How strange is this

Intriguing..

Hi Richard - intriguing

So, we know that the letter was posted on or before the preceding Monday, and that it was posted in London. It is odd, considering that Kelly was killed exactly a week after a report of this letter appeared in the press.

My questions would be: - was there any mention of this letter in the London Press? Assuming the letter writer was not 'Jack', could the real killer have read the letter in the press?

- if written and posted by 'Jack' why use his own address? A bit risky to put his actual address on a letter. For all we know the police in London were informed of the letter (even if believed to be a probable hoax) and visited the address just to make sure. Perhaps the letter-writer was trying to implicate somebody.

- Why Yarmouth? Its probably not a random choice. Was the letter writer a person who lived there, was visiting London, and decided to cause a stir for whatever reason?

-

Hi,
As this has not been brought up on Casebook, let me start the ball rolling.
A letter was published on the 2ND November 1888[1 week before Kelly's death] in the Ipswich Journal, which was a obvious hoax, however it stated that 'Lets hope the police here, can do better then the London police'
The content is not so important as the address, from which it was sent.14 Dorset street.Spitalfields.
How strange is that, it mentions an address just a few doors away from Millers court.
Even stranger it was the address of Caroline Maxwell ,one of the most discussed witnesses in the Ripper case, the woman who claimed to have done the impossible... seeing and talking, to someone after their death....
We know that 14, Dorset street, was a dwelling comprising of 39 inhabitants [ my favourite number ha] in 1881, and was still a lodging house in 1891.
I just find it strange that just over 7 days before Mary Kelly's death, someone addressed a letter to the Norfolk police , allegedly sent from 14 Dorset street, and what's more, that was the home of Mrs Maxwell.
I should add that all of this is currently to be found on Forums, but needs to be viewed here on Casebook , as it could be important.
It should be mentioned that by the 2ND November , Dorset street had been mentioned in the press, as Chapman had resided there, and Kate rumoured to have lived in the shed, nevertheless it is a very strange coincidence, that a letter sent to the police mentioning that on the Thursday [ 7days prior to the eve of Kelly's death] the killer would strike[ hoax] and the killer claimed to live just a few doors away from Millers court..the home of the witness who stated the impossible.
It was once suggested that Maxwell was giving the killer an alibi, by suggesting that Kelly was alive at a later time, it was even suggested that maybe she was protecting her husband.?
Lets face it,,she went to extreme lengths just for five minutes of fame,informing the police, and swearing on oath.
food for thought , and something different to discuss.
Regards Richard.

Announcement