The workhouse as a place of remand-Elizabeth Stride at Bromley

[PaulB]

Unless somebody has suggested it, what if Stride needed medical attention and the police surgeon was unavailable or it was of a sort that could not be administered in a cell?

[Debra A]

Could the reason be something along the lines of the police placing a person in the Workhouse because they had committed a minor offence and were destitute and then, other information was received by the Police that they had actually done something more serious and so they were arrested and removed?

I realise of course that this kind of speculation is pointless without any further evidence.

It could be, Herlock. I was keen to see if any legal experts knew for certain because it's something that has always intrigued me.

My other point was to highlight that the specific note about the police bringing Elizabeth Stride in and out of the workhouse has been left out of the biography of Elizabeth Stride and condensed down to:

"In 1880 her name appears in workhouse records, once at Stepney Union in February and a second time at Hackney Union in April where the word 'destitute' was written beside her entry "

Which is how it appears in 'The Five' and referenced to the same record I posted an image of with the ref. to police. Obviously this Feb 1880 record shows Elizabeth Stride involved with some sort of incident with police before being admitted to Bromley workhouse, whatever the nature of it was. Yet it has been omitted. But the detail that Stride was classed as 'destitute' in the Hackney workhouse has been included.

[Debra A]

Unless somebody has suggested it, what if Stride needed medical attention and the police surgeon was unavailable or it was of a sort that could not be administered in a cell?

I considered that too, Paul. Workhouses were often the first port of call before removal to the Union Infirmary if someone was ill but Stride wasn't discharged to the Infirmary so didn't require any medical attention and was brought back out of the workhouse by police. Unless she was under arrest at the time and so the protocol was that she had to be discharged to police custody and they escorted her to Bromley Sick Asylum and there is a record there too. The Union workhouse and Union Infirmary operated separately and inmates and patients were discharged and admitted between the two institutions. I wondered if it could be the case that Elizabeth threw one of the epileptic fits she was known for faking during arrest and police had to take her to be checked out and it was discovered she was faking it straight away?

[Herlock Sholmes]

It could be, Herlock. I was keen to see if any legal experts knew for certain because it's something that has always intrigued me.

My other point was to highlight that the specific note about the police bringing Elizabeth Stride in and out of the workhouse has been left out of the biography of Elizabeth Stride and condensed down to:

"In 1880 her name appears in workhouse records, once at Stepney Union in February and a second time at Hackney Union in April where the word 'destitute' was written beside her entry "

Which is how it appears in 'The Five' and referenced to the same record I posted an image of with the ref. to police. Obviously this Feb 1880 record shows Elizabeth Stride involved with some sort of incident with police before being admitted to Bromley workhouse, whatever the nature of it was. Yet it has been omitted. But the detail that Stride was classed as 'destitute' in the Hackney workhouse has been included.

It’s an interesting omission Debra. I’m trying not to be cynical…..and failing miserably

[PaulB]

It’s an interesting omission Debra. I’m trying not to be cynical…..and failing miserably

What! Are you suggesting that Ms Rubenhold has been less than scrupulously honest? I'm truly shocked. If I lived in Tunbridge Wells, I'd write a letter of complaint to The Times.

[Herlock Sholmes]

What! Are you suggesting that Ms Rubenhold has been less than scrupulously honest? I'm truly shocked. If I lived in Tunbridge Wells, I'd write a letter of complaint to The Times.

I couldn’t comment on your interpretation of my last post Mr B.

[jmenges]

HR probably doesn’t believe there’s any evidence that these individuals were really police constables.

So best to just leave them out.

JM

[Ally]

In this reference, Hallie Rubenhold fails to include two other pieces of information that were recorded when Elizabeth Stride was admitted to the Bromley workhouse, Stepney in February 1880, Here is the full admission entry:

Excellent catch.