The Board School

[Christian]

Interesting read indeed me and dad had our own private tour of the board school in summer of 1995 went on the roof filming inside was let’s say a little dangerous to say the least but great adventure obtained a window handle from frame looking down durwood street

[George Hutchinson]

I have some fantastic letters I bought on eBay from a school governor in Whitechapel to various officials concerning how hard it was to appoint teachers in the area in the LVP because it was so soul-destroying. I'll search them out and put them up tomorrow if I remember.

PHILIP

[Ben]

Hi Caz,

With regard to the "status" of any teacher working in that part of the East End, I'd respectfully submit that we're hardly talking aristocracy here. Though that's not to say any of them did particularly relish the prospect of being stranded there alone at night.

Cheers,
Ben

[caz]

Please Sir!

Hi All,

Presumably the moment school was over for the afternoon, all the teachers would have been in a tearing hurry to leave the area, to keep modern day ripper theorists happy in the knowledge that nobody of their status would dare hang around once it began to get dark.

Love,

Caz
X

PS And if anyone tells me Polly's murder happened in the summer holidays I'll hit them with my ruler until they see why that would be irrelevant.

[Jane Coram]

Hi,

I've just read the article on the Board School in the Whitechapel Society Journal and really enjoyed it. Nice to see the inside of the building for a change! Have to agree about the great photos!

The same keeper was there in 1881 and 1891, so it seems he was a steady sort of chap and a family man too by the looks of it. As he had one child of 16 and one of 3, it would seem he and his wife didn't hate each other too much either. Lol.

1881 census


Thomas Montague: aged 42
Born Bethnal Green
school keeper
Wife
Sophia Montague: aged 41
Born Shadwell
Children
Mary Ann aged 16
Alice Maud aged 3

There is a fairly comprehensive article on Bucks Row/Durward in Ripperologist 92 giving more information about the history of the street and how it looked in 1888. It is part of a series taking a close look at the murder sites of both canonical and other murder victims in 1888 and 1889, which might be useful to those interested in the setting to the murders.


Bestest

Jane

xxxx

[coral]

As an aside from witnesses and testimony with regard to Polly Nicholls - there is an article in the Whitechapel Society Journal. Our Editor & Chairman where given a guided tour of the building this year to see how it had been converted from a Board School into flats. Brilliant photos and great panoramic views veiws of London.

Coral

[Robert]

Hi Paula

Yes, I see where you're going with this.

Anyway, at least we know there was a keeper at the school - at least, I hope we know it.

[Paula Thomas]

Hi Robert

Sorry it's my legal and mathematical training coming through !

As you will find out I tend to make clear distinctions between what has been stated as fact and what can be inferred. We cannot state for fact on the basis of this testimony that the keeper said he heard nothing we can only infer it albeit at a high probability. The (remote) possibility exists that the keeper did hear something but the police wanted to hold back the information. This is something the police quite frequently do today.

<simplification_mode type="grossly over">
This would be done in order to trip up suspects for instance say it was known to the police that object A had been left at a crime scene they might hold the information back. There are now two scenarios

1. someone confesses to the crime

The police would ask about objects left at the crime scene - if the suspect does not mention object a the confession is looked with suspicion.

2. The police have a strong suspect

The police will then casually ask the suspect about object a. If the suspect indicates they have knowledge they might as well plead guilty at their trial.

</simplification_mode>

Paula

[Robert]

Witness added [Spratling] that he made inquiries at Green's, the wharf, Snider's factory, and also at the Great Eastern wharf, and no one had heard anything unusual on the morning of the murder. He had not called at any of the houses in Buck's-row, excepting at Mrs. Green's. He had seen the Board School keeper.
The Coroner: Is there not a gentleman at the G.E. Railway? I thought we should have had him here.
Witness: I saw him that morning, but he said he had heard nothing.


Hi Paula

From the context, I think it's clear that the board school keeper was questioned about whether he had heard anything at the time of the murder - it's sandwiched between other reports of people hearing nothing.

Robert

[Paula Thomas]

If the transcript of the inquest on the casebook website is accurate the portion that concerns the board school keeper is:-

Witness added [Spratling] that he made inquiries at Green's, the wharf, Snider's factory, and also at the Great Eastern wharf, and no one had heard anything unusual on the morning of the murder. He had not called at any of the houses in Buck's-row, excepting at Mrs. Green's. He had seen the Board School keeper.
The Coroner: Is there not a gentleman at the G.E. Railway? I thought we should have had him here.
Witness: I saw him that morning, but he said he had heard nothing.

On a strict reading Spratling did not say that the school keeper heard nothing. He merely states that he (Spratling) had spoken to the keeper. The person who he says heard nothing was the 'Gentleman from the GE Railway'.

Although we may infer that the keeper heard nothing we are not told so.

What seems quite incompetent by modern standards is that no extensive house-to-house enquiries were made.

Paula

[Robert]

Hi folks

Yes, Spratling stated at the inquest that the board school keeper heard nothing during the night.

The bit about "at the foot of the school" probably comes from an audio tape by Martin Fido, who said the stables were at the foot of the school.

All this is mentioned in an article in the latest WS mag, where Adrian Morris and William Beadle actually have a tour of the building - now a block of flats.

Robert

[Jon Guy]

Frank and Monty

I don`t have "Sourcebook" to hand, but I`m sure Insp Spratling states at the inquest that, as you say Frank, the Board School nightwatchman was interviewed.

[Monty]

Frank,

Sure it wasnt the Whitechapel Board of Works nightwatchman Mulshaw?

Its possible the premises had a nightwatchman.

Monty

[FrankO]

As far as Im aware, they were not like elite boarding schools, were the pupils stay overnight. Therefore the premises would be empty for they evening.

Though Im willing to be corrected on that.

Hi Monty,

I remember reading somewhere that a Board School nightwatchman was interviewed as a result of the murder. I'm also willing to be corrected on that.

All the best,
Frank

[Paula Thomas]

PS Sorry Paula, our posted crossed.

No problem. I had to ring my Dad (Visiting Professor of Education) to check my facts any way!!

In any case they certainly weren't anything like the posh boarding schools!!

Paula