The Rent! (Due on Monday)

[Chava]

Sorry! I initially had it as Thursday/Friday and then checked it and checked it wrong!

I do think McCarthy kept tabs on Kelly. But I don't think she had many customers. Yes, Barnett turned up and may have given her a few pence, but she was seen drinking that evening, and I suspect that's where Barnett's money went and McCarthy knew that. I think he checked in on her in the small hours and got a very nasty shock. Too late to do anything. And he may have needed a bit of time to come up with a story about the back-rent--which I bet she had been paying off in kind...

[richardnunweek]

Hi Don,
just had a thought i wonder what the layout of McCarthys shop was?, did the serving counter, have a view of entries to the passage, or was it a blind spot?
Could anyone have seen the comings and goings of the court from the front of the shop?
I had not thought of that before.
Richard.

[richardnunweek]

Hello Don,
Even McCarthy needed sleep, we know he was up and around at 1pm, talking to Prater, and if it was his nocturnal habits to watch court residents, until the early hours, at least until people arrive back from the pubs, then one can assume he hit the sack.
That being the case, he would not be awake at dawn, that is why Mrs M was a possible alleged witness, as she proberly opened the shop at dawn that day, which was proberly the norm.
I can not see why that would reject Maxwells claims.
Regards Richard.

[Supe]

Richard,

Quite agree that McC likely kept close tabs on his manor. And conversations, like he had with Liz Prater that Thursday night, only added to his knowledge of the comings and goings. And, if that is accepted. it is only one more reason to dismiss the testimony of Caroline Maxwell.

Don.

[richardnunweek]

Hi,
Taking a lot of what we know into consideration, i would suggest that McCarthys nocturnal habits of watching the coming/goings of court inhabitants might be the reason he believed kelly might have earned a few shillings.
Fiona K , did give us that snippit before she was scared of the boards, around a year ago, and i would not be surprised if he saw more then he informed police.
Regards Richard.

[Supe]

Chava,

So why was Bowyer sent on a Saturday to get some money from Kelly?

Kelly was killed very late on Thursday evening or in the wee hours of Friday morning.

As it is, if Bowyer was sent only to Number 13 I would say it strengthens my speculation in an earlier article that there was a monetary arrangement between McCarthy and Kelly. But we really don't know how, when and how often rents were collected in Miller's Court do we?

Don.

[Jon Guy]

Hi Chava

Bowyer`s visit on the Friday morning may have something to do with Barnett`s visit to No.13 the night before, when Joe turned up to tell Kelly he had no money to give her.

Also, Friday was the Lord`s Mayor Show. A day out for many, so catch her before she goes out and blows (excuse the phrase) the lot.

[Monty]

Chava,

If youre owed money you never hit on the day they are expecting you.

Monty

[Chava]

I read in The Blackest Streets--which by the way is a wonderful book--that rent in the East End was always due on a Monday. So why was Bowyer sent on a Saturday to get some money from Kelly? How often and when did McCarthy collect his rent in Millers Court? We don't hear that Bowyer was sent round any other time that week. Amazing coincidence that he was asked to go to #13 two days ahead of when the rent was due and just on the morning she'd been taken apart by person or persons unknown.

This makes me even surer that McCarthy knew what was waiting next door and wanted it discovered soonest. I've changed my mind somewhat about his culpability now that I've collated all those fair-haired/ fair/auburn-moustached men in their 30s seen with various victims. But I still think he either had a peek through the window or opened the door and saw her before he went to bed on Friday night. I understand that she owed a lot of money, and Friday night would have been prime time for successful hooking and so getting a few pennies together. But she'd been seen drunk and not working throughout most of the evening, and I can't believe he wasn't aware of that...