Maxwell

[Sam Flynn]

Milk-shake

There are several problems with the "milk shop" story, in that - firstly - it doesn't appear in either Maxwell's police statement nor her inquest testimony. Secondly, the earliest references to the story that appears in the papers is from Maurice/Morris Lewis:

"Morris Lewis, a tailor, states he was playing pitch-and-toss in the court at nine o'clock yesterday morning, and an hour before that he saw the woman leave the house and return with some milk" (the Daily News and Morning Advertiser, 10th November).

In these reports "the woman" to whom Lewis refers was Mary Kelly herself, and it was she - not Maxwell - whom Lewis claimed had visited the milkshop. That he meant Kelly is confirmed, to a large extent, by the Bournemouth Visitors' Directory of 11th November, thus: "Considerable doubt prevails as to the time at which the murder was committed. The discovery was made at half past ten o'clock, and it was at first stated that the woman had been seen as late as eight o'clock that morning, when she went to fetch some milk".

The milk-buying episode only shifts to Maxwell herself, in a (pre-inquest) report in the Times of 12th November: "Mrs. Maxwell, the deputy of the Commercial lodging-house [...] gave positive information that she saw Mary Jane Kelly standing at the entrance to Miller's-court at half-past 8 on Friday morning. [...] Mrs. Maxwell further stated that after that she went into Bishopsgate-street to make some purchases, and on her return saw Kelly talking to a short, dark man at the top of the court. When asked by the police how she could fix the time of the morning, Mrs. Maxwell replied, 'Because I went to the milkshop for some milk, and I had not before been there for a long time' [...]. On inquiries being made at the milkshop indicated by the woman her statement was found to be correct".

That she was asked by police as to how she fixed the time appears in neither her witness statement nor the inquest transcripts and, besides, we have no indication as to the nature of the inquiries made at the milkshop - that, in itself, might only have been a piece of hearsay. In the very earliest account (in which no milkshop is mentioned), in the Evening News of 10th November, Maxwell claims to have returned from her "errands" to see Kelly again "at the end of the street" - not, you'll note, at the "top of Miller's Court".

Suffice to say that the "Maxwell returning from milkshop" story doesn't appear anywhere else apart from the Times, as far as I can tell. It sounds like tittle-tattle to me and, if I were to hazard a guess, it sounds like Maxwell co-opted Maurice Lewis's story for herself, and embellished it, perhaps with a little help from some gossipy friends. Alternatively, the Times got its wires crossed - which, sadly, wouldn't have been for the first or last time in this case.

[FrankO]

Hi again Richard,

Obviously, we can't be sure but, on balance, I believe Maxwell just thought she'd seen Mary Jane Kelly (while in fact it was another woman) rather than that MJK was killed somewhere between 9 and 10 in the morning of November 9.

All the best,
Frank

[richardnunweek]

Hello Frank,
Obviously i was giving two explanations , the idea that Kelly was not the victim is i agree not a realistic one, but that being the case, that would add more credence to the other, being the time of death was wrong.
Maxwell gave her account on oath, and was described as a respectable woman, and i would have little doubt that she was being honest that she believed she spoke to the victim at the time she stated.
If she was asked to identify the womans appearance, and it matched the dead womans appearance, it would seem most unlikely she spoke to the wrong person.
And as she gave her statement on the same day , as the murder surely there can be no suggestion she got the wrong day, especially as she was returning plates when she spoke to her, and this was verified by police, also she said she went to fetch milk, and this was verified , the man who sold her the milk , said she had not been to him for some time previous, and it was that day for sure.
I cannot find fault in her account, but many i know will never believe her.
Regards Richard.

[FrankO]

1] The body was not that of Mary Kelly....

Hi Richard,

Although Caroline Maxwell remains an interesting witness, I have a remark.

If the body was not that of Mary Jane Kelly, that would mean that Barnett and McCarthy, who identified her and undoubtedly knew her far better than Maxwell were either mistaken or lying. How would you explain that?

All the best,
Frank

[richardnunweek]

Hi,
This witness is a fascinating mystery in the Ripper case, she is discredited by the majority of Casebook as either mistaken , or lying.
Let common sense prevail , and ask one question to yourself.
What would have been police precedure in ascertaining if this witness was not mistaken?
Would they have simply taken her word for it, which would be not consistant with the police doctors opinion?
we know she was asked the clothing that the woman she claimed to have been Kelly was wearing, and i once saw a report[ since missing] that had Maxwell describe her physical well being.
Would she not, most importantly of all been asked to describe the actual woman she saw in detail, and if this was not to the satisfaction of the police, been taken to the mortuary, to identify at least the face , when stitched.
I find it incredible that Mrs Maxwell would have been allowed to give evidence at the inquest if the police were in any doubt that this woman was inventing the whole story, they must have satisfied themselves that she had not made a mistake in identification.
We know that her movements were checked , and verifed, and we know Abberline used the words 'I tried to get the woman to alter her story, but i could not do so.
So if it was true, and she did see Mjk alive that morning , two explantions are
put foreward.
1] The body was not that of Mary Kelly....
2]kelly was killed around 9am, on the morning of the 9th.
Lets look at Maxwell as being honest.
Regards Richard.