The Broken Window

[Bob Hinton]

The Broken Window

I'm in the States at the moment so don't have access to the records however the inquest testimony makes it quite clear that the two panes that were broken were bottom left and top right.

[Jane Coram]

Hi Harry,

I suspect that you are as familiar with the joys of sash windows as I am.

As you say, wouldn't it have been easier to put your hand through either of the broken window panes and just release the catch inside, (which was in the very centre of the window where the wood crosses) and open the window to climb in?

I suspect that the sash had broken in the window, and that someone had nailed the window shut at some time or other to stop the window rattling and the top half continuously falling down. I can't think of any other reason they wouldn't have taken the easy route to get back indoors!

Hugs

Janie

xxxx

[harry]

Why was it neccessary to reach through the broken pane.Could not the lower half of the window be pushed up?

[Stewart P Evans]

Window Pane

I disagree. Evidence given at the inquest makes it quite clear the two broken panes were lower left and upper right.

I disagree.

It is far from clear. You are basing your argument on the confused and confusing evidence of Thomas Bowyer. In his main evidence Bowyer stated, "There was a broken window in the farthest window." That, of course, should be read as, "There was a broken window [pane] in the farthest window." That is incorrect. That is, of course, if you take the largest window in 13 Miller's Court as 'the farthest window.' This largest window contained 20 smaller panes of glass, none of which was stated to be, or appears to be, broken.

Obviously challenged on this point Bowyer then stated, "...I mean the farthest pane of the first window the small one". One has to say that it can only be guessed at as to what Bowyer meant by 'farthest', although I would agree that common sense would dictate that it should mean the bottom left pane of the four panes in the smaller window.

However, examination of my 1966 copy of the photograph which was printed from a first-generation copy negative of the original photograph clearly shows the top right pane to have a large break taking out most of the glass. Not quite so clear, but visible nonetheless, is a large break in the upper half of the bottom right pane. Examination of the lower left pane reveals no sign of a break at all. Taken in conjunction with Abberline's clear statement that, "...the key has been missing for some time & that they [i.e. Kelly and Barnett] opened the door by reaching through the window..." indicates that it was the lower right pane that was also broken.

[Stephen Thomas]

It would be totally impossible for anybody to open the door by hand from anywhere else but a hole in the lower right hand pane.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Bob,

Please cite the relevant inquest evidence.

Many thanks.

Regards,

Simon

[Bob Hinton]

The Broken Window

The very same debate about these broken window panes took place on these threads about ten years ago. Both right side panes (top and bottom, nearest to the passage) were broken.

I disagree. Evidence given at the inquest makes it quite clear the two broken panes were lower left and upper right.

[Bob Hinton]

The Broken Window

Hi Stephen,

The lower right hand window pane was also broken.

Doctor Phillips -

"Two panes in the lesser window were broken, and as the door was locked I looked through the lower of the broken panes and satisfied myself that the mutilated corpse lying on the bed was not in need of any immediate attention from me . . ."

Regards,

Simon

The two broken panes were upper right and lower left.

[Robert]

Re the business of reaching through the window :

I should think it wasn't something they did very often. If they did, then they surely would have just knocked out the rest of the glass, removing the jagged edges. If would have been no skin off McCarthy's nose, as his window was wrecked anyway. True the room would have been a bit colder, but there you go.

[packers stem]

outline

Many thanks Jane.



Don't quite know why i can see the edges so clearly on the top one though and not at all on the bottom on the original scan.
Never mind.

[Chava]

If you look at how the edges jag, it would be a pretty nasty thing to put your hand through in the dark after a night out on the ran-tan.

[Jane Coram]

It's actually possible the hole extends down a bit further than I've outlined there, but I erred on the side of caution and just included the area that I was pretty certain were edges of glass. Here's the other option.

I do agree with Bob though, that Mary almost certainly left the door on the latch almost all of the time. I even wonder whether she ever bothered to drop the catch when she went out.

Hugs

Janie

xxxxx

[Chava]

Thanks Jane! I thought the lower parts of the window had been taken out to allow an arm to go through. I'd be quite reluctant to put an arm through that jagged break. You could really hurt yourself if you snagged on that. But it is in a perfect position to reach the lock.

[Jane Coram]

Here is an enhanced version of the image that shows the broken panes a bit more clearly. You can't do much more with it, because the information just isn't there. I've just outlined the bottom pane more clearly so that you can make it out a bit better.

Hugs

Janie

xxxx

[Chava]

Earlier in the thread Frank posted a recreation of the window and door. You can see the break as it appeared in the room.