Important observation millers court

[waterloo]

I came across the plan of Millers Court the other day and although I have tyhought this before, after consideration I think I am now brave enough to make a suggestion. I believe it has been suggested that the wall by the side of MJKs bed contained an old door, presumably as part of a partition wall this seems to me unlikely. From the plan we see that there is a staircase in the adjacent room (desribed as a shed).
If there is s staircase the wall would have been a supporting wall to hold the weight of the staircase not a partition wall as suggested.
There is an interesting follow on from this in that it is common in this country I do not know about abroad for there to be storage areas underneath staircases often converted to cupboards. This area could be under the stairs in the other room or a cupboard in MJKs room which could be entered from a door. All you would have to do is to pull the bed away from the wall to enable the door to be opened!
I hope this stimulates some debate. I guess its been lokked at before
Regards to you all
Waterloo

[Fisherman]

Elizabeth Prater, from the inquest:

"I live at 20 Room, in Miller's-court, above the shed. Deceased occupied a room below. I left the room on the Thursday at five p.m., and returned to it at about one a.m. on Friday morning. I stood at the corner until about twenty minutes past one. No one spoke to me. McCarthy's shop was open, and I called in, and then went to my room. I should have seen a glimmer of light in going up the stairs if there had been a light in deceased's room, but I noticed none. The partition was so thin I could have heard Kelly walk about in the room."

So no, the staircase would not have been supported by the thin partition wall, but insted anchored against the timber in the roof/floor where it had itīs top end.

The best,
Fisherman

[waterloo]

important observation millers court

Thank you for putting me on the right track. I have now some more reading and I am beginning to get a picture in my mind. Forgive me for pushing the boundaries a bit more. It would now appear that the partition is real and that I was mistaken. It just begs another question which perhaps is a possibility. If the partition was so thin and that light could be seen through the partition would somebody be able to sqeeze through a gap giving another way of getting into MJKs room. The bed is pulled away from the partition. Soemody else has suggested that the door/partition was sealed up, presumably it could be unsealed easily. A great place for somebody to hide. A shed containg barrows and stuff. Perhaps I am entering the realms of fantasy but remember as you have clarified a thin partition.
Thank you

Regards
Waterloo

[Archaic]

Hi Waterloo. Welcome to Casebook.

I found your questions interesting, and appreciate the fact that they were asked so courteously.

As regards the question of how the killer may have entered Mary's room, I think the fact that Mary was desperately poor and out soliciting that night indicates the most likely scenario- that the killer entered through her door, and probably in her company.

Best regards,
Archaic

[Robert]

Hi Waterloo

I think I remember reading that the shed, though at one time used as a free doss for the homeless, had recently been locked at night. So even if the killer somehow got into the shed, presumably he couldn't have exited that way.