Was She Wrong?

[c.d.]

As for the key/door breaking business do we know exactly what McCarthy told the police? Was it along the lines of I do not have a key to the room nor have I ever had a key to the room in my possession? Or was it simply I have a key but not on me at the moment? Big difference but both would result in breaking down the door.

c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Is it really likely that McCarthy would have vanished for 45 minutes or so to commit a murder just feet from where he lived. Elizabeth Prater testified that his shop was still open at 1.20am. Bowyer said that he used the pump in the court several times during the night with his final visit being at 3.00. I doesn’t seem likely that he would have done that if he was at home so perhaps he was working. This might narrow down further any ‘alone time’ that McCarthy might have had. Apart from that he was known and so would have been taking a big risk of being seen (and identified) going into Kelly’s room (or exiting it for that matter)

[Lewis C]

He didn’t enter the room before the police arrived Lewis.

“When I looked through the window the sight I saw was more ghastly even than I had prepared myself for. On the bed lay the body, while the table was covered with lumps of flesh. Soon Superintendent Arnold arrived, and instructions to burst the door open were given. I at once forced it with a pickaxe and we entered. The sight looked like the work of a devil. The poor woman had been completely disembowelled. Her entrails were cut out and placed on a table. It was these that I had taken to be lumps of flesh. The woman's nose had been cut off, and her face was gashed and mutilated so that she was quite beyond recognition. Both her breasts, too, had been cut clean away and placed by her side. Her liver and other organs were on the table. I had heard a great deal about the Whitechapel murders, but I had never expected to see such a sight. The body was covered with blood and so was the bed. The whole scene is more than I can discribe [sic]. I hope I may never see such a sight again.”


Originally posted by Kattrup.

If McCarthy was giving an honest statement here, it certainly does sound like he didn't enter the room until the police arrived. And I have no reason to doubt that he was giving an honest statement.

[Herlock Sholmes]

If McCarthy was giving an honest statement here, it certainly does sound like he didn't enter the room until the police arrived. And I have no reason to doubt that he was giving an honest statement.

Hi Lewis,

In a dissertation on here Don Souden suggested, based on the assumption that there was a gap between Bowyer going for the police and McCarthy following, that McCarthy needed to get into Kelly’s room to remove something incriminating. I believe that he felt that it could have been something that showed that he was receiving ‘immoral earnings’ from Kelly. There’s no evidence for this though and I’m wary of assuming any real gap. Wording can be misleading. Maybe he just felt that Bowyer could get there quicker and he followed on (although, if I recall correctly, and it’s possible that I’m not, there is some dispute about Bowyer’s age?) Or as I said earlier, maybe he needed to go and tell his wife and get her to mind the shop while he was away?

[c.d.]

I have a feeling that evidence for "immoral earnings" would have been of absolutely no concern to the police at this time. Or McCarthy either for that matter.

c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I have a feeling that evidence for "immoral earnings" would have been of absolutely no concern to the police at this time. Or McCarthy either for that matter.

c.d.

I have a feeling that you’re absolutely right c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Might The Star have got it right?

McCarthy: “Then I said, "Harry, don't tell anyone; go and fetch the police." As he was going I recovered myself, and thought I had better go with him, and followed him down the court, and we both saw Inspector Back, who returned with us at once.”


Sometimes the simple answers are the actual answers. Did McCarthy, feeling a bit ‘groggy’ after seeing the body, send his servant to the police station. He then realised that he should also go so he pulled himself together and followed him. Maybe he caught up with him?

[Lewis C]

Hi Lewis,

In a dissertation on here Don Souden suggested, based on the assumption that there was a gap between Bowyer going for the police and McCarthy following, that McCarthy needed to get into Kelly’s room to remove something incriminating. I believe that he felt that it could have been something that showed that he was receiving ‘immoral earnings’ from Kelly. There’s no evidence for this though and I’m wary of assuming any real gap. Wording can be misleading. Maybe he just felt that Bowyer could get there quicker and he followed on (although, if I recall correctly, and it’s possible that I’m not, there is some dispute about Bowyer’s age?) Or as I said earlier, maybe he needed to go and tell his wife and get her to mind the shop while he was away?

Hi Herlock,

I suppose that even with a very short time gap, he could have gone into the room very briefly, but he wouldn't have wanted to be seen doing that, and I doubt that he had a compelling reason to do it.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi Herlock,

I suppose that even with a very short time gap, he could have gone into the room very briefly, but he wouldn't have wanted to be seen doing that, and I doubt that he had a compelling reason to do it.

Same here Lewis.