tonge and asks for assistant from George Morris who returns with him to view the body.


1.47 - Watkins remains with the body and sends Morris for assistance. Morris, blowing his whistle, runs down Mitre Street into Aldgate.


1.48 - PC Harvey hears the whistle and sees Morris running. He goes over to him and Morris tells him about the body. Morris then sees PC Holland (814City) and calls him over.


1.49 - The three men go to Mitre Square. Holland is sent to fetch Dr George William Sequiera (34, Jewry Street)


1.55 - At Bishopsgate Station Inspector Collard is informed of the body. He telegraphs headquarters then he sends a PC to fetch City Police Surgeon, Frederick Gordon Brown (17, Finsbury Circus)

PC Holland returns with Dr Sequiera who pronounces Catherine Eddowes dead.


1.58 - DC Daniel Halse, DC Edward Marriott and DS Robert Outram are on duty near to Aldgate Church. They hear Morris’s whistle and head toward Mitre Square.


2.00 - DC Halse, DC Marriott and DS Outram arrive in Mitre Square.


2.02/2.03 - Inspector Collard arrives in Mitre Square and organises a search. Dr Sequiera is informed the Dr Brown has been sent for so he waits for his arrival before proceeding.

Dr Brown is told about the body.


2.05 - DC Halse goes on a search into Wentworth Street via Middlesex Street.


2.18 - Dr. Brown arrives in Mitre Square.


2.20 - The examination of the body begins.

D/Superintendent Alfred Lawrence Foster arrives in Mitre Square.

DC Halse, who is in Goulston Street, heads back to Mitre Square.

PC Long (254A) passes along Goulston Street and sees nothing.

PC Pearse hears about the murder.

Dr Brown requests that Dr Phillips is sent for to look at the injuries.


2.35 - DC Halse heads back to Mitre Square.

Sergeant Jones finds three buttons, a thimble and a mustard tin containing two pawn tickets next to the body.

Sergeant Phelps, Inspector Izzard and Sergeant Dudman arrive in Mitre Square to preserve public order.

The body is placed on the ambulance and is taken to Golden Lane Mortuary.

DC Halse, Inspector Collard and the two doctors go to the mortuary.


?? - The body is stripped and a piece of the victims ear falls from her clothing.

DC Halse/ Inspector Collard (?) notices a piece of her apron is missing.


2.55 - PC Long discovers the apron piece and the chalked message in Goulston Street. He searches the staircases and the surrounding area.


? - Inspector Collard and Major Smith return to Mitre Square where they learn about the apron piece and the chalked message.


3.05 - PC Long calls over PC 190H and leaves him in charge of his beat before taking the apron to Commercial Street Station.


? - DC Halse, Major Smith and Detective Baxter Hunt go to Leman Street Police Station where they learn that the apron piece has been given to Doctor Phillips.

DC Halse goes to Goulston Street and instructs that the message should be photographed. He remains there.

Superintendent Thomas Arnold sends an Inspector to Goulston Street with a sponge awaiting orders to rub out the message.


5.00 - PC Long returns to Goulston Street.


5.10 - Commissioner Charles Warren arrives at Goulston Street.


5.30 - DC Hunt arrives at Goulston Street.

Over DC Halse’s objections the message is rubbed out. (Major Smith claimed that Warren removed it personally)


5.42 - Sunrise.


2.30 (pm) - The Post Mortem is conducted by Dr Brown, Dr Sequiera, Dr William Sedgwick Saunders, Medical Officer of Health and Public Analyst, City of London and attended by Dr. Phillips.


Thursday October 4th, Eddowes inquest begins.


…….


Questions

1. Why is McWilliam listed as Inspector at the bottom of his October 27th report when elsewhere he is a Superintendent?

2. What time did McWilliam actually arrive in Mitre Square.


Collard (who arrived at 2.02/2.03) - Mr. M’William, the chief of the detectives, on his arrival shortly afterwards with a number of detectives,

McWilliam himself - In the meantime I had been informed of the murder and arrived at the Detective Office at 3.45 a.m., after ascertaining from S.S. Izzard what steps he had taken in consequence of it; I wired to Scotland Yard informing the Metropolitan Police of the murder and went with D.S. Downes to Bishopsgate Station & from thence to Mitre Square.


3. What time did the apron piece arrive at the mortuary?

4. What time was the body moved from Mitre Square to the mortuary?

5. What time did Brown and Sequiera arrive at the mortuary?

6. What time did Phillips get to the mortuary?

7. What time did Major Smith arrive?

[Herlock Sholmes]

This is a headache! I’ve been trying to cross-reference the sources (inquest versions and Casebook Timeline) to come up with a coherent version of events. So..

Second Amendment (thanks to Jerry for finding the Casebook Timeline and to Casebook for providing it)



1.44 - PC Watkins enters Mitre Square from Mitre Street and finds the body in the South-West corner.


1.45 - Watkins goes over to the warehouse of Kearley and Tonge and asks for assistant from George Morris who returns with him to view the body.


1.47 - Watkins remains with the body and sends Morris for assistance. Morris, blowing his whistle, runs down Mitre Street into Aldgate.


1.48 - PC Harvey hears the whistle and sees Morris running. He goes over to him and Morris tells him about the body. Morris then sees PC Holland (814City) and calls him over.


1.49 - The three men go to Mitre Square. Holland is sent to fetch Dr George William Sequiera (34, Jewry Street)


1.55 - At Bishopsgate Station Inspector Collard is informed of the body. He telegraphs headquarters then he sends a PC to fetch City Police Surgeon, Frederick Gordon Brown (17, Finsbury Circus)

PC Holland returns with Dr Sequiera who pronounces Catherine Eddowes dead.


1.58 - DC Daniel Halse, DC Edward Marriott and DS Robert Outram are on duty near to Aldgate Church. They hear Morris’s whistle and head toward Mitre Square.


2.00 - DC Halse, DC Marriott and DS Outram arrive in Mitre Square.


2.02/2.03 - Inspector Collard arrives in Mitre Square and organises a search. Dr Sequiera is informed the Dr Brown has been sent for so he waits for his arrival before proceeding.

Dr Brown is told about the body.


2.05 - DC Halse goes on a search into Wentworth Street via Middlesex Street.


2.18 - Dr. Brown arrives in Mitre Square.


2.20 - The examination of the body begins.

D/Superintendent Alfred Lawrence Foster arrives in Mitre Square.

DC Halse, who is in Goulston Street, heads back to Mitre Square.

PC Long (254A) passes along Goulston Street and sees nothing.

PC Pearse hears about the murder.

Dr Brown requests that Dr Phillips is sent for to look at the injuries.


2.35 - DC Halse heads back to Mitre Square.

Sergeant Jones finds three buttons, a thimble and a mustard tin containing two pawn tickets next to the body.

Sergeant Phelps, Inspector Izzard and Sergeant Dudman arrive in Mitre Square to preserve public order.

The body is placed on the ambulance and is taken to Golden Lane Mortuary.

DC Halse, Inspector Collard and the two doctors go to the mortuary.


?? - The body is stripped and a piece of the victims ear falls from her clothing.

DC Halse/ Inspector Collard (?) notices a piece of her apron is missing.


2.55 - PC Long discovers the apron piece and the chalked message in Goulston Street. He searches the staircases and the surrounding area.


? - Inspector Collard and Major Smith return to Mitre Square where they learn about the apron piece and the chalked message.


3.05 - PC Long calls over PC 190H and leaves him in charge of his beat before taking the apron to Commercial Street Station.


? - DC Halse, Major Smith and Detective Baxter Hunt go to Leman Street Police Station where they learn that the apron piece has been given to Doctor Phillips.

DC Halse goes to Goulston Street and instructs that the message should be photographed. He remains there.

Superintendent Thomas Arnold sends an Inspector to Goulston Street with a sponge awaiting orders to rub out the message.


5.00 - PC Long returns to Goulston Street.


5.10 - Commissioner Charles Warren arrives at Goulston Street.


5.30 - DC Hunt arrives at Goulston Street.

Over DC Halse’s objections the message is rubbed out. (Major Smith claimed that Warren removed it personally)


5.42 - Sunrise.


2.30 (pm) - The Post Mortem is conducted by Dr Brown, Dr Sequiera, Dr William Sedgwick Saunders, Medical Officer of Health and Public Analyst, City of London and attended by Dr. Phillips.


Thursday October 4th, Eddowes inquest begins.


…….


Questions

1. Why is McWilliam listed as Inspector at the bottom of his October 27th report when elsewhere he is a Superintendent?

2. What time did McWilliam actually arrive in Mitre Square.


Collard (who arrived at 2.02/2.03) - Mr. M’William, the chief of the detectives, on his arrival shortly afterwards with a number of detectives,

McWilliam himself - In the meantime I had been informed of the murder and arrived at the Detective Office at 3.45 a.m., after ascertaining from S.S. Izzard what steps he had taken in consequence of it; I wired to Scotland Yard informing the Metropolitan Police of the murder and went with D.S. Downes to Bishopsgate Station & from thence to Mitre Square.


3. What time did the apron piece arrive at the mortuary?

4. What time was the body moved from Mitre Square to the mortuary?

5. What time did Brown and Sequiera arrive at the mortuary?

6. What time did Phillips get to the mortuary?

7. What time did Major Smith arrive?

After a post from George on the ‘organs’ thread we have this information from a reporter who was there:

Lloyd’s Weekly, September 30th, Special Edition


After a very careful examination of the body where it was found, it was at three o'clock removed to the City mortuary in Golden-lane, and here Drs. Brown and Sequeira continued their investigation for a considerable time.

- so the body was removed to the mortuary at 3.00

….


As the word was passed along other constables, from different routes, came hurrying up, including Serjeant Herbert Jones, 92, and the scene was soon one of great excitement.

- another officer at the scene?

……


At twenty minutes past five, when we left the mortuary, after the interview most kindly accorded by Dr. Gordon Brown, there was an expectation on the part of the police that Dr. Phillips, who gave the important evidence in connection with the case of Annie Chapman, would speedily arrive there.

- this sounds as if reporters left the mortuary at 5.20 but the doctors stayed to await the arrival of Phillips? Expected at any time?

I’ve listed this - DC Halse, Major Smith and Detective Baxter Hunt go to Leman Street Police Station where they learn that the apron piece has been given to Doctor Phillips - as occurring between 3.05 and 5.00. If it was the case that Phillips hadn’t arrived at the mortuary by 5.20 then it must surely have been closer to 5.00 than 3.05?

Being useless with maps I can do no better than Leman Street to Golden Lane 2.2 miles. So how long in a horse drawn cab?

[Herlock Sholmes]

I’m now thinking that it’s a long time between 3.00 (removal of the body) to 5.20 (doctors still at the mortuary) but Google gives me a walk time from Mitre Square to Golden Lane of 27 minutes, but a couple of Officers with a hand drawn ambulance might surely be allowed at least 45 minutes I’d have thought? So that would get the body to the mortuary at around 3.45 with, I assume, the doctors already being there (by cab) Then it would depend on what time Mr Davis was roused and arrived to open the mortuary, so these times aren’t as strange as they might first appear to be.

[Herlock Sholmes]

An interesting point for Trevor on the organs thread perhaps?

“here Drs. Brown and Sequeira continued their investigation for a considerable time.”

[Doctored Whatsit]

A little bit more info which seems to be in agreement with the rest of the timeline -

The statement of PC Long says that he found the apron piece and the GSG about 2. 55 am, called in the PC from the adjoining beat, searched the stair-cases, then proceeded to the Station, arriving about 3. 05 or 3. 10 am, returning to Goulston Street with the Inspector. Then they returned to Leman St, and the apron was handed to "a gentleman whom I have since learnt is Dr Phillips". Long then returned to Goulston St, about 5 am.

So Dr Phillips received the apron piece shortly before 5 am.
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