Window Removal

[George Hutchinson]

Firstly, apologies to Bailey for initially thinking he was talking rot. It's clearly in some of the reports of the time.

However, I certainly concur with Rob that I find it extremely unlikely it actually happened. I mean, what a lot of effort for - presumably - virtually no return. It would have been perfectly easy for Joseph Martin to have placed his camera lens through one of the broken window panes. If you could stick an arm through it to open the door, why not the front of a camera? I can see no use whatsoever in taking the frame out.

PHILIP

[RJM]

Hi Bailey,

After Mary Kelly's body was removed to Shoreditch mortuary just after 4pm, both windows were boarded up and the door locked. Constables were also posted at the entrance to Millers Court to keep the curious away.

This is the sketch you are probably referring to:
http://photos.casebook.org/displayim...?album=6&pos=4

Robert

[Bailey]

Hey RJM

Probably in Rumbelow that I first saw it, then. I had a memory that it was the whole window frame, rather than just a pane or something. But as you say, with that done, they'd see that the door could be opened. Unless maybe it was the further window from the door?

No axe to grind on this issue, mind you, just saw the reference and I thought I'd bring it up again.

Another thought though - would this tally up with photos / drawings - which my possibly faulty brain seems to recollect - of the windows being boarded up?

Cheers,
B.

[RJM]

Don Rumbelow writes about the window being removed in his book.

I am skeptical this ever happened because we know Arnold ordered the door to be forced open. If he ordered the window to be removed for a photograph there would be no need to force the door open.

Cheers,

Robert

[Bailey]

Howdy all, and notably Mr Hutchinson as this concerns a conversation with him.

A little while back on a Mary Kelly thread I can't find, I made mention of having read that the window of Kelly's room was removed to take the photos. Philip seemed dubious and I concurred that it seemed odd, but was still sure I'd read it somewhere.

Currently reading "The Ripper File" by Jones & Lloyd (based on the Barlow & Watt TV series), I found a reference to it;


From The Sunday Times, Nov 11, 1988

(A first paragraph, followed by a "note by Watt," then...)

"Mr Arnold, having satisfied himself that the woman was dead, ordered one of the windows to be removed."

Now this can't be where I'd heard it previously, as I've not read this book before, but it is something along the lines of proof that I'm not a total looney.

It then follows on with a description of the body and reference to a photographer taking "photographs of the body, the organs, the room and its contents." Hey, Philip, while you're finding photos, how about some of those, matey?

B.

Edit - referring to "The Ripper File," Elwyn Jones & John Lloyd, Futura paperback 1975, page 62